Have you ever wondered how some companies get featured in the major media and you know they didn’t pay for advertising? In this article, I will take you through a five-step process of creating and optimizing press releases to increase your online visibility – instantly. You will also learn some creative ways to get the press to call you and include your company in an article or feature story, which helps elevate your image and strengthen your position in the industry.

About 17 years ago, I discovered the power of PR when I generated more than 30 published stories for my company and customers – both locally and nationally. As an entrepreneur, I kept asking myself, what’s the fastest way to grow my business while spend the least amount of money? (And isn’t that what most of us want?) I realized there was an alternative to advertising (which can be very costly and difficult to measure). I would feed the press with story ideas, catchy headlines and photos of my customers; all wrapped up in a one page, professionally written press release. It worked and I was hooked. I started doing the same for clients and also speak passionately on this subject.

In my marketing seminars, I often begin with this quick quiz: What’s the difference between PR and advertising? Some of you may know the answer. With advertising, you pay and with PR, you pray. In other words, PR is hoping an editor will find your press release so interesting that they will want to feature your company in their publication or TV show.

If your goal were to create and maintain a positive image for your company, I would highly recommend using a PR campaign as part of your overall marketing program. This five-step process will help you achieve success with your PR campaign.

Five steps to creating a successful online PR campaign

Your objectives may simply be to keep the media abreast of company news and events. Or, you may want to share client success stories and get a feature story published about your company and expertise.

Step 1 – Decide what you want the media to know.

Nowadays, the Internet is the fastest way to get your company to instantly appear on Google and Yahoo news. It’s one thing to simply announce a new product, service or a new hire – it’s a valuable bonus to have an editor or writer call to interview you for a story they’re writing. And, they quite often get their story ideas from press releases and blogs that mention newsworthy, timely information. So, just what are editors looking for?

They’re interested in truly newsworthy information such as trends, emerging markets, new products or services and human-interest stories. Remember, editors immediately notice when a company is simply trying to promote itself in hopes of getting a little “free advertising”. Avoid this temptation, as editors can spot these attempts easily, and will probably disregard your press release.

So, how do you capture their attention? Here are four things to consider for your press release:

1. New seminar/event launched

2. New product/service

3. Industry news/trends

4. Client success stories

One of my favorite proven methods is to write a press release about client success stories. Tell the story using “picture words” as well as photos to help illustrate your point.

The headline of your press release is very important and will affect your results. It should be short and captivating, as this is the hook that should grab their attention. I spend a great deal of time crafting the headline, as my goal is to write something compelling enough to trigger a telephone call requesting an interview for my clients and their clients.

Keep these important points in mind when you interview your client for a potential story. Get their permission first and let them know there’s a chance they may be featured in the media. Be sure you find out what your clients might not want to reveal – and this is very important. The media can easily spin a story, so you want to do everything possible to ensure they convey the right slant.

Example

I once spent a few hours interviewing a client, to get the details of his unusual investment story. I learned that his wife surprised him with a red Dodge Viper for turning their failing retirement account into a huge success. I requested photos of him and the car and included them in the press release. This triggered phone calls from a few editors who liked the story, and the newspaper actually used our prepared photo. We made it easy for them, which is a key point to pitching your story.

Step 2 – Create your press release

There are seven basic elements every press release should include:

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE should be placed at the top of the page

2. Your contact information (always return the phone call or e-mail ASAP when a writer contacts you – they rarely call twice.)

3. Headline: you should use boldface type, and it should be between five and eight words. Be creative; not salesey

4. City and Date

5. Lead paragraph with the five Ws: What, Where, Whom, When and Why

6. Main body copy

7. ### to signal the end

Example

I wrote a press release to promote an inaugural national event. Entitled “Boomers Flock to Self-Directed IRAs – and Clamor for Help Investing Retirement Funds in Real Estate,” it was sent out six weeks before the event, which is approximately the time needed for an editor to write and publish a print story. It led to three major interviews for the CEO – in the Wall Street Journal , San Jose Mercury News and a leading online financial publication with 400,000 subscribers.

To read the complete press release, send me a message via the article forum and include “Boomers Flock to Self-Directed IRAs.”

You’ll notice that the headline addressed boomers, self-directed IRAs and investing retirement funds in real estate. This was timely information and a new topic for many editors. And remember to include facts and statistics in your release.

Ongoing press release campaigns are also a great way to become known as the thought leader and expert in your field. If you would like to receive a copy of a press release template, send me a message via the article forum. A tip to remember: Have a professional copywriter review your news release to make sure it is grammatically perfect.

Step 3 – Optimize your keywords

One of the biggest benefits of the Internet is the ability to optimize your keywords within the body of your press release. What does this do for you? It helps you get founder faster on Google, Yahoo and many other directories. “Keywords” are the words people type into a search engine to help find your company and your products and services. When you link your keywords and phrases, it helps improve your online visibility. And, when you get a published story featured online, you may get a link back from the publication you can post on your Web site, which is extremely helpful for search engine optimization. If you want to learn more about search engine optimization (SEO), you can learn about an upcoming Webinar by sending me a message indicating “webinar” via the article forum.

Step 4 – Distribute your press release over the internet

Some of the online distribution services I use include Business Wire and PR Web. You can also use free services, but it’s worth paying a little more so you avoid your competitors showing up in your news release.

When you use Business Wire’s services, for example, you will get a tracking report so you can see who has read your release by industry and geographic region. I use most of the optional services too, especially those that optimize your release online. You can even easily create a podcast from your press release. Ask me for a sample, using the article forum and include “podcast” in the subject line.

Step 5 – Follow up

Last but not least is the importance of following up on your press releases. This can really be the difference between getting your story published or not. I send press releases directly to editors of specific publications if I think the information would be interesting to their readers. Why not submit your news to ProducersWEB.com, for example? Contact the editor three to four days after you send the release and let them know you’re calling about your press release on (refer to your headline). Frequently, they will ask you to send it again, which is always fine.

Conclusion

What do you do with published stories and articles? Share them with your e-mail database, post them on your Web site under “news,” post them on your blog and offer them to your colleagues, as they may simply forward them in their next e-mail campaign.

When you amass a collection of feature stories, turn them into framed art for your office so your clients and employees can see them too. Create your own “Wall of Fame.”

In summary, PR is all about getting positive news coverage for you and your business for free , or at a fraction of the cost of advertising. And, it helps you build credibility. There’s a great quote in the book “Differentiate or Die,” in which a CEO said that whenever his company gets a positive mention in the media, it adds $1 million to his brand equity. Imagine what it can do for your business.

Robyn Levin has spent the past 20 years in Marketing, Business Development, and PR. Levin is founder and president of R. Levin Marketing Group, a consulting firm that advises growing professional services companies on how to accelerate growth using the Internet, digital marketing strategies, innovative ideas & her proprietary “Cocktail Napkin PlanTM.”

Levin and clients have been featured in national publications, TV, on radio. Robyn has been featured in COSTCO small business magazine, “Walking With the Wise” and best-selling book, “Networking Magic”.

Robyn launched over 20 programs & products for PENSCO Trust Company serving as Marketing Consultant since 2004 and helped client triple client assets to $2 Billion in 2 years.

Robyn Levin graduated from Temple University with a B.B.A in Marketing & an International Business degree from Nijenrode, Holland.

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Tags: online, pr, agencies, jobs, firms

Why do you think that public relations have become an integral part of business nowadays? It is simply because of the fact that public relations determine the way the public will look at your business. Thus, in order to have a successful business that has a great reputation when it comes to its products and services, you need to have good public relations. This is exactly where the public relations consultant comes into the story.

The public relations consultant will become responsible for the image of your company in the mind of the common man. Thus, it is a very critical decision that you have to take when it comes to selecting your PR Consultant.

Try to identify the kind of consultant that you need

Remember that the whole thing about public relations is highly relative. A very good PR company might end up conducting a mediocre campaign if the objectives are not clear. Thus, do not plunge into the campaign. Instead, spend some time looking at the strategies that your business needs to employ and identify the areas in which public relations can come in and help. Always keep in mind that staff cooperation is extremely important when it comes to public relations. Thus, let your employees be clear about the importance and the significance of your public relations.

Choosing your PR agency:

After you have identified the regions in where you require extra attention and what you want to lay special emphasis on, you need to go out there and get a PR consultant. But read through the points mentioned below and get your perfect PR consultant:

• Try to find out a company that suits your needs perfectly and is right for the kind of public relations that you are looking for. You can search the internet to find out the firms or you can even check the records of PR firms used by companies for similar campaigns.

• In order to make a good campaign for your company, the PR firm needs to have good contacts in the media. Also, try to zero in on a company that is similar to you in standard so that you can relate to it better.

• Generally, going for a local company is a good bet because they have a thorough knowledge of what they are doing and can actually have person – to – person interaction which is very healthy for both companies.

• Before sealing on the deal, ensure that the company that you have chosen is authentic and are adequately qualified to handle your campaign. Another thing to look for is experience. It is something that you can always rely on. The ideal public relations firm for you would be one that is professional, experienced and at the same time, innovative. In order to identify one such firm, scan the awards lists for pr companies and you will definitely get what you are looking for.

• Before selecting a firm, see if the agency is giving you good service or not. Remember that public relations involve numerous aspects, right from getting the articles written to providing you with the required services. Thus, go for the firm that gives you the maximum benefit.

Having contacts in the media can come in as very useful here.

James Copper is a writer for BIG Strategies.

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Tags: pr, consultants, marketing, jobs, consulting

Have you ever wondered how some companies get featured in the major media and you know they didn’t pay for advertising? In this article, I will take you through a five-step process of creating and optimizing press releases to increase your online visibility – instantly. You will also learn some creative ways to get the press to call you and include your company in an article or feature story, which helps elevate your image and strengthen your position in the industry.

About 17 years ago, I discovered the power of PR when I generated more than 30 published stories for my company and customers – both locally and nationally. As an entrepreneur, I kept asking myself, what’s the fastest way to grow my business while spend the least amount of money? (And isn’t that what most of us want?) I realized there was an alternative to advertising (which can be very costly and difficult to measure). I would feed the press with story ideas, catchy headlines and photos of my customers; all wrapped up in a one page, professionally written press release. It worked and I was hooked. I started doing the same for clients and also speak passionately on this subject.

In my marketing seminars, I often begin with this quick quiz: What’s the difference between PR and advertising? Some of you may know the answer. With advertising, you pay and with PR, you pray. In other words, PR is hoping an editor will find your press release so interesting that they will want to feature your company in their publication or TV show.

If your goal were to create and maintain a positive image for your company, I would highly recommend using a PR campaign as part of your overall marketing program. This five-step process will help you achieve success with your PR campaign.

Five steps to creating a successful online PR campaign

Your objectives may simply be to keep the media abreast of company news and events. Or, you may want to share client success stories and get a feature story published about your company and expertise.

Step 1 – Decide what you want the media to know.

Nowadays, the Internet is the fastest way to get your company to instantly appear on Google and Yahoo news. It’s one thing to simply announce a new product, service or a new hire – it’s a valuable bonus to have an editor or writer call to interview you for a story they’re writing. And, they quite often get their story ideas from press releases and blogs that mention newsworthy, timely information. So, just what are editors looking for?

They’re interested in truly newsworthy information such as trends, emerging markets, new products or services and human-interest stories. Remember, editors immediately notice when a company is simply trying to promote itself in hopes of getting a little “free advertising”. Avoid this temptation, as editors can spot these attempts easily, and will probably disregard your press release.

So, how do you capture their attention? Here are four things to consider for your press release:

1. New seminar/event launched

2. New product/service

3. Industry news/trends

4. Client success stories

One of my favorite proven methods is to write a press release about client success stories. Tell the story using “picture words” as well as photos to help illustrate your point.

The headline of your press release is very important and will affect your results. It should be short and captivating, as this is the hook that should grab their attention. I spend a great deal of time crafting the headline, as my goal is to write something compelling enough to trigger a telephone call requesting an interview for my clients and their clients.

Keep these important points in mind when you interview your client for a potential story. Get their permission first and let them know there’s a chance they may be featured in the media. Be sure you find out what your clients might not want to reveal – and this is very important. The media can easily spin a story, so you want to do everything possible to ensure they convey the right slant.

Example

I once spent a few hours interviewing a client, to get the details of his unusual investment story. I learned that his wife surprised him with a red Dodge Viper for turning their failing retirement account into a huge success. I requested photos of him and the car and included them in the press release. This triggered phone calls from a few editors who liked the story, and the newspaper actually used our prepared photo. We made it easy for them, which is a key point to pitching your story.

Step 2 – Create your press release

There are seven basic elements every press release should include:

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE should be placed at the top of the page

2. Your contact information (always return the phone call or e-mail ASAP when a writer contacts you – they rarely call twice.)

3. Headline: you should use boldface type, and it should be between five and eight words. Be creative; not salesey

4. City and Date

5. Lead paragraph with the five Ws: What, Where, Whom, When and Why

6. Main body copy

7. ### to signal the end

Example

I wrote a press release to promote an inaugural national event. Entitled “Boomers Flock to Self-Directed IRAs – and Clamor for Help Investing Retirement Funds in Real Estate,” it was sent out six weeks before the event, which is approximately the time needed for an editor to write and publish a print story. It led to three major interviews for the CEO – in the Wall Street Journal , San Jose Mercury News and a leading online financial publication with 400,000 subscribers.

To read the complete press release, send me a message via the article forum and include “Boomers Flock to Self-Directed IRAs.”

You’ll notice that the headline addressed boomers, self-directed IRAs and investing retirement funds in real estate. This was timely information and a new topic for many editors. And remember to include facts and statistics in your release.

Ongoing press release campaigns are also a great way to become known as the thought leader and expert in your field. If you would like to receive a copy of a press release template, send me a message via the article forum. A tip to remember: Have a professional copywriter review your news release to make sure it is grammatically perfect.

Step 3 – Optimize your keywords

One of the biggest benefits of the Internet is the ability to optimize your keywords within the body of your press release. What does this do for you? It helps you get founder faster on Google, Yahoo and many other directories. “Keywords” are the words people type into a search engine to help find your company and your products and services. When you link your keywords and phrases, it helps improve your online visibility. And, when you get a published story featured online, you may get a link back from the publication you can post on your Web site, which is extremely helpful for search engine optimization. If you want to learn more about search engine optimization (SEO), you can learn about an upcoming Webinar by sending me a message indicating “webinar” via the article forum.

Step 4 – Distribute your press release over the internet

Some of the online distribution services I use include Business Wire and PR Web. You can also use free services, but it’s worth paying a little more so you avoid your competitors showing up in your news release.

When you use Business Wire’s services, for example, you will get a tracking report so you can see who has read your release by industry and geographic region. I use most of the optional services too, especially those that optimize your release online. You can even easily create a podcast from your press release. Ask me for a sample, using the article forum and include “podcast” in the subject line.

Step 5 – Follow up

Last but not least is the importance of following up on your press releases. This can really be the difference between getting your story published or not. I send press releases directly to editors of specific publications if I think the information would be interesting to their readers. Why not submit your news to ProducersWEB.com, for example? Contact the editor three to four days after you send the release and let them know you’re calling about your press release on (refer to your headline). Frequently, they will ask you to send it again, which is always fine.

Conclusion

What do you do with published stories and articles? Share them with your e-mail database, post them on your Web site under “news,” post them on your blog and offer them to your colleagues, as they may simply forward them in their next e-mail campaign.

When you amass a collection of feature stories, turn them into framed art for your office so your clients and employees can see them too. Create your own “Wall of Fame.”

In summary, PR is all about getting positive news coverage for you and your business for free , or at a fraction of the cost of advertising. And, it helps you build credibility. There’s a great quote in the book “Differentiate or Die,” in which a CEO said that whenever his company gets a positive mention in the media, it adds $1 million to his brand equity. Imagine what it can do for your business.

Robyn Levin has spent the past 20 years in Marketing, Business Development, and PR. Levin is founder and president of R. Levin Marketing Group, a consulting firm that advises growing professional services companies on how to accelerate growth using the Internet, digital marketing strategies, innovative ideas & her proprietary “Cocktail Napkin PlanTM.”

Levin and clients have been featured in national publications, TV, on radio. Robyn has been featured in COSTCO small business magazine, “Walking With the Wise” and best-selling book, “Networking Magic”.

Robyn launched over 20 programs & products for PENSCO Trust Company serving as Marketing Consultant since 2004 and helped client triple client assets to $2 Billion in 2 years.

Robyn Levin graduated from Temple University with a B.B.A in Marketing & an International Business degree from Nijenrode, Holland.

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Tags: online, pr, agencies, jobs, firms

The painful truth about public relations is that most people just breeze by the talking points because they’ve heard it before. Anyone wanting to get their company’s news out there today have a few issues to overcome. How does an unknown company get noticed by the media short of blowing itself up?

The main issue is that most business people have no idea what to do in regard to press releases. They might ask their office manager to come up with an idea or set up a press release to send out to their local newspaper.

The problem in this case, is that the press and the general public aren’t interested in anything that doesn’t immediately grab their attention and hit them where they live. If you want to use PR successfully, you need to find your market first, target them, then reach them regularly.

The old school way to use press releases was to target the media and hope that the news trickles down.

You’d have to wait for the press clippings to show up and measure its effectiveness by the phone calls that came in. You then waited until you had another earth shaking story to tell before you placed another press release to the public.

The long wait for the press to pick up your press release is no longer necessary. As a matter of fact, it is far more important to target your market, build your list of readers and keep a steady stream of communication going with them. Let the press know that you’ve got a following and they are more likely to respect your information.

There were all sorts of stringent rules for the construction of the press release that each outlet followed. The report had to be written in the third person and contain breaking news of great importance.

So what do you do to succeed? How do you overcome the information glut?

First, plan on creating a series of press releases that will be spotlighting your company’s or products achievements. You will need to plan on at least 40 press releases. That means you’ll need to keep an eye open for newsworthy events. Keep a running list of possible subjects.

Are you opening a new store?

Introducing a new product?

Hiring a new employee?

Updating your website?

Introducing a new book or program?

Hosting a blog or podcast?

Continue the list from here..

The idea is to generate continuing interest in your business. Some of the information will fall on deaf ears but you will be choosing your ears carefully. What do I mean by that? Previously I went on a rant about the importance of building a list. I believe in it wholeheartedly. Your list will be your lifeline to your market. It should include media people, customers, contacts, prospects and vendors.

If you can’t come up with great material, hire someone. The secret to successful press releases in the age of the Internet is to deliver relevant information to a market that is familiar with you and your company. They will be more receptive to the current events of your business if the releases offer material that relates to them in an intellectual or personal way. It takes several exposures to click in.

Can your press releases solve problems or at least address them? Do they tell a story and or expand the narrative of challenges to overcome in your field or niche? The material should be well written, of course; that goes without saying but more than that, it should be easy on the eyes. Keep it short.

Work with press release websites to deliver your message to the masses in your target but focus you message to your list. After a period of time, people will begin to get used to seeing your name and what you do. They will have checked out your website and taken your polls and read your articles. If they continue to be receptive and even supportive of your company, you won’t have to blow yourself up to get noticed.

Dennis Francis is a consultant and business coach for Complementary Alternative Medical practitioners and other professionals. His website offers its members online coaching on automating marketing on and off the web. He offers a free book called “Double Your Revenues in 12 Months or Less.” Dennis also assists companies publish their own marketing materials and shows them how to publish a book in 30 days.

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Tags; pr, consulting, firms, jobs, consultants

I was so happy to see the seasons change on March 20th. Although I appreciate the beauty of experiencing four seasons, winter is my LEAST FAVORITE. Depending on where you live, winter usually means shorter days and longer, colder nights. I couldn’t wait to pack up my bulky wool coats, scarves and gloves for at least another nine months

With springtime comes a whole new season of renewal, rejuvenation and refreshing possibilities. This is the time of year when people start clearing out their homes, dusting off their furniture and rolling up their sleeves for that much needed spring-cleaning. Out with the old and in with the new! That rule doesn’t just apply to homes, you know. If you own a business or you’re looking to strategize for your product, service or idea, you too could benefit from a little sprucing up. The arrival of springtime could mean spring-cleaning for businesses as well, a chance to breathe some fresh air into a stale PR plan. You can start by asking yourself the following questions:

(1) Is it time to blow the dust off your current pr strategy for your product, service or company? What’s working for you? More importantly, what’s not working? A change of seasons could be the fresh start your business is looking for. Spring into the possibilities and seize the opportunity!

(2) Are all the numbers and email addresses of your media contacts in your Rolodex up to date? Who should you add…who should you delete?

(3) How can you maximize your resources and fresh new ideas to secure yourself some free publicity?

Shani Blount of the WIN Public Relations Firm (http://www.winprfirm.com) has more than ten years experience of working in newspapers, radio and television stations all across the country. She began her career in Philadelphia after receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Temple University’s School of Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising. After graduation, Blount worked as a general assignment news reporter for CBS and Fox television affiliates in Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Blount has covered a wide variety of topics, from the deployment of Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne post 9/11 to a plague of frogs that descended on a North Carolina farm. Blount is the President and Founder of WIN Public Relations Firm in the Washington DC metro area. Her unique experience will put you on the inside track towards becoming NEWSWORTHY!

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Tags: pr, firms, jobs, media, marketing

Most everyone is nervous about doing media interviews, but how can you turn that nervous energy to your advantage and ensure a successful media interview virtually every time? The key is to look at interviews in a completely different way.

Most interviewees assume they’re there to answer the interviewer’s questions. But what if we turn that around and say: the goal of being interviewed is to give your answers, not to answer their questions? Think about that for a moment. When you sit down with an interviewer, your job is not simply to answer whatever questions they throw at you, your job is also to make the points you want the audience to hear.

It sounds so simple, yet it’s a very powerful shift in thinking, because it changes your focus and puts you in the driver’s seat. Too many people go into media interviews feeling a bit like a victim, like they’re being interrogated. Why? Because you’re often out of your element (in a studio, for example), you’re on someone else’s show or the subject of their article, and you’re the guest and they’re the host – you see them as holding the balance of power. If you approach the interview as a kind of victim, it can only heighten the nervous tension we all get when we’re expected to be “on” or to perform.

Now imagine how this change in perspective can alleviate some of our most common fears about media interviews:

* What if I forget what to say? When we’re distracted by focusing on the interviewer’s questions, it’s easy to forget the points we want to make. But if making those points is our sole purpose in the interview, they stay top of mind more easily.
* What if I don’t know the answer to a question? If answering the questions asked is your goal, this can be a frightening prospect. But with a goal-oriented approach, you can easily move on from saying you don’t know the answer to the particular question, to relating the question to an answer you do want to give.
* I feel self-conscious on camera or in front of a mic If it’s all about your message, then it’s not all about you, and the kind of navel-gazing that can create self-consciousness is reduced or eliminated. People who keep their eyes on a task aren’t aware of who’s around them or what others are thinking.

Of course there’s much more to giving a successful interview, but without focusing on delivering your message, the other elements become more difficult or you’re less effective in applying them. So remember: you’re not there to answer their questions, you’re there to give your answers and get your message across.

George Plumley is the owner of BraveNewNiche Media Coaching. A former broadcaster and voice-over trainer, he specializes in one on one coaching by phone or on location. His graduate degrees in philosophy have helped George to assist clients in determining the essence of their message, and communicating it clearly and effectively. You can learn more about his approach and his services at this site

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Tags: media, public, relations, jobs, social

Having worked at both big PR agencies and now running a small agency, I can tell you that bigger is definitely not always better. Before you object, there are certainly good things about the big PR agencies. They have access to systems and procedures that smaller firms don’t have. Additionally, I am grateful for the experience I gained from top-name agencies like Ketchum and Weber Shandwick.

What I’ve found is lacking at these agencies is a sense of real devotion to results and client service. At an agency where I worked, which shall remain nameless, there were a few programs that the agency found worked from a media perspective and those programs were retrofitted for most of the clients and projects. And while these programs generated media placements, what I call “dirty PR” was also employed. “Dirty PR” tactics include using matte releases and using multipliers to inflate impressions.

The cost of big PR agencies can also be prohibitive for smaller clients and many of those agencies will only accept new clients who meet a certain billing threshold. Certainly, big PR agencies have a team of professionals that work on your business, which somewhat explains the cost of monthly billings, but certainly the costs can get expensive.

Most, but not all, boutique agencies are true scrappers on behalf of their clients because the clients they have are absolutely integral to survival. Additionally, boutique agencies are typically more affordable and cost-effective. As an example, What Works Communications, like other boutique agencies, does more than just PR for clients. We ghost write articles, create marketing pieces, and traditional PR. These services are not likely to be offered by bigger agencies.

Certainly, there are benefits to working with PR agencies big and small. The takeaway is to use PR. It is more cost-effective than advertising and is often more widely read. And let’s face it, your story really should be in print and in pictures.

Al Martin is president of What Works Communications, an Austin-based boutique marketing communications firm.

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Tags: marketing, pr, jobs, firms, agencies

People tend to confuse PR and advertising, but the truth is that they are quite distinct and while good advertising can bring your business plenty of publicity, there´s nothing like great PR to give you that boost in the public eye.

First of all, you need to realize that PR is public relations. It´s coverage that isn´t paid for in cash, like advertising. It takes a lot more effort to create good PR, but it is well worth it, since this method is far more effective for publicizing your business.

PR Advantages

The advantages of using PR are many, so let´s take a look at a few of them.

Cost.

PR is usually free. It may cost you in printing out your press release and stamps to send them, but it´s still a lot cheaper than advertising which can run into the thousands of dollars!

Placement.

No matter how much you pay for an ad, you´ll never get a big front page placement. That´s reserved for news and offering great PR is a good way to get that position for absolutely nothing.

Credibility.

People know that ads are paid for and they take them with a grain of salt. While a good ad can still convert, people are automatically suspicious of an advertisement. However, with media coverage brought about by PR, people won´t have their guard up. They´ll read your story and be interested in it without being suspicious because it is assumed to be un-biased.

Angles.

Once you´ve been featured on the front page, it´s quite possible for other areas of the newspaper to pick up on your story and redo it in their own way. This can provide free repeat coverage, within the same publication which is a real boost to publicity. People need to see information a lot of times before they make the decision to buy, so the more publicity, the better.

Exposure.

You´d be surprised at how far a good news story can go! Unless you have something to do with a piece of major breaking news, chances are you won´t be the number one story on the news tonight, but that doesn´t mean you can´t enjoy repeat coverage. If one television show or newspaper reports on you, it ´s quite likely that your story will also show up on other channels!

Details.

You can offer far more details about your company or product within a public relations story. Most newspapers will want to print more than a few lines, which would be standard for an advertisement, so you´ll want to include information that will catch the public eye.

Connections.

Having connections with the media is never a bad thing and can stand you in good stead later on when you want to give your business a boost. Make sure that your press releases are exactly what editors are looking for, which will give you a leg up next time you have a press release. They´ll know that you provide quality work and this will reflect in their treatment of you.

There are many reasons to choose PR over advertising, if you have to make a choice. The truth is that combining the two publicity methods is an excellent method for gaining the optimum number of sales. However, when it really comes down to it, good public relations trumps advertising the majority of the time. Building connections and relationships with the media is invaluable and should definitely be utilized in every business that wants to be successful.

A great public relations firm can get your organization a lot of publicity and exposure, making the coverage garnered infinitely more valuable than advertising.

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Tags: advertising, public, relations, jobs, marketing

Here is more great information on the art of writing an effective press release and the correct press release format to use.

1. Headline. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Be creative and keep it to one sentence.

2. Capitalize the first letter of all words but do not use all caps.

3. Exclamation marks (“!”) only sell your release as advertising, not news.

4. Paragraph 1 City, State, Month, Day, Year – Begin with a strong introductory paragraph that captures the reader’s attention and contains the information most relevant to your message such as the five W’s – who, what, when, where, and why. This paragraph should summarize the press release and include a hook to get your audience interested in reading more.

5. Paragraph 2, 3, 4, etc. These paragraphs should contain more detailed important information, and make up the body of the release.

6. Make sure you use correct grammar so as not to affect your credibility negatively.

7. Use quotes or information about businesses and most importantly have an angle that will appeal to journalists (often by connecting your release to current events or issues).

8. Effective releases usually utilize a strategy known as the inverted pyramid, which is written with the most important information and quotes first.

9. The body of your release should be more than one paragraph.

10. The final paragraph should restate and summarize the key points of your release.

11. Additional 1 Provide avenues for the reader to obtain additional information, demos, samples, etc., but please DO NOT include Internet links.

12. Additional 2 Trademark acknowledgment, product or event time lines, availability, logistics, etc.

13. Additional 3 Background information about the company featured in the release, if appropriate, as well as any applicable safe harbor statement. ### (end with these characters) A FINAL NOTE: With an effective release, it should be possible to cut off the bottom half of the release and still provide journalists with sufficient information.

Clyde Thorburn

Search Engine Optimisation Services Specialist

Johannesburg South Africa

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Tags: public, relations, specialist, career, jobs

Most undiscovered UK designers experience periods of absolute frustration, as your designs go largely unnoticed by the majority of the design community and you lack the funds to get access to the usual platforms to be seen. It is easy to become despondent, but with a striking design idea, you are usually only a few steps away from starting to make something of your ideas. Essentially you are sitting on a powderkeg, and you just need a little interest to spark it into life.

The one thing aspiring designers tend to attract is other aspiring designers, and you can use your battling network to your advantage. Split between a collective, the usually prohibitive price UK designers face when wanting to exhibit at high-ranking shows can be brought into reach.

Once you’ve picked your fellow UK designers, a show to split costs on and got your designs lined up, you need to let people know you’ll be there. The best way to reach a big audience is through the press, and the easiest way to get there is to get a press release to the right people.

Journalists are often pushed for time, and it is not unusual for an entire press release to be wholly copy and pasted to form a short article. Your press release should be written in a straight-forward fashion, avoiding the use of ‘flowery’ adjectives and intensifiers like ‘very’ and ‘absolutely’. While obviously being favourable to your products and those of the UK designers you are showing with, it should also appear impartial. Writing your press release in the balanced nature (most) journalists are out to achieve increases the chances of your release getting the straight-to-print treatment. It also allows journalists who are going to write at length about you see to the very core of your designs, which will form the basis of their article, without having to fight through your opinions.

Your aim with a press release is essentially to make the easiest job possible for the journalists who will be reading it. It is this fact that makes the angle of your press release such an important factor in its success. By giving a central theme, or hook, to your article it gives the journalist an instant, hopefully logical connection, between the you and the people exhibiting with you: it gives them something to talk about, as well as plenty of content to inform their piece.

Working as a group, it can be difficult to come up with a combined angle, but the angle can be created from any level of detail, with the emphasis on either the designs or the people involved. Viewing other UK designer press releases can provide a good source of press releases which deal with groups of designers exhibiting together. The angle of these releases can vary from design similarities between the majority of (but not necessarily all) pieces to the background (or relative anonymity) of the designers.

Once your angle is established, you need to go about writing the body of your press release. Your angle should be laid out clearly in your press release’s title, and followed up with more detail in the first line of text. From this point you can outline the people and products on display, taking care to clearly link each new piece back to the established angle. It is equally important to ensure that you are presented as a group of UK designers to avoid confusion: you don’t want the journalist thinking there is a lead designer, with other designers working under them. Remember, exhibiting in a group is a benefit: it is a major bonus to journalists who see it as a chance to get the low down on numerous designers in one visit. For this purpose it may be useful to give your collective a name. Name yourself after your studio address, your favourite (collective) film, anything you want – just ensure that throughout the rest of the release your individual company names are strongly linked to your individual products.

A group press release can be just as effective for UK designers as an individual press release, if not more so. Just make sure you can create a feasible angle to grab the journalists’ attention, keep it balanced and fair, and present as a unified group. You are in a great position to get some attention, so let your designs speak for themselves.

Saul Sherry
Editor – Hidden Art

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Tags: online, pr, jobs, firm, public

One of the most exciting moments of your business is the launch and the impact your company makes in the market. Essential to launch is formulating your companies main message and selling that message to the media for the first time. With a new company the last thing you want is a subtle entry, when you launch you want to take the market by storm, no, scratch that, hurricane – quick, powerful and widespread. Whether you have a million dollar marketing budget or none, a solid PR plan is essential to sending your message to the largest population of people, a PR plan is also the most cost-effective. PR generates buzz and interest, media coverage and an unbiased opinion.

When developing a company message, think of your appeal and impact you are going to make in the market. How will your service or product exceed that of your competition? What will you offer that is not currently on the market? Those are solid questions that you need to establish in your main company message, if you can’t clearly identify such benefits, why should customers seek out you rather than competitors? When you clearly state your competitive advantage and benefit to society, exploit the hell out of it, your best asset and chances of success will rely heavily on that message.

New companies aren’t identified by image

When a new company starts, nobody will identify that company by their name, logo, or image, you need to connect all of your marketing to your PR plan. Market your message and your name, people’s association with your image will follow, sometimes that will take months, other times, years. Believe it or not, McDonalds was not instantly recognized by it’s logo. It provided fast, cheap and “quality” burgers and marketed that. Now when you see that logo, you immediately associate their message with what they offer, fast and cheap.

A PR message doesn’t and often times shouldn’t be established only for your business a whole. Whenever your introduce a new product, that same message should be established and like your business people will associate it’s image with the product itself.

So how do you establish that PR and give it to the public?

Advertise your message on everything your company

* Websites, when such a hefty portion of people will see and investigate what you have to offer is found on your website, it is very important to get that message across clearly.
* Business cards, also be used to distribute your message and can be quite effective. When you are networking with other individuals, you never know when the next “big thing” will hit.
* Blogs, blogs are very powerful tools that can create instant responses from the online going public. Every day cover a topic of your service/product/industry, create hype, direct other bloggers to your own and see the buzz spread like wildfire.
* Distribute press releases, if you are a good writer you can write your own but it is often recommended to hire a qualified PR writer. The press release should cover all aspects of your message and remain detailed, but rather brief. Most press releases will be around 1 to 2 pages in length. There are several websites in existence who take your press release and can distribute them to thousands of viewers. A couple of these sites offer to host your press release for free however the best results are seen with a paid service ranging from $100-700.
* Go local, never underestimate the power of your local audience. The power they hold is extreme while they are generally very easy to connect to. Depending on the nature of your business, contact your local paper to cover a story of your business and soon after you can attract larger publishers.

While the topics covered barely tear the skin into PR as a whole, you can clearly see its importance and ease of implementation. By following the simple tasks on the road to quality PR, you can quickly see the momentum your company will gain.

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Press releases are great tools in creating publicity for your products and company. They are widely used by both offline and online businessmen to create product awareness among their target market. Here are the 5 ways to make more profit with press release writing:

1. Create a compelling, attention-grabbing title. Your headline must capture your readers’ interest, thus it must be intriguing and interesting. Pique your readers’ curiosity by using titles that communicate the benefits that the press release can offer. To make it even more compelling, make your title brief, concise, and it must answer the basic why, what, where, who, when, and how questions of your potential readers. Here’s is a great example of a press release; “Telecom company to offer broadband service to New Mexico in 2008″.

2. Create a short summary. Before you write your first paragraph, provide your readers with a brief summary (1-2 sentences) of the press release. Here’s a sample of a short summary; “Telecom Company responds to the growing demand of New Mexico residents for a stable broadband connection. Project will start on the first quarter of 2008″

3. Make your first paragraph explosive. Unveil the most important information in this area. Make sure that you present the juiciest part of your story to keep your readers interested.

4. Stick to the facts. Remember, you are not allowed to pitch in your opinion or your recommendation. As a press release writer, you must present facts and information as they are, never interpret them.

5. Insert a valuable statement from your company CEO or president. Let your readers know how your top management feels about the latest news by inserting their comments or statements.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article writing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide’

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Writing

Do you want to learn how to build a big online subscriber list fast? Click here: Secrets of List Building

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 9034 articles in print and 14 published ebooks.

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Tags: pr, jobs, firms, communications, marketing

Each day, thousands of radio and TV producers have to find someone to fill the 14,329 interview segments of their shows… and countless reporters have to meet a deadline and turn in a story.

No doubt the media is looking for your interesting information.

Still, MOST press releases are ignored. When I worked in broadcasting, even at a music station, I say a trash can fill daily with unopened envelopes contained boring press releases. The news guy knew there were a waste of his time.

When I worked at a newspaper.. it was a dumpster each day.

Today, the Internet has made it cheaper to send bad press releases, and the volume has expanded exponentially.

So, why bother with a press release?

The answer is simple.. those reporters and producers are STILL TRYING TO FIND YOU.

According to a surveys by Middleberg/Ross and the Pew Internet Project, 98 percent of working journalists go online daily. They use the internet for article research most.. but 76 says they use the internet to FIND SOURCES AND EXPERTS.

You are the expert. You wrote the book, right?

Nearly as many (73%) say they use the net to “search for press releases”.

One of the authors I work with submitted a press release recently. Over 100,000 hits, almost all of them didn’t amount to anything. However, one radio show called him, and then one network reality show offered him a chance to appear as an expert in an upcoming production.

Does this mean you should flood the media with press releases? No, you can still wear out your welcome. But if you have a comment on a news story, announce results of your research, achieve a milestone, or start a new project, it’s appropriate to write a release.

Warren Whitlock is the Marketing Results Coach. His mission is to help authors and businesses improve the results of their marketing programs. Warren is a #1 best selling author, publisher, and editor of dailywarren.com, an online web log (blog) focused on book marketing. Warren is an entrepreneur in the computer and imaging industries, several offline businesses and Internet properties. He started his career in broadcast advertising, developing cross promotions between two or more businesses, and has used the same strategies in direct mail and other media. Visit his website

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Tags: press, releases, jobs, public, relations

Most business owners overlook the power of free press. First item to address is do you have a press kit ready at for any event that you may attend? Not only should you have a press kit ready, you should have a press release ready for any exciting events that maybe upcoming for your business. These key points are simple points to get your business more attention and a chance to gain valuable future customers.

Press Kit Survival Guide

1. Have a folder with your logo on it to hold the release.

2. Place your business card in the inlets of the folder.

3. Have the Press Release in the right hand side pocket of the folder.

4. Have a brochure about your business included in the folder.

5. A nice touch is to have a thank you note in the left pocket of the folder.

First, a press release is a one page statement that summarizes what is going on with your business, why is it important, and where to go for more information. You should always make sure that the press release is clear and concise. The release is for editors who will hopefully be writing an article about your business.

Second, do you know you know the different media outlets in your area? This should include local & regional newspapers, news radio stations, and TV stations. It is also never a bad idea to send a press release to local magazines. You can submit these press releases through fax or email. Before you do this I also recommend you getting to know your local publishers and editors for these media outlets. Having a personal connection with these individuals will not only help your press release get published, but also give you advice on writing a more informative release.

Next, make sure you send the press release at least twenty four hours in advance if you are wanting the media to show up to the event. If you forget to send the press release to a media outlet before the event go ahead and send it to them afterwards. Making them aware that the event occurred sometimes is just as helpful. While at the event if other media happens to come to an event make sure you a have press kit to give them.

Lastly, if you are attending a networking event or an event where you are speaking it is always a good idea to have this press kit with you. This is because the press kit will help give answers without taking more of your time to explain to each person what you do and where you do it. For a sample press release click here.

This knowledge was gained after I worked for a state politician.

I am in my last year of Accounting and Economics & Finance. I have worked for any industry out there from farming, fast food, retail, cold calling, personal lending, and consulting. I am young in age, but experienced well beyond my years. I now own three companies and I host my own radio show while wearing many other hats throughout the community.

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Tags: pr, list, jobs, firms, agency

Learning how to write good press releases is a great way to increase your online income. It gives you exposure and traffic, increasing your business. If you want to get good results from them, you need to be a great writer of this style of writing. Relax, it’s not as difficult as it sounds!

Writing one of these is different from writing an article or a blog post. It’s a little more formal and contains more journalistic elements. You need to outline your PR article before you begin writing it.

Press releases, in general, are supposed to inform and educate. Don’t sound too promotional in your PR article (submitters won’t accept promotional material).

The title of your press release is important and it needs to act as a headline to grab the attention of readers. Your first paragraph and your first few sentences are also important. To keep your reader interested in your PR article, you should make him curious through the first few sentences of it. Promise a solution to a problem or ask a question. Those are two good ways to get people to read your article in full.

You should also keep your paragraphs short and to the point. If your paragraphs are too long, people will lose interest as your article will be hard to read.

By consistently submitting quality press releases every time you have something important to announce, you’ll see your websites get a boost in traffic and sales over time. So get started writing yours today!

Fabian Tan is the author of the free 51-Page Report:

“Murder Your Job: How To Build Cash Sucking Autopilot Businesses In 30 Days Or Less!”

Head over here to get your free copy now before it’s gone!

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Your chauffeur picks you up for your massage appointment. Your designer suggests one or three custom outfits with matching accessories. Your flight attendant in the private jet pours you a glass of champagne. Your key people worldwide report that everything is peachy keen.

What a fabulous way to start the day…

If you want the fame, prestige and exposure that only the media can provide you’d have to go beyond becoming an average author, speaker or the millionaire next door. You must offer a powerful message of hope to a starving marketplace. A unique message that provides answers to a significant issue. And you must grab more than one media producer’s attention so you can quickly and effectively broadcast your message into the mainstream consciousness.

Maybe your message is saving the planet from global warming. Maybe it’s helping people make and maintain a fortune in investments. Perhaps it’s discovering a cure for a disease. How about being the whistleblower of a major conglomerate? Or maybe you’ve produced the easiest, most powerful, melt-fat-while-you-sleep diet program.

The truth is there are already others, or there will soon be others cashing in on the same marketplace. For example-think about the latest fad diet ads being pumped through the media. And then the many new plans, pills and surgical procedures that attack the same weight-loss market each year. People get numbed with all those messages assaulting them on bookshelves, in the mail and in print advertising.

But I know your message is different.

So where do you fit in? How will you stand out? Is there any significant difference between you and your peers?

After you’ve honed down your message, it’s time to pitch your story to a producer. Getting interviewed on radio or television or being invited as the guest will gain you tons of exposure-if you can pull it off. But how do you get a producer’s attention?

Three keys when pitching a producer:

1) A unique spin. A popular show like Howard Stern caters to a certain audience. If that’s your target market, you should create something to offer Stern’s producer that would interest that particular audience.

Let’s assume you own a cosmetic surgery business you want to spread the news about on Stern’s show. So what? How is your business different from the dozens of others that may be pitching the same producer?

Your wouldn’t want to say: Our Breasts are the Best in the West. That’s ridiculously shallow. And overused.

But you might want to claim: Our Breasts are Certified 100% Safe by the Adult Entertainment Association of America. That’s more specific and sounds almost like an industry endorsement.

2) Your expertise. Who are you? What got you started? Why should audiences listen to you? Have you written a book? Have you been a guest on TV or radio? Do you host your own show? Have you reached celebrity status?

Audiences want to know your story. They want to connect with you. They want to know the reason why you do what you do. They want to see your passion.

Did you study under a certain guru? Did you travel to the jungles of the Amazon to find The Cure? Maybe someone you loved passed away and you wanted to do everything possible to prevent this from happening to others.

3) Your solution. What problem(s) are you solving? How safe is it? How many people have had positive results? How are you helping families, neighborhoods, and country?

Where is your product produced? What are the ingredients? Is it environmentally friendly? Can you produce test results?

Has your company gone public? Can consumers order online, through the mail, or FAX? Do you offer customer support? Do you send out a newsletter? Is there an online forum or blogs? Do you have repeat customers? Are there retail outlets?

Here’s the kicker…

Producers are extremely busy people. They are listening to pitches all day long. You must condense your three keys into a short, powerful attention-grabbing hook that will benefit the show’s audience.

Linking your pitch to current news, controversial topics, or disastrous events may help. Tying your story to a humongous problem like consumer debt, the subprime mortgage mess, or the war on obesity may help. Sometimes shocking discoveries, claims or beliefs may give you an edge to get on the air.

If you can get a producer’s attention and get invited onto the show, you’ll see a dramatic increase in business like you’ve never seen. There will a buzz for your products or services. And other producers may invite you on their shows.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy’s Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at www.TommyYan.com.

If you’re a speaker, trainer, coach, or a consultant-the major challenge you face is connecting with your audience. You talk, shout, or recite your message while they are dreaming about dinner.

Their eyes are glossy, their minds’ elsewhere, and their bodies ready to bolt. You don’t have a lot of time, so you’ve got to grab their attention fast. Or else, you’ll die wrestling against audience resistance.

But it doesn’t have to be this way…

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Tags: advertising, public, relations, firms, jobs

As business persons or entertainers, one of the keys to success is getting recognized by the media. As a radio talk show host, I’m constantly contacted by individuals and PR representatives desiring air time for either themselves or those whom they represent. I want, in this article, to share some of the things that I look for before even considering an on-air interview. Remember…every talk show host has his/her criteria and/or pet peeves…these are just some of mine.

1. Listen to the show before requesting an interview. This is probably the most important. This tells me three things. First of all that you think my show has the quality that you feel will present your business/project in a professional light. Secondly it tells me that you did not just send out mass requests to email addresses that you found somewhere on the web. Finally, you will need to know if the show matches your target audience. If your product is “the best beef in town”, then it will not to any good to come on a show dealing with the vegetarian lifestyle. Again…do your research.

2. Can you communicate effectively? The last thing that a talk show host wants is dead air. Effective communication involves not only being able to structure a conversation effectively, but having a discussion that is of interest to the listeners. Remember, your appearance will also have an effect on the listener-ship of future shows. Good communicators get invited back.

3. Be Human. Don’t be afraid to show some personality. You are not perfect…no one is. Speak as though you’re talking to your best friend. Remember the audience wants to find a reason to connect with you and your product. People are turned off by stuffy or confrontational attitudes. Remember….the host has an important weapon…the magic button. The interview can be cut short at their discretion.

For more information click here…

Louie Jones, host of The Louie Jones Show, is a radio talk show host broadcasting in the Chicago area on WCFJ AM 1470. He has a national following and a strong international presence in over 40 countries. His message is one of self determination and positive motivation. He firmly believes that everyone can accomplish their goals, only if they have a firm belief and a strong self image.

His website is dedicated to personal development, business ownership and motivation. Additionally, his are archived there for visitor listening.

He can be found at this site

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Tags: media, public, relations, social, jobs

How many times have you heard someone complain about some inaccurate segment of a news article or radio or television story? Have you ever been upset about a news story and wanted to pick up the phone or write a letter to “demand a correction or retraction?” Do you have any idea about how to go about contacting the media when it comes to requests for corrections?

The manner in which people contact the media and their demeanor can have a very strong bearing on the response they receive. Unfortunately, there are so many times when people pursue the media for corrections in an unhealthy and negative manner. The PR Doctor has developed a prescription for you to use to pursue media corrections in a healthy & positive manner. The prescription includes the following ten (10) prescribed strategic actions.

Prescribed Strategic Action #1: Carefully review and consider if the “error” is truly an error. My experience indicates that journalists often are asked for corrections based simply on the tone or slant of a story, rather than on obvious factual mistakes. The prescribed action calls for only asking for corrections for factual mistakes.

Prescribed Strategic Action #2: Think strategically when you consider requesting a correction. If an honest mistake does not cause any damage to your company brand or your personal reputation or cause a loss of customers, then it is healthy and wise to consider not pursuing a correction. If you make a habit out of asking a reporter for too many corrections this will undermine you and your company’s credibility with the media.

Prescribed Strategic Action #3: Carefully and thoroughly gather evidence to prove that an error was really an error before you pursue a request for a correction in the media.

Prescribed Strategic Action #4: Do your research to determine if the publication or the electronic news outlet has a specified department or contact person for corrections. If there is such a department or person, research and understand the procedures for alerting them to errors and to requesting corrections.

Prescribed Strategic Action #5: Once you have decided to pursue a correction, your initial contact should be with the person who made the mistake. This is very important relative to your relationships with reporters. By contacting the reporter you are providing him or her with the opportunity to bring the mistake to the editor’s attention.

Prescribed Strategic Action #6: Always remain calm and always employ your best business etiquette in dealing with the media. This is critical when requesting a correction.

Prescribed Strategic Action #7: Elevate your level of contact beyond the reporter only for very important and very serious corrections. If you find that you are unable to get cooperation and satisfaction from the reporter and you are determined to continue pursuing a correction, then go to the editor. However, make sure you inform the reporter that you are going to talk with the editor. You may consider giving the reporter one last chance to take the mistake to the editor, before you contact the editor.

Prescribed Strategic Action #8: If the error is more than someone misspelling your name you may consider writing a letter to the editor to present your case. Writing a letter to the editor may be justified if you did not have the opportunity to make your viewpoint or position known in the news article.

Prescribed Strategic Action #9: Be proactive and be prepared to provide the media with a professional media kit with backgrounders, fact sheets, and other key information about you and your company.

Prescribed Strategic Action #10: Make yourself available to the reporter to answer any questions he or she may have as they write their article.

The PR Doctor encourages you to develop a plan to engage in a healthy pursuit of media corrections. If you would like to learn more about how The PR Doctor can facilitate and guide you in that endeavor, please contact Glenn Ebersole today through his website at this site

Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 325 articles on business.

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Tags: media, public, relations, jobs, techniques

Press releases are a great way to draw extra attention to your business and create a bit of a buzz around new events and products. However, if poorly written, your press release will never be picked up by the media and your great news, even if newsworthy, won’t see the light of day. Here’s how to write a press release that will have the media begging for more.

Give It an Angle

Your press release needs to have an angle built in so that it is easy for an editor to turn it into a front page story if necessary. Write your press release as if it were an article and you have a very good chance of it being picked up. Editors love it when they don’t have to work too hard.

For your press release to garner favor, it’s a good idea to turn it into a story that people will be interested in reading. For example, no one will care that you just got new carpet in your office, but what can create a newsworthy release is the fact that the new carpet is made from recycled plastic and marks the beginning of a green era for your business.

Make It Snappy

A press release is not a college essay and it shouldn’t read like one. Write it like a magazine article. A good tip is to take a look at the publication you want to get into and write the press release to fit that style. This gives you an added advantage… the reporter won’t have to struggle to make your article fit into the magazine. To keep your press release interesting and fun to read, make sure you write actively. That means using active instead of passive verbs and making the action leap out to the readers.

For example, rather than say; “The new carpet was installed”, write “We lay the carpet ourselves to save money” or something similar, using an active voice. Also, you will want to keep the press release fairly short. Most editors don’t have time to be reading fifty pages on how your business is coming out with a new product.

Split It Up

Using subtitles and bullet points is an excellent way to make your press release easier to read. To do this easily, write down all the information you want conveyed, in a magazine style, then go back and divide the report into sections. Label each one with a short subtitle. Extra ideas or resources can be listed with bullet points.

Using bold or italics for some important points will help them stand out as well and can be a good way to get busy editors to check out your report. They will be able to simply scan it and get an idea as to what your press release is about, making it easy to decide whether or not to use it.

Headlines Count

The title you give your press release could mean the difference between it getting read or just tossed in the junk pile. You want a title that isn’t too long, but catches people’s attention. Again, a quick look at the publication you want to get into can be a very helpful way to figure out what they are looking for. In general, stick to active verbs and get straight to the point. A vague, wishy washy headline isn’t going to win you any points!

Short, newspaper type headlines are almost always good. The editor may change it, but chances are, if you offer something usable your press release will get used pretty much as is.

Writing a press release is fairly simple. Make it newsworthy and interesting to read as well as nice and easy and you’ll have a very good chance of it getting featured.

Make your public relations efforts stand out by submitting a well-written press release to the right media.

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Tags: career, public, relations, marketing, jobs

There are many ways to generate profile without breaking the bank. It takes and effort and creativity but you certainly don’t need to spend big bucks to get noticed. It’s true that it may take time to generate a groundswell of interest but persistence is the key. There are number of ways in which you can raise your profile without blowing big budgets.

* Tracking key journalists – it is a good idea to track the articles and types of stories covered by your key journalists. This gives you great scope for approaching them with ideas and comment that you know will be of interest to them.

* Local media – it’s easy to forget the local media but they play a useful and important role. Stories are often picked up by other publications. Local media is also a useful way of getting experience with handling interviews. It is much better to have that under your belt before embarking on approaching journalists on national publications and programmes or specialist press or media.

* Radio phone-ins – if there are particular radio programmes relevant to your area of expertise then it is helpful to track them on a regular basis. Why not call into the radio programme next time they are inviting comment on a subject that is relevant to you. It can also give you a foot in the door for establishing your expertise.

* Contacting journalists on the back of other people’s stories – there will be stories every week that you can provide expert comment on. Journalists need expert views to help their audiences understand the story as well as provide insightful comment. If you really do have something of value to add then journalists will welcome your approach.

* Internet – journalists, like many of us, are increasingly using the internet to source information for stories. It is a good idea to demonstrate your expertise on your website as well as highlight any news announcements.

* Journalist databases – there are a number of databases that journalists use to source expert comment. You simply list your details and your areas of expertise for an annual subscription. In the UK www.expertsources.co.uk is a useful online listing that is worth looking at for this. There is fierce competition and it is worth checking the listing to see the competition you would be up against.

* Press release – this is another useful tool and one that can be highly cost effective. It does take time to write a press release that will get the journalist interested and it may also be worth considering investing in some photography if that can support your story.

PR can play a useful role in highlighting your organisation to prospects and customers alike. It need not be expensive. You just need to understand what your key audiences want and how to give it to them.

Using PR to build your profile and protect your reputation can help you influence the audiences that are important to you – I invite you to access more free articles, tips and information on this, and other subjects related to public relations, by visiting this site.

Debbie Leven – Profile Matters Ltd PR Consultants UK

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Tags: publicity, pr, jobs, company, firm

What is Marketing? And what is the best type of Marketing for your company? How about a Yellow Pages advert? Pay per click? Maybe some direct mail followed up a telemarketing campaign?

Well whilst each of these are perfectly valid marketing routes and one’s any forward thinking company should at least test the very best type of marketing for all types of business is the type that is free. That’s right Ladies and Gentlemen, if you’re working with a tight marketing budget (or indeed with no set marketing budget at all) then you can now get exposure for your product, service or company in the form of PR (or Public Relations).

For large companies PR is big business. They will think nothing of employing staff with the sole intention of getting the name of their company in the media (be it written press, television, radio or online). And because the PR market is seemingly dominated by the larger companies small companies shy away from using PR in their marketing mix.

If this applies to you then good times could well be ahead as PR is a vital part of the marketing mix for smaller companies in particular as they often don’t have the time or money to spend on often expensive advertising or other marketing.

Business Marketing and Small Business Marketing often share many of the same functions but successful businesses of all sizes use PR to promote their business, build their reputation and become a recognised expert in their particular field. And the beauty of PR is that everyone is an expert in something. And by passing on your expertise in a particular subject in the right way you become newsworthy.

And that is the real secret when it comes to good PR. It has to be interesting and newsworthy. Nobody cares that you’ve just launched a new website or that Mrs Jones in Accounts has just become a Grandmother for the second time (both subjects I’ve seen in press releases and both subjects I’ve seen in journalist’s bins!!). And if you’ve ever attempted PR only not to have it published then I wouldn’t worry too much about it as you’re amongst the 99% of companies who send out PR that isn’t newsworthy or interesting.

Over the course of the next few weeks and months I’ll be giving you tips and advice and how you (whatever business you’re in) can make sure you’re in the 1% of companies who do get PR published and who does get business as a result of it. Until then here are a few words on Why PR is important.

Communication lies at the heart of today’s modern society. Be it on the internet, television, pod casts or whatever medium you choose. And with so many firms competing for the same business as you, how do your customers differentiate between you and your competitors?

The answer lies not particularly in the size of your Yellow Pages advert but how you project yourself and what your firm has to offer.

PR has a huge sway in the minds of consumers as the perceived third party endorsement that comes from editorial coverage can be substantial, maybe even more so than advertising that can cost hundreds or thousands of pounds. This done well can result in increased exposure, increased business and increased profits. And if you want your business to be the best it can be then becoming good at PR is something you want to do.

And remember, it’s FREE!

Mark Burdett is the owner of one of the UK’s Leading Marketing Consultancy firms, The Marketing Buzz.

With almost 2 decades of marketing experience Mark has worked on highly successful and profitable campaigns for companies including Norwich Union, Kia Motors and Zurich. Now based in Newcastle upon Tyne, The Marketing Buzz help small and medium sized UK businesses grow and increase their profits by using highly effective Marketing techniques.

If you want to grow your business and increase your profits contact The Marketing Buzz at this site.

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Tags: pr, marketing, firms, company, jobs