Public Relations Tips: January 2008

When you shoot a photo at a ceremony, make it matter. "Instead of shooting an award ceremony," suggests Phil Douglis, director of the Douglis Visual Workshops, publicists should "ask themselves who will benefit from the award or check or medal. Then go shoot the benefits. Instead of taking a picture of a man who set up a therapy center for mentally ill people getting a medal for his efforts, good public relations people will go to the therapy center, shoot real people involved in real benefits, and sell the idea to the press. This is the ultimate value of publicity pictures-to sell news, features, benefits-instead of superficial awards and ceremonies."

If you must take pictures of a ceremony, try to have your photos capture the feelings of the people taking part. Aim to show why the ceremony is important: what it means. Ask yourself why this ceremony is different from every other ceremony and how you can show that difference on film. Another question to ask yourself is why you want these pictures. What message are you trying to convey to your audience? How will these pictures carry that message?

For more great ceremony photos (or lack thereof) advice, and for more tips on how to make those ceremony photos really matter see David R. Yale's "How To Get Publicity Photos In Newspapers, Magazines, And On TV"

Posted by Dan at 01:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Want to get publicity through giving speaches? Start with the basics.

Good speakers are not born, they are created. Like any other skill, effective speaking is learned. It takes preparation and practice.

Every speech has an opening, a middle and a closing. There is a saying among speakers: "Tell them what you're going to tell them. Tell them. Then tell them what you've told them." In other words, tell them what they can expect to hear, then provide them with the supporting material and finally, summarize the important points you want them to remember.

This is the A-B-A form that is as old as Greek Drama and still found in art, music, literature and theater - (A) Exposition; (B) Development; (A) Recapitulation.

Tips and techniques for effective public speaking can be found in Building the Power of Your Voice: How to Improve Your Voice to Command Attention & Move People to Action
http://101publicrelations.com/voicepower.html?utm_source=prideas&utm_content=voice_power

Posted by Dan at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the world of business, succeeding and accomplished speaking go hand-in-hand.

To speak well, you first need to have an interest in what you are saying, and then say it with interest. How you hear yourself is not necessarily how others hear you.
How much thought and attention have you given to your voice? How you speak permeates everything you do and reveals so many things about you-your educational level, professional competence, personality, mood, attitude toward others and feelings about yourself. First impressions are made in the first ten to fifteen seconds and are often difficult to change. Physical characteristics tend to fade into the background, vocal characteristics do not. Learn to make the most of your voice.

In her manual Building the Power of Your Voice: How to Improve Your Voice to Command Attention & Move People to Action, Dr. June Johnson teaches you how to be aware of what your voice says about you, make your voice work for you, not against you, and develop a vocal image that complements your physical image.
http://101publicrelations.com/voicepower.html?utm_source=prideas&utm_content=voice_power

Posted by Dan at 07:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

How should you write an email follow-up? The first thing is that the subject line should be your headline. I always say to people, "Think in headlines," and that the more quickly you can think in headlines, the better results you actually will get. Don't title it: "Follow-Up to My News Release." Please don't do that. They'll hate it. In fact, they'll right over it. The subject line, the actual headline, is benefit-driven. In the body of the email-not as an attachment-is where the press release copy goes.

One thing reporters have told me again and again is, "I hate attachments," and I'm real big on saving them work. The truth is, the more work you can do on your end, so the reporter doesn't have to do any on their end, they're grateful. You are looking to save the reporter-always-time and energy, and to be a resource to them. That's what I would do. That way it keeps it focused, and they know what they're looking at, and they can pull it right up when you are talking to them. For more tips on email follow-ups and how to follow up effectively, read "Failproof Ways to Follow Up After Sending a News Release or Pitch Letter."
http://101publicrelations.com/failprooffollowup.html?utm_source=prideas&utm_content=fail-proof_follow-up

Posted by Dan at 01:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

How can you convince other bloggers to link to your blog? They way that you usually do this is to, over a period of a month, make three to four really good comments that push the knowledge of the audience further than the comment in their blog posting. So if they just posted on XYZ topic, you go in and on your comment you add additional stuff and sign in with your name. No URL, no nothing else. Just with your name.
After you've done this four or five times then you pick up the phone, sort of an unused method these days, you pick up the phone and you call that blogger. You say "Hey, I follow your blog and I love the things you say. As you can see I've made a couple of comments." And you start talking about them and you comment on their blog. After you develop that personal relationship eventually you come back and say "I just wrote a really cool article that you may want to link to." For more information on how to make blogging work for your company, read "Business Blogging Results."
http://101publicrelations.com/bloggingresults.html?utm_source=prideas&utm_content=business_blogging_results

Posted by Dan at 07:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's a good free publicity tip. Let's talk about the right and wrong way to follow-up. You don't need to follow-up with every editor who receives your stuff. But the follow-up might get you another assignment. Don't call an editor to whom you have sent a brief and ask, "Did you get my brief on six tips for traveling with pets, and if so, do you know when it's going to be published?" Many people call and ask, and that annoys editors. A much better way to follow up is to just tell the editor that you sent in a brief or a news release and ask if they need additional information.

While you have the editor on the phone, you might use that time to pitch another idea or two, or invite the editor to call on you when they need expert commentary on a particular topic, or if they need story ideas, or background. Invite them to put your name and telephone number into their Rolodex file. That's a great way to do it. If you're going to get editors on the phone, if you're going to follow up, make sure it's quick. Make sure it's brief, and be sure you are offering to help them. That's real important.

For more free publicity ideas, read Briefs, Fillers and Quizzes: How To Write Them and Why Editors LOVE Them

Posted by Dan at 01:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A crisis communication plan is not complete if it fails to address the role of spokesperson.

One of the most important elements of your plan is determining who in the company can most effectively talk with the press.

You may find as you meet with people that many have never had any formal media training. Offer to conduct media training for those who need or want it.

If a manager expresses reluctance about being a spokesperson, simply equate talking to the media with giving an important presentation. The skills necessary for success in both arenas are very similar. Essentially, it's all about poise, communication skills, careful consideration of thoughts before turning them into words, and preparation.

Crisis Communication Planning: Organizing and Completing a Plan That Works provides companies with valuable tips for creating a successful and complete crisis communication plan.
http://101publicrelations.com/crisis-communication.html?utm_source=prideas&utm_content=crisis_communications

Posted by Dan at 07:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)