What is Newsjacking?
Newsjacking is a digital PR strategy that involves injecting your brand into breaking news stories to generate buzz, build brand awareness, and drive website traffic. It’s a proactive approach to PR that requires quick thinking, creativity, and a deep understanding of the news cycle.
Why Newsjacking Matters
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, newsjacking is more important than ever.
With the rise of social media, news stories can spread like wildfire, and brands that are able to capitalise on these stories can reap significant benefits.
Newsjacking allows brands to:
- Increase brand awareness and reach a wider audience
- Drive website traffic and generate leads
- Establish thought leadership and credibility
- Build relationships with influencers and journalists
- Stay ahead of the competition and dominate the news cycle
Reactive vs. Proactive Newsjacking
There are two types of newsjacking: reactive and proactive.
Reactive newsjacking involves responding to breaking news stories as they happen, while proactive newsjacking involves anticipating news stories and preparing content in advance.
Reactive newsjacking is a whole different ball game.
It requires a team of experts who can quickly respond to breaking news with relevant content. If you’re not prepared to move quickly, you’ll miss out.
Proactive Newsjacking: The Key to Success
Proactive newsjacking is a more effective approach to newsjacking.
It involves anticipating news stories and preparing content in advance. This approach requires a deep understanding of the news cycle, industry trends, and your target audience.
To get started with proactive newsjacking, follow these steps:
Step 1: Identify Relevant News Stories
Monitor news outlets and identify stories that are relevant to your industry or niche.
Use tools like Google Trends, (X) Twitter, and news aggregators to stay on top of trending topics.
Step 2: Develop a Content Calendar
Create a content calendar that outlines upcoming news events and trends.
This will help you plan your content in advance and ensure that you’re always relevant and timely.
Step 3: Prepare High-Quality Content
Develop high-quality content that’s relevant to the news story.
This could be a blog post, video, infographic, or social media post.
Make sure your content is engaging, informative, and optimised for SEO.
The Importance of Timing in Newsjacking
Timing is everything in newsjacking. To be successful, you need to be able to respond quickly to breaking news stories.
This requires a team of experts who can quickly develop and publish content.
Here are some tips for timing your newsjacking efforts:
Tip 1: Monitor News Outlets
Monitor news outlets and social media to stay on top of breaking news stories.
Tip 2: Use Real-Time Analytics
Use real-time analytics tools to track engagement and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Tip 3: Be Prepared to Adapt
Be prepared to adapt your strategy as the news story unfolds.
Amplifying Your Newsjacking Efforts
Once you’ve developed and published your newsjacking content, it’s time to amplify your efforts.
Here are some tips for amplifying your newsjacking content:
Tip 1: Use Social Media
Use social media to share your newsjacking content and engage with influencers and journalists.
Tip 2: Leverage Influencers
Leverage influencers and thought leaders in your industry to amplify your content.
Tip 3: Reach Out to Journalists
Reach out to journalists and offer expert insights and commentary on the news story.
Measuring the Success of Your Newsjacking Efforts
Measuring the success of your newsjacking efforts is crucial to understanding what’s working and what’s not.
Here are some metrics to track:
Metric 1: Website Traffic
Track website traffic to see how many people are visiting your site as a result of your newsjacking efforts.
Metric 2: Engagement
Track engagement metrics such as likes, shares, and comments to see how people are interacting with your content.
Metric 3: Lead Generation
Track lead generation metrics such as form submissions and email open rates to see how many leads you’re generating as a result of your newsjacking efforts.
Newsjacking is a powerful digital PR strategy that can help brands generate buzz, build brand awareness, and drive website traffic. By being proactive, developing high-quality content, and amplifying your efforts, you can stay ahead of the competition and dominate the news cycle.
Remember to track your metrics and adjust your strategy accordingly to ensure maximum ROI.