11 keys to getting a journalist to quote you

Want to stand out from all the others who jump into the fray as ‘subject experts’? Follow these guidelines.

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Janal (@prleads) is the founder and president of PR Leads and the author of “Reporters Are Looking for YOU!” PR Leads matches journalists looking for informed sources with people who could be sources for their stories.

Here are his tips on how to improve your chances of being quoted:

Respond to the question yourself: A common mistake is when a PR representative says there’s someone who would be great to answer the question and offers to set up an interview. Instead, answer the question yourself. No need to say, “I’m happy to answer further questions or set up an interview.” That’s implied if you’re answering the question.

Let the journalist copy and paste your quote: You want to make the job as easy as possible for the journalist. Offer a bite-size quote that the journalist can copy and paste into the article. The reporter may be under deadline pressure or may just be lazy. Make it easy to quote you.

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