
Letters to the Editors Work
Don't forget about this old-school marketing tactic in a social media world.
Even in today’s social media world, the letters to the editor columns are among the best-read sections of any newspaper, whether it is the Smalltown News or USA Today. It is your link to the public. But major newspapers get hundreds of letters each week and most run only a few letters a day.
The rules for getting your letter in the paper or being posted online:
- Be timely. If your letter is about news that’s three weeks old, nobody cares what you have to say
- Be brief. Keep it short, simple and to the point, under 200 words.
- Have an angle. Make sure your letter is different than the hundreds of others the newspaper receives. Have a reason for them to run it.
- Be sure it is well-written and typed.
- Try to make reference to something that has been in the newspaper, especially in another letter to the editor.
Where in the World is Anthony?
Gave opening conference keynote this morning in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Presenting tip 48: Always type and double space your notes. Make the font size large enough for you to see 7 feet away. This allows you to move around, which makes you less boring.
Spoke this morning on Kiawah Island, South Carolina at a global chemical company's executive leadership meeting. Communications tip 27: People are constantly judging (often subconsciously) your non-verbal mannerisms. What is YOUR body saying?
Worked all day today in Campinas, Brazil with a global manufacturer. Messaging tip 12: Stick to 3-5 key points per topic. It forces prioritization. Less is definitely more.
Just wrapped day two in Sao Paulo, Brazil working with the Latin America leadership team of a a global chemical company. Small Talk Tip 9: Want to get better at small talk? Become a more interesting person. Want to become a more interesting person? DO interesting things.
Working this week in Brazil. Crisis comms tip 11: By the time you hear the thunder, it's too late to build the ark. Prepare now! Get a crisis communications plan, build a shadow website, collect contact info, write your AI messaging prompts, and so much more.