Creating positive buzz – Chesapeake Ribbons
How do entrepreneurs create positive buzz around their products and services? We’re sharing some answers and tips with you in our “creating positive buzz” series, and today we’re featuring a Philadelphia area “Mompreneur”.
Maryland native, Margie Gunn, launched Chesapeake Ribbons while launching a family. Here is what she has to say about how she creates positive buzz.
Why did you start your business and when?
I officially opened up shop online in 2007 but had started creating products and planning the business earlier. While staying home with my son at the time, I was looking for a way to generate extra income & create products that I could use myself. Having only a son at that time, I decided to make ribbon belts along with hair bows, barrettes, key fobs, etc…to learn more visit Margie’s About Us page.
When you started your business what (if any) public relations activities did you incorporate?
I did most of the marketing myself – I started a blog and networked with other bloggers to get the word out. I started offering giveaways and free samples. I didn’t want to spend money on marketing until I was making some money. I soon found a huge network of other mompreneurs like myself that were very willing to help out and trade/barter services. I also went to websites like Lila Guide & 5 minutes for mom to get the word out about my business….listing it, etc… Did a lot of link swaps as well. I also hand out a lot of business cards and hang them on bulliten boards at various family friendly facilities. And I partnered with a local mom’s group – Moxie Moms.
What public relations activities do you incorporate today?
I still participate in all the same activities as I mentioned above, but I’ve also used Innovate Services marketing and PR help with press release writing and submission and e-newsletter management.
What do you find is the best way for you to “create positive buzz” around you, your business and/or your products?
Word of mouth, referrals, going to blogs for giveaways and reviews, donating products & portion of proceeds to large charities help create positive buzz.
Do you think public relations can be successfully done without expertise in that area? Why or why not?
I think it can be done w/out expertise to an extent (in the very beginning) but to grow to the “next level” it’s wise to have someone with expertise helping out. I still believe word-of-mouth is the fastest way to create buzz.
Have you employed the services of a professional PR firm or professional PR virtual assistant? What was the outcome?
Yes, I’ve used Innovate Services to write press releases and submit them, which drove traffic to my website. And I’ve also used Innovate Services to help develop and manage my e-newsletter. This helps me focus on other aspects including new product development and networking.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs seeking to “create positive buzz” around their business or products?
Start small and as you begin making more money, then seek up more professional options. It really takes a lot of time in the beginning, network!
Copyright 2010 Innovate Services & Teresa H. Berger
Creating positive buzz: Bucks and Montgomery county moms no longer have to wait for answers
We’re so excited about our growing network of business friends!
Here’s another “Creating Positive Buzz” post featuring BucksMontMom.com
Bucks and Montgomery county moms no longer have to wait for answers
Whether you are a new mother with a question about caring for your sick infant, a parent who wants advice on 529 plans, or want to learn where the best local organic farms are www.BucksMontMom.com, launched by Jessica Cohen, is the go-to resource for suburban Philadelphia moms…and organizations trying to reach out to them.
The Local Experts (www.BucksMontExperts.com) hand-picked by Cohen provide direct support in areas including – early childhood behavior, nutrition, parenting for new mothers, real estate, home and office organizing, financial planning, and earth-friendlier living. With direct access to these Local Experts, there is no need to wait a week or two for answers. Childhood behavioral expert, Cindy Harney has over thirty years experience and is an early childhood specialist. Author of It Gets Easier…and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers, Claudine Wolk, is dedicated to helping new moms survive those tough early years and can answer any parenting question a new mom or dad may have. Professional Organizer and founder of simplyBorganized, Laurie Palau, can help moms and entrepreneurs escape from clutter and learn the principles of being organized. Suburban moms and dads who need advice on what the best college savings plan is or how to maximize their investments can turn to local expert, Pari Hashemi a Financial Planner with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. And for parents looking to add a little green to their lifestyle and home, Green Living mom, Teresa Berger – founder of the online green boutique, weeBgreen.com – can provide support in what the best natural cleaning products may be, recycling tips or where to find unique, earth-friendly baby shower gifts.
Lifestyle website www.BucksMontMom.com was launched as a site for suburban Philadelphia moms where they could turn to keep up with current issues, find answers to burning questions, and maintain their identity as individuals as Claudine Wolk stated, “Just because you are immersed in the important task of raising human beings does not mean that you should lose sight of your individual needs.” Cohen, a mother of two boys, knows the challenges mothers face today; the daily struggle with being the best mom you can be while at the same time remembering your needs, goals and dreams. Her extensive background in advertising and marketing, including several years in New York at a high profile print and online media company, is the ammo organizations marketing to mothers and families in the greater Philadelphia area need. Cohen also has a strong commitment to community which shines through on www.BucksMontMom.com, through the fundraisers she hosts for non-profits and on her Pay It Forward page.
For more information on www.BucksMontMom.com and the Local Experts, please visit the website or email info@BucksMontMom.com.
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
Creating Positive Buzz: Abington Memorial Hospital staff gets it.
Just a couple of days ago, almost exactly one month prior to my 31st birthday I had an amazingly pleasant experience at my local hospital, Abington Memorial (well, okay as pleasant as it can be when having surgery). You see I’ve had bulged discs in my lower back for several years and after a recent fall had herniated one of those discs so badly that I had no choice but to get surgery. But that’s not the point…
The point is, the hospital nurses, assistants, and my surgeon, Dr. Hsu, all made the experience as painless and calm as possible. From the moment I was admitted to the moment I left, I felt safe, cared for and treated as a human…not just another patient. They could all sense my unease at being put under anesthesia and reassured me I’d be fine.
The nurses were so friendly and checked up on me regularly; but not so much that it was overbearing. The anesthetist was to the point and put me ease about the process, as did my surgeon, Dr. Hsu. I left as a true advocate for the hospital and would recommend them to anyone. Obviously, I’d prefer not to have to return to the hospital any time soon, but if by chance my husband and I decide to add to our family and have another baby, I’ll be at Abington Hospital. And if by chance I have to have a follow up back surgery down the road, I will go to Abington and hopefully have the same surgeon.
What does this have to do with creating positive buzz? Everything!
Whether they know it or not, the nurses and surgeons I dealt with for my procedure were selling the services of the hospital. They get it! They understand that patients want to and deserve to be treated as human beings and not just another number…or notch in their surgery belts. The customer service was excellent and attentive. I was comfortable and saw other patients being carefully and sincerely monitored. The staff had a level of compassion that anyone would want at a hospital.
So, thanks Abington Memorial Hospital and Dr. Hsu for making me an advocate for the service you provide to patients.
What organizations or providers that you recently used “get it” and left you with a warm fuzzy?
Copyright 2009-2010 Teresa H. Berger, MBA & Innovate Services
full disclosure – this post was strictly from a patient stand-point and was not a paid post in any way
What does a virtual marketing firm do?
We thought we’d share our latest video with you to (hopefully) shed light on what virtual assistants or virtual marketing firms like ours can do for your business. It’s long, so we don’t expect you to sit through the whole thing…but we’d be thrilled if you did. Not only do we provide video / slideshow development support, but we can help you promote products, real estate listings and more with them through the various outlets available.
Let us know what you think – the good, bad and ugly by commenting below.
Creating Positive Buzz: Honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month with One Day Living
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
Creating Positive Buzz: Local Author & Inspirational Speaker Esther Hughes
From time to time I will be sharing my clients’ news which helps me not only share their exciting events, but also gives you an idea of what a typical press release or story pitch should look like. So consider them case studies if you will and reference them if you need help in writing up that press release or story pitch.
And if you’re still stumped and just want to hand off the writing, you know where to go!
Press Release: People currently affected by cancer have a new source for faith
Author and professional speaker, Esther Hughes, has recently published a book solely for those affected by cancer, Psalms and Prayers for People Affected by Cancer. This new resource acts as a tool for anyone affected by cancer, inspiring thought and offering hope.
Esther Hughes, a breast cancer survivor herself, has experienced first-hand the challenges cancer brings (www.EstherHughes.com). Through her battle and recovery, Esther had profound experiences and felt charged with the mission to share what helped her through each day with others affected by cancer. In Psalms and Prayers for People Affected by Cancer (http://www.amazon.com/Psalms-Prayers-People-Affected-Cancer/dp/1442108797/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250791040&sr=8-1), Esther shares prayers for each stage of the process of dealing with cancer. Her connection of faith to the positive healing process will inspire anyone diagnosed with cancer to keep a positive attitude.
An accomplished speaker, Esther has shared the message of capturing the gift of each day with womens’ groups, churches, community associations, support and wellness organizations, and at corporate functions. Helen Wolf, Facilitator of “Meet the Authors” class at Delaware Valley College commented, “Esther gives a lively presentation, with material presented in a clear, concise, manner, speaking to the audience, not at them. She shares her personal life experiences, encourages feedback, and weaves hope and positive affirmations. Hearing Esther speak can change your attitude at a crossroad in life, and make a personal difference for you, in just one day.” Her other thought-provoking speaking topics include:
- Discover and Uncover You
- One Day Living: Full Life Collection
- One Day + One Event = Second Chances
- SHAPE for Women
- Caring for People Affected by Cancer
For more information on Psalms and Prayers for People Affected by Cancer or Esther Hughes visit http://onedayliving.com/.
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!?
The Buzz About Music…Matisyahu
It’s Friday, I’m getting ready to head out on a weekend camping trip and music has always helped me get through busy, tough or just down right blah days. I listen to a lot of National Public Radio and lately they’ve been playing Matisyahu’s “One Day”. This song sums up how I would love the world to be every day. So here’s the video…and some questions.
Does music energize, inspire and motivate you?
Does it fuel your passion for life?
How can you tie the music you love to your buzz generation activities?
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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