Holiday Cards-An Opportunity to Make Contact

December 11, 2008

 
As the holidays approach, you are probably swamped with year-end work activities and preparing for your own personal celebrations at home.

The last thing on your mind may be the thought of purchasing business holidays cards, writing messages and addresses, licking envelopes, and buying stamps. But you may be missing out on a great opportunity.

Not only are holiday cards a fantastic way to spread some cheer during tough times, but they offer a great way to get through to potential new clients, investors and sponsors, renew relationships with media members and thank valued customers.

After all, most people appreciate a personalized holiday card and will open this type mail.

Now, you may think it will take too much time and cost too much money to send out cards, but with today’s technology, it can be very easy and cost-effective.

Some services will even take care of printing and mailing for you! (Check out http://www.printingforless.com/holidaycards.html, www.kinkos.com  and your local print shop for help.)

And if you are really short on funds, you can always send electronic greetings through Hallmark, Yahoo! and others.

If possible, try to set aside a few hours to create an address list and send out holiday cards in the next few weeks. It may be a lot easier than you think and well worth the effort.

Not only will you help build business relationships, but you’ll spread some holiday cheer…and we could all use some of that right now!

If you need help with your copywriting and PR efforts, please let me know. Thanks!

2 Comments | Reaching Goals, Marketing, business | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by rembrandtwrites

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!

6 Comments | Marketing, Reaching Goals, Small Business PR | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
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What Did Your Brain Just Say?

November 20, 2008

 

With the economy the way it is, there is a lot more competition for business. But before you jump at every new job opportunity that comes your way, take a moment to stop and think.

I don’t know about you, but every time I’ve gone into a new business relationship without paying attention to my inner voice, things usually don’t work out well.

There have been many instances where things just “don’t seem right,” and my instincts are giving me a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. But I move on with a new client or business relationship because things are transpiring fast, and I need to make quick decisions.

When I do this, I always end up wasting time, money and effort. And even though it can be very difficult to take a moment before accepting a huge contract or working with a new client, I’ve found that it is essential.

Just by giving myself a few minutes of quiet time, or by sleeping on a decision, I know exactly what I need to do and things seem to move forward much better.

…So with this in mind, it can be well worth it to listen to your inner voice prior to making a decision. It has helped my business grow much faster, and it may help you too! 

If this little tip helps you, please let me know. And if you have questions about your small business public relations or copywriting, I’d love to hear from you!

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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!

1 Comment | Marketing, Reaching Goals, Small Business PR | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
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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! 

Leave a Comment » | business, Marketing, PR, Reaching Goals, small business public relations | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by rembrandtwrites

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!

Leave a Comment » | business, Small Business PR, small business public relations | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by rembrandtwrites

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!

8 Comments | business, Marketing, PR, Small Business PR, Writing Tips | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by rembrandtwrites

Vote and Move On

November 4, 2008

 

Did you vote? I’m sure you will hear this a lot today, but it is an important election. And it will be interesting to see the media frenzy announcing all of the results.

Whatever happens, reporters will spend some time discussing the issues, and then it will be (somewhat) back to “business as usual.”

Are you ready?

Here are the key areas media members will be focusing on for the rest of the year:

- The Economy

- The Holidays

- The New Year (that’s right…start preparing your pitches now)

If you can figure out a unique story angle for these key areas that focus on the benefits of your products and services, you’ll have a much better time getting “press” over the next few months.

Do you have some interesting pitch-ideas you’d like to share or have questions about your PR efforts? Please feel free to contact me below or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. I’m here to help! Thanks!

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Posted by rembrandtwrites

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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Posted by rembrandtwrites

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!

6 Comments | Small Business PR, PR, Reaching Goals, Marketing | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by rembrandtwrites

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