1. Riverside Nashville Department of Communications Ministry Area Workshop – Marketing Communications MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS & PRESS RELEASES

2. Social media marketing is a form of internet marketing that implements various social media networks in order to achieve marketing communication and branding goals. The platforms we use include: Facebook Twitter, and Instagram SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING

3. Social media marketing primarily covers activities involving social sharing of content, videos, and images for marketing purposes. SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING Consistent with other areas of online marketing, content reigns king when it comes to social media marketing. Make sure you are offering valuable information that your ideal customers will find interesting. Create a variety of content by including social media images, videos, and infographics in addition to classic text- based content. Marketing will be covered with the Social Media Workshop.

4. Press releases are virtually free marketing tools. They can help your create buzz, increase visibility offline and online and have the potential to drive website traffic. PRESS RELEASES AS MARKETING TOOLS

5. A simply written statement to the media with some news of interest to a particular audience. Here are a few common practices for creating a press release. WHAT IS A PRESS RELEASE?

6. Easy to publish : Some media publications take your press release and use it with little or no editing or without alteration. The more regular information and details you include and the less work the media has to do, the greater likelihood of acceptance, raising your chance of publication. PRESS RELEASES AS MARKETING TOOLS

7. Powerful start : Your title and initial lines should briefly and directly convey just what you need to say. Add the traditional 5 questions: “who, what, where, when and why” inside the lead within your press release. The remaining components of your press release really should include any available supporting facts and examples PRESS RELEASES AS MARKETING TOOLS

8. Relevant : Make an effort to point out real examples to support what it’s all about you’re trying to convey. Show why your information is relevant and informative plus how it benefits the reader. PRESS RELEASES AS MARKETING TOOLS

9. No Jargon Avoid industry jargon: If your release is difficult to understand for journalists not fluent in your marketplace, the less likely it is to have it picked up. A limited amount of industry terminology is OK if you are truly working to optimize the news release for the proper audience and for internet search engines. PRESS RELEASES AS MARKETING TOOLS

10. Don’t get yourself into trouble. Businesses can be defensive about others using their name, logo or image. Obtain from them written approval before you include information or quotes from officers or managers of companies. Or at least generalize the company (e.g. a firm in the photovoltaic industry or a prominent financial consultant, etc.) when mentioning them. PRESS RELEASES AS MARKETING TOOLS

11. Do not use exclamation points! If you use them you could possibly diminish your credibility by using too much hype. But if you have to include an exclamation point, include only one! Not several!!! LOL. PRESS RELEASES AS MARKETING TOOLS

12. Riverside Information : The press release should finish up with a short explanation of Riverside including what we do and brief history. Also include contact information, both contact number and e-mail and whatever else is related, for the spokesperson of each of the companies. PRESS RELEASES AS MARKETING TOOLS