Here’s a tip from Penny Haynes of 1st Podcast Publishing:
Stay in front of the public on a continual basis. Statistics show that people buy from advertisers that are seen multiple times in multiple spaces. Video advertising is the most effective, and makes up 60% of successful viral marketing. Marketing to a particular community, one where you have established yourself as an expert in your area, is not only practical, but efficient. Use the inexpensive media options that are now available to you, including online audio and video, to help build and maintain rapport with present and future customers.
Penny will be presenting Creating Your Own Syndicated Internet Radio or TV Show on October 24 at 12:30 pm Eastern time.
Be sure to register early for her session and all the others. In case you didn’t know, when you register you receive a 50+ page workbook which included the interview quesitons and or presentation handouts of all guest experts. Included are also links to any and all PPT Presentations used. Everyone who registers also receives links to all audio files of every session, so if you miss part of the summit, you will be able to “catch up” when you listen to their programs.
In addition you are eligible to attend our media mastermind sessions that will take place following the summit! So far, we have 3 guest experts booked for the week of October 29 and the first week in November.
To register go to http://womensmediasummit.com/register/
A list of audio and video resources will be listed in our resource area beginning Monday, October 1st.
September 30th, 2007
Posted by
admin |
PR and Media Tips |
no comments
“Public relations is generally the result of form and substance” - Unknown
In business you need lots of plans. You need a Business Plan, a Marketing Plan, a Human Resource Plan and even a Media and Public Relations Plan. And like any other plan, you need to define what you want to accomplish, what you want to say, who you need to tell, and what information would be considered newsworthy.
What do you want to accomplish?
Writing out the goals for your media and public relations plans will help you crystallize your intentions. It will help you focus on results. It will help you determine what costs will be associated with your plans?
What do you want to say? And how should you communicate your message?
As with any kind of planning, you have to be able to maintain your message consistently throughout any program or opportunity that you take on. That includes consistently delivering your organizations mission, vision, and values to your intended audience.
Who do you need to talk to?
Who do you need to tell about new programs, products and services? Make a list of all stakeholders. That includes News media such as print, radio, television, and Internet outlets. Other stakeholders can include:
Professionals who would have an interest in your “news.”
Customers & clients who do business with your company and have an interest in your news.
Influencers who could potentially share your news with their circles of influence.
Build your PR Calendar
A public relations calendar helps you in to coordinate your efforts around what’s going on locally and globally. The key element of any PR Strategy is consistent ongoing communications to your target audience using a variety of methods.
Using a PR calendar effectively will also enable you to track any budget items for training courses, PR tools, distribution of press releases, etc. Keep it simple. Decide on your key activities. Then look at those activities you will need to spend time with to complete each such as writing articles, contacting journalists, preparing for speaking engagements, launching new products, planning events etc. Take a look at the months of the year and plug in the activities you want to achieve and in which months and then make sure you follow the plan.
When planning your PR calendar, look for times when your business would have the best chance of getting coverage. Decide what type of newsworthy angles you could include to get the journalists’ attention. You can do this by creating a file story ideas and plan the timing for distribution.
By creating you media and public relations plan you will be able to capitalize on opportunities to get your story out. It will raise your chances of making the news.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post: Using awards to promote your products or services.
Also Check out Equal Voice for a list of Media (both local and national).
And finally, register for the Women’s Media Summit here: http://womensmediasummit.com/register/
Heidi
Heidi Richards, Founder & CEO - The WECAI Network™
September 29th, 2007
Posted by
admin |
PR & Media Plans, PR and Media Tips |
no comments
Media-Savvy-to-Go Vol 2. by Nancy S. Juetten
This booklet shows you how to employ ezines, award contests, seminars, and “Jumbo Shrimp Marketing” into the media relations mix to achieve extraordinary results.
Here are just a few example tips to show you what you can expect within Vol. 2:
3. Demonstrate your expertise and value over time via an electronic newsletter, also known as an ezine. The beauty of ezines is that prospects sign-up to receive them through a form on the home or contact pages on your Web site. In doing so, they declare their interest in what you have to offer, though they may not yet be ready to engage your services/products right now. When they are ready to get into action with your area of expertise, you will be among the first professionals they call.
17. Invite new subscribers. Register your ezine to sites such as www.ezinearticles.com. Here ezine readers and publishers from coast to coast and worldwide can review a brief and compelling summary about your ezine and elect to opt-in. Plus, this helps your name and company name pop up more readily in the search engines.
20. Enter award contests. Choose competitions that are well-supported by the media in your industry or community. Select legitimate and prestigious contests that reinforce your company’s core values, strategic initiatives, and marketing claims.
28. Host webinars or teleseminars to share your expertise with clients, prospects, and reporters. Visit www.audiostrategies.com or www.freeaudioconference.com to learn how.
37. Promote your events on www.craigslist.com. The “community” section of this site is an online bonanza of publicity opportunities to reach potential customers from hundreds of cities across the nation.
39. Practice “Jumbo Shrimp Marketing.” This concept comes from John Moore of Brand Autopsy (www.brandautopsy.com), who says being the best — and not necessarily the biggest — at what you do is the way to advance. Grow your business larger by taking a genuine, personal interest in your customer’s success.
ps. Nancy will be speaking at the Women’s Media Summit on October 19th at 3:30 pm. Her program is: The Deadly Sins of Do-It-Yourself Publicity and Why to Avoid Them
To register go to http://womensmediasummit.com/register/
September 28th, 2007
Posted by
admin |
PR and Media Tips |
no comments
Your Media Contacts Database
Whether you keep your editorial contact information in an electronic database or in a Rolodex, your media contact information must be kept up-to-date. Editors and publishers come and go, reporters are reassigned to new beats, and publications merge, fold or redefine their roles and target audience. It is important to constantly update and stay on top of the changes your media contacts make. I suggest you review your media contact list at least every three to four months. By staying in touch with you rmedia list, you can find out if they have changed jobs or assignments and it gives you an opportunity to find new contacts to add to your list and pitch your ideas and stories.
Here are some ideas for adding to and updating your contacts:
Write a Letter of Introduction
When contacting a journalist for the first time, a good way to start the relationship on a positive note is by way of a letter of introduction. I suggest you do this before you send a media release or pitch a story idea. There are of course exceptions and that is when the news is critical and timing is of the essence such as when you are tying your ideas into a late-breaking news story. For most small business owners that will not be the case.
When crafting your letter have an end-goal in mind. What do you want it to accomplish? Do you know exactly to whom the letter should be addressed? Your initial contact to be to the editor or publisher of the publication, a freelance writer or feature journalist. Do your homework before sending the letter. Your letter should highlight why this particular individual (and audience) would likely be interested in your story or idea.
Keep in mind that the main purpose for this letter of introduction is to begin a dialog and introduce you as the go-to person for your company or organization. Be sure to include all of your contact information in the letter including work, home, cell and business address and primary email information. Make it easy for the journalist to contact you. I also suggest if you include work and home phone numbers alongside you include the best times to call. If an editor has a deadline of say 8 am and you begin work at 9 am, chances that you would be a good source are slim.
Your letter of introduction should stress that your main purpose is to make the media’s job easier by being a good source of information, ideas and connections. This letter of introduction should be “what’s in it for them, not you.”
Reach Out and Touch Someone
Pick up the phone and call editors. Find out who you should contact for your topic or interest area. A phone call establishes person-to-person contact, lends credibility to your public relations effort, and helps your contact to associate a name to the information she or he will ultimately receive from your organization. Taking a few minutes to connect by phone before and as a follow-up to a news release, not only draws attention to your organization but can also impart a sense of immediacy that may provide the edge you need to acquire editorial coverage of your story.
When making the call, always immediately identify yourself and your organization. Ask if the editor is on deadline. If their answer is “Yes,” offer to call back in a day or two. Be sure to return that call when you say you will. Editors never forget. If the editor is not on deadline, begin with the purpose of your call. Be brief and to the point. Practice your introductory dialogue before you make the call. Editors have limited time and deadlines. If they have time to chat and further explore your offer, they will participate in the conversation. Be prepared to answer their questions as to why you are calling, what’s in it for them, etc. Do your homework. Write down those questions and rehearse your answers until they are second nature to you.
If the editor says they are not interested, ask if there is someone else on staff who would be interested in your information.
The Editorial Calendar
Check the editorial calendars of these publications on a regular basis. Magazines and other periodicals plan their issues two to three months in advance of the publication date, so you need to be prepared and proactive in making the connections and pitching your story. In many cases, editorial calendars can be found on the publication’s website. If not, you can call the publications advertising or editorial department to get a copy. The editorial calendar includes themes and focus areas of each publication and can come in handy when pitching a specific story idea.
For a list of media in your area, check out Media Tracker at http://www.publicintegrity.org/telecom/ .
MediaCalendars.com has database of 3,500 editorial calendars from major magazines and newspapers.
Remember to register for the media summit today so you can learn more great media marketing ideas - To register go to http://womensmediasummit.com/register/
Wishing you tons of Media Marketing Success… and then some!
Heidi
Heidi Richards, Founder & CEO
The WECAI Network™
September 27th, 2007
Posted by
admin |
Uncategorized |
no comments
You should see my copy of 101 Ways to Promote Yourself: Tricks of the Trade for taking Charge of Your Own Success by visibility Marketing Expert Raleigh Pinskey! It is dog-eared, highlighted and there are dozens of sticky notes strategically placed throughout the book.
I bought my copy 10 years ago (when it was first published) and immediately started devouring the contents. Is is one of those books you keep and refer to over and over again. In fact, there are so many great ideas - 101 to be exact 
to promote your products, your services, your ideas and your organizations, that it will take more than one reading to absorbe and implement them all.
Here are two of my favorites:
Publish an In-house Resource Directory (Chapter 46)
I took this idea and created a great resource for my community. It is called the South Florida Resource Directory of Women’s Organizations (now in it’s 7th edition). This directory has positioned me as the go-to person for the who, what , when and where of women’s meetings and events in South Florida. Chambers of Commerce refer me to new members looking for this type of information, local schools refer to me for information about scholarships these groups offer and individuals call me to get a copy for their networking and philanthropic potential.
Proclamations and Celebrations (Chapter 27)
I call this “using the calendar to promote your products, services and ideas” and even wrote an ebook on the subject. I have used hundreds of holidays over the years to promote my own interests and have even created a few of my own. For instance, did you know that July is Get Out of the Doghouse Month, September is International Women’s eCommerce Month and that March 15th is Virtual Woman’s Day? All these “holidays” were created by my team and me!
You can read more and get your own FREE copy of Your Marketing Calendar when you sign up at: http://www.speakingwithspirit.com/yourmarketingcalendar.asp.
Wishing you tons of Media Marketing Success… and then some!
Heidi
Heidi Richards, Founder & CEO
The WECAI Network™
Ps. when I was planning the Women’s Media Summit, one of the first people I called to be a part of our lineup of experts was Raleigh Pinskey. And she said yes! Be sure and sign up for this Summit so you can hear her share her program - How to be a Heat Seeking Media Magnet taking place on October 18th at 7:30 pm (Eastern Time).
September 26th, 2007
Posted by
admin |
PR and Media Tips |
9 comments
Tip # 1: How to Master your Media Interview
To master the media interview, you shouldn’t focus so much on the fact that you’re being interviewed by a talk show host and will be heard by hundreds—maybe even thousands–of people. Instead, approach the experience as a conversation with a friend. Just imagine you are talking to one person about something you are very passionate about. A good interviewer will always ask the right questions that will elicit information for the listening audience.
Tip #2: Build a Media Plan
Identify the radio and or television shows you would like to be interviewed on. Listen to those programs so you can get an idea of the interviewing style of the host. Find out the kind of topics he or she tends to focus on to see if you would be a good fit for their show. The worst thing you can do is send an email or media release to someone who focuses on politics and you want to talk about gardening. Also, it certainly doesn’t hurt to let the host know you listened to a particular show and how much you enjoyed it as you pitch yourself as a guest. Some people may call it “brown-nosing.” I say “It works!”
Don’t limit yourself to just the stations in your immediate area. Make sure you cover as much territory as possible. Remember, radio interviews can be done over the telephone.
Another thing: If you know you’re going to be on vacation in a particular area on a specific date, contact the stations in that market and let them know you’ll be available. You don’t have to tell them you’re on vacation—just that you’ll be in the area. And don’t be afraid to hype up the fact that the Host is getting a great opportunity to interview you.
Don’t forget about newspapers. Find out if they have a guest columnist slot and see how you can get an article placed there. Also, write a Letter to the Editor regarding an issue that might be related to your book (or business) and make sure you use your author or business signature at the end.
Tip #3: Don’t Focus only on the “Big Fish”
My mother used to say “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” What that means in this case is don’t spend all of your time and energy focusing on trying to get on Oprah. Sure, it’s everyone’s dream to be on her show or any one of the other major national talk shows but until that happens, you need to spread yourself around. Just because you may live in Texas doesn’t mean you can’t do an interview in California. Remember, many interviews are now conducted over the telephone. Another thing: Expose yourself to the “little fish of the sea.” By that I mean, don’t rule out your local media no matter how small it might be. Also, there are plenty of internet radio station hosts who would love to have you as a guest on their shows and you never know who might be listening to help you get your big break.
Tip #4: Perseverance
Don’t get discouraged when you send a note asking for an interview and you don’t get an immediate response. You must realize that there are hundreds—maybe even thousands of other people just like you—who are looking for media exposure. Producers and radio/TV hosts have to sift through a lot of mail on a daily basis so be patient. A good idea might be to follow-up with a phone call in about a week after you’ve sent your materials to see if it has been received. During the conversation you can try to get a better idea of how quickly someone will get back to you. Then be sure to FOLLOW UP AGAIN with an email thanking the person for taking your call and the fact that you look forward to hearing from them in the near future.
Tip #5: Leave a Lasting Impression
There’s an old saying: You have less than a minute to make a lasting impression. Your impression can be good or bad. Whether it’s over the telephone or through your media release, you must capture the attention of the interviewer immediately through your words. Convey yourself as confident but not arrogant. Show your three P’s: Personality, Passion and Purpose.
As a radio and television journalist, I have done literally thousands of media interviews over the past 25 years. I have now put my expertise to work by establishing my own media coaching and consulting business called Soul Solutions/Talk2Bev where I teach clients the mechanics of preparing for media interviews.
To learn more about how to land and prepare for a successful media interview, please visit my website: http://www.talk2bev.com and sign up for my four-week media teleclass called “Your Time to Shine!”
Copyright© 2007 Beverly Mahone
Beverly will be speaking at the Women’s Media Summit on October 18th at 4:30 pm. Her program is entitled Who are YOU…and why should the media care? To read more it and the rest of the summit sessions, visit: http://www.womensmediasummit.com/about-the-sessions/
To register go to http://womensmediasummit.com/register/
September 25th, 2007
Posted by
admin |
PR and Media Tips |
no comments
Here are some sample tips from the Media-Savvy-to-Go Publicity Toolkit created by Nancy S. Juetten to inspire and empower your Website visitors: 97 Powerful Ways to Profit from Free Publicity - Media-Savvy-to-Go Vol. 1
This booklet shows you how to identify, target, prepare, and share your story and learn how to become a published author fast. Here are just a few example tips to show you what you can expect within the action-packed booklet:
14. Know thy media outlets. Read and listen to reporters who write about your industry and have the influence and credibility to spread your story far and wide. Paying attention to the people who report the news ultimately helps you craft winning story pitches and press releases that will compel them to pay attention to you or your story.
26. Believe in the power of cyberspace and the U.S. mail. Calling reporters to ask if they received your press release doesn’t serve you or your story in the least. Those calls annoy and distract deadline-driven reporters and offer no added value. If you insist on telephone follow up, offer late breaking news that makes your press release even more compelling and worth writing about.
31. Go beyond the notion that if it bleeds it leads. It is not necessarily so. Sometimes, TV and print assignment desk editors crave visuals on the lighter side of the news. Capturing the magic of the downtown holiday lights or the last minute Easter rush at the local chocolate shop can provide timely, relevant, refreshing, and visual news. These kinds of stories can serve as the close to any local news broadcast or grace the cover of your local newspaper.
74. Avoid the dreaded LAQ. LAQ stands for “lame ass quote.” “I am just so excited to bring my product to market,” “We are pleased to have the opportunity to play the game,” and “I’m just happy to help the ball club” are LAQ examples. These statements might work for the movies, but they don’t offer much value to inform readers, listeners, or viewers.
ps. Nancy will be speaking at the Women’s Media Summit on October 19th at 3:30 pm. Her program is: The Deadly Sins of Do-It-Yourself Publicity and Why to Avoid Them
To register go to http://womensmediasummit.com/register/
September 24th, 2007
Posted by
admin |
PR and Media Tips |
one comment
Ponn Sabra just put the finishing touches on her newest book, How to Create a Search Engine Optimized Press Release, Effective Use of PRWeb” and I couldn’t wait to share it with you!Here’s what I wrote about the ebook:
“Ponn - First, Congratulations on your newest endeavor! After perusing the contents at length I realized just how valuable this eBook is. It is one of those resources that is going to be around for a long time. I seldom have time to read ebooks and generally save them to my desktop to read when I have a few moments to devote to the contents. That is not the case with “How to Create a Search Engine Optimized Press Release. Effective Use of PRWeb”. This is an ebook I will save and read and reread. In fact it is the perfect size to print out, take home and read. I plan to do just that and of course will have highlighter in hand to keep track of what I need to do to create the perfect SEO press releases for my many business endeavors. Many thanks for sharing your expertise! I am looking forward to helping you promote How to Create an SEO Press Release to my members! All the best!” Heidi Richards, Founder & CEO, The WECAI Network™ - http://www.wecai.org/ To get your copy, visit: http://empowerwomennow.com/news-women-entrepreneurs/index.php/podcast-2-interview-with-mario-bonilla-of-prwebcom/ TODAY!
While you are there, be sure and sign up for her RSS feed at http://feeds.feedburner.com/EmpowerWomenNow
Ps. Ponn is speaking at the Women’s Media Summit at 9 am - “How to create web-optimized media releases - Write for the spiders and the media will take notice!”
To register, visit: http://womensmediasummit.com/register/
September 23rd, 2007
Posted by
admin |
Press Release, FREE MEDIA RESOURCES |
one comment
Creating and Maintaining (continually updating) a media database of editorial contacts who likely have interest in you and your organization is important to your success in building a reputation and relationship with the media. To start building a database visit your local reference library! The reference section of most libraries will have dozens of directories with listings of publications of every description. These directories generally include information on readership, editorial staff (often with contact information), circulation, publication frequency, areas of coverage, and other relevant information. Reviewing these directories is a good first step towards building your media database.
You will need to spend some time doing the proper research for the names and contact information relevant to you and your message. You will need to know the audiences of each publication, names of key editors, these editors’ responsibilities, the editorial calendar for themes and topics each publication covers and more. This information will help you focus your efforts in targeting your news to the right media contacts. The more details your database contains, the more valuable the information will be to you.
Keep in mind, most libraries don’t allow you to check these directories out so be prepared to spend some time doing the research on site.
Here are some of the most popular directories which include North American and international listings. In addition to accessing these at your library, you can purchase these or you can sign up (for a fee) online to gain instant access:
Bacons Media Directories – http://www.bacons.com
Bowden’s – http://www.bowdens.com
Burrelle’s Luce – http://www.burrellesluce.com
Business Wire – http://www.businesswire.com
Canada Newswire – http://www.newswire.ca
Gebbie Press All-in-one Directories (this is the one I use most frequently) - http://www.gebbie.com
Media Map – http://www.mediamap.com
PR Newswire – http://www.prnewswire.com
You can also find local media contacts and organizations by looking in your local newspapers, magazines and local telephone directories as well as by surfing the ‘net.
Here are some suggested categories to begin with:
Broadcasting companies
News publications
News services
Newspaper
Magazines and Magazine Publishers
Newsletter Editors (for corporate communications)
Radio Stations
Television Stations
Once you have created a list of potential editors to contact, find out as much as you can about their publication, coverage areas, and special interests. Become familiar with their publication, their website, or their broadcast. Get to know the areas and beats the journalists and editors cover. Introduce yourself and ask them how they want their news sources to connect with them. Some journalists like a phone call, others like fax and many today prefer email. Once you know this information, you can begin your media marketing campaign.
To your mediai success… and more!
Heidi
Heidi Richards, Founder & CEO
The WECAI Network™
September 23rd, 2007
Posted by
admin |
PR and Media Tips |
one comment
Public relations and media marketing are extremely important to the point of imperative in today’s competitive marketplace. There are many ways an ongoing public relations program can benefit a business or organization. Here are just a few:
~ A proactive public relations media campaign can build your organization’s profile in the news media and the local community.
~ Editorial coverage is considered more credible and can garner more positive attention from your target audience than paid advertising. Recent studies in North America show that positive editorial coverage generates up to nine times more visibility than paid advertising.
~ Media Marketing and Public relations campaigns are an economical way of promoting your organization.
~ You can build a reputation as a “news media source” by sending regular media releases.
~ Writers and reporters are always looking for reliable and respected sources to quote, therefore developing media relationships can give you an advantage over the competition and potentially more coverage.
~ Regular media exposure builds credibility because it enhances the reputation of the individual and the companies being written about. There is a subtle yet real perception that mention in a newspaper or on television must be important.
~ Good media coverage can positively enhance your bottom line.
It is important to understand the needs of your target media, build relationships, set your own media goals and continue to provide quality information. Media relations can be a “crap shoot” because there are no guarantees you will get coverage, however if your message has merit and you continue to share it, the media will eventually take notice
Here’s a great resource…
Check out this list of more than 8,500 newspapers and magazines and more than 1,000 television stations: Ecola – http://www.ecola.com
To your success… and then some.
Heidi
Heidi Richards, Founder & CEO
The WECAI Network™
September 22nd, 2007
Posted by
admin |
PR and Media Tips |
one comment
