12 Jun Creating a Buzz: Don’t Let the Summertime Slump Impact Coverage

As the temperatures rise, story ideas often cool off during the summertime. With schools out and families on vacation, things tend to slow down from June to August. However, that doesn’t mean you should let your business or nonprofit fade into the background. There are numerous ways to capture media attention and maintain great coverage throughout the summer. Here are some strategies to help you stay in the spotlight.

Find a Need and Respond to It

Summer is an ideal time to shift your focus and highlight how your organization is meeting a need in the community. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Creative Food Drives

Many students rely on free or reduced-price lunches during the school year, and summer can leave them hungry. Hosting a creative food drive can help fill bellies and draw media attention. Consider organizing a competition between different departments in your organization, with each department focusing on collecting a specific type of food. Not only does this create a fun and engaging atmosphere, but it also maximizes the variety of food collected. Invite local media to cover the event and the final drop-off.

Community Engagement Cool-Offs

Being a part of community events can be a great way to draw attention to your organization. Consider organizing or joining a summer fair, or charity run, and offer to hand out ice cold waters, ice cream, or other cold treats. These events provide valuable services to the community while showcasing your organization’s commitment to local engagement. Be sure to send out press releases and invite media outlets to cover the event. Highlight any unique aspects, such as special guests or innovative activities, to pique their interest.

Summer Campaigns and Initiatives

Launch a summer-specific campaign or initiative unique to your organization that addresses a seasonal need. This could be anything from a back-to-school supply drive to a summer tutoring program for children. Aligning your efforts with the time of year can create a timely and relevant story for the media. Use social media to amplify the work you are doing and engage with your audience, encouraging them to participate and share your efforts.

Partner with Local Influencers

Collaborating with local influencers can help boost your visibility and reach a broader audience. Look for influencers who align with your organization’s values and mission, and partner with them for special summer projects. Whether it’s a social media takeover, a joint event, or a collaborative campaign, influencers can bring fresh perspectives and attract media attention to your cause.

Highlight Summertime Success Stories

Share stories of how your organization has positively impacted individuals or the community during the summer months. These success stories can be compelling and heartwarming, making them attractive to media outlets. Whether it’s a family who benefited from your services, a volunteer who went above and beyond, or a community project that made a huge impact; these personal stories will attract reporters looking for emotional and impactful stories.

Host Media-Friendly Events

Plan events that are specifically designed to attract media coverage. This could be a press conference to announce a new initiative, a behind-the-scenes tour of your facilities, or an exclusive interview opportunity with key figures in your organization. Make these events engaging and visually appealing to enhance their newsworthiness.

Utilize Visual Content

Summer is usually a visually vibrant time, so make sure to take advantage of this by creating visually appealing content. High-quality photos and videos can significantly enhance your media outreach efforts beyond summertime. Whether capturing moments from your events, showcasing your team in action, or highlighting the impact of your work, visual content can tell a powerful story and attract media interest.

Final Thoughts

If you made it to the end of the blog, we have a bonus tip for you! Remember, newsrooms will also be short-staffed over the summer. Reporters, producers, and photographers will be looking for a one-stop shop for stories. With any event you invite media to, it’s important to have great visuals and at least one person they can speak with. If the media doesn’t come out, get the story to them! We have easy ways to score coverage here!