Recently I read an article on the Wall Street Journal blog about How to Get Killer PR by Kelly Spors
It starts like this:
“About a month ago, I was a guest on MSNBC’s “Your Business.” Another guest on the show was Sarah Endline, founder and chief executive of Sweetriot, a small New York company that sells chocolate-covered cacao beans.
As it happens, this wasn’t my first encounter with Ms. Endline. I’d interviewed her for a story a few months earlier on angel investing, though I ultimately didn’t mention her in the piece. My colleague cited her as an example in a story on companies sharing their profits with charity. And I’d run across another feature on her while browsing a magazine.
Small world? Or killer PR?”
She goes on to say: “I called Ms. Endline and asked how she’s managed to generate so much media buzz for her five-employee company.”
Here’s the PR pointers Kelly shared with her readers from that conversation:
Attend Events
Find Compelling Themes
Take Advantage of Opportunities for Publicity
Be easy to reach and accessible
Make time for PR
To read the entire artcle, visit: http://blogs.wsj.com/independentstreet/2008/03/13/how-to-get-killer-pr/
BTW, do you know an outstanding woman in Media? if so, let me know! I am compiling a list of Women in Media and Public Relations to Watch and would love to add your recommendations to my list.
Send a note to heidi (at) wecai.org with “Women in Media” in the subject line.
June 28th, 2008
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Shannon Cherry of Be Heard Solutions has another great tip at Start up Spark!
Here it is:
Are you looking for a way to get noticed by reporters to share your expertise and get media coverage?
Then you need to checkout this week’s Monday Media Marketing Minute, where you’ll learn how to be the go-to person when reporters need someone to interview.
Go to Startup Spark and click on the MP3 icon.
While you’re at it, get Shannon’s free special report: “Be the Big Fish: Three No-Cost Publicity Tactics to Help You Be Heard” by signing up for Be Heard! the free ezine with marketing strategies you can put to use today. Go to http://www.beheardsolutions.com/freestuff_3.htm
And don’t forget to check out her blog, Startup Spark, named one of the top 100 business blogs in the world. And don’t forget to check out my blog, Startup Spark, named one of the top 100 business blogs in the world.
May 19th, 2008
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Monday Media Minute, PR & Media Resources, FREE MEDIA RESOURCES |
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Writing Articles to Boost Your Business – and Attract Media Attention
By Rosalind Sedacca, CCT
Article marketing is one of the best ways to draw attention to your expertise and build credibility for your business.Not only is writing articles a great no-cost way to promote your products or services, it offers another valuable benefit that should never be overlooked. Through articles you can also brand yourself as an expert in your field – a key factor in drawing media attention.Today’s media professionals use the internet to find and research resources for their feature stories, TV and radio interviews, news articles and more. Using keyword searches, they look for credible authorities in the subject at hand. Your articles, found in a variety of ezines, newsletters, blogs and websites, can open doors to ongoing media exposure.
Here are some proven tips to keep in mind:
· Keep your articles brief, tight and content-rich with information readers can really use. Statistics, facts and details make them valuable resources for the media, as well.
· Write about subjects you know a lot about and in which you can provide true expertise. Answer people’s questions.
· Make your articles between 350-750 words long.
· Focus on offering useful, practical solutions to problems your readers can identify with.
· Offer specific tips, how-tos, dos and don’ts and other easily listed suggestions that result in success.
· Make your articles keyword-rich with the keywords relevant to your website and blog.
· Use a friendly, easy to read, conversational style. Always double-check your spelling and grammar.
To read the rest of this chapter and others, visit: GET MEDIA SAVVY and download Your FREE Copy today!
April 8th, 2008
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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 24th! 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
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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!
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
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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:
- Provide $10,000 each to help launch three women-led news ideas.
- Honor a New Media Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in an awards program.
- Research women’s consumption and creation of news and explore creative opportunities in today’s newsrooms.
- Produce a day-long Women Entrepreneurs Summit to unveil pilot projects, spotlight other entrepreneurial ideas, and release research findings.
- 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
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An excerpt from GET MEDIA SAVVY - The Ultimate eGuide to Promote Your Products, Services and Ideas to the World!
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 your media 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.”
To read the rest of the chapter and others, visit: GET MEDIA SAVVY and download Your FREE Copy today!
February 21st, 2008
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From the Foreword by Raleigh Pinskey
“Without promotion a terrible thing happens, nothing!” is a phrase coined by circus impresario and entrepreneur P.T. Barnum. He made millions in the 1800’s from his promotional efforts. Did you know that Promotion is one of the top five driving forces for a successful business? Promotion includes the terms PR, Publicity, Public Relations, Branding, Marketing, and Advertising. Each may have a different application and strategy, but they all have a common goal. That goal is to make enough noise to attract a buyer of your services, convince them of your value to them, funnel business to you that will make your cash register say Cha Ching!
Promotion was very different in Barnum’s day than it is today. The only mass communication available was telegraph, telephone and newspapers. This didn’t stop him from creating The Greatest Show on Earth which made him one of the USA’s first millionaires, and an international force to reckon with.
Want to read more? Visit GET MEDIA SAVVY and download Your FREE Copy today!
February 20th, 2008
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That’s right! GET MEDIA SAVVY, The Ultimate eGuide to Promote Your Products, Services and Ideas to the World is ready for the taking.
This FREE eGuide is filled with advice from 14 Experts on Media Marketing and Public Relations Promotions.
Meet the authors: Raleigh Pinskey, Shannon Cherry, Rhonda Day, Catherine Franz, Dina Giolitto, Paul Hartunian, Penny Haynes, Michelle Howe, Annie Jennings, Nancy S. Juetten, Meredith Pond, Lori Prokop, Heidi Richards and Rosalind Sedacca.
To download your copy of GET MEDIA SAVVY! visit: http://www.womensmediasummit.com/get-media-savvy/.
Please let us know what you think about this brand new resource to help you with your media marketing and public relations programs.
Happy Promoting!
Heidi Richards Mooney, Publisher & Contributing Author
February 19th, 2008
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A few days ago one of the members of the Women’s eCommerce Association asked a question about Media Sponsorships. Here is what she wrote: “Heidi, I am working on a Virtual Book Tour and was wondering if you could suggest anyone I could approach about becoming a ‘Media Sponsor’. A Media Sponsor is a media organisation like a radio station, online or printed publication or TV station that promotes our Virtual Book Tour in terms of media coverage instead of making a cash donation.”Here is my response: What is the subject matter of the book? It has been my experience that most media partner with groups and individuals based upon a prior relationship. Some questions a partner might ask you are: Who is your target market and how does it match/complement ours?
What do we “get” for being a media partner (what are the benefits to the partner)? Why would we want to be your partner? What are you going to do to promote your book/blog/site (or event, service, idea)? Are you supporting a cause (no-profit organization) that the media partner might be interested in also supporting? If so, the nonprofit may also be willing to and interested in helping you promote your book. Some of things I would suggest are:
Do an internet search is to find out which media are currently supporting projects that might be similar to yours. That is always a good place to start because these media partners may be more inclined to support similar efforts.
If you are looking for local media, contact your local business leagues and chambers of commerce for a listing of local media contacts or do a Google Search for them.Ask your circles who their media contact are, and who they recommend you connect with. From there you an build an impressive list of resources.
Another great resource is Assignment Editor http://www.assignmenteditor.com/ which has an extensive list of links to media and resources. There’s also Worldwide Broadcasters which links to television and radio broadcasters and networks around the world, from Australia to Vatican City and nations in between. Most national broadcaster sites are in their local language.
I like Media Post which is a free membership community – when you sign up you get access to this comprehensive business and social network of over 100,000 media, marketing and advertising professionals! Go here to Sign up for a free MediaPost account.
Also, check out the resources on the Women’s Media Summit Blog which lists lots of media resources, some of which may be of help to you -
Hope this has been of help…. Thanks for asking!
Heidi
January 25th, 2008
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