Creating positive buzz – Key Internet Marketing, Inc.
In an effort to share what others are doing to create positive buzz in their businesses, we are starting a new blog series here, “Creating positive buzz”, where we’ll interview entrepreneurs from various industries and share their tips. Here is our first:
Key Internet Marketing, Inc. – http://KIMarketing.com
Specializing in Affiliate / Performance Marketing
Why did you start your business and when?
ShoppingBookmarks.com was originally a hobby of mine, starting back in 1998, when I shared deals and freebies with my friends and family. Those friends and family shared the site with their friends, and it grew from there. My hobby became even more fun when I realized I could be paid via affiliate marketing for sharing deals! I quit my day job in 2001 and have worked at home ever since.
When you started your business what (if any) public relations activities did you incorporate?
One of the newspapers did a story on how my hobby paid for my husband’s (now ex) hobby of taking private pilot lessons. The buzz grew for there with other newspapers wanting to interview me as well.
What public relations activities do you incorporate today?
I sponsor local activities, submit press releases online and offline.
What do you find is the best way for you to “create positive buzz” around you, your business and/or your products?
Lately, I’ve generated a lot of buzz for my various blogs by holding contests. Several sponsors donate the prizes for me to give away. So I offer entries by subscribing to my RSS feed, becoming a Facebook Fan and/or following on Twitter.
Do you think public relations can be successfully done without expertise in that area? Why or why not?
Depends on your personality. If you aren’t a good writer, I suggest having someone else write your press release.
Have you employed the services of a professional PR firm or professional PR virtual assistant? What was the outcome?
I’ve had professional colleagues in the industry look over and edit my press releases, but I’ve never actually paid for professional services.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs seeking to “create positive buzz” around their business or products?
Be different, yet be yourself. In my blogs, everyone knows about me and my quirks. Being open and honest is the best policy. People remember you for being genuine.
Copyright 2010 Innovate Services
Your 2010 marketing tool box: Press Releases
If you don’t currently utilize press releases as a marketing tool for your business, you might be missing out on an easy tool that could increase your exposure and bottom line.
Over several years, I’ve learned there are some specific, quick truths about press releases.
- You can never be 100% sure your press release will be printed (if submitted to a print publication) or picked up by other sites (if submitted online).
- There are no guarantees that a press release will bring you new business (much like there is no guarantee that if you make outbound calls for a client you will get a live person on the phone and book an appointment…you just can’t guarantee that).
- It takes consistency and quality to produce a good press release and visible results. (You may have to submit several press releases before one even gets printed and you may not get any bites after just one, two or three press releases).
- Press releases are just one tool from your marketing tool box. Don’t expect that solely submitting press releases once a quarter or once a month will generate all the interest and business you desire.
With any marketing tool, you have to be consistent, clear and target your communications to your desired clientele. In order to develop a sound, consistent and clear press release, follow these steps.
- Speak to Your Target Market – don’t develop press releases with sophisticated technical speak imbedded in it unless you are 100% sure your target market will comprehend and value that language. Speak their language; appeal to their vocabulary.
- Keep it Simple – Typically a press release should be one page and highlight your news in the headline and summary at top. If it’s too wordy, people won’t read it…just think of how busy we all are. Everyone is so inundated with news, tips, etc. that often we have to be very selective of what we choose to read. Remember, simplified public relations is best…don’t over-think it.
- Hook Them at hello – The headline is the first thing readers and journalists will see. If they don’t have interest in your headline, they likely won’t read your summary or click the link (if your press release was submitted online). Make your headline stand out and identify your business name or yourself in the headline.
- Consistency is Key – You won’t grow your exposure or gain new clients after just one press release. It’s wise to have a plan and schedule consistent press releases geared toward the time of year, product launches, or specific events throughout the year you will be participating in.
Develop a press release for volunteer events or activities you participate in (as long as it is okay with that organization for you to share your relationship with them).
Did you help Habitat for Humanity this year?
Did you donate money in your business name to a worthy cause?
Are you an active volunteer in your local chamber of commerce?
This type of press release would illustrate your commitment to community. If you are launching a product in January, schedule a press release marketing that product launch once a month until product launch. You can always change the copy within the releases each time providing updated or new information. That will help build interest in your product and maybe even motivate you to complete work on the development of that product sooner!
- When in doubt, get help – If you are at a standstill with how to develop a quality press release, what to write about and which industries or publications to target; get help. Ask a colleague or person in your networking group if they or someone they know can brainstorm with you. Or hire a VA that specializes in writing and press release development to help you throughout the process.
It takes a small effort to develop a good, one page press release to submit online and to your local print publications. And if you know someone affiliated with or working for one of the local publications, try to build a relationship with them. Journalists are inundated with press releases and submissions on a daily basis. Building and maintaining relationships with key journalists would benefit you in your marketing efforts and show your commitment to your business. Finally, who hasn’t heard the saying, “you have to spend money to make money”? To build your business, increase your exposure and get noticed, you will have to make an investment of time and money.
Copyright 2010 Innovate Services & Teresa H. Berger, MBA
Simplified public relations and the small business.
As an entrepreneur and founder of two small businesses, I know the challenges that come hand-in-hand with the entrepreneurs life.
Massive to-do lists, not enough time to accomplish all that we desire to, marketing and promoting ourselves and our businesses often taking a back seat to the simple day-to-day monotony that we so badly need to outsource. In my decade plus experience in corporate and entrepreneurial marketing and PR I’ve seen small businesses all too often eliminate marketing from their priorities.
This is a huge mistake. But it can be avoided with strategically and cost-effectively planning ahead to simplify marketing and public relations tasks so that they are virtually on auto-pilot. Using simplified public relations strategies, you can make lasting connections with complementary organizations without spending a great deal of time or money.
What is simplified public relations? In the manner of getting back to the basics, my belief is that at the core of every successful small business are relationships. Relationship building and public relations go hand-in-hand. Public relations strategies don’t have to be complex and scary for the entrepreneur. You simply need to take a look at your desired end result and work backward. From there you can simply plan out your public relations activities on one sheet and schedule them out on your calendar for the year. The hardest part is coming up with the appropriate outlets to contact and researching what news they want to hear.
If you come from a place of service, offering them your expertise and remain genuine, you’ll have an easy time developing lasting relationships with media outlets. They’ll value you as a source and maybe even seek you out for a newly developed story. Just remember to remain professional, appreciative and put yourself in the contacts shoes…they likely get inundated with queries and press releases on a daily basis.
In small business and the entrepreneurial world, positive public relations = relationship building + service + strategic partnerships + informing others. Done right, it can be an invaluable source for business growth.
Copyright 2009 Teresa H. Berger, MBA & Innovate Services PR|Editorial
What do smores have to do with public relations?
I went camping recently and the yummy smores my family and I made by the camp fire are still on my mind. The fact that I’m a chocoholic doesn’t help either.
What do smores have to do with public relations? This may be a stretch but here goes:
1. Patience. Smores take patience to make because you have to first roast the marshmallows to the exact temperature of your preference. Some people like their marshmallows golden brown while others like them crispy on the outside and melted on the inside. Public relations, done properly, takes patience as well. Patience in crafting your message the right way to reach the right people. Patience in getting a response to your first attempt or follow up. Patience in the amount of time and frequency required to spend on generating buzz. You may not create positive buzz after that first or fifth press release or story pitch, but have faith it will come!
2. Organization. Crafting the perfect smore takes organization. You have to have your supplies ready at hand – the marshmallows, the graham crackers, the chocolate and of course a napkin or paper towel to keep the gooiness at bay. Crafting a simplified, yet effective public relations plan takes organization as well. Whether you’re developing an editorial calendar for your ezine or blog, or crafting a quarters worth of story pitches or press releases, your information must be organized. You should have the Who, What, When, Where and Why clearly mapped out and your contact information must be organized and easy to find as well. It’s also notable to have your follow-up plan and strategy for what happens once you generate buzz organized.
3. Slice of heaven. Smores (if you like them as much as I do) can be a slice of heaven. They can help you be in the moment, having fun with family and friends, and can remind you of fun times as a child. Generating positive buzz around you, your business, your events, products or services can be a slice of heaven. When you get noticed for the hard work that you do, or your community involvement you can be in the moment, relish it, be giddy like a kid and do your happy dance. It’s amazing when we get noticed after a lot of effort. It’s what life is all about. Being appreciated, being in the moment, appreciating others, and paying it forward.
Who knew smores and PR had so much in common!?
Finding Your Tribe
Whether you’re a work-at-home entrepreneur or have a brick and mortar office, you need to get out and find your Tribe. Sure online networking is great…LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc. are great sources for relationship building, getting answers and finding potential partnerships and clients. But they are just one piece of the puzzle…you’ve got to complete the circle with real live interaction.
But with so many in-person networking and business mentoring opportunities how do you decide what’s best for you and your quest for relationship and buzz building? Part of the process of finding the right “tribe” is determining what your goals are and what kinds of people you want to surround yourself with. What is your niche or who are your ideal clients? What types of people can you identify with? What kind of support are you looking for?
Recently, I’ve found two amazingly inspirational and local groups that I think directly fit in with my business goals and hopes to develop stronger business and personal relationships with like-minds.
- Network Now, a networking group for women in the Bucks County area who are business owners, lead non-profits or are representatives for national companies, is a dynamic group of women from all walks of life. Events are held year round and there are numerous opportunities for growing your network.
- The non-profit Women’s Business Forum is another fabulous organization for women business owners that provides support, mentoring and educational opportunities. It holds two free meetings per month and focuses on growing your business.
How does this tie into Public Relations? It IS a huge piece of your public relations/marketing pie. Networking, or relationship building as I like to call it, is the best way to get known. But don’t do it solely to get known…people can see right through that and won’t take you seriously. Keep in mind that humans have always operated in a “know, like, trust” manner and will appreciate the time you’re taking to invest in your business and learn about theirs. Be genuine. Ask questions.
Go out and find your “tribe”…one that you can authentically connect with…you never know what kind of buzz that may lead to!
Is Being Authentic & Transparent on Your Biz Blog Bad for Entrepreneurial PR?
Recently there was a discussion in one of my business organization forums. The gist was whether or not sharing personal tid-bits of information on your business blog is acceptable. Some were for it; others against.
Here’s my take:
We’re all human beings with feelings, families, interests outside of our businesses right?
To be truly whole and fulfilled I believe we need to be well-rounded people. And as well-rounded people and entrepreneurs, we can be more buzz-worthy. It takes a leap of faith to share our true selves and come out from behind that curtain of who we think we should be. I, for one, at the age of 30 have decided there will be no more hiding; no more pretending I have to be someone I’m not (I’m more comfortable in my exercise gear than a suit, but that doesn’t mean I can’t rock my clients’ PR & editorial needs).
Editors don’t always want to hear the dry, boring story of another certification obtained or another service offering. They want juicy, well thought out stories. And at times, your personal tid-bits may be the fuel to light the fire of creating positive buzz around you AND your business.
So consider this:
What do you have to lose by sharing tid-bits of your personal life on your biz blog? I’m not talking about sharing the new recipe you got the other day or what your kids did at day care, unless of course you can tie that into your line of business. Isn’t it more human and honest to be real?
What’s your take – to share or not to share the personal tid-bits?
K.I.S.S. Tip – Do I need to be a writer to write a Press Release?
You absolutely, positively do not need to be a writer to write a press release. Press release writing is much simpler than the average entrepreneur or solopreneur makes it out to be.
However, you do need to have a clear understanding of what makes you and your products or services buzz worthy. You can’t send out a boring, ho-hum press release to editors and media contacts and expect it to get noticed among the hundreds of others they see each week.
Put simply you need to be able to clearly communicate in the headline and first two lines of your press release why the person receiving it should keep reading. And don’t go for shock value by stretching the truth or making false statements. Be honest, and write your press releases in line with the way in which you run your business; hopefully ethically.
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Super Simple) Keys To Writing Your Next Press Release:
- Include the who, what, when, where and why
- Be creative, but honest
- Don’t stretch the truth of provide false statements
- Keep it to one page
- Always include your contact information at the top or bottom
- Stick to the point; if you find you’re switching to a different angle, use it for another press release
Here is a good press release sample.
Copyright 2009 Teresa H. Berger, MBA & Innovate Services PR|Editorial
Innovate Services & Client Media Mentions…
http://www.business-opportunities.biz http://blog.cristinafavreau.com http://www.ivaa.org/pdfs/latestcast.pdf http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/blog
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