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Casual Articles - 8 Ways to Use Local Publicity to Drive Your Business
Many small businesses are busy with day-to-day activities with no time left over to create a marketing plan to follow. Well, summer is a great time to put together a plan that will help build your company’s image and provide guidelines for marketing your business for the second half of 2006.Step 1: Determine Your Value PropositionWhat makes you better and more valuable to your customers than the competition? What is your major selling advantage? How do you solve the problems facing your customers? Write down the answers to these questions, then write a summary of them. Try to narrow in on your value proposition until it is a concise statement of 1 or 2 sentences.Step 2: Create a Brand Identity for Your BusinessAll of your marketing and promotional materials should have a consistent look and feel, and also have a consistent message. Logos are important; if you don’t have one, co
as they may prove very useful in drawing attention.
6) Partner with a Politician.
No matter how hungry you are for good press, I can guarantee
there’s someone even hungrier -- an elected official. If you can
team up with a local politician for a charity, educational or
public service program, chances are you won’t have to lift a
finger to get coverage. Your friendly representative, state
senator, mayor or council member will gladly work the press to
generate attention. A caveat: if you’re going to hook up with a
politician, it’s probably best to do it with someone who’s not
considered a highly ideological or divisive figure, and try to
keep the topic as noncontroversial as possible. Let common sense
be your guide.
7) Get on the Air.
Radio stations are an underappreciated avenue for publicity.
Spend a few days listening to all the stations that serve your
area and seek opportunities to get on the air. Look for general
interest talk shows, locally-produced news programs and community
affairs programs. When you find something that seems
appropriate, contact the station and ask for the name of the
producer for that particular show or
Summertime and the livin' is easy. Freedom from your desk and homework, and a whole season to do what you want. With school out for the summer, it's a life of leisure for the next few months when you’re a teenager -- not! Let's face it, it usually doesn’t take long for boredom to set in, and a lack of spending money. While working during the summer months at a fast food restaurant or in a mall is fine, why not try your hand at starting your own small business? You can be your own boss, set your own hours and best of all, there's no limit to the amount of money you can earn!Here are a few suggestions for services you can offer during the long days of summer.1) Babysitting/Child Care: Looking after little kids in your neighborhood is an ideal way to start saving money. You likely know parents who would love to have you look after their kids while they’re at work, or perhaps if they want to get
nice story in BusinessWeek or USA Today is something to
celebrate, there are times when you need to grab attention a bit
closer to home.
If your business draws its clientele from a specific town, city
or region, focusing your energy on getting an elusive national
publicity hit may be overkill, especially when getting publicity
where you need it -- in your home town -- is often so much
easier.
Let's look at some techniques you can use to reach potential
customers right where you live, through your local papers, radio
and TV stations.
1) Get to Know Your Business Editor.
Unless you live in a very large city, it should be fairly easy to
get in touch with the business editor at the main newspaper
covering your region. A simple call to introduce yourself and
let the editor know that you have some news to share is a good
start. Remember some of the golden rules of calling a
journalist, though: be respectful of his or her deadline (don’t
call an editor in the late afternoon as deadlines approach) and
always start with "is this a good time to talk?" before kicking
into your pitch. In smaller markets, it may even be possible to
develop a personal relationship with a business editor, by
visiting the office or taking the editor to lunch. The bottom
line is this: keeping abreast of local businesses and finding
interesting stories to tell about people in the community is the
essential part of any business editor’s job. He’ll be thrilled
to hear from you if you can provide something new and fresh in
those areas.
2) Keep the Releases Flowing.
Once you’ve built a relationship with a business editor, keep it
growing by providing a regular dose of fresh news about your
company. Won an award? Hired a new executive? Investing in some
interesting new equipment? Scored a big new contract? Let the
editor know with a well-written, hype-free release. Don’t feel
the need to pump out a release for every little thing but, if
it’s something really newsworthy, keeping the editor in the loop
will help spur coverage on a regular basis.
3) Write a Letter to the Editor or an Op-Ed Piece.
If something occurs locally (or even nationally) that relates to
your business, let your voice be heard with a letter to the
editor or a longer "op-ed" opinion piece.
As a businessperson, your opinion matters when the subject
relates to your field of expertise.
Write a Regular Column. Many smaller publications (such as weekly
newspapers) are on the lookout for ongoing, well-crafted content.
You can fill their needs - and promote your business -- by
offering a regular column. Chances are, you’ve seen features
along the lines of "Ask the Handyman" or perhaps a health column
from a local doctor. Can you create a similar feature that taps
your knowledge or expertise? If so, craft a few sample columns
and present them to the editor of a publication in your area. You
might even suggest that you don’t wish to be paid if your contact
information (your web URL, number, etc.) is included with each
column. You’ll be providing great no-cost content for the paper
and generating strong local exposure -- and credibility -- for
your business.
4) Conduct a No-Cost Seminar.
Financial planners and real estate pros have known for years that
free seminars are a great way to drum up business and get local
publicity. Try developing a one or two hour seminar in your
field of expertise and offer it to the public. Make it meaty --
it can’t simply be a promo pitch. Here's some ideas to get your
creative juices flowing:
* Remodeling company: "Remodeling projects that do the most to
increase your home’s value"
* Doctor: "The latest research on extending your life-span --
explained and simplified"
* Stockbroker: "How to retire rich"
Promote your seminar by sending releases to the local media.
Keep your release entirely non-promotional. Highlight your
seminar as a public service, not as a commercial event. (Tip:
have someone videotape your seminar and offer the tape as a free
gift for future potential customers!)
5) Connect with Kids.
Local media outlets always enjoy stories that involve schoolkids.
Offer to visit a local school and talk to the students about an
important topic connected with your business or, better yet,
invite a class to come and visit your place of business. (If you
choose the latter, make sure that your business is somewhat
visual. Kids seeing how sheep get sheared or books get printed
makes for a good visual. A bunch of children standing in an
office looking at accounting tables doesn’t.) Craft a release
beforehand -- this one probably works best with features and
lifestyle editors. Suggest that they send a photographer down to
cover the event. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to get in touch with the
person at your local school district who handles media relations,
as they may prove very useful in drawing attention.
6) Partner with a Politician.
No matter how hungry you are for good press, I can guarantee
there’s someone even hungrier -- an elected official. If you can
team up with a local politician for a charity, educational or
public service program, chances are you won’t have to lift a
finger to get coverage. Your friendly representative, state
senator, mayor or council member will gladly work the press to
generate attention. A caveat: if you’re going to hook up with a
politician, it’s probably best to do it with someone who’s not
considered a highly ideological or divisive figure, and try to
keep the topic as noncontroversial as possible. Let common sense
be your guide.
7) Get on the Air.
Radio stations are an underappreciated avenue for publicity.
Spend a few days listening to all the stations that serve your
area and seek opportunities to get on the air. Look for general
interest talk shows, locally-produced news programs and community
affairs programs. When you find something that seems
appropriate, contact the station and ask for the name of the
producer for that particular show or
"A true Master is not the one with the most students, but one who creates the most Masters. A true leader is not the one with the most followers, but one who creates the most leaders." — Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations With God: An Uncommon DialogueI was doing fairly well in grades one to three - especially in reading. Then I hit a terrible teacher in grade four. She made school so unhappy and unappealing, she almost caused me to drop out — of course I would have waited another few years to make it official. However, in grades five and six I came under the nurturing of Mrs. Westman. I vividly remember her saying after I'd read a composition to the class; "someday I won't be surprised to see your name on a book." Her encouraging words simmered in my subconscious for years and helped me to see new possibilities for myself. Twenty years later my first book, The VIP Strategy: Leadership Skills for E
visiting the office or taking the editor to lunch. The bottom
line is this: keeping abreast of local businesses and finding
interesting stories to tell about people in the community is the
essential part of any business editor’s job. He’ll be thrilled
to hear from you if you can provide something new and fresh in
those areas.
2) Keep the Releases Flowing.
Once you’ve built a relationship with a business editor, keep it
growing by providing a regular dose of fresh news about your
company. Won an award? Hired a new executive? Investing in some
interesting new equipment? Scored a big new contract? Let the
editor know with a well-written, hype-free release. Don’t feel
the need to pump out a release for every little thing but, if
it’s something really newsworthy, keeping the editor in the loop
will help spur coverage on a regular basis.
3) Write a Letter to the Editor or an Op-Ed Piece.
If something occurs locally (or even nationally) that relates to
your business, let your voice be heard with a letter to the
editor or a longer "op-ed" opinion piece.
As a businessperson, your opinion matters when the subject
relates to your field of expertise.
Write a Regular Column. Many smaller publications (such as weekly
newspapers) are on the lookout for ongoing, well-crafted content.
You can fill their needs - and promote your business -- by
offering a regular column. Chances are, you’ve seen features
along the lines of "Ask the Handyman" or perhaps a health column
from a local doctor. Can you create a similar feature that taps
your knowledge or expertise? If so, craft a few sample columns
and present them to the editor of a publication in your area. You
might even suggest that you don’t wish to be paid if your contact
information (your web URL, number, etc.) is included with each
column. You’ll be providing great no-cost content for the paper
and generating strong local exposure -- and credibility -- for
your business.
4) Conduct a No-Cost Seminar.
Financial planners and real estate pros have known for years that
free seminars are a great way to drum up business and get local
publicity. Try developing a one or two hour seminar in your
field of expertise and offer it to the public. Make it meaty --
it can’t simply be a promo pitch. Here's some ideas to get your
creative juices flowing:
* Remodeling company: "Remodeling projects that do the most to
increase your home’s value"
* Doctor: "The latest research on extending your life-span --
explained and simplified"
* Stockbroker: "How to retire rich"
Promote your seminar by sending releases to the local media.
Keep your release entirely non-promotional. Highlight your
seminar as a public service, not as a commercial event. (Tip:
have someone videotape your seminar and offer the tape as a free
gift for future potential customers!)
5) Connect with Kids.
Local media outlets always enjoy stories that involve schoolkids.
Offer to visit a local school and talk to the students about an
important topic connected with your business or, better yet,
invite a class to come and visit your place of business. (If you
choose the latter, make sure that your business is somewhat
visual. Kids seeing how sheep get sheared or books get printed
makes for a good visual. A bunch of children standing in an
office looking at accounting tables doesn’t.) Craft a release
beforehand -- this one probably works best with features and
lifestyle editors. Suggest that they send a photographer down to
cover the event. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to get in touch with the
person at your local school district who handles media relations,
as they may prove very useful in drawing attention.
6) Partner with a Politician.
No matter how hungry you are for good press, I can guarantee
there’s someone even hungrier -- an elected official. If you can
team up with a local politician for a charity, educational or
public service program, chances are you won’t have to lift a
finger to get coverage. Your friendly representative, state
senator, mayor or council member will gladly work the press to
generate attention. A caveat: if you’re going to hook up with a
politician, it’s probably best to do it with someone who’s not
considered a highly ideological or divisive figure, and try to
keep the topic as noncontroversial as possible. Let common sense
be your guide.
7) Get on the Air.
Radio stations are an underappreciated avenue for publicity.
Spend a few days listening to all the stations that serve your
area and seek opportunities to get on the air. Look for general
interest talk shows, locally-produced news programs and community
affairs programs. When you find something that seems
appropriate, contact the station and ask for the name of the
producer for that particular show or
If you want to “ramp up response” from your ad, consider revising the headline. Many business owners don’t realize how critical the headline is to an ad’s success.Over the years, marketers have tested what works and what doesn’t in print ads and direct mail. And tests have proven many times that the headline is responsible for at least 50% and as much as 75% of an ad’s success.So what guidelines can you use in creating your next ad? Here are some powerful ways to create an ad that gets noticed:1. Appeal to self-interest. Providing a benefit is the most powerful technique you can use in a headline. That was the conclusion of early marketing pioneer Claude Hopkins, who would test nearly 2,000 headlines for just one product during his time at Foote, Core & Belding’s forerunner, Lord & Thomas.Benefit-oriented headlines also tend to “select” the audience — that is, by its very natur
newspapers) are on the lookout for ongoing, well-crafted content.
You can fill their needs - and promote your business -- by
offering a regular column. Chances are, you’ve seen features
along the lines of "Ask the Handyman" or perhaps a health column
from a local doctor. Can you create a similar feature that taps
your knowledge or expertise? If so, craft a few sample columns
and present them to the editor of a publication in your area. You
might even suggest that you don’t wish to be paid if your contact
information (your web URL, number, etc.) is included with each
column. You’ll be providing great no-cost content for the paper
and generating strong local exposure -- and credibility -- for
your business.
4) Conduct a No-Cost Seminar.
Financial planners and real estate pros have known for years that
free seminars are a great way to drum up business and get local
publicity. Try developing a one or two hour seminar in your
field of expertise and offer it to the public. Make it meaty --
it can’t simply be a promo pitch. Here's some ideas to get your
creative juices flowing:
* Remodeling company: "Remodeling projects that do the most to
increase your home’s value"
* Doctor: "The latest research on extending your life-span --
explained and simplified"
* Stockbroker: "How to retire rich"
Promote your seminar by sending releases to the local media.
Keep your release entirely non-promotional. Highlight your
seminar as a public service, not as a commercial event. (Tip:
have someone videotape your seminar and offer the tape as a free
gift for future potential customers!)
5) Connect with Kids.
Local media outlets always enjoy stories that involve schoolkids.
Offer to visit a local school and talk to the students about an
important topic connected with your business or, better yet,
invite a class to come and visit your place of business. (If you
choose the latter, make sure that your business is somewhat
visual. Kids seeing how sheep get sheared or books get printed
makes for a good visual. A bunch of children standing in an
office looking at accounting tables doesn’t.) Craft a release
beforehand -- this one probably works best with features and
lifestyle editors. Suggest that they send a photographer down to
cover the event. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to get in touch with the
person at your local school district who handles media relations,
as they may prove very useful in drawing attention.
6) Partner with a Politician.
No matter how hungry you are for good press, I can guarantee
there’s someone even hungrier -- an elected official. If you can
team up with a local politician for a charity, educational or
public service program, chances are you won’t have to lift a
finger to get coverage. Your friendly representative, state
senator, mayor or council member will gladly work the press to
generate attention. A caveat: if you’re going to hook up with a
politician, it’s probably best to do it with someone who’s not
considered a highly ideological or divisive figure, and try to
keep the topic as noncontroversial as possible. Let common sense
be your guide.
7) Get on the Air.
Radio stations are an underappreciated avenue for publicity.
Spend a few days listening to all the stations that serve your
area and seek opportunities to get on the air. Look for general
interest talk shows, locally-produced news programs and community
affairs programs. When you find something that seems
appropriate, contact the station and ask for the name of the
producer for that particular show or
Broke, hate your job or need a change? Well survey after survey seems to say yes to all three questions. But do people retire rich, get the job of their dreams or make any significant changes in their life? The survey says, no. Well we are going to talk about one of those three. The one I think will help the most is the one that pays the best. The job of your dreams.Work, ah that dirty four-letter word. Even if you are a beggar on the street you still need to be there and ask for money. You can sell your book, but you still need to write it and promote it. Lets face it we are going to have to do something with some of our day and that is normally called "work." If you are smart and think a bit about it you can get wealthy doing it.Most people call what it takes to become wealthy "work." I remember when I was building my wealth I did work very hard, but the work I was doing I enjoyed a lot. I
increase your home’s value"
* Doctor: "The latest research on extending your life-span --
explained and simplified"
* Stockbroker: "How to retire rich"
Promote your seminar by sending releases to the local media.
Keep your release entirely non-promotional. Highlight your
seminar as a public service, not as a commercial event. (Tip:
have someone videotape your seminar and offer the tape as a free
gift for future potential customers!)
5) Connect with Kids.
Local media outlets always enjoy stories that involve schoolkids.
Offer to visit a local school and talk to the students about an
important topic connected with your business or, better yet,
invite a class to come and visit your place of business. (If you
choose the latter, make sure that your business is somewhat
visual. Kids seeing how sheep get sheared or books get printed
makes for a good visual. A bunch of children standing in an
office looking at accounting tables doesn’t.) Craft a release
beforehand -- this one probably works best with features and
lifestyle editors. Suggest that they send a photographer down to
cover the event. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to get in touch with the
person at your local school district who handles media relations,
as they may prove very useful in drawing attention.
6) Partner with a Politician.
No matter how hungry you are for good press, I can guarantee
there’s someone even hungrier -- an elected official. If you can
team up with a local politician for a charity, educational or
public service program, chances are you won’t have to lift a
finger to get coverage. Your friendly representative, state
senator, mayor or council member will gladly work the press to
generate attention. A caveat: if you’re going to hook up with a
politician, it’s probably best to do it with someone who’s not
considered a highly ideological or divisive figure, and try to
keep the topic as noncontroversial as possible. Let common sense
be your guide.
7) Get on the Air.
Radio stations are an underappreciated avenue for publicity.
Spend a few days listening to all the stations that serve your
area and seek opportunities to get on the air. Look for general
interest talk shows, locally-produced news programs and community
affairs programs. When you find something that seems
appropriate, contact the station and ask for the name of the
producer for that particular show or
As humans, our strongest emotional responses - both positive and negative - come from visual cues. That's precisely why the old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words," has more than a ring of truth to it. When you're flipping through a magazine or surfing the Web, the photos are what make you stop and look. Today, the images that are most effective in capturing the attention of readers and web visitors alike can be summed up in three words: ocean, water, life.Imagery is EverythingThose who are in the business of advertising or web design understand that developing a wonderful product or a website full of useful information is important, but it's only one component of success. Choosing the proper imagery to communicate to the potential customer or visitor can result in resounding success, while selecting the wrong images can be disastrous in terms of sales and web "stickiness."Ca
as they may prove very useful in drawing attention.
6) Partner with a Politician.
No matter how hungry you are for good press, I can guarantee
there’s someone even hungrier -- an elected official. If you can
team up with a local politician for a charity, educational or
public service program, chances are you won’t have to lift a
finger to get coverage. Your friendly representative, state
senator, mayor or council member will gladly work the press to
generate attention. A caveat: if you’re going to hook up with a
politician, it’s probably best to do it with someone who’s not
considered a highly ideological or divisive figure, and try to
keep the topic as noncontroversial as possible. Let common sense
be your guide.
7) Get on the Air.
Radio stations are an underappreciated avenue for publicity.
Spend a few days listening to all the stations that serve your
area and seek opportunities to get on the air. Look for general
interest talk shows, locally-produced news programs and community
affairs programs. When you find something that seems
appropriate, contact the station and ask for the name of the
producer for that particular show or segment. Then, give that
person a call. Tell the producer what you have to offer and why
you’d make a great guest. And here’s a bonus radio tip: offer
your products or services as on-air contest prizes for commercial
stations, or as pledge-drive premiums for public radio stations.
8) Make your Website a Local Resource.
Chances are, you’ve already got a website. Why not devote part
of it to your community? Set up a local message board to
discuss topics relating to your field. Have a local "Ask the
Expert" section where community members can get advice. Provide
local news, sports or weather. Donate part of your site to a
local organization (e.g. offer to post youth soccer scores and
news), donate part of a given day’s web-based sales to local
charity. The possibilities are endless, so be creative and, oh
yeah, be sure to tell the local media about what you’re doing!
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