This press release came up a few times all over the place. It’s amazing the power of newsletters and email lists. I sent this out while working for the tour and learned firsthand how much the PR ‘wire’ is now a direct lob straight to those with whom you permit to share the content. The traditional ‘wire’ method perhaps still holds value, but to those who can’t afford to publicize, focus your efforts on developing a good list.
Developing an email list has sites upon sites devoted to it, but here’s the main caveat I’ve learned – the best way to get a quality email list is by personally entering in an address to the list – NOT through someone entering it online. Sure that method works, but I’m talking about for getting people who will actually share your stuff – it always starts at a personal interaction. Whether it’s through a business card or a hand-written “join our mailing list” sign-up sheet on a legal pad… the point is that by first making a personal connection, the recipient of your email will be astonomically more likely to open what you send them.
Take for example a press release I sent out for the 2014 Turtle Bay Women’s Pro. Most media outlets copied the text word for word. Mission accomplished, I suppose.
Here are but a few examples of the same article popping up everywhere:
And here is what happens when an editor gets a hold of it – great paraphrasing Shari!
Turtle Bay Pro
Women’s SUP World Tour
North Shore, Oahu
12 February, 2014Brazillian Nicole Pacelli lights up Turtle Bay for back-to-back titles
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 February, 2014 – Sunshine, good waves, and a deep field of the world’s finest female SUP surfers were on hand today as we entered the final day of the 2014 Turtle Bay Women’s Pro at Turtle Bay Resort on the north shore of Oahu in Hawaii.
Light trade winds and an increasing swell created ideal conditions for the first event on the 2014 Stand Up World Tour.
18 women competed through four rounds of intensly competitive action, as the level of performance in the women’s fleet has gone through the roof here in 2014. In the end it was Brazillian Nicole Pacelli who won the final heat a full 5 points ahead of runner-up Candice Appleby to win back-to-back titles at Turtle Bay.
“I’m so happy!”, said Pacelli after getting out of the water and realizing she had won the final. “The waves are good, but I don’t know – sometimes a big set came and everyone was washed out. So I’m happy to get two good waves! It was perfect. I caught my best wave of the contest. All the girls are ripping!”
With the important first win of the season underway, Pacelli has her sights set on the next stop of the Women’s Stand Up World Tour in her home country of Brazil.
On competing in front of a home crowd she says, “I think sometimes in my home country I have more pressure because I’m Brazillian and everybody is cheering for me when I’m in the water. But it’s nice. I like to surf there. I think it’s going to be one of the best stops”.
The next stop on the 2014 Women’s Stand Up World Tour is the Brazil Pro Grand Slam, starting on March 29.
Next up for the Stand Up World Tour is the Sunset Beach Pro. Conditions are looking good to get back underway with the contest on Wednesday, February 12. However, as always we will make the final call in the morning at 7AM HST. Stay tuned to the event page to find out and to tune into the webcast.
The top 4 finishers today:
Nicole Pacelli (Brazil)
Candice Appleby (USA)
Sophia Tiare Bartlow (USA)
Aline Adisaka (Brazil)
Sophia Tiare Bartlow – “The Warrior”
The sign of a true competitor is someone who can persist through adversity and still come through on top. Today we saw that in Sophia Tiare Bartlow, who entered her first professional stand up paddle event.
In the semifinal heat, Sophia had a rough encounter with her board that smacked her in the face, cutting her lip open with blood gushing out. The water patrol came to her rescue, but the heat was already winding down and she had her eyes firmly set on the final. So she stayed in the water and caught a couple key last-minute waves, which paid off with a victorious heat.
As an unsponsored surfer who overcame serious all odds to finish third in the event, it is safe to say that Sophia is a bona fide competitor and one to watch throughout the 2014 season.
Sunset Beach Pro
The men’s contest at world-famous Sunset Beach has two days of competition left. Check back after 7AM HST to see if the contest is running. The swell and wind forecast are looking good, so the conditions could be right for an epic day of competition. Stay tuned to our event page for the morning call.
Lots to learn in the PR world I know – But it’s a lot of fun doing so!
If anyone out there is a press release master, I’d love to hear some of your tips!
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