REGISTER NOW: Uncomfortable Conversations: The Skills Crisis

Tell Me More

REGISTER: 8THIRTYFOUR Skills Survival School Founding Cohort

Save My Spot

Follow Us

Linkedin Instagram Facebook Youtube
$0.00
Shopping Cart

Shopping Cart

No products in the cart.

Return To Shop

Shopping Cart

No products in the cart.

Return To Shop
Close search

Shamrocks On Screen

Share This Post:

Michigan Irish Music Festival organizers talk with FOX17 live in the studio.

Michigan Irish Music Festival came to us wanting a brand refresh. What they got was a dedicated team that created a brand new look–but we’re not here to talk about the creative genius behind their logo (we did that already)- instead, we want to talk about all the pre-event buzz we were able to get for their event… months before the festival.

A Plan is Nothing without Strategy

There’s a lot that goes into securing media coverage, before we even pick up the phone or send an email to a reporter. We compiled research, brought together details on the new rebrand, festival and ticket sale, and compiled a press release with all the relevant information for reporters. 

Then we had to determine who would be the correct reporters to reach out to, which involved researching target markets and pinpointing publications and stations and the reporters at them who are the right fit.

Our main goal with this outreach was to secure media coverage for the festival surrounding the new rebrand and their ticket sale, which fell perfectly on St. Patrick’s Day. 

Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up

After pinpointing who we should reach out to, we got to work, picking up the phone to call and sending emails to reporters. The result: we booked 3 interviews and got MIMF featured in 6 articles. 

But the work didn’t stop there, we prepped Michigan Irish Music Festival staff for the interviews and went with them, to take behind-the-scenes pictures and videos, and offer support. 

During the interviews, we were able to offer the stations more information about the upcoming festival, including the performer set list, which was released close to the St. Patrick’s Day Sale. 

The first interview was a week before St. Patrick’s Day with Cumulus Media and we traveled to Muskegon to meet the team and support the Michigan Irish Music Festival crew. It focused on the new rebrand and the upcoming ticket sale. Then that next week, we had a live interview with WOODTV 8 on their live digital desk and on St. Patrick’s Day, we were in FOX 17’s studio for a live interview on their morning show. The festival team got the word out about the festival’s new look, what’s new this year, the just released performers list, and drove people to get tickets. 

After the interviews, we continued reaching out, getting more eyes on the festival including being featured in the Irish American News, MLive, WZZM 13, and Local Spins’ newsletter. 

The Results

  • 7 pieces of earned media
  • 63,000 total estimated views
  • $23,251 in total advertising value

All that – still months out from the start of the festival. The takeaway–-making a plan for your media outreach pays off. There’s a lot of work and research behind a pitch. Knowing how to stand out and building relationships with media outlets matter.

At 8THIRTYFOUR, we have a human approach towards public relations, we pick up the phone, meet clients and reporters in person, write postcards. That human connection pays off.

Don’t believe us? Check out our PR wins and what we are working on here. Need help getting your story out there? Connect with us. 

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

Something on Your Mind?

Let's Chat

If you ever need proof that personal brand matters...Kim got to see the @nasaartemis II launch in person as a direct result of her Big Deal Energy™.

You need to work hard, show up authentically, and provide value. That was her message to a room full of students and young professionals at @western_michigan_pmi`s theProject Collegiate Competition.

The Big Deal Energy™ Workshop is on June 23. Register at the link in bio.

1 0
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18045223601588457
If you ever need proof that personal brand matters...Kim got to see the @nasaartemis II launch in person as a direct result of her Big Deal Energy™. You need to work hard, show up authentically, and provide value. That was her message to a room full of students and young professionals at @western_michigan_pmi's theProject Collegiate Competition. The Big Deal Energy™ Workshop is on June 23. Register at the link in bio.

Employers think Gen Z is lazy, entitled, and will quit the second things get hard. That perception is keeping you out of the room before you ever get a chance to prove otherwise.

The good news is, you can flip the script, but it will take some serious work and a personal brand, or as Kim Bode refers to it: Big Deal Energy™.

Kim is speaking at theProject™ Collegiate Event, hosted by the Project Management Institute Western Michigan Chapter on April 14. She`ll cover how to build a personal brand that actually sounds like you (not ChatGPT) and how you can show your value through social, content and networking.

Link in bio to learn more.

0 0
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18012680507839574
Employers think Gen Z is lazy, entitled, and will quit the second things get hard. That perception is keeping you out of the room before you ever get a chance to prove otherwise.The good news is, you can flip the script, but it will take some serious work and a personal brand, or as Kim Bode refers to it: Big Deal Energy™.Kim is speaking at theProject™ Collegiate Event, hosted by the Project Management Institute Western Michigan Chapter on April 14. She'll cover how to build a personal brand that actually sounds like you (not ChatGPT) and how you can show your value through social, content and networking. Link in bio to learn more.

No one talks about how lonely it is to own a business. The tough decisions land on you, the business doesn`t pause when you need a break, and nobody - not your employees or your spouse - really gets it.

If you know a business owner, tell them they`re doing a good job. It matters more than you know.

5 0
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18115092436709128
No one talks about how lonely it is to own a business. The tough decisions land on you, the business doesn't pause when you need a break, and nobody - not your employees or your spouse - really gets it. If you know a business owner, tell them they're doing a good job. It matters more than you know.

The growth stage is the hardest part of building a business.

Kim was recently quoted in @corpmagazine on what she sees running the Women`s Entrepreneurial Fellowship: women who have built something, survived the hardest part, and are still doing everything themselves. The natural tendency to be humble and attached to their work creates unique business challenges for women; they put up walls because they can`t be vulnerable.

Meanwhile, when a woman CEO needs growth capital, she compiles three years of tax returns before a bank will schedule a meeting, while her male competitor closes the same deal over drinks.

When women have access to the right resources, they grow and invest back. Full article at the link in bio.

4 0
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18078804740143427
The growth stage is the hardest part of building a business. Kim was recently quoted in @corpmagazine on what she sees running the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship: women who have built something, survived the hardest part, and are still doing everything themselves. The natural tendency to be humble and attached to their work creates unique business challenges for women; they put up walls because they can't be vulnerable. Meanwhile, when a woman CEO needs growth capital, she compiles three years of tax returns before a bank will schedule a meeting, while her male competitor closes the same deal over drinks.When women have access to the right resources, they grow and invest back. Full article at the link in bio.