Public Relations Articles For Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners7 Ways For Your Business To Survive The Summer SlumpIt might only be the start of July, but already I can sense people starting to wind down for the summer. People are telling me that that they are feeling tired, struggling to get through their normal work, let alone do any PR. They are eagerly awaiting their summer break or just in a whole […] Media Releases … Defining Your AudienceHaving a story printed about you and your business is the best form of FREE advertising there is. Why you ask? Because it’s believable. A news story in a local or national publication can give more details about your business in a way that allows your expertise to shine. People skim through the advertisement sections […] Know When To Send Your Media Release For Free PublicityTiming…oh what a controversial subject! Timing can mean the difference between success and failure for getting media exposure. There are a lot variables including time of year, what your competitors are doing, current trends in your industry, whether it’s good news or bad news, and the list goes on. To start, find out what the […] PR Strategies – 7 Reasons Why You Need One Right Now1. Just Getting It Done Without a strategy, PR does have an annoying habit of getting pushed to the bottom of a to-do list. After all, it’s rare that journalists actively contact you (unless you are a member of our club perhaps!). Every PR campaign has to be self-motivated and maintained. Having a PR strategy […] Checklist To Capture Media AttentionRecently, I sent out a media release for a company owned by my brother, Scot Morgan. Scot has been in business for himself for twenty years, and in all that time he had never tried to get the free publicity you just can’t buy – that is, by sending out a media release. And interestingly […] Will It Blend? – Traditional And Social MediaAs a veteran PR counselor specializing in the creative marketing services space, I avidly track the evolution of media channels, especially the growing challenge that “social media” poses to “traditional media” for marketplace dominance. When working to develop leadership positions for emerging companies an understanding of which media will most profoundly impact one’s reputation and […] How To Write Effective Media ReleasesA well-written media release is a powerful tool that can give your business the free publicity money can’t buy. Publicity is the most effective way to gain customers. It differs from advertising, as you can’t control the message or the timing, but the benefit is great. A news story in a local or national publication […] Developing A WebsiteAs a PR and digital marketing firm we often get calls and emails from friends and family after they have done a DIY attempt at a web site. But as with every question asked of us, we have more questions. It starts with the goals of the site. Is it just to have an online […] Let Paper Press Kits Join History“We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges.” – Gold Hat (Alfonso Bedoya), The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (Warner Bros – 1948) Conventions/conferences are events that challenge a man’s (and woman’s) stamina. They push you to the limits of creativity and performance. Companies spend hundreds of thousands, no millions […] Social Networking Lines Are BlurredI often hear my clients tell me “I only use Facebook for family stuff and LinkedIn for business”. For sure that was the original intention of those social platforms. However, did you ever wonder how you make decisions on what is a personal contact and what is a business contact? Maybe that depends on your […] Landing Pages – How They Can Help Your CompanyWhat is a landing page? Sometimes known as a lead capture page it is used for online marketing. It is a web page a visitor reaches after clicking an online ad or link. It is a way to convert web clicks into clients. The page will contain detailed content of the product or service mentioned. […] An Author’s Dilemma: Surviving The Seismic Shifts In The Book TradeBook signing tours use to be a regular part of the publishing industry. Authors expected to sign a deal, get an advance and then prepare for a tour. Some tours, those of the reigning literary superstars, had a glamorous side; for most they were a bit of a grind and a part of the road […] The Music Industry: Spinning A New Business ModelThe Internet has impacted all of the arts, but no sector has been hit quite as hard as the music industry. With CD sales fading and radio play shrinking, recording artists are finding less opportunities to get their music heard. To survive, many musicians are becoming brands in the service of brands. The industry is […] Creating a Long Term Marketing Action PlanMost companies develop action plans for what they consider the nuts-and-bolts part of their business, including production, sales, distribution, etc. It’s surprising how few companies automatically throw marketing into that mix. This is particularly true when it comes to small or mid-sized companies. Many entrepreneurs and business owners think of marketing as an extra, an […] Creating PR Success Beyond OprahI recently received a call from a prospective client who had recently appeared on Oprah and was looking for ways to continue and grow his media placements and build his public relations campaign. That was one smart, savvy business owner. Most people view Oprah as the summit, as the end of the line media-wise. Granted, […] Tips For An Effective Online NewsroomEvery organization has some form of online newsroom to provide documents, graphics and press kits to the media. Most are poorly thought out and executed to benefit the journalist, writer, reviewer, blogger, analyst. Here is a list of tips that can help you create and manage an effective newsroom that provides a return on investment. […] The Internet’s Marketing Silver BulletSocial media and blogging can immediately establish a company’s presence and deliver its message online. Business owners and entrepreneurs can now find specific communities that they can target and deliver their message addressing specific interests and concerns. But for most companies, the Internet’s capabilities and outreach are limited. There are countless businesses with websites, blogs […] The New Rules For Successfully Landing Media CoverageThis truly is a new age in the public relations and media world. The Internet has turned the communication world on its head. Many say it heralds the end of traditional media, but I believe what is actually happening is not the death throws of one form of media, but a morphing of different forms […] Can You Do PR Without Talking To Journalists?For me, PR always has been (and probably still is) the hardest part of marketing Exceptional Thinking. Why? Because it involves picking up the phone and talking to journalists. Now, I’m sure they’re lovely people, but in my head, they’ve got three heads, sharp fangs and would happily eat me for breakfast. And that’s why […] How to Get the Most Out of a Sponsorship DealBefore we go any further, it’s probably a good idea to be able to define exactly what is meant by Sponsorship. Now there are numerous different ways of defining Sponsorship, however, my preferred definition is as follows:- “An investment, in cash or in kind, in an activity, in return for access to the exploitable commercial […] |
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