Christmas is THE season for the entire scrapbook industry although we’re still in July, you should plan now to do a media blast. Really start thinking Big on how you can gain major exposure for your business by using this one holiday season.

Before you start writing a press release, you really need to think about creating the best, biggest, Christmas event you can muster up.

You could join up with other store owners and create a huge event at a local hotel or convention centre. Just because you have competition, doesn’t mean you can’t join up and work together for this incredible day.

What do you want… your regular customers who are loyal to your store, OR a real bang up job and have hundreds of women discovering your business?

So let’s talk about your press release.

First off, you need to create a press release and distribute them locally, and online. This will drive traffic to your site and traffic to those stores that are joining the day with you.

Maybe you’ve never thought to create a press release before, so let’s dig into what exactly a press release is…..

A press release is an excellent way to gain publicity and exposure for your business. A press release is a document containing information that you would like a media organization to feature, such as general information about your business, a special event that you are holding, or a special incentive you are offering.

By having a story featured in a newspaper, magazine, or other form of media, your business will receive publicity and credibility. You can also use the clippings of paper stories and links to stories featured through electronic media as part of your press kit.

You can submit a press release at any time, however you may find that the media features stories about businesses when something special is happening, such as a grand opening, special event, or special offer.

There is a simple format to use when writing a press release. If your story can be published at any time, the words “For Immediate Release” should appear at the top left hand corner. However, if the information should only be released after a certain date, use the phrase “For Release After [insert date]. Under that, include your contact information.

The next area of the press release is the “body”. This is the part of the press release where you include the information you want to publicize. Try to keep your press release under two pages. If it is more than one page include the word “more” at the end of the first page. At the end of your press release insert three number symbols (###).

As you write the body of your press release, keep it focused, clear, and concise. Try to answer the five basic questions – who, what, why, where, and when. Who are you, and what, exactly, are you promoting? Why is your target market interested in this? When and where is this taking place?

Once you are finished with your press release, you will want to submit it to the media. This can be to your local media outlets, such as newspapers, regional magazines, radio and television stations, or media outlets in geographic areas that you want publicity in. If you are promoting a event that will happen on a specific day, submit your press release early enough so that it has time to be received and facts can be checked, etc.

You can also submit your press release to electronic media, such as newswire services, Internet Talk Radio programs, and more.

If your story does not get picked up, don’t give up on press releases. Try a different media source, or rewrite your press release and submit it when you have something to promote. The media receives many, many press releases and cannot publish a story on every one of them. If you keep trying, you will find publicity.

Christmas is the season for holiday pictures, crops, retreats, workshops, events! Don’t let it slip by while planning a regular event held at your store. Venture out, get out there, and make new competitors into friends. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll add to your bottom line!