Category: THE BIKER GUIDE®

1. The reasons why your press release isn't getting published

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 23rd Aug 2016

   Press releases are a presentation of facts that are sent to journalists in the hope that they will get published and turned into stories. Whether you are approaching a website, magazine, newspaper or broadcast media, a press release aims to shout about something you have done or achieved, helping to raise the profile of a business, company, organisation or even a person, to consequently boost business and profile.
   

   How you write a press release is determined by the 'who, what, when, where, why and how?', i.e. what's the story about? When's it happening? Who's involved? Where's it taking place? How is it happening? Why is it happening? Read these tips on how to write a press release, if you're stuck.

   So when you've painstakingly put together your own press release only to find that nothing gets published, how do you find out where you're going wrong?

   The following reasons will show you why you might be struggling and how you can tackle them:

   Subject | Press release as an attachment | PDF's - straight to delete | Have you sent everything they need | Image in the correct format | Well-written | Promotional for salesy | Relevant | Nagging to get your article published | Attachments can be security risks | Be patient | Sending press releases rather than advertising | Advertorial |

   Your subject line looks like spam

   When sending your press releases to journalists, make sure you copy and paste the headline into the email subject line. Ensure the headline is punchy, interesting and eye-catching. Don't put things like 'Read this!!!' or 'LATEST NEWS FROM US' – it will just look like spam and is likely to get deleted.

   You included the press release as an attachment

   Journalists don't have time to open documents, that's whether they're PDFs or Word Docs. Simply copy and paste the headline of your press release into the subject line and then paste the rest of the press release into the body of your email. Make it as easy as possible for the journalist to extract the information and they're more likely to use your story. By all means, attach the document as well – to cover all bases.
   
   It is also worth noting that some media companies are now refusing to accept press releases as attachments due to security risks that files may have on opening. Some even have automatic blocks on e-mails sent with attachments.

   You used a PDF

   PDFs are an absolute pain for any journalist. They're difficult to extract information from and are so annoying that I simply delete any press releases I receive in this format. Seems harsh but they take up so much of my time that I've grown to despise them. I can not emphasise this enough – do not use PDFs. Copy and paste your press release into the body of the email and make it really easy for the journalist to use your story.

   You haven't sent everything they need

   Journalists don't have time to chase after you, so make sure you send everything they need first time. That includes the press release and any accompanying images. Don't assume they'll contact you for additional things they might need – just send everything they do need first time. Don't make them chase!

   You sent the wrong type of image

   Journalists spend most of their time replying to emails requesting an image. By the time they get what they need, the journalist might have lost interest in your story. Send the right image along with the press release and you'll have a much better chance of seeing your story published. Just make sure you send the right image, which means Jpegs with at least 300dpi and a minimum of 500KB for print and 'web-ready' images for online publications.

   Journalists won't have time to open up Photoshop and edit images themselves, so make sure they're right. Finally, always send Jpegs as attachments to emails. If sending large files, use WeTransfer or share a Dropbox link so the recipient can easily download them.

   Your press release requires an entire re-write

   Some press releases are so poorly written that it's difficult to understand what they're actually about. Nine times out of 10, a journalist won't have time to re-write the story. Make sure your press release is well-written, concise and factual.

   Your press release isn't newsworthy

   It's an obvious reason, but journalists will only be interested in press releases that carry a genuine story. So make sure your press release has a strong news angle and isn't just something that's trying to sell your products or services.

   Journalists will only ditch press releases containing lots of sales messages, so keep it factual and newsworthy. What makes something newsworthy? Well, have you just launched a new product that's different from anything else? Or won a client in an unusual way? Put a 'journalist hat' on and consider the sorts of stories that are more likely to get published.

   You clearly don't know the media

   Before you issue any press release, investigate the media you're targeting. Do they have any specific sections where your story would fit in? Do they have a certain style of writing? Do they prefer to have a chat over the phone or do they like to be emailed instead? Get to know the media you're targeting and you'll stand a much better chance of achieving coverage.

   You're becoming a pain

   If someone is constantly nagging a journalist with questions like 'when is my story going to get published?', then they'll be more inclined to move your press release straight to the trash can. Let's face it! None of us like to be hassled. It only leaves a bad taste in our mouths. To keep the journalist sweet, don't chase too much and don't become a pain. Respect them and understand that you can't secure coverage for everything, as it's really up to them.

   Be patient
   
   You may send an article and have checked and it has not been published. This does not always mean it will not be, as the journalist/editor/web-master may have put your article in the 'to-do' file!

   If you have followed all above and really feel your article is newsworthy, then send a polite message. Never get angry or send a 'thanks for not publishing my article' e-mail as it will surely ruin and chances you have for future articles been published.

   Sending press releases rather than advertising

   Some people will spend hours upon hours writing their own press releases and sending them out over and over again in the hope they will get published AND in the hope it will bring them lots of business from it, rather than simply place an advert with the publication. They do this as they do not want to spend any money on advertising - with anyone.

   Do not think that the journalist/editior has 'missed' the obvious mention of a company/business or (if web-based publication) hyperlink to a website.

   A press release should have a story and be interesting, rather than a subtle (or not) so way to promote - these are known as advertorials. If the place you are asking to place your release has advertising options you may want to considere these before sending such a piece.

    

   The main of this article from Katy Cowan - A writer, journalist and all-round creative, Katy is Founding Editor of Creative Boom. She launched the site in 2009 to support others, as well as indulge her passion for creativity. She loves to discover and champion emerging art, photography and design. Follow her @CBKatyLou

2. Supporting Charities

   Posted on 2:00pm Thursday 18th Aug 2016

   As somebody who has been the voluntary and totally-unpaid chairman of a successful registered charity for almost 24 years, few things anger me quite as much as greedy and immoral ‘charity professionals’ whose only reason for being involved in any charity is blatant greed and self-interest. Not one of these vastly over-paid ‘executives’ would have any involvement in these charities if they were not receiving a big fat pay cheque and a ‘generous expenses package’ as they euphemistically refer to the open-chequebook used for their own convenience and comfort.

   Most bikers are rightly proud of their long history of supporting charitable causes; I just wish they would take the time to find-out how much of their support would be syphoned away by overpaid staff and/or greedy middle-men before deciding which charities to support.

   The charity sector is riddled with these gravy-train charities, Save the Children, Help for Heroes, Cancer Research UK and so many others should be taken to task for such blatant piracy but there seems little political will to do so and the much-vaunted ‘Charities Commission’ has fewer teeth than a daffodil when it comes to controlling the unbridled rapaciousness of many charity executives.

   The only way these grasping bastards will ever be put out to pasture is if enough of the public get wise to their unconscionable greed and withdraw their support.

   In 2015 twelve of the top 100 charities paid their highest earners more than £300,000 and thirty two of the top 100 charities paid their highest earners more than £200,000. And it’s not just the highest paid employees that people need to be aware of; Cancer Research UK has 189 employees who are each paid more than £60,000 per year, with its highest earner on £230,000 per year.

   Here’s a prime example of a greed-riddled charity that is overflowing with avaricious executives who are riding the gravy-train in the 1st class carriage. In February 2014, the Daily Mail reported the following information about the charity ‘Save the Children’:

   The charity ‘Save the Children’ has more than twenty of its executives on salaries of more than £100,000 per year. The Chief Executive of Save the Children International, Jasmine Whitbread is paid around £234,000 per year, and yet she still had time to take a second highly-paid job alongside actress Dame Helen Mirren and artist Tracey Emin in Marks & Spencer’s ‘Britain’s Leading Ladies’ fashion advert campaign.

   The chief executive of ‘Save the Children UK’ Justin Forsyth is on £163,000.00 per year. There have been questions raised in parliament about the indefensible salaries paid to these executives.

   Priti Patel, a member of the House of Commons ‘Public Administration Select Committee’, said: “Taxpayers and individual donors who bankroll these charities will be shocked to see the size of these colossal fat cat salaries. They deserve to know how decisions are made about salaries and who is paid them. The culture of secrecy that exists in some charities must come to an end.”

   Charlie Elphicke MP said: “Think charity and you think volunteers rattling their collecting tins, vocation, and compassion. You don’t think of mega-salaries. It’s unacceptable and it has got to change. Charities should be open and transparent.” 

   OK, this might seem a bit ironic coming from a greedy overpaid Tory MP with a huge expense account, but the point is no less valid for that (and that will no-doubt be a rant for another time).

   I remember a similar call for something to be done about the blatant piracy within this charity’s executive five or six years ago but obviously nothing was done about it.

   The 2015 Third Sector ‘Charity Pay Study’ reported the Save the Children International highest earner to have been paid £257,000 – £267,000. It also reported Save the Children International as having 184 employees who are paid £60,000 or more per year.

   Only public awareness and the boycotting of these corrupt charities will force them to change. All it takes is a little bit of thought and a few minutes research to be sure that your charitable cause is not a gravy-train for greedy immoral bastards!

   Even setting-up an on-line system to enable people to donate to a charitable fund-raising event can be a bit of a minefield. ‘Just Giving’ are one of the best known on-line charitable giving companies. Sadly they also take a commission from the donations made through their system and they charge any charities signed-up to this system a standing monthly charge irrespective of whether or not any donations are received in that month.

   Registered charity The National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) refuses to sign-up to ‘Just Giving’ for these very reasons. 

   If you are thinking of setting-up an on-line donation page for a charity event there are one or two providers who do not fleece you or the charity you are supporting. Both ‘Give As You Live’ www.giveasyoulive.com and ‘BT Mydonate’ www.btplc.com/mydonate operate in such a way that every penny raised via your event page goes directly to the charity you nominate and there are no charges to you or to the charity you are supporting for this service.

   So, what about an example of a charity that doesn’t divert donations into fat-cat salaries?

   Well I know of one for certain, because I have been involved in it for 25 years. The National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) guarantees that 100% of every donation will go directly towards the purpose it has been donated for.

   We have only two paid employees (admin staff); both are paid a rate agreed as fair after consultations with several trades unions (and this year, for the second time in five years, both have volunteered to forgo their annual pay revue to help the charity meet growing costs). The costs of employing these two paid employees are funded from the proceeds of our own direct fundraising events and merchandise sales, so none of it comes out of donations.

   All of the National Committee members and other official representatives of the NABD are unpaid volunteers.

   The question has to be asked, If a bunch of ‘raggy-arsed bikers’ can manage a charity this way, why can’t these so-called ‘professional charity executives’? And perhaps an even more pertinent question is: Why are so many bikers and bike clubs still supporting big gravy-train charities instead of an honest volunteer-led charity run by bikers for the benefit of bikers?

   If you’d like to know more about the NABD, see www.nabd.org.uk

   Rick Hulse

   (A slightly abridged version of this article was first published in Back Street Heroes magazine in July 2016).

   Please feel free to share this article.
   
   THE BIKER GUIDE® are proud to be affliated to the NABD. 
   
   

3. Do you have a great photo that you would like to see on the front cover of THE BIKER GUIDE booklet?

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 25th Jul 2016

   It is that time of year when we are preparing for the next issue of our VERY popular booklet, here @ THE BIKER GUIDE, which we distribute for free throughout the year at various events, cafes, meeting places and also via the website...

   Last year the main picture is of Kirkstone Pass, Cumbria taken by Glenn Greenhalgh. See more on his facebook page of Tyne and Wear from the air.  

   The images on the right, were supplied to us by from the top:

   Moto-Hotel du Col de Bussang in France

   Rich Hill at Dunbar Harbour, Scotland
   
   Ian and Gill Andrew, wedding picture on the motorbike
   
   Lisa Morris on Pearl, taken by Jason Spafford at Two Wheeled Nomad
   
   Lower Lode Inn in Gloucestershire, England

   So we are asking the visitors of the website and readers of the booklet - Do you have a great picture that you have taken on your motorcycle that you would like to see on the front cover and of course your name in 1,000's of booklets?

   If so, please send to [email protected] letting us know when and where it was taken, along with your full name. 

   Of course for any images we include you will be sent a copy of the booklet.

   'Best information mag around for Bikers' - Oggy Dave.

4. Quick - the sun is out in the UK...

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 19th Jul 2016

   Pack your tents, sun-cream and shorts/bikini (!) and go camping at a Biker Friendly campsite

   www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerfriendlycamping.html

   

5. Thanks from Haynes competition winner!

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 16th May 2016

   Just a quick message to say thanks so much for the tickets for Haynes Motor Museum which we finally got around to visiting last month.

   We really enjoyed the day and whilst there wasn't that many bikes in the current exhibition they did have a really good speedway section which brought back fond memories of family trips to Belle Vue circuit back in the 70s!
   
   Thanks again and keep up the good work at THE BIKER GUIDE.
   
   

   Best wishes Jude Steele & Stuart Wood xx