As was mentioned earlier, the Flintshire Business Week 2009 sponsors evening introduced a number of local companies together in one room. One very welcome contact was from the Evening Leader, our local paper.

Very soon the conversation on how to get a business into the local paper was raised. The answer was enlightening.

Firstly, tell the paper that something is happening! While they have reporters, they are not yet skilled in ESP mind reading!

Secondly, if you have a story, make sure it is interesting to people outside your company and your industry. While it is good news that XYZ Ltd hit is quarterly targets and now has 35% of the widget market, it is of no interest to Mrs Jones, living on the outskirts of Mold.

Finally, Don’t think that a story is related to your advertising budget. While it would be nice for the local paper to see more income, their main goal is to produce interesting stories for the local population.

So, what is the sort of thing that should make a local paper write a story about you and your business? Let us know in the box below!

We are also hoping to speak to the national media soon and will ask them what they find interesting – Watch this space!

Originally posted 2009-06-18 10:41:55.