Promoting an Event

Special events are an effective and affordable way to gain high visibility for your growing firm. Couple your event with a comprehensive publicity program, and you can reach new audiences, enhance your image or brand, or even catapult to national prominence--like Clarendon Cheesecakes, the tiny Clarendon, New York, cheesecake company that held a pie-eating contest to raise money for a national charity and landed coverage on NBC's "Today" program.

First, you need to decide what makes your event newsworthy. Each type of media has different requirements. Magazines, including trade press, have lead times of three to five months and are usually interested in advance features on noteworthy industry events and stories about celebrities or causes, while newspapers and radio stations are looking for local angles. Many radio personalities are often available for special appearances, and hiring one guarantees you'll get lots of on-air mentions.