How to Stay on the Good Side of the Media 11 April 2008

When I used to work at the largest consumer-magazine publishers in the UK, the one thing that used to really grind away at the section editors was time-wasters. Specifically, people who would send in long, meandering, non-newsworthy or just totally unfocussed press releases. Rather than try to make sense of the tens of releases like this they would receive each day, they simply went into the ‘reject’ pile…

So if you truly wish your release to stand out and make sure it has a future, take note of the the ‘press release wish-list’:

1. Do your homework. Get to know your editor’s audience, and make your release appeal to that audience. How? By studying at least several of the latest issues of the publication in question. 
2. Make sure you have something newsworthy to say. Although it sounds obvious, you’d be surprised to learn of just how many releases I saw that did not make this crucial grade.
3. Place your news at the beginning of the release, preferably in the headline or at the very least in the opening sentence.
4. Provide nuggets of information the scream “must be interviewed”. Be fresh, be original.
5. Include a short yet compelling bio (aka boilerplate) at the foot of your release. Ideally, your USP, or point of difference, should be here, too.
6. Finally, proofread your release for errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar. On the magazines I mentioned earlier, if we spotted more than one error in the first paragraph, we’d throw the release in the bin (unless it was a REALLY great story). If people couldn’t take their work seriously, why should we have?

Need more structured help in finding the right story angle, hook, even publications for your release? Powerhouse Publicity – How to Profit from the Media and Get FREE Publicity is a step-by-step system offering proven techniques that, when followed, can give you the tools to publicise you, your company, your product or service! It’s packed with facts and tips that you can start applying straight away, too.

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Reader Q&A: How Do I Get Free Publicity? 29 January 2008

Question:

“Do you have any tips on how to get some free public relations and media coverage for a friend’s business. Is there any way one can advertising their business within spending much cash?” 

–– Deville W, of Hampshire

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Answer:

There are a myriad of ways to generate publicity (which is a kind of ‘free’ advertising) without spending much cash. But advertising or promoting your buinsess through a combination of paid and non-paid-for means is key to surviving in the business jungle. 

Also, what works for one company might not work for another. For example, a standard tailor is not of much interest to the press, so a press release probably wouldn’t benefit that type of business as much as it would for, say, a new type of gourmet store. 

You might want to start with publicity – providing the media with news and other information on your friend’s business to get her media coverage. The thing is, when you do not pay for the coverage (’free’ publicity), you basically have no real control over the timing or content of your publicity. And there’s no guarantee you will get that publicity. 

That said, there is one ‘free’ publicity tool that does the business – the humble press release. 

A properly formatted, professionally written press release will stand a much greater chance of grabbing that media attention for your friend and get her business/name in the newspapers and magazines, as well as on radio and television. As a copywriter, editor and ex-journalist, I write or polish press releases on a regular basis, so I know what works and doesn’t. I’m currently writing a report on this and will let you know when it will be ready. 

A low-cost, highly effective option is postcard marketing. It’s a really great way of getting and keeping your name in front of your prospect list or target audience. I covered this in the first issue of Communiqué for Success! 

Another method is for your friend to form alliances with other entrepreneurs in his or her area. It doesn’t have to be a big network, a group of three can easily work. The point is for each person to agree to refer newspaper reporters to each other whenever they get approached about a topic on which you all could comment. 

Finally, online networking sites such as Ecademy and LinkedIn can be great promotion platforms. And they’re a fantastic way of searching for contacts. 

It all boils down to acting upon opportunities, effective communication, and building relationships and trust. 

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Your Best Year Yet + Win a Critique 16 January 2008

The all-new January 2008 edition of ‘Communiqué for Success’ is now online (subscribers get advanced notification). It answers such questions as:

 • How can you make 2008 your best year yet? • What’s the difference between PR and marketing? 
• How can you make a difference to this newsletter? 
• What do you need to do to WIN a website critique? 
• How long do you have to claim your gift from me? 
• How can you get a FREE virtual organiser? 
• What is the key to better online marketing? 

All the answers (and more) are in this month’s newsletter.

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Word count for this issue: 2,550
Approximate time to read: About 12 minutes
Suggested props: White Hot Chocolate & a Blueberry Muffin – organic, of course
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You can see the current and most of the past newsletters by going towww.mediaminister.co.uk and clicking on the “F*REE stuff” link on the top menu.

You’ll also find direct links to my blog and other sites.

And it’s all freeeeeeeeeeeee.

Enjoy!

Tracey

 PS - The direct link to the January newsletter is –http://www.mediaminister.co.uk/cfs/8January2008.htm

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Grab Your No-MBA-Required Marketing Plan 2 January 2008

A customised marketing plan helps you build success systematically. You’ll be building up on PROVEN actions, as opposed to falling flat on your face when business slows down (like as at this time of year).   My Powerfully Effective Marketing™ can help you create and, if needed, implement a very powerful marketing strategy for reinventing and repositioning your company (or help you invent and position your business, if you are a start-up). You’ll get better results, feel more focused and thus in control, and blast away your competition to boot.

* * * Sign up before 15 February 2008 and I’ll also critique your website’s home page at no extra charge. * * * Details: http://www.business-marketing-advice.mediaminister.co.uk

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How Buttons Drive Up Sales 27 November 2007

The latest issue of Communiqué for Success is out. It answers such questions as:

• How do ‘hot buttons’ impact on your business?

• Which ultimate resource can increase your sales by as much as 70%?

• How can you make your business words magnetic?

• What is the easiest way to get free advertising?

• How can you ensure your networking pays off?

• What should you do when business slows down?

All the answers (and more) are in the latest newsletter.

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Word count for this issue: 1,911
Approximate time to read: About 8 1/2 minutes
Suggested props: Winter Detox Juice or Hot Chocolate

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You can see the current and most of the past newsletters in full colour on the web by clicking here To take advantage of subscriber specials, etc, I would highly recommend you sign up to receive your very own copy – which will be sent ahead of public notification. Simply go to www.mediaminister.co.ukand click on the “F*REE stuff” link on the top menu.

And it’s all freeeeeeeeeeeee.

Enjoy!

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New (& Cheap!) Business-Building Resource 13 November 2007

I have just released the Business-Building Matters ebook: Issues 1-12 of Communiqué for Success (the critically acclaimed monthly online newsletter). It’s all assembled in one easy-to-navigate e-publication, and is ready to help streamline your business and increase profits.

We’re talking about every single feature article, success strategy, resource, and tip from the first October 2005 issue right through to the September 2006 issue. That’s 70 info-packed pages. All available for instant download.

Business-Building Matters is about advertising, marketing, promotion and publicity. But most importantly it’s about helping you succeed in business – regardless of which industry you are in.

For a limited time Business-Building Matters is just £7 (approx 9.5 euros or 14 dollars). (NB: This special introductory price will go up to £17 after the first 500 copies are sold.)

For what you get, and will get out of it, that’s almost a joke. Especially when you consider the time and effort that went into compiling it. Indeed, the effort I make every month to craft a FREE publication of real value — driven by practical content that works, NOT hype or endless promotion.

Ordering is easy and secure.

Find out more here:

> http://mediaminister.co.uk/BusinessBuildingMatters.htm <<< CLICK THIS

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Get More Business Competition 2 October 2007

MediaMinister has teamed up with ACPR to offer one lucky CfS reader a free copy of A Guide to Promoting Your Business, worth £15.

Entering couldn’t be easier. For your chance to win your own copy, simply submit the correct answer to the following question, together with your full name and postal address, email address and phone number via the contact form at www.mediaminister.co.uk/contact.htm:

Question: What does ‘PR’ stand for?

Prize Draw Rules

• No purchase is necessary.
• To enter, register for the ‘CfS’ newsletter via www.mediaminister.co.uk if you are not already a subscriber.
• Only one entry per person.
• This prize draw is open to all residents of the UK and Eire except employees of MediaMinister or ACPR and their families or anyone else connected with this prize draw.
• The prize is as stated in the prize draw details. No cash alternative will be offered.
• The winner will be selected at random, and the judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• All entries must be received by 3pm (BST) on Friday 12 October 2007.
• The winner will be notified by email within one month of the closing date. If the winner has not confirmed receipt of the notification email within two weeks, or is ineligible to receive the prize, another winner will be selected.
• No responsibility will be accepted for ineligible, incomplete or damaged entries (which may be disqualified), nor for entries that fail to arrive by the closing date.
• The winner agrees to the use of his or her name for publicity purposes, if required.
• It is a condition of entry that all entrants agree to be bound by these rules.
• The details of the winner may be requested by filling in the form at the ia the contact form at MediaMinister website.

Want to use this in your ezine, blog or website? No problem! Just let me know. I’ll send you a short resource box/bio to include at the end of the article.

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Bank Holiday Special 23 August 2007

Just to let you know that I’ve now released the full set of downloadable transcripts of the ‘Better Business Success’ TeleMasterClass programme. Buy one, or buy all 10. But each one WILL take your business or idea to the next level.

Because I like to reward my subscribers and blog readers (geez, I’m a nice gal!) for, well, reading this blog!

So I’m offering Are you ready to take your business to the next level?

I’m offering my newsletter and blog readers a Bank-Holiday special – grab one or more of these downloadable transcripts before 4pm (BST, 8am Pacific, 9am Mountain, 10am Central, 11am Eastern) on Tuesday 28 August 2007 for almost 2/3rds off the regular price.

All you have to do to take advantage of this time-sensitive 65% discount is email the following voucher code to me BEFORE 4pm on 28 August – “tc-aug-mmb” – along with your choice of transcripts from this URL:

http://www.mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#CDs

~~Tracey

Extra! Extra! Read All About YOU 21 August 2007

A great way to increase your visibility in the marketplace is to write articles related to your area of expertise. You can then offer them for publication in your local paper, in national magazines and papers, in email newsletters or on websites.

Best of all, over time you could get recognised as an expert. What’s more, if you include a link to your website in your articles, you’ll get lots of free traffic to your website to boot! Start today by picking a topic you know something about and writing a few paragraphs as the basis for your article.

Want to use this in your ezine, blog or website? No problem! Just let me know. I’ll send you a short resource box/bio to include at the end of the article.

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Price Increase 1 August 2007

I need to increase the price of each of my hugely popular content-packed ‘TeleMasterClass’ products from £27 to £50 (or £189 to £350 for the entire 10 CD collection) for an upcoming project where they need to be priced more in line to what others are charging for these kinds of products.

I wanted to give you ample notice so that blog readers can grab your own personal copies of these home-study systems BEFORE the price increase, if you don’t already have them.

Here are all the products affected:

1. http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#articles

2. http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#BetterBizWriting

3. http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#Response

4. http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#HPA

5. http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#Newsletters

6. http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#Postcards

7. http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#Publicity

8. http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#SalesLet

9. http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#Online

10. http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm#Webcopy

In all probability, the price will go up around 4pm (BST) next Wednesday (8 August). So there is still plenty of time to save on a handful or the full range. But I’d recommend you buy and save today: http://mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm.

As with all MediaMinister products, there is a full money-back guarantee.

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