Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trade Press Services a public relations firm?
No. As marketing communications and media relations strategists, we offer highly integrated and specialized services not available through traditional public relations agencies. Additionally, in most cases our fees are based on a per-project basis—rather than costly monthly retainers.
Why should our company invest in marketing communications?
Your business may have developed outstanding products and services. But a company’s ultimate success hinges on the messaging you use to persuade prospects to select you over your competitors. A well-conceived marketing communications strategy accelerates brand awareness, increases visibility, drives thought leadership and gets your message directly into the hands of the decision makers you target.
Do you guarantee results?
We are proud that we have a 100 percent success rate for getting our clients published in the media outlets they target. That’s why we offer this guarantee: we will get you published in the magazines you select, or we will refund your investment.
We already have an advertising program. Isn’t that enough?
Advertising gets your message in front of the most people possible. Strategic content marketing gets your message in front of the right people at the right time. Ads—whether in print publications, on social media, or in search engines—tend to blend into the digital “noise.” On the other hand, value-driven content such as articles, blogs, white papers and case studies provides real-world solutions for your target audiences and positions you as an expert in your industry.
We are experts in our industry. Why do we need to hire an outside company to develop our content?
You are an expert in your field and so are we. We take all the guesswork out of content creation, leaving you to focus on what you do best. When it comes to your business’ marketing strategy, one of the best investments you can make is hiring a team of skilled content creators to create compelling, consistent and high-quality messaging that resonates with content consumers.
Isn’t content marketing the same as social media marketing?
These two branches of marketing are connected but aren’t the same. While content marketing encompasses written, graphic and video material that can live on your company’s website or any number of other places, social media marketing takes place strictly on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Many social media marketers build their calendars around the content their brands have created, as this practice can drive marketplace visibility and engagement.
Can Trade Press Services get our company into The Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Fortune and other popular mainstream media?
When it comes to bylined articles, our specialty is working with trade publications. While we can certainly help you create editorial opportunities in mainstream media, the process is a little more complex. Additionally, these types of publications rarely accept contributed articles from outside authors. When they do, authors often pay between $10,000 and $12,000 for the opportunity. While we can certainly help you create editorial opportunities in mainstream media, the process and cost will vary from publication to publication.
When selecting publications where you want your content to appear, remember that trade magazines may not have the circulation size of a Wall Street Journal or Fortune Magazine, but they are widely read by decision-makers in your industry. To learn more about why trade publications are an excellent medium for demonstrating thought leadership, read more here.
How much visibility can my company expect when we work with Trade Press Services?
The answer depends on several factors including:
- The number of publications that reach your target audience
- The publishing frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly) of selected publications
- The compelling nature of your content
- The specific content needs of targeted publications
- Frequency of outbound marketing initiatives
- Your budget.
When will I see results?
Like any marketing initiative, developing marketing content is not a one-time event. When you adopt a strategic approach over the long-term, your content will provide value for many years to come. Think of your marketing content as an asset that you’ll be able to use to build loyalty, generate leads and drive sales far into the future.
With all of today’s technological advances, isn’t print dead?
While traditional publishing has changed dramatically, trade magazines (whether print or digital) are still a powerful medium for individuals and companies that want to demonstrate thought leadership and create a competitive edge in the marketplace.
What’s the ROI of a typical Trade Press Services project?
When it comes to marketing initiatives, getting the most “bang for your buck” is essential. Accordingly, defining and analyzing the success of everything from trade show participation to social media campaigns are critical. While these initiatives cannot always be tied to revenue, there are other ways to measure success. To read more about how you can help your company think beyond traditional ROI, read more here.
Our business is highly specialized. Can you handle technical topics?
From artificial intelligence to water purification, we’ve written thousands of articles, white papers and case studies and have never found a topic too technical. Our expert writers come from a pool of talented, experienced business-to-business journalists, researchers and reporters, newscasters, published book authors, instructors and successful business executives. Many have advanced degrees. They have been carefully screened, selected and supported by us to deliver professional and quality content every time and for every topic.
How do you identify the publications that are best for me?
There are generally four different types of publications: national business press, academic or scholarly journals, trade publications, and consumer magazines. We specialize in trade publications. To better understand the differences between these types of publications, download our comparison chart here.
We start by speaking with you about your background, industry, and expertise. From there, one of our media researchers will develop a customized list of potential publications and media outlets. This list will include a description of the target audience and any available circulation or readership information. After reviewing the list, we ask you to select 10 to 15 outlets you wish us to contact on your behalf. We will only reach out to those publications you approve. Not every publication on your approved list accepts contributed articles, but we always check to see if there has been a change in policies or if we discover additional publications that might be a good fit for you.
How do you price your services?
We don’t take a cookie-cutter approach to our services. After learning about your priorities, goals and immediate needs, we develop a customized program that works for you. Our fee schedule is provided upfront, and we bill you only for the projects you approve, so there are never any surprises. When you work with us, there are no open-ended retainers, billable hours, hidden extras or long-term contracts. Click here to request a customized quote.
Can you get my article published in a magazine with a high circulation?
Because our clients are highly specialized experts, often in technical fields, typically, their work isn’t a fit for mainstream and consumer publications with high circulations. The more targeted and specific the industry is, the smaller the readership figures are likely to be. Smaller circulations do not detract from the quality of a publication and higher circulations do not necessarily indicate a high-quality outlet. While the trade publications we work with may not have the circulation figures of mainstream magazines, they are still credible and well-respected within their industries.
We don’t have a marketing department. Can Trade Press Services help?
Our marketing support team provides companies of every size with outsourced specialists to help you establish and achieve critical business objectives. Our model is flexible and can be customized to meet your individual needs. Whether you need an entire integrated marketing department or just some extra help when resources go on overload, we are here to help. In all cases, we are completely transparent, fully accountable and guided by experience.
Do you have more questions?
Fill out this form and our team will be in touch.
How Can We Help You?