7 Tips for Getting the Best Out of Press

Meetings at Trade Shows

Define your objectives

Be clear about what you want to achieve:

Are you launching a new product?

Do you just want to provide background & context about your company, technologies & products?

A major product announcement should achieve more coverage than a background briefing.

Have some news!

Provide news, even if the focus of the meeting is an update and background briefing!

Plan ahead!

You aren’t the only company exhibiting, and as journalists have limited time & can’t meet all companies, agree a meeting time well in advance!

Be interesting – show…don’t tell!• Journalists have meetings all day, so

make your meeting stand out!

• Don’t read bullets from a PowerPoint

• Keep the journalist engaged in conversation

• Show them something tangible

Make it easy for the journalist• Ensure everyone manning the stand

knows of the press meetings and who the spokeperson is

• Ensure the spokesperson is available• Check with them how much time you have• Don’t overrun• Expect them to be running late• Be flexible• Make materials available in paper &

electronic format

Be realistic

• Journalists will meet with many different companies, so focus on communicating 1-2 simple messages

• Repeat the messages during the meeting

• Don’t expect the journalist to remember what you say – provide materials for them to take away

Follow up

• Send electronic versions of the materials & answers to any questions that you couldn’t answer at the time

• Thank the journalist for their time, and for any coverage