"When Will It Go Live?" The Question Journalists Wish You'd Stop Asking
To all the PRs, sources, spokespersons, and brand representatives: Your excitement is understandable. Seeing your insights, comments, or interviews in a reputable publication or a renowned platform is indeed a thrilling experience. However, please refrain from repeatedly asking the journalists, "When will it go live?"
Here's why:
The Complex Dance of Publishing
Editorial Calendars are Fluid: Even when a piece is accepted, there's no fixed slot. Breaking news, evolving priorities, or larger events can shift the entire editorial schedule. Reporters are at the mercy of these unpredictable shifts.
Reviews and Approvals: Before anything goes live, there's a rigorous process in place. Fact-checking, multiple editorial reviews, and last-minute tweaks can introduce unforeseen delays.
Relationships Matter: We've spent years fostering relationships with editors and journalists. Pestering them for exact publication dates can strain these relationships. Trust us; if they have the date, we'll share it.
How You Can Stay Informed: Google Alerts
Instead of being in a constant state of anticipation, there's a proactive step you can take: set up a Google Alert. This tool sends you real-time notifications when your brand, name, or topic of interest is mentioned online.
Setting It Up Is Easy:
Head to Google Alerts.
Type in the Name/Brand/Topic you're keen on tracking.
Choose How Often You'd Like Updates - as they happen, daily, or weekly.
Refine the Alert with the 'Show Options' feature.
Hit 'Create Alert'.
By doing this, you'll know the moment your feature goes live, along with any other relevant mentions.
In Conclusion
Be patient and respectful. Also, check this blog post to avoid common mistakes. Good luck!