“Remember growing up how your mom reminded you to wash your face, brush your teeth and say ‘thank you’? I think we still need to be reminded ever so often because every day etiquette which is an integral part of the business world appears to be murky and a bit convoluted.

During my days in media sales when I first arrived in Miami I dressed head to toe in black, with pearls and pantyhose in 95 degree weather. And while the sweat rolled down the side of my face and down my back causing me to itch, I maintained a smile on my face even when the Account Director of Ogilvy & Mather came out of her office to fetch me for our Kodak presentation wearing a white tube top with no bra, stilettos and tight Brazilian low-rise jeans. I remained stunned as I marched behind her struggling with media kits and briefcase in hand unable to stop staring at the crack of her ass. Despite this lack of professionalism I proceeded to pitch the Kodak client on a multi year media deal though his interest laid primarily in being hand fed chocolate chips cookies by the Account Director who in between discussions of brand integration and CPMs could not stop giggling.

I learned two important lessons that day – you really can put your money where your mouth is and secondly, the standard of conducting business had faded into a bolder realm of inappropriate behavior. Are we so caught up in ourselves and our egos that we have forgotten how to present a professional decorum? Is it surreal confidence or simple ignorance?

I believe it is both which I will be discussing in my next blog. At this time I am presenting you with my top ten pet peeves on business etiquette which should NEVER be forgotten:

1. Never chew gum in a meeting. It’s difficult enough to presenting your ideas, but you should always sound as audible and articulate as possible. Besides which -it’s distasteful, distracting and the other person is always left wondering – I am going to step on this gum later or will I find it underneath my desk?

2. Always pay attention to the person speaking. People have a tendency to feel insulted if they do not feel you are listening to them. Meaning – don’t twirl a strand of hair or look dazed and confused. If necessary excuse yourself and get a cup of java to wake up.

3. Provide a firm hand shake. I am not saying break a hand, but look at the person and shake their hand so they see you are serious and enthusiastic.

4. Dress appropriately. Eyes should be riveted on your face and presentation – not on your cleavage, crotch or buttocks. A professional atmosphere should be matched by business attire unless you are told otherwise.

5. Do not fiddle with your Blackberry or answer your cell phone while you are in a meeting. I have seen this often and frankly, it is a tremendous distraction to everyone and it’s rude. If you are expecting an important call, tell the person ahead of time and then excuse yourself.

6. Be punctual. Everyone is busy and so their time is valuable. If you are running late call the person you are meeting and let them know how late you are going to be. If necessary, reschedule at their convenience.

7. NEVER have alcohol at a business meeting or meal unless the other party/client is having a drink. I have seen many people drink and slur their way through lunches and dinners. This only shows your ability to lose control, be sloppy and is a complete turn-off for the client in trusting and doing business with you.

8. Avoid foul language and dirty jokes. This is only appropriate if the client is your best friend or cousin and you are not in front of others. Naturally, if the client uses this type of language or tells a joke, there is nothing wrong in laughing to let them know you appreciate their humor, but this does not mean you should actively participate. Remember – you need to show them you are serious and a professional at all times.

9. ALWAYS bring your own pen and paper. The client is not a stationary store and you should ALWAYS be prepared. I believe this says a lot about you. If you are a wealth of information and resources, then carry your own supplies!

10. SAY THANK YOU…I can’t stress this enough. Showing gratitude and humility are very enticing qualities and let’s the client know their time, energy and money are valued.

Victoria Hoffman – Concierge Specialties by Victoria
Florida Concierge Services
Visit here website.

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Tags: business, etiquette, tips, training, proper

Tags: books, public relations, PR, writing press releases, tips

While many people only use press releases to get free publicity, learning how to write an effective pitch letter can dramatically increase the amount of publicity you get.

A media pitch letter is a brief proposal addressed to editors containing an idea or article that you would like them to use in order to help you get free publicity. It is important to write a good pitch letter in order to properly get your point across.

It is important to do some simple research before sending out your letter. Research the editor’s name and the publication’s name and be sure to include these in your introduction. This will keep your letter personalized, will show the sincerity in your intentions, and will keep the editor from assuming that this is a letter you sent to other publications as well.

It is also essential that you open your pitch letter with a statement that is attention-grabbing and will make your reader instantly interested in what you have to say. If your reader is instantly hooked on what you have to say, he or she will go on reading.

For example, if I were to write a pitch letter about my adventure selling the Brooklyn Bridge in 1983 (yes, I really did sell the Brooklyn Bridge), I’d start my letter by saying:

“In 1983 I caused an international media sensation by becoming the first person in history to REALLY sell the Brooklyn Bridge — one square inch at a time. Now, 25 years later, I’m doing it again, even bigger and better than before.”

Afterwards, get to the point. Explain to the editor what it is that you want to do-whether suggesting a new product or recommend a person to feature. Make sure that your story or idea is perfect for the publication’s target market, then tell the editor why this is so.

Now that you’ve got the editor’s attention, explain your concept in the most clear and concise way possible. It is important not to put out all your ideas in one media pitch letter for two reasons: first, your letter will not drone on and bore the reader, and second, you will pique your reader’s interest and keep them wondering and wanting more. Make sure that since this is the bulk of your letter, you’ve gotten your main points across-all while keeping your letter within one page. Ideally, the letter should have 200-400 words.

Make it clear to the editor that you are the best person to do the job. You can take this opportunity to cite a few of your past works or significant experiences that may be to your advantage in handling this subject matter. Don’t be too cocky, but confidently explain that you have quality information this person can use and pass on to his or her audience.

Lastly, make sure that you leave your correct contact information. Sounds simple, but you’d be amazed at how many people screw this up.

Include a phone number (cell phones are fine too. Just indicate that the number is your cell number) and an email address that you check frequently. State that you may be reached at those numbers or email addresses anytime should the editor be interested in your idea. You can also include additional press materials with your letter in order to avoid having the editor do some extra research on your topic.

Once you send out your media pitch letters, be sure to check your email and voice mail services often. The media people are happy to leave a message or send an email, but they won’t wait long for you to get back to them. If you don’t get back to them within hours, you risk losing your opportunity for an interview.

If you follow these steps and learn how to write a pitch letter, you’re on your way to getting free publicity that can drive new customers to your business at little to no cost to you.

Do you need more help getting free publicity for your business? Paul Hartunian has all the help you need here and also here where you’ll find free publicity tips, free articles, free coaching call replays that will make getting free publicity for your business a snap!

Plus you’ll find information about Paul’s Million Dollar Publicity System, the whole story of how he sold the Brooklyn Bridge and plenty more.

And, for just $7 you can get 3 issues of Paul’s publicity newsletter, 3 of his best strategy reports, personal coaching from Paul and your very own, authentic piece of the world famous Brooklyn Bridge.

No need to hunt for top quality information on how to get free publicity. Paul Hartunian has it all for you.

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Tags: media, relation, letter, publicity, tips

Writing articles is a powerful, free way to promote your business. Because articles are a news source they are much more credible than a paid advertisement. This is a fantastic way to get your message in front of thousands of eyes. It can establish your credibility in your Industry; it can promote name recognition, and help you to introduce a new product to the world! Once you write an article don’t just let it sit! Put it to work!

Here are 20 ways to RAISE the use of your articles!

1. Offer article as a FREE REPORT to customers.
2. Place articles on autoresponders
3. Offer article as a free gift when people refer others to you
4. Offer article as a free gift for subscribing to your opt in list
5. Use articles as weekly tips for newspaper columns, magazines, or ezines
6. Ask colleges, seminar or workshop presenters, and other training organizations if your article would make a nice addition to their training resources packet
7. Submit your article wide-ranging awareness directories such as ehow. com
8. Submit your site to specialized vertical portals specifically on your subject. Ex: marketing or business linked resource sites like makingprofit. com
9. Submit your site to webmasters with sites where your article would complement their content
10. Use copies of your articles in your media kit or new client introduction pieces
11. Post articles in frames around the office. Visitors will see them when they come in.
12. Send out copies of articles with sales letters, reunion follow up letters, product release letters, It shows prospects that you are an industry leader by being “in the news”.
13. Archive articles on your web site
14. Have piles of articles on display in your office for visitors to grab
15. Present consent on your web site for others to republish your articles if they include full bio.
16. Contact editors of ezines to see if they would be willing to advertise your article in their ezine
17. Post your article to “content providing” directories
18. Swap articles with other ezine publishers
19. Group related articles together and publish as an ebook
20. Make use of articles as an add on bonus when people pay for your product

Tips that will definitely show you how to use articles to market your business.

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Tags: tips, pr, public relations, article, marketing

I often stress the importance of non-verbal communication in ensuring that audiences receive messages effectively while media training my clients. I was taught, back when we all still used typewriters to compose a document, that up to 80 percent of communication was non-verbal – voice tone/quality, body language, etc. While there are differing opinions on that statistic, I believe that non-verbal communication plays a particularly important role in how an individual’s character is assessed by observers.

I would strongly recommend doing a Google search for the following terms in order to get a more in-depth education on various aspects of nonverbal communication:
- “understanding body language”
- “paralanguage”
- “nonverbal cues”
- “improving nonverbal communication”

How does this relate to media interviews or public presentations during times of crisis, where spoken message delivery becomes so critical to the welfare of the organization or individual in crisis? I came up with a simple way to remember the non-verbal attitude which should accompany the spoken message.

[The Three C's of Credibility]

During a crisis, effective spokespersons must, primarily through their non-verbal cues, leave their audiences with the impression that they are:

Compassionate…Competent…and Confident

Think “Rudy Giuliani” on and after 9-11. It was his attitude, his non-verbal cues, which gave his audiences comfort. If he had delivered the same messages in a stereotypical governmental manner, the amount of fear and anxiety felt by listeners would have been dramatically higher. Instead, what they clearly felt, for the most part, was “However horrible this situation is, Mayor Giuliani is going to get us through it, he’s doing the right thing, in the right way.” He actually delivered little substance, initially, because so little was known. But he won over his audience (not to mention laying the groundwork for his future ventures).

If stakeholders perceive you as Compassionate, Competent and Confident, they are far more likely to believe your messages. In fact, if you’re really good at projecting the “Three C’s,” you can get away with some messaging errors and still win over your audience.

Jonathan Bernstein is president of Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc. (BCM), a website at which you can access, for no charge, more than 500 articles on crisis management-related topics.

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I’m guessing that, like me, you’ve been hit up with requests on Facebook and other social media to post your “25 Random Things About Me.” So far I’ve resisted delving into my mental scrapbook for personal trivia about my fourth grade pursuits.

However I decided to use the format to see if I could come up with a list of 25 ways that PR can help small businesses. Once I got going, it was easy! Here’s my list:

1. It will make you more visible.

2. It will make you more credible.

3. It will shape your brand, or the way you are perceived in the minds of your target market.

4. It will educate the public about your new company, product or service.

5. You will win more friends and influence more people.

6. PR is much less expensive than advertising.

7. Current customers will pat themselves on the back that they have chosen to do business with you.

8. Potential customers will seek you out.

9. You’ll experience less resistance when asking prospects for appointments.

10. Closing the sale will be easier because prospects trust you because of “third-party endorsement” (the media).

11. Once you establish a presence in the media, reporters will begin to consider you an expert in your field and will call you to comment on other stories.

12. Other businesses will want to partner with you due to the “halo effect.”

13. Unlike advertising, PR multiples. Once you get publicity in a small venue, the bigger media often “find” you, presenting more opportunities for coverage.

14. Your employees will take pride in working for a great company that others admire.

15. You will nurture a service-oriented attitude among your customers, vendors and employees.

16. You will seek ways to contribute to the community, not only for the publicity but because in giving, your business and your life will be made richer.

17. You will work to eliminate complaints, and when they arise, you will take care to correct them immediately and compassionately, creating loyal customers for life.

18. You will drive traffic to your Web site with low-cost online PR.

19. Through incorporating PR strategies into social media, you will meet prospects that you would not otherwise meet, extending your reach and influence.

20. You can change opinions, beliefs and behaviors through good PR. (Just consider the shift in attitude and behavior generated by the anti-smoking, anti-drunk driving and safe sex campaigns.)

21. A well-constructed PR plan can help your business manage a crisis and reduce the likelihood of law suits, profit loss, employee turnover, ruined careers and lives, and even bankruptcy.

22. By incorporating “corporate social responsibility” (CSR) into your PR plan (think “green,” for example), you reduce taxes, increase public goodwill and make it less likely that the government will want to regulate you.

23. PR not only can help you create your reputation, but it can help you manage it.

24. PR increases the long-term survivability of your business.

25. PR energizes “word of mouth marketing” or “buzz.”

Gail Kent is managing director of The Buzz Factory, a boutique PR and marketing firm that helps small business owners make a living while living their American dream. The Buzz Factory works with businesses by writing and distributing press releases, developing comprehensive online and traditional publicity campaigns, creating brands and Web sites, and developing print materials. Gail is an accredited business communicator with more than three decades of experience who has won more than 350 awards for excellence in communications. For more information, visit The Buzz Factory Web site or the blog

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Tags: pr, plan, public relations, tips, image

I often get new clients trying to sell tickets for a workshop or event. It might be that they’ve just run an event, and just about broke even, and never want to be in that position again. Or it could be the fact that the workshop is near enough upon them and panic has set in.

Promoting an event or workshop works very differently from raising the profile of a business and it needs a very different strategy. So, if you’ve got a date looming then read on…

1. Revisit why you are holding this event

Is making money the be-all-and-end-all for you? If it is, then fine, at least you know where you stand. But for many of us it can help to take a slightly different angle of things. I know that many of the low-cost workshops I have run in the past have brought me future clients not only from amongst the attendees, but from the people they have gone on to tell about me. If you look at your event or workshop as a possible teaser or opportunity for people to get to know you and your work better you are perhaps taking some of the pressure off yourself, which can’t be a bad thing.

2. The Money’s in The Mailing List

And I’m not talking about any old marketing mailing list here. I’m talking about your own ezine or newsletter, that regularly shows and tells people what you do, how you can help them and gives you ample opportunities to start advertising and promoting your events well before time. I’m in the lucky position of having a large database of newsletter subscribers and often I only have to mention an event once to have it fully booked. But I’ve put 7 years into building up my subscriber list and that’s not to be underestimated. Indeed, I’d say the best approach is a long term one – focus your attention on building your list up before you do anything else, and the rest will follow.

3. Do Your Research

Don’t just come up with something you fancy running. Do your research and find out if there really is a demand. Run a survey to find out what people want right now. Remember, everything goes in cycles. Be prepared to change. Two years ago everyone wanted me to talk about blogging, last year it was Facebook and at the moment it’s Twitter. Who knows what’s next?

4. Don’t Waste Time on Press You Can’t Reach

How far ahead is your event? If it’s next month there’s no point in targeting magazines that often work three to four months ahead. A short run up to your event means that you need short-deadline press – the radio, Internet and weekly and daily newspapers.

5. Strategic Partners

Who do you know that can help you (and how can you help them?)? I often get people emailing asking me to put their workshop or event into my newsletter. I very rarely do, mainly because I’d be inundated with them if I did. But it’s also interesting to notice how few of them offer to return the favour.

But finding those people who have access to the people you want to reach can work wonders. But go fully armed with why they should help – are you offering a cut or affiliate fee, a free place, help with something completely unrelated in the future. Potentially, strategic partnerships are much more than an opportunity to flog a few tickets. It’s a chance to build a relationship that could benefit the both of you, in the long-term.

6. Make it News-worthy

Press releases singing your event’s praises something aren’t enough. It’s great if you’ve got some good name acts and you know they alone will catch people’s eyes. But if you’re selling something drier and you need to grab the attention of every passing journalist then you need to perk it up and tie your release in with something topical.

7. Give a Taster

If you’re getting inquiries about your workshop but still finding that people are reluctant to part with their money, consider running a pre-event teleclass to give them a taster of what you do, and answer questions on the call. Email them straight after with a special buy-now-and-get-a-great-discount-offer and you’ll find that people are much more enthused to get their credit cards out.

Do Your Own PR shows small businesses how to plan and run their own campaigns. Check out their 30 day PR ecourse here

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Tags: public, relation, tips, promote, workshop

Now I do have a little bit of a secret weapon for some of my higher profile interviews.

There is a guy who’s been on my Web site who has been a customer of mine and who’s known about my audios for many years and I won’t mention the name because he is kind of my secret weapon. He is a PR expert and he has built this PR business and has a lot of famous clients. He approached me and said, “Hey how would you like to interview Vic Conan.” He was instrumental in me getting the interview with Bill Bartman, Tom Hopkins, Alex Mendosian, John Carlton, Ted Nicholas and some other top experts.

So look, he’s a PR expert; his job is to get his clients PR and having an interview with with me is good PR for his clients. I’m doing him the favor. So anytime he has a good client he’s going to refer that client to me and it’s just a no-brainer.

It is just an understanding that the client’s paying him probably a monthly fee to provide PR services and he’s in the business to get them exposure and to get them media time and to get them interviews. It is understood that when you pay a PR guy that he’s going to go out there and get you interviews.

So by the time he gets the interview set up there is no convincing anyone that I’m an expert. If I just had one interview on my Web site, the guy would probably still do the interview based on the referral from his PR expert.

Now anyone out there, there are a lot of PR experts and sometimes these PR experts don’t deliver. But if you approach them and position yourself as a good resource for getting a client or promoter who has a product or service good media time and good exposure there is no reason the PR expert wouldn’t refer their clients to you.

So find out the big names and find out who does their PR. Ask for their PR department, email their PR department and it might go right to the boss but if you put Attention PR Department you’ll get it to the right people.

So that’s my little secret weapon and I’ve relied on him for some of the big names. I’ve never really gone outside of him and I still could; I’m in the works and I’ve got another high profile media person who is going to be securing me some real high profile interviews which I’m excited about. All you have to do is find those PR people and have something of value and give a good interview and we’ll talk about what’s in it for them. But it’s basically free advertising.

Michael Senoff is a sought-after Internet marketer, interviewer and business coach with more than 50,000 students on four continents. For a limited time he is giving away free over 120 hours of in-depth audio interviews with some of the richest and most successful marketers, copywriters and business experts in the world at his famous website

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Tags: PR, tips, interview, profile

While digital music promotions is how you market and expose the music digitally, public relations is ultimately how you create a following. PR is the difference between being heard by the masses or being heard by a few, and the right PR muscle to successfully intensify exposure for your project will eventually lead to more sales.

Of course, the intensity of PR strategies that you implement in your campaign would depend on what phase of the campaign you’re in. If you are in the beginning phases of pushing a particular project and have yet to create a buzz or secure the support of DJs, then there is no way that the project would merit having national publicity unless you have an absolutely unique angle or story or a great track record. On the other hand, if you’ve been consistently building your fanbase and have the numbers to back it up and the support of DJs to show for it, then regional or even national publicity could go a long way in your campaign.

Despite where you are with your project and how it is progressing along, you still need PR whether it is just online publicity, exposure within the DJ community, or even regional or national publicity, your project still needs exposure in a major way. With just four simple tips to follow, you can generate positive publicity for your music promotions campaign regardless of how much buzz or credibility you have.

1. Press Releases. You need them. Get familiar with them. Besides being a natural way to distribute news for your campaign, press releases give you instant visibility in the search engines. With a well written press release, not only can you secure write-ups and reviews, you will also notice how Google and other search engines improve your searchability. The key to digital music promotions is all about optimizing online visibility.

2. Social Media Press Releases. You don’t just need a press release, you need one that is optimized for social media. If you don’t know what that is, then get to know it. Let’s face it. Media is no longer what it used to be and is now replaced by social media and citizen journalism (i.e. blogs).

3. Social Media. Don’t just create a profile page on social media networks- strategically use them to create conversation. In addition, create conversation with the right type of people in your social networks. If you’re an artist or record label and your ultimate goal is to increase your exposure, then people in your social networks should be journalists and writers, DJs, and other record labels and artists. Word of advice- Myspace is no longer the king of social media- it has been replaced by the new kings- Twitter and Facebook.

4. Email Lists. Build an extensive email database of people who would be interested in what you have to say and that includes media, DJs, industry tastemakers, and potential fans. Don’t have enough emails? Well, that’s where email blasts services come into play, but make sure they are credible and are able to generate positive results. Word of advice- organize your database into relevant groups. Although an email blast is one way to increase exposure, it’s also the easiest way to kill your exposure. You don’t want to make the mistake of sending a press release meant for media to your fanbase who would have no use for it. Likewise, you don’t need to send your mp3 to journalists if it’s meant to get DJs to break your single.

Fabiola Fleuranvil
N.Y.L.A. Entertainment Group
Music Promotions | Fashion Marketing | Entertainment PR
Website.

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Tags: PR, publicity, promotion, tips

If you’re thinking of producing a TV, radio, or newspaper series, you’ll no doubt be needing sources for your show. Here are the lessons I learned after putting out a call for sources for my TV series.

1. Have someone review your request. You know who you’re looking for, but it’s easy to not be 100% clear in your request. Have others read you request and note all ambiguities.

2. Create a special email address. Instead of using your normal email address, create a special address just for this purpose. It’ll make sorting your normal emails simpler.

3. Respond to every pitch. Having pitched my own business a number of times only to hear…nothing, I was determined that everyone that took the time to pitch me at least received a polite email response.

4. Use an autoresponder. Had I used a special email address (see above), I could have set it up so that emails to that address received an automated reply confirming their pitch. That would’ve saved me a bunch of time responding to every pitch.

5. Categorize the pitches. I used my email program to organize the pitches into five categories: Yes, Probably, Maybe, Probably Not, and Definitely Not. If you’re unsure about a pitch’s category, bump it up to the higher category. You can always downgrade the pitch, but you’ll be focusing on the pitches in top-down order.

6. Prepare an overview. Although you have an image of how you’ll use your sources, your potential sources don’t. Create a single page overview of your project with specific dates/needs. It’ll ensure that everyone is working together.

7. Pre-screen. Some people look great on paper (e-mail), and some look great in-person. Make sure that your sources match your needs. If you’re going to be doing an audio or video interview, pre-screen the potential guests (by phone). Although there are no guarantees, you will have a better idea of how they will be.

Jay Hamilton-Roth founded Many Good Ideas to help small businesses brainstorm, design, and implement effective marketing strategies. He combines creativity with common sense to demystify the process of getting great results. He has used his high-tech background from MIT to help him launch five businesses. He consults with companies in a wide range of industries and publishes a free monthly marketing newsletter (Creative Business Ideas) and a (daily blog). He is the host of the new TV series Business With Passion, and is also available for public speaking.

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Tags: pr, tips, interview, online, subject

I was recently on a train from Washington, DC to New York, and overheard a PR professional speaking to a colleague on her cell phone.

“The reporter from the Philadelphia Daily News completely blew the story,” she said, clearly exasperated. “I sent him two pages of material, and he totally missed the point!”

I immediately started questioning if the problem was that she sent him too much material, and wondered whether she would have been better served sending him less.

THE MORE YOU SAY, THE MORE YOU STRAY

Imagine you’re a climate change scientist, and a reporter asks you to explain why global warming is a problem. Since you’ve been working on the issue for the past decade, your answer could easily take hours. You could further illustrate your points with colorful anecdotes and compelling data.

But how about answering the question in seven seconds, the average length of an evening news television sound bite?

Many spokespersons bristle at the apparent superficiality of such a challenge. But the challenge is actually one that will help you control your message.

I often ask media trainees to answer this question: What is the single most important takeaway message you’d like the audience to remember or, better yet, act upon? Once you’ve identified that message, everything you say should be specifically related to that point. If it’s not, you may get quoted saying something less important, thus missing an opportunity to communicate your most important point to the audience.

Note: For many interviews, it’s appropriate to develop up to three one-sentence main messages. Every answer should tie into at least one of those messages.

DON’T DEMONSTRATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE – ORGANIZE IT

When speaking to journalists, I often observe them scribbling notes furiously in a reporter’s notebook. In order to capture everything, they usually write in big, barely legible characters, and flip the pages at an almost manic pace. By the end of the interview, reporters may have dozens of pages of notes.

GOOD: Great spokespersons organize their thoughts so clearly, that reporters will immediately know which three points are most important. They may have 12 pages of notes – but you’ve been so effective, they’ve probably underlined or starred your most important thoughts. As a result, you’ve dramatically increased the probability that at least one of your most important points will make it into the story.

BAD: Alternatively, you may have just spoken without prioritizing your main points, giving the reporter 12 pages of information from which to choose. Your quote in tomorrow’s paper may or may not be one of your most important points, likely wasting an opportunity to influence thousands of people.

THE WOMAN ON THE TRAIN

In fairness to the woman I overheard on the train, I have no idea what information she provided to the reporter in Philadelphia. She may have been perfectly on message and simply fallen victim to his ineptitude.

More likely, though, the document she sent contained non-essential information that allowed the reporter to stray from the intended message.

Increase the odds of your perfect headline appearing in tomorrow’s paper by staying on message – and not straying from it!

Brad Phillips is the founder and president of Phillips Media Relations. He was formerly a journalist for ABC News and CNN, and headed the media relations department for the world’s second largest environmental group.

For more information, visit this web

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Tags: media relations, tips, media, public relations, news

The best and most common way of communicating with the media is through preparing and distributing a media release to them. A media release is also known as a press release or a news release.

A media release is a document containing the message you want to tell them. It takes a specific format.

Your media release should include:
· Your business name and logo at the top.
· Your contact details near the top.
· The date.
· A heading that grabs the reader’s attention.
· The news formatted into individual short paragraphs, with the most interesting information summarised in the first paragraph.
· Background information about yourself or your business at the conclusion of the media release with its own heading.
· Check your media release for spelling and grammar. If your media release contains grammatical and spelling errors, it becomes illegible and doesn’t maintain your professional image.

Generally, the media release should not be more than a page, and I cannot stress enough how important it is to summarise the important and interesting information in the first one or two paragraphs. Why? Because journalists receive literally dozens of media releases a day, and do not have the time to read each and every one from top to bottom to work out whether or not it is of interest. They need to know immediately, and if your media release waffles on and on without getting to the point, I can guarantee that it will end up in the bin.

The language you use needs to be simple and to the point. Do not use technical jargon or unnecessary adjectives. Quotes, from yourself or relevant people in your business, are viewed upon favourably by the journalist. The best way to get an idea about how to write it is to read a newspaper – if you can get it to sound like a news article, that is perfect for the journalist. This means they can use much of the media release for the article as it is, without too many alterations.

The media release needs to answer the following questions where possible, and it’s a good idea to always keep the following in mind when writing it:
· What – what is it about, what’s happening?
· When – when is the event taking place or when did it happen?
· Where – is this Australia-wide, or local? What is the location?
· Who – who are the key people, and indeed the business, involved?
· How – what are the details?

Learn how using the media can propel your business to huge success! Diva Promotions can do that for you with our very own PR expert. Come and have a look at this site

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Built for speed and power, TV is a badge of credibility for anyone seeking to get their message out. It allows you to present the audience with a visual image of your message, e.g., graphs, demonstrations and pictures. These visuals make your message easy to understand and more entertaining for the viewer.

What about the difference between local and national television exposure? Simply put, local television is good for placing a stake in the ground and getting the hometown crowd interested in your message. National television, on the other hand, is good for the same but on a grander scale.

Now what about the impression that you make on television viewers? TV viewers are used to 8 minute segments, and then a commercial. They’ll see your interview, and then forget about you a week later. Because of this fleeting nature, a TV campaign alone is incomplete as a full, lasting, PR strategy.

In the end, TV is most effective when you are able to obtain repeat interviews with multiple story angles to keep yourself on the tube.

Talk Radio – Talk radio is a great way to get your message across to a large group of people at one time. There’s a captive audience during morning and evening drive times, in the middle of the day with stay-at-home moms or people in the workplace, and with those “night owls” who listen late into the night. Also, the demographics of the audience are a marketer’s dream. According to the recent Talkers Magazine research project, talk radio listeners are educated, attentive, affluent, and active consumers.

Talk radio schedules are also packed with a plethora of specialty shows (politics, health, relationships, lifestyles, finance, consumer advocacy, sports, etc) enabling you to reach mass or niche audiences alike. Radio interviews also allow you more time to tell your whole story than a TV appearance. These interviews average 10 to 20 minutes in length (and some can go even longer) whereas, TV interviews only range between 3 to 6 minutes.

Print – A recent study executed by Forrester Research Inc. (an independent technology and market research company) revealed that people trust print news coverage far more than other media outlets. I’ve always felt print is “King” when it comes to media exposure. An article or story about you and your company not only popularizes your message to millions of readers – it also provides legitimacy and credibility in a way that’s unmatched.

Although this industry is being hit pretty hard with layoffs, there are a growing number of opportunities for PR agencies to obtain solid placements. Just think about it: with less staff journalists writing good editorial content, these publications will depend more on PR professionals and syndicated content to fill their pages.

In the long term a print campaign can help boost sales, which is especially true when combined with a radio and TV campaign.

Not to mention that your newspaper and magazine articles can be recycled in numerous ways to strengthen your entire sales and marketing efforts. Why not use your published article as part of your email newsletter, as a feature on your website’s homepage, or part of a sales package to prospects or retail store buyers. Overall, print is an excellent source for establishing credibility and increasing brand awareness.

Internet – Not so much the new kid on the block anymore, an Internet campaign is a proven method to reach both mass and niche media. If you want to market to an enthusiastic audience who enjoy interacting and sharing information, an internet (or online) marketing and PR initiative is perfect for you.

As the internet is a “useful” content driven medium, if you have lots of terrific articles (published or unpublished), company photos, video presentations or even old PowerPoint presentations, these can all be fed into your online marketing machine which can syndicate it widely through the web, thus increasing your brand’s visibility and building credibility simultaneously.

With websites, blogs and other social media outlets you have the added bonus of starting or interacting with a large community of prospective clients in a real way. Imagine the idea of a networking cocktail party without time constraints and costly travel? Sounds great right? The internet offers extensive reach and cost-effectiveness, while supporting the other aspects of your media PR strategy.

Depending on your campaign’s goals, I would advise using a combination of all the above media outlets. Again, the key thing to remember is your messaging. Be sure that whatever media you end up utilizing properly serves your message and is a good fit for your marketing objectives.

For 20 years Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on public relations as CEO of EMS Incorporated. Go to this site to learn how to explode your business through harnessing the power of public relations today and receive your free ebook from Marsha!

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Tags: media relations, 2009, tips, write, media release, news

The best and most common way of communicating with the media is through preparing and distributing a media release to them. A media release is also known as a press release or a news release.

A media release is a document containing the message you want to tell them. It takes a specific format.

Your media release should include:
· Your business name and logo at the top.
· Your contact details near the top.
· The date.
· A heading that grabs the reader’s attention.
· The news formatted into individual short paragraphs, with the most interesting information summarised in the first paragraph.
· Background information about yourself or your business at the conclusion of the media release with its own heading.
· Check your media release for spelling and grammar. If your media release contains grammatical and spelling errors, it becomes illegible and doesn’t maintain your professional image.

Generally, the media release should not be more than a page, and I cannot stress enough how important it is to summarise the important and interesting information in the first one or two paragraphs. Why? Because journalists receive literally dozens of media releases a day, and do not have the time to read each and every one from top to bottom to work out whether or not it is of interest. They need to know immediately, and if your media release waffles on and on without getting to the point, I can guarantee that it will end up in the bin.

The language you use needs to be simple and to the point. Do not use technical jargon or unnecessary adjectives. Quotes, from yourself or relevant people in your business, are viewed upon favourably by the journalist. The best way to get an idea about how to write it is to read a newspaper – if you can get it to sound like a news article, that is perfect for the journalist. This means they can use much of the media release for the article as it is, without too many alterations.

The media release needs to answer the following questions where possible, and it’s a good idea to always keep the following in mind when writing it:
· What – what is it about, what’s happening?
· When – when is the event taking place or when did it happen?
· Where – is this Australia-wide, or local? What is the location?
· Who – who are the key people, and indeed the business, involved?
· How – what are the details?

Learn how using the media can propel your business to huge success! Diva Promotions can do that for you with our very own PR expert. Come and have a look at this site

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“Build your reputation by helping other people build theirs.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo

If you were going to run a marathon, you wouldn’t do it with a knapsack full of rocks on your back, right? Yet many businesses are saddled with names that are misleading, out of date, hard to pronounce or just plain bad. That makes their marketing extra difficult. If you’ve decided that a new name is needed for your business, here are five tips to help you find a great one.

1. Start with what’s unique – Begin by making a list of the main traits you want to get across to people about your firm. Is it quality, edginess, experience, creativity? Think about what it is about you that your customers most value. When you list a range or words and word combinations, you’ll want to gravitate toward those that reflect or can connect to that particular quality.

2. Narrow down with a story – A story is a powerful way to help people connect your name to what you do. For example, in my town there is a bar called “eleven.” It seems like a pretty nondescript name until you learn they called it that because on a scale of one to ten it’s an eleven. Think about what story can help tie the names you’ve chosen to your firm’s unique quality.

3. Get reactions – Test out your top few names with a variety of audiences to see what they think. Do people make associations that tie back to your core brand identity? Do they find the name easy to say and spell? Listen for themes that crop up. If the themes connect to your desired positioning, you may have found a winner.

4. Check URL availability – A firm without an online presence is a firm with no presence these days. Nabbing a website that ends in dot com is critical to being perceived as legitimate. Visit web hosting services to see which of the names on your list are available for purchase.

5. Lock up all the URLs – Once you’ve selected your final name, don’t just buy the .com URL, make sure you lock up .net, .org, .biz and .edu. as well. Domain names usually cost less than $15 a year, and can help make sure everyone who is looking for you online can easily find you, not someone else.

This article may be reprinted when the copyright and author bio are included.
©2009 Barbara Wayman, BlueTree Media, LLC.

Barbara Wayman, APR, president of BlueTree Media, LLC, publishes The Stand Out Newsletter, a free monthly ezine for people who want to know how to leverage the power of marketing and public relations. Get your free subscription today at her site

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Even the best products and companies can fall into some sticky situations. How do you deal when the media wants to talk to you about it?

Achieving trust is the aim of anyone practicing public relations. The most practical consideration in achieving trust is through your dealings with the news media – anything less than total honesty will destroy credibility, not only for you personally, but for your company as well. The news media will be depending on you as a source to provide honest information about your company that they, in turn, convey to their readers and listeners.

So what to do when you’re under fire?

Above all, prepare in advance, and keep your cool. This is true for every interview, but particularly when you have a difficult situation to discuss, you never want to come off as angry, embarrassed or flustered.

In all your dealings with the press, if you don’t know the answer to something, the only acceptable way to address this is to say you don’t know, but will look into it and see if you can find a response – then follow up in a timely fashion. Never make up an answer to something you don’t know or about which you are unsure. And if there is something that you simply wish not to answer, you can simply say that the particular information requested is not available at this time.

If the journalist presses, you are under no obligation to provide a response. You can utilize a technique called “bridging,” in which you use the line of questioning as a way to turn your response into something positive. For example, “That information is not available at this time, but what I can tell you is that we have a new line of products about which we are very excited.”

Sometimes a reporter will inaccurately cite information; this may be a way to trick you. Only deny the accuracy of the information – do not correct it unless it helps your story.

Remember, what may seem beneficial in the short- term, could come back to haunt you down the road. It is far better to build a long-standing and trustworthy relationship, than to jeopardize your credibility for immediate gain.

Visit this site for more resources on how to handle your do-it-yourself publicity campaigns. Regina Novickis is co-founder of Media Tonic and this web. A seasoned public relations executive with more than twelve years of experience managing brand positioning, public relations and media relations efforts on behalf of consumer/entertainment clients, she has secured coverage for clients in every genre of national press ranging from USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Time and Newsweek, to Self, Marie Claire, GQ and Maxim, to “Entertainment Tonight,” “The View” and NBC’s “Today” show.

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Tags: tips, media, interviews, publicity, news

If you’ve saturated your local newspaper with story ideas about your business, it might be time to step up your game.

Getting on television – especially locally – is easier than most business-owners realize, if you know how to approach producers and how to prepare for a segment. The following tips can help increase your chances of landing on a news segment and making your time count.

Do your homework:

Study your local TV news programs to see which might be the best fit. Some may use more local guests than others. You may want to suggest a particular segment in your initial query to the station. This might include a morning show with a family-focused segment (if you’re pitching about your three-generation toy store), a noon show that covers local leaders (“my clothing store donates 10% back to low-income women”) or a nightly newscast that covers business (“our products are changing the world”). Remember, the better you can present a good fit for your business on their TV show, the more likely producers are to feature you.

Get to the right people:

Getting your idea considered means getting it seen by the right people. This means not only finding out who to send it to, but how. Your first step should be to research the TV station on the Internet, and then to make a call to the station receptionist. Your conversation could go something like this:

RECEPTIONIST: “ABC TV-5, this is Jen. How can I help you?”

YOU: “Hi Jen, I’d like to suggest a segment idea for the morning show. Is David Jones the correct person to contact?”

RECEPTIONIST: “Actually, John Smith is in charge of the morning segments.”

YOU: “Great. Can you tell me his title and how he prefers to receive segment ideas?”

RECEPTIONIST: “He’s our program manager. He hardly ever checks email so let me put you through to his voice mail…”

YOU: “Thanks Jen. I really appreciate your help.”

You should have a simple, PRACTICED pitch that you can use and make sure you leave all your contact information on the voice mail. While you’re waiting to hear back, drop a query letter and any supplemental materials in the mail.

If you can present a visually appealing idea, all the better. While simple interviews are done all the time, suggesting a segment with a strong visual hook is often enough to give you the edge.

“We contacted local TV stations with an idea to show parents how they could use simple items and games to increase their kids brain power,” says Tanya Mitchell, Director of Training for LearningRx, a world renown brain training franchise. “I told them I’d bring things like building toys, blocks, Scrabble tiles and stacking cups and then demonstrate how parents could use these at home to increase things like attention, memory and processing speed. They loved it. I think that if I had just suggested a sit-down interview, we wouldn’t have gotten on the show.”

Mitchell also suggested that the TV show mention that viewers could get additional ideas by visiting the station’s Web site, which hosted a link to www.LearningRx.com. “They loved this idea because it provided additional information to their viewers while driving traffic to their Web site,” says Mitchell. “And, of course, we loved it because it drove traffic to OUR Web site.”

If you can offer an additional free product or service through your Web site, you may be able to convince the station to post a link.

Follow up:

If your pitch is timely (“our salon is holding an open house next week with all proceeds benefiting the children’s hospital”), you should follow up quickly. If the piece is an ‘evergreen,’ give your contact some time to review your idea then follow up in a week or two.

If your contact declines your idea, ask if you can continue to submit more ideas in the future, and/or if you can be considered as a source for other segments that cover your industry.

Most importantly, be positive and courteous at all times. If the station is even a little interested but gets the idea you’re too pushy or rude, or believes you’re simply trying to ‘sell’ your business (as opposed to giving them a real story idea), you could burn that bridge for good.

Play by the rules:

When it comes to working with TV stations, you’ve got to play by their rules. Here are a few to follow:

1. Don’t call in the morning. This is the busiest time at most stations and you’re idea will get lost in the shuffle. The exception to this rule is if you have an extremely timely subject. For example: A huge computer virus has consumers scrambling to find out how to fix their computers and your software company offers free downloads from its Web site.

2. Don’t use the word ‘pitch.’ For many in the media, this word sends up a red flag that they’re about to be sold something. In TV, this implies that you’re essentially trying to get a free commercial for your business.

3. Remember that nothing is ‘off the record.’ Be careful about what you say when the camera is off, too.

4. Return calls and emails promptly. Television is a fast business. Sometimes it’s only a matter of minutes between you getting the interview … or your competition.

Prepare for the big day:

If your segment idea does get picked up, there are some things you’ll want to do to prepare. First, have someone tape the segment for you. Don’t ask the station to provide you with a copy, as this is often expensive and time-consuming for them.

Second, practice what you’ll say with someone who can play interviewer. Let them throw some curveballs, like “So, exactly what percentage of your sales go to charity?” or “How do you feel about the new laws that are affecting your business?”

You’ll also want to practice sitting still, sitting up straight and making eye contact with your mock interviewer if you’ll be seated during the interview.

Thirdly, pick out your outfit in advance and set it aside so it doesn’t get stained or wrinkled before the big day. If you’re running late for the interview, you won’t have to worry about searching for something to wear. Stick with medium-hued, solid colors on top as patterns can appear too busy on TV and light colors can wash you out.

“I was running around like a mad woman trying to find something to wear when I appeared on ‘Good Morning America,’” says Christina Katz, author of Writer Mama. “Finally, my aunt picked out this really simple button-down blue shirt. It was less glamorous than what I had originally thought I’d wear, but it ended up being perfect.” Don’t wear anything that can reflect light (such as metallics) and keep jewelry simple. Plan to wear something lightweight as the lights in the studio can get warm. Wear a bit more makeup than usual and keep your hair simple but professional.

Show your appreciation:

Although it’s exciting – and often profitable – to appear on TV, be cautious about pitching the station again too soon. Likewise, you may want to show some loyalty by not appearing on a competing station’s program soon after your initial appearance.

As for whether or not to send a gift to the station, don’t feel obligated. If you do decide to show your appreciation, keep it simple and inexpensive. Drop off some homemade cookies or a bag of bagels and cream cheese, or send a small fruit basket. If nothing else, send a nice thank you card to your contact…and that nice receptionist.

Wendy Burt is a full-time freelance writer and editor with more than 1,000 published pieces. She is also the author of two books for McGraw-Hill. WendyBurt-Thomas.com

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Tags: media, relations, tips, marketing, communications

While strategic PR campaigns were once reserved for the business “elite”-those who could afford to spend one to three thousand dollars a month to retain a PR firm-these days, it is not is not uncommon for even the smallest of shops to whip out press releases in an effort to build buzz.

The truth is, no matter what size your company or what industry you’re in, getting your message in the media should be a major part of your business development efforts. Having a consistent media presence helps companies build credibility and get more business. Thanks to constantly changing media landscape, this is becoming easier and easier to do.

Have you thought about how to use the media to leverage your message in for 2008? If not here are the top 5 things you can do jump start your company’s publicity efforts this year:

1.) Do a media plan.

Planning is the key to media success. Take some time and think about what newspapers, magazines, news shows you would like to appear on this year. How about Business Week, the Wall Street Journal, the Today Show or your local newspaper? Once you’ve identified a few media outlets, decide which topic you want to discuss. Then find out which producer or reporter you should send a pitch letter or press release to. Don’t wait for the media to find you, take your story to them.

2.) Position yourself as an expert.

If you have a wealth of experience in your industry or you know things that other don’t, don’t be afraid to call yourself an expert. What are your strengths? Are you a relationship guru, a financial advisor or women’s empowerment advocate? Find your niche, bring new and unique information to the market and you can begin to attach the expert title to your name. When journalists and producers see the word “expert,” your chances of getting featured increase dramatically.

3.) Write a “How-to” article.

Take your expertise and put it in a step-by-step format that will allow readers to easily apply the strategies you recommend. If you’re a relationship coach, write an article on “how to avoid arguing with your mate.” Or, if you’re a fitness trainer, your article could focus on “how to avoid gaining weight during the holidays.” Submit your article to websites, magazines and discussion groups and you’ll be surprised how many people you help and how much publicity could result from it. This strategy also helps you position yourself as an expert.

4.) Write a letter to the editor.

If you see an article in the newspaper that you strongly agree with or object to, use that as an opportunity to write a letter to the editor. Recently I wrote a letter to the editors of all the major newspapers here in Chicago on behalf of a client who works in the healthcare industry. He expressed his regret that so many cuts were being made, despite the fact that healthcare needs are at an all time high. Two major papers called to inquire about the letter and one paper actually ran it, along with the client’s name, title and organization. If your letter gets printed with your name and company info, that’s free publicity!

5.) Do something good in the hood.

When a company or community organization hosts an event that helps other people, an opportunity for free publicity is automatically created. Do you have a scholarship program, awareness raising initiative or food give-away? Find a unique way to tie it in with a major holiday, anniversary or commemoration and you could wind up featured in your local paper or on the news.

Monique Caradine is a Chicago-based broadcast media professional and President of Momentum Media Group, Inc. A former radio and TV talk show host, her specialties include program development, media training and publicity consulting. She is also a noted speaker, workshop presenter and commentator. Visit her website here

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Tags: public, relations, tips, consultant, firms

Press Releases can help your business acquire publicity through the media. Having media attention affords your business believability. Here are a few tips to promote your press release’s attraction.

Correct Format: There is a format that press releases require to conform to. Make sure your yours is written in the correct formatting, as you will want it to look as professional as possible. It is also a good idea to re-read the press release for grammar, punctuation and Writing before you send it in for submission.

Keep It To The Point: Your press release should be no longer than two pages. Media companies take in lots of press releases and don’t have time to understand a ten page report.

Keeping your writing clear and brief allow you to fit in the crucial facts without going over the two page limit. As you decide what selective information to admit; answer the following questions: who, what, why, where, when, and how.

What Is The Reader Going To Acquire: Give your press releases a call to action. Include something that is going to prompt readers to go to your event, visit your website, attend your grand opening, etc. Publishing a blatant advertisement will be apparent. All media outlets will not publish blatant advertisements.

Comprise the features and benefits of what you are advertising, and give info on what it will do for your target market. If you are advertising a new drink blender and simply stating that
it is comes in 8 colours and takes up less space than previous models isn’t sufficient.

However, writing the facts as “the new model comes in eight colours and takes up less space, allowing our customers to have the full 5 speed blending power of our larger model, but also save precious counter space” lets the reader know the new benefits of the new
model.

Blair Becker wants to help out all internet marketers to learn traffic generating tips for their website(s). You can find more information about these tips at this site and this site

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Tags: press release, tips, strategy, write, news

Press release writing is a very effective advertising and promotional method. You can publish any aspect of your business or latest product launch through press release. There are rules however when writing a press release. You should take note that editors are very strict and choosy when it comes to press releases. The following are 7 basic tips to press release writing:

1. When writing a press release, stick to one subject. It is more effective to feature a single subject rather than peppering your write up with numerous topics.

2. You must remember that press releases are news. Be objective in presenting your article. Don’t use hype words or unnecessary adjectives. Write directly and to the point.

3. Be factual. Your press release must have concrete and verifiable information. You are writing a news story and not an opinion article. Keep your opinions to yourself. Just present the facts.

4. Create an angle for your subject. Effective press releases are those that have a very interesting angle. It should appeal to human concerns. Generalized information should be avoided. Your readers must get hard and specific information.

5. Make sure that you write news worthy articles. Editors are very keen on this. They generally publish press release that will surely pique the interest of the reading public. You must also write up to date press releases. Remember, this is news and it should tackle current events.

6. Keep your lead paragraph below 50 words. It should be very short but can capture the essence of what you’re writing about. Readers usually scan a page. If you can catch their attention, then your press release is effective.

7. You must include addresses and telephone numbers of contact persons who released the news. In this way online or offline editors can communicate with you if they have specific questions regarding your release.

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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