Product is a NASA designed whistle used by outdoors people.
Whistle produces high decibel sound so it can be heard for
large distances. Ideal in search and rescue situations.
Whistle works under water and with help from NASA was tested
by the armed forces. Product can sell from $3 to $9 dollars.

Need news angles that would get noticed by the press and produce
more sales in next 30 days

Hi Press,

What nifty sounding product!

Obviously no Researcher can guarantee you increased sales of your
product within 30 days, but my sense is that you are looking for
creative ideas to get the word out fast! So I’ll give it a shot.

The two angles to focus on are the unusual technical merits of this
whistle and it’s applications.

You’re right, what needs to happen is the press has to suddenly be
interested. And the best way to do that is via a press-release of some
REAL news item that somehow involves your product.

Has anyone used your product to avert disaster? Headlines such as
“Woman foils rapist with whistle” or “Lost child found thanks to
whistle” go a long way.  Or, if you have nothing recent, a more
general, “Whistle credited with saving 42 lives last year” article
might work. Most papers have a Healthy Living type section that are
always looking for filler.

Also, there are actions you can take to get your product into the
news. Here’s a headline: “25 NASA whistles donated to local fire
department.”   Make a donation to one rescue team, and then get your
news coverage to attract others.

Since this is a safety device, use holidays and special designated
days (National Safety Week for example) to push product in the news.

It’s kind of a fear-mongering approach, but think about places where
susceptible people may congregate – college campuses for instance—then
push the safety factor in college papers. “Don’t cross campus tonight
without this whistle.”

Get a newspaper science editor interested in why your whistle is
different from all others.

I think the underwater feature is fascinating.  How about focusing on
SCUBA divers? There are lots of SCUBA magazines. I’d bet one of them
would be interested in doing a product feature on your whistle.

Stage a contest. (Newspapers love those!) Some kind of Whistle Blowing
event. (No Enron jokes here!)  Concrete ideas fail me now, but
something like loudest whistle. Or $50 and a free NASA whistle to
anyone who can blow a whistle louder. Maybe an underwater whistle
contest?

In that same vein, throw up a public challenge. Headline might read,
“Man claims to have invented loudest whistle- seeks challengers.”

That’s all from my brain right now.  Let me know if you think I’ve
missed anything.

--K~

---

Clarification of Answer by knowledge_seeker-ga on 14 Jun 2002 15:11 PDT

Hi again Press!

I meant to add some links to my suggestions:

A good list of resources on Public Relations:
http://aboutpublicrelations.net/toolkit.htm

Articles on using publicity stunts to gain media attention:
http://www.yudkin.com/stunts.htm
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/biz/Biz_ops/20001006.asp
http://www.fastzone.com/artf-2.htm

And, of course, don’t forget the animals:
http://www.animalschool.net/Parties_Events/Corporate_Events.htm

--K~

Search Term: "Publicity Stunts"

Just a few suggestions for slogans.

NASA blows whistle on Army. (or vice versa)
NASA makes a clean whistle of rescues.
Get lost and whistle.


Good Luck

THX1138  :)