Michael J. Media

YOUR MONTHLY DIY PR TIP FROM MIKE FARLEY

FEBRUARY 2008
Knock, Knock.......

Sorry, that was a rhetorical knock.

Last month after my tip was mailed out, I received a response and suggestion from a music journalist in Utah. She wanted to know if there was a master list of publicists and reps out there for bands. There isn't, at least not to my knowledge. But it brought something to mind that is worth bringing up to you.

Number one, if you are a musical artist or represent a musical artist, do you have a contact page on your website? And number two, is the contact info clear and concise?

Not only is it important to label everything you send out (our company now uses bright stickers on every CD we mail), but if a journalist wants to cover a band and reaches their website only to be stalled by a lack of contact information, they may not bother to pursue that band any further. They also do not want to have their time wasted by ridiculous flash introductions, but that's a whole different topic.

Sure, there are some people who are trying to grab free copies of music, making up a fake website or using five-year-old credentials to try and grab free music or concert tickets, but a good publicist or manager should screen requests or have someone assigned to do this, just so that the bigger opportunities are not missed.

So I ask you, when someone from the media goes "knock-knock," is there someone to respond "who's there?"

If you would like to receive these monthly tips through email, please email mike [at] michaeljmedia.com to be added to the list.
Thank you!