DIY – Citizen Journalism Hotline

In last weeks Hyperlocal Training Center newsletter I promised I would share tips for how to setup your own Citizen Journalism Hotline.

Here is How You Do This:

First Setup an Account with RingCentral.com
* Accounts can start as low as $9.00 USD per month.
* If you like select an account which comes along with it’s own toll free number.

Second, Setup Your Call In Extensions

Third, hire a professional voice to create mail box messages.

Finally, You will need to advertise and promote your citizen journalism hotline to begin to capture incoming tips and leads.

* Consider using VistaPrint.com for printing several hundred free business cards which you then place in coffee shops, on bulletin boards and around town. The business card should be a call to action – Report Local News – Call Now 800-YourNumber

* You can run monthly contests for best incoming stories as well as re-broadcast and syndicate incoming recorded tips to other local media sources.

The LocalsGuide offices have been using Ring Central now for the last five years with all incoming phone calls being routed to one of three extensions.

a. Sales
b. Editorial Guidelines
c. Citizen Journalism News Hotline

All incoming calls are recorded and saved in MP3 Format. They are then automatically emailed to the individual who is in charge of managing each phone extension.

And remember have some fun with this.We even set up a Locals Complain Hotline and had quite a few incoming leads and funny stories.

The final gem about this setup or any cloud based phone systems is that all incoming calls can be re-routed to agents out in the field with cell phones so you never need to have an physical office to be a hyperlocal media mogul.

Hope you find this little tip useful

Until Then – Keep it Relevant
Shields Bialasik

PS: Anyone needing professional voice references or scripts for incoming calls send me an email.

ADDITIONAL BONUS – Remember you can get all Audio MP3′s transcribed, thus creating quick content to be published as blogs or local news on your hyperlocal website. The company we work with is called https://idictate.com/