35 Quick Tips for Writing A Press Release

Layout1. 1-2 pages in length.2. Double-space.3. 1.5 to 2 inch margins.4. Use company stationary with logo and slogan.5. Avoid bright or dark-colored paper.6. Center "News Release" at top.7. Place a "release date" under "News Release".8. On second page, type "page 2".9. Use company stationary with logo and slogan on page... Read More

Smashing the Myth of the Press Release

A musician spends years honing his craft. He writes world-class songs and performs them in a manner that moves his listeners to tears. He records a demo tape and sends it to record labels. He gets a contract and becomes rich, famous and adored.The lesson: demo tapes are the secret... Read More

10 Tips for Tantalizing News Releases

Want to get radio interviews and coverage in print publications to sell more books? Master the art of writing magnetic media releasesthat attract attention of editors and publishers. A media release (which also goes by its former name, the press release) is a one page, double spaced, single-sided document designed... Read More

The Four Seasons of Publicity - Building an All-Year Publicity

If you're like most publicity seekers, you probably think oneproject at a time. You've got a new product coming out in April,so you send out a release in March. You've hired a new executive,you'll put out a release when she's on board, etc. For hard-core publicity insiders, though, there's a... Read More

How to Tie-In With News Events to Score Publicity

It's safe to say that we live in interesting times. It seems wehardly have a breather between wars, tragedies, scandals,epidemics, circus trials and other events that capitalize themedia's attention. For the business seeking publicity, the "newshole" for more traditional stories -- new product reviews,business features, offbeat promotions -- keeps shrinking... Read More

Publicity From Thin Air

In an ideal world, your business would be overflowing withnewsworthy stories, and the media would be waiting with batedbreath for your next press release, ready to give you front pagecoverage. In the real world, however, it's not always so easy to generatereal news. There are only so many hot new... Read More

Grandma Says...

Southern grandmothers have often said, "there are only three times a respectable person's name should be in the paper: when you are born, when you are married, and when you die." This is the one area in which I part company with my grandmothers. Publicity... Read More

Press Releases for Every Occasion

To many marketers, the press release is something of a "one sizefits all" proposition. You want to get media coverage, you knockout a press release, send it to some journalists and sit back andwait. Of course, smart Publicity Insiders already know that's aprescription for failure. You know that your press... Read More

Press Kit Elements That Work

Considering how fundamental they are to the publicist's trade,it's always amazed me how lousy almost all press kits truly are.Your typical press kit is a bloated folder filled with puffery,hype, irrelevant information and worse. The vast majority ofthese monstrosities do little besides kill trees and clognewsroom trash baskets. The good... Read More

Forget the Press Release - Heres How to Pitch Like Roger Clemens

Stripped down to its core, publicity is little more than oneperson persuading another. You, the publicity seeker, mustpersuade a journalist that your story is worthy of receivingprint space or air time. Your ability to sell your story to ajournalist is what it's all about. If you've ever sat with an... Read More

8 Ways to Use Local Publicity to Drive Your Business

While scoring anice story in BusinessWeek or USA Today is something tocelebrate, there are times when you need to grab attention a bitcloser to home. If your business draws its clientele from a specific town, cityor region, focusing your energy on getting an elusive nationalpublicity hit may be overkill, especially... Read More

The Ultimate PR Edge: Getting Reporters To Open Your E-Mails

You know that getting publicity is vital to the health of yourbusiness. You probably also know that e-mail is the way mostpublicity seekers get in touch with reporters to score thatprecious coverage. Here's what you don't know: The vastmajority of e-mails sent to journalists never get read. Bottom line: if... Read More

Editorial Calendars: A Key to Publicizing Your Business

What is the one thing that all of the best public relationsagencies do every year? They research and compile editorial calendars from publicationsthat are pertinent to their client's business. You should too. What's an editorial calendar? Editorial calendars are schedules of what topics a publicationplans for cover for a particular... Read More

Creating Your Online News Room: How To Build a Site The Media Will Love

From time to time, people ask me how public relations has changedduring the two decades in which I've been seeking publicity. Myanswer: technology. Twenty years ago, the fax machine was anewfangled novelty. Our primary means of communicating withjournalists was the telephone and the US Mail. The advent of e-mail and... Read More

7 Tips to Get More Mileage Out of Your Online or Offline Publicity

You worked hard to get a story on your business in a popularwebsite or your local paper. Don't let your efforts ends there --here are seven tips to help you maximize your online and offlinepublicity: 1) Reprint, Reprint, Reprint! A favorable article on your company or products is marketing gold-... Read More

Pot Roast and Public Relations (or, How Your Web Site Can Be Your Best P.R. Tool)

Recently I had a craving for pot roast. I racked my brain to think of a restaurant that offered a great pot roast (as you can see, I'm not a whiz in the kitchen). Anyway, I did what I usually do when I need to find... Read More

How To Get Zero Cost Publicity For Your Business Part 1

Would you like to expand the volume of your business? You can let thousands know about your service, your store, or your new product without spending a penny. Whether you want to make more sales or get an offer on television, you can broaden the scope of your clients by... Read More

How To Get Zero Cost Publicity For Your Business Part 2

This is the ending to my previous article, How to get no cost publicity for your business. Some other options include signature files, joint ventures, free for all links, informational articles, webrings, and giveaways.Signature files are great ways to get free publicity for your business. It's just a short blurb... Read More

How To Write More Powerfully For PR, Offline And Online

Years ago when my Dad owned a group of local newspapers I spent my school and college vacations working in the editorial office. We used to amuse ourselves over our sandwiches at lunchtime looking through and trashing the endless press releases that would arrive in the mail each day, all... Read More

Make Sure Your Media Room Rocks

If a reporter was writing a story about you and your company and she visited your website, could she find anything useful and interesting about you to use in her story? And could she find it quickly? Or would she immediately abandon your site and look for one of your... Read More

Do You Have A Press Package?

How do you make a friend of the media? A press package can go a long way in helping you deal with the media. It allows you to have everything you need handy. Many individuals in the media will ask you to send yourpress package to them, so it... Read More

Ramp Up Your Newsletter to Build a Strong Business

To survive in business, you've got to focus your attention on the areas that will guarantee you success. Your clients are your greatest asset. Taking the time to educate them and connect with them will pay big dividends over the long haul. There are lots of ways to spend your... Read More

How to Get $1000 worth of Advertising for $60

©2004 Jeffrey DobkinSixty dollars doesn't go a long way in buying advertising space. But if you spend it creatively, you can get over ten times that value in newspaper or magazine lineage. And it's easy if you know how. Here's how.You're familiar with press releases, right? A press release is... Read More

Online Business Press Release Writing Tips And Ideas

Press releases are one of the most cost-effective ways to get promotion for your online business. Many entrepreneurs ignore this type of promotion because they don't know how to write a press release. It's important to promote your online business with press releases because of the media all over the... Read More

7 Simple Steps To A PR Launch

A PR product or service launching is a perfect way to build momentum slowly. It handles the first and most important hurdle to overcome in building a brand -- credibility.Step 1: Be a leak-er. The media adores describing events that are "going" to occur. Use it and use it to... Read More

A Guide to Optimizing Public Relations Content

This guide to "SEOing" your PR efforts can help you get high-ranking search results for your press releases, marketing white papers and ezine newsletter content. Whether you are managing PR efforts for several online companies or just one website, you've probably wondered how you can increase your sites (more importantly,... Read More

Possibilities Of The Blogosphere For The PR Industry In Spanish-Speaking Countries

Only two media in Spanish speaking countries offer RSS: the Spanish newspaper El Mundo and the Argentine Clarín. Although the blogs are becoming more visible in the media and are becoming a research topic, still they are something of small "evangelist groups", who promote its use? but... Read More

Seven Tips To Get Your Press Release Noticed

If you're seeking to promote yourself or your new business on a limited budget, you probably cannot afford the benefit of hiring a public relations agency to work on your behalf - at least not in the beginning.You've probably spent considerable money to get to the point of your grand... Read More

What is GuerrillaPR Anyway?

Public relations is the art, as one of my colleagues put it, of "offering people reasons to persuade themselves." In other words, we are not Madison Avenue; we don't tell people what we want them to think. Rather, we give them evidence, facts, and opinions that help them reach a... Read More

Media Kit: 25 Component Possibilities

Media kits include a combination of information whether created for electronic delivery or print. The number of components depends on the kit's focus and intention. For instance, an author's kit would include a different combination of information than a service business, or a multifaceted company or speaker. Here is a... Read More

Make the Media Your Friend

The media (newspaper, radio, television) can be of enormous help to the small and home based business. So, it is very important that you develop a relationship with them. When you first start your business, inform your local newspaper by using a press release that you are starting a... Read More

Building The Best Network

If you want to succeed, build a great team. A great team multiplies your prospects for success; it enables you to form relationships with powerful people who can make your dreams come true. A great network supports your strengths, fills in your weaknesses and allows you to d build on... Read More

The 7 Deadly Sins of Press Releases

A press release is often your only chance to make a great first impression.Newspapers, magazines and trade publications receive them by the truckload. That means sloppy, inaccurate, pointless releases are the first to hit the newsroom wastebasket. To make sure yours isn't one of them, avoid these 7 Deadly Sins:1.... Read More

16 Publicity tips for Restaurants

With a dismal failure rate of more than 75 percent among restaurants, you must be sure you do everything you possibly can do to promote your restaurant through free publicity. Here are 16 tips that will boost your publicity efforts and help you finally get noticed--even if you don't have... Read More

13 Publicity Ideas for Retailers

If you're trying to promote your store, but you don't have a big advertising budget, relax. There are lots of ways to get in front of the audience you want to reach by using free publicity. Here are tips that will boost your publicity efforts and help you finally get... Read More

Dont Pay for Radio Interviews

It used to be that all you had to do was pitch a great idea with a clever hook, and you'd be booked as a guest on a half-hour radio show.These days, however, hang onto your wallet. A new breed of radio host is insisting that guests fork over a... Read More

How to Work with Newspaper Photographers

The next time a newspaper photographer takes your photo, remember the 8 things they hate:1. Bossy people who demand that other people be included in the photo, so there won't be hurt feelings. Never tell the photographer whom to photograph. This puts them on the spot. Usually, the photographer will... Read More

Publicizing Your Company

Got a huge need for publicity and a tiny publicity budget? You don't need to have a Madison Avenue-sized advertising budget to make your name known. Here are five ideas to help you promote your company: 1. Write a column. Go to a local paper, no matter how small,... Read More

Speak Up

Another way to really become known in your area is to speak up. Make yourself available to talk to every civic,business and educational group that will have you. Stress your expertise, and, as with writing the newspaper column,never try to sell anything-except your reputation as a knowledgeable, trustworthy professional. I... Read More

Advertising Is Dead. Long Live PR

Although I still believe there is a place for advertising as a brand maintenance or brand affirmation tool, I am convinced that to build a brand today, you need PR. At one time advertising did build brands. But this was in a simpler America. That America, sadly, is no more.I've... Read More

Dont Be Incredible

Public relations is all about credibility and trustworthiness. If you don't practice PR, then you are likely to be incredible.Some of the elements of a PR program include research, media relations, publicity, special events, employee relations, client relationship management, crisis communication, trade shows/conferences, community and government relations, and corporate identity.... Read More

Be Patient? Nah, Lets Kill Something

There's the old joke about the two buzzards sitting in a tree overlooking a highway. One responds to the other, "Be patient? I'm hungry. Let's kill something." Just like that buzzard, it is not in the nature of most marketers to be patient for business to grow. They want to... Read More

Write Press Releases That Dazzle

When a reporter is wowed, intrigued, surprised or captivated by your press release, you can be pretty sure you'll get some media coverage. And for most businesses, positive media coverage is worth its weight in gold. The bad news: Although truckloads of news releases fill reporters' inboxes every day, few... Read More

Using Publicity As A Creative Marketing Tool

Publicity is an important and often overlooked tool of creative selling; and a more cost-effective way of reaching your target audience than advertising. With the inherent third-party endorsement of the media implied in every editorial story, a news or feature article in a newspaper, magazine, or on television or radio,... Read More

GETTING YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS

You have a story to tell. Your company has developed a revolutionary new product, or an improved version of one that is known and respected in the marketplace. Most companies are media-savvy enough to take a proactive approach to publicity. Yet there are many firms that instead sit on a... Read More

The Art Of Persuasive Pitching

Media placement is an art. Practicing it often requires as much attention to approach and style as it does to the focus of your story. While it's important to know how to use creative formatting techniques that can enhance editorial reception to a story (see article, "Using Publicity As A... Read More

Forget The Story Youre Promoting ? Heres What Journalists Really Want From PR People

Although it seems less common these days, there are still a fair number of us public relations practitioners who enter the business by crossing over from the journalist's side of the notebook.When you make that transition, you become something of an oracle. Colleagues and clients expect you to be the... Read More

Writing A Press Release

News releases (also called press releases) are an important part of a public relations campaign. They are also an important part of marketing your business. They are the primary means of "selling" your story to the media. All press releases are structured the same way. Make sure youanswer "yes" to... Read More

The PR And Marketing Expert Has A Smattering Of Knowledge Regarding Nearly Everything And Is Certain

PR, that is public-relations, leads the way to effective advertising; opening the channel of communication and allowing the advertising to be acceptable. Public-relations is really all the different ways of communicating that enable society and individuals and groups and organizations to better function and more understandably communicate with each other.... Read More

10 Secrets to Get Your Press Release Noticed

It's difficult enough running the day-to-day aspects of a business, let alone trying to drum up new business as you go. But according to Shannon Cherry, APR, even if you have additional staff helping to get the word out about your products and services, location and prices, delivery and sales... Read More

Oprah! How to Appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show

Do you dream of being on Oprah Winfrey's television show? Lots of people do. An appearance on Oprah is considered by many to be the pinnacle of success. Authors dream of having bestselling books as a result of an Oprah appearance. Even David Letterman staged a long-running bit on his... Read More

Publicity Tips from the Pros

If you want to know the best way to approach the media, get advice directly from the source: the editors, producers and journalists who choose the stories that get publicity. Here are some of the best tips I've gotten from media representatives about getting your story in the news.Be familiar... Read More

How to Write Press Releases That Work And Get Free Publicity

One study found that as many as 90% of the stories you read every day in the newspaper came about because someone sent a press release. Why aren't some of those stories about you?When people see you in the media, you become familiar, even famous! And it gives you credibility.... Read More

Getting Free Publicity with Radio Interviews

Imagine that you are a radio producer. You have to fill three hours a day, five days a week, every single week. You need topics that inform, enrage, entertain, educate, motivate, and otherwise engage your audience. How do you find those topics, and the guests to make them come alive?Radio... Read More

E-Mail Media Releases

E-mail is becoming the preferred way to receive media releases. Although it can sometimes be harder to get valid e-mail addresses for media contacts, e-mail releases are more likely to be read than faxes and faster than snail mail.Collect e-mail addresses for your preferred media contacts from the web sites... Read More

Top Ten Tips for Writing your Best Press Release Ever

Keep these few crucial details in mind when writing and submitting your press release to increase your chances of news coverage:1. If you are not the news: become the news. No matter what your release is about, you need to find a way to tie into the news. Make use... Read More

The Key to Great PR

The Key to Great PR is PerseveranceBy Paula Gardner of Do Your Own PRI regularly seem to come across businesses that have pinned their hopes on one press release. They tell me how they sent it out with excitement in the pits of their stomachs and then felt the hard... Read More

Public Relations ? Defining Your Organization from the Inside Out

What do your customers say about your company?Would you let your major competitor control your sales strategy?Public relations is an inevitable consequence of being in business. Whether you like it or not, your corporate image evolves with every interaction with clients, investors, competitors, and even between your own employees. Thus,... Read More

Media Training: Exposing Reporter Tricks -- Three Tactics Designed to Get You

A reporter's job is to get the most accurate and interesting story he or she can. Whether journalists make you look good or bad in the process is inconsequential to them ? their loyalty is to their story, and their goal is to elicit the most dramatic quotes possible from... Read More

Ill Alert The Media

There is something newsworthy happening at your organization right now. Here are some tips on how to tell your story.First, make sure your story contains all the relevant facts. Ask yourself: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How?Next, make your story readable. Here's how:? Use short sentences. (Best single thing... Read More

Get Write To It

The toughest thing about writing a news release is getting started. But writing doesn't have to be hard. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you beat writer's block.Before the story, think about:? audience. who do I want (or expect) to read this? What do they want to... Read More

Publicity: The Best Things In Life Are... FREEE!

One portion of your marketing plan that you probably don't think about enough is "free publicity".Publicity is an extremely important tool and should be given prominence in any marketing plan.What is publicity?It's getting anyone else besides yourself to talk about you (preferably in a good way) and tell about the... Read More

Media Relations: Making Your Story More Newsworthy

During my career as the head of media relations for the world's second largest environmental group, I regularly heard a common refrain from the scientists who so desperately wanted press attention for their projects. "But my project is so important," they'd say, expecting that was enough to crack the evening... Read More

Media Relations: Ending the Press Release Crutch

When most people think of media relations, they think of press releases. To be sure, writing and distributing them is one of the most important parts of the job. But press releases may be the most overused tool in the media professional's arsenal to the detriment of other tools that... Read More

Media Relations: How We Landed on the Wall Street Journals Front Page

Media relations is a great profession.On good days, I earn my living speaking to and learning from knowledgeable experts who ask for help in raising the profile of their cause through the media. In the past few years, I've worked with billionaire philanthropists, a Pulitzer Prize-winning scientist and a world... Read More

Media Training: Three Reasons to (Almost) Always Stay On-The-Record

The words are pop culture heroes.Movies such as "The Insider," books like "All The President's Men" and television series including "The West Wing" have immortalized them."On-the-record," "on background," "on deep background" and "off-the-record" are celebrity phrases, used regularly as shorthand to represent the mysteries of the journalism underworld.In reality, these... Read More

Rise of the Creative Class

The fast changing dynamics of the world economy is forcing organizations to fundamentally rethink the manner in which they have been communicating with their constituent communities and decision-makers. It is constantly being proven that conventional communication approaches that are designed to raise public awareness may often have the opposite effects... Read More

How to Master Communication Even if you failed High School Grammar

Does the thought of knowing your verbs from your adjective scare you? Can the word syntax send you running for cover? Or perhaps putting two words together in front of a crowd sends your body into complete melt down. If so, there is help for you.Have you ever wanted to... Read More

Same Time Next Year: Using Editorial Calendars as Part of your PR Efforts

It's the time of year when calendars crowd out the books and magazines in bookstores and are even on sale at reduced prices. But there's a special kind of calendar that all good public relations professionals use ? the editorial calendar.Using editorial calendars is one of the most effective, yet... Read More

10 Secrets to Free Publicity

Public relations is popular because it is very cost-effective and it works. If you send out one press release, for example, and it gets into print, it could generate more interest in your product or service.Businesses that want a leg up on their competition need to focus on boosting their... Read More

Anchor Your Relationships

I heard a speaker recently who was talking about how to maintain strong relationships. As I listened to his basic principle, I realized that it is true in all of our life situations, be it work, family etc. And let's face it, relationships are what make the world go 'round.... Read More

How To Create A News Angle

Think of a triangle. On the left, imagine the story you want to tell. On the right, you have zeitgeist , or curent events.The object of the game is to create a unified, triangulated center...literally an "angle" for your story.For example, if you have improved your business practices, you might... Read More

Passion with Purpose - The Winning Combination

The power of PassionPassion is an extraordinarily powerful spring. Without it religion, history, romance, and art are useless. Likewise, Public Relations too becomes completely deflated without the essential ingredient of Passion. It demonstrates avowed belief, everlasting appeal and steadfast loyalty. So why does passion become so much more important in... Read More

Media Training: Stop Talking, Already!

THE TWO MINUTES UNDERDOGEdward Everett was one of the most famous orators of his time. Standing before an audience of thousands in a Pennsylvania field on a cold winter's day in November 1863, he delivered one of the impassioned speeches that made him famous. His two-hour speech reportedly captivated the... Read More

Media Relations: How to Get Your Letter to the Editor Published

You may remember Forrest Gump's Vietnam pal ? the one who grew up shrimp farming and was fond of listing the dishes he used to make. "Pepper shrimp," he started, gearing up for his lengthy monotone monologue. "Shrimp soup. Shrimp stew. Shrimp salad. Shrimp and potatoes. Shrimp burger."That was the... Read More

Inoculate Yourself Against Bad PR

What is bad PR?Well, if you're a business, non-profit or association manager, bad PR does nothing positive about the behaviors of those important outside audiences of yours that most affect your operation.It fails to create external stakeholder behavior change leading directly to achieving your managerial objectives.And it never does persuade... Read More

This is the Power of PR

The power of public relations is its ability to alter individual perception, resulting in changed behaviors that lead directly to your organization's success.Its power really lies in doing something positive about the behaviors of a business, non-profit or association manager's important outside audiences ? behaviors that MOST affect his or... Read More

Is This the PR You Thought You Were Getting?

You know, where you do something positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that MOST affect your organization? And where you do so by persuading those important external folks to your way of thinking, then move them to take actions that help your department, division or subsidiary succeed?Yes, that's... Read More

Networking: 17 Essential Strategies In The 21st Century

It is virtually impossible to succeed professionally and personally without developing a network of people. There is no career or business opportunity where you can be rewarded entirely for what you know and how well you know your work.Networking requires a mission, goals, vision and a willingness to share valuable... Read More

Attention PR Shoppers!

As a business, non-profit or association manager, what do you want?Publicity that delivers newspaper and talk show mentions, or behavior change among your key outside audiences that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives?Special events that attract a lot of people, or public relations that persuades your most important outside... Read More

Same Old, Same Old PR Still Tops

Like human nature over time, the power of good public relations remains the same.Whether you are a manager working for a business, a non-profit or an association, at some point, you will want, or need to create outside stakeholder behavior change ? the kind that leads directly to achieving your... Read More

Top 10 Tips for Successful TV Interviews

1. Appearing in other types of media is the best way to attract TV notice. The more your name appears in print, the more likely it is that you'll be approached to appear on TV.2. If a TV researcher phones you, treat the conversation like a mini-audition. They're listening out... Read More

If I Were Coaching You

If I were coaching you as a business, non-profit or association manager on how to get the biggest bang for your public relations dollar, I would sum it up for you this way.Use the fundamental premise of public relations to produce external stakeholder behavior change ? the kind that leads... Read More

How To Get Press To Come To You

Have you ever noticed how the same people's names always seem to appear in magazines and newspapers articles which quote them as a source of info and advice on their own particular subject, whether it is web functionality and design, cosmetic surgery or investment banking?They don't just get there by... Read More

PR: The Thrill of a Good Idea

The notion that a business, non-profit or association manager can actually hold a big key to success in his or her own hands IS a thrilling idea!And it becomes more thrilling as the manager actually alters individual perceptions leading to changed behaviors of key outside audiences. Then persuades those external... Read More

PR: A Potent Force for Success

What's REALLY potent for a business, non-profit or association manager is public relations' ability to alter individual perception leading to changed behaviors. And then, to persuade those key outside folks to the manager's way of thinking, and help move them to take actions that allow their department, division or subsidiary... Read More

PR: Heres All You Need to Know

Above all, you need to know that the right PR can alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors.Especially when you create external stakeholder behavior change, the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives.And all because the core of your public relations lies in doing something positive about... Read More

Maybe the Strongest PR on Planet Earth?

Strong for business, non-profit and association managers when they use the fundamental premise of public relations to produce external stakeholder behavior change ? the kind that leads directly to achieving their managerial objectives.And strong when they do something positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect their... Read More

Is This Any Way to Run Your PR?

You bet!Especially for business, non-profit and association managers who REALLY need to persuade their key outside audiences to their way of thinking. Then move them to behaviors that lead to the success of their department, division or subsidiary.Could this be you? If so, you may need to reduce your emphasis... Read More

Cross Cultural Communication & PR

The Public Relations (PR) industry is responsible for creating and maintaining relationships between clients and customers. Through areas such as brand management, advertising, media relations and crisis management, PR practitioners seek to foster interest, trust and belief in a product or company.PR practitioners are aware of how best to carry... Read More

Why PR is an Engine for Economic Growth

Business, non-profit and association managers committing their public relations resources to (1) doing something about the behaviors of those important outside audiences that most affect their operation, (2) creating the kind of external stakeholder behavior change that leads directly to achieving their managerial objectives, and (3) doing so by persuading... Read More

Right PR Empowers a Manager

Business, non-profit and association managers are in a stronger position to succeed when they use their public relations resources in a way that alters individual perception leading to changed external stakeholder behavior.A mouthful, but true.Here's the obvious core of this approach: persuade your most important outside audiences with the greatest... Read More

A Great Way to Do PR

As a business, non-profit or association manager trying to get a bang for your PR buck, you could pretty much concentrate on simple print and broadcast mentions or, for that matter, the whole basket of tactical public relations weaponry including old favorites like high-visibility speech appearances and newsworthy special events.But... Read More

Want This Kind of PR?

PR that really does something positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect your business, non-profit or association?PR that uses its fundamental premise to deliver external stakeholder behavior change ? the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives?PR that persuades those important outside folks to... Read More

PR: Advice You Didnt Ask For

Although, as a business, non-profit or association manager, you may be glad this came your way.Especially if your current public relations effort is delivering more publicity plugs than real behavior change among your most important outside audiences. Change that could lead directly to achieving your managerial objectives.I'm talking about persuading... Read More

Managers: Paying for PR-Lite?

As a business, non-profit or association manager, your public relations expenditure may give you names in the newspaper or product plugs on radio. But what about key stakeholder behavior change ? the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives?Since that's public relations' strongest suit, shouldn't you be getting... Read More

Managers, Start Your PR

There'll never be a better time for a manager working for a business, non-profit or association to ask this question: "Am I getting the public relations results I'm paying for -- the really important external audience behaviors I need to achieve my department, division or subsidiary objectives?"If the answer is... Read More

PR: Room at the Bottom?

When special events and communications tactics rule the PR roost instead of a workable plan designed to manage external audience behaviors that impact your organization the most, that's where public relations results can wind up.You know, bad results like key target audiences showing little confidence in your organization, or seldom... Read More

The Ultimate PR Scam

It happens to business, non-profit and association managers when their public relations budget fails to deliver the crucial external audience behaviors they need to achieve their department, division or subsidiary objectives.Behaviors they should have received leading directly to boosts in repeat purchases; growing community support; more tech firms specifying the... Read More

Dont Use PR

?lose the confidence of your key target audiences? discourage them from taking actions that lead to your success?fail to achieve your department, division or subsidiary objectives.A sad scenario that should not occur. In fact, as a manager in a business, non-profit or association, the exact opposite can occur based on... Read More

Public Relations: Toast?

Could be, when unit managers in businesses, non-profits and associations don't get the really important external audience behaviors they need to achieve their department, division or subsidiary objectives.They're entitled to wonder where their money went when they don't see behaviors like membership applications or capital contributions on the rise; growing... Read More

PR Where it Matters Most

What's more crucial to the success of a business, non-profit or association than its most important outside audiences and stakeholders?Nothing.Those stakeholder behaviors directly impact virtually every management and operating activity of the organization. From retail patronage, recruiting, civic activity, contributions, and strategic alliances to membership, program participation, plain old sales,... Read More

What Does Your Telephone Say About You When You Are Away?

Business to Business relationships come to expect a certain level of professionalism, from the first telephone call to the final delivery.Your business can be on the Really Big 500 list, employ only a handful of people, or be a business of one but what is said by that business to... Read More

PR: Lets Cut to the Chase

If your key ? that's KEY ? outside audiences don't exhibit the kind of behaviors that lead to results like these, you need to take a closer look at your public relations effort.Results like fresh proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; rising membership applications, customers starting to make repeat... Read More

Publicity: Financial Planners That Get It Follow One Rule

Advice about business and life often gets around to one of those "80-20" rules. As in, "80% of your business will come from 20% of your customers or activities." Here's my twist on this for publicity and marketing:Build no more than 20% of your publicity and marketing activities around yourself.I... Read More

Business Growth for Financial Planners in Five Easy Steps

Attracting new business: sometimes it happens by luck, sometimes by referral. Trouble is, "sometimes" just isn't often enough.So, if you want to add new clients more frequently than sometimes, you'll have to try something else. And with a few common-sense, do-able, and easy steps, any financial planner can build business... Read More

Publicity for Financial Planners--Eight Tips For Success

Individual financial planners can outscore bigger competitors and gain market share with publicity. The key to doing it well: don't mimic the big guys and gals. Do it smartly, but on your scale. How? Here are eight rules:1. Don't invest in expensive packaging. Skip the fancy, slick-looking press kits and... Read More

Publicity: A Financial Planners Best Marketing Friend

There's an old African proverb:"If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito."There's a message here for financial planners who want to get free publicity exposure, and use it as a smart marketing tool to grow their practice. Actually,... Read More

Public Relations Primer, Part I: Packaging Your Story for the Media

Imagine you're in the breakfast cereal business. You make the best corn flakes. So do you just back a truck-load of them up to every supermarket, then wait for the customers to buy?Of course not. Because you understand that packaging smartly ? the right size boxes, the right look ?... Read More

Public Relations Primer, Part II: Five Dos

1) Package your story. Two critical elements will help you do this: Knowledge and Creativity.When you use your knowledge of the media to package a story, you:--Know when and how to call the media--Know what to send (hint-it's not always a press release)--Know how individual reporters like to get information--Think... Read More

Public Relations Primer Part III: 10 Donts

There are all kinds of smart moves professionals can make to raise their media visibility. Here are ten things not to do if you're aiming to heighten your public profile.1. Don't make the story about you. The media care about, and want to use, your knowledge and expertise. Build your... Read More

Public Relations: Understanding Educated Gambling

As an entry level position to PR, I found myself typing up a forecast by a major Public Relation's firm for a major pharmaceutical company of what life would be like in the year 2000. Market research predictions included telephones with monitors that could help you see people while you... Read More

Whats Your Op-Ed?

Everyone has an opinion on something, and you can leverage the opinion of top executives to heighten the visibility of your organization. How? By getting them to write so-called op/ed pieces for newspapers.Of course they'd love to be in the New York Times, but that typically is the purview of... Read More

Do You Have Issues?

Every organization has issues that could affect its operation. The following are some thoughts on issues management and some of the tactics available to us in this discipline.First of all, what is the objective of issues management? Typically, it is to proactively and responsibly identify and manage emerging or existing... Read More

Slow Day? Create News

Sometimes there seems to be no client news worthy of coverage. That's when the savvy PR pro digs deep into the old bag of tricks and pulls out one of these ideas to perk things up:* The List* The Index* The Hall of Fame.Best of, worst of, most of, least... Read More

PR - More Than News Releases

Public relations and news releases are synonymous in the minds of some. Because the media relations aspect of PR is so "public", the PR discipline often is narrowly defined by this tactic. PR is much more than cranking out positive client fodder for the media.My definition: PR is developing, managing... Read More

Business Gifts for Your Clients and Employees

Tis' the season for business and corporate gift-giving! If you believe in the law of reciprocity, and if your business is the least bit successful you must; you know that giving back is not only the right thing to do, but it's very smart business as well. Let's look at... Read More

Internet Etiquette for Business Success

You're trying to recruit a downline into your program, you've tried every trick in the book, and no one is signing up. Is there a sign on your back that says you've got the plague? Maybe you're lacking in internet etiquette.Certain people skills are important for all business people. Online... Read More

Monarch Health Sciences starts shipping long awaited Monavie and Monavie Active

The Acai Berry is starting to gain world wide recognition as a "wonder of nature." On a recent Oprah Winfrey show, titled 'LOOK 10 YEARS YOUNGER IN 10 DAYS," it was named as one of the top ten superfoods in the world for combating the effects of aging. In a... Read More

How Real PR Works

For some, public relations works well when their news release or special event winds up in the newspaper or on the radio.For others, public relations works best when it does something positive about the behaviors of outside audiences that affect their operations the most. I like this approach because a... Read More

Using Media and PR to Your Advantage.

Lights...camera...ACTION.That's what often happens when people think of using media for advertising or other promotional purposes. It's the focus on 'action' that often means the results are somewhat less than expected. A bit of planning can greatly improve your chances of success.Before you contact any media outlet there are a... Read More

Killing Them Softly

The world has woken up to ethical issues in corporate governance & accounting practices. Corporate heads that were not guillotined were forced hang their heads in retrospective shame. The heads that fell were the victimizers, and the axe that fell, fell too late, and the punishment received, was way too... Read More

What Kind of PR Makes Sense?

For business, non-profit and association managers, is it publicity that delivers newspaper and talk show mentions backed up by colorful brochures and videos, combined with special events that attract a lot of people?Or could your business, non-profit or association PR dollar be better spent on public relations activity that creates... Read More

The Most Important PR In America

Just happens to be public relations activity that alters individual perceptions leading directly to changed behaviors. PR pulls that off by persuading a manager's key outside audiences with the greatest behavior impacts on the organization, to its way of thinking. Then it moves those external stakeholders to take actions that... Read More

Managers and PR: One Thing Is Clear

As a business, non-profit or association manager, you have a clear choice when you set up your public relations. Arrange your resources to generate a variety of product and service plugs on radio, and in newspapers and in magazines. Or, use a broader, more comprehensive and workable public relations blueprint... Read More

Managers, Which PR Is Right For You?

An effort built around a string of print and broadcast exposures? Or, a public relations initiative that delivers results far beyond simple publicity tactics. Namely, real behavior change among your most important outside audiences leading directly to reaching your objectives. Achieved, incidentally, by persuading key outside people with the greatest... Read More

A PR Question For Chinese Managers

As the practice of public relations in China continues to mature, it seems appropriate to ask whether Chinese business managers ? tutored as they have been by European, North American and other PR specialists ? continue to apply major public relations emphasis to print and broadcast communications tactics. In other... Read More

Right PR Focus A Powerful Advantage

Powerful is a strong word. But it fits here. As a business, non-profit or association manager, you create powerful advantage for yourself when you do something positive about the behaviors of those important outside audiences of yours that MOST affect your department, division or subsidiary.That's because you are using the... Read More

How to Keep PR Working for You

Managers in the non-profit, association and business worlds need to persuade outside audiences with the greatest impact on their operations to their way of thinking. And then move those external stakeholders to take actions that help their departments, divisions or subsidiaries succeed.But that takes a very special plan, one that... Read More

Gaining Free Publicity Through Press Releases

One of the greatest ways to promote your product or service is with publicity. Many people have little, if any, understanding of how to go about securing publicity, never mind free publicity. Fact is, people will pay more attention to free publicity than they often do to paid advertising.A simple... Read More

Public Relations Writing: Write Better Press Release Headlines With More Impact in Less Time

Public relations writing when writing press releases can be a real challenge.When writing press releases the most important part is the headline or title.This is the information the media reads first so it has to grab their attention.How can you write better press releases that get used instead of deleted?Well... Read More

Starting A Publicity Program

Successful buisnesses know that media attention reaches consumers better than advertising can. A feature story on a start-up's new product or service, for example, can send the business into a new stage of growth. Publicity can help bring your business greater visiblity and success. Publicity lets the public know you... Read More

Why News Releases Fail

Sorry about my otaku with this issue (otaku = more than a hobby, a little less than an obsession).Many of you may know me, since I run Imediafax, the Internet to Media Fax Service. I send out over a million news releases a year for people via fax and email.... Read More

How PR Helps Fiercely Competitive Managers

Fiercely combative business, non-profit and association managers use every PR weapon they can lay their hands on. Which means they employ strategic, rapid-fire print and broadcast tactics every day of their business lives.Still, many realize they need more than that to win the long-range battle. Fact is, they need a... Read More

Etymology- How Words Change Over Time

Etymology is the study of the origins of words.As languages develop the meaning of words can change over time. This causes confusion and misunderstanding when communicating with other people. In a world were you make a living at communicating, advertising or marketing, it is not only important to have... Read More

A PR Surprise for Managers

For those business, non-profit and association managers committed to PR tactics like radio and newspaper plugs, it can come as a surprise to discover where public relations value REALLY lies.Truth is, your PR budget can deliver results far beyond such limited publicity placements.For example by embracing the kind of PR... Read More

The Worst PR Mistakes

For a business, non-profit or association manager, they could be fatal, coming as they do in four bitter flavors.Mistake #1 ? You limit your PR activity pretty much to placing product and service plugs on radio and in newspapers.Mistake #2 ? You fail to embrace the kind of PR plan... Read More

Your Organization: What Role PR?

As a manager, does your current business, non-profit or association public relations effort concern itself primarily with radio and newspaper publicity? Or does it concentrate on a specialty area like financial communications or trade relations? Or, possibly, it deals each day with sales support or government affairs?Actually, maybe your PR... Read More

PR: Whats the Point?

Here's the point: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public... Read More

Media Contact Lists and How to Build a Fantastic One

I got the latest issue of Internet Works in the post yesterday and was disappointed to find out that it's going to be the last. As well as having the good taste to run a feature on me last year (!) Internet Works has been a great source of information... Read More

PR Campaigns ? How To Get To Grips With The Media

If you're serious about getting great results from your PR you may find that you have to severely challenge your current reading habits. A recent client completed her PR assessment form with a comment about how she had always read a certain paper because her parents had and she'd just... Read More

Why PR is a Vital Force

Because it can alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors. Something of profound importance to businesses, non-profits and associations who can sink or swim on how well they employ this crucial dynamic.Consider this simple blueprint that gets everyone working towards the same external audience behaviors insuring that your public... Read More

What Many PR Users Ignore

Simply that the behaviors of their most important outside audiences rank pretty low on their list of things to worry about. And this despite the reality that, properly cared for, those behaviors can affect whether or not those managers achieve their managerial objectives.Unfortunately, many business, non-profit and association public relations... Read More

Public Relations 8 Fix Factors

I say to business, non-profit and association managers, a key part of your job description is ? or should be ? do everything you can to help your organization's public relations effort as it strives to persuade important outside stakeholders to your way of thinking. Especially when it's YOUR PR... Read More

Managers Who Tap Into PRs Value

Business, non-profit and association managers get a ton of satisfaction when they do something really positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect their operation. Especially when they deliver external stakeholder behavior change, the kind that leads directly to achieving their managerial objectives; and even more so... Read More

PR Essential to Your Success

Whether you are a business, non-profit or association manager, your success will depend, to a large degree, on how well you positively impact the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect your operation.You need to create external stakeholder behavior change ? the kind that leads directly to achieving your... Read More

Managers: PR More Than Tix and Plugs?

You bet! And in three ways vital to you as a business, non-profit or association manager.To succeed, your public relations effort needs to do something really positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect your operation.It needs to deliver external stakeholder behavior change ? the kind that... Read More

Managers: A Key to Your Survival

Most business, non-profit and association managers live to tell about it only IF they achieve their operating objectives. Very little wriggle room there.But among such managers are those who fail to do anything about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect their business, non-profit or association.On top of... Read More

Managers: Why PR is SO Key

When outside audiences important to your operation do not understand what you are all about or, worse, harbor misconceptions, inaccuracies, untruths and false assumptions about you, you are likely to suffer negative, key audience behaviors that can prevent you from achieving your operating objectives.As a business, non-profit or association manager,... Read More

Managers: Why Not PR Like This?

I mean public relations that presumes from the get-go that the right message, strategy and communications tactics can change perceptions among each of your business, non- profit or association audiences. And do so in a way that produces the behaviors you need to achieve your objectives.It all comes together when... Read More

Is The Traditional Press Review Still A Business Tool Of The Future?

Press reviews are a common and basic feature for surveying the market situtation, your company's public image and the coverage of your competitor's business. Only if you are well-informed about theses topics, you can make sound business decisions.But can the traditional press review ? also called press clipping - with... Read More

Managers: Can We Agree on This?

Your public relations effort really should involve more than press releases, brochures and special events if you are to get your PR money's worth.In particular, you should be pursuing those three pots of gold at the end of the PR rainbow.First, when you use the fundamental premise of public relations... Read More

Three Communication Secrets of The Great Communicator

I've worked in media and public relations for 20 years, and experience has taught me that communication is an essential skill to master in order to be successful in all aspects of one's life. No one person can do many things without the involvement of other human beings; having superior... Read More

Levines Laws For Pitching With Panache

Excerpted from "Selling Goodness- The Guerrilla PR Guide To Promoting Your Charity, Nonprofit Organization, Or Fund Raising Event"Whether you are making a pitch over the phone or in person, whether to a newspaper or magazine journalist or a reporter or producer in the electronic media, there are fundamental rules to... Read More

Guerrilla PR- Chapter One

THE NATURE OF MEDIAThirty years ago, Marshall McCluhan, the father of modern communications, wrote the immortal words, "The medium is the message." Today I would amend that to, "The medium is the media." Our civilization is utterly dominated by the force of media. After our own families, no influence holds... Read More

Celebrities Cant Have It Both Ways

Corporations are willing to pay substantial amounts of money to prominent personalities so that consumers will relate the brand with their favorite star, and thus will be more likely to buy the product. The buying public imparts credibility to the celebrity because of his or her charisma as well as... Read More

PR: Focus on What Matters!

Sure, as a manager, you have a talented member of the PR team assigned to your department, division or subsidiary, or housed at your agency, and s/he is darn good at placing product and service plugs on radio and in the newspaper. Which may be all you want. And that's... Read More

How To Get Radio-Active PR For Your Non-Profit Cause-Part One

"We are in the communications business, the business of conveying messages to the human brain," said the late David Sarnoff, founder and president of RCA. "No man is wise enough to know which avenue to the brain is best. Therefore, the sensible idea is to make all avenues available for... Read More

How To Get Radio-Active PR For Your Non-Profit Cause: Part Two of Three

FIVE WAYS TO GET ON THE RADIOHere are five basic methods of fitting your group into the programming at radio stations:1) Spot messages2) Feature stories3) News4) Interviews5) And becoming a reporter.Here are details on each method.Spot MessagesSpot messages are short public-service announcements that most stations are required to carry as... Read More

How To Get Radio-Active PR For Your Non-Profit Cause: Part Three of Three

HOW TO BE RELAXED AND EFFECTIVE ON-AIRHow does one stay calm, relaxed, and focused while being interviewed on the radio?I've been both a guest and a host, and I've heard the nervousness in the voices of many callers, and seen it in the eyes of some first-time guests.But I also... Read More

The Role Of Public Relations In Branding

Because PR can be difficult to control, it is often discredited. According to Dick Lyles, president and chief operating officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies, a full-service consulting and performance improvement company, "People tend to migrate to things they can control. Even now, when an executive looks at an advertising... Read More

Media Exposure Validates And Legitimizes Your Business

Although repetition is extremely important, there are times when advertising can help bring you a fast response.If you're having a fire sale, you want to advertise. You can put an ad out in a day, control what it says, and pick where and when it will run.Media relations should never... Read More

Anatomy Of A PR Campaign

The message is determined by analyzing the brand being marketed, and doing so with clear vision and self-knowledge. Too many marketing executives rely on their own concept of the brand's identity, and never bother to discover what attributes the public has assigned to a product. Just because you've decided that... Read More

Effective Public Relations: Why Did Bec And Lleyton Do It At 3:15AM?

If you are in Australia at the moment, it is hard to miss the engagement news of superstar couple, tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt and TV soap Rebecca Cartwright.They are everywhere ... in leading glossy gossip magazines, on TV and Cartwright has even posed semi-naked for a men's magazine.They are being... Read More

Cultivating Positive Media Relationships

Some people think that publicity is all about paparazzi snapping photos of celebs and intruding into their private lives -- or as Woodward and Bernstein blowing the lid off of a government scandal. But, as a small business owner, publicity is actually one of your greatest allies! People who read... Read More

Do You Really Need PR?

The right kind of PR, that is, the kind that puts you in charge of the care and feeding of a lot of people who play a major role in just how successful a manager you're going to be?As that manager, it also helps if you accept the fact that... Read More

Why Do You Want PR?

To get someone's name in the newspaper or a product mention on a radio talk show?If that's all you expect, fine. But that response tells me that, as a business, non-profit or association manager, you may have overlooked an important reality: people act on their own perception of the facts,... Read More

PR: Time For a New Playbook?

When your public relations results pretty much depend on whether your news item gets used in a newspaper column or on a radio talk show, you may be ready for a fresh approach.Why not shoot for a 1-2 PR punch?First, focus sharply on those external audiences who play a major... Read More

How to Get Some of Paris Hilton?s TV Time

When your book is mentioned on television, sales go up. Immediately people start looking in book stores and on the internet to find out how to buy it. The more people hear about it, the more they want the book. When several shows are talking about the book, it become... Read More

Managers, Have You Been Shortchanged?

You have been if you're a business, non-profit or association manager whose public relations budget is focused largely on nifty brochures, column mentions and broadcast plugs. Especially without a workable plan that helps you persuade your most important outside stakeholders to your way of thinking, then moves them to take... Read More

Managers, Got a Grip on Your PR?

What are you trying to do with your business, non-profit or association public relations program? Get a little publicity for a service or product? Or, perhaps, you're doing what you really should do, persuade your key external stakeholders to your way of thinking, then move them to take actions that... Read More

A Managers PR Paradigm

If you manage a department, division or subsidiary for a business, non-profit or association, your primary public relations model probably should read this way: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change... Read More

Know What Matters Most About PR?

When, as a business, non-profit or association manager, you are able to persuade your key external stakeholders to your way of thinking, then move them to take actions that lead to your department, division or subsidiary's success.And again when those outside stakeholder behaviors deliver results like more people returning to... Read More

Managers Need Basic PR

True, because department, division or subsidiary managers for a business, non-profit or association really DO need a dynamic yet workable blueprint for reaching those key outside groups of people who have a big say about how successful those managers are going to be.Unfortunately, a primary emphasis on communications tactics does... Read More

PR Going According to Plan?

Think carefully! You're a department, division or subsidiary manager for a business, non-profit or association and you really need to achieve your operating objectives.But even a yes response to the headline above leaves the really big question unanswered ? does your current public relations plan help persuade your most important... Read More

Managerial Survival Key

For business, non-profit or association managers like yourself, survival pretty much depends on whether you achieve, or fail to achieve your department, division or subsidiary objectives.Which strongly suggests that, if you haven't already done so, you may wish to employ a set of tools that will help you persuade your... Read More

Mission-Critical Public Relations?

As a business, non-profit or association manager, any tool that helps you reach your department, division or subsidiary objective IS mission-critical.And particularly so when that tool helps you persuade your most important external stakeholders to your way of thinking, and then moves them to take actions that lead to your... Read More

When Managers Play the PR Card

The payoff for business, non-profit or association managers can be a real assist towards meeting their department, division or subsidiary objectives.Playing that public relations card means they've decided to pursue their objectives by reaching, persuading and moving those outside audiences whose behaviors most affect their organizations, to actions those managers... Read More

How Managers Hit PR Paydirt

As a business, non-profit or association manager, you'll know it's PR paydirt when you're able to persuade your key external stakeholders to your way of thinking, then move them to take actions that lead to your department, division or subsidiary's success.Proof of the pudding will be outside stakeholder behaviors like... Read More

The Best PR Has to Offer Managers

How cool is this? You're a business, non-profit or association manager. You decide to get serious about your public relations and shift the spotlight away from communications tactics. You implement an action blueprint that (1), helps you persuade your key external stakeholders to your way of thinking. And then (2),... Read More

Not Getting the PR Results You Want?

The reason might be this simple: as a business, non-profit or association manager, you're too focused on communi- cations tactics and not on a workable blueprint for dealing with those important outside audiences whose behaviors most affect your department, division or subsidiary.If this sounds familiar, the blueprint I refer to... Read More

Managers: Are You PR-Fit?

Can you honestly say that your business, non-profit or association's key outside audiences behave in ways that help lead to your success on-the-job?Or, have you pretty much ignored the reality that target audience behaviors can help or hinder you in achieving your department, division or subsidiary's operating objectives?Truth is, your... Read More

Making Press Releases Work - Creating News Where None Existed

Aren't you tired of hearing how extremely easy it is to get free publicity? Have you tried the suggestions that most public relations "gurus" give you? The hard, cold truth of the matter is that you cannot write a press release about any old aspect of your business and have... Read More

Dont Expect to Bump Oprah From A Magazine Cover

"I want a pony, a tree house and the fastest bike in the world.""I want the G.I. Joe with the parachute and camouflage Jeep."Those wants from when we were children haven't changed much now that we have traded in our play clothes for suits and ties. When I sit down... Read More

Managers and PR Genius

The real public relations geniuses might be managers. You know, managers who pursue their objectives by reaching, persuading and moving those outside audiences whose behavior most affect their organizations, to actions those managers desire.Their "secret" is probably a PR blueprint something like this one: people act on their own perception... Read More

Something New For Managers?

A new public relations blueprint could be a good idea if you're a business, non-profit or association manager who's not getting the important external audience behaviors you need to achieve your department, division or subsidiary objectives.You know, behaviors like more people interested in your services or products, or more capital... Read More

If Your PR Cant Do This, Bag It!

As a business, non-profit or association manager, why continue a public relations effort that doesn't deliver the key external audience behaviors you need to achieve your department, division or subsidiary objectives?Time for a change. One that will base your PR effort on a fundamental premise that makes sense. And one... Read More

Hey, Mr/Ms Manager!

Does it really make sense to bet your PR budget on results like newspaper mentions and zippy brochures while your all-important outside audience behaviors are probably receiving much less attention than they need?I mean, the concern is valid. What your most important external audiences believe about your organization, and then... Read More

Get Outsiders on Your Side

Especially good advice for business, non-profit and association managers whose job success depends in large part on the behaviors of their key external audiences.I refer to behaviors like inquiries on the increase, new waves of specialized employment applications, more and more followup purchases, new levels of membership queries, a substantial... Read More

4th Quarter 2003 Publicity = 1st Quarter 2004 Prosperity

As the year starts to wind down, many businesses and entrepreneurs are making plans and budgets for the year 2004. Those plans could include anything from setting up goals for new products to preparing marketing, sales and PR/publicity campaigns. When it comes to your publicity plan, WHEN you launch your... Read More

Managers Who Leave PR to Others

You're a business, non-profit or association manager who needs to achieve your organizational objectives on schedule. Since public relations should be helping you do just that, why leave it wholly in the hands of others?In your own best interest, get personally involved in your public relations effort and ask the... Read More

Make Your PR Budget Work Harder

Do it by restructuring your business, non-profit or association public relations program so that it delivers the stakeholder behavior changes you want. Changes that lead directly to achieving your objectives.A good first step is to base the restructure on a reality like this: People act on their own perception of... Read More

PR: Lets Talk Fundamentals

How much more fundamental can you get than this? As a business, non-profit or association manager, if you don't get your most important outside audiences on your side, you will fail.To me, failure means key target audiences that don't behave as you want them to. For example, capital donors or... Read More

Are You a PR Chowderhead?

You are if you stand by while your public relations people futz around with communications tactics instead of nailing down those outside audience behaviors that help you reach your objectives.No slap at communications tactics. They come in real handy at the right time, as noted later in this piece.But the... Read More

Publicrelationistas?

Is that what we are? Fanatic, over-the-top disciples of some wretched obsession?Well, maybe not fanatic, or even wretched or obsessive, but certainly SOLD on the reality that people act on their own perception of the facts before them, leading to predictable behaviors. And equally sold on the next step too,... Read More

How About MANAGING Your Own PR?

It's one thing for a senior manager to approve story angles for the publicity folks to use in shopping around for print and broadcast placements. Not an especially large amount of managing needed there.It's quite another matter, however, when that senior manager, with the best interests of his or her... Read More

Are You PR-Challenged?

You won't be if you accept a very simple premise. Here, in just two sentences, is your pathway to effective public relations. A pathway that lets you target the kind of stake- holder behavior change that leads directly to achieving your objectives.People act on their own perception of the facts... Read More

Dont Need No Stinking PR?

Almost assuredly you do, especially when your most important external and internal audiences behave in ways that stop you from achieving your organizational objectives.With that attitude, you could have a long wait before you see community leaders strengthening their bonds with you; customers making repeat purchases; unions bargaining more frequently... Read More

Dont Put Up With Junk PR

In public relations, "junk" is more about attitude and lack of understanding than a measure of quality.Hopefully, if your public relations mission is yet to be accomplished, you agree that its primary thrust MUST be to take advantage of the fact that people act on their own perception of the... Read More

Public Relations Mixup?

When you pay good money for public relations services, you have a right to expect its primary focus to be on your most important outside audiences, those people whose behaviors have the greatest impact on your operation.Often, however, that primary focus is limited to a communi- cations tactics debate about... Read More

Get PR Off the Bench

Something that results in your most important outside audiences doing what you need them to do should not be warming the bench.But that's exactly what's happening at organizations that allow their public relations people to play games with tactics like newsletters, press releases and brochures instead of aggressively pursuing the... Read More

Why PR Packs a Punch

Done right, it delivers the key, target audience behaviors you know you must have to achieve your organizational objectives.I refer to perceptions of your organization, and resulting behaviors such as:customers making repeat purchases;prospects starting to do business with you;employees really valuing their jobs;suppliers doing all possible to expand your relationship;community... Read More

I Cant Afford A PR/Publicity Campaign -- Can I?

It's a phrase I hear over and over again from many entrepreneurs, small businesses owners and inventors: "I'd love to hire someone to launch our publicity campaign professionally, but we can't afford it, so I'm just going to have to do it on my own."Over the past several months, I... Read More

Public Relations: Why it Works

The short answer is, it works best when its fundamental premise is the guide, which insures that the primary focus of your public relations program is the behaviors of your most important outside audiences. Not less urgent matters like personalities, communi- cations tactics or administrative concerns.PR strives to effectively manage... Read More

Where is the Best PR Value?

Wherever the fundamental premise of public relations is practiced.Look at what it suggests. People act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to- desired-action those... Read More

PR: Ouch! Tells the Tale

Ever get the feeling that your public relations program isn't doing much about the behaviors of your important outside audiences? Those audiences whose actions have the greatest impacts on your business?Chances are your PR effort is focused primarily on communi- cations tactics and not on the process needed to really... Read More

Can Small PR Firms Deliver Huge Results?

They can when they invest in the basics. The best of them obviously rely on some form of public relations fundamental premise to produce winners across business environments from rockets and orange juice to product recalls and indicted CEOs.But, chances are the top producers among small PR firms have built... Read More

How Would You Ever Know?

Your important outside audiences behave in ways that stop you from reaching your objectives.Because you haven't paid much attention to their care and feeding, is it likely you'll know they are placing a hammer lock on your business in time to limit the damage?With some luck, you might save the... Read More

Its Just Common Sense!

When a group of outsiders behaves in a way that hurts your business, you usually do something about it. Yet, many business people are amazingly casual about their own external audiences. To me at least, they seem to ignore the reality that those behaviors really do impact their organizations.Even when... Read More

A Simple Formula for Success

Leaders in the business world need public relations big time, and they show it every day.How? By staying in touch with their most important external audiences and by carefully monitoring their perceptions about the company, audience member feelings about hot topics at issue, and the behaviors that inevitably follow.Could there... Read More

PR: Behavior Modification Specialist

While awaiting economic recovery, business needs to attract the attention of its most important external audiences in a more targeted and focused way. Primarily to impact the perceptions of those key outsiders so that resulting behaviors help those managers achieve their objectives.This should be enough reason for recession-weary managers to... Read More

Preparing For Your Media Interview

Media interviews are an important part of an overall public relations campaign. Any size company from entrepreneur to Fortune 500 can benefit from media interviews. Always arrive for a media interview prepared and early. We've seen competent CEOs drown in uncharted media waters. Being unprepared guarantees you won't get asked... Read More

Public Relations Productivity

Should it be measured in "publicity by the pound," or by how well external audience behaviors help achieve the organization's key objectives?I opt for holding public relations responsible, first, for recognizing that people act on their perception of the facts leading to behaviors about which something can be done. And... Read More

Why Public Relations Doesnt Just Happen

Public relations is a very important part of the marketing mix. A successful PR campaign provides third-party endorsement of products or services which is something no other marketing element can deliver. Many people think that once a company starts advertising, editors beat a path to your door. In some cases,... Read More

Time to Spruce Up Your Public Relations?

Better check out the public relations fundamental premise, then take action in your own best interest.The premise reads this way: "People act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion... Read More

A Well-Oiled Strategy Machine

Yes, that's what public relations really is when it tracks important external audience perceptions and follow on behaviors. And again when it does something about those perceptions and behaviors by reaching, persuading and moving to actions you desire, those people whose behaviors affect your organization the most.All of which makes... Read More

PR Failure Defined

I define public relations failure this way:key audience perceptions are not monitoreda realistic, corrective goal is not setan improper, or no real strategy is selecteda persuasive, compelling message is not preparedcommunications tactics are selected mostly by hunchand no follow-through perception monitoring is done to determine progress.Failure insured! Similar, in fact,... Read More

PR Is Just Smart Business

The name of the game is doing our part to achieve manage- ment's objectives. And public relations best practice ? properly applied ? does just that.How? The driving force is public relations' fundamental premise which promises to harness your most important external audiences in a way that actually helps reach... Read More

Trade Show Tactics Revealed

Being part of a trade show gives small business a chance to experience economies of scale and to mix around with the big guys. This may also be the most stressful period for the PR Dept. head as he will hope that R & D people will be able to... Read More

PR: How Sweet It Is!

The public relations goal and strategy make sense; the message is persuasive and compelling; the communications tactics are aggressive and well-targeted. YES!!For those of us in public relations, how sweet it is when members of an important target audience appear to understand why the rumor was wrong and what they... Read More

So Whats Wrong With Strategic?

Some folks see the word "strategic" as a needlessly tiresome and complicated notion. But anything that shows you how to get from here to there IS strategic, and something we all need.Even the dictionary calls a strategy "of great importance to a planned effort."For example, look at public relations where... Read More

How to Take Advantage of Public Relations

Decide once and for all to do something about those outside audiences whose behaviors affect your organization the most.When members of those "publics" of yours perceive and understand who and what you are, and like what they see, the behaviors that flow from those perceptions will put a smile on... Read More

Ignore PR at Your Peril!

If you do, it means:you don't value tracking the perceptions of important outside audiences whose behaviors could sink your ship:you don't care about setting a public relations goal designed to correct misconceptions, inaccuracies or rumors that can hurt you;you care even less about strategies to get you from here to... Read More

PR Buyers Beware!

It can bite you and waste your public relations budget when the program emphasizes communications tactics instead of how to make certain your key outside audiences understand who and what you are.Especially sad when tactics are placed in motion before you really know how your key target audience views your... Read More

Recessions Dont Last Forever!

It could, but what if it doesn't?Will you be prepared?Will those key external audiences of yours, whose behaviors REALLY affect you, look favorably at you and your business?Because, once the economy emerges from recession, if they don't, you'll have one arm tied behind your back.Don't let that happen. Instead, decide... Read More

What Is Best Practice Public Relations?

Why, public relations that stays true to its fundamental premise, of course.In a nutshell, "People act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired- action... Read More

Generating Publicity: Will The Media Be Interested In My Product/Business?

When it comes to launching a new business or product, some marketing consultants might say that EVERY product is appropriate for a publicity or media exposure campaign. That is true to a degree, but as a PR/publicity professional and former media person, I would qualify that statement by saying that... Read More

Anxious About Your Public Relations?

Shooting from the hip always creates anxiety.Especially when managers order a communications tactic here, another there, but fail to base them on a realistic public relations goal and strategy. One that could increase the chances they'll get the results they want.Why waste resources this way when a little more effort... Read More

Prep for a Successful Trade Show

Well, autumn is upon us and with the onset of this season comes cleaner air and colourful outdoor scenery and, it is also prime season for trade shows. Sure, trade shows happen all throughout the year but, with many areas recognizing small business month/week, there is a greater opportunity for... Read More

The Increasing Power Of Publicity - And How It Can Benefit Your Business

The call came into my office and the voice on the other end was very energetic, almost giddy: "I have finalized my marketing budget and need your help launching an advertising campaign for my new product," he breathed. "Congratulations," I replied, "but before we implement an ad campaign, I want... Read More

Underestimating the Power of In-House PR

Do small-business owners always have to rely on large PR agencies to get attention from the press? An entrepreneur recently asked me this question during a networking event for women business owners. Of course my answer was, "No," but not for the reasons one might expect.Ultimately, I do believe the... Read More

Do-It-Yourself Public Relations

"Advertising is what you pay for. Publicity is what you pray for."What is a small business owner to do? You have dozens, hundreds or even thousands of competitors around the world. How do you make yourself known amid all the noise and confusion? One thing is for certain. You may... Read More

Credibility Lost or Gained, Are you Prepared?

If a reporter approached you about an interview, would you know what to say do or even how to dress for one? Would you know how to answer questions? Have you ever wondered what the secret of working effectively with the media is? Do you wonder how to increase... Read More

Managers: Get Real, Please!

Personnel mentions in the newspaper and product plugs on radio hardly qualify as an adequate return on your public relations dollar, and you probably know it!Especially unfortunate when your PR budget could be doing something really positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect your business, non-profit... Read More

Sound Like Your Situation?

What a shame! Potentially productive public relations people resting on their oars in a large organization. Just kind of tinkering with tactics and leaving target audience perceptions (and behaviors) to pretty much do their own thing.Big pain on the way!Unattended, key public perceptions can morph into painful behaviors that hurt... Read More

The Truth About Public Relations

The truth is, you CAN attract the support of those external audiences whose behaviors have the most effect on your enterprise. But you must do it by first achieving the positive changes you need in their perceptions and, thus, behaviors.You'll get both using this strategic approach to public relations which... Read More

Make Front Page News By NOT Inviting The Media

Not a single reporter showed up at our news event. And we were THRILLED!Not a single photographer showed up to capture the moment. And we were pleased as punch!Not a single newspaper knew about the event. And we received front page coverage in every one!You can make front page news... Read More

How to Tap in to the Holiday Publicity Bonanza

If your product or service can be given as a gift, a publicity windfall awaits at the end of the year - but you need to start working in June. Each December, media outlets cover the newest, the hottest and the most unusual Holiday gifts. The reporters assigned to develop... Read More

Imagine PR Like This Helping You

As the kids say, how cool is this?You're a business, non-profit or association manager and, finally, you decide to do something positive about the behaviors of those important outside audiences of yours - behaviors that MOST affect your operation.What you're doing, of course, is creating the very external stakeholder behaviors... Read More

PR: Your 500 Pound Gorilla

What else, for goodness sake, could you as a business, non-profit or association manager, call a heavy-duty helper who does something REALLY positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences of yours that most affect your organization?And that uses the fundamental premise of public relations to deliver the kind of... Read More

Do You Have an Exclusive Market Segment?

You do if you're a business, non-profit or association manager with important external stakeholders whose behaviors affect your department, division or subsidiary the most.In your own best interests, here's what you'd better be doing about them.Accept the fact that the right PR actually CAN alter individual perception that leads to... Read More

Life After Press Release Distribution?

A few weeks ago I was participating on an on-line message board. One of the members was a new business owner who was very excited about sending out her company's first press release. The question she posted to the group was important, but also a common one echoed by so... Read More

Why Not Juice-Up Your PR?

Say, from tactics like special events, brochures and press releases to a public relations effort more in keeping with the challenges you face as a business, non-profit or association manager?I speak of public relations that alters individual perception and leads to changed behaviors among those key outside audiences of yours.Public... Read More

How PR Makes a Managers Life Easier

Things are pleasant for many business, non-profit or association managers when their public relations people deliver newspaper and talk show mentions, informative brochures and videos, and special events that attract a lot of people.But things could be much more pleasant for those managers if their PR teams were to deliver... Read More

Are There Secrets to Gaining Media Coverage?

Are there secrets to gaining media coverage or is it pure luck? It's a question that I am asked often while meeting with small-business owners who are seeking press attention for their companies or products. While luck certainly plays a part, the short answer to this question is "maybe." However... Read More

What You Dont Know About PR Can Hurt You

And hurt bad if you are a business, non-profit or association manager. Especially when you rely too heavily on tactics like special events, brochures and press releases to get your money's worth.Instead, pursue public relations that does nothing less than alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors among those... Read More

Its the Little Details that Can Make or Break a News Story

Have you ever heard of the saying, "One person's trash is another person's treasure?" Well, that statement is a true one, but never more so than in the realm of media relations where so many small-business owners find it so difficult to garner media coverage for themselves or their companies.... Read More

Why Good PR Warrants Your Attention

Because good public relations can alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors among key outside audiences. And that can help business, non-profit and association managers achieve their managerial objectives.It all happens when you do something positive about the behaviors of those important external audiences of yours that most affect... Read More

Generating Publicity For Your Business: Knowing Your Media Market Is Critical

When starting a successful business venture or launching a new product, most entrepreneurs or business owners conduct some type of marketing research to determine the extent of their prospective customer base. And when getting the word out to that customer base, many entrepreneurs may turn to the media to help... Read More

PR: Am I Getting a Good Deal?

You are getting a good deal when you accept the fact that the right PR really CAN alter individual perception and lead to the changed behaviors you need.Especially when you recognize that people really DO act upon their perceptions of the facts they hear about your operations, and about you... Read More

Add Some Firepower to your PR

Sure, as tactics usually presented to business, non-profit and association managers, special events, brochures and news releases are fine.But they're not the high-octane PR firepower you need to deliver growth results like new proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; accelerating prospect contacts; rising membership applications; customers making repeat purchases;... Read More

Lets Blow The Lid Off Public Relations

And show it for what it is - a humdinger of a strategy machine using cutting-edge communications tactics that lead directly to program success. And all because perceptions were altered, behaviors modified and the employer/client satisfied with the end result.When everybody benefits like that, blowing the lid off public relations... Read More

A Winning Game Plan

You want to sell your products or services, and that means good money management, top quality products or services, and hard work on your part. But, for REAL success, the icing on the cake is public relations.Here's why. People act on their perception of the facts about you; those perceptions... Read More

Whats Important About PR?

Quite a bit, actually. Public relations helps business, non- profit and association managers achieve their managerial objectives with results like these. New proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; rebounds in showroom visits; customers making repeat purchases; stronger relationships with educational, labor, financial and healthcare interests; enhanced activist group relations;... Read More

A Blueprint for Managing your PR

OK, as a manager, your goal is to show a profit for your business unit, or meet certain expectations of your association membership, or achieve your non-profit's operating objective. In each case, you'll need public relations activity that creates behavior change among your key outside audiences. Behavior change that leads... Read More

What I Do

I believe this about public relations.People act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. So, when we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action those people whose behaviors affect the organization, the public... Read More

What People Believe Can Bring You Success

Just think about it.If I come to believe that you really didn't dump those chemicals in the river, I'll probably stop picketing your business.Or, if I now believe you actually care about me as an employee, I may stay with the company.And if I become convinced that you provide quality... Read More

When Tactics Are Not Enough

Your public relations people are busy. The buzz is all about hits on a radio show or mentions in a newspaper column. Or, which to do first, the trade show exhibit or the video clip. All useful tactics, but hardly the detailed planning needed to REALLY do something about the... Read More

Does the PR Blueprint Work?

Managers, please take a minute and read two sentences: People act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect... Read More

Public Relations: Power Tool for the 21st Century

I address this article to businesses, associations, non-profits and public entity managers seeking a direct connection between the money they're planning to spend on public relations, and the achievement of their organizational objectives.We can save a lot of time - you and I - if we can agree on one... Read More

How To Write A Killer Press Release

One of the primary tools still used by PR professionals to garner media coverage is the press release. Now understand the purpose of a press release is to grab the attention of an editor, not to offer a word for word story to a publication. Most professionals as well as... Read More

Can Your PR Do This?

Can your PR do something positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect your business, non-profit or association?Can your PR deliver external stakeholder behavior change -- the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives?Can your PR persuade those important outside folks to your way of... Read More

Mind Your Own Business!

And the best way to mind your own business is to insure that those audiences whose behaviors have the greatest effect on your enterprise keep thinking about you in the most positive way. Reason is, bad behaviors often follow bad perceptions, so what your external audiences think about you can... Read More

Much Ado About A Lot!

I say public relations can be a matter of survival for your organization.So, to me, making your business a success is a lot over which to raise much ado!Especially when the very people who hold your future in their hands - your key, target audiences - may harbor negative perceptions... Read More

Pressure From the Top?

Yes, and that pressure often comes from a CEO who knows what a public relations investment SHOULD produce.And do public relations folks fear such pressure? Not those who've got the answers!For example, "we're spending your public relations investment in the most effective way - insuring that our most important external... Read More

Public Relations Going O.K?

Yes?Good!Still, as a business, non-profit or association manager, if you're not getting the behavior changes you paid for, you're wasting your money.Here's why I say that. People act on their perception of the facts, and those perceptions lead to certain behaviors. But something can be done about those perceptions and... Read More

A Natural Phenomenon? Really?

Sure. What else do you call a human discipline whose very nature is firmly rooted in the principle that people act on their own perception of the facts. Then goes on to create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the... Read More

Public Relations: Converting the Non-Believers

What's the real reason some managers shy away from public relations? I believe it's because they don't understand, or believe, the direct connection between what public relations is capable of delivering and their need to achieve specific business objectives.It's lost opportunity of the worst kind. And a shame, because the... Read More

Is PR All About Image? NO!!

That's like asking if advertising is all about type faces and photography. The answer to both questions is a teeth-clenched "of course not!"What public relations IS all about, rather than hollow images, is the very real business of dealing effectively with target audience perceptions and behaviors that have a major... Read More

Public Relations: The Fundamental Premise

It seems difficult to believe at the dawn of the 21st Century, that there exists a major discipline with so many diverse, partial, incomplete and limited interpretations of its mission. Here, just a sampling of professional opinion on what public relations is all about:* talking to the media on behalf... Read More

R.O.I. -- O.K., Heres The Deal!

You can SO measure return-on-investment for a public relations program!Try this.Accept the fact that people act on their own perceptions of the facts, and that this leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done.When public relations creates, changes or reinforces those perceptions by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action those... Read More

Ready For A Business Recovery?

Who wants to face the challenges of a business recovery without a ton of firepower? Especially when getting your piece of the action almost certainly depends upon how well you modify the behaviors of your target audiences.That's why public relations had better play a central role in your business planning.... Read More

Sure-Fire Recipe for a Successful Public Relations Career

Without a solid, well-designed foundation, few buildings successfully withstand the ravages of time and weather. And so it is with public relations, ever-dependent upon how well its practitioners understand the discipline.Yet, some public relations people manage to go through their entire career without a firm grasp of what public relations... Read More

Tactics Vs. Endgame - Endgame Wins

It took me a while to see just HOW crucial the behaviors of an organization's key audiences really are to its success, be it big or small, non-profit, business, association or even a public sector enterprise.Sounds elemental, doesn't it? But the truth is, few organizations can succeed today if those... Read More

Doubt PRs Clout? Dont!

Done right, it helps modify the behaviors of your most important target audiences, and that can spell S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L.I don't believe that's an overstatement because a customer who thinks badly of you and your business will not soon be darkening your threshold.Nor are you likely to see prospects who know little... Read More

Between Now and Economic Recovery

There's still time to review your public relations program like Navy flight crews go over a fighter jet.Reason is, you need to fine-tune your public relations activity looking forward to a snap-back in the economy, when you'll need all guns blazing.First thing to check?Do you know for certain what your... Read More

In PR, You Pay When You Stray

Don't let yourself be diverted by communications tactics playtime. You know, straying from the main Public relations game plan by juggling a press release against a radio interview, or a brochure against an op-ed.Those "beasts of burden" who will carry your message to you target audiences will come in handy... Read More

Tough Times, Tough Tactics

When times are tough, it's no time to ignore those external audiences whose behaviors matter so much to your organization.In your own best interest, are you seeing to their care and feeding? I mean, if a certain group of outsiders behaves in ways that really help or hinder your operations,... Read More

A Company That Doesnt Need Public Relations?

Really? You mean there are NO perceptions and behaviors peculiar to that company's outside audiences that would help or hinder it in the pursuit of its objectives?Wow! I need to know more about a company that can ignore what its key external publics perceive about the company AND how they... Read More

A New Idea For Venture Capitalists

Obviously, it hurts when a promising business project you backed financially goes down the tube.But while you point to many possible causes, seldom do you attribute the wreckage to a lack of effective communications that might have modified the behavior of sales prospects in a positive way, thus averting a... Read More

A Winning Public Relations Game Plan

You want to sell your products or services, and that means good money management, top quality products or services, and hard work on your part. But, for REAL success, the icing on the cake is public relations.Here's why. People act on their perception of the facts about you; those perceptions... Read More

All Youve Got To Lose Is Everything

Everything, that is, if you ignore those folks whose behaviors have the greatest effect on your business.What those people see and believe about your enterprise, pretty well determines what their follow-on behaviors will be - for example, do business with you, or move on to someone else.Is that what you... Read More

Are You Dissing Public Relations

If you leave a star player sitting on the bench, you could be the loser.Look at it this way. Because you push hard to reach your sales and marketing objectives, you need the help of your top external audiences.If you agree, what are you doing to insure their support? At... Read More

Are You Sure You Know What Youre Doing?

Because when it comes to public relations, non-believers can produce a double-bummer -- missed opportunity AND a ton of wasted money. It really is a shame because we do public relations to change the behaviors of certain groups of people important to the success of those very Doubting Thomases.And speaking... Read More

Can Newbies Avoid The Pitfalls?

Yes indeed! If you are a young person who has decided that a career in public relations will be your Caviar and Champagne in life, here are four situations in which you do not want to find yourself:1. You confuse the basic function of public relations with sub-parts that make... Read More

Can Your PR Game Plan be Salvaged?

If, as is often the case, you are preoccupied with comm- unications tactics instead of working a plan to actively pursue those outside audience behaviors that stop you from achieving your objectives, the answer is yes.Fortunately, it's no big deal making the switch to a public relations problem-solving sequence that... Read More

Dont Get Eaten Alive!

If you don't have a grip on public relations, how your most important outside audiences behave really CAN eat you alive.But that needn't happen, and for a simple reason: people like those who make up your key target audiences, act on their perception of the facts (like everybody else) which... Read More

Dont Waste Money on Public Relations

Demand that it pull its own weight in your boat by working to create, change or reinforce how your organization is perceived by those vital, external audiences, those groups of people who REALLY affect your business the most.This is key to your success because, like it or not, people take... Read More

PR and the Small Matter of Results

As a business, non-profit and association manager, how satisfied are you when the public relations people assigned to your unit spend the bulk of their time on someone's favorite special event, brochures, press releases and talk-show mentions?Especially when you'd rather have a public relations effort that creates the kind of... Read More

Media Relations: When Numbers Lie

NUMBERS, NUMBERS EVERYWHEREYou just placed a terrific story on the local news. Your boss asks you how many people saw it."Well," you say, "The latest Nielsen ratings showed that 211,000 people watch the 11 o'clock news on Channel 7 each night.""Terrific," your boss says. "Nice work."But do those numbers really... Read More

Media Training: Why Nobodys Listening to You

SORRY?WERE YOU SAYING SOMETHING?Many spokespeople approach media interviews the same way they would a major speech. They think at length about what they want to say, jot down a few notes, and try to memorize a few key points.But they rarely practice how they're going to deliver their messages. It's... Read More

Take the High Ground With Quality PR

Quality public relations does something positive for business, non-profit and association managers about the behaviors of the key external "publics" that most affect their operations. In other words, it alters individual perception that leads to changed behaviors among their really important outside audiences.In so doing, PR helps persuade those key... Read More

Sending Samples With Your Press Release-- should you or shouldnt you? Heres a guide?

When you should send samples with your press release:1) When the item is very low cost: If the press release you're sending is about a product that is under $10.00, you may want to consider sending a sample of the product to the editors. Since the item is low cost,... Read More

Talk Radio Success

You do not have to hire a publicist or advertise through a booking service to promote your books on talk radio. My friend Stephen Schochet and I have been scheduling our own radio appearances for several years. Working independently, we have, between us, logged over 1,000 interviews, and we continue... Read More

Are You Newsworthy?

Non-news professionals often have a hard time understanding why their ENORMOUS news announcement, creates barely a ripple in the media.That's not to say a news release shouldn't be done about it. There are audiences besides the media - like employees, customers and trade allies - to whom news releases may... Read More

The Press Pack Is Chasing You - Give Them Room

There's good news for public relations execs, marketing professionals and even one-man-band entrepreneurs: journalists are surfing your sites looking for news.It's true - while some PR people spend months trying to win over cynical reporters in order to wrangle a company profile or CEO interview (and get nowhere), an army... Read More

Just What Kind of PR Matters to You?

Parties, videos, booklets and column plugs?Or public relations that does something positive and directly about those important outside audiences of yours whose behaviors most affect your operation?How happy are you -- as a business, non-profit or association manager -- when you see your PR folks futzing around with special events,... Read More

Which PR? Judge for Yourself

You are a senior business, non-profit or association manager. So, chances are you call the shots for your department, division or subsidiary.Which means you can make your decisions stick.Like deciding whether a publicity placement is more important to you than creating external stakeholder behavior change leading directly to achieving your... Read More

How to Get PR

There is a process for successfully getting publicity about your business or organization. Publicity is no great mystery, just a thorough and strategic sales job. You are selling content to a publication or website who needs it to entice their readers. No publicist can guarantee a publication will print stories... Read More

Public Relations

The wind of changes...The digital world has changed the form and scope of all communications. The positive aspects of this new world are as overwhelming to interactivity as a truckload of candy is to a three year old. The field of Public Relations is rapidly transforming as well.PR can bring... Read More

Achieve Media Attention for Your Business

Do you want to be quoted by the national press on a daily basis? (How much would that be worth to your business?)In the past six months, I've been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The International Herald Tribune, Entrepreneur, The Associated Press,... Read More

How To Write A Press Release

A well structured press release in an excellent way of receiving free publicity for very little effort and cost. It is simply the process of writing a newsworthy story about your company, products or services in a reasonably standard format, and then distributing it in the correct way to relevant... Read More

The Working Case Study

Next to white papers, case studies are the most popular tool in the technical marketer's toolkitThe ubiquitous case study can range from a 3- paragraph online snippet to a full-blown magazine article. The most popular case study in the marketing/PR arsenal is the 500-700 word success story. They're not as... Read More

Publicity Performance Not Enough?

Even after a nice piece in a national publication, or a stint on a popular talk show, do you still have a feeling that your public relations dollar could be better spent?As a business, non-profit or association manager, do questions like that linger in your mind?Because if they do, you... Read More

3 Essential Elements For Turning Your PR Pitch Into Publicity Exposure

1) Establish Rapport, then get the editor/producer excited.There's not a shortage of stories, but there is a shortage GREAT stories. If you are exciting, unique, or provocative that may be exactly what you need to get the attention of the editor/producer.2) Think Audience.Once you get the attention of the editor/producer,... Read More

Whats Stopping You From Getting Publicity?

When I talk with business people, they tend to believe if they offer good service, they will automatically get "noticed".Everybody "wishes" for this, but this rarely happens automatically. If you want publicity, you need to give up this "delusion", and pro-actively, systematically, and aggressively contact the media.CNN and USA Today... Read More

When Should You Outsource Your PR Efforts?

1) Do you NEED solid, consistant media exposure...week after week, or are you satisfied with "occasional" exposure? Now, this question alone is important... but not enough. The main component of this question is the IMPORTANCE of PR.2) Do you have the internal staff and expertise to commit the internal resources... Read More

How To Make Time For Public Relations

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michalangelo, Mother Theresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein."H. Jackson Brown Jr.Okay, Let me be frank.Marketing is the life blood of any business. For... Read More

PR: The Wildcard Marketing Strategy

What is the true purpose of public relations and how can it really help impact the growth of your small business? In order for the media to succeed, they need information that is both useful and entertaining for their readers. This is where you, the business owner or marketing executive,... Read More

3 Reasons to Tap into the Power of Publicity

Publicity is obtaining editorial coverage or features for your business. Publicity is getting your business reported as news. Examples of publicity are newspaper and magazine articles, radio and television interviews and Internet forums and much more. These are just a few reasons you should consider letting your business tap into... Read More

Cutting Down Your Trade Show Budget

Whenever a recession or volatility threatens the economy, companies immediately look at where they can cut budgets. Without much forethought, the first to hit the block is inevitably training, followed closely behind by marketing. Why? Both are viewed on the balance sheet as expenditures rather than income generators, so obviously... Read More

PR Works! 15 Ways To Make Your Press Release Stand Out From the Crowd

Do editors of newspapers, magazines and online news sites really use press releases? Too right they do. In fact, the press release is one of the most effective forms of publicity. But many businesses, both online and off, underestimate the power the press has to promote their business and get... Read More

Public Relations Strategies: Announcing News on a Press Tour

Gaining news coverage on a successful press tour requires planning, preparation, and follow up.Under the right circumstances, physically traveling to the media on a press tour is a great way to contact multiple media outlets. Press tours work especially well when having something physical to show a writer ? a... Read More

Public Relations Strategies: Focus PR Campaigns with Media Coverage Analysis

Prior to launching a new public relations campaign, evaluate the media coverage you've gained and dig deep into the coverage your competition has received.One of the first steps in defining a public relations strategy is to understand how you and your competition stack up in terms of media coverage. Taking... Read More

PR tips for business

Question: Why should your business issue a press release? Answer: because you have something to say, you want to say it in public and a press release encourages the press to say it for you. And because you want to show your business in a favourable light from the outset... Read More

How To Share Your Success Story Without Sounding Like You Are Bragging

A great way to celebrate your achievements and capitalize on your successes is to share them with your clients, members, community leaders, and other influential decisionmakers. But how can you do that without sounding like you are bragging?Tell the story of your success using one of these five approaches, which... Read More

How To Get FREE Publicity Whenever You Want !

What you are about to read is a step by step guide to getting FREE publicity. Simply, this is advertising that costs nothing, yet can bring in regular and substantial orders for your products and services.Regardless of the business you're in, you always want publicity for your products and services.... Read More

Killer Press Kits - Press Kits That Demand Attention

So, you've had your book published or you've gone the self-published route, but what do you do now?You contact a newspaper, radio or television station requesting an interview and they ask you to send them a press kit.First of all, don't panic. A press kit is not some magical entity... Read More

Put Yourself in the Reporters Shoes

Imagine you're the technology reporter at a daily newspaper. You learn that a new computer virus is making the rounds on the Net and you find that it has shut down three local banks within the past few hours. You're desperately searching for information on the virus, names and phone... Read More

The Feeding Tube for Your Business

There are a lot of things that make a business full of clients and running smoothly.We all know you need a constant stream of clients. It doesn't matter if they are new or old returning clients, they must be constantly coming in for a purchase.Marketing is how you generate interest... Read More

How to Make Publicity Work for Your Business: Six P.R. Strategies to Use Right Now

Public Relations (or P.R.) is a wonderful, yet often overlooked marketing tool. P.R. is an intangible ? making it a tough sell for many P.R. professionals. It is our job to sell the concept and show the client how it will enhance marketing efforts and, in many cases, replace costly... Read More

Business Community Relations 101 - Getting the Most Out of Your Chamber of Commerce Membership

Since the major part of a small business typically comes from business to business services, it is essential to maintain a positive standing with the local business community. It is of value to you to join as many business type organizations as possible in your town. You should attend meetings... Read More

How Public Relations Changes Minds

Public relations changes minds in the process of delivering what business, non-profit and association managers need more than almost anything else ? the kind of key stakeholder behavior change that leads directly to achieving their managerial objectives.It happens when the right kind of public relations alters individual perception, thus doing... Read More

Your Online Newsroom: How to Give Reporters a Tip

It's hard to imagine a reporter working today who doesn't regularly visit "official" company websites. And it's hard to imagine just how much those websites have improved reporters' lives.Instead of calling a company for more information and waiting days for their press pack to arrive, reporters can now get the... Read More

Media Training: How to Tell a More Interesting Story

PRESIDENT BUSH TELLS A STORYOn March 18, 2005, President Bush stood before a group of Florida voters to tout his social security plan. He did something quite ordinary during his speech. He acknowledged a person in the audience and told her story.President Bush told the crowd he had recently spoken... Read More

Media Training 101: When 60 Minutes Knocks On Your Door

You never know when 60 Minutes will knock on your door and if not them, then maybe a local investigative reporter. A little media savvy is a valuable skill for executives and their image-conscious organizations. Unless you've had media training you know most businesspeople would rather face a firing squad... Read More

Media Training 201: The Reporters Have Done Their Homework. Have You Done Yours?

Just about anyone who has been in the public eye has a story of the media interview that went south. "I talked to that reporter for an hour and all they used was a ten-second sound bite!" or, "He said he wanted to ask me about X when that was... Read More

Mastering the Media

What do Monica Lewinsky, Shoshanna Lowenstein, and even Richard Hatch have in common? Media exposure. They were ordinary people who became household names.Business and professional people may be called upon to represent their companies. The ability to present yourself well to the media can make or break your professional reputation... Read More

Five Great News Stories You?re Sitting On Right Now

Smaller companies don't always have the budget - or inclination - to retain a PR hotshot to tell the world about their business success, but that doesn't mean they aren't a ready source of news.The problem is it's often dull news which is ignored by all except the industry press... Read More

Easy to be Foolish About PR

In fact, here are three really foolish goofs made by too many business, non-profit and association managers.If that's you, you foolishly do nothing positive about the behaviors of those important outside audiences of yours that most affect your operation.You foolishly fail to create external stakeholder behavior change leading directly to... Read More

10 Ways to Get the Media to Love You

So you've put yourself "out there" with a public relations campaign. Your dealings with the media now become critical. Those relationships with the media can make or break your public relations efforts. Here's how to get the media to love you:1. When the media calls, stop what you are doing... Read More

Dont Do This to Your News Release!

Hundreds of thousands of News Releases are sent out all the time and many people will show you different ways to write a news release in a way that will result in publicity for you or for your company. However, many people over look the 17 Deadly Sins that you... Read More

Post Your Press Release Online ? For Free!!

Are you launching a new product or website? Announcing a new book, movie or seminar? Then you've probably created a press release ? sharing the: who, what, when, where, how and why of your special newsworthy item.However, there is a lot more to a press release than just creating one.... Read More

The Ten Ps of PR

Everyone is talking about the Ps of successful marketing, so I thought it was time that PR had it's own Ps - essentials that will help you maximise your PR activities and results.1. Pin-pointThe first thing you have to do in a campaign is to pin-point your market. There's no... Read More

Driving Near School Buses in Company Vehicles

School BusesWhen approaching a school bus: Slow down; If the amber lights are flashing, the bus is about to stop; If the red lights are flashing, the bus is stopped; In many states it is against the law to pass a school bus with flashing red lights and/or an extended... Read More

Dealing With Reporters in Your Small Business

It behooves you to know and remember the names of reporters. Reporters know everybody. They talk to and interview people constantly. Because of their job, they usually size people up in a matter of minutes, sometimes without even meeting them face-to-face. If first impressions ever count, this is one first... Read More

Radio Interviews - How To Get Them!

Getting on the radio can be a great tactical move as part of your overall publicity effort, but you do need to have a story idea or an angle to present on a particular topic. Selling yourself as a guest on a talk show is a great way to raise... Read More

Press Release, An Alternative For Paid Advertisement. Step 1

What's a press release? This is generally a one page story about your business, your product/service or an event happening related to your business that is about to, or recently occurred. These publicity stories are generally "shot gunned" to newspapers, radio, television and the trade publications.Then imagine having your products/service... Read More

Time Your News Release For Maximum Publicity

"Cindy, where's that story? I need it yesterday!""Coming right up, boss. I'll have it to you soon," Cindy shouted back."Yesterday isn't soon enough!"Cindy clicked on her screen. "You have mail." She looked at the messages. "Three news releases," she murmured. "I don't have time for this now." [delete] [delete] [delete]Stop!... Read More

Best Approach For Free Advertisement

Product/service publicity is the superhighway to business success everyone dreams. Then imagine having your product/service written on newspapers, trade publications, aired on radio and viewed on television absolutely for free!!! That's going to skyrocket your profit target only if you know how to use the best method of getting free... Read More

Can Media Coverage Build An Online Business? You Bet It Can!

As someone with expertise in media relations, I've been asked if media coverage and publicity can build an online business. The real question is whether what happens offline really matters online. And the answer is unquestionably, "Yes!"Here are ten reasons why media coverage can help your online business grow:Every one... Read More

Leveraging Your Reputation - Making PR Work for You

We rely on all kinds of tools and advice to help our businesses grow, from accounting and legal advice to graphic design and sales seminars. But what are we doing for the important job of building our business's reputation in the community?Public relations skills and techniques are a powerful part... Read More

What not to wear when doing a TV Interview

? Don't wear all black. You'll look as though you're disappearing into a hole. This often throws women into a panic, as we love the slimming properties of black, particularly when TV will probably make you look slightly heavier than you are in real life. Black trousers or skirt will... Read More

Business - How to Build it Using the Media

Have you ever noticed that when someone is interviewed on radio, television or in the newspapers about a particular subject, it tends to be the same people? You may even be saying - "Why don't they ever ask me?"Well the reason is - they don't know about you. If they... Read More

CD ROM Business Cards

Created properly, an extremely effective marketing tool.It's a great concept, - and it has a 'cool factor' of 300%.Many people will pop these into their drive just because of image appeal alone. What's really neat is when one is so well done, so informative, so interactive, that everybody wants one.This... Read More

Public Relations & Your Small Business

The practice of public relations is often misunderstood, thus overlooked by small business owners. There is an assumption among small businesses that PR exists only to serve corporate giants who are looking to dodge impending negative fall out of their reputation, following a catastrophic blunder on the part of their... Read More

Promote Your Products With A Press Release

Writing an effective press release is a way to draw attention to the products you sell and do so at a local level, nationwide and even get internationally. You don't need to be a writer, but you need to clarify exactly what it is you are selling.All press releases embody... Read More

She Who Has the Gold...

?makes the rules, of course.But when the gold takes the form of top-notch public relations, she AND he get to make rules like these:Our PR concentrates on delivering what we really need.Our PR does something positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that MOST affect our organization.Our PR persuades... Read More

How To Write A Press Release: The 10 Commandments Of A Great Lead Paragraph

How to write a press release is a major challenge facing both experienced and aspiring PR professionals.Press release writing is a learned skill. This article contains press release sample writing, including that all important first paragraph."If it bleeds it leads" is a famous saying amongst news editors on why certain... Read More

How to Form a Relationship with a Newspaper

How do you make a good relationship with a newspaper so that you can get new contacts?Newspaper relationships are probably the most difficult relationships to form. Often a newspaper will have different departments that look after advertising, human interest stories, editorials and daily news. If you know one person in... Read More

Press Releases

How do press releases or interest stories have an effect on meeting new potential clients?Press releases can make the difference between being known and being just the same old service that everyone offers. You need to set yourself apart from all the others. The press needs to have stories about... Read More

Making Great Announcements

When do you use the newspaper for publishing announcements for promotions or new partnerships?Adding an announcement to a newspaper will only bring further recognition to your business. You should always send items such as the hiring of a new employee, the announcement of a new contract, the change of location... Read More

The Right Hook

Have you fantasized about spreading word of your business on a top-rated TV show like The Today Show or Oprah?Eileen Roth, a professional organizer just a year into her business, was able to get on both shows using the time-honored technique of the news hook.Understanding the News NookDo-it-yourself PR people... Read More

PRs Big Bang Theory

Lots of theories out there about public relations.Everything from "publicity's the thing!," "the care and feeding of reputations and "sales support is primary" to "gain and hold public acceptance," and "issue management's the thing." among many, many others.But for business, non-profit and association managers, the big, bang theory of public... Read More

The Ratings are Coming

Small businesses have always known the importance of word of mouth. Many successful businesses have been built on word of mouth referrals, and many have been killed by bad word of mouth.But now the landscape is changing, making word of mouth more important than ever - only now, that word... Read More

Media Training: When Reporters Bully You

UNDER FIREA friend whose organization is often in the media spotlight recently told me a story about her boss. Her boss, let's call her Susan, is on the leadership team for a lobbying group that represents a somewhat unpopular industry.Susan was interviewed a few months ago by Dateline NBC Correspondent... Read More

Turn Your Business? New Year Resolutions in PR Revolutions

As eyes look forward to a new business year, many small business owners and entrepreneurs are hoping that this upcoming year will be the one that catapults them into success. But according to Shannon Cherry, APR, businesses often overlook a key element when making their business plans and resolutions."Most new... Read More

Why Not PR That Gets Real Results?

And not results you can measure only in terms of magazine circulation, TV audience numbers, or news release pickups.But rather, results that come from a public relations effort that creates the kind of key stakeholder behavior change that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives.In other words, results that come... Read More

VIP Database; Does Your Company Have One?

The VIP databases are fun to create and can be an excellent source for your small business. You say; VIP database, "what is that; who would I put in it?" It will contain things like mayor, city council persons, city managers, service club board members, campaign contributors in previous elections,... Read More

Getting to Know Your Local City Council Members

The easiest way to meet city council members is to meet them at an event. Usually city council members have a phone number that is listed. Many will not ever answer the phone, but events they must be cordial and open to all. Explain who you are and your business... Read More

24 Killer Press Release Secrets

1. Your press release should sound like news, not an ad.2. You should only send your press release to the media related to the topic of your press release.3. Keep your press release one page in length.4. Your header, contact information and release date should be at the top of... Read More

Does Your Small Business Have a Grooming Policy?

They say that image is everything and some of us have seen it all. Have you ever went into a store and just could not believe what you were seeing behind the counter? Is that a real human? Without trying to make the world into a civilization like the "Borg"... Read More

Company Dress Codes for Small Business; Shorts and Pants

Most small businesses have logo'ed shirts, usually polo shirts with logos, this is typical in American Business. But many small businesses either do not have a dress code for pants and shorts or they have one, but rarely enforce it. Others take the approach that unless something is way out... Read More

Media Relations: What To Do When Youre Misquoted

When ABC News anchor Peter Jennings announced he had lung cancer last month, reporters who cover the media went into breaking news mode.What did it mean to the future of network news, they wondered? What would ABC News do to recover from the tragic announcement? And what sources could they... Read More

Knowing the Community

You are in business for yourself, but how well do you know your customers and community? A good way to become better at understanding your community is to develop spread sheet databases of service clubs in your town with contact names, phone numbers, email addresses and brief descriptions. You should... Read More

Community Based Marketing Strategies

As small businesses we have an opportunity and an obligation to help keep our communities strong. As small business people we have an awesome distribution system, reaching hundreds of people every day who come into our stores. If we are a mobile service business we see hundreds per day on... Read More

What? You Havent Got a Capability Statement?

What's a Capability Statement?As the name suggests, it tells potential clients what you, or your organisation and staff are capable of. It highlights what your future capability is and reflects on your past successes.Capability statements are usually produced as brochures or booklets and are now increasingly appearing in online formats... Read More

PR Power: How to Write a Killer Press Release

I'm what we in the business (the "business" being journalism) call a poacher turned gamekeeper -- that is, a journalist turned press officer. As a reporter I spent a huge part of my day sifting through a slush pile of press releases, all sent out by eager business owners desperate... Read More

The Medias Muscle: Make it Work for You

The least expensive, most effective way for you to promote your product is through media coverage. Reporters are excellent communicators. They can often tell your story better than you can. They also have the attention of the public.No promotional tool is more underused than product news coverage. I know because... Read More

Competition in the News Creates Spin

In larger cities with many outlets they are competing for more news that other outlets cannot get as fast. "THE SCOOP" and also the spin, this spin thing is so that articles can cater to the readership or so they say. I have found that many reporters including at the... Read More

Press Release Preparation

Small Business Owners should send press releases out at least once a month to local newspapers, cable TV, local magazines and radio stations. You will be surprised how often they get published or air time. After doing this a while you can figure out what types of news get the... Read More

Franchise Work Vehicles Should Have a Flag on Them

If you own a franchise and have company vehicles, be sure you have a flag on it. First let's discuss the American flag. Franchising is the epitome of the free enterprise system. It's what makes America great. The entire United States government is a franchise system. The federal government grants... Read More

Auto Detailing Public Relations; United Way Withholding

As a mobile detailing company it is important to have some key corporate accounts where you can show up weekly and wash and detail cars for executives. One promotion you can do to help secure such accounts is to join in with the United Way in their promotion. The United... Read More

TV Reporter Shares the Secrets to Getting Covered on the News

Do you have a great idea for a story, but no clue how to get it in the news? Are you tired of pitching press releases the news media simply ignores?After twenty years of beating the street as a TV reporter, I have a scoop for you: the media needs... Read More

Why PR Can be Effective Medicine

When properly applied by business, non-profit and association managers, public relations "medicine" does something positive about the behaviors of those important external audiences of theirs that MOST affect their operations.It's easy-to-swallow "medicine" when it leads managers to persuade those key outside folks to their way of thinking, then move them... Read More

Youve Done PR the Hard Way Long Enough

As a business, non-profit or association manager, let the tacticians handle the special events, brochures and press releases from now on.You have better things to do.Like demanding the real results you're entitled to, and for which you've paid good money! Results, that is, that will come about when you do... Read More

What Some Pros Know About PR

They know they had better do something positive about those outside audiences that MOST affect their organizations. Especially business, non-profit or association managers, who also know they must persuade those key external "publics" to the manager's way of thinking, then move those people to actions that allow that manager's department,... Read More

Top Ten Tips For Great Sound Bites

If you're an online business using public relations (PR) to help increase traffic at your site, you've found a great way to gain exposure at little cost. And before you know it, the day will come when you are invited to do an interview with a reporter. It's exciting, but... Read More

Austin?s Annual Charity Event with KVET

In my travels around the country while building my business I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the greatest community volunteers in our nation. I never missed an opportunity to meet community leaders and learn all I could about every market my company franchised in. One event in... Read More

For Financial Planners, Marketing and Publicity Is About You

For financial planners, getting publicity, in the end, isn't about having contacts in the media.Or about writing a great press release.In the end, it's about one thing: it's about you.You, and the knowledge and expertise you share every day with your clients.The same knowledge that helps you recommend the right... Read More

How Marketing-Minded Financial Planners Get Publicity

You've probably noticed, if you live on this planet, that we live in a media-driven world.You may have mixed feelings, personally or philosophically, about this. But it's a fact of modern life. And in at least one very important way, it's good news.This is how:Living in a media-driven world is... Read More

Publicity and Marketing Magic For Financial Planners: The Four Mores

Publicity will take your financial planning practice, your business, and your life to the next level. It's going to bring you: more recognition more credibility more value to the marketplace more business It's obvious that getting more publicity ? exposure in the media ? will yield you more... Read More

What to Do When the Reporter Calls: Five Tips for New (and not-so-new) Business Owners

New business owners often miss out on publicity opportunities because they think it's a nuisance to talk to reporters. In fact, publicity can be far more valuable than advertising. Media exposure can give your business profile a huge boost. You'll attract clients, customers and recruiters. More important, you gain credibility... Read More

Do You See PRs Real Value?

As a business, non-profit or association manager, do you see the value in doing something positive about the behaviors of those important external audiences of yours that most affect your operation?Do you see the value in persuading those key outside folks to your way of thinking?Do you see the value... Read More

Permanent Press: Using Press Releases to Keep Your Company in the News

When is your best advertisement not an advertisement? When it's a press release.In the competition for consumer attention, a well-written press release is one of your most valuable marketing tools.Why is it vital to put yourself in the news?Because most of us attend differently to the news than we do... Read More

Media Relations: Should You Pay For News Coverage?

Dear New York Times:I'd like to be quoted in one of your news stories. Enclosed is a check for $500. Please call me to arrange the interview sometime this week. Evenings are best. Thank you.Imagine how such a letter would be greeted in the New York Times newsroom. The recipient... Read More

Media Training: How To Speak During a Media Interview

WHITE NOISEA client recently told me about a fascinating new approach to television advertising. Some advertisers, she said, are producing 30 second commercials without even a hint of sound.That approach goes counter to every rule of television advertising. Since the combination of visual messages and audio allows for the greatest... Read More

Managers: Do You Trust Your PR?

You can if, as a business, non-profit or association manager, you can honestly say you are doing something positive about the behaviors of those important external audiences of yours that most affect your department, group, division or subsidiary.And particularly so when you persuade those key outside folks to your way... Read More

Submitting A Press Release Can Benefit Your Business

A Press Release is a captive story that can be about a person, a business or organizational group that is submitted to the media. The distribution of a release can be targeted to media outlets in newspapers, TV, radio stations, magazines and global newswire networks. Like with any other form... Read More

How PR Helps Managers Win

Anything that lets managers achieve their managerial objectives is a winner.It's a bullseye when the right public relations alters individual perception leading to changed behaviors among key outside audiences.How that comes about is the story of the day!As a business, non-profit or association manager, you've got to do something positive... Read More

10 Tips to Give Your Press Release The Edge It Needs to Make the News

Writing a press (or media) release is quite an art (and a science) but don't let that scare you. Here are 10 tips to point you in the right direction...(1) Make sure the information is newsworthy.(2) Tell the audience that the information is intended for them and why they should... Read More

What Determines PR Success?

As a business, non-profit or association manager, occasions will arise when you'll need to employ tactics like a brochure, a special event or a press release. But it will be your work that precedes those tactics that will determine the success of your public relations effort.Here's the underlying premise: people... Read More

Financial Planners, Why Advertise When Free Publicity and Marketing Is Better?

Commit this to memory, please: To get in the media, being good is good enough.You don't need to be perfect, or even the best in your profession. There's no elaborate entrance exam or competition to determine who gets media coverage.The prize goes to those professionals who are competent or better,... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, the Media Wants to Give You Free Publicity

In this great country of ours, there are basically three ways to get yourself tons of media coverage.You can be a celebrity. Try becoming a TV, movie or sports star. That's a good start.You can become notorious. Getting arrested, or enmeshed in a juicy scandal, will do nicely.But I recommend... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Its Not Who You Know But What You Know

Almost every day, I hear the same question, over and over, from motivated, well-meaning financial planners who want to use publicity in their marketing mix. It goes something like this:"Who do you know in the media? (Or, sometimes they frame it as, "Who do I need to know in the... Read More

Five Publicity Buckets For Marketing-Minded Financial Planners

Maybe you've seen another financial planner on TV, and thought, "Hey, I'm just as good as she. Why didn't the press pick me?"Well, chances are, as you now know, they picked her for at least two good reasons: She is a proficient ? though not necessarily top?financial planner, and She... Read More

Financial Planners, Want Free Marketing and Publicity? The Key is Understanding the Media

The media need you. Need the information and expertise you offer, that is. But they are not encyclopedias. They don't serve up information. They serve up stories.That heap of paper that thuds onto your doorstep early each morning ? it's called a newspaper, not an information paper.And that evening broadcast... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Create Your Very Own Story to Get Free Publicity

One big mistake that many marketing-minded financial planners make when contacting the media is to drop what's called an "information dump."Sending a reporter statistics on the growth of your business (no matter how impressive) or on the success rate of your stock picks (no matter how propitious) will simply overwhelm... Read More

Financial Planners, Follow These Guidelines to Get Free Publicity

Be a ResourceThe media people that are likely to want to speak to financial planners are usually working on stories that will help people: help them get out of debt, make smarter investment decisions, or save for retirement.They look to financial planners to be a resource for these people.When you... Read More

Financial Planner Marketing - Problems Are Good (For Financial Planners Seeking Free Publicity)

A common complaint you'll hear is that the media is fixated on negative stories.But, let's face it, that's what people watch. Jerry Springer and Maury Povich wouldn't make millions of dollars a year if people hated watching spouses fight and jilted lovers weep.And have you ever heard of a publication... Read More

Financial Planners Publicity and Marketing - Live By The Calendar

The media live by the calendar. Your story pitch might miss the mark with them the first time out, solely because it's out of whack with the seasonal cycle (obvious examples: just try pitching another tax story on April 16, or offering the media your 10 tips on backyard barbecue... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Dont Hold Back Information From the Media

Some financial planners think that they shouldn't share their top tips with the media.I can see some validity in thinking this way. After all, the media is going to deliver these tips to the public at practically no charge. Then all those people who might have been paying customers won't... Read More

Your Financial Planning Clients May Hold the Key to Free Publicity

Every reporter, from the cub at the small town paper to the high-paid anchor on 60 Minutes, dreams of finding a lead to that news story that everyone will want to read.Any marketing-minded financial planner will start to do the same if they are serious about getting free publicity through... Read More

Financial Planners Garner Free Publicity by Making it Easy for the Media

Would you advise clients to buy a stock based on the say so of an investor relations person, or something you overheard at a restaurant? Of course not. You want to see at least some independent research before suggesting it be added to your clients' portfolios.Media people are just as... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners Piggyback on Topic A to Get Free Publicity

That big story the media pursue each day is what I call Topic A. And even if it doesn't seem to have anything to do with financial planning, it often lead to huge media visibility for you.Often, Topic A has a controversial element, such as when tax cuts or Social... Read More

Financial Planners Publicity - Dont Wait, Media Folks Want Your Free Publicity

Looking to get your name into a magazine? You need to be thinking ahead--way ahead. Magazines start planning their issues as much as six months before their publication date.In January, when you are muttering about the expensive heating bill, magazine writers are penning tips about staying cool. In June, while... Read More

Two Donts for Financial Planners Seeking Free Publicity

Many of my clients have had the misguided perception that they won't be able to get media coverage from a publication that their larger competitors advertise in. Nothing could be further from the truth.Most respectable publications erect a wall separating advertising and editorial (news/feature) coverage. Reporters and editors are specifically... Read More

Publicity - How to Write a Headline That Will Garner Free Publicity

Taking your ad and turning it into paragraph-style prose is not a press release ? chances are it will only lead the publisher to call and invite you to run it as a paid ad. A press release is for news or for information about a topic the audience needs... Read More

Publicity - Tips on Dealing With the Media

You thought of it, you researched it, you wrote it. So you own your story. At least you do until you send it to the media.At that point, they are free to do whatever they want with the information you gave them.Your job from then on: control and communicate it... Read More

Publicity - How To Get Your Story on Television

A press release telling about "Stevie, the Water-Skiing Squirrel" will never get that talented mammal on the TV news.But that same press release, accompanied by video of Stevie jumping over mini-ramps in an inflatable pool, will make the news 99 days out of 100.Words on paper or screen alone do... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners: Get Free Publicity by Choosing the Right Outlets

Sure, any publicity is good. But don't invest time and effort to be in "Lucky: The Magazine for Shopping" if your major topic is planning for college. Go where your market is!Which media outlets are the best for you? Easy answers ? and the Home Run of publicity ? include... Read More

Publicity: Polls and Surveys Are a Great Path Free Publicity

When I search Google News for "surveys," I get nearly 50,000 results. When I search for "stocks," I get about 54,000. The media love polls and surveys.Here are just a few headlines in the news as I write this, generated directly from surveys:Survey: CEOs cut expectations of economy Survey: Israelis... Read More

Three Publicity Tips for Marketing-Minded Financial Planners

Financial planners, the first thing to know about reporters is this: they are busy.Often, they are too busy to read a press release, too busy to wait for you to call back, too busy to find the "best" resource. This leads to three tips for marketing-minded financial planners.When a reporter... Read More

Go Ahead, Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Call a Reporter

Yes, you can call a reporter.I've said it before, in dozens of articles and presentations to financial planners looking for free publicity. Hopefully now you're getting comfortable with the idea. Go on. Pick up the phone. Reporters and newspeople are human beings like the rest of us.They can, and do,... Read More

Publicity - What to Say to a Reporter

You can have dozens of marvelous ideas to get free publicity, but nothing will happen unless you pick up the phone and call a reporter.Here's where the publicity game gets interesting for marketing-minded financial planners. You've been tracking reporters ? you know who covers your topics. You've been tracking Topic... Read More

Financial Planners Get Free Publicity With Email

In previous articles for marketing-minded financial planners, I've discussed what to say to a reporter over the telephone.However, if you are phone-shy or time-challenged, it's better to send an email than to do nothing.Many reporters favor e-mail anyway, so use it. Call the media outlet or check its staff listing... Read More

Publicity - The Right Media Person to Call for Free Publicity

You won't accomplish much if you call the gas company to ask about your cable bill. Make sure that when you call about your story that the reporter you are contacting is the right person.Don't call a business reporter who covers the pharmaceutical industry with ten tips on getting kids... Read More

Free Radio Publicity for Marketing-Minded Financial Planners

Radio is a powerful publicity tool. Most stations offer news and talk programming. Those shows are put together not necessarily by the voice you hear on air, but by people called producers.Getting to know producers, and giving them reasons to showcase you on air, is a very doable for most... Read More

For Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Small Publications Can Have Great Publicity Impact

Just because a publication is small doesn't mean that getting your name in it won't have great impact.Trade on the reputation of the tradesSome of the trade publications have very loyal audiences who are much more likely to trust someone they see there than someone on the local news or... Read More

Publicity - Use This System to Track Publicity Progress

Tracking your correspondence with reporters, via phone or email, is important for two reasons. First of all, promises to follow-up can slip between the cracks of daily business and cost you a change at free publicity. Second, you don't ever want to contact a reporter twice about the same story.... Read More

Publicity: When Calling a Reporter, Keep it Short

When you are planning to call a reporter for the first time, it can help to imagine that you are a phone solicitor (albeit one with terrific, useful ideas).When phone solicitors call you, you don't want to hear a long explanation of their product. You just want to know the... Read More

Publicity: Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Take a Reporter to Lunch

Sometimes a phone call isn't intimate or long enough to convey all the information you have for a reporter.Two examples would be: if you have a dozen or so story ideas, or if you'd like to explain an extremely complex financial concept or strategy to a reporter.If this is the... Read More

Publicity: Five Tips for Calling a Reporter

Always ask, "Is now a good time?"Deadlines in journalism are unrelenting and unforgiving. Using these as your first words after "hello" shows the reporter you're sympathetic to her needs. It also ensures your pitch gets heard when the reporter is devoting proper attention.Your goal: attractIn your first contact with a... Read More

Publicity: Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Never Say These Words to a Reporter

Everyone has something that drives them up a wall. You may be surprised at what aggravates reporters.They deal with horrors like jargon-filled press releases, poorly-written news advisories, and gimmicky pens and mousepads, but reporters consistently and overwhelmingly name one habit of publicity-seekers as their number one peeve.What is it? It's... Read More

Financial Planning Publicity: When Talking to the Media, Dont Fake What You Dont Know

Relationships are based on trust-not just romantic relationships, or doctor/patient relationships, but practically any relationship, even the one with your auto mechanic.That's why the absolute worst thing a financial planner can do in their relationship with a reporter-especially a new relationship-is to give them false information.Remember, they think of you... Read More

Publicity: The Right Way for Marketing-Minded Financial Planners to Follow Up with a Reporter

Let's say you've called a reporter with some ideas for stories about financial planning, and they seemed interested. Congratulations! First, pat yourself on the back. It takes intelligence and gumption to come up with ideas that reporters like.Next, consider how you are going to follow up. Reporters are usually working... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Join Your Professional Organization to Get Free Publicity

Unlike some professionals like lawyers and doctors, financial planners aren't required to be members of a professional association.However, if you want to take advantage of a great way to get free publicity, you marketing-minding financial professionals will join an association like the Financial Planning Association or the Society of Financial... Read More

Publicity: Write a Letter to the Editor for Free Publicity

Ever wonder why papers devote a page or more to letters to the editor? Because subscribers love to read them!Letters to the editor are among a paper's most popular features, so getting your name underneath a letter can be even more valuable that being quoted in a news article.Letters to... Read More

Writing a Press Release: The Medias Dirty Secret

There's a dirty little secret about press releases that the media doesn't want you to know. The fact is, most of them travel directly from the sender's computer to the reporter's trash box. Or from out of the envelope into the "round file."That's part of the reason reporters don't like... Read More

Writing a Press Release: Inverted Pyramid Style

A term you'll hear in newsrooms, in editing meetings, in Journalism 101, but almost nowhere else, is "inverted pyramid."The "inverted pyramid" style is the goal of every newspaper reporter, and, if you want free publicity, it should be the goal of your press release as well.What is an inverted pyramid?... Read More

Publicity: Three Tips on Writing a Press Release

Use journalistic styleReporters are busy. Just like you.So when you write anything for the media, be concise and tight.Short, simple, sentences. Lively. Ridiculously short. Even if they seem to violate those fourth-grade grammar rules about complete sentences.Save big, sophisticated words for impressing old English teachers at school reunions. To get... Read More

Writing a Press Release: How to Write Quotes

Ideally, you will have two types of quotes in your press release. A quote from yourself is mandatory. To give your release extra impact, get a quote from a third-party.Quoting yourself may seem unnatural to you at first, but it's what every reporter expects. Your quote should be about the... Read More

Writing a Press Release: The Design Basics

Big corporations like General Motors and Coca-Cola spend thousands of dollars on press kits with specially-designed folders, full-color stationery, digital photos and lots of other goodies. Does this make a reporter more likely to do their story? In my experience, the answer is no.Regardless of the appearance of the information,... Read More

Publicity Wont Thrive on Press Releases Alone

Press releases are a useful tool for announcing news and for keeping your name in the mind of the news media.But you can't build a successful publicity campaign on press releases alone, for the simple reason that very few press releases ever make it into the paper.You may think that... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Focus on Main Points During an Interview

You never want to inundate a reporter with information, but you don't want to be branded a one-trick pony either. That's why I recommend coming up with three key points for every interview you do.In advance of every media call or interview, think carefully about ? and write down ?... Read More

Detailing The Famous Kentucky Derby Train

The annual detailing of the Kentucky Derby Train is an annual ritual for the beautiful long sleek historical piece of American History. It may seem easy to detail such a fine piece of machinery, but it take many man-hours and they expect it perfect. Such a job is sure to... Read More

Is PR Right for You? 6 Questions to Ask

When most people think about marketing, they think advertising. While advertising is a part of marketing, marketing is much bigger than advertising. There are lots of different marketing methods floating around out there, and the challenge as a business owner is figuring out when it's appropriate to use each one... Read More

Publicity: Show a Reporter You Care by Inviting Them to Fact-Check

Just like a financial planning client fears not having enough money for retirement, reporters fear getting their facts wrong in print.Inaccuracy isn't tolerated in newspapers or magazines. Look at the outcry after Mitch Albom, bestselling author of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, mis-stated the... Read More

Financial Planners, Make Sure Reporters Comprehend Your Topic

Don't assume that a reporter understands financial planning. If anything, assume the opposite until proven wrong. See if you can't develop a couple of questions for the reporter that delicately explore their subject-matter knowledge. Freddy Newshound may cover personal finance, but he's no expert. He may have started on the... Read More

Publicity: Nailing a Media Interview, Part I

The most important thing to remember for any interview: stay on topic. I ask clients to repeat this like a mantra before they go on the air, or even when on the phone with a reporter.A print reporter gets maybe 700 words to do your story. A TV or radio... Read More

Publicity: Nailing a Media Interview, Part II (Crisis Management)

We'd all like reporters to ask us about our career successes and personal triumphs-heck, we'd all like anyone to ask us about those. But reporters must look out for their clients, the reading public. Think about it from your own perspective as an investor-when you read a story about a... Read More

Publicity: Nailing a Media Interview, Part III (Staying on Topic)

In a media interview, always stick to your main points without rambling or digressing. Practice this when you rehearse.Sometimes, when you are doing a great job of keeping on topic, the reporter is leading to you talk about different topics, some of which you aren't as knowledgeable about. If the... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Make Your Web Site a Resource for the Media

Reporters, by nature, are curious people.If you can get them to come to your web site, they will probably poke around and spend a few minutes there, learning about your business and your capabilities.If your web site is any good, this should make them more likely to interview you in... Read More

Keep The Publicity Machine Rolling with Reprints

More than half of America skips the Super Bowl, the nation's most-watched TV event. So it stands to reason that not all your prospects will see your publicity, even if you're on 60 Minutes and Oprah. Create a strategy to use your publicity proactively to reach and impress everyone with... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners--Appearing on TV? Tell the World!

It doesn't matter how cruel the reality programs get, there always seems to be an endless supply of people willing to humiliate themselves to get on television. There's just something exciting about appearing in front of millions of people.In fact, just knowing someone that's going to be on TV or... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners: Put Extra Content in an E-Zine

As you start getting more media-savvy, you'll find yourself coming up with more and more information and ideas to help the public. Not all of these ideas will strike the fancy of your media contacts, but don't let them go to waste-become a media person yourself by publishing an e-zine.Fill... Read More

Foolproof Publicity for Marketing-Minded Financial Planners

They'd hate to admit it, but the media is pretty predictable.There are some stories that will run in newspapers until the saints go marching in. Some of the obvious ones: diet tips, anything having to do with kids or animals, political scandals, celebrity divorces...you could probably find a story about... Read More

Grow Your Financial Planning Practice by Taking Your Publicity National

Think that you aren't big enough for national media coverage? Says who? Certainly not the USA Today. In one recent two-week period, they quoted financial planners in Southfield (Michigan), Dublin (Ohio) and Clearwater (Florida). These are not exactly metropolitan hubs.When your media confidence and experience grow, consider branching out to... Read More

PR Secrets for Small Business

Most small businesses do little to no public relations (PR) to promote their businesses. The reasons are fairly common. No one within the small business knows the mechanics of writing a press release, and if they did, they don't know what to say. Instead, small business owners wait for a... Read More

Public Relations Success Starts Here

For discerning business, non-profit and association managers, PR success is pretty much a matter of achieving their managerial objectives by altering perceptions leading to changed behaviors among those important external audiences that MOST affect their department, group, division or subsidiary.Period.If, however, as a manager you choose to view public relations... Read More

The Only Way to Get Free Advertising?

Receiving free advertising is the dream of most business people. If you've ever found yourself frosting at the mouth over how your competitor got interviewed on the news or how they are always highlighted in the local paper, then read on. Maybe next time you can beat them to the... Read More

PR for Brand New Managers

Just promoted to manager?Here's something you need to know.Whether you are now a business, non-profit or association manager, your road to success really means achieving your new managerial objectives by altering perceptions. And I refer to perceptions leading to changed behaviors among those key outside audiences of yours that most... Read More

Nows The Time To Get Christmas Media Coverage

Publicity seekers know that Christmas can provide a bonanza of media coverage. Every media outlet, it seems is cranking out a special edition on gifts for the winter holidays. So, Christmas is the time to get ink for your product.For many of these opportunities you need to be thinking at... Read More

How To Write A Press Release: The Seven Deadly Sins And How To Avoid Them

How to write a press release that generates free publicity is a great skill to have.This analysis, of the seven deadly sins of how to write a press release and how to avoid them, contains press release sample writing and a how to write a press release sample.Learn how to... Read More

PR? Why?

Well, for starters, because good public relations can alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors among your key outside audiences. And that can help business, non-profit and association managers like you achieve your managerial objectives.But remember to let the PR tacticians handle the special events, brochures and press releases.... Read More

The Non-business Business

Think for a moment! If you were to do a business, profession or a job that you loved, something that was a passion, you considered worth doing, one that gave you joy; would you ever think early retirement or rush home early from work? 'Doubtful' is a certainty, to say... Read More

Attention Owners of Food Related Businesses: How to Get Publicity Any Time You Want

Attention: Who Else Wants To Get Publicity Whenever You Want It?Publicity is when newspapers, radio shows, television shows, magazines, internet radio or pod casts want to feature you. Advertising is something you pay for. While the audience may not be able to tell the difference, but your bank account will.... Read More

How Managers Hurt Their PR Results

Business, non-profit or association managers hurt their own public relations results when they become fascinated with PR tactics ? press releases, publications and brochures and, particularly, fun-to-manage special events ? while failing to plan for the perceptions and behaviors of the very people who probably hold their managerial success in... Read More

How To Get An Avalanche Of Free Publicity For Your Home Business!

There are many ways you can get tons of free publicity in the form of write-ups in magazines, newspapers, and even radio and TV. And sometimes you can turn family events into human-interest stories that editors like and will publish in their magazine and newspapersOne way is to compose a... Read More

Passing the PR Bar

The public relations bar, should such a proficiency measure ever come about, may well include a test of PR's fundamental premise: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that... Read More

33 Reasons To Do A News Release

News releases are not the best way to get major media coverage, but they can be used to increase the frequency with which your company name appears in the press.Press releases will get you coverage in set features like business notes, and new personnel columns. They also provide a good... Read More

Boost Your Business by Partnering with a Non Profit Organization

Is your business looking for new and creative ways to gain publicity and build your customer base? Partnering with non profit organizations may benefit your business in many ways.Why business owners and managers should consider supporting non profits as part of their marketing strategy:1. Advertising opportunities are usually offered when... Read More

Why Managers Need the PR Advantage

Where is there a business, non-profit or association manager who does not need all the help he or she can find in achieving their managerial objectives?Help like altering individual perception leading to changed behaviors among their key outside audiences?Help in the form of positive actions affecting the behaviors of those... Read More

Effective Media Relations ? You Won?t be Talking to the Media Without It!

The media's role is to package and spread news, current affairs and public interest information to the public. They have great power to shape and influence public opinion, to target and exploit audience reactions, emotions and opinions.Setting up and maintaining good relationships with the media can be of enormous benefit.... Read More

How to Write a Media Release That Wins You Coverage & Exposure

The Today show? The New York Times? Vanity Fair? What's your dream hit? While nothing inspires more fear and trepidation in public relations professionals than media relations, it doesn't have to be complicated. There are 2 keys to a press release... the Headline and making sure it doesn't sound like... Read More

Yes, There is a PR Sweet Spot

And here it is: public relations alters individual perception leading to changed behaviors among the key outside audiences of a business, non-profit or association manager. It happens when the manager applies positive actions affecting the behaviors of those important external audiences that most affect his or her operation.That's the sweet... Read More

Press Releases: Not Dead, Just Evolved

Mark Twain once said the rumors of his death had been greatly exaggerated. The same may be said for the press release. It's not dead, but its mission has evolved.Those PR practitioners who are spreading these death rumors would have you believe that press releases should never be written, nor... Read More

6 Steps to Using Trade Magazines To Reach Customers

When developing a publicity campaign for their business many owners overlook the importance of trade magazines and journals as vehicles for reaching new customers. While mass media publications have widespread readership, the targeted nature of trade publications make the information that appears within them even more powerful.Unlike general interest publications,... Read More

How to Generate Free Publicity for Your Product, Service, or Cause

One of the most misunderstood and most underutilized promotional tools available to small businesses and organizations is FREE PUBLICITY.Every business, no matter how large or small, can effectively use free publicity to enhance its image, increase sales and profits, generate sales leads, expand distribution, and promote customer goodwill. All of... Read More

Perception Persuasion Behavior: PR at Work

Managers ? the business, non-profit and association sort ? really need to get this down pat if they are to meet their managerial objectives.They need to do something positive about the behaviors of those important external audiences of theirs that most affect their operation. And as they persuade those key... Read More

A Sensible Way to Use PR

The most sensible way for business, non-profit or association managers to use public relations is to strive to alter individual perception among their target publics, which leads to changed behaviors, thus helping achieve their managerial objectives.In so doing, managers employ their public relations resources to do something positive about the... Read More

PR: Short Form for Managers

Experience tells me that too many business, non-profit and association managers pursue their goals and objectives largely without the insights, behavioral strategies and sheer power public relations can bring to the table.Here's what I believe they're missing, i.e., the essentials that flow from the fundamental premise of public relations, namely:... Read More

A Powerful PR Strategy

It really is powerful when a business, non-profit or association manager uses public relations to alter the individual perception of members of its key outside audiences, thus beginning the process of changing their behaviors.And truly powerful when s/he actually persuades many of those key outside folks to the manager's way... Read More

Andrew Bogut - His Big Media Blunder And What You Can Learn From It

Andrew Bogut, the Australian basketballer is now officially in the top four of Australia's sporting rich list after signing a five-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks worth about $37 million.This comes after being selected No. 1 overall in the NBA draft recently.Media reports suggest "his earnings are expected to soar... Read More

How to Create Quality PR Results

For many of us, the word quality is closely related to our expectations. When we receive the public relations results we planned for, we feel, understandably, that we have generated quality results.Another interpretation says quality PR may simply be in the eye of the beholder. But yet another take holds... Read More

Media Relations: Should You Pay For News Coverage, Part II

Last month, we told you about "pay for play," a practice in which news organizations charge sources to appear on their programs. In other words, if you ante up enough cash, these "news" programs will air a puff piece about your company or organization.But in most cases, these pay for... Read More

Media Training: When Reporters Lie

I recently worked with a group dealing with an unusual problem. It seems that a local television reporter in town known for his aggressive style of reporting has a nasty habit of lying. Let's call him Jack.Whenever a sensitive issue arises, Jack requests an interview with a spokesperson for the... Read More

Got Publicity? How to Become a Household Name

Are you working as hard as you can in your area of expertise? Are you implementing creative ideas? Are you valuable to your clients? And now the tough question: Does the public know about you? If you're like most business people, you answered "Yes" to the first three questions, and... Read More

Managers: Heres a PR Template for You

Let's start out with a caution for business, non-profit and association managers: the premise of public relations implies that the work you do BEFORE you use PR tactics, such as press releases, brochures and broadcast interviews, will determine the success of your public relations effort.Reason is, if you are one... Read More

How to Use Community Relations to Grow Your Business

Community relations is one of those marketing strategies that isn't talked about much, even though I venture to say practically everyone ends up doing it at one time or another. Basically, community relations is when you and your business become involved in your community. For instance:* Your business donates money... Read More

Want to Light a Fire Under Your PR?

Yes? Then do something positive about the behaviors of those important external audiences of yours that MOST affect your operation.Those embers can leap into flame when business, non- profit or association managers use public relations to alter individual perception among their target publics, leading to changed behaviors and helping to... Read More

The Press Release: How to Get the Media to Pay Attention!

As many of you already know, promoting and marketing your business in as many creative ways as possible is crucial to the success of your venture. But finding ways to get noticed presents a major challenge for most entrepreneurs. One of the most cost effective and powerful methods of getting... Read More

How To Use PR To Build Your Business

Everyone knows the value of free publicity. And given the opportunity, most businesses would jump at the chance to have a news article written about them, or to be covered by TV and radio stations.But the chances of those stories coming to you on their own are very slim. That's... Read More

Managers: Super-Charge Your PR

Ain't a gonna happen unless business, non-profit and association managers, possibly like you, do something positive about those important external audiences of yours that most affect your operation. And then, as you persuade those key outside folks to your way of thinking, help move them to take actions that allow... Read More

Building Community Support for Project Permitting, Construction, and Marketing

Redevelopment is replacing new construction throughout the Greater Boston area, as construction costs climb and the commercial/retail vacancy rate reaches new (and alarming) levels.Redevelopment of highly visible, publicly owned or historic properties~ such as shipyards, air bases, and historic mills ~ involves all the usual steps of Federal and State... Read More

How to Write News Releases that Get Noticed

What do you do with junk mail? Are you like me? I toss this stuff without opening it ? unless I see some benefit. Publication editors do the same. They toss news releases that don't demonstrate a benefit to their audience.What's the difference between a release that gets used and... Read More

The MOST Powerful Marketing and Advertising on the Planet!

It sounds too simple to be true, but it really is... A well targeted and timely PRESS RELEASE to the media is the most powerful form of marketing and advertising on the planet! A high quality press release, with the proper targeting and distribution to reach the correct media members,... Read More

What Does the Public Relations Client REALLY Want, and Why?

It's not unusual for clients of service providers to insist that their budget dollars be quickly applied to a variety of flashy tactics. Yet, when pressed, many acknowledge that what they REALLY want for their money is visible, end-game change.This is especially true in public relations where clients often second-guess... Read More

Why Restaurants Go Out of Business

Recently someone asked me why so many restaurants go out of business. I answered that too many people open a restaurant because it's their dream.A number of years ago I was walking along the street near my home and office. I came upon a brand new Continental-type restaurant down a... Read More

Culture As A Barrier To Communication

Each of us is exposed to people from other cultures on a regular basis, in the workplace, in our social activities, at school, or even within our families. Our culture hinders us from getting our message across as well receiving the full message that others want to convey to us.... Read More

HELP: I Need a Press Kit!

A press kit is an essential press relations tool. While it can be used to support a special event or promotional activity, it is most helpful in strategically positioning an organization or product. On a website, the "press room" is the on-line equivalent of the traditional press kit.More expansive and... Read More

Do I Really Need a Publicist?

Are you hesitating about hiring a publicist or, if you have one, do you stop before writing that final zero on the monthly check, and think "I can do that myself." Suuure, you can!But just to be certain, take this little test. Imagine you have a three-year-old and the best... Read More

How Video Production can be used in PR

At the core of any successful public relations campaign is effective communication.Yet in this technological era, there are now more methods than ever to convey important messages to different audiences.Video production is one area that is constantly changing. Let's take a look at some of the common applications in public... Read More

Did You Know That Even TV Remote Control Units Can Get Press and Media Coverage?

Did you Know That Even TV Remote Control Units Can Get Press and Media Coverage? It is widely and yet wrongly believed that only very famous, fascinating or controversial people or products can get valuable press coverage and publicity through the distribution of press releases.This would seem to shut... Read More

Media Relations: Minority Media Matters

Your boss just stopped by your office. He tells you that he has decided to put you in charge of a major upcoming news release. He wants you to reach the broadest possible audience. He explicitly tells you to leave no stone unturned.You respond by promptly ignoring 38 million Americans.According... Read More

Media Training: How to Avoid Being Misquoted

I often begin my media training sessions by asking members of the audience to raise their hands if they've been interviewed by the media. Almost all of the hands in the room go up. I then ask them to keep their hands up if they've ever been misquoted. Not only... Read More

The Press Release is Dead (Now Will Somebody Please Tell the Clients?)

In competing for a piece of business not too long ago, my PR firm was asked to supply three samples each of recent clips, bylined articles we'd authored for clients, and press releases.For two of the three requirements, the issue was our embarrassment of riches. But for press releases, we... Read More

What is News?

What may be the more appropriate question is: What makes a story newsworthy enough to get picked up by the media? Here are a few rules of thumb to determine if you have a news angle worthy of press coverage.First, is the subject relevant to anyone outside of your organization?... Read More

PR Planning: Mapping Out Your Strategies, Tactics

With all due respect to all those stereotypical males out there who hate to ask for directions, the fact is that even if the territory is somewhat familiar, if you don't have a roadmap and follow its directions, you're going to get hopelessly lost.So it goes with your PR program.... Read More

How to Get More Mileage Out of Your Media Coverage

Maybe it played for Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams," but that paraphrased line ? "Print it and they will come" ? doesn't necessarily work in real life.There's a lot to be said for the value of editorial side coverage, but you can't count on people acting on what they... Read More

Building Credibility Through Bylined Articles

As if making sure your company runs smoothly on an operational level isn't responsibility enough, as a business owner, you're probably overseeing all aspects of your company's public relations program, as well.PR can keep a company above water when times are tough and help the business soar during a fair-weather... Read More

Custom Reasons for Custom Publishing

Once considered the stepchild of the publishing industry, custom publishing now claims a legitimate slice of the B-to-B MarCom pie.Custom magazines, newsletters and sponsored supplements are becoming an increasingly integral part of the overall marketing program. Recent studies by the Custom Publishing Council and Publications Management show leading U.S. companies... Read More

Want To Join the Bandwagon? Be Sure It Has Wheels!

Here are two to-the-point questions recently posed by several association magazine publishers: "When is it time to launch an electronic newsletter?" and "Just because everyone's doing it, does that make it right for us?"These are just the types of questions that should be asked by associations and businesses seeking to... Read More

6 Essentials for Doing Your Own PR: Guest Author

Today's issue of Lean Marketing Champions features tips on doing your own PR from one of our authors and PR goddess, Paula Gardner.1. A Website.Even if you think a website isn't going to directly to contribute to sales, having a web presence makes it a lot easier for journalists to... Read More

Is There a Plumber in the House?

I don't know about you but I get really frustrated when I have to deal with anyone in the plumbing, heating, or electrical field. For the most part, the service is horrible, the contractors are unreliable, and the lack of professionalism is rampant.Case in point, we've been working on adding... Read More

Do-It-Yourself PR: An Accident Waiting to Happen

Early in my career as a public relations consultant, I remember standing in a group of people at a business function and listening to one man's tale of woe. It seems the founder and president of a small and growing business was bewildered about his lack of media attention. He... Read More

Hispanic Media Training: How It Can Benefit You

How can media training help you create a successful Hispanic market campaign? There are plenty of examples of Hispanic market campaigns with a broad range of results. Many of you have heard of the infamous airline that invited travelers to fly 'naked'. In the same way, the slogan for pork... Read More

Say What?

As the comedian Steve Martin once said, "some people have a way with words and some people have not way." Increasingly, I am seeing information from companies, particularly in news releases, that "has not way."It's time for clarity in the corporate world.Several news releases have crossed my screen recently that... Read More

Meet The Media

Although media relations is not all there is to PR, it is a darned good, low cost way to spread the word. So here are a few media contacts to help you out.Tom Weber is the editor of The Wall Street Journal's Pursuits section. It covers entertainment, food, fashion, and... Read More

The Three-Mile Radius

In last year's animated film Shrek II, a giant gingerbread man steps on a building and sends all the customers scurrying across the street. The name of the establishment they leave and the one they run into is "Farbucks" ? poking fun at the fact that an unending stream of... Read More

Some Cool P.R. Tips for These Dog Days of Summer

Yup -- it's hot and sticky and you don't feel like doing much of anything -- let alone working on publicity for your business.But the summer months can actually be a great time to get publicity. Think about it. In these lazy days of summer, chances are your competitors have... Read More

Top Five Publicity Myths

Most people consider getting publicity the most important part of public relations. It's also very mysterious to many people. Here are my top five publicity myths, to help make publicity better understood.1. Who you (or your publicist) knows at the media is more important than the story idea. Sure, it's... Read More

The Story The Media Really Wants

If you're like most of my clients, you're probably interested in getting the media to cover the success of your business. These "business success stories" can be used for future marketing efforts -- including reprints of the story in your marketing materials or on your Web site, or framing the... Read More

Think Like a Reader, Viewer, or Listener to Get Great Publicity

About a year ago I read a feature story in the Wall Street Journal. It was about a new trend -- baby showers that were being thrown for grandmothers.The article was terrific -- newsy, entertaining and informative. It was subsequently featured as a reprint in my local newspaper, and I'm... Read More

There Is No Such Thing as Competition

A wise friend of mine has often said, "There is no such thing as competition." I happen to agree with that philosophy. In fact, I have many solid business and social relationships with people you might consider my "competition". Some of my best friends are "competitors"!Whenever I mention this, most... Read More

Think Big

Would you like to be the next Dr. Phil, Suze Orman or Guy Kawasaki?When I ask people that question, they usually say something like, "I'd be happy to be able to reach $100,000 in revenues," or "Hey, I'd settle for being able to take a week-long vacation."My challenge to you... Read More

Why You Should Write a Book (Even if You Really Dont Want To)

Recently, I told a friend (who's a business owner) that she needed to write a book. Although she's a good writer with terrific ideas, she said, "Do I really have to do it?"For her -- and for those of you who have a business -- the answer is yes. Here's... Read More

How to Get Publicity for a Service Business

Many of our clients are in service businesses, such as realtors, financial advisors, interior designers, attorneys, salon and spa professionals, home health care, therapists, consultants, accountants, computer services, and several more.Service professionals have to work harder to promote themselves. Why? Because they are selling themselves, not products. Many times service... Read More

How to Make A Great Press Kit ? A Musicians Guide

As an owner of an independent record label, I often get asked how to put together a great press kit. I have found that young musicians understand their music, but are often intimidated by the marketing end of the business. In this article I will help you figure out how... Read More

Media Savvy - How To Lead, Persuade, And Influence

Media management has become one of the strategic tools for managers and leaders to drive marketing opportunities, communicate key messages, achieve social change or influence Government. Media and Communications Consultant, Thomas Murrell* shares 10 success tips for getting the best from the media.The ability to lead, persuade and influence are... Read More

Effective Media Relations Tips- What To Do After The Media Interviews You!

Effective Media Relations Tips - What To Do After The Media Interviews You! By Thomas Murrell MBA CSP, International Business Speaker You've done all the hard work - prepared a media kit, engaged with a reporter and they've listened to your message and asked questions.What now?Well, effective media relations doesn't... Read More

Creating Event Magic through Planned Video Production

Once upon a time, there was a young, stressed out corporate events planner called Tanya. She was organising a large-scale event for her firm's biggest client.In the midst of organising the guest list, Tanya's boss told her that the client had requested some video footage be edited together to open... Read More

Hispanic Media Relations Training: What to Do When Hispanic Media Call

You are a spokesperson for your company, representing it for public speaking and media interviews. You are going about your everyday affairs, granting media interviews on a new product or service your company launched or a timely topic of general interest. All is going well and a Hispanic media representative... Read More

All You Need to Know About Press Release Writing and Distribution

Before you even think about writing a press release, there are a few things you need to know about the media. Here's the first - and most important - of them:1. Journalists receive hundreds of press releases every weekDepending on the publication they're writing for, they may even get hundreds... Read More

How to Write a Press Release

Why You Should Write Press Releases: A press release is another way of saying news release or an announcement. It's an easy and affordable way to get your message out to the public. It allows you to announce new products, services or improvements your company has made.Other common reasons for... Read More

Watch Your Attitude

So many restaurants spend money on publicity and then practically chase customes away by the owner's attitude. Stop to think, please, who is really more important, your customers, your chef or your own cost-saving ideas? True, you have to keep your chef happy but not if he refuses to cook... Read More

Its CNN! They Want To Talk To You!

Being invited to appear on radio and television used to be reserved for top company executives and spokespersons. Until quite recently, the chance of being invited to make a media appearance was extremely small, even for the highest echelon. Today, almost anyone in responsible positions could be called on to... Read More

Crisis Management

The Internet may have opened worlds for businesses and consumers, but it has also created a public relations nightmare for businesses. Forums, opinion Web sites, blogs, and anything that is publishable can smear a company's name in moments.Remember, "Yours Is a Very Bad Hotel" presentation that described one customer's bad... Read More

Asian Media Relations: Increase Your Profile and Image in China

China's media is booming creating opportunities for marketing-savvy businesses. But many companies have little understanding of how to harness the power of the media in the world's most populous country.The following are ten points to consider when embarking on a media relations strategy in the Chinese market and identifying with... Read More

Getting Articles Published - Eight Steps for Trade Publications

Trade publications present an excellent opportunity for organisations to gain thousands of dollars worth of free publicity by having articles published. As they are regularly looking for articles to fill space and they are often used as a forum to promote new products or services to specific audiences. In addition... Read More

Leveraging Media Coverage - Your Tool For Business Growth

Media relations, simply put, is the business of building and growing reputations. One of the strengths of media coverage is that its free and gives great credibility because it is written by a third party, namely a journalist. But media relations does not simply end with an interview or article... Read More

Media Training - Essentials for ALL Office Professionals

Often the first point of contact the media has with an organisation is with the front desk or receptionist. Although designated people within a company may have the training and skills needed to interact with the media, the first point of contact within an organisation can make or break a... Read More

5 Critical Tests Every Press Release Must Pass

You've heard "them" say it, haven't you?By "them" I mean the experts. The teachers. Even some people from advertising & PR agencies.They'll tell you there's only one way to do a press release "right."Single page, double spaced, 12 point type.Bull...I've been working in radio and TV full time or part... Read More

The Power of Radio - Tips for Great Radio Interviews

Many people are intimidated by radio interviews, whether live or pre-recorded and often spoil great promotion and branding opportunity in less then effective interviews.Did you know there are more than 1500 talk radio shows in the US?Also, radio is the only medium to show increased usage since the introduction of... Read More

Media Releases - Helping Grow Your Business

Business people often spend time and money trying to find new ways to stand out from the crowd or craving recognition and exposure for their organisation and its achievements.Communicating with your customers and stakeholders has become more demanding, complex and pressure-driven. The media however offers a cheap and effective communication... Read More

Talk Back Radio - Tips To Be A Star On-Air!

Talkback radio offers a fantastic opportunity to access thousands of people instantly and relay your or your company's messages. An interview opportunity is highly sought after in today's business and to learn ways of working effectively with the media invaluable to any business.In the media business radio producers and presenters... Read More

Photographs - Ten Tips For Getting Good Shots

Photographs are essential for getting good publicity in the print media, especially magazines, newspapers, internal newsletters and even websites. Taking effective photographs often requires patience and practice but is a valuable skill to acquire.A newsworthy or unusual photograph can really add to a story and enhance your message. Often a... Read More

Making the News - Tips from A News Journalist

What makes a good media release and how do you engage the media with your story idea? How do you pitch stories to the media, especially hard-nosed news hounds who can sniff out a 'puff piece' a mile away?The media receives literally hundreds of media releases a day, many which... Read More

Using the Media - Five Reasons Why

The media has the power to shape public opinion and change perceptions. Every day millions of people around the world consume at least one form of the media, whether voluntary or involuntary.But why is the media so powerful?Is the media simply a mirror to the world? Or is the media... Read More

Media Release Headlines - Ten Tips to Get Media Attention

So you have spent hours and hours writing, shaping and crafting your media message. You've worked on setting your objectives, identifying your target audience and working out how to reach them. Your release is well structured and packaged, leaving just writing the head-line remaining.Unfortunately with little time remaining you hastily... Read More

P.R. Strategies for Professional Service Providers

Promotion for Professional Services Providers requires a different approach than for other types of business people. Here's why:* People buy professional services based on reputation, credibility and knowledge* Advertising works for products, especially ones that can be described; professional services are intangible and the selling points are based on the... Read More

Television Reporters - Questions to Ask Before Agreeing to an Interview

Prior to a TV interview it is guaranteed the journalist involved will spend time preparing, writing down questions or goals for the interview either quickly or more in-depth as well as conducting some background research. As the interview subject it is important to undergo a similar preparation process to make... Read More

So, How Do I Answer That?

How you answer questions depends on many factors. Example what type of situation is it. Are you working with your colleague or talking with your boss. Are you doing an interview with the media or announcing a breakthrough with your business.Most people have told me that they worry the most... Read More

Making Your Own News

Getting a press release published in a newspaper or magazines can be one of the best ways to publicize your business. First, though, you need a good story ? and that can be the hard part.Here's a basic rule of public relations for you, though: if you don't have a... Read More

The Press Release Method to Get Great Publicity

If you have had any experience in public relations or marketing, you probably know how well press releases can work. There are many, many companies who have increased sales by 100%-300% in a matter of months simply through using press releases.Most people don't know how to write them, distribute them,... Read More

Getting Traffic Through Publicity

If your reading this, you must be online and most likely have a website. You must also be interested in making money from this website, but there is only one way you can do that- traffic and lots of it.You may have done those calculations in your head, which you... Read More

Advertising and Community Relations -- Get the Best of Both Worlds

Have you ever noticed that in communities without big universities, high school sports take on an even bigger importance?That's what it's like where I live.But like everywhere else in the country, our high school sports are always looking for ways to make a few extra bucks. Enter the high school... Read More

Speaking to the Press

If you get the hang of speaking to the press and you can establish a few good relationships, their contacts and outreach can be extremely beneficial to the marketing of your organization.If you've never spoken to the press before ? it can be an intimidating task. Let us be the... Read More

Promoting Your Website Through a Press Release

Have you ever gotten one of those letters from your local property tax appraiser, informing you that your tax bill is going up about 20 percent?I got one of those recently, so I took it to my friend Joe Gross in San Antonio. He appeals property tax assessments for a... Read More

How to Stay Composed During Contentious TV Interviews

NOTE: Brad Phillips was a Producer for CNN's The Capital Gang from 2000-2001.Robert Novak's meltdown on CNN's Inside Politics was predictable, perhaps. After all, he's spent the past two years fending off growing public criticism for his role in the Valerie Plame leak investigation and has watched helplessly from the... Read More

Media Relations: When Google Got Googled

Before meeting my soon-to-be-wife for the first time, I "Googled" her. Google, with its amazing alacrity, turned up several documents in less than a second.It turned up a paper she had written for a medical journal. It displayed her dissertation. Iteven showed me an article she had written for her... Read More

Ten Media Crisis Tips

No comment. These are probably the two most damaging words in the English language to the reputation of a professional, business or organization. While positive publicity is always wanted, what happens when bad publicity comes your way?One day damage control is bound to be necessary. It might be a lawsuit.... Read More

Transparency in Online Transactions

In these days of every increasing demand and competition, there is a considerable choice available to the cautious consumer. People have the choice of various types of media, if they are looking to shop for any particular product.Looking at the various types of media, we realise just how large the... Read More

How to Get a Story About You or Your Business in USA Today

I am often asked by clients to target USA Today for media coverage, and with good reason: USA Today coverage can have a significant impact on businesses and organizations. Here's why:1. Circulation of USA Today: USA Today is the largest U.S. daily newspaper, with a Monday through Thursday circulation of... Read More

Media Relations - Ten Essential Tips to Use The Media to Market Your Business

In the 'Age of Scepticism' gaining media coverage is one way of cutting through the ever increasing noise to get your message across.Research shows the average consumer receives between 1500 and 3000 marketing messages a day.Editorial generated by media coverage is more credible than advertising and can help cut through... Read More

Interviews - Five Tips To Handle Tough Questions From Reporters

Journalists are trained and often experienced at getting information out of their subjects. Conflict and other negative situations often make the news and journalists often have a knack for taking a positive situation and twisting it into something else in order to make it more "sell"-able as news.It's a common... Read More

---

Powered by Feedzilla

Showing 1 - 556 of 556 Articles
« Previous	1	Next »

Itsula - Travel Reviews, Social Network, Find Friends, and more...

Bidcorral Online Auctions

Writing a Press Release: How to Write Quotes

Ideally, you will have two types of quotes in your press release. A quote from yourself is mandatory. To give your release extra impact, get a quote from a third-party.Quoting... Read More

How To Share Your Success Story Without Sounding Like You Are Bragging

A great way to celebrate your achievements and capitalize on your successes is to share them with your clients, members, community leaders, and other influential decisionmakers. But how can you... Read More

Media Relations: When Numbers Lie

NUMBERS, NUMBERS EVERYWHEREYou just placed a terrific story on the local news. Your boss asks you how many people saw it."Well," you say, "The latest Nielsen ratings showed that 211,000... Read More

Five Publicity Buckets For Marketing-Minded Financial Planners

Maybe you've seen another financial planner on TV, and thought, "Hey, I'm just as good as she. Why didn't the press pick me?"Well, chances are, as you now know, they... Read More

Celebrities Cant Have It Both Ways

Corporations are willing to pay substantial amounts of money to prominent personalities so that consumers will relate the brand with their favorite star, and thus will be more likely to... Read More

7 Simple Steps To A PR Launch

A PR product or service launching is a perfect way to build momentum slowly. It handles the first and most important hurdle to overcome in building a brand -- credibility.Step... Read More

Do I Really Need a Publicist?

Are you hesitating about hiring a publicist or, if you have one, do you stop before writing that final zero on the monthly check, and think "I can do that... Read More

PR Is Just Smart Business

The name of the game is doing our part to achieve manage- ment's objectives. And public relations best practice ? properly applied ? does just that.How? The driving force is... Read More

A PR Surprise for Managers

For those business, non-profit and association managers committed to PR tactics like radio and newspaper plugs, it can come as a surprise to discover where public relations value REALLY lies.Truth... Read More

How PR Makes a Managers Life Easier

Things are pleasant for many business, non-profit or association managers when their public relations people deliver newspaper and talk show mentions, informative brochures and videos, and special events that attract... Read More

How To Get Press To Come To You

Have you ever noticed how the same people's names always seem to appear in magazines and newspapers articles which quote them as a source of info and advice on their... Read More

Dont Do This to Your News Release!

Hundreds of thousands of News Releases are sent out all the time and many people will show you different ways to write a news release in a way that will... Read More

PR: Whats the Point?

Here's the point: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or... Read More

How PR Helps Managers Win

Anything that lets managers achieve their managerial objectives is a winner.It's a bullseye when the right public relations alters individual perception leading to changed behaviors among key outside audiences.How that... Read More

Publicity: Show a Reporter You Care by Inviting Them to Fact-Check

Just like a financial planning client fears not having enough money for retirement, reporters fear getting their facts wrong in print.Inaccuracy isn't tolerated in newspapers or magazines. Look at the... Read More

Dont Need No Stinking PR?

Almost assuredly you do, especially when your most important external and internal audiences behave in ways that stop you from achieving your organizational objectives.With that attitude, you could have a... Read More

Its Just Common Sense!

When a group of outsiders behaves in a way that hurts your business, you usually do something about it. Yet, many business people are amazingly casual about their own external... Read More

So, How Do I Answer That?

How you answer questions depends on many factors. Example what type of situation is it. Are you working with your colleague or talking with your boss. Are you doing an... Read More

Media Relations: How to Get Your Letter to the Editor Published

You may remember Forrest Gump's Vietnam pal ? the one who grew up shrimp farming and was fond of listing the dishes he used to make. "Pepper shrimp," he started,... Read More

Public Relations: The Fundamental Premise

It seems difficult to believe at the dawn of the 21st Century, that there exists a major discipline with so many diverse, partial, incomplete and limited interpretations of its mission.... Read More