Turn Your Story into a Press Magnet

 

Whether you’re an Actor, a Creator or some other type of creative Artist, one key factor to your career success is attracting attention for your work.

 

Let’s face it, the more awareness you generate, the more likely it is that you can afford (both mentally and financially) to keep doing what you love.

 

So, this is why you’re probably always searching for ways to build your fan base, which has led you to the idea of using press to build your buzz. Press articles about you have the potential to reach out to people who don’t know anything about you and deliver them as a lasting fan for life.

 

How? By creating a connection through the telling of a good story. I’m not talking about the plotline of your newest project or the backstory of your latest character. I’m talking about the story behind everything you do – your story.

 

People naturally gravitate towards a human element. They seek stories that create a connection on an emotional level. So, it makes sense that Reporters want to cover these types of stories.

 

While it’s definitely important to understand the timeliness of your press campaign and how that can impact a Reporters interest level…it’s also smart to offer them a unique story angle that will pique the curiosity of their audience.

 

Have I piqued your curiosity? Good…now let me explain.

 

I often suggest timing your press campaign around the premiere of your upcoming role or project. This creates a sense of urgency that most Reporters are looking for. But, that’s not always enough, especially if they write feature articles. Sometimes they need more to work with and that’s when I like to offer them an interesting story about you. It can relate directly to your work on that specific project or it can be from your life. Either way, it should reveal something about your personal experience.

 

At this point, you might be stressing out because you’re not exactly sure what your “story” is or how to tell it.

 

Don’t worry…I’m highlighting a few things you can do to start preparing to tell your story:

 

#1 Write down everything.

 

If you’re like me, then you sometimes forget things. That’s why I suggest you keep a journal while you’re working on your next project. Journal about those moments in-between the takes that only those individuals who are lucky enough to be on-set will know about. These notes can help to spark a variety of story angles that will become a pitching tool during your press campaign.

 

As an actor walking onto an established set, write down what that feels like. Take notes about what you notice behind the scenes and what you learn while working on the project with this team.

 

When you’re the creator of a project, you’ve got plenty of things to journal about. Keep notes about your experience during pre-production, the shoot, post-production and everything else along the way. Jot down details about the entire process, all the way from getting it out of your head to screening it for an audience.

 

#2 Transform struggles into useful tales.

 

Being an artist means you’re going to struggle at some point – everyone does. Your stories don’t always have to share an upbeat moment. People like to root for an underdog, so don’t shy away from difficult times in your life or your career.

 

However, you want to be careful when sharing negative aspects of a production. Don’t make the negativity about other people. Instead, turn the experience into a story that showcases how you needed to adjust your style of working or what it taught you as an artist. Use it to share how you overcame an obstacle. If it rained non-stop and was freezing cold, then how did that effect you and your ability to get the job done.  

 

Don’t mistake what I’m saying — I’m not giving you approval for trash talking. In fact, I’m suggesting the opposite. Showcase how you were able to turn a potentially negative situation into a positive learning experience. Not only can this become an interesting story, but it also highlights your professionalism.

 

#3 Uncover your journey.

 

It’s the journey that people will be most interested in. Everyone has a story behind the story. It’s the path that you’re on in your personal life and how it intersects with your career.

 

These types of story possibilities are endless and ever changing. They can start in your childhood years and expand all the way to where you are today and even into where you’re heading in the future. Sometimes they might appeal to a very specific group of people and other times they can expand to a wider audience.

 

I realize that sometimes your personal journey feels too raw or hurtful to share — so don’t. Never feel like you must reveal something in your past or present that you’re uncomfortable with discussing.

 

 

Overall, start paying attention to how your story helps to shape your personal life and your career. Look for ways to tell your story that will create that emotional connection we all crave. Keep in mind that throughout your career your story will change and grow because you don’t have only one story to tell. You just have to start looking for them.

 

THANKS!