Newspaper provides chance to spread the word about your business

Over a dozen business owners, PR professionals and community leaders recently gathered around a table in the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce to learn how to better use the service of the annual Business Review and Forecast section.

This service provided by Venango Newspapers Inc. allows businesses and service providers a chance to boast about themselves, explain who they are, what they do and how they serve the community.

And it's a chunk of newspaper real estate that is free.

"This is a unique opportunity," said Susan Williams, the Venango Area Chamber president. "The Venango Chamber, along with many others, has been encouraging our members to submit their articles. And when needed, we can provide assistance or refer the writer to help."

The Derrick's executive editor Luka Krneta, who led the round table last week, said the newspaper welcomes businesses to submit a story. "For the newspaper it's a chance to let people know what (the area has to offer,) " he said. 

The eight to nine section newspaper insert is over 100 pages each year covering Clarion and Venango County with several spill over areas like Titusville and Forest County.

​"This is the one time of year a business owner can share all (about their business,) said Franklin Area Chamber director Jodi Baker Lewis. "As a chamber director it is my job to help get the word out and share what our members do. This is one way to share their stories, what they do, how they do it, who they serve, where are they located and how (does the public) purchase their product or use their services."

​Williams agrees. "As we work in business and writing daily, we see the stories worth telling and know that there is a community waiting to hear," she added.

Hosting Krneta and the new Special Sections editor Amanda Dresbach, Williams hoped her members would take advantage of hearing from the ones putting the section together what they think are important to include in the articles in order to best serve the business as well as the reader.

"Most importantly, it has to benefit the (business) submitting the articles and make the reader want to read further," Krneta said. "It (can be) a win win for both the business and the service providers to get the word out in their own words. It's more than just a single ad. You get to tell your story, tell about the people who work for you and your role in the community. It is a chance to form a bond between the community and business."

The publication date is not yet set but generally comes out at the end of February. They are currently accepting submissions with a deadline of January 5.

​Instructions and the online submission forms can be found on the Derrick website or by clicking here:
https://www.thederrick.com/site/forms/news_releases/business_review_and_forecast/

Tips for getting started

Several things were discussed at the chamber roundtable that could be good to help get businesses started.

The stories can be part review, part what is happening currently and part what you're hoping for in the upcoming year. Both Williams and Krneta said that businesses also shouldn't just sugar coat everything, be real and connect with readers by sharing real life challenges of being a business owner.

"In preparing our articles, this is a great chance for us to review what the last years successes and challenges were and to consider how to share what we expect for the next year. We put a lot of thought into the article, as it can become an inventory for us to reference when we need to provide others with content about the chamber,” Williams said. "The Chamber looks forward to this annual publication, as it becomes a valuable referral tool, for the current year, but also as an archive (if you save them.)"

Dresbach said that usually only one, maybe two photos will be used in print but every article will go online as well. There they can include more photos. She suggested sending more than one photo is a good idea.

Krneta suggested getting the most important information up near the top of the story and think about stories as an inverted pyramid, least important details at the bottom.

Krneta also chuckled saying he had several submissions that forgot details like location and hours of operation.

Suggestions of items to include:

• Business name
• Business address
• Who are the owners/General Managers
• How big is your operation, how many workers, what's your worth, how much you put back into the community
• Major changes, retirements, promotions, new hires
• Any new construction, location changes, expansions
• What do you offer in products or services
• How's business? Better or worse than last year
• How has the economy, weather, regulations etc.. affected your business
• Historical information like when the business started, is it multi-ganerational and emphasize any milestones usually in five year increments
• ​special promotions planned or any expectations for the coming year(s).​

Send articles and photos to [email protected] or fill out the form online form at ​https://www.thederrick.com/site/forms/news_releases/business_review_and_forecast/