Media exposure 101
by VISI ONLINE EDITOR Carine Visagie
In a previous post, VISI editor Jacquie Myburgh Chemaly expressed her frustration at designers who only want their work published in print and not online. Now it’s online editor Carine Visagie’s turn to file a complaint.
Here at VISI.co.za, we process a hell of a lot of information every day: news about the latest hot products, trends, up-and-coming designers and shops floods our inboxes – the first step in an information stream that allows us to publish several fresh news stories on the website every day.
Over the last couple of months, the online team has, however, come to a somewhat disturbing conclusion: it’s generally a lot easier to get a response from international designers than from our own local heroes. When we pop off a mail to ask for press images and info from a designer in Europe, for example, we’re bound to hear from them a lot sooner than we do from the South African designer we mailed at the same time.
Granted, there are a few South African designers who do a fantastic job at marketing themselves. But we have a favour to ask of the others: please make it easy for us to publish information about your work. We really want to celebrate local design and it’s in your best interest to get the word out as well.
Five steps on getting published
At a time when the digital age throws more and more demands at the media, journalists are pressed for time – and I’m afraid it’s only going to get worse. So, the easier you make it for a publication such as VISI.co.za to write about you, the better the chance that you’ll get the exposure you’re seeking.
These five steps on getting published may sound intuitive, and yet so few designers get them right. They’re our suggestion for marketing yourself better:
- Invest in professional photographs of your products. I know this can be an expensive exercise for a small start-up, but it will definitely be worthwhile in the long run.
- Create a website and, importantly, provide a facility where journalists can download high-resolution, professional pictures of your products. Creating a basic website doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket. Explore WithTank.com, Yola.com and Weebly.com – websites that help you create your own online space with easy-to-use templates. Shopify.com is particularly useful if you’d like to create an online store.
- Make sure the photographs on your website are accompanied by relevant, current product info, preferably in a downloadable format as well. Make sure the prices, specs and launch dates are all there.
- Ensure that all your contact information is displayed on your website and on all communication you send out. Yes, that’s an email address, a phone number, preferably a cell number and your Twitter name (if you have one). Sometimes we need to get hold of you quickly. Oh yes, and be available during office hours…
- Keep a media contact list and send regular updates on new products. You don’t have to send fancy newsletters if you don’t have time or capacity, but do send a few pictures and a document with detailed product information.
So, should we know about your latest project? Please send photos and information to carine@visi.co.za.
Related article:
Other articles that may interest you
2 Comments
Great article Jacquie, as an interior designer in a very small town, I have had to diversify and as such am building a space to exhibit my vintage/retro finds and my revived pieces. The world is more in tune to online selling than many would think. I feel that online can be a lot more accessible to buyers than print often is. We spend a lot of time online these days, but I do love to read my Visi from front to back.
Add a comment
Please sign in below or register in order to make a comment.
Sorry Carine, noticed it was a follow up to Jacquie's previous post. My apologies. But ditto on what I said before