Unlocking the Benefits of an Earned Media Strategy
Standing out while staying true to your mission isn’t easy. How do you build trust and credibility without compromising your values? Earned media—things like press coverage, social media mentions, and podcast interviews—can be a game-changer. Unlike paid ads, it’s organic, built on third-party endorsements that validate your expertise and amplify your impact. When others tell your story, it carries weight. And in today’s world, authenticity is essential.
Why an Earned Media Strategy Matters
Earned media acts as a bridge between your brand and your audience, offering credibility that paid campaigns often cannot achieve.
As Kellie Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Strategic Earned Marketing at The Harbinger Group, explains, “Earned media helps build a brand’s reputation because it is a third-party endorsement. It’s that blogger, that reporter, that podcast host saying, ‘I want to talk with a specific person from this company because they have experience and understanding in the topic that I want to discuss.’ So it’s really saying to audiences, ‘This person has insights that I want.’”
Actionable Strategies for Leveraging Earned Media
To make the most of an earned media strategy, organizations can adopt these practical steps:
- Share with Purpose:
- When sharing earned media coverage (e.g., articles or interviews), go beyond simply reposting. Add commentary that highlights why the coverage matters to your audience.
- Tag relevant reporters or contributors to foster engagement and build relationships.
- Use multiple channels—social media, newsletters, websites—to ensure broad visibility.
Emily Evans, Director of Content and Social Media at The Harbinger Group, also believes that sharing with purpose connects to your pitching strategy.
“You should strategically choose the events you’re going to do media outreach for and each year, try to get creative around how you’re going to showcase that and how you’re going to pitch that to the media,” she emphasizes.
- Create Data-Driven Content:
- Develop unique content tied to industry trends or customer pain points. For example, conduct surveys or leverage internal data to provide fresh insights.
- Pitch this data to reporters with a broader narrative that resonates with current challenges in your sector.
- Amplify Through Owned Channels:
- Integrate earned media into your owned platforms, like your website or email campaigns.
- Repurpose coverage into sales materials or presentations to reinforce credibility during client engagements.
- Start Conversations:
- Use earned media as a conversation starter with customers. Ask how the information resonates with them or impacts their needs.
Our Earned Media Successes
The Harbinger Group successfully leveraged an earned media strategy for Golden Apple during Illinois’ teacher shortage crisis. By securing over 385 earned media placements and generating 535,000 social media engagements, the campaign elevated Golden Apple’s mission while addressing critical education challenges. The strategy included crafting authentic narratives about award recipients and amplifying their stories through local and statewide channels.
This integrated approach not only raised awareness but also positioned Golden Apple as a thought leader in education advocacy.
Powering Chicago is another strong example of how sustained media outreach can build credibility and drive results.
“I personally think our client Powering Chicago is a great example of a brand that’s using earned media to enhance its reputation. Over the years, they’ve been intentional about establishing themselves as industry experts in electrical construction throughout Chicago and Cook County, especially when it comes to positioning their member contractors for major projects. They’ve seen a return on that investment through their executive director’s bylined articles in trade publications and consistent contributions to Chicago media,” Evans says.
Powering Chicago has not only increased brand awareness, but as Evans noted, “their member electrical contractors have won more jobs because of that brand awareness promotion.” It’s a clear demonstration of how earned media can translate into both reputational equity and tangible growth.
Key Takeaways
- An earned media strategy builds trust through authentic endorsements.
- Sharing meaningful commentary alongside coverage amplifies its impact.
- Data-driven storytelling can attract reporters and spark industry conversations.
- Integrating earned media into owned platforms ensures long-term value.
Mission-driven organizations have important stories to tell, but executing an effective earned media strategy requires expertise and creativity. At The Harbinger Group, we specialize in helping organizations craft compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and drive measurable results.
Ready to elevate your brand with a great earned media strategy? Contact The Harbinger Group today to learn how we can help you harness the power of earned media.