August 2009
19 posts
3 tags
Local talk shows—3 tips for landing an interview
Local radio and television talk shows can be an invaluable resource for publicizing your business or organization. With knowledge and planning on your part, the payoff can be reaching thousands of potential clients or donors. Here are three things to keep in mind when you attempt to garner some coveted airtime without paying for advertising space.
1. Target your topic. If you want to convince a...
2 tags
5 PR tools for your Web site
During the process of developing new Web sites for our clients, we talk to them in depth about their goals, objectives and expectations for their new site, and we recommend a number of Web site tools that can be incorporated as the site is being built. When included in the initial design, these tools can cost-effectively supplement and enhance their public relations and marketing efforts for years...
2 tags
10 funniest news headlines
When you write a news release, don’t forget that a strong headline can grab the reporter’s attention. Make it relevant and catchy, 10 words or fewer is good (you can add a sub-head if you need to expand on it). And a catchy headline is useless if it doesn’t actually summarize the information in your release. Sounds easy, but sometimes even reporters get it wrong. On occasion, a...
1 tag
“PR Tip: Set up Google Alerts to track news coverage you’ve received online...”
– Find out more about this free feature here.
3 tags
can-spam rules: 4 ways to make sure you're...
Even if you aren’t a “spammer,” if you send out email newsletters or other marketing that’s delivered by email, you should make sure you’re CAN-SPAM compliant according to federal legislation. Each individual violation of the regulation is subject to fines of $16,000. Fortunately it’s fairly easy to ensure your email marketing is okay. Your mailings are CAN-SPAM...
4 tags
“PR tip: Include a “Donate” button on every page of your non-profit...”
– For an example, check out The Zoo Northwest Florida Web site.
2 tags
“PR Tip: use your email signature to promote your business and include a link to...”
3 tags
5 things journalists hope to find on your Web site
Send a news release to your local media and what’s the first thing they’re going to do? If it’s newsworthy, they’ll likely go straight to your Web site for more information. That’s when they may decide to mention your business or look somewhere else. If you want to be a great resource for someone who’s going to write about your business, you need to make sure...
1 tag
Blogging for sales
Everyone is looking for cost-effective ways to drive sales in the current budget-conscious economy. At the same time, purchase cycles have lengthened due to consumers who take time to gather input from peers and experts. One way to reach your target audience when they’re researching their purchases is to leverage the power of blogs. Blogs influence one in five readers at key...
4 tags
3 tags
Public relations and fundraising
Here’s a great example of using PR to jump start a fundraising campaign. Last year we developed a new Web site, www.giftsthatheal.org, an on-line catalog of gifts, each of which, once “purchased,” benefits a needy person in the community. Gifts include a one-month supply of medicine, a wig for a breast cancer patient, eye glasses, transportation to a doctor appointment and more....
PR tools: the power of referrals
Clients tell me constantly that they generate much of their new business through referrals. Yet many companies don’t have a system in place to make sure they keep receiving them. Actively focusing on referrals should be a key part of your marketing and PR strategy, and here’s why. 1. Referrals have credibility. When someone you trust tells you about a business, you will also trust this...
4 tags
The art of buying a mailing list
Literally billions of dollars are spent each year to send direct mail to consumers, and it’s astounding how little R&D time is spent on the actual contact lists. Unfortunately, many businesses are unaware of how technology has advanced the science of creating a targeted mailing list. Whereas just a few years ago separating lists by ZIP code and household income was groundbreaking, now...
2 tags
“PR tip: Put the most compelling information in the top horizontal third of your...”
2 tags
Is your e-blast an e-dud?
Currently, 85% of all email is Spam. That means that your email marketing needs to fight hard to keep from being deleted or sent to a junk mail box. Frankly, there aren’t a lot of e-blasts I’ve seen that really compel me to read through them. The best emails are sent to me from businesses or organizations that are relevant to me. I can tell you without reservation that I wouldn’t...
2 tags
Adapt your marketing to today's economy
In today’s tough economy it’s critical to make sure your marketing clearly shows the value for the cost of your services or products. Forget the “snob appeal” and exclusivity message that worked for the past few years and focus instead on your service/product’s return on investment. Most people still want the “best,” but they need to see that it’s a...
1 tag
Do taglines really work?
Taglines are a powerful way to market. If you’re still not convinced, let’s put some taglines to the test. How many companies can you identify from their taglines? • A diamond is forever. • You can do it. We can help. • Be all that you can be. • It’s everywhere you want to be • Just do it. • Have it your way Chances are, you recognized most, if not all, of the taglines above....
3 tags
Business start-up marketing: 5 tips
While marketing a start-up business in new cities throughout the southeastern US, I learned that there are five key steps that can make entering a new market much more lucrative. 1. Join the local Chamber of Commerce. It’s the easiest way to gain access to the business community in virtually any market. Once you join, attend networking meetings, sign up for a committee and stay involved.
2....
Low-cost PR: celebrate a milestone
For a large government company, we’re planning a year of low-budget tactics to announce their 45th anniversary. Our theme will focus on the world as it was when they were founded in 1964. We’ll research the world as it was when they were founded and publize their many contributions to our region—we’ll use public relations to get the word out to the media and the rest of the...