Newsletter: Q&A in communications
So, you’ve honed the pitch, that 3-4 sentence definition of what your company or organisation is, and what you stand for. But what happens after the press release or media announcement is sent out – if the journalist calls and wants to know more? What will they ask, and how will you respond beyond the pitch?
This is where the ‘Q&A’ comes into play in communications – when you think of all the questions that you might get asked and how you might answer them to create a news story. Of course, you may not think of every question, and the answers you could provide won’t be word-for-word. But preparing a Q&A provides you with the best opportunity to provide the answers that will help inform the journalist’s audience (and other important audiences too, such as customers and investors).
At NewzEngine we believe in the saying ‘eat your own dogfood’ so here’s the Q&A we’ve prepared for our platform.
What does your company do?
NewzEngine enables companies and organisations to create and send news releases to media.
Describe your customer today?
Our target audience is SMEs and Not-for-Profit groups where there is currently no dedicated communications resource. We also think people standing for public office would see this as a way to get their media announcement out to their local communities.
Who will your customers be in three years?
We are looking to export this public relations service to Australia, Pacific Islands, South East Asia and North America.
What is the primary problem you are solving?
Enabling organisations with no dedicated communications expertise to get their message out to a wider audience via a platform for distributing media announcements.
Why has no one solved it before?
News releases are a core part of traditional Public Relations’ activities. As professional communications services are traditionally bespoke and high-touch, they can be expensive and therefore used primarily by larger and more well-resourced organisations.
Are you solving problems for your industry, for society, the world?
NewzEngine is providing a platform for new voices to be seen and heard in business, politics and other important sectors, by enabling a cost-effective way to reach credible media.
Who are your competitors?
We think we’re quite unique in providing a transparent, cost-effective communications service that enables people with no public relations experience to create and send press releases to media in their chosen geographical area and/or sector.
What are the main reasons why people will use your product over a competitor?
It’s the most cost-effective in terms of creating and sending press releases and it provides an extensive how-to guide to creating media announcements, which we don’t believe currently exists in the same way on other sites.
Why did you start the company?
We were asked by people and organisations how to send out media releases – they had no idea where to begin, what to say and who to send it to.
Why are you uniquely qualified to start it?
NewzEngine is founded by Selwyn Manning and Sarah Putt, who between them have over 40 years media and communications’ experience. Selwyn’s career includes roles as a journalist, political press secretary and news media specialist. Sarah has worked as a journalist, public relations specialist and technology commentator.