Announcing a brand-new initiative at an industry’s largest trade show is no small feat, but Dittoe PR is always up to the challenge.
The Western Golf Association (WGA), a long-time client of Dittoe PR, knew they wanted to make a splash in the industry when they announced their newest venture, Carry the Game. It’s an initiative that aims to change the face of youth caddying in the U.S. and would take golfers, clubs, and organizations across the industry coming together to make this initiative a success.
The best time to announce a new industry-wide initiative is when everyone in the industry is together, right? That’s why the WGA set their sights on announcing Carry the Game at the PGA Merchandise Show, hosted Jan. 23–26, 2018, in Orlando. The PGA Merchandise Show is the golf industry’s leading trade-only event. PGA and golf industry professionals gather together to discover the latest trends in golf equipment, technology, apparel, and accessories, as well as to learn about what’s happening in the golf industry.
Enter Dittoe PR.
With brand-new, never-before-seen initiatives such as Carry the Game, it’s important to begin by establishing a knowledge base, or making sure your audience is informed. Dittoe PR started by drafting a press release, FAQ, and fact sheet to share with reporters, acting as a one-stop-shop of information for anyone who needs it. We bundled all this information into comprehensive media kits and included photos of the student caddies for reference.
With facts in hand, it was time for our team to pull from our past golf industry experience to secure media interest.
If you’re new to media relations, you may be surprised by just how many news outlets and blogs there are for various industries. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of golf magazines, blogs, radio shows, and podcasts. The major outlets such as Golf Digest and The Golf Channel may dominate the airwaves, but local golf associations have their own publications, and just about anyone who loves golf wants to talk about it. Dittoe PR researched and reached out to them all, with one caveat: No one could share information about Carry the Game until the first day of the PGA Merchandise Show.
Dittoe secured 17 on-site interviews for three WGA staff members who appeared on TV shows, on podcasts, in magazines, and in blogs. A Dittoe PR team member traveled to Orlando with the WGA team to assist on-site by coordinating meeting times, supplying the ever-important media kit, and ensuring both reporters and the WGA had everything they needed.
Not long after the PGA Merchandise Show, the coverage began pouring in!
In total, our outreach also garnered media interest from an additional 30 outlets, including Golfweek, Golf Digest, Golf Talk America, and the Daily Herald. Interviews with the WGA occurred well into March.
At the conclusion of Dittoe PR’s partnership in announcing Carry the Game, the WGA saw 63 secured stories, over 95 million media impressions, and an estimated ad value of over $800,000.
Interested in earning media attention for your next big announcement? Connect with us today!
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