Elevating a Personal Brand to a Media Strategy

Media helps you amplify the nessage. It is good for business but also advocacy.

I combine traditional media - newspaper, TV, radio - with digitial media like podcasts and online articles. The goal is to achieve 3-5 media pieces a year but it’s the type of thing that’s easily achievable. Work smarter, not harder. I agreed to do a Canadian Press article and it was published by 37 media outlets across Canada at last count.

I rarely pitch.
Journalists come to me.

It’s important to be ready. The news cycle moves fast. Responsiveness is critical.

1. Invest in developing your personal brand so people clearly understand your expertise and credibility. Make sure your website and email are easy to find. I use my name:

www.nolasimon.com
nola@nolasimon.com

2. The most useful profile is Qwoted. I use it like a mini press kit. It includes my website, socials, recent press, top quotes and high-res pictures.

Here’s my profile as an example:

https://lnkd.in/gB-gpnNX

3. Don't underestimate referrals.

Build relationships with reporters but also the people who are trusted sources. If a story isn’t for them, they can suggest you if you are top of mind. Return the favour - reciprocity matters.

If I can’t refer because I don’t know of a traditional media opportunity, I use my own podcast to offer a platform.

4. Repurpose media into content. Have a place where you collect the links. I have a media page on my website:

https://lnkd.in/em2CEGsA

5. Gather guest podcast appearances into a Spotify playlist. Radio often repurposes shows into podcasts. Don’t forgot to include those.

Here’s mine including my recent CBC Spark interview with Nora Young on the future of remote.

https://lnkd.in/gBy_fzzQ

Connect with journalists and their editors and producers. They may not engage much but they watch your content