Get the picture?

Submitted by: Kristen Paquet, Account Executive, Leonard & Finco Public Relations

I like taking pictures. And like most people, I have my trusty digital camera at the ready for birthdays, vacations and all major holidays. But a photo can also be an important element in garnering some great PR for your business or company.

A great picture can do lots of things. A picture can help draw more attention to the story you want to share and lend a new dynamic to your web site, tweets, fan page – you get the picture (sorry, had to do it).

Including a picture with a news release can help enhance the story you are trying to get the media to cover. Just make sure the picture you choose represents what your news release is about. In some cases, a good picture can do a better job of getting your message across!

Now, sending a picture along with a news release or story idea doesn’t guarantee that your photo will be featured in the story. You still need to have something newsworthy to attract the media. But a picture is a great way to let the media know there are photo and video opportunities available at your company or business which is something they are always looking for. And for those times when an event or program doesn’t really warrant a story, I would suggest taking a few key shots of the event anyway. Write a short caption for each photo and submit them to your community section.

If you are connected to the world of social media, including a picture with a tweet or posting it on your company’s Facebook page is a great way to get some attention from your followers or friends. A photo provides interest to your readers and makes them feel more connected with who you are and what you are doing.

Don’t worry if you aren’t a pro photographer – you don’t need to be. Play with angles, frame your photos evenly, take distance shots as well as close-up and be sure to capture action shots of people having a good time or taking an interest in something. Most importantly, always take more pictures than you think you need. A shot might look good on your 2-inch LCD screen, but it can look a lot different once you download it on your computer.

You never know when you might need a photo, so you should start building a library for your company to draw from. And don’t let your pictures pile up on your computer. Keep them organized and back-up often. Pictures can be a powerful resource when looking to take your PR to the next level, so start bringing your camera to company events or when company news is worth sharing.

Say Cheese!