It’s the holiday season – time for family gatherings, office parties, and other traditions. But despite the heightened goodwill toward men, there’s still PR work to be done. How do you make the most of the last six weeks of the year?
1) Plan ahead and expect slower response times.
Journalists enjoy the holidays, too, so don’t be surprised when response times lag as they coordinate travel plans and search for a good sugar cookie recipe. Start planning early for potential holiday stories. Also, assume the last two weeks of the year will be lost productivity, so get your story pitches in earlier than usual.
2) Promote your client’s charitable efforts.
Is your client hosting a toy drive? Perhaps their holiday party is raising funds to feed the homeless? The holiday season is a great time to show the charitable side of your client and their employees. Plus, news coverage can encourage outside vendors and individuals to contribute to the cause. Everybody wins. Be sure to follow up with social media postings that thank volunteers and show your client’s holiday spirit.
3) Avoid press releases close to the actual holidays.
For product introductions, personnel announcements, or customer-focused stories, avoid the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day (particularly when it falls in the middle of the week). Consider setting a specific date (such as Dec. 20) when you stop distributing press releases for the year, because coverage will be spotty at best. Crisis PR doesn’t stick to a schedule, of course, but the rest of your news can probably wait until editorial teams are back from the holidays.