Are You Thinking?

July 22, 2008

During the more relaxed moments you have this summer, it’s the perfect time to do nothing but think. Seriously, when was the last time you stopped and thought about your current activities and future dreams?

Are you just doing your daily routine and activities or are you working with a purpose
towards specific goals?

In today’s stressful economic times, it can be easy to focus on paying bills, establishing new business and completing other daily tasks without really accomplishing anything.

If you just take a few minutes each day to think about what you are doing, where you want to go and how you are going to get there, you can work smarter and reach your goals faster.

As far as your PR efforts go, it’s a great time to get ready for upcoming activities and holiday campaigns. Ask yourself these questions:

- What do you want to achieve with your publicity activities?

Decide which magazines, newspapers, television shows, and radio programs you want to contact within the next six months and how you’d like them to cover your business.

- How are you going to reach these media venues?

To get some good story ideas to pitch, read current news and review upcoming
events and holidays. Then, figure out how your products and unique services fit
into these items. Why will media members care about what you have to say?
 

- What are your deadlines? 

Now, write down all the things you need to finish by certain dates. Perhaps you need to create a media kit, prepare sample packages, have photos taken, or prepare for a big tradeshow. The point is to schedule your activities so you know what needs to be accomplished each day.

By taking a few minutes just to stop and think, you will be able to focus on priorities, meet deadlines with less stress and simply avoid “running around in circles.”

And this applies to both your business and personal life…so during your free time, give yourself a few minutes to just think. You may be surprised at how this simple effort will help you actually get more done and make positive changes in all areas of your life! 

 

For additional help with your PR and online copywriting needs, or for free tips and information, please visit www.rembrandtwrites.com. Thanks!

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3 Quick Copy Tips to Boost Website Sales

July 17, 2008

 

When was the last time you reviewed your website? If it has been a few weeks, take a few minutes to read it over.

 

What are first-time visitors seeing when they click on your site?

 

If you want to boost sales, here are three, quick online copywriting tips to keep in mind:

 

1. Do you provide benefits right away?

Does your home page talk all about what you do, how long you’ve been in business and your credentials? That’s great, but your customers want to know what you can do for them – in seconds.

You may want to move your “company” information to the “about” or “bio” section of your website.

 

Then, you can use the home page to let visitors know they are in the right place and that your products and services can help solve their particular problems.

 

2. Are your verbs active?

Is your online copy written in the present tense or are you talking about things that happened in the past?

 

You can instantly add energy to your site by replacing all of your passive verbs (we worked with this client, we helped XYZ when they needed to raise funds, etc.) with verbs that describe a current action (get help now, take advantage of our 25% discount today, raise funds fast, etc.).

 

3. Do visitors know what to do?

When potential customers take the time to read your website copy, do they know what to do in order to contact you?

 

Each page should have a specific and easy call-to-action. Whether it’s registering for your newsletter, calling your sales department or actually purchasing a product online, be sure that website visitors know what they need to do to take action.

 

These are just three quick copy changes you can make to easily boost sales and conversion rates.

 

For your free copy of my new e-tipsheet, “20 Quick Online Copywriting Tips to Help Boost Website Sales in Minutes,” sign up for my free, monthly newsletter at www.rembrandtwrites.com. You’ll get valuable tips and information you can use to help boost sales and awareness fast!

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The Simple Secret to Boost Return Customers

July 10, 2008

If you want to increase return customers and upsell to current clients, there is one major thing that you need to take care of at the very beginning of every relationship – Expectations.

This may sound simple, but if you don’t spell out what you are going to provide for the money, you can run into major confusion and complications in the future. And it goes both ways. Your customers need to tell you what they expect too.

With this in mind, here are three key tips to think about when you begin to work on any new projects or customer sales:

1. Communicate goals.

Before you exchange funds, products and/or services, talk about final outcomes and what you both expect out of the relationship.

You should understand potential issues, tactics, budget constraints, potential results, and any other important details prior to working together.

2. Get it in writing.

Whether it’s a stream of e-mails or an official contract, write down exactly what you will provide and what the customer or client can expect from you.

Even if you have a casual relationship, this will help clarify actions, fees, deadlines, and potential results.

3. Stick to your plan.

Once your relationship is under way, be sure you provide what you promised. Stay in touch with your customers, and be sure they are aware of any changes or problems.

And to build a solid customer base and good word-of-mouth, go above and beyond customer expectations. Provide personal attention and extra services whenever possible.

By being honest and upfront with customers, you will reduce stress, meet deadlines and avoid unnecessary surprises.

And if you make the extra effort to provide customers with additional, unexpected services that exceed their expectations, you’ll be well on your way to surpassing the competition and boosting sales.

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Are you ready for a change? It’s possible.

July 7, 2008

Welcome back from the July 4th weekend! Was it a little more difficult than usual to get up this morning?

It was for me – which is perfectly natural after having a fun weekend enjoying the California sun!

But if you just can’t stand it when the morning alarm rings, and you need to drag yourself to work on a regular basis, it’s time for a change.

And you may not think it’s possible – especially with today’s high prices and economic forecasts. But you know what?

Life is too short to spend time at a job you don’t like.

You see, I’ve been talking to a lot of negative, media people lately who hate their jobs. And it got me thinking. If you want to be one of the wealthy, happy people you admire, it’s up to you to make it happen!

I don’t want to sound too “Miss Sunshiny,” but wouldn’t it be better to spend some extra time and effort to be happy now rather than waiting until you retire?

Now I’ve been anxious about finances and my future too. But if you don’t take action, nothing will change. With these thoughts in mind, here are a few tips I used to go from a full-time career to working for myself:

1. Research
Before you make any big decisions, figure out what you want to do and what actions are necessary to make it happen.

Start by checking on all of the legal and financial issues involved (business structure, copyrights, patents, loans, conflicts-of-interest, etc.). And talk to others in the field you want to pursue.

Visit your local SCORE (www.score.org) office, and look online for helpful sites like www.sba.gov, www.startupnation.com and http://pinkmagazine.com/index.html.

There are many free resources available to help you pursue your own business or a new career. You just have to look.

2. Plan.
Can you start on a part-time basis? Instead of abruptly leaving your current position, try to transition into your new business or career in the evenings or on weekends when you are not working.

This will give you a sample taste of your “new life.” Plus, you can grow your business or new career slowly and then leave your current position with another income in progress.

(And just a note…if you work at your new career while at your current job, you can get into a lot of trouble. It’s best to keep things separate to avoid problems or even losing your job before you’re ready!)

3. Go for It!
If you’ve done your homework, don’t be afraid to make the leap and pursue your business dreams.

It can be extremely nerve-wracking to take risks that can change your life in profound ways. But if you prepare and look at all the positive and negative possibilities in advance, you will reduce your stress levels and increase your chances for success.

I’ve worked for horrible bosses at terrible jobs, and I know what it’s like. And I’m here to tell you that you can change things. It’s just a process of having a positive mindset and doing the necessary work.

So the next time your alarm goes off, think about your reaction. Are you looking forward to the day ahead or would you rather cover your head with your pillow and hide?

Life has so much to offer, and it goes by fast. Take a moment now to think about your goals and when you want to make things happen. I went through the trenches (too much to go into here :>) and made it out o.k., and you can too!

If you have questions, just let me know. I’m here to help!

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10 Questions to Never Ask a Reporter

July 1, 2008

Before you contact reporters, it’s essential to conduct the appropriate research.

Do you know what topics they cover on a regular basis?

What newsworthy items are you going to share with them?

After all, media members receive hundreds of calls and e-mails each week, and you want to make a good, first-impression. Now, I’ve mentioned this several times via my articles at StartupNation, Pink Magazine and Nielsen’s Small Business Resource Center, but here’s a reminder list of the top ten questions you should never ask a reporter:

  1. My client just created a new product, will you write about it next week?
  2. What  is your column about?
  3. How do you spell your name?
  4. Will you write a feature story about our small businesses?
  5. We are having a press event tonight, can you come?
  6. Did you get my fax?
  7. Are you going to write about the press release I just faxed to you?
  8. Our CEO is available to speak to you now. Do you have 30 minutes to hear his story?
  9. Can I proof your story before it goes to print for errors?
  10. The local paper and CNN just did a major story about my client. Would you like to do the same story too?

These are just a few of the many, time-wasting questions reporters receive every day. What others do you have to add to this list?

Instead of asking irrelevant questions, please do your homework. Research the appropriate media venues and review archived and current articles, television programs, radio shows, etc.

Discover appropriate beats, deadlines and as much information as possible before you pick up the phone. You’ll save time and increase your chances of getting some good publicity. But most importantly, you’ll start to build a reputation as a valuable resource for future stories.

Check back soon for more PR tips. And if you have any questions or comments, please let me know. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks!

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3 PR Must-Dos to Truly Enjoy Summer

June 26, 2008

www.rembrandtwrites.com for Hot PR Tips this SummerWoo Hoo! Summer is finally here. It’s time for sun, fun and relaxation!

But hold on…Before you grab your towel and sunscreen, do you have a publicity plan in place for the upcoming months?

I’ll mention a few tips on the StartupNation Radio program this Saturday. But now is the time to prepare and pitch your “back to school” and “holiday” stories in order to meet appropriate publication deadlines for the cooler months ahead.

It’s probably the last thing you want to think about. But if take care of your work now, you’ll avoid a lot of stressful deadlines later on.

Here are three things to help you prepare:

1. Check editorial calendars.
What do your target media venues have planned for upcoming issues and segments? Find out by checking their online media kits and show schedules. How can your unique stories fit into their upcoming articles and productions?

2. Provide newsworthy information.
Contact media members and give them the unique ideas and data they need to produce future stories. Offer your experts as resources and be as helpful as possible.

And be sure your online media kit provides all of the quotes, facts, statistics, photos, etc. that reporters need to complete their work fast.

3. Make follow-up notes.
Once you’ve pitched a story and offered valuable information, make notes to contact the media members at the appropriate time in the future.

If their stories aren’t scheduled for a few months, they may forget about you. Prior to their deadlines, remind them about your conversation and provide unique information pertinent to updated industry trends and news.

Once you finish your work and have some potential media opportunities ready for the future, you can relax and truly enjoy your book at the beach!

For more PR and copywriting information, feel free to visit www.rembrandtwrites.com or send your comments below. Thanks!

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How to Choose a Copywriter-4 Quick Tips

June 19, 2008

On Tuesday, I shared some reasons for hiring a copywriter (instead of writing your marketing materials and website copy yourself).

More experienced copywriters can be very expensive. But they usually provide copy that increases sales for your business…amounts that far exceed their fees.

With this in mind, here are few tips to help you find the right copywriter to fit your needs:

1. Conduct research.
Ask business associates and pertinent writing and trade associations for referrals (e.g. Direct Marketing Association, Better Business Bureau, etc.)

2. Search online.
Use the Internet to find someone who specializes in your niche or products and services. Enter keywords and check online forums in your industry for suggestions and referrals.

3. Check references. 
Once you have some potential candidates to choose from, review their work samples. Also contact some of their previous clients to discuss their work ethic, results, project deadlines, and other important qualities.

4. Communicate upfront.
Before hiring a copywriter, be sure to discuss specific deadlines, goals and fees upfront to avoid negative surprises later. Sign appropriate contracts or agreements in advance. And you may want to start with a small project first and then go from there.

It’s a good idea to keep communications open. Set expectations to help reach goals and create a positive working relationship.

A Final Note
An experienced copywriter can help you communicate your key messages, optimize various elements in your print and online marketing materials and grow sales faster.

Take the time to find the right copywriter for your specific needs, and your business will always be one step ahead of the competition.

Thanks for reading, and check back for additional tips.

In the meantime, feel free to contact me at www.rembrandtwrites.com for more information.

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Why Do You Need A Copywriter?

June 17, 2008

If you are tempted to save money and write your own marketing materials and website copy, please stop and think about it.

Although copywriters may be expensive, they can help you:

- Optimize conversion rates;

- Build credibility;

- Reach targeted audiences;

- Increase search engine placements;

- Assist you with your overall, Web architecture; and

- Grow sales fast!

And even if you are an excellent writer, it takes several hours of research and editing to create ”copy that sells.” This is time that you can spend on core business activities instead.

With this in mind, try to stop yourself from creating your marketing copy and materials. It is well worth it to outsource your copywriting needs.

You can focus on your area of expertise while your copywriter creates the words that will  produce results…Results that bring in new sales worth much more than his or her fees.

Thanks for reading. And next time, I’ll share some tips for finding the right copywriter for your specific needs.

Melanie

 

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10 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Publicist

June 12, 2008

A lot of entrepreneurs ask me how to get started with their public-relations efforts. And the most common questions pertain to finding a good publicist.

Before hiring a new PR expert, it is essential to conduct research, check credentials, get client testimonials, and ask important questions.

To start, review your goals.

What do you expect the publicist to do for your small business?
What kind of budget do you have to work with?
What are your immediate deadlines?

You really need to know exactly what you are expecting before speaking to a potential publicist. This way, you can clearly communicate your expectations and goals during your search.

When you are ready to interview a new PR expert, here are some sample interview questions to ask:

  1. Who will I be working with and what is that person’s experience?

  2. Will more than one person at your organization be helping me, or will I have one, central contact person?

  3. How can you help my small business reach my specific goals?

  4. How long do you think it will be before I see results?

  5. What services are included in your fees? What products and/or services cost extra?

  6. How do your contracts usually work?

  7. Is there a way to have a trial period before making an actual commitment?

  8. What happens if I am not satisfied with your work?

  9. Do you have some references I can contact?

  10. Why should I use you for my public relations needs instead of another organization?

These are just a few questions so be sure to add those pertinent to your specific needs. Check out PRSA.org for more information.

And as a side note, be wary of anyone who can guarantee placements. In today’s media world, full of last-minute news coverage and uncontrollable edits, it is very difficult to guarantee a publicity placement.

Also, look for someone that you feel comfortable with and can act as an extension of your team. And for your protection, be sure to sign a contract that both parties can agree upon.

You can significantly increase sales and awareness for your small business through publicity. And if you don’t want to do it yourself, be sure to take the time to find the right publicist for your specific budget, goals and needs. Otherwise, you might spend a lot of time, money and effort with little results.

If you’d like assistance with your publicity efforts, have questions or would like to receive my newsletter full of helpful tips, feel free to contact me at www.rembrandtwrites.com. Thanks!

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Save Money and Grow Sales with the Right Publicist

June 10, 2008

If you are worried about your business budget with current economic conditions, you may want to review your public-relations efforts.

By hiring the right PR consultant who acts as an extension of your team (and actually cares about your overall success), you can save time, money and effort for many reasons:

1.  Stop wasting time on PR and writing efforts and focus on core business-strategies to bring in new customers, partners and sponsors.

2.  Enjoy the benefits of media placements and third-party credibility that are impossible to purchase via advertising.

3.  Experience a snowball effect once your story hits a major press venue. This builds more awareness and media attention at no additional cost.

4.  Receive individual attention, know what is going on with publicity efforts at all times and work quickly and cost-effectively.

5.  Use all of your new media clippings in your marketing efforts to build sales. 

These are just a few examples of how the right publicist can help you save time, money and effort…so if you haven’t already done so, you may want to start researching potential candidates and move your PR activities up on your business priority checklist.

Check back on Thursday for tips on choosing the right publicist!

In the meantime, please post your comments below, or visit my website at www.rembrandtwrites.com. Thanks!

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