How To Have Perfect Timing By Marcia Yudkin

Isn’t it “interesting” how some companies get to connect their marketing campaigns to the “news” of the day? They always get their advertising placed perfectly with the story that will naturally sell their products or services.

Or they always seem to get interviewed as experts and naturally attract business!

How do you get that perfect timing?

I’ve blogged on How To Get Free Publicity in the past.

But today Marcia Yudkin’s “Marketing Minute” (Subscription Link) has another tip in that regard…

If  increasing your visibility is on the docket for 2010, you’re probably planning to write articles and pursue media coverage.

You can time those efforts for maximum yesses from editors. Consult the editorial calendars of the publications where you’d like to be published or featured.

An editorial calendar is an issue-by-issue schedule of topics that editors use to book articles and sales staff use to book ads.  Instead of topics falling into place randomly, the editorial calendar provides for highlighting, let’s say, cruises in March, honeymoon trips in June, singles travel in September and business trips in November.

If you’d love for a particular magazine or journal to feature or publish you, look for its editorial calendar at its web site (often in the section for advertisers) or call to request it.

You can also search for slots on a certain topic as follows:

“editorial calendar” 2010 pets

(Substitute your topic for “pets.”)

Locate your topic in each calendar and contact the editor
3-6 months ahead of that for a typical monthly magazine,

3-6 weeks ahead for a weekly publication.

For a steady flow of great marketing ideas, be sure to subscribe to Marcia Yudkin’s “Marketing Minute” (Subscription Link) !