Is Your Product Packaging Newsworthy?
By JoAnn Hines -- Packaging Digest, 9/10/2008 3:06:00 PM
Recently, mainstream media coverage of the packaging industry has been more in-depth than usual. I see dozens of articles about packaging each week. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the news articles deal with negative perceptions of packaging and its influence on society. From bottle water to excess packaging the packaging industry is getting a bad "wrap." You can help change all that by portraying your product packaging in a positive manner.
So how can you get your product seen by the media in a more favorable light? Make sure that your packaging is connected to one of the more popular news trends or consider what the media will be covering outside of the obvious "breaking" news items unless of course you have a product that can "connect" to the most current story.
Start thinking about your product and how it can connect with the media coverage. A few examples of topics the media will be covering in the future include:
Any thing to do with diets, weight loss or healthy eating
This topic perennially becomes newsworthy as the holiday season approaches. This topic also offers opportunities for coverage in niche publications too, such as woman-oriented or fitness publications.
Products that are geared around breast cancer or the Fight For The Cure
The media is giving more and more coverage to this topic every year. Pink packaging abounds. But even if your packaging isn't pink you can still piggyback of the media spin.
Products that are marketed to or designed for the 50+ generation
The "boomers" topic is getting substantial media play in virtually every type of publication. If you are marketing in this space, contact a few publications and find out what they will be covering in the next issue.
Look for media spin on anything to do with the environment, recycled materials and bio-based materials
The environment is hot right now, so this topic is definitely worth getting excited about. I just judged a brand new packaging competition for the Produce Marketing Association and one of the biggest categories was sustainable or environmentally friendly materials. If I was the winner of that category I'd be all over the media with my product packaging.
Seasonal holiday innovative packaging
Not your old holiday standbys but something really unique and creative. I always recommend thinking about secondary uses for your product packaging. The holidays are a great time for "keepsake" product packaging.
Investigate a pitch less commonplace to the media
For example, recently I read about deli labels featuring CBS's new prime-time lineup are the network's latest attention-grabbing marketing plan. What a great concept. I'd be using this idea for every holiday promotion.
By tying your product into a hot topic or trend, you can help counteract negative publicity about the industry such as the upcoming Consumer Reports "Oyster Awards" articles which condemn product packaging every Christmas holiday. So, keep your eyes on the look out for ways and opportunities that will paint your product packaging to the media in a favorable light and not portrayed as too much, excess or over packaged.
Read my weekly newsletter Packaging News You Can Use too. Each week I pick an issue that is either getting media coverage or will be in the near future. Look at me as your prognosticator or forecaster.
You CAN make your product packaging newsworthy with the right slant and the right message. All it takes is a little creativity and imagination.
I package people, products and services. Get started in the right direction by visiting any one of my websites for free advice, articles or just plain help. You can ask a question to a packaging expert too, list your packaging request or just e-mail me at JoAnn@PackagingDiva.com . I *will* find your perfect packaging solution!
Personal Website:
http://packagingdiva.com/
Corporate Website:
http://packaginguniversity.com
Packaging Help:
http://packagingcoach.com/
JoAnn Hines (The Packaging Diva) work is featured in Package Design magazine, Shelf Impact, Webpackaging and many other packaging portals and magazines. In the months of Sept. and Oct. her packaging commentary was used in Chicago Tribune (2), Entrepreneur Magazine and Cision. She is recognized as one 50 most influential packaging leaders in the 20th Century.
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