Womens Media Summit

Organizing a Media Event

Organizing a Media Event By Rhonda Day

ORGANIZING A MEDIA EVENT

With a little planning and preparation, organizing a media event can gain significant recognition for your company. The most successful media events consider all aspects of the event from the early planning stages to the follow-up after the event. Keeping a few key strategies in mind will help to make the event successful and memorable.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY – A press release to alert the media about the upcoming event is key. Make sure your press release is concise and clearly written. Include compelling information in the release that will make reporters want to attend your event. Their time is valuable and limited and your event needs to be news-worthy to them.Don’t send it out too early or too late. Usually 2-3 days prior to the event is the recommended timing for release. Include information about the time, date, and location of the event. Provide a telephone number and email address as contact information and continually monitor your calls and emails so you can respond quickly and succinctly to any questions they may have.

ATTENDEES DRAW A CROWD – If company executives or local dignitaries plan to attend the media event, be sure to note that in your press release and capitalize on their popularity. Reporters like to be included in events when they believe they are important enough to draw influential leaders and company executives.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION – You’ve heard it before and it’s especially important for your media event. Hold your event at an easily accessible, central location. Be sure to include information about location in the press release and ensure plenty of free parking. You don’t want to cause confusion with the location or have reporters leave due to lack of ample parking space.

To read the rest of this chapter and others, visit: GET MEDIA SAVVY and download Your FREE Copy today!

March 30th, 2008 Posted by admin | PR & Media Events, PR and Media Tips | one comment

Creating a Who’s Who Directory Part two

 In November I wrote about getting known by creating a Who’s Who directory which was inspired by reading about a local woman, Pamela M. Hutchinson of Davie Florida, the creator of Who’s Who in Black South Florida – a directory of black professionals. She recently passed away and the article focused on how well-received her directory was and also talked about who would take over her legacy. I thought it was a terrific idea which inspired me to let you know what I and my staff have done. Which lead me into my marketing and self-promotion tip which was to create a Who’s Who Directory of a specific group of people or organizations in your community. It is a great way to gain local media attention, exposure for your business and to become the go-to person in networking.

Recently I created the Who’s Who Directory of Women in eCommerce. If you are a woman-owned business (online for at least one year) and would like to be listed, you can learn more at http://www.whoswhoinecommerce.com. Deadline for submission of the 2008 Edition is next week March 24^th!  We have received more than 400 listings to date!  Best of all, a BASIC listing is Free.

To see a directory I created in the mid ’90’s (I compiled a list of Women’s Organizations in my county that in 3 years time grew from 72 to over 450 in our tri-county area).  This year we decided to create the directory as a downloadable PDF simply because of the cost and time involved in printing. It has positioned me as a resource for professional women – especially those moving into the area.   The interesting thing is that local libraries, high schools and Chambers of Commerce have the directory and Chambers often refer women to me to learn more about the directory and groups pertaining to women.

 It is called the South Florida Network Directory of Women’s Business & Civic Organizations and is available online at www.southfloridanetworkdirectory.com in case you would like to check it out. If the link does not work, try http://www.speakingwithspirit.com/SouthFloridaNetworkEdition7.asp

In addition to creating your own, I highly recommend you submit your listing to several online directories (if they are free, all the better). One word of caution – two really – make sure the directory is one that reaches your target audience and that it draws enough traffic to warrant spending the time (and in some cases money) to submit a listing.  Don’t waste your time on those that don’t. How will you know if it’s right for you?  Find out who else is listed in the directory, what types of people and professions are included.  Look around the website or blog promoting the directory.  Ask for references or read testimonials and comments on the site. This will give you some indication of the value of the listing in the first place.When you’ve done your homework and you feel confident that the listing will get your name out there, submit away!

Wishing you much success when you do!

Heidi  Heidi Richards, Founder & CEO – The WECAI Network – http://www.wecai.orgPresident & Chief Goddess – Eden Florist & Gift Baskets – http://www.edenflorist.com – We send flowers around the corner or around the world!Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Check out the latest issue of WE Magazine for Women! http://www.wemagazineforwomen.com

March 22nd, 2008 Posted by admin | FREE MEDIA RESOURCES, PR & Media Resources, PR and Media Tips, Self-promotion | no comments

Public Relations Tools For Business

PR Tools for Business

I came across this great article, Public Relations Tools for Success at Power Home Biz Blog.Here’s an exerpt:

“When you think of public relations, the first thing that comes to mind is a press release. A press release is, and will always remain to be an important tool for reaching the media and getting the word out about your business.

But there are other ways to tap the media, and here are some strategies you can use for your business:

• Bullet articles
• Talk radio
• Article Reprint
• Market Studies – (note: check out the Women Business Owners Survey results to see a recent study done by the Women’s eCommerce Association)

To read the post, visit: http://www.powerhomebiz.com/blog/2008/01/public-relation-pr-tools-for-your.html

March 20th, 2008 Posted by admin | PR and Media Tips | no comments

Tips to Make the Most of Your Media Relations Efforts

Tips to Make the Most of Your Media Relations Efforts

By Nancy S. Juetten

Excerpt from GET MEDIA SAVVY!

The value of your company’s brand and reputation can grow as a result of favorable media coverage captured over time. However, securing good coverage can prove challenging if you don’t know how to work with the media. To pack a punch into your media relations results, consider these tips. If you want the media to take interest in your business success story, take interest in the media. Writers and editors want to be first with news and great stories. They review mounds of mail, e-mail, and faxes each day. In addition, they scan competitive media and wire service stories to select news to share.

With all this competition, how can you make sure your story gets the attention it deserves? Monitor the media outlets that you think are right for your story. Read the stories of reporters who cover your industry. Most importantly, take time to prepare concise, clear and compelling pitches that show why your story is timely, newsworthy, and relevant. Have some fun, be creative in your approach, and give the reporters something they won’t find elsewhere. Many factors determine whether or not your story captures the coverage. These two questions top the list: Does your story fit within the coverage area and editorial profile and plans of each particular media outlet? ~ What else is making news today?

To read the rest of the chapter and others, visit: GET MEDIA SAVVY and download Your FREE Copy today!

March 17th, 2008 Posted by admin | Branding, Media Interviews, PR and Media Tips, Pitching to the Media | no comments

Podcasting for Media Attention

Podcasting for Media Attention
By Penny Haynes

Excerpt from GET MEDIA SAVVY eBook:

Podcasting is simply a term for creating an internet radio or tv show that people can subscribe to and automatically download the shows to their computer. Now, that’s not so scary, is it?  People let their fears of technology scare them away from very simple business tools, like Podcasting.  If you have ever recorded a telephone message, if you have ever delivered a seminar in person, over the phone or in a webinar room – honestly, if you have ever TALKED to another human being, you can podcast! 

Podcasting doesn’t even require expensive equipment.  For audio podcasting, you can:ð  

Get a $25 Radio Shack computer microphone  

Download free recording/editing/mixing software (WavePad and MixPad) from http://www.DigitalBusinessBooks.com (they are on the front page – add them to your cart for free and check out)

Watch the free seminars that come with WavePad and MixPad to get familiar with the programs.ð 

 Install the programs on your computerð      

Start creating and editing recordings.   

If you are someone who needs more help with recording, editing and mixing music, you can get a $99 video tutorial program that teaches you everything you need to know at http://www.LearnAudioAndVideo.com – Audio Recording 201.  If you do teleseminars, then record those and use them (or portions of them) for podcasting.  I use BYOAudio for all of my telephone recording needs, including telephone testimonial recording lines and teleconferences. 

For video podcasting, you can even use a free program called VideoCaster that will let you simply create videos with music from digital pictures and royalty free music. 

To read the rest of the chapter and others, visit: GET MEDIA SAVVY and download Your FREE Copy today!

March 12th, 2008 Posted by admin | Internet TV & Video, PR & Media Resources, PR and Media Tips, Pitching to the Media | no comments

How Blogging Can Help You Get Media Attention

How Blogging Can Help You Get Media Attention

By Lori Prokop

Excerpt from GET MEDIA SAVVY eBook:

· How important are blogs to the media?

· Why do you need a high traffic blog?

·Why are blogs so effective?

·Why does mainstream media listens to blogs?

· 4 steps to fast track your promotion using a high traffic blog

· 3 secrets of successful, attention-getting blogs

·5 powerful blog techniques to get media attention

· How to create a high traffic blog the media loves!

These are the things you will learn in this chapter… and more!

How Important are Blogs to the Media? Columbia University published the results of its recent survey of 1,202 journalists and producers working at newspapers, magazines, online publications, wire services, television and radio outlets across the U.S. The study revealed that 79% of journalists and producers use blogs daily for their reporting duties. Journalists and producers use blogs for

· Finding story ideas 53% of the time

· Researching and referencing facts 43% of the time

· Finding sources and guests 36% In addition, 68% of journalists and producers believe blogs are becoming a more powerful tool for corporations and businesses seeking to inform consumers.

To read the rest of the chapter and others, visit: GET MEDIA SAVVY and download Your FREE Copy today!

March 10th, 2008 Posted by admin | Blogging, Media Interviews, PR and Media Tips | no comments

5 Tips for Writing Search-Engine Optimized Press Releases

5 Tips for Writing Search-Engine Optimized Press Releases
By Michelle Howe

Online press releases are one of the most inexpensive and highly effective marketing methods for a small business owner. Yet, many people think only “big businesses” use press releases. Wrong.The Internet gives a small business’s website the same visibility as a large corporation’s website and online press releases work the same way. Once an online press release is distributed, it’s out there in cyberspace generating hits and driving traffic to your website for years to come. Just last week I received an e-mail from someone who read a press release I wrote two years ago!

Unlike an offline press release that is distributed directed to journalists at newspapers and other media outlets, the online press release is “evergreen,” it never goes away. A simple keyword search could turn up your press release years later. Compare this to the offline press release that may or not be used by the journalists and then is trashed, never to be seen again.

To read the rest of the chapter and others, visit: GET MEDIA SAVVY and download Your FREE Copy today! 

March 7th, 2008 Posted by admin | PR and Media Tips, Pitching to the Media, Press Release | one comment

New Media Women Entrepreneurs Scholarships Available

New Media Women Entrepreneurs (NMWE)  will fund three women-led start-ups that will generate new ideas in the world of news and information and model a spirit of journalistic entrepreneurship. Winners will be given $10,000 to launch their ideas and blog about the process over the next year.NMWE seeks to map the creative assets of women and validate new ideas.

It is an initiative of J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism at the University of Maryland.

The funding is part of a unique initiative to address issues of opportunity and innovation, recruitment and retention for women in journalism. Funded by the McCormick Tribune Foundation, the New Media Women Entrepreneurs (NMWE) initiative will:

1. Provide $10,000 each to help launch three women-led news ideas.
2. Honor a New Media Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in an awards program.
3. Research women’s consumption and creation of news and explore creative opportunities in today’s newsrooms.
4. Produce a day-long Women Entrepreneurs Summit to unveil pilot projects, spotlight other entrepreneurial ideas, and release research findings.
5. Collect new ideas, research and more at www.newmediawomen.org.

Check out existing research, suggest new research, and read the funding guidelines at www.newmediawomen.org.

Deadline for proposals is May 1, 2008.

March 5th, 2008 Posted by admin | FREE MEDIA RESOURCES, Heidi Recommends, PR & Media Resources | no comments

How to Hire a Publicity Coach

How to Hire a Publicity Coach By Shannon Cherry

 An excerpt from GET MEDIA SAVVY – The Ultimate eGuide to Promote Your Products, Services and Ideas to the World!

 

As a profession, coaching is quite young, but it’s growing quickly. And one of the newest coaching options is to be coached on how to do your own publicity to build your business.However in any fast growing profession there are challenges.  One challenge professional coaching faces is the large number of people jumping on the bandwagon and calling themselves coaches without formal training or relevant experience.   So how do you find a publicity coach thatc an help you succeed? Follow these tips.·         Talk to several coaches and find one you have a rapport with. Does the coach listen well?  Do you feel they clearly understand what you want to achieve through the coaching? ·         Find out if your coach knows publicity inside and out.  Have they done this for a living previously, or are they someone who learned it as they went along? What credentials do they have to teach it to you?To read the rest of the chapter and others, visit: GET MEDIA SAVVY and download Your FREE Copy today!

March 3rd, 2008 Posted by admin | Media Interviews, PR and Media Tips | no comments

March 7th is National Be Heard Day!

Shannon Cherry, one of our Media experts and Co-author of GET MEDIA SAVVY! has created a special day to help YOU get the word out about your business, your products and services. It is National Be Heard Day.  And it is being celebrated on Friday, March 7^th.  Here’s what

Shannon has to say about it:

“What is it that makes you remember one business and not another? Regardless of what they did, they somehow created excitement. They somehow got to your emotions and created a buzz inside of you. They got heard! How can you create excitement for your business? Well, for one, you must avoid herd (as opposed to heard) mentality. Just because something works for one, does not mean it will necessarily work for another. . . . National Be Heard Day is one of the holidays that appears in Chase’s Calendar of Events, has been recognized in New York State, and has gotten amazing media coverage including being featured by the Associated Press.”

Tell her Heidi sent you.

March 1st, 2008 Posted by admin | PR & Media Events, PR and Media Tips, Self-promotion | no comments