September always feels like a fresh start to me. I think it goes back to my school days, new shoes, new pencil cases, new bag etc. Now I have a child after the 6 weeks holidays it feels like a time to get back on track and start afresh. If you’re feeling the same here are details of things that are happening in September and where you should be pitching.
KEY AWARENESS DAYS
For the month
World Alzheimer’s Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
5th International Day of Charity
8th International Literacy Day
10th World Suicide Prevention Day
13th Roald Dahl Day
16th Working Parents Day
18th – First Love Day
19th – 25th – Recycling Week
24th Punctuation Day
30th– International Podcast Day
SHORT LEAD VS LONG LEAD
Understanding the difference between long and short lead media and how to pitch accordingly is a topic I’ve already covered.
Traditionally, ‘Short Lead’ has a turnaround of about 4-8 weeks from pitching, editing, and publishing whereas ‘Long Lead’ follows a much longer timescale of anywhere from 3 – 6 months
SHORT LEAD FOCUSES: SEPTEMBER
31st October – Halloween
26th -30th November – Black Friday Weekend
24th – 26th December – Christmas Eve, Day, and Boxing Day
31st December – New Year’s Eve
As per my previous pitching post the short lead recommendation for September is Christmas. There is no getting away from the fact that we are now in the final quarter, and it is fast approaching but there is still time to pitch and plan for some amazing coverage. Many publications put their gift guides together months in advance but there will still be those looking for last minute product submissions. Plus, don’t forget regional publications seasonal events and local products are a staple for them.
LONG LEAD FOCUSES: SEPTEMBER
1st January – New Year’s Day
16th January – Blue Monday
14th February – Valentine’s Day
It may seem like an age away in September, but when it comes to long leads now is the time to be focusing on 2023 January. The beginning of the year is sometimes seen as a bleak period in certain industries but with effective planning you could start the year with some great media coverage especially (but not limited to) if your business specialises in health, wellness, or fitness.
Rebecca Slater is a PR Consultant with more than 20 years public relations experience. She is based in Staffordshire and provides support to businesses all over the country.
Find out more at www.beckandcallpr.co.uk or email sayhello@beckandcallpr.co.uk
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