Many associations and nonprofits have service areas that stretch far beyond their “hometown”, but that doesn’t excuse them from striving to build a vibrant, healthy reputation among the local population. Regularly communicating who you are, what you do, why you do it, and how your association makes a difference, can make a strong impression on the local community – which is comprised of potential sponsors, partners, volunteers, members and other valuable connections.

Many organizations are familiar with traditional means of PR, but are still a little uncertain how to take advantage of social media. Reaching out to your community through local websites and blogs is an easy, powerful, and often free way to increase visibility. Here is a simple three step process to help your organization seize rich, local PR opportunities.

Step 1: Scope out local blogs and websites.

You’re probably already familiar with the local newspaper and other print publications, therefore step it up a notch and search for online news sources. The first step to starting a local PR campaign is to identify where your audience is already having online conversations and where they are going to get information.

Spend an hour or two browsing the websites of your local newspaper and TV stations. You may be lucky enough to find a guide to your area’s best blogs. If not, specifically look for news that is being pulled into their website from local blogs. It is becoming very common for traditional media companies to aggregate information from smaller, topical, local blogs that are run by citizen journalists.

The first place you should start is with local business-focused websites. Regardless of your organization’s mission and reach, the common factor between you and the community is that you employ members of the community and conduct business with other local businesses. Secondly, start looking at topical blogs and websites.

Make a list of the blogs and websites that you feel have the best chance for promoting your organization’s news. Be sure to single out the contact person for each website you identify as having potential for your organization’s message.

Step 2: Send 1-2 press releases a month to local news sites.

All the local news and information sites you’ve identified need new, regular content since they likely update daily, and they will gladly welcome any news-worthy information or story you pass along to them. Also, one of the great benefits of a press release is that you have control over what information is shared. You will find that some websites may simply post your information (or a shortened version of it), which is typical for many print publications as well. But many blogs prefer to make their posts more personal, and may offer the opportunity to have a key staff or board member be a guest blogger.

It’s imperative that you follow basic guidelines of telling a compelling story with a strong news angle in each of your press releases. To increase the chances of your information being published on the websites you contact, make sure it is relevant to your audience and answers the 5 Ws: who, what, where, when, and why. Remember to include plenty of contact information.

Step 3: Add a news section to your website.

News pages are a great way to manage content about events, sponsorships, and all forms of company news. It can become a place where local media outlets can depend on getting the latest information about your organization. In addition to being an invaluable communication tool, it is a great opportunity to boost credibility and return the favor of linking to the websites that post your information.

A sound local PR strategy can go a long way in boosting local recognition and enhancing credibility for any association or nonprofit, especially if you are intentional in seeking out online hotspots for your community. While it’s fresh on your mind, jot down a couple of topics for upcoming press releases and start your search for relevant websites.