Public Relations Tips: February 2006

For a small business, the local media is one of your biggest chances for publicity. It's important that you build relationships with the reporters there, because so much of this career is about connections and who you know.

You are not there to get your one hit story and then move on. You want to be an ally to that reporter, so make sure you're choosing the right person to pitch to. Open whatever newspaper or magazine or publication you're considering, and find out who writes about your kind of business. It may be a general sort of interest writer, but make sure you're targeting someone who can actually write about you.

Since you need help from the reporters, it's crucial that you play their game. There are unspoken rules that you need to follow to build a lasting relationship with them. Many of these rules apply to how and when you contact them. When you're calling a reporter, the first thing you say should be "Are you on deadline?" No matter how good your pitch is, the reporter is not going to listen to you if they're pushing to finish something. Asking this question proves that you know what you're doing in the business world.

This is just one of the many tips found in The Fastest, Cheapest, Easiest Ways to Publicize Your Small Business--Even if You're a Solo Entrepreneur.

Posted by DK at 07:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Planning an event budget is almost as important as planning the event itself. You need to make sure you are making a decent profit for the amount of time and work you're putting into this event.

If you plan a budget in writing, you'll be much less likely to spend more money than you have available. It also helps to make sure you're focusing the money in the right places.

Don't forget to put in hidden expenses either: it's rare to have events without them. Hidden expenses include hiring security officers, putting up road blockades, and buying permits, to name only a few.

Plan your entire budget, and then add in 20% extra to cover these hidden costs. You'll probably need this money, and if you don't, you'll be pleasantly surprised. But don't skimp on that budget! Put it in writing, and let it keep you and your staff in check.

This is just one of the many tips found in How to Plan and Promote Sizzling Special Events!

Posted by DK at 07:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The truth is, Public Relations is about long-term relationships. Quite often PR does not make the phone ring today, or even tomorrow, but you're always building. You're building relationships with people who will help you when the time is right. Do not become impatient or frustrated, things will fall into place eventually. Meanwhile, you're building your brand recognition and name awareness.

Whatever happens, know that you can't try to make the phone ring tomorrow. You need to spend the time and effort into making relationships with people of influence, who will turn to you down the road when they need help. Just take your time in creating the important connections that will make business easier in the future.

Read more tips like this The Fastest, Cheapest, Easiest Ways to Publicize Your Small Busines--Even if You're a Solo Entrepreneur.

Posted by DK at 07:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

All of us know that committees are key to successful even planning. However, everyone is probably also acquainted with the frustration and miscommunication that accompanies these groups.

When you're in charge of the event, it's important to try to delegate. People serving on committees get burned out and frustrated very easily if they don't have clear-cut jobs.

When you create committees, you need to define what that committee is responsible for, and then you need to have job descriptions for every member of that committee. At first, this is going to seem like a lot of work. However, it will be worth it in the end because everyone will know how much work they are responsible for. It keeps your people energized and aware of the commitment you need.

When setting up your event committees, make sure you take the time to delegate: everything will run smoother.

Read more tips like this in How to Plan and Promote Sizzling Special Events!

Posted by DK at 07:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The most important resource you can have in event-planning is people power. Do you have enough staff? How about volunteers? Events take a lot of work, and even the best people burn out on the job. Make sure you have enough people involved in your planning to get the event off the ground.

Your second most valued resource is time. In reality, you need to allow nine to twelve months to plan an event. Without this time, the stress level goes up exponentially, because you don't have enough time to get everything done, and you can't do it right. The people involved in the planning are likely to be stressed, which impacts the way they work.

Lastly, support is an under-appreciated resource. Consider yourself lucky is you have unquestioning support from your upper management. This is a resource you won't value appropriately until you have to work for it. If at all possible, get the support from your uppers before you get to start the planning process: you never know when you'll need it.

Read more tips like this in How to Plan and Promote Sizzling Special Events!

Posted by DK at 07:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Since this is the season when people start planning major summer and fall events, we'll be posting event planning tips for the next several days.

Choosing your date and day of the week is a very important part in planning your event.

You obviously want people to come, so it would be easier if you didn't have to compete with their other obligations. That means that weekend events are basically out, unless you have a strong pull for families to come.

During the week, it's common for professional organizations and churches to choose Wednesday for their meetings, so try not to schedule that night. Mondays are often considered family time, and don't forget that they are big days for the football games.

Your best bet is a Tuesday or Thursday, because there will be less competition for time.

Also, be sure to check up on holidays, including the lesser-known ones in your planner.

Depending on your location, you may need to pay close attention to the weather as well: if a snowstorm hits, you'll want to move your event immediately!

Whatever your event may be, you'll get a better turnout if you carefully choose the date.

Read more tips like this in How to Plan and Promote Sizzling Special Events!

Posted by DK at 07:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Don't forget to prepare for a pre-interview! Producers use pre-interviews as the deciding factor whether or not to book you or your client.

This interview is usually done over the phone, between you or your client and the producer. It's important that you prep yourself or your client to land the booking. This is the producer's chance to make sure you are articulate and know your material. They don't want someone to bomb on their show, so this is a necessary step in the booking process. Make sure you're prepared!

Know the show, know your subject matter, be awake, pay attention, and be engaging. You can't afford to blow this one off!

For more tips on how to get onto talk shows, pick up a copy of How to Get Booked On Morning TV Talk Shows

Posted by DK at 07:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When a journalist comes calling, you should not be coy and or evasive about the truth. If you're embarrassed or unwilling to talk about your business' problem, you're closing off a wonderful opportunity to get free publicity for yourself.

Of course you won't want to reveal specific financial statistics, but the more information you can give a reporter, the better chance they'll use you as a key part of their story. Answer the reporter's questions truthfully and you gain credibility because you're not hiding anything.

Spend the 20-30 minutes to really give a reporter what they want. Of course, don't overload them with useless information, but give them the golden nuggets they're looking for, and they'll use you as a centerpiece in their story. The best way to lose potential publicity is by refusing to comment!

Read more tips like this in The Fastest, Cheapest, Easiest Ways to Publicize Your Small Busines--Even if You're a Solo Entrepreneur.

Posted by DK at 10:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When planning an event, it is critical to determine the purpose of your event.

What do you want to accomplish? Is it a fundraiser? Are you looking for new customers? Are you trying to build your image?

Determining the purpose of your event is the best first step to your planning process. Once you have a goal, you can cater each aspect of the event to it, which will make you more successful overall because you know what outcome you're seeking.

Of course, each purpose will be unique to the business and the event, but as long as everyone is aware of your goal, you can accomplish almost anything.

This is just one of the many tips found in How to Plan and Promote Sizzling Special Events!

Posted by DK at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One great way to get more clients and publicity is to do a survey.

Now, a survey does not have to be something that is scientifically valid. It can be just asking usually anything over 100 people a simple question, and tallying the results. If the results are interesting and newsworthy, you can present it in an interesting and newsworthy way to get publicity for you.

You could survey a particular industry about how many of these companies actually got media coverage in the last year, or how many of them have a crisis communication plan in place. Of course, the responses need to be anonymous.

But then, you can put together a press release saying that, "Only 28.9% of a selection of companies in the local area actually have a plan about what to do if a crisis hits their company.""

That gives you an opportunity to talk about why this is so important.

Submit your results in a press release to the local media. Write them up as a fact sheet and send them out as direct mail to prime potential contacts. Them them into your media kit. Add them to your website. Distribute copies at the Chamber of Commerce meetings. Do whatever it takes to get them out.

Surveys give you two advantages - first, they're more newsworthy, so they're more likely to get you press. Second, presumably you will have chosen as a topic for your survey something which you have expertise in solving - this helps to set you up in your potential clients' minds as a potential source to help them resolve this issue.

This is just one of 24 tips to be found in 24 Ways To Attract Clients To Your P.R. Practice

Posted by DK at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

How do you know which topics to pitch to a particular TV show? Read the newspaper!

Almost all producers use the USAToday to keep up on the news and current issues in the nation. If you read that same information, you'll know what's on show producer's minds, and what kind of stories they're looking for.

Of course, you shouldn't be obvious and mention your pitch's connection to a specific article. But producers are more willing to consider your pitch if they can tell you've done your media research. Start thinking like a publicist: order the newspaper!

This is just one of the many tips found in How to Be A TV Talk Show Host's Dream Date.

Posted by DK at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)