It’s that time of year again. As we start off 2020, it’s time to be thinking about what this new year will have in store for us. Predictions or trend pieces are a nice way to get your company some coverage and start the year off right. Here are a few tips for coming up with compelling and exciting predictions to set yourself apart from your competitors.
Brainstorm with the experts
Schedule a brainstorming session with a subject matter expert (SME) from your company. This can be your CTO, CEO, Director of Engineering, or someone who is familiar with the industry. Speaking with an expert can help you pick up some great sound bites to use for the predictions. These sessions are also helpful to get the information straight from an expert to get their insight and ensure technical accuracy.
Make your predictions interesting
No reporter will want to cover your company if your prediction is just mediocre or has already been made. Try to think of new angles or interesting insights that truly add value to the conversation. If it’s just an ordinary statement, then it may be difficult to get any coverage. One way to do this is to ask questions about new and upcoming technologies or trends related to their line of business. Reporters are often looking for expert commentary on new and hot topics, so consider going that route.
Consider doing an ‘anti-prediction’
Is there a new trend out there that seems overhyped or premature? Or, are there industry forecasts that you don’t agree with? If so, consider brainstorming an anti-prediction with an expert at your company. This can help differentiate your company from competitors by going against the grain. For example, let’s say everyone in the industry is talking about the rise of AI, you could comment on how the industry will still a lot of need human interaction in 2020. Lastly, keep in mind that it’s important that your SME is comfortable with any of the statements made and that the predictions fit with the company.
Be sure to start early
Some publications start taking predictions in December. So, it makes sense to start the conversation early. That way you can have plenty of time to perfect and finalize each one. But don’t worry if you haven’t put them out yet. Some reporters will do them in the new year or even occasional update posts to see which predictions have panned out and new predictions for the rest of the year. Lastly, if you are unable to get predictions out in time, you can always write a company blog post. This gives you complete control over what is posted and when it’s posted.
Predictions coverage can be a great way to position your company and SME as an industry thought leader and start the year off with a bang. Be sure to follow these best practices to make sure you set yourself for success in the new year!