PR people - should I accept this challenge?

[pickupthismess]

or am I riding for a fall?

A potential client has offered me a potentially lucrative piece of work with quite a clear remit and that is to get him into national newspapers. Have never tried this before (I work with fairly rural businesses whose ambition is to be int he local press).

What should I do?

whats the problem here?
that you have no contacts or that it just seems too much a 'shot in the dark'.....

Does he know that you don't have any contacts there? Is he aware that this would be new for you?

Pickupthis mess, go for it.
Your business needs to diversify and expand.
Don't look a 'gifthorse' in the mouth.

Be prepared to sacrifice some more hours for this project, and get stuck in, collaborate on areas where you feel a bit shaky - pick a few brains at lunches.
Good luck.

Well pea I haven't told him I have any contacts with the national press (I don't). I met him and ran through a number of local options etc and then when he emailed me to confirm he told me he wanted the campaign to be aimed nationally not locally.

I have a choice; tell him I have no contacts or just accept the challenge. My business partner has been in PR for ages and is very sceptical about taking on anyone who wants national coverage because it's so hard to get. But he's my client and as I say it's worth a reasonable amount for a start-up.

Zazen I'm tempted but I'm not sure nationals would be interested really.

but if you don't think the challenge is do-able, ie you don't think there will be any national interest, do you want to suggest to him that you can do it? Tempting to give it a go, can you just be really open and honest with him and see how far you can get? He must think you're worth a shot.

And it does sound like a fab opportunity.

Try this link

www.gettingink.typepad.com/journos

It lists various journalists details and also has a page where journalists request stories for their commissioned articles.
I'm sure there must be other similar websites for the industry.

PUTM - having just read the thread back, i sounded a bit arsey in my first post.

I'm doing somrthing not so disimmilar at the mo myself.
Go for it
You need to go gently on the client and lower his expectations a bit!
All contacts made are just that. good luck!

Lack of contacts won't matter if you've got the right story.

Is it trade or consumer coverage, he's after? I worked with the nationals for years and they are very tricky. You'll need an angle

Do it if you think he's got a story that the nationals would be interested in (or one you can create for him). If the story's good enough, your lack of contacts don't matter.

Don't do it if he doesn't have a story or you don't think you can create one for him. You'll just be setting yourself up for a fall. He seems to be the type that always asks for more than you offer (iyswim).

Also, make sure you adjust your fees accordingly. Getting national press should be more expensive than getting local press. Or maybe think about a success fee?

Agree with annoyingdevil. I've had national coverage recently without having to do a great deal at all and next to no contacts in national media.

I would also be very cautious of a client speciifically looking for national coverage. Of course they think what they're doing is of national importance but you need to address the reality of what they're likely to achieve before you take them on IMO.

Thanks all. Yep, I'll think I'll give it a crack. Thanks v much for link 'tiny'.

Ginger did you get in national because it was personal interest?

Not really, Obviously I don't want to give too much away, but it was about a technology that is being introduced that will improve the 'customer experience'.

I was amazed by the interest it generated because it's not even a new technology, I think we have benefitted from competitors being slow off the mark.

agree with the posters - as long as you have a great story (truely new, unique, interesting angle) contacts shouldn't be an issue. Maybe need to be slightly wary if its a pricey piece of technology kit what with current credit crunch media mania...

I'm behind, but entirely agree with others. If it's a good story, it doesn't matter if it's a journo you know or one you've never spoken to before.

If it's a long term project, I'd start by reaching out to the relevant journalists to start getting a sense of what they like and are interested in? If the client is genuinely interesting and new, they'll be pleased to make a new contact.

But be careful... I had a client once who wanted a headline in a major women's magazine! And my boss at the time, was so scared of him, she more or less agreed. Needless to say, he was pretty upset and we lost the account!