What motivates journalists, bloggers? Most of these 40 things

Attracting a journalist’s or blogger’s attention for your story idea is no different than attracting a consumer’s attention for a product or service.

That’s what I concluded when I read What motivates people? Beckwith 40, written by  branding expert Harry Beckwith, strategic director of Beckwith Partners, a marketing firm.

Take, for example, three of his 40 points:

He says: “Your biggest competitor is not a competitor; it’s your prospect’s indifference. “

Translation: “When it comes to grabbing the publicity spotlight, your biggest competitor is not a competitor; it’s a journalist’s or a blogger’s indifference.”

* * *

He says: “Prospects decide in the first five seconds.”

Translation: “Journalists and bloggers decide if they like your pitch in the first five seconds.”

* * *

He says:  “People don’t care how good you are. They care how good you can make them.”

Translation: “Journalists and bloggers don’t care how good you are. They care how good you can make them.” 

All the more reason why you should be building strong relationships with journalists and being a valuable source they love.  Ditto for reaching out to bloggers and helping them do their jobs.    

Thanks to David Avrin, aka The Visibility Coach, for writing about this in his ezine and catching my attention, and for blogger Rajesh Setty for featuring it. 

This list is a keeper.