Sending product samples to the media? Follow these guidelines for success

Shipping your product to a reporter is one way to score publicity, but if you do it wrong you might get burned. Here’s how to do it the right way, every time.

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Ragan Insider Content

Shipping out your new miracle product is a great way to get some publicity, but you may find yourself getting burned if you don’t do it right.

Here are a few simple rules when sending your product out to journalists for review.

Don’t skimp

Think you can cut corners and still get a great write-up in the paper? Think again. Sending out the bare minimum might actually cost you money in the long run.

For example, let’s say your product for review is your brand new line of hot sauces.

You’re so sure of your sauce’s ability to fire up the competition, you only send food reviewers one small bottle each. Unfortunately, the one journalist who did actually review it got a bad bottle. It opened during transport and soured. Now, the whole culinary world thinks your sauce tastes like gym socks!

So don’t skimp. Send a batch of your product for the reporter to try out.

Make sure to ask

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