Archive for July, 2010

8 PR Tips to Take Your Business to the Top

Sunday, July 25th, 2010

The following 8 tips, if worked correctly, will take your business to the top — in a jet. Try one at a time and see what happens.

1. Authenticity is catnip. People want you to be authentic. People buy from those they know, like and trust. They want to know that what you say is true, that you will deliver as promised, and that your product or service will work as advertised.  If you hope to garner great PR, your campaign must be authentic as well. It has to come from within and reflect what you truly believe and how you actually perform.

2. PR never sleeps, it’s an ongoing, 24/7 battle. Since you’re the product, you’re also your best marketing tool, so to be successful, you must honestly believe in what you’re promoting. You can’t fake it.

3. Establish yourself as an expert. It’s been said that it takes 1000 hours to become an expert. Well, guess what? You’re already one. You know what it takes to get the job done. Just make sure people are aware that you get it done right.

4. Sing your own praises. You campaign starts with you, so it’s your job to prove your expertise. The most obvious signs of expertise are that your clients or customers keep coming back and recommend you to others, and that your peers consult you for advice and assistance. Make this information known. You can capitalize on your achievements by singing your own praises.

5. Self-promotion is essential. You can’t be shy, embarrassed, or rely on others to champion your cause. Successful people let everyone know who they are, what they do, and how important it is. With practice, extolling your own virtues will become easier, then fun. Self-promotion, when done well, is extremely beneficial, but when done poorly, it’s offensive. It can be the difference between success and failure. The public has become selective. They want authenticity. They insist on seeing results in order to believe the pitch. Today’s audiences will seldom buy what doesn’t ring true to them. And, if they buy and it doesn’t work, they’ll remember who sold it to them. It’s not enough to tell others that you’re an expert, you have to explain how you can benefit them.

6. Capitalize on Every Opportunity. Position yourself for opportunities by joining clubs, groups and organizations where you can meet new people. Attend the meetings, stake out a leadership position, become a member of their social networking sites, and tell them who you are, what you do, and how you can help them.

7. Always Be Prepared. A successful PR campaign works on volume. It takes repeated efforts and consistency to spread your message to the world. If you deal in a product, carry it with you. Take it everywhere. If it’s too big, carry pictures, or wear a button.

8. Be Kind and Humble. Sure, media people need stories for their outlets, but arrogance will get you nowhere.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Blog | No Comments »

Face Time, Still One of the Most Powerful PR Tools

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

PR consultants call the most important part of any successful campaign face time. Where to start? Make sure people know and see your photo. Plaster it as many places as possible. You are the brand. People have to know who you are.

Now, get out of the office.

The single best way to grow your business is to bring yourself to the client and not just wait for the phone to ring. Largely, people hire people. They don’t hire companies. People hire people they know, like and trust. It’s called cultivating relationships — in person. Sure, we do it online — Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and others. But, nothing takes the place of personal interaction.

10 tips to get you started:

  1. Take clients to lunch or coffee. Learn how you can better serve them. One on one, ideas will flow. And always pick up the check. People won’t remember what they had for lunch, but they’ll always remember who picked up the check.
  2. Attend social engagements. Listen online to find social engagements. Use tools like Twitter search and Facebook events to find what is happening in your community. Your local chambers also host several activities a week to network. Chambers host Business After Hours, Breakfasts, lunches, Morning Mingles, Young Professionals and Women’s Networking events. All for a very low yearly fee
  3. Make an Offer – To build a new contact, the conversation will need to equally balance on give and take. Are you prepared to offer something of value to those who are taking time to assist you?
  4. Keep your Promises – Whenever you make a promise or agree to a course of action, deliver. Persistence and reliability give you credibility.
  5. Never Stop Learning – Whenever you pursue additional training in your profession or sign up for courses in your area of interest, you will meet new people to network and exchange information on new opportunities.
  6. Look for opportunities to speak and teach. Offer yourself up to local Chambers. Join your local chapter of the National Speaking Association.
  7. Don’t ignore existing clients. Approximately 80 percent of your work will come from your current clients. Treat them well. Visit their businesses.
  8. Solicit feedback. Don’t assume your clients are satisfied. Ask them — in person.
  9. Donate time. Stake out a leadership position at an association that can benefit from your participation. You’ll meet and help others — and you’ll be seen. You’ll also find that you can piggyback on the positive PR that follows charitable organizations.
  10. Think long-term. PR and Marketing are marathons, not sprints. It can take 10-24 months of courting a prospect before they hire you for a job.

The technology behind networking may be evolving, but the purpose behind this activity will remain the same. People do business with people. People are buying you, more so than your product or service. If you believe in you, you can sell anything. Customers will recognize your conviction, and that translates into trust. And people buy from people they know, like and trust. Hence, Face Time.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Blog | No Comments »

Make PR Work for You – 16 Tips

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

1. Create a weekly e-zine that features valuable information and highlights your customers.

2. Be 1000% proactive. Network. Build relationships and earn referrals.

3. Write something that puts you in front of customers and prospects. Authored articles in your trade publication or chamber magazine leads to recognition. Writing positions you as an expert and an authority.

4. Give a speech or three at civic organizations – and not just about your product, but about discovering and starting your product and your business. Speaking leads to perceived leadership.

5. Blog to show your human side. Make your blog a family affair. Show your person, your personality, your passion, and your fun.

6. YouTube. Video your value proposition. Video your testimonials. Video your philosophy of sales and service. Post your videos on YouTube. Your customers and prospects will find them, and find you more attractive than your competitors.

7. Get involved in your community. Pick one charity or one civic organization to get involved with and assert leadership in.

8. Get Google-able. Your customer is Google-ing you, just like you are Google-ing them. Your one-page website, your e-zine, your article, your speech, and your community involvement will bring your name and your company’s name to the top of the Google pile.

9. Be a value provider, not a beggar, a solicitor, or a salesman. People will BUY if they perceive your value. And they will spread the word, and your name.

10. Create a button with your tagline. You and your team members wear them, keeping a handful in your pockets to give away when someone asks.

11. Carry samples at all times to hand out as needed.

12. Give away samples via your website. The customer will have to register before samples are sent out. Then you have their contact info.

13. Update your website four times a month. It is the single most valuable piece of real estate in your marketing arsenal. It is the first impression in the digital age.

14. Statistics tell us once your customers find your website, you have 10 seconds to engage them. Your site must include the key elements to impact search engine page rankings, as well as be engaging to your customers for each demographic.

15. The digital age has fundamentally changed the way your customers communicate. Your customers are more connected than ever, and expect you to be as well. Static advertising has been replaced with an ongoing dialogue. If you aren’t communicating, they aren’t buying.

16.Host a Holiday Party or Grand Opening, celebrating your new product discovery.

  • Doubtful that the an event is worth the effort? Just remember the following paybacks:
    • Your guests will be surrounded by your brand.
    • Guests will converse with each other and since you are what they have in common, will reinforce each other’s buying decisions.
    • A chance to socialize with clients and potential clients.
    • You open your doors to the people who help you keep them open.
    • Make an event an annual and you will become known for your event.

Posted in Blog | 6 Comments »

10 Newsworthy Media Angles

Monday, July 5th, 2010
  1. New product or service
  2. Tie-in with current trend
  3. Is your business unusual in any way?
  4. Information that people need to know about? Weight loss, tax tips, nutrition tips, top ten list?
  5. What makes your different from other businesses in the same industry?
  6. Awards, achievements?
  7. Are you in tied in with any holidays?
  8. Connections with celebs?
  9. Involved in charitable causes?
  10. Rags to riches story

Posted in Blog | No Comments »

19 Reasons to send out a Press Release

Friday, July 2nd, 2010
  1. Sponsor employees for further education
  2. Unique employee trainee program
  3. Flexible workplace arrangements
  4. Work/life balance initiatives
  5. Initiatives benefiting employees and their families
  6. Sales in a particular segment reached $XX for the first time
  7. Speaking at a public or industry event
  8. Research and development findings and product developments
  9. Special report about the industry
  10. Won an industry award
  11. Sponsorship of an event or person
  12. Seminar being held for clients or the public
  13. Celebrity or spokesperson supporting the business
  14. Top 10 tips to?
  15. How to pick the best …
  16. Launch of a foundation arm of the business
  17. Announcement of an annual charity event or fund raising activity
  18. Joining forces with local government, other business leaders on a particular community project
  19. Offering annual award to a person or organization in the community

# # #

Posted in Blog | No Comments »