Did you know that February 1- 7 is Publicity for Profit Week? “ There’s a fairly well-kept secret among top PR agencies and major corporations. What’s the secret? Most newspapers, and many other types of media outlets, are understaffed and often have significant editorial gaps to fill. They rely on free outside copy that arrives in the form of “mat” releases, articles that are prewritten and ready for publication. You can take advantage of those gaps by writing articles and sending them to your local editorial staff (the one that would most likely handle your topic area). Be sure to include your byline (signature file) who knows, they may use it and it could potentially generate dozens of leads–or more. Make sure the article is filled with quality content, not just a self-promotion piece.
Here are ten tips to help you turn frustration into satisfaction and raise your chances of getting the media coverage you work so hard to get:
1. Make it easy for journalists to cover your story. Media professionals are often on a deadline and the easier you make their job, the more likely they are to return the favor by giving you exposure.
2. Do what your competition doesn’t. Most businesses just send a media release, cross their fingers and hope someone will pick it up and write about it. Go beyond that by creating more value. For example you could write a tip sheet to go with the release or even a list of Frequently Asked Questions (include brief answers, and leave just enough to whet their appetite and want to know more). The whole point of getting the media to pick up the phone and call you for the rest of the story.
3. A picture is worth a thousand words – If you mail a release, include a photo “ if you email it, include a link to photos. A photo can tell the part of the story words alone cannot.
4. Have a media page on your website devoted to information the media would be interested in such as other coverage you have received, current and past news releases, audio interviews, Q & A, photos and more.
5. Contact magazines in your topic or interest area and see if they allow outside contributions from experts. Ask about writer guidelines, deadlines, editorial calendars, etc. And be sure and send something! The first time I did this, I was pleasantly surprised by the results. I had no idea how to write a good article, but I did have marketing expertise. The editor loved the ideas in my article and edited it to fit their needs (pretty much rewriting the article). Since then I have learned what they like and don’t like and have written for them on several occasions.
6. Put your ego aside and be willing to learn. I believe the reason my very first article was even accepted was because of my willingness to learn their needs and take the advice the editor gave me. Since then I have written articles for hundreds of magazines, newspapers and newsletters.
7. Be professional. I mentioned that the first article I wrote was rewritten. The article was grammatically correct, however, the thoughts did not flow well, until it was rewritten.
8. Make sure you are targeting the appropriate audience. Don’t do what I have done; write just for the sake of writing. While it’s good to hone the skill, it isn’t good for building relationships. You don’t want to waste the time of the journalists you are targeting by sending them things that don’t fit their needs or their target audience. Get to know the media you plan to target. Find out what they want and need most and fill that need. If you don’t know, ask them.
9. Be reactive. If you notice the competition getting coverage, call the journalist who wrote about it and offer ideas for the next time she or he writes about your subject or expertise. Ask about future story ideas and if they have any pressing needs or working stories which you may be able to help them with.
10. Be proactive. If you can predict what your target media will be covering, you can help them by giving them the kind of stories they need. If you notice a recurring trend at certain times of year or seasons and you can address that trend either with a story or an event, your chances of getting coverage increase. For instance most companies plan their Breast Cancer Events and initiatives during October (Breast Cancer Month) when it has a greater chance of getting media attention.
And finally, keep your promises! Submit your stories, articles and resources when you say you will. Better yet, be ahead of the deadlines and you will be a hero in the eyes and minds of the media. After all, you want that media coverage now, don’t you?
For more ideas like these, check out
Quirky Marketing ~ 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany & Non-traditional Holidays. In addition to 365 Ideas to promote your business, inside the 2010 Edition of Quirky Marketing Calendar, we show you how to use the calendar, how to work with the media, give you monthly action plan templates, a blank monthly calendar and more. At the end of each chapter is a comprehensive listing of additional holidays you can explore and use to promote your business. And an expanded resource section.
When you buy the book you also receive more than $1,500 worth of BONUS items as a thank you.
February 6th, 2009
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Heidi Recommends, Internet TV & Video, Media Interviews, PR & Media Plans, PR & Media Resources, PR and Media Tips, Self-promotion |
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Today I received some great advice in my inbox from one of my favorite Public Relations Experts, Marsha Friedman of Event Management Services. It was all about being a great Television guest. So I decided to visit Marsha’s website and found lots of goodies which I wanted to share with you.One of them is a video of Marsha being interviewed by Joy Gendusa, Author and Founder of Postcard Mania.
   Just click on the title or follow the link to watch Power Marketing Seminar – Full Video
Watch this keynote session video with Marsha Friedman which was held at the Power Marketing Seminar recently and find out:
- What are the most powerful options to obtain PR and publicity for your product
- Which of these is king for your product – TV, Radio or Print, and why
- What are the ways the achieve the most powerful impact with TV, Radio and Print
- What steps do you need to follow in order to achieve National Publicity
Here’s the direct link:  http://www.emsincorporated.com/2008/04/. Click on the video graphic to listen!
While you are at it, sign up for Marsha’s free ebook, 50 Tips to Becoming a Top Guest on Talk Radio.
Visit Marsha’s blog, PR Today at http://marshafriedman.wordpress.com/ – tons of great PR and Marketing ideas
Read an interview Jenna Glatzer did with Marsha on Absolute WriteÂ
(Marsha Friedman is a prominent business woman, radio personality, speaker and publicity expert. Marsha consults businesses and corporations on a daily basis on how they can harness the power of the publicity to get results!)
April 24th, 2008
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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!Â
Podcasting doesn’t even require expensive equipment. For audio podcasting, you can:ð Â
Get a $25 Radio Shack computer microphone Â
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.ðÂ
 Install the programs on your computerð     Â
Start creating and editing recordings.  Â
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.Â
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.Â
To read the rest of the chapter and others, visit:Â GET MEDIA SAVVY and download Your FREE Copy today!
March 12th, 2008
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Last week I had the honor of interviewing Susan Wilson Solovic, Founder & President of SBTV.com.Â
She had some great tips for our audience about how to get involved in Internet television to promote your products and services.
She also had some startling statistics about business women and financial success. Did you know for instance, that less than 3% of all women business owners ever get past the million dollar threshold? That means we as women work very hard (oftentimes harder than men) and yet we cannot create a million dollar enterprise. For me this is quite a wake-up call because it tells me one of two things. Women are either so content with what they do that we don’t care about making money at it or that we haven’t found the right formula (or business) to get us to that level. In either case, I strongly urge those of you stuck in the under a million mark to relook at just why you are doing what you do? And if your ultimate goal is to sell your business and maybe even retire, you will have to do some heavy soul searching to see if your business is worth something to someone else.Â
You can start by getting a copy of Susan’s latest book – “The Girls’ Guide to Building a Million $ Business,” available at Amazon.com and your local bookstores.
Getting back to Susan’s interview – she shared ideas to connect with SBTV.com by submitting “how-to” articles to the network. Many of the contributors become featured members on the home page giving them extraordinary exposure and opportunities.Â
Did you know that SBTV.com recently went through a makeover adding a social networking aspect to the site with community forums and blogs? That means if you take advantage of these two opportunities alone, you stand a good chance of getting noticed. Why? Because the community is in it’s infancy and once it gets going the competition for attention will become harder to get. As soon as I hung up with Susan, I and several people on the call scurried over and signed up, put up our profiles and started conversations! And I invite you to do the same. Just go to http://www.sbtv.com and sign up today!
 And if you are interested in what else Susan had to say, you can get your own copies of the audio program here: http://www.womensmediasummit.com/audio-recordings-on-sale-now/
Have a wonderful day…. and week!
Heidi
November 12th, 2007
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Lights, Camera, ACTION!
On Tuesday November 6th at 4pm Eastern (3pm Central, 2pm Mountain, 1pm Pacific) Time George Wright, Vice President of Marketing for Blendtec with be with us. Blendtec is the company that earned fame and fortune with their Will It Blend Videos earning international recognition and more. George is going to share his experiences using YouTube to promote their BlendTec products.
On Wednesday, November 7th at 1pm (12 Noon Central, 11am Mountain, 10am Pacific) time, Susan Wilson Solovic, CEO of SBTV.com – small business television will be joining us. SBTV.com is the first and only video news and information destination site for American’s small businesses. Solovic began her professional career as a television news anchor and reporter for NBC and CBS affiliates. Subsequently, she joined a Fortune 100 company where she was named executive vice president, director of corporate marketing, of the firm’s international asset-based lending division. Solovic is the author of three books, “The Girls’ Guide to Power and Success,†“Reinvent Your Career: Attain the Success You Deserve and Desire” and her Her latest title, “The Girls’ Guide to Building a Million $ Businessâ€
You can join us LIVE for both of these sessions when you register at http://womensmediasummit.com/register/
If you are unable to attend, you can purchase the audios and you will have access to these and the other 16 Interviews we have hosted over the past two weeks.
Here’s the link: http://www.womensmediasummit.com/audio-recordings-on-sale-now/.
Hope to see you there!
November 2nd, 2007
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