NameTagTV.com [video of the week]
Hey, my good mate Scott Gisnberg has just launched NameTagTV.com, it’s a very cool site so make sure you check it out.
Here is my favorite video so far …
Video not working? Click here for Adobe Flash 9!
Technorati Tags: Scott Ginsberg, Scott, Ginsberg, name tag, name, tag, nametag, nametagtv
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Apples PR Team “Go To” work…
Managing public opinion is a major factor in the continual success of any big companies such as Apple.
But every now and again, they was Apple keeps a firm grip on the media gets leaked… and this is one of those occasions.
In this clip, Benjamin Cohen, a Channel 4 journalist in Brittan, is trying to ask Phil Schiller of Apple a question about the relationship of the iPhone to the iTunes music store when he uses the M word — monopoly.
That’s when the PR team swoop in and re-establish control of interview.
Technorati Tags: apple, iphone, publicity, pr,
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Special Invitation to Free Publicity Teleconference!
A good friend of mine, David McMahon is running a free Teleconference tomorrow night. He’ll be interviewing Jennifer Elliott on how to get Journalists to sell your products and services.
Getting your name in the newspaper is one thing… yes; you will be famous for about 5 minutes… the key point to know is how to get more customers, how to turn all that fame and publicity into more customers and more cash flow for you. All will be revealed in the call…
So if you want free publicity, would like tips on how to handle journalists in the interview, get key advance strategies on how to get more customers, then you need to be on this call.
Date of Call:
Thursday 8th November 2007
Time of Call:
09.00 a.m. Western Australia
09.30 a.m. Northern Territory
10.00 a.m. QLD
10.30 a.m. South Australia
11.00 a.m. NSW, ACT, VIC & TAS
12.00 noon New Zealand
Phone Number:
From Australia dial: 0011 1 646-519-5800
From New Zealand dial: 00 1 646-519-5800
Caller PIN Number: 2848#
Please Note:
The teleconference call is hosted in the USA, which means it is an international call.
But you can still participate for a small amount. Your local post office, supermarket, newsagent, etc… sells pre-paid PHONE CARDS. If you buy a $20 phone card you can use it to sit on the hour long call for approximately $2.00. In fact it’s far likely to be cheaper than calling STD within Australia! And the cost is automatically deducted from your pre-paid card.
Technorati Tags: publicity, journalist, teleseminar, David, McMahon, Jennifer, Elliott
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What’s The Point Of A Press Release???
Ok, so it sounds like an obvious question, right?
Well, a lot of people have misconceptions about what a press release should actually do. Let’s clear those up right now! In order to understand what a press release is, you need to be able to tell the aims of publicity apart from the aims of a press release. So, recapping and adding on to the purpose of publicity:
The aims of publicity are:
- To raise awareness for your cause
- To make you boat-loads of cash; and
- To make you famous.
Ok, so the concept of what publicity is all about should be pretty clear to you by now. Let’s move on the point of a press release. The aims of publicity and the aims of a press release are not the same. I’ll say that again: the aim of a press release is not to get awareness, boost your ego or make you sales.
A press release’s one and only purpose is to get you an interview.
The press release is designed to draw the media people in so that they will contact you for more information. Your press release is not meant to be printed word for word in the media. If it is, you have written an appealing and pleasing press release, but unfortunately not a successful one.
Why?
Isn’t it a good thing if they print exactly what you want them to print??
The answer is simple: no. If you send out your press release and it is printed word for word in the local press, that is the only coverage you are going to get. That’s because you’ve already told them everything they need to know! Why would they bother wasting their own time and resources calling you for an interview when all of their questions have already been answered?
If your press release is printed word-for-word, it’s not the end of the world; you still gained exposure. But now you know what to do better next time. Craft your next press release so that the media must come to you for the answers to their questions.
Technorati Tags: publicity, press, media, release, PR, Pete, Williams
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Top X PR Distribution Websites
Hi All…
I just wanted to start a post, which I can continue to add to which lists the TOP X PR Distribuition websites.
If you know of others, please leave a comment below so we can continue to grow this great publicity resource.
PRWeb - http://www.prweb.com
PR Urgent - http://www.prurgent.com
PRLeap - http://www.prleap.com -
PR Newswire - http://www.prnewswire.com
PRWeb Direct - http://www.prwebdirect.com
TheOpenPress - http://www.theopenpress.com
Free Press Release - http://www.free-press-release.com
Pressbox.co.uk - http://www.pressbox.co.uk
I-Newswire - http://www.i-newswire.com/
PR Free - http://www.prfree.com/
OpenPress - http://www.openpress.com/
Soft Press Release - http://www.softpressrelease.com
Market Wire - http://www.marketwire.com
URL Wire - http://www.urlwire.com/
Web Wire - http://www.webwire.com/
EMediaWire - http://www.emediawire.com
BusinessWire - http://www.businesswire.com
PR 9 - http://www.pr9.net
PR Inside - http://www.pr-inside.com
Canada Newswire - http://www.newswire.ca/
Press Release Network - http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com
Technorati Tags: pr, publicity, links, distribution, press, release, media, pete, williams, sites, websites
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DealDotCom - Press Release Profits Only $18.98
Hi All,
I am not sure if you’ve heard all the hype around ‘DealDotCom’ and their amazing ‘one-day-only’ offers.. but TODAY October 8, 2007 they are offering an AMAZING PR Course for ONLY $18.98 USD (Regularly $37.00)
Check it out at:http://www.renegadepublicist.com/dealdotcom.php
This bargain of a course is titled ‘Press Release Profits’ and includes:
* A Comprehensive Home Study Course: As always PR Guru Alice Seba delivers with hours of Audio complete with downloadable printouts which include pages and pages of helpful tips to get your Press Releases noticed.
* The Press Release Profits Software Application: Formats your Press Releases for you, automatically in HTML or proper format for printable releases (to send in to Newspapers, Radio, and TV stations).
* A slew of Bonuses: Tons of info from the pro on how you can use Press Releases for Affiliate profits, Niche marketing, and search engine traffic. Also, see videos of Alice critiquing press releases for tips on how to get yours noticed!
This seriously is a ONE-DAY-ONLY offer so make sure you don’t miss out and visit: http://www.renegadepublicist.com/dealdotcom.php
The guys at DealDotCom hit the nail on the head when the wrote:
“…The sad truth today is that people are wary of blatant advertising. We are so bombarded with marketing it’s hard to trust any of it. The cost of advertising has also gone up, especially on the internet. The good old days of 10 cent bids on keywords are a thing of the past, and to get someone competent to get your message out to targeted visitors costs a pretty penny as well. If only there were a cheap way to inform people about your products or services. Well, there is, and it’s called Press Releases.
Before you say, “But I don’t know a thing about Press Releases!” let me tell you about another great product from Alice Seba. Alice spent quite a bit of time as a professional Press Release writer, and her product, Press Release Profits imparts all her knowledge on to you, especially if you don’t know a thing about them.
Press Releases are newsworthy STORIES. While people can see an advertisement from space, they trust a story. A story puts your business or website in the back of their minds, so even if they aren’t interested in what you have to offer, if someone asks them they will mention you because they read the story.
How much does it cost to put out a Press Release? Nothing! Everything you need to put out a press release that will grab the media’s attention is included in Press Release Profits. Alice shows you how to format a press release, where to submit it, and how to make it so it gets picked up. You tell me, would a story about your website in your local paper get you more visitors? Who better to tell people about your business than you?
The bonuses Press Release Profits are all included and shows how powerful a Press Release campaign can be for Affiliate Marketers, Niche Marketers, and SEO Marketers. If you want more people to come to your blog or website for free, then put out a press release and watch the traffic roll in. Press Release Profits will show you how. Become your own bullhorn.”
Seriously, I recommend to check it out: http://www.renegadepublicist.com/dealdotcom.php
Enjoy ,
Pete
Technorati Tags: press, release, profits, dealdotcom, deal, dot, com, Alice, Seba, publicity
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Public Relations for Non Profit Organizations
If you are part of a community group or non-profit organization then the local media can be one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. Not only is it often much easier to win coverage on a local basis versus a national one, it is also much more relevant to the people involved.
In fact, if your organization pulls it’s membership numbers from a specific area, then this may just be the best possible way to reach them. By properly utilizing local coverage you can more effectively communicate with your group.
Even if you are part of a much larger organization, often your membership will be clustered in certain geographic regions. If you can leverage the local media in those areas you can again reach your group in a convenient and proficient format.
Now as great as this all sounds, there is an art to it. Follow these key points to make the most out of your local media exposure.
Build Strong Relationships
If you want the media to be on your side, then you have to give them a reason. By taking the time to build strong and lasting relationships you can better your odds of winning the coverage you’re after.
Building these types of relationships does take some work. As in, don’t expect it to happen overnight. But just give it time; before you know it you’ll have the contacts you need to get your stories run quickly and accurately.
You’ll know that you’ve made it when all these journalist that you have worked so hard to woo start calling you for stories. When your phone starts to ring, then you are doing something very right!
Outline your Facts
You have to know your story before you can convince someone else to cover it!
Meet with your group and get your facts straight before anyone starts talking to the media. If you are fuzzy on the details, then conflicting versions of the same story will soon find their way into rotation. To avoid this it is important that everyone be on the same page right from the beginning.
Take the time to sit down together and outline all the points you want to cover. Here are a few universal topics that are important to almost every story to get you started.
- Who - Layout who your organization is and who the key players are for this story.
- What - What specifically is the activity or event that the story focuses on?
- When - When did or does this even take place?
- Where - Where exactly are we talking about?
- Why - Why is this important? Explain why it is that people, both those in your group and those just following your story, should care about this story.
- How - How do you plan on accomplishing this?
By building clear points around these questions you are creating a concise story that is easily covered by the media. The easier things are for them, the more likely they are to come to you again.
Making your Story Matter
So at this point you have done the groundwork and have strong media relationships firmly in place in your local community. Now you need to make sure that your story is relevant to your area. You have to make it matter to the people that will hear it.
This is how you make the news. If the people who hear your story don’t care one way or the other about it, then why should the news run it? Taking the time to localize your information is probably the most important step you can take.
Why? Because like we said, you have to get people to care. It doesn’t matter how good your relationships are or how well designed your story is, if it doesn’t matter to your audience then they aren’t going to listen. And if the audience doesn’t listen then you aren’t going to get the coverage you’re after. It’s as simple as that.
While the local media in your area probably does cover larger national stories and events, ultimately it is their job to bring things down to a local level. People care about what is happening right in their own backyard, and it is the job of the local media outlets to provide that information.
So before you start your pitch, run through the facts and find the relevance. If you can’t answer the “So what?” Then you’re not ready.
You don’t want all your hard work to just end up lining a trash bin somewhere!
Bringing it Home
Now this whole process needs to happen quickly. Your group has to be able to lay out their story, localize it, and then convey it to the media in a quick and timely fashion.
Knowing right off the bat how your story relates to your target area will make this whole process that much easier.
Bringing the story back home is rather easy if you know where to look. Here are a few very good places to start:
- Where is your group based? If the answer is locally then you are home free. People want to know what others in their community are up to and that fact alone can make the story matter to them.
- Where is your event being held? Even if you aren’t a local group, if you are sponsoring a local event, then it becomes important.
- What are you trying to convey? If the information is relevant to the local people then they will want to hear it.
- Who is affected? Is your organization stepping out to help someone in the local community? Or maybe they are taking a stand on an issue that hits close to home? You need to think about these things before you pitch your story.
- Do you have a special guest? Even if your actual group holds no real interest to the local population, you might be able to create some through hosting the right guest at your activity.
- If the information is more standard, like when and where you meet, it might not be as exciting, but work to make it interesting. Still tell people who you are and what you are trying to do. You might just perk some new interest!
Always Know your Goals
If you can answer all the questions up to this point, then you probably have a very good idea of what type of story you are shooting for. It is important to know what you want before you ask. Then you know exactly what it is that you are bargaining to attain.
If you are holding an activity or event in the local area then it quickly becomes a general interest story. In this case if you want people to really get the feel of what the event was like, then you want pictures. Have your facts together and be well prepared for your interview to achieve the success you are after.
If the piece needs to be longer and dive more into the details, then consider a feature story in your local newspaper. This way you can use pictures and an interview to your best advantage.
It may be that all your after is a quick mention. Having your name dropped in the right circles can make all the difference in the world.
Whatever your goal ends up being, you have to know what it is!
This goes back to the importance of having those strong media relationships. If you already know what options are available to you, then you can better understand what you need to aim for. Also the better your relationships are, the more say you can get in exactly where your story runs and how it looks when it does.
If you want to maximize your coverage then this is the only way to go.
So Now What?
If you have taken all the steps outlined here and are confident in your information, then it is time to start knocking on doors. There is no way your story can ever be run if the right people don’t even know that it exists.
Here are some common ways to start:
Take our advice and you’ll be a pro at handling your local media outlets in no time at all!
Technorati Tags: non, profit, community, organization, organisation, publicity, pr, media, pete, williams, public, relations
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Making Your Opinions Count With A ‘Letter To The Editor’
Keeping your yourself, your business, your website or even community group firmly centered in the public eye may start to feel like a never-ending job. Well, that’s because it is!
It is also one of the most important jobs you have.
And not something that you want to let slip through the cracks. In fact, keeping your group front and center in the minds of the public can have a direct impact on both your financial well being and marketing efforts. The more people who know about what you want to do, and more importantly care about it, the better off your bank balance will be.
Because when people remember you, when they know your name, your goals, and what it is that you do, then you are starting to get somewhere. Then you can make others stop and take notice.
There are several different ways that you can use the Media to help you with this effort. Let us look at just a few:
- Feed a story or tip to a local journalist
- Put together an attention grabbing press release for your organization
- Find a way to insert your own comments into an ongoing current issue
- Write an opinion-based piece for your own local newspaper.
One tried and true method for getting your message out there is to write your own “Letter to the Editor”, and have it published in a credible news source.
In many newspapers the Letters to the Editor area is one of the most high traffic sections in the entire publication.
This is the place where people can be heard, and it can really give you a good feel for the current mood of the population. For it is only in this section of the paper that the people can be heard.
Know this and use it to your advantage. This can be your chance to have your message heard by the public. And as with any opportunity, you are responsible for making the most of it.
So, How do you make it happen?
Let us give you a few pointers:
Study your Query:
If you want your voice to be heard then you need to know what they are looking for. Make it a daily ritual to read the Letters pages and get a feel for the types of pieces that make it to print. Before long you will start to see a pattern that you can then emulate.
Follow the Rules:
Every paper has a published set of guidelines that letters must meet. Make it your business to know what these are and then follow them to a tee. You want your letter to be published, not to be scrapped for a small technicality.
Remember that this is a Family Show:
There is no reason to be boring and a little humor always keeps things fresh and interesting. But, there is no reason to be rude. The Editor might have a chuckle, but he will be the only person who ever sees it. If you want to see your words in print then you need to keep things clean.
Stay on Topic:
Be concise with what you want to say, and stay on topic! You know your key points, so stick to them. If you want your message to stick, then keep it simple. Choose your words carefully and make every one count.
Space things Out:
Instead of one long drawn out piece, break up your letter into short manageable sections. These types of visual breaks make it easier for your readers to follow, and make the information easier to digest.
Keep it Relevant:
The stories that ultimately make print generally relate in some way to a current issue the newspaper has focused on. Try to find a story that is relevant to your business or group. If you can tie your message to a current event then you are that much more likely to get printed. Also, you need to get your piece in as quickly as possible. Papers print each and everyday so your window is just a matter of hours. Remember that and make the time count.
Remember your Audience:
You aren’t writing this for the people inside your business who know the ins and outs, but for people that have no idea who you are. And, nor do they care. You have to write this in a way that any average person can understand. If you go above their heads then you have accomplished nothing.
Make yourself Available:
If you want people to follow up with you then you need to include your contact information. Should you manage to perk people’s interest then they need to know how to get in contact with you and your organization.
Bide your Time:
Try to pick a time when the paper might not be flooded with letters. Maybe you can try during the summer, or over a holiday weekend, just be smart and choose wisely.
Choose the Right Words:
Write and re-write your message until you have just the right combination of words. Don’t just jot something down and shoot it off. Write your article and put it aside for a little while. Then re-read and re-write. Make sure that things sound just the way you want them to before you ever send it in.
Technorati Tags: publicity, letter, editor, press, release, newspaper, media, pete, williams
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How To Make Yourself Heard in The Media…
Creating your group’s core message is one thing, making sure that it is heard they way you want it to be is something entirely different.
You have to realize that even if you stage the perfect media event, only a very small amount of what is actually said will be covered in the end.
Handling the media is an art, and there is a skill to it. The trick here is to gently guide the media into covering points of your choosing rather than their own. You want your carefully prepared sound bite to end up being that small bit that makes it to air.
That’s great. Right?
So how do you do it?
Like we said there is a skill to it. If you take the time to do your homework now, you can eliminate the guesswork later. Then you can effectively use the media to your advantage rather then the other way around.
Staying one Step Ahead
It is very frustrating how sometimes it feels as though no matter what you do, your message gets lost in the shuffle.
Many times the media tends to use an event to their own advantage. They show up and take a few pretty pictures without ever finding out what your real message is. If they don’t cover what you want or need them too, then there is no reason for them to even show up!
So to counter act this threat, you have to be proactive. Go on the offensive and make sure that your message is more than obvious. If they can’t avoid it, then they have to cover it!
Basically, if you can make it clear, again and again, then the media has no choice but to put it out there. There is no room for them to “improvise” anything.
This is called “signposting.” It means that you are leading people where you want them by assuring that your message and it’s meaning are front and center no matter where you look.
Here are a few tried and true tips for this technique.
State your message. Say it again, and then say it in a new way.
You have taken the time to create this great point, so stick with it. This means repeating it throughout your interview and finding new ways to work it in over and over again.
Don’t just stick to the same old words. You have to be creative and find new words to wrap around the same meaning. This helps to keep it fresh and keep the media from becoming bored with you and your organization.
If you already have a few different ways to say things firmly entrenched in your mind, then it is much easier to work them into the conversation. Don’t try to think this up on the fly; you’ll just look foolish.
Here is an example of what we are talking about. Let’s say that your group is trying to raise awareness around the deterioration of local parks. Here are a few examples of what you might say.
1.“Almost every person in this town uses these parks at some time or another. If we don’t take control of the situation now, then they won’t be here to enjoy for very much longer!”
2.“It is up to us to take control of the state of our parks. This is where our children come to play and we owe it to them to provide a safe environment.”
3.“If we wait for someone else to step up and take charge of the clean up then it will never happen! It is time for us to stand together as a community and make some changes.”
4.“It is easy to overlook the problem we have with our local parks. But now we have to wake up and find a solution!”
The message is the same in all four quotes, but the words are completely different. See, variety really is the spice of life!
Building your Tasty Sound Bite
A sound bite is a short and sweet statement that captures the core of your message. Any of the four examples listed above could be used as a possible sound bite.
To be effective, your sound bite needs to be short, sweet, and to the point. But the most important factor is practice. Take the time to practice out loud so that you get use to how the words sound. You’re less likely to trip over them and will come off looking more professional and polished.
This also gives you the chance to anticipate possible questions and work out what your answers might be.
In most cases this is all the coverage your going to get, so find the right words and make them count.
If you can keep the message simple, and then make it matter to your audience, it is much more likely to be used.
So, what does this mean to you?
It means that YOU are now in control of the situation, and you are working to ensure that the message they cover is the message YOU want put out there for the world to see. Think about it!
Useable Quotes
Before you send out your press release, first make sure that it contains some appropriate quotes.
That means that you want those core points right up top in the first or second paragraphs. Since most journalists don’t read any further than that, you have to grab their attention quickly.
It is also important to repeat these bullet points at the end of the document. This helps those who actually read the whole thing to remember your key message.
And if you really want to slam the point home, there is no reason why your main points can’t be Bolded, or written in a larger font! You have to get your point across and don’t be afraid to use all the tools at your disposal. And this is one way to make sure that they can’t miss them.
If you want something, ASK FOR IT! Or be willing to do it yourself.
If you feel that they are just not getting it, don’t be afraid to ask the media to cover a specific point. Or, find a way to work it in on your own.
This is easiest with an interview. When you are face to face with the journalist, it is much easier to ask them to include a certain quote or point.
Remember that they are much more likely to comply if you have done the groundwork and given them something strong to work with. They might help you, but they aren’t going to do the work for you.
Now there is no guarantee that this tactic will work, but it is more than worth a try. The worst that they can do is say no!
However, it seems like more often than not, the journalist will work with you. They are smart people and know what your after here. If there is a reasonable way to do it, then they will most likely try to help you out.
These quick points work great in a radio format as well. If you get it just right, the station might even be willing to give you a quick plug outside of their normal news broadcast. Radio is also a great format for you to work it in on your own.
Good manners say that you should always obtain permission before taking this tack. If you anger your host, you won’t be invited back.
Make it Pretty
We have now covered all aspects of how your “signposting” should sound. It is important to also think about how it will look. A picture is worth a thousand words, and much more than that if it is the picture you want.
By using a pleasant backdrop that states your message, you gain one more medium for your point.
Think about sporting events. In today’s world stadiums are lined with ads that have no audio function at all. They are simply there to catch a person’s eye. This is a great way to get your point across without ever saying a word.
You can make this technique work for you as well. Post signs, string banners, or hang posters, anything to put your logo and message out in the public eye.
Don’t forget to include any relevant contact information. You don’t want to make the mistake of winning someone’s interest only to have him or her forget because they can’t find you.
Stay Focused
Taking the time to prepare these elements before hand is a great way to stay on message. If you know what you are after before you ever start, then you are more likely to stick to your key points and stay focuses. The last thing you want is to finally land that prime media spot and then blow it by wandering off on a tangent.
Don’t forget to use your tools! You have taken the time to create them, so why should they sit forgotten in your arsenal? Be consistent, stay focused, and keep trying again and again. Before long you will start to see the sweet rewards of all your hard work.
Technorati Tags: publicity, interview, tips, sounds, bites, pete, williams, radio tv, interviews
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Public Relations on a Startup Budget
Sometimes it can be intimidating and discouraging to compete against large organizations with a minimal startup budget. Don’t despair; the Sloan Brothers over at Start Up Nation can help you remove these barriers to entry for your startup business!
To help you promote your business, products or services through public relations, Rich and Jeff teamed up with PR Newswire and Rembrandt Communications to help you obtain publicity for your business on a startup budget.
Melanie Rembrandt, their media relations and writing expert, joined them on a recent edition of StartupNation Radio to share some PR tips.
Technorati Tags: publicity, startupnation, startup, nation, rich, jeff, sloan, Melanie, Rembrandt, Communications, press, release, radio, pete, williams, renegade, publicist
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