Publicise your event
If you haven’t already, register your fundraising event with us and we’ll send you a fundraising pack.
Tips for promoting your fundraising
To make the most of your fundraising, you need to tell people about it!
Sharing on social media, getting a story in your local newspaper or being interviewed on your local radio station is a great way to do this. It’s a great chance to tell people about epilepsy too.
You can tell the media about your fundraising using a press release. This is a document that contains all the information a journalist will need to write an article about your efforts.
There is no guarantee that a journalist will write about your story after you send them a press release. But, following these steps will give you the best chance of being featured in the media:
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1. Write a good press release
Using one of our template press releases will give you something you can send to your local journalists. There are different templates depending on whether you are planning an event (a disco, quiz night, bake sale) or a challenge (a run, bike ride, sky dive).
You can access the templates below. There is also a guide about how to make the most of the templates.
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2. Get your timing right
You should aim to send a press release between one and two weeks before your event or challenge.
You can follow it up with another release afterwards, letting them know how it went and how much you raised.
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3. Pick your contacts
There are more media outlets in your area than you think. Use Google to identify newspapers, community newsletters and radio stations that cover where you live. Their contact details should be listed on their website. It’s best to call the news desk first.
Tell them a little bit about what you are doing, and ask where to send your press release to.
Remember to write down an email address.
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4. A picture tells a thousand words
Get your camera out and get a really good picture. The more Epilepsy Action branding you can include the better. Make sure that your picture captures what is unique about your fundraising, is taken on a good quality phone or camera and is in focus. Try and make sure that the action is in the middle of the photo.
Don’t forget to ask permission of the people in the photos, or their parent/ guardian if they are under 18. Write down the names of everyone in the photo from left to right, and send this information with your press release.
Tips and Tricks: Making the most of the media
Catch their eye
The trickiest bit of getting press coverage is catching a journalist’s eye. Once you have their attention, they are far more likely to write an article or interview you.
The more unusual or exciting your fundraising event is, the more interested the media will be. Get your thinking caps on and think up ways to make your event exciting. Perhaps you could all paint your faces purple, or complete your challenge in fancy dress?
Tell your story
You could also grab their attention with the reason why you are fundraising. If you have chosen Epilepsy Action because of a personal connection with the condition, remember to include this information in your press release. Telling this story can help raise awareness about epilepsy too.
Get digital
Social media
Are you on Facebook? Then why not set up a Facebook event page for your fundraising. You can add pictures, videos, updates and invite your friends and family to your event. When creating it, add it as a ‘Public event’ as this will help get it shared widely in your local area.
On Twitter? Use your Twitter account to share what you’re doing – messages, photos and videos. Search on Twitter for other local Twitter accounts with a big following and work with them to see if they’ll promote or retweet something to tell their followers about what you’re doing. Approach them first and work together as that will work better than just adding their @Twitter name to every tweet you send.
What about Instagram? Share stories about your event. From prep to the big day, stories can be a great way to visualise all the ways you’re helping change the world for people with epilepsy. Tag us (@epilepsyaction) and we can share your story too.
One thing that isn’t worth your time is asking lots of celebrities for a retweet. Big names get lots of similar messages and rarely if ever do the retweet.
Have a question?
If you have any questions, would like some support, or want to tell us about your communication successes, you can email press@epilepsy.org.uk or call 0113 210 8870.
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