A webinar designed to bring writers and vendors together to improve press coverage of new marine products and boats, is planned by BWI for June 29 at 2 p.m. Eastern time.
The idea for the presentation emerged from a meeting of the BWI Directors where concern was expressed over the high volume of news conferences and product introductions at boat shows making it difficult for writers to participate and glean all they needed from marine manufacturers. Better planning as well as plain-speak lead to effective presentations.
BWI’s LinkedIn member forum produced suggestions from more than 20 writers on the best ways to get mindshare for new products. In addition to show-based conferences, the writers offered suggestions and critiques of destination press trips, hands-on boat tests, and product reviews.
That input led to the outline of the webinar:
- The need to keep presentations brief, focused, factual, useful, and if appropriate, quantitative.
- Learning to test the concept from a reader/subscriber perspective and ask, “Is this helpful or interesting?”
- Writer preference for take-away formats – paper releases, flashdrives, or other packaging to best disseminate news.
- The practice of handing out “chotzskies” and if so, what’s appropriate?
- A reminder to focus on video and how to prepare to “be recorded.”
- Honoring appointments and allowing enough time for reviews or tests.
- When enough information is enough and how to minimize the “marketing speak” for better results.
BWI Director, commentator, and columnist, Alan Jones, will lead the webinar based on long-term experience of reviewing and writing about boats, new products, and the boating and fishing lifestyles. Jones is the executive editor for Boating World Magazine and a contributing editor for Sea Magazine, a photographer and videographer. He has served as a judge for NMMA’s Innovation Awards and has been recognized by BWI seven times in the annual writing contest.
BWI Active and Supporting members are invited to the webinar. Other vendors with interest in attending this free program can sign up through this link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/159740849.info@bwi.org.