I got a call from someone who had suggested a story to me a little over a week ago. It was a profile on someone. Honestly it wasn’t an exciting story or person, however, the person suggesting it said the subject of the proposed profile needed to drum up business. I felt generous and agreed to look at her website. Then I decided what the heck, I need a story for a few weeks down the road. So I said I would call the person. Then I got to work on some major projects with breathing down my neck deadlines.
So when I got this call from the person who suggested the story asking why I hadn’t called her friend. I said I had been busy but was thinking about calling that day. Then she said, “Well if you’re busy I told my friend we’ll just have to go somewhere else. She needs to get some business.”
Well! I never!
I’m sarcastically faking indignation here. The truth of the matter is I started to say that maybe they should go somewhere else (and I could tell them where) when she stopped me and said “well OK if you’re going to call, I know you’re busy.”
The thing is you’re not doing us any favors by “letting” us write a story on you or your business so that you can get some attention and benefit from the exposure. In fact, most of the time when we write about business trends or anything that we know will end up giving you some exposure, we are also aware that there are several other similar businesses willing to “let” us write about their business minus the attitude and hassle.
Bottom line, be patient. If a reporter expresses an interest in writing a story about you make it as easy as possible for them. Don’t hound them daily (or in the case of some people, twice a day) about when your story will appear. And please don’t give a reporter an ultimatum or the dreaded, gag-me-with-a-spoon, I-think-I’m-going-to-hurl, “I think I’ll have to take my story to your competition,” line.
You’ll catch more flies with honey… and more exposure with a a little tact.