subject: How To Contact A Celebrity [print this page] Most entrepreneurs dream about their favorite star using their product. Getting your products into celebs hands can be a lot of work (and money), but depending on your product it may be well worth your time to contact a celebrity. Heres how:
My experiences
Ive had mixed experiences with contact a celebrity attempts.
Two years ago, I worked with a PR company that invited celeb stylists to visit the office to see new products. I gave away 30 of my former companys t-shirts to Dancing with the Stars cast members among others. To date, Ive never seen a photo of those celebrities wearing my tees.
In 2010, I organized Savor The Successes Celebrity Gift basket campaign. We assembled beautiful gift baskets sent to 10 high profile celebrities. I received thank you notes from Courtney Cox, Denise Richards, Tori Spelling and Ed Begley. I used the notes to earn more PR exposure by sending them to my customers and wholesale clients. I also contacted celebrity magazines. Glamour.com, ellegirl.com and others mentioned my brand, which boosted my profile and my sales.
The best contact-a-celebrity products
The celebrity can be photographed with it (apparel, accessories)
The item can be easily identified in a photo
Childrens items, like toys and clothes
Baby products, like strollers and carriers
Other products can benefit from your effort to contact a celebrity if you can get the celebrity to write a testimonial for your website or mention it in an interview, but your best bet is something they will wear.
Four ways to contact a celebrity:
Gifting suites: PR and gifting companies set up booths or organize the gift bags at high profile events.
Benefit: You can often get a photo of a celebrity holding your product
Disadvantage: You cant control who actually receives your product
Cost: $1000s
Hire a PR company specialized in celebrity gifting: Companies in this niche prepare and deliver gift baskets of assorted products to celebrities and their teams.
Benefit: These companies often have long-term relationships with the celebrities and their managers
Disadvantage: You product is surrounded by others and may be overlooked
Cost: $30 to several $100
Include celebrity gifting in your overall PR plan: By hiring a PR company for all of your PR needs you can include celebrity gifting in your package.
Benefit: As your PR firm, the team is focused on your goals and can leverage existing relationships with celebrities
Disadvantage: It make take some cold calling to find a firm that has the expertise you need
Cost: Often included in your monthly fee
Contact a celebrity on your own: In the past, Ive used ContactAnyCelebrity.com to send my products directly to celebrities and their representatives.
Benefit: You can hand pick the celebrities you want to reach
Disadvantage: As an unknown company sending an unsolicited package, your item may be overlooked.
Cost: $10-$20 month for database access
What happens next?
Getting the most out of your brush with fame requires a little more work once the package is mailed.
Include a self-addressed, stamped card with your item that the celebrity can write a quick thank you note on. Include copy saying you hope they enjoy the product and that youd love their feedback.
If youre working with a PR firm theyll handle follow-up, but if youre going it alone, you need diligence. Keep notes about what you sent, where and when. Call the agency to which you sent the package to ask if it was delivered and for them to return the comment card. Dont be intimidated. Agency staffers can be brisk, but you both have jobs to do.
