10 Steps To Get Local Media Love For You & Your Food Truck

In numerous articles we have stressed the importance in building and maintaining relationships with your local media outs. Today we will look at how you can show reporters you respect them and, in turn, help to get local media love for you and your mobile food business.

Here are 10 steps to get local media love:

There may be a lot of common sense in these suggestions, but for many vendors, they just don’t have the experience in marketing an press relations. Keep reading to find out more…

Invite The Media To Eat Your Food

Nothing will endear you and your truck to a reporter’s heart more than offering them some of your delectable offerings.

Take note: Make sure you make it right. This type of peace offering can surely backfire if you hand a media member a food item that isn’t cooked properly or even gets them sick.

Help Them

This could include offering additional resources for a story such a customer or another local food truck reference, a link to a video explaining your truck, your background, the truck’s logo or compelling image, results from a survey with data on the food truck industry, and so on. This makes it easier for them to do a story. After all, if you make their jobs easier, they may keep coming back for more.

Rapid Response

We understand your schedule is always busy, but when the media asks for something, be ready to send it as soon as possible. Don’t make them wait three days for a photo or other request. Think and prepare ahead to be ready with whatever they may ask for. They’ll appreciate it and be more likely to turn to you in the future.

Always Be Yourself

Nothing will turn off a reporter more than if they feel you are not being sincere with them. Formulated answers and a fake bravado will certainly put you on their favorites list. Humility and sincerity are great traits to show the press especially if they come from the heart.

Get To Know Them

Do a little research to see the types of stories they write and the topics they cover. If you do this prior to initially introducing yourself, it will help you craft a better message and maybe even stand out in their crowded mailbox.

Email Email Email

According to the reporters we’ve spoken with, they prefer to be pitched via email vs. social media. So, why not go with that instead of trying to pitching them in 280 characters?

Don’t Be A Pest

Sure, it’s alright to send a follow-up email. Wait a few days or a week after your initial message, but whatever you do, don’t pepper them with multiple emails, calls and social media messages? This is a quick way to find your messages in their email trash cans.

Please & Thank You

If they do respond to your pitch, make sure you thank them for their time and interest. Also, ask them what stood out in your pitch that attracted them to follow. Maybe it was a great subject line or perhaps it was simply good timing. That way, you can use the same type of approach in your next attempt.

Build A Relationship

Make yourself a valuable resource for reporters; they’re more likely to turn to you in the future when they’re looking for help with another story.

Don’t Get Offended

Members of the media receive multiple pitches each day of the week. Sometimes, your story just isn’t going to get followed up on, no matter how hard you push it. You’re competing for their time with every other small business or food service establishment in your community. Just take solace in the fact that in some cases you’ll win and in others you’ll lose.

Be Likable

Showing respect for a reporter’s busy schedule and deadlines, thanking them for their time (see above), and keeping in touch all go a long way toward making them fall in love with you and your food truck business.

The Bottom Line

As a food truck owner, it is your responsibility to get your truck into the thoughts of every person in the communities you serve. There are a number of different ways you can do this. Today’s article shared a few ways to get local media love, and thus get media coverage without spending a dime.

Have you used other approached to get local media love in your area? We’d love to hear your story. Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section, our food truck forum or social media. Twitter | Facebook