What’s Your Work Ethic?

December 9, 2008

 

Over the weekend, I was walking along the beach early in the morning and noticed several people standing around with brooms. They were all wearing bright orange vests and seemed like they were fulfilling a community-service obligation.

As I passed the group, I heard the leader say, “Now, take your time. If they see you’re not doing anything, they’ll give you more work to do.”

Sure enough, a few minutes later, I noticed all of the volunteers spread out across the sidewalk…standing there looking at the ocean with brooms in hand. There must have been 25-30 people in the group!

Now, in my opinion, about five people could have swept the entire sidewalk in a matter of hours while the others did something more beneficial elsewhere.

I like to avoid negativity, but I felt this was a total waste of people power and it really got me thinking. With everything going on in the world, isn’t there a way these workers could have completed their community-service hours by directly helping others in need, recycling or taking part in some other volunteer activity that provided value?

In addition, what kind of work ethic does this support?

If you were given this situation, would you just stand there and look at the ocean, or would you try to do a good job with the task you were given?

Obviously, many people would take the lazy route and enjoy the ocean view. But is this the mentality that got them to this point in the first place?

Having a strong work ethic is essential in today’s economic environment. Now is not the time to do “only what is expected.” Instead, it’s important to go above and beyond.

The hard-working people who put in the extra effort now will be the ones who will be able to compete, weather these tough times and experience great success in the future…so with this in mind, are you going to settle with the status quo or make your dreams a reality with hard work and perseverance?

If you have copywriting and PR questions, please let me know. I’m here to help!


A Simple Thank You Goes a Long Way

December 4, 2008

 

Now that we’ve all had some time to get back into work mode after the Thanksgiving holiday, I thought I’d provide a simple reminder…

As an entrepreneur, it’s important to regularly develop relationships with the media (on top of everything else you have to do). But it doesn’t need to be difficult.

In fact, the next time you see a quote or article in the media that includes information about your business, send a quick thank you to the reporter who wrote the story.

Media members are inundated with negative news, bad press releases and quick deadlines on a daily basis so they tend to appreciate a note of thanks and a few, nice comments about their hard work.

With this in mind, it’s also a good idea to regularly thank customers, partners, employees, and other business associates.

It only takes a few minutes. And best of all, your quick “thank you” may result in better relationships with the people who can take your business to the next level…fast. 

Try it and let me know what happens…

And with that note, THANK YOU for reading, and I’ll be writing more soon!


Did you really ask that?

November 18, 2008

 

Have you ever been listening to an online seminar, speaker at an event or tele-seminar, and someone asks a really lame question?

For example, I was recently watching a presentation related to online marketing tips from one of the top experts in the industry. The host opened the floor for questions, and someone got up and asked, “What is a landing page?”

Now, this is a perfectly good question, but it was just not the right time to ask it. After all, the expert only had a few minutes to share his thoughts and answer questions.

And instead of simply finding the answer on Google on his own time, the audience member could have used this opportunity to his advantage and ask for some inside information .

For example, he could have said something like, “What trends do you see happening in landing pages and SEO strategies that have produced the biggest boost in sales in the shortest amount of time for your clients?

Not only would the response have provided useful information to everyone listening, but the caller would have appeared to be more professional.

I don’t like to get on my soap box, but business is competitive. You need to do the work and present yourself in the best light possible in order to succeed….so here are three tips to keep in mind the next time to go to a seminar or listen to a presentation online:

- Research the subject matter and the speaker in advance.

- Figure out what information you hope to get out of the presentation.

- Write down pertinent questions specifically for the speaker so you can get the data you need.

After all, if you spend the time, money and effort to participate in an event, you want to get the most out of it as possible. Not only will you help your business grow faster, but you may just help other participants get the information they need to be successful too!


The Secret to Getting Press

November 13, 2008

 

You sit down in your favorite chair ready to bite into your freshly prepared bagel and… Drat! There is a headline featuring your competition with a big photo of the CEO. The first thing you ask yourself is, “Why him and not me?”

 

Well, don’t get too upset. That CEO may be:

 

·       A good friend of the reporter;

·       Advertise in the publication;

·       Spend a fortune on a big PR firm; or

·       Know the one secret to publicity success.

 

And if it’s the last point above, you’re in luck. Here is the secret:

 

Create a unique story angle for a specific reporter and contact that media member directly.

 

I’m not kidding.

 

There is so much hype about building buzz that is really comes down to this.

 

You just need to be willing to conduct the appropriate research and develop a unique and newsworthy story angle that a reporter will really care about.

 

And even if the reporter doesn’t like your pitch, at least you will start to establish yourself as a reputable source and create a working relationship with this media member for future stories.

 

Sure. Many business owners are lucky enough to get big media stories right away. But don’t let this get to you.

 

For true publicity success, you need to work hard, be creative and have some patience. And if you keep going, eventually you’ll be the one with the front-page feature!

 

If you have questions, or need help with your PR and online copywriting, please let me know! I’m here to help. Thanks! 


Just when hope starts to fade…

November 11, 2008

It’s 4:00 a.m., and I just turned on the computer and took my first sip of coffee.

 

With the stress of the economy, the election and an increase in the number of reporters losing their jobs, it has been an uphill battle to build buzz for my clients.

 

And just when frustration started to get the best of me, things turned around.

 

In the last few days, my hard work paid off. My clients were featured on Forbes, The Discovery Channel, Workwise, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and others.

 

It just goes to show you that you need to keep pluggin’ away, and even give  extra effort, when things aren’t going the way you planned.

 

Sure. This can be easier said than done so here are a few sites to help you stay positive and get the inspiration you need to hang in there when times get tough…

 

Quotes from “Power of Positive Thinking’s” Norman Vincent Peale

 

Daily Motivational Quote Widget

 

Small Business Advice from the Experts at SCORE

 

Small Business Help from Experts and other Entrepreneurs

 

Funny YouTube Videos for a Quick Laugh

 

And if this doesn’t work, just think…the Thanksgiving holiday will be here soon. Then, you can take a few days to relax, rest and start fresh when you return to the office!

 

If you have questions, or need help with your PR and online copywriting, please let me know! I’m here to help. Thanks!


Are Reporters Reading Your E-Mails?

November 6, 2008

 

It’s 8:30 a.m. and you’ve spent the morning crafting the perfect e-mail to announce your brand new clothing line for dogs.  You click “send” and wait for a response from the business editor at The New York Times.

Now, it’s noon and still no response from the editor. You call and get voice mail so you leave a message. Days go by and still no response.

Does this sound familiar?

These days, most reporters are swamped with deadlines and just trying to keep their jobs. They don’t have time to contact anyone who pitches irrelevant topics.

…But what’s that? You say you researched the reporter and thought he or she would really be interested in your new dog collar?

Well, maybe it’s not your pitch, maybe it’s your e-mail.

You may very well have a great story to tell. But if you don’t send a user-friendly e-mail, you’ll get nowhere fast.

When crafting an e-mail that is going to reporters, try to keep these tips in mind:

- Keep it short and sweet.
Get to the point fast and avoid “fluff.” Stick to the facts.

- Focus on the benefits.
Why is the reporter going to care about what you have to say?

- Include links.
Try to add links to important data relevant to your pitch. That way, reporters can easily get additional information fast.

- Run Spell Check.
Be sure to check for grammatical and spelling errors before sending out your e-mail. You want to present yourself as a professional who took some time to create the e-mail.

-Where’s your contact information?
If reporters want to learn more, can they find your contact information easily? You may want to include your cell phone number so they don’t have any problems reaching you.

It takes some skill to pitch reporters and give them a unique story packed with excitement and benefits. And once you spend the appropriate time crafting your pitch, don’t forget to proof your e-mail too.

After all, if it’s too long, boring and packed with errors, your message will go straight to the wastebasket. And who wants to waste time and effort like that?

If you have questions about your PR and copywriting efforts, please let me know here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’d love to hear from you!


Are You Available?

October 23, 2008


I’ve mentioned this information before, but I think it’s important. If you’re not receiving media calls and you’ve spent the appropriate time researching various venues, preparing your media kit, updating your online newsroom, and pitching reporters accordingly, there may be one key factor you’ve overlooked – Availability.

Their deadlines and you.
Many media members work on very tight deadlines and need information immediately. If you are not available to answer questions, set interviews with company leaders or provide needed information, you will not get the media coverage you’ve worked so hard to obtain.

They may not leave a message.
And please don’t think reporters will just leave a message. If your phone keeps ringing or voicemail picks up, most reporters on a tight deadline will immediately move on to another source.

As a small business owner, I know it can be very difficult to be available at all times. With this in mind, be sure to check your phone and e-mails frequently. Or, have an assistant handle media requests and let you know as soon as a reporter or producer calls. This kind of call should be a priority as it can mean thousands of dollars in free publicity now and in the future.

By taking a few simple steps to provide reporters with the information they need, when they need it, you will have more media-placement opportunities.

More importantly, you will set your reputation as a professional who returns call quickly, provides valuable information and is available to give reporters the data they need during tight deadlines.

This is just a little reminder to help you get more media coverage. If you’d like more information, or have small business public relations questions, feel free to comment below or visit www.rembrandtwrites.com to get my monthly newsletter full of valuable PR and writing tips. Thanks!


Financial Help for Small Business Owners

October 14, 2008

 

If you are worried about the current economic turmoil and want some help with your small business financial worries, check out these sites:

About.com
http://stress.about.com/od/financialstress/Financial_Concerns_Managing_Your_MoneyAND_Your_Stress.htm

DebtSteps.com
http://www.debtsteps.com/financial-stress.html

Fortune Small Business
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2008/10/01/toc.html

Free Management Library

http://www.managementhelp.org/finance/fp_fnce/fp_fnce.htm

SBA

http://www.sba.gov/services/financialassistance/index.html

SCORE
http://www.score.org/index.html

StartupNation
www.startupnation.com 

SuzeOrman.com

http://www.suzeorman.com/igsbase/igstemplate.cfm?SRC=MD012&SRCN=index&GnavID=84&SnavID=20

Yahoo! Small Business
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-mainCat-m-2-finance-i

http://finance.yahoo.com/how-to-guide/career-work/12825

The more informed you are, the better off your business will be now and in
the long run. Plus, you can save yourself a lot of unnecessary stress and
hassle.

If you need help boosting sales for your small business via publicity and
online copywriting efforts, please let me know below or at
www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’m here to help!


How to Pitch the Media-Part 2

October 9, 2008

 

On Tuesday, I shared some quick tips on how to pitch media members. Here are some additional pointers:

5.  Be Succinct.

Reporters are on deadline. Get to the point fast. Practice what you are going to say in advance. Then, speak clearly and succinctly.

Mention the most important benefits of your story angle first. Reporters will appreciate your sense of urgency and respect for their timelines.

6.  Know Your Industry.

Become an expert in your field and know the most current news, events and activities within your industry.

Share your news with reporters. Soon, they will come to you for the latest industry updates.

7.  Offer Expert Advice.

Without pitching your own products and services, introduce yourself as an expert to a targeted media member. Comment on a current news item, provide a special report and offer your help with a future article.

Reporters will appreciate the fact that you are willing to provide assistance and may add you to their list of resources.

8.  Follow-up Accordingly.

Media members are busy people, and you will probably need to make an effort to stay in touch with them.

If you are waiting for a pending story or a call back and haven’t heard anything for a few days, feel free to contact the media member directly.

Don’t be a pest but conduct the appropriate follow-up when necessary. This is essential to obtaining schedule media clips and maintaining media relationships.

Hopefully, these tips will help you pitch your story to media members and get results. By “thinking like a reporter” and offering beneficial information in a timely fashion, you’ll definitely increase your chances of obtaining good media coverage.

If you’d like help with your pitching efforts and online copywriting, please let me know here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’m here to help! Thanks!


Are You Running Out of Time?

September 23, 2008

 

It’s early in the morning and I just returned from a trip to Detroit. My aunt died suddenly, and I wanted to pay my respects. She was a wonderful person who lit up every room she entered.

 

This is a sad event, but it also got me thinking. You never know when things are going to happen.

 

With this in mind, what are you doing to accomplish your goals now? How do you want people to remember you?

 

If you are procrastinating or just “going with the flow,” you may run out of time before you know it.

 

To help you get moving and really live your dreams, check out the advice on these sites:

 

StartupNation, www.startupnation.com

American Writers & Artists, Inc., www.awaionline.com

Pink Magazine, www.pinkmagazine.com

Inc. Magazine, www.inc.com

Fortune Small Business, www.fsb.com

Entrepreneur Magazine, www.entrepreneur.com

 

Sometimes, we take things for granted – our family members, friends, jobs, homes, health, etc. It’s always a good idea to take a moment each day and think about all of the things you are thankful for.

 

In addition, it’s smart to work towards your overall goals every day. Who knows? Anything can happen. You may run out of time.

 

Now, I don’t mean to sound pessimistic. I just want to give you a little life reminder that may jolt you into action. After all, I don’t want to have any regrets. How about you?

 

If you need help moving forward with your PR and copywriting efforts, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thanks!


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