Volume 5, Edition 2

Getting Media Coverage Takes More Than Luck   If you’re looking to have your story covered by journalists, it’s time to ditch the four-leaf clover and develop a solid communications strategy.   Here are some winning tips from our Director, Sarah Hoodspith who leads many of Zenergy’s  PR campaigns: Identify appropriate outlets and journalists. Do your research! Choose your timing. Deliver pitches in a timely manner but be mindful of bad timing. Adapt based on your audience. Adjust your content to make it relevant for each target segment and their audience. Spend time on the top tier. Take the time to write a personalized message to key media and explain why you’re reaching out to them by suggesting story ideas, interview opportunities, etc. Follow up, but don’t be pushy.   Zenergy’s PR team has developed media outreach strategies for all sorts of industries from high-end fashion and spirits to manufacturers and technology. Here’s a snapshot of our 2022 PR campaign initiatives:

Executed in 4 languages. Reached more than 1 billion people.

Featured on TV, video, radio, podcasts, print, and digital platforms.

#Poll Where are you putting most of your efforts when it comes to your content marketing?

I spend the most effort on... Social media Select Press releases Select Blogs and newsletters Select Articles and white papers Select Email outreach Select Mobile messaging (SMS) Select

Other? Send us an email and let us know.

What We’ve Been Reading Why So Many American Retailers Have Failed In Canada [Feature/Expert Interviews]   You’ll never guess the state that makes the most renewable energy   Which social media giants will suffer most in the digital ad downswing?   7 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick's Day Share what you’re reading by tweeting #FGreads or DM us.

Content Development… Don’t Chance It!   Content marketing can include blogs, newsletters, press releases, social media, eblasts, etc. No matter the format, make sure that your content tells a story, ensures brand positioning, and supports marketing and sales efforts.   Here are a few quick tips: Establish goals – what are you looking to achieve? Develop strategy and key messages. Identify your target audience. Select the content format(s). Craft actual content. Establish a budget to promote your content, if applicable. Map out distribution timelines. Distribute content. Track your results. Download our Content Development Handout and learn some tips on creating valuable content.

#DidYouKnow Think Big, Shop Small Over the past few months, we’ve been working hard alongside our partner Retail Strategies to develop a module for small business owners looking to develop their marketing strategies and expertise. The module is called ‘Retail Through the Lens of Omni-Channel’, and over the course of one webinar and six subsequent sessions, Zenergy team members cover everything retailers need to know so that they may effectively leverage today’s digital and social media environments. We look forward to continuing to grow this partnership with Retail Strategies and help small business owners across North America thrive. For more information, click here!

#ProInsights De-Influencing and Gen Z   Gen Z is a consumer segment (born between 1995 and 2012) that wants to make more intentional and sustainable purchases. Given this, they have a greater interest in content developed by de-influencers - social media influencers promoting what they do not recommend. Examples include Sephora employees posting about beauty products not to buy and trade influencers sharing the types of materials they don't recommend.    To address this, companies wishing to target Gen Z are recommended to focus on multiple micro- or nano-influencers who present products in a more authentic manner rather than a larger ‘bought and paid for’ influencer. Compared to mega-influencers, micro- and nano-influencers often have higher engagement rates and greater authenticity, driving better results and stronger return on investment.    #FunFact: In general, marketers categorize influencers into three groups: Mega-influencers: 100k+ followers Micro-influencers: 10k to 100k followers Nano-influencers: 1k to 10k followers

#FGStory Watch How Continents Moved Over 100 Million Years in Video The last 100 million years of continental movement have recently been calculated by scientists and illustrated in a 23-second video, to an astonishing 10-kilometer resolution. Watch the video above to learn how our world came to be.

Photo: Sasha Prasastika

Took a photo that you are proud of? Send it along and our team will select amongst those submitted to be featured in our next newsletter.

Wishing all our readers a lucky St. Patrick’s Day!