Attracting the Leaf Peepers: Tapping into PR to Leverage a Seasonal Rush

In today’s modern world driven by the 24-hour news cycle, social media buzz and influencers, organizations are constantly seeking ways to stand out and attract their target audiences. One powerful tool at their disposal is public relations (PR). However, PR is not just about creating buzz; it’s about utilizing an organization’s existing assets to build a stronger connection with its audiences and playing to your busy season.

This fall, we’ll look at fall foliage capital New England, its tourism bureaus, businesses and nonprofits. New England, with its historical sites and natural beauty, has learned to take advantage of its “it” season, autumn, to attract visitors and boost the region’s economy.

Leaves and Legacy

Renowned for its picturesque autumn foliage, New England attracts tourists and outdoor enthusiasts from around the world, aptly dubbed “leaf peepers,” by locals. Tourists chase the vibrant views up the coastline, swarming the northern states of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine for a chance to snap a picture of the seasons changing. As they flood the northern states, opportunity awaits local businesses and nonprofits as they vie for the attention of paying customers to shop at local boutiques, stay in local hotels and dine in the region’s countless restaurants.

Some sites, such as Plymouth Rock, the Mark Twain House, the Paul Revere House and more draw millions of visitors year-round. Massachusetts and New England tourism groups leverage this reality each year to entice visitors to the area. For instance, one organization, Historic New England, is utilizing tourists’ interest in history to expand their profile. Through local news stories, the group is promoting its growing collection of some 125,000 historical objects in a sprawling cultural center around its headquarters in Haverhill, Massachusetts in the hopes that visitors will take advantage of the opportunity to see so much history in one spot.

Historic New England is not the only group utilizing PR and interest from tourists to boost their profile. Salem, Massachusetts, perhaps best known for its 1692 witch trials, is known to draw upwards of 1 million visitors each October. The town does not miss out on the opportunity to boast about their offerings. Every October, town leaders and their communications teams work to ensure they are included on lists featuring top spots to visit while leaf peeping in New England

Whether year round or seasonal, the historical destinations of New England have leaned into their natural appeal and the power of communications to make the most of their “most wonderful time of the year.”

Raking in the Customers

For those looking to leverage communication to make the most of their selling season, a good public relations strategy can complement promotional efforts to elevate your brand before this captive audience. Consider these tips:

  • Step up your social media efforts: A robust social media presence is critical to amplify your message during your “it” season. Business owners should ensure social channels are prominently promoted and accessible through their websites as well. By leaning into the inherent assets of the organization – a colorful personality in leadership, convenient or scenic location, practical benefits of their products or services – organizations can create a genuine connection with followers and build a reliable customer base beyond what existed before.
  • Get to know local media: Reaching out to local media when there is news that is of interest to the public is always a smart move. Businesses and non-profits must be careful, however, to avoid blatant self-promotional outreach to journalists. Offering sales or other obviously self-promoting information to the news media can have the opposite intended effect, damaging the organization’s reputation in the media and potentially black-listing it from future coverage.
  • Think outside of the box: Consider expanding your audience while the time is right. For example, while New England business’ primary consumers this fall may be folks on leisure excursions, tourism hot spots and hotels may want to consider reaching out to business and meeting publications to share the message of New England as a corporate travel destination if appropriate. Also, while traditional PR can be a powerful tool in cultivating an unbiased image of your destination or business, marketing promotions and sponsored content can complement those efforts helping business owners to capture an even larger audience.

In a world where organizations vie for attention and consumer loyalty, New England’s approach to soaking up the fall season serves as a powerful example. Know your organization’s time to shine and be ready to make the most of it with the right communication tools.

From Love Story to Bad Blood: The Pros and Cons of Influencer Campaigns in Public Relations

Influencer marketing can be a powerful tool for brands and public relations professionals looking to boost their reach and credibility. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the influencer industry is set to grow to approximately $21.1 billion in 2023. However, despite many success stories, there are downsides. For example, according to Truelist, 63% of marketers and brands have been victims of influencer fraud. In addition, fake followers remain a top concern for 50% of marketers.

Perhaps no one understands the Jump Then Fall of the influencer world better than Taylor Swift. With more than 250 million followers on Instagram and more than 90 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), Swift can surely add the title “influencer” to her long list of accolades. Her recent relationship with Kansas City Chiefs’ Tight End, Travis Kelce, and her subsequent ties to the team serves as an outstanding example of both the pros and cons of utilizing influencers.

The Power of Influencer Campaigns

Influencer campaigns can be a dynamic component of public relations strategies, extending a brand’s message to a wider audience and enhancing credibility through association. While there is currently no formal influencer relationship between Swift and the Chiefs outside of her romantic relationship with Kelce, the team and the National Football League (NFL) are benefitting from the Invisible String that ties them together.

Wide Audience Reach: Swift’s immense popularity and influential status make her an ideal choice for brands looking to reach a diverse and massive audience. For instance, since her first appearance at a Chief’s game there has been a nearly 400% increase in Travis Kelce jersey sales. Brands who partner with certain influencers that connect with their audience and have a wide reach are sure to see similar results in their bottom line.

Authenticity and Trust: One of the primary reasons influencer marketing works is because it leverages the trust influencers have built with their followers. According to Marketing Dive, 69% of consumers trust influencers, then friends and then family before information from a brand.

Targeted Marketing: Since the first rumors of their relationship were released, interest in Travis Kelce has gone up by 25% and his favorability has gone up by 10%. Based on the many social media posts, a large portion of Kelce’s new fans are “Swifties,” otherwise known as Swift’s biggest fans. This is significant for both the Chiefs and for Kelce’s sponsors as 45% of these individuals are millennials and 52% are female. This is in contrast to the NFL’s typical fan, as 70% of the NFL’s fanbase is male and 65% are aged 25-39.

The Challenges of Influencer Campaigns

Despite the undeniable advantages, influencer campaigns come with challenges. Swift’s history with both the media and the public showcase just how quickly the tides can change.

High Costs: Hiring a superstar such as Swift, or even someone on a much smaller scale can be costly. While the average cost to hire a nano-influencer (1,000-10,000 followers) is only $10 to $100 per post, that cost can soar to $5,000 to $10,000 per post for macro-influencers (500,000-1 million followers), and organizations are paying the cost. In fact, 23% of respondents to Influencer Marketing Hub’s survey stated they plan to spend more than 40% of their budget on influencers this year, potentially taking vital resources away from other marketing efforts.

Loss of Control: When collaborating with influencers, brands must relinquish some control over their messaging. This can be risky if an influencer’s actions or statements do not align with the brand’s values or objectives.

Saturation and Authenticity Concerns: In the case of Swift’s relationship with Kelce and the NFL, many fans appear irritated, saying the NFL and the Chiefs are going overboard with mentions of Swift. Kelce seems to agree, saying, “They’re overdoing it a little bit, especially my situation.”

Influencer campaigns are valuable tools, offering a range of benefits such as broad reach, authenticity and targeted marketing. Nevertheless, they come with challenges like high costs, loss of control and concerns about authenticity. By carefully weighing the pros and cons and tailoring influencer campaigns to fit specific needs and circumstances, PR professionals and brands can leverage this powerful tool to enhance their public image and reach new audiences.

Exploring Threads: What Does It Mean for Public Relations?

Beyond a potential UFC cage fight, competition is fast and furious for Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg as Meta Platforms launched Threads this summer to compete with Twitter, recently rebranded “X”, the popular social media platform Musk purchased last October. So, beyond throwing punches in the ring, the two can now exchange barbs via tweet or thread. But what does all this mean for your public relations strategy?

Threads vs. Twitter/X

First, it’s critical to understand what the two platforms do, how users can find your brand and the audiences the platforms can reach.

Most of us are familiar with Twitter/X and its sometimes frustrating 280 character limit. Now, Threads has burst onto the scene with a 500 character limit and largely the same image and video-sharing capabilities. While there are many similarities between the two platforms, character count is not where the differences end.

Threads was developed through the Instagram app to profile a new space for “real-time updates and public conversations,” according to Meta. The social media giant hopes to expand Threads as it has Instagram so users can follow and connect with other users. Users can access Threads via their Instagram account and handle, giving brand users a foundational audience from the get-go. The Threads feed will provide content from those the user follows as well as content recommended by Meta based on the user’s profile and history.

Again, while not many, key differences do exist between the two platforms that could influence your company’s decision on whether or not to engage it. Variety compiled this list:

  • Threads feeds users post from accounts they follow as well as others, similar to how Meta manages Instagram feeds.
  • Users cannot interact via Threads’ web interface, only read content via the web.
  • Threads does not allow users to only view posts from those the user follows.
  • European Union countries cannot access Threads for the time being.
  • Users cannot search by key word, only by user account. So, users cannot follow topics or trends. This user limitation could prove problematic for brands looking to boost awareness via the platform.

As of July 17, both Twitter/X and Threads have rate limits, which restrict the number of posts a user can view, among other things. Reported spam bot attacks led Threads to follow Twitter’s lead here, according to TechCruch. One controversial aspect of Threads that is drawing attention is that the platform does not allow users to delete their Threads account, unless they delete Instagram as well.

As to which social media platform will get the most traffic long-term, that is still to be determined. While traffic surged for Threads in the days after its launch and Twitter reportedly took a hit, the tides could be changing. On July 18, PC Magazine reported that daily active users (Android only, not iOS) dropped to 23.6 million from 49 million on July 7. At its peak, Threads had 49 million users, compared to Twitter’s 109.4 million.

What’s right for your company?

Only time will tell what the right platform is for your company. While business owners may want to bury their heads in the sand and stick to what they know rather than diving into a new social media platform, no one can deny the value in understanding your options.  

At minimum, business owners should talk to their marketing and PR teams about Threads and understand the pros and cons a presence on the platform could bring to the brand. Marketing and PR teams could see tremendous advantage in a brand communicating via Threads because they would have a longer character limit to more vividly tell stories and share longer-form content. Or they may see considerable value in leveraging the brand’s already existing Instagram and Facebook audience through Threads. Your marketing team could also be drawn to Threads in the early days as advertising is not yet offered and as a result, is unable to interrupt or distract viewers from the brand’s posts. On the flip side, it’s unknown how the platform will change once advertisers join the mix.

And then, of course, it’s no secret that Elon Musk is viewed by some as somewhat controversial. When he lifted previously imposed Twitter bans on high-profile figures earlier this year, some advertisers became uneasy about their participation on the social media platform worried their advertisement could be posted beside objectionable material.

Despite the new competition and some controversy, Twitter, now X, is still a leading social media platform and demonstrated means for many brands to reach their target audiences. So, unless your brand leadership is vehemently opposed to the platform, it might be wise to continue to have a presence. At the same time, explore Threads. While we can’t say whether or not it will be around for the long-term, why not give it a try? If you want to learn more about boosting your presence on social media as part of an integrated publication relations campaign, contact us.

Get to know Mattison Brooks, Public Relations Manager

Public relations is all about relationships—the people behind the stories. That’s why we’re offering this blog series all about our team members. This isn’t about our professional accomplishments but who we are as people. We hope you have as much fun reading along as we do interviewing each other.

1. What got you interested in public relations?

My love of public relations spun off from a combination of my early journalism career, a deep love for American history, and my love of good storytelling. After a short but intense stint covering politics on Capitol Hill at CNN and working local news in a few regional Virginia markets and my hometown in Western Canada, I realized I wanted to do communications differently than I had previously. I learned that I was really excited by taking on the challenges of shaping messaging, crafting narratives, and helping organizations navigate the media world, crisis communications, and engaging the public in mission-focused communications. Working in the non-profit world was an easy jump after graduate school. And that road ultimately led me to here – a new and exciting way to keep telling great stories and engaging clients in new and innovative ways.

2. Tell us about your favorite movie and what appeals most to you about it?

Anyone that knows me knows that this is a multi-hour discussion. However, because I’ve got a word limit, I’ll grudgingly choose one; and that is The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring. This movie never fails to give me chills to this day – and as a young kid, this movie blew my mind. The movie score, the cinematography, the acting, the scale and scope of what was built and created gave life to Tolkien’s masterpiece. I truly believe there’s never been a movie like it… and short of the new Dune movies, there may never be again.

3. What was the last, best book you read and what about it spoke to you?

The last book I read was a guilty pleasure: World War Z by Max Brooks. Totally just an entertaining and thrilling book, written in the form of a pseudo-documentary about a global war against zombies. The movie wasn’t great, but the book is fantastic. The last book that I read that inspired me and spoke to me was probably Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. The life of George Washington is truly something that people need to read to believe. There’s something very inspiring about a person whose singular commitment to honor and duty shaped the way that we view civic virtue and our system of government to this day. Not without his flaws, the book also does a wonderful job exploring how deeply complicated and conflicted Washington was with his own family, his career, and his view of the revolution he helped fight. How that book and the story of George Washington hasn’t been given a proper treatment or at least translated into an HBO mini-series a-la John Adams or Chernobyl, is beyond me.

4. Tell us about a meaningful hobby or outside of work commitment that is important to you.

I am really into winter sports, which makes living in Florida an interesting place for someone who grew up playing ice hockey and snowboarding. But any time I can manage to get to the mountains I feel completely refreshed. There’s nothing quite like the total peace and quiet at the top of a mountain. It is a great place to clear your head and decompress.

5. Share a fun fact about you.

I am an avid cook and am constantly trying out new recipes for my wife and me. Not all of them are winners, but we’ve stumbled across some absolutely great ones that have become staples in our house. To quote the great classic, Ratatouille: “You must try things that may not work. Anyone can cook; but only the fearless can be great.”

Is it mine? How to share your PR win

You’re famous! Well, somewhat famous. You were included in a great article in a highly regarded, well-read industry publication, and your thought leadership or interview made the front page. The next steps usually involve raising awareness of the story and sharing it among your colleagues, clients and peers. But can you do more? What if your quote would fit perfectly in an upcoming presentation or marketing material? They’re your words, aren’t they?

The short answer is – it’s complicated.

While they may be your thoughts on the page, an article is usually owned by the publication that published the article. This applies to thought leadership as well. Even if you are the bylined author, most publications own the rights to the submitted content they publish. So, what are the dos and don’ts of sharing content?

The Dos

First, most publications encourage authors and sources to share content they contribute through social media, as long as the post links back to either the original story or the publisher’s social media post about the content. Tagging the article and the publication are considered good practice and drawing attention to a story is a great way to deepen relationships with the media.

When it comes to your website, include a link to the article in your press page. This usually involves posting the title of the piece, the author, and the date it was published along with a hyperlink to the original piece. Generally, as long as you are linking to the content on the publication’s website and not copying content, you are not violating any rules related to intellectual property or copyright.

For marketing purposes, it is also acceptable to include mention of the article and is preferable to the publishers if your mention provides details on where to find the original article. For example, if a brochure discusses how a subject matter expert discussed a topic in a recent Forbes article, that is fair game and preferable to all parties if that mention includes the date that article was published.

The Don’ts

The general rule is once content is submitted to a publication, they own it – even if they are your own words. While linking to the original article is not different than any other social media post, taking written content and posting it without a link or credit is generally a violation of the publication’s intellectual property. At the very least, it is a great way to burn a bridge with a valued media contact and their publication.

This applies to more than just website content. Marketing materials and other communications should not include unattributed quotes, segments or articles. A bylined article should also be considered the property of the publication once it has been submitted for publishing. Many publications will have language to this effect in the legal notices on their website or even request that you sign an author’s agreement before publication.

A Rule of Thumb

Many publications may be interested in giving special permission to use their content as long as they are given the proper credit. There can be a grey area here, but as a rule of thumb, when it comes to who owns the content, regardless of who wrote it, assume it belongs to the publication.  

Get to know Liz Rubino, Media Relations Coordinator

Public relations is all about relationships—the people behind the stories. That’s why we’re offering this blog series all about our team members. This isn’t about our professional accomplishments but who we are as people. We hope you have as much fun reading along as we do interviewing each other.

1. What got you interested in public relations?

I started out my career after graduating from college as a radiologic technologist. After my first child was born, I was a stay-at-home mom to my four children for many years. Our good friends across the street had six kids and they were friends with our kids. In 2007, Gary (the founder of Kimball Hughes PR and our good friend across the street), asked me if I would like to come and work for him. So here I am, 15 years later working in public relations.

2. Tell us about your favorite movie and what appeals most to you about it?

I have always liked movies that Robin Williams has been in and the variety of characters he has played. One of my favorite movies is Mrs. Doubtfire. He is a father who loves his kids and does just about anything to make sure he is a part of their lives each day. Although everything changes within the structure of the family, they were able to come together, compromise and still be a family, just in a different way.

3. What was the last, best book you read and what about it spoke to you?

I like to read mysteries and one author I enjoy is Agatha Christie. Murder on the Orient Express is one of my favorites that takes place on a train that has had to stop due to heavy snow. One of the main characters is detective Hercule Poirot, who appeared in many of Christie’s novels. He  is precise with his methods he uses to solve crimes and not shy in letting everyone know.

4. Tell us about a meaningful hobby or “outside of work” commitment that is important to you?

Becoming a mom has been one of the best parts of my life and now I am a grandmother for the first time. My 2-year-old grandson always puts a smile on my face. He has a great personality and is quite the character. I look forward to spending time with him each week.

5. Share a fun fact about you.

I moved to Florida after I got married and my husband signed me up for scuba diving classes without my knowledge. I was very nervous about taking the classes, but I ended up enjoying the lessons and being best in class on my test. I only got to go diving four times, but each time I enjoyed the experience and the beauty under the water.  

Get to know Rod Hughes, President and Principal

Public relations is all about relationships—the people behind the stories. That’s why we’re offering this blog series all about our team members. This isn’t about our professional accomplishments but who we are as people. We hope you have as much fun reading along as we do interviewing each other.

1. What got you interested in public relations?

I spent just shy of a decade as a reporter and editor before switching to what my journalism colleagues and I had jokingly referred to as “the dark side,” meaning public relations. I ended up doing some initial freelance PR work and loved it. Later, I handled PR for several practice groups at a large global law firm before moving to a full-service agency. It turned out the dark side wasn’t so dark and my journalism training and experiences seemed to help a lot in what became my second act. I’ve never looked back.

2. Tell us about your favorite movie and what appeals most to you about it?

I have several favorites, but one stand-out is a Robin Williams movie called “What Dreams May Come.” The theme is a bit dark – death and the afterlife – but much of the cinematography is beautiful. Despite what appears to be a gloomy story, the movie focuses on the connections to, and importance of, relationships among family and friends, and how those relationships make all the difference when we look back on the totality of our lives. This, and the fact that Williams is reunited in heaven with his beloved dog from years ago places it among several favorites for me.

3. What was the last, best book you read and what about it spoke to you?

I love Russell Baker’s book, “Growing Up.” He was a Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist for The New York Times, and the book details … well, growing up in Depression-era America. It’s a rich, non-fiction character drama told with humor and insight by Baker about his childhood. I loved the writing, the humor found in the absurdity and stresses of life, and the pleasure taken in small, everyday things. What spoke to me was Baker’s style of telling a great story that didn’t involve great things — no heads of state, no decisions that impact millions. Rather, the stories of aunts and uncles, childhood friends, and the adults who helped shape and mold a poor kid living in New Jersey into a successful, well-respected writer.

4. Tell us about a meaningful hobby or “outside of work” commitment that is important to you?

About 10 years ago I bought a home on 2.5+ acres of heavily wooded land. To my continued astonishment, what started out as necessary maintenance has turned into a hobby of novice forestry. If you told me 15 years ago I would enjoy the peace and solitude of cleaning up thousands of leaves or taking a chain saw to a dead tree I would never have believed it. However, it’s a great opportunity to clear your head while focusing on a basic task.

5. Share a fun fact about you.

As a 40th birthday gift, a few friends purchased a small souvenir plot of land in Glencoe, Scotland for me. According to the documentation, I can legally use the title Lord. My friends and I find this funny because in addition to this new title my legal name consists of a first and two middle names as well as my family name. I’m also the third, named after my father and grandfather of the same name. Going by Rod saves a lot of time.

Empowering motorcoach companies to get social

let's work together to spread awareness, secure a better future for the motorcoach industry and get back to business.
Graphic provided in UMA’s social media toolkit

Recently, we had the pleasure of working with the United Motorcoach Association on a quick-start social media toolkit for their members. We were tasked with an interesting challenge: help the industry speak with one voice as they asked for support from the Federal governement in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic — and help motorcoach operators new to social media adopt this tool for their future marketing efforts.

You can read more on the solution we helped UMA create in this article.

#WheresZuck and the Issue of Trust

no fb

Five days. That’s how long it took for Mark Zuckerberg to respond publicly after the revelation that Facebook data was used by U.K.-based Cambridge Analytica to aid the Trump campaign. During that time, Facebook stock lost more than $30 billion in value and #deleteFacebook swept other social media platforms.

Did he respond as fast as possible, gathering all the facts and developing a plan? Or did he wait too long? I’m always a fan of a fast response in the face of a crisis, but also of a response that is strategic and made with all the facts. So, look at the Facebook timeline:

On Monday Paul Grewal, deputy general counsel at Facebook, made the first comment, saying in an email that the company is taking action to make sure the data harvested has been deleted: “We are in the process of conducting a comprehensive internal and external review as we work to determine the accuracy of the claims that the Facebook data in question still exists,” he said. “That is where our focus lies as we remain committed to vigorously enforcing our policies to protect people’s information.”

Monday’s news read like this CNBC report: “The future of Facebook as an advertising platform was called into question by marketers, lawmakers and privacy activists on Monday after revelations that its data on 50 million users was harvested and used by Donald Trump’s political ad firm in 2016.” A hashtag also appeared: #WheresZuck, a sign that the world was waiting for the founder to speak.

On Tuesday, Facebook went further in a statement: “Mark, Sheryl and their teams are working around the clock to get all the facts and take the appropriate action moving forward, because they understand the seriousness of this issue. The entire company is outraged we were deceived. We are committed to vigorously enforcing our policies to protect people’s information and will take whatever steps are required to see that this happens.”

Their strategy was clear: to say that they, too, were victims who were violated and they would take strong action. They also promised Mark would speak on Wednesday—by which time #DeleteFacebook was trending, a WhatsApp cofounder had joined the movement and tens of thousands of users had, indeed, deleted Facebook. Plus, governments on both sides of the Atlantic were calling for more regulation.

When Mark finally spoke on Wednesday, putting a long statement on Facebook, he took responsibility and laid out a plan to ensure this doesn’t happen again. But he stopped short of apologizing (which he did later in media interviews).

So, was five days too long to wait for the Facebook response? It seems so. Even if they needed time to gather all the facts and formulate a plan, Zuckerberg could have posted this himself, because it seems his audience only would hear from him, something he should have known. And what was never addressed was why nothing was disclosed about a problem that may have known about since 2015.

Dante Disparte outlines the problem nicely:

The coat of Teflon that usually shields Facebook and its affable leader, Mark Zuckerberg, who has matured into a techno statesman in the public eye, is beginning to wear thin. Facebook now joins a growing number of firms embroiled in a trust deficit with a case of reputation risk whiplash. …Facebook’s eroding market confidence appears to be self-induced by 5 days of silence and lax third-party risk management. Reports of more than 50 million personal records being accessed by Cambridge Analytica… is not only a terrible violation of consumer privacy, it highlights how trust (the new thrift of the modern economy), is hard to earn and easy to lose. (Read more in Disparte’s Wednesday article in Forbes.)

Losing the trust of regulators, business partners and the public—that’s what happens when your response to a crisis is too little, too late.

 

Responding to Golden (State) opportunities

I was recScreen Shot 2016-07-20 at 2.16.36 PMently reminded that publicity is perhaps one of the most important tools for a non-profit organization. Athletes C.A.R.E., a student athlete organization focused on ending homelessness and hunger, received an unexpected shout out from Nick Young of the L.A. Lakers on a recent episode of Cupcake Wars: Celebrities.

This was an unplanned windfall for Athletes C.A.R.E., but absent a plan to respond and capitalize on the event, it would have ended as a one-time happening missed by many.

Fortunately, Athletes C.A.R.E. took advantage of its active social media presence. For non-profits, leveraging social media can mean a huge boost in messaging attention, and even fundraising.

The first step is to post about the event. Take to every platform where you have an active presence and let followers know your organization has been publicly recognized. In those posts, be sure to tag the relevant names and organizations. For Athletes C.A.R.E., this meant tagging Nick Young, the L.A Lakers, The Food Network and Cupcake Wars. By tagging the appropriate parties (and their social media accounts) you widen the reach of your post and expose your organization to broader audiences. Now not only will your followers see the post, but the followers of anyone you tag will see the post as well.

Additionally, you can reach out to your local newspaper and other local media outlets to alert them of events such as having Nick Young reference your non-profit on national television. Something at that level might warrant a local news story.

Finally, you can follow-up two or three more times via social media over the course of the following week, pointing out different aspects of the initial event to extend the message and the reach. However posting more than that will likely be unwelcome. And any additional social posts about the event should be broken up by other content on social media.

With limited budgets and personnel, publicity and social media are two of the strongest tools in a non-profit’s arsenal. The ability to capitalize on and expand your organization through opportunities such as the situation with Athletes C.A.R.E. will strengthen your organization and help spread your message.

This post is courtesy of Cassidy Taylor, Lafayette College class of 2017, Kimball’s summer 2016 intern.