| One of the most ignored sections of a website is the | | | | executives, board of directors, and directors of sales |
| media section. Many times it is often an afterthought | | | | and marketing. At minimum, the President or |
| when mapping out a site's architecture. However, the | | | | Chairperson's bio should be included in the media |
| media section can be one of the most valuable tools in | | | | relations section of the website. |
| your media activities. So, what should be included in a | | | | Photos |
| media section on your website? Here's a list of | | | | Have photos of the company's executive teams, |
| different things that should be included to ensure that | | | | board of directors, spokespeople for different product |
| the media section of your website is working to gain | | | | lines, or sales and marketing directors- anyone |
| your brand the attention it deserves. | | | | interacts with the media. Product photos should be |
| Backgrounder | | | | included along with photos of product installations or |
| One thing that should be included is the company | | | | demonstrations. For example, if you sell software, |
| history or an overview. The press and public relations | | | | show someone working with it at a computer screen. |
| professionals call it a backgrounder. It gives an editor or | | | | Action shots are what the press likes the best. Make |
| a producer a quick education on your company: how it | | | | sure all your photos are high-resolution (at least 300 dpi |
| started, where it came from, and how it has evolved. | | | | or dots per inch), downloadable, and at a size of |
| Annual Report | | | | around five inches by seven inches. |
| If our organization issues an annual report and has it | | | | Logo |
| available as a download such as a PDF (portable | | | | Be sure to include your company logo in a |
| document format) file, including it in the media relations | | | | high-resolution downloadable format, in case an editor |
| section is a good idea. This is especially important for | | | | decides he or she wants include it in an article in some |
| public companies. This gives even more background | | | | way. |
| information to the press, and provides additional | | | | Video |
| information on financial standings. | | | | With today's interactive and multimedia environment, it's |
| Press Releases | | | | also great to include videos. If you have videos of your |
| Include current and previous press releases. Display | | | | key spokespeople, events, or product demonstrations, |
| them in a couple of different ways. Show the current | | | | these are great. Many companies are not necessarily |
| press releases at the top, most visible place. Also | | | | hosting these on their own websites. They are |
| have an archive. Most companies archive it by year | | | | uploading them onto a video site such as YouTube |
| and have links to different previous years: 2009, 2008, | | | | and having links or apps on their websites for them. |
| 2007, etc. | | | | Media Relations Contact |
| Links to Stories | | | | Always make sure that contact information for your |
| If you have them, include links to placements. For | | | | media relations person is included on the website. It's |
| example, if you have a television channel that has | | | | very frustrating for someone in an editorial or |
| posted a video include a link to that. If there's an online | | | | production role to want to get a hold of someone so |
| newspaper or magazine that has done an article on | | | | that they can feature a product or a service, but are |
| your company, provide a link to that. These are | | | | unable to get a hold of the right person to make those |
| always good because the press likes to know that | | | | arrangements. |
| your company has buzz around it. If they see other | | | | Key to all of these suggestions is to make sure that |
| members of the press are talking about you, then they | | | | the media section of your website is searchable. If |
| may think that perhaps they should do too. If you don't | | | | possible, use a database management system versus |
| have links, no worries. You can include these in due | | | | straight static web coding. This makes it very easy for |
| time. | | | | the trade press. Including these items in the media |
| Bios | | | | section of your website will bolster your media |
| There should be links to bios for your spokespeople, | | | | relations plans. |