Location, Location, Location Also Important for Your Utility’s Press Conferences, Events

Anyone who’s ever bought a house has heard the cliché that “location, location, location” is perhaps the most important factor in determining a property’s desirability.

But the same is true for many of the press conferences and other events your utility hosts.

Interesting backdrops, props and other visuals can be the difference between a sparsely attended press conference or event and a crowded one.

Luckily for utilities, you have plenty of visual opportunities that work much better than a staid auditorium or conference room featuring a lectern emblazoned with the utility’s logo.

Utilities have all kinds of equipment and facilities that can offer striking visuals. Yes, safety may be a concern, so be sure to address that before you become creative.

Consider the possibilities.

Do you operate wind farms, hydroelectric facilities or natural gas plants? Think about how captivating rows of giant wind turbines would look as a background. Rushing water or a high-tech facility would do the trick, too.

Solar farms are another natural, no pun intended. Conducting a press conference to discuss your new initiative to increase green power while surrounded by fields of solar panels is a visual winner.

Or if you are showcasing your work crews that expertly tackled weather-related issues, showing them in action is ideal.

In other words, always think visually because that’s what TV journalists (and, to a lesser extent, print reporters) do when they’re crafting their stories. A story with good visuals will always be favored over a story of a similar caliber with lesser ones.

As mentioned above, events and press conferences and events in nontraditional places may require additional planning and time. For example, you may need extra staging to keep visitors in designated locations. Or if you go to a solar farm on a sunny day, distributing cheap sunglasses to fight the glare might be warranted.

That extra work will be worth it, however, if it results in more frequent and better media placements that are memorable.

Also note: There are times when a traditional press conference or event is warranted. If you’re relaying bad news, a somber approach is better. Let common sense guide you.