Letters to the Editors Work
Don't forget about this old-school marketing tactic in a social media world.
Even in today’s social media world, the letters to the editor columns are among the best-read sections of any newspaper, whether it is the Smalltown News or USA Today. It is your link to the public. But major newspapers get hundreds of letters each week and most run only a few letters a day.
The rules for getting your letter in the paper or being posted online:
- Be timely. If your letter is about news that’s three weeks old, nobody cares what you have to say
- Be brief. Keep it short, simple and to the point, under 200 words.
- Have an angle. Make sure your letter is different than the hundreds of others the newspaper receives. Have a reason for them to run it.
- Be sure it is well-written and typed.
- Try to make reference to something that has been in the newspaper, especially in another letter to the editor.
Where in the World is Anthony?
Gave closing keynote this morning at a conference in Orlando. Social Media Tip 34: Educate yourself on AI Chatbots. A lot of those posts that incense you and make you share them in real life are not created by a human being. We are being manipulated.
Gave keynote this afternoon in Los Angeles. Body Language Tip 9: If you have a habit of swaying or rocking, put 1 foot forward, the other slightly open and perpendicular to it. It'll lock you in place. And watch the swivel chairs in virtual calls!
Speaking this week in California and Florida. Presenting tip number 1: Secret to wowing any audience is VARIETY: in voice, movement, pace, gestures, visuals, interaction, etc. Mix it up and stop being boring!
Spent the day in Ft Wayne, Indiana speaking at a construction-industry leadership academy. Presenting tip 22: Frenetic movement when presenting is bad (think 'caged tiger'). Instead, slowly ebb and flow like the tide, picking spots to stop and pause along the way.
Spent the day in Indianapolis working with an electrical contractor. Negotiation tip 33: Don't mirror your opponent's demeanor, especially if the tone/questions are negative.