Now offering “green” greetings…
We’ve been doing these video montages for clients and friends for some time now, but wanted to share that Innovate Services is now officially offering video greetings and “commercials” as one of our premier services. So what can they do for you or your business?
- Send us your photos or video clips; we’ll compile them with our crafty copy-writing skills into a fun, personalized greeting to send to a friend, loved one or professional contact.
- Have a ton of product photos but don’t want to keep sending oodles of files to prospective clients or partners as your portfolio? Send us your product photos and we’ll handcraft a fabulous video portfolio for you.
- Want to be “green” with your event invitations and thank you’s but tired of evite? Let us help you make a custom invitation for your next event…we’ll also take your event photos or video clips and turn them into a thank you attendees will never forget!
Check out some of the video’s we’ve developed so far…
Want us to create one for you? Email us and we’ll get right on it!!
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
3 Common Business Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
If you know me, you know I am big on learning; learning in any form, anywhere at any time. I did in fact get my MBA from an accredited online university while working full-time, often pulling all-nighters and writing until my hands were sore…but I did it because I’m passionate about life, achieving goals and working toward my dreams. And I am still learning at all hours of the night and day and soaking it all in.
Some of the lessons I learn from time to time I feel are well worth sharing. As entrepreneurs, visionaries and people who “dream big” we need to stick together and share our knowledge to help each other take our businesses where they’re meant to go. And today, this lesson was definitely worth sharing. Even if it just reminds you to take a step back and consider where you truly want to be in business and life. Enjoy this lesson from someone I consider one of my teachers, Sherri Garrity at The Corporate Fugitive.
We’re already one third of the way through 2009 – are you where you want to be?
Many of us dream of quitting the corporate rat race and exchanging it for the freedom filled life of the self-employed. Or, you may be an accidental entrepreneur, plunged into the world of self-employment due to downsizing, layoff, or business closure.
This number grows every year. Most businesses in the United States and Canada are created as sole proprietorships – and it’s no surprise, for two reasons. One, because it’s relatively simple to do, and two, because we want to be independent and free in our newly staked territory.
There are common mistakes that many new entrepreneurs make when they are leaving the corporate world.
Number one – not taking the time to get clear about what you really want out of your new business.
Would you hop on a plane, without knowing where it was headed? This is the equivalent of failing to examine your business and personal goals.
Many small business owners just don’t take the time upfront to think about what they really want. They start from where they are at the moment and put one foot in front of the other, day after day. They pick up random clients and focus on getting their work done. Most are just relieved to have clients and to make enough to replace their previous income. So where do they end up? Often somewhere they don’t like, and don’t recognize.
The best defense against building a business that you’ll want to invest yourself in, is to make sure you know what you want.
Number two – not knowing who your ideal clients are and what you are selling to them.
Using the analogy of travel again, would you be persuaded to fly first class to a five-star resort on a tropical beach, if you have a phobia of flying and your budget is modest? Not likely.
But this disconnect is something that many business owners create with their potential customers. They do not carefully and deliberately decide the structure of the business enterprise. They don’t determine the services and prices they’re offering in a strategic way. They don’t choose a target market, or figure out what that market wants. They try to sell the five-star resort to the one-star customer.
What’s even worse, they often undercharge, so to the clients they attract haphazardly, they sell at a one-star price.
What ends up happening are business owners who feel very scattered and do not stand for anything in the marketplace.
Number three – not getting help soon enough.
Going it alone sounds great to ex-corporate, solo entrepreneur types, until they realize they not only have to get the clients and do the work, but take care of technical support, marketing, production and customer service. Many new entrepreneurs do not get help soon enough. A good rule of thumb – if someone else can do it faster, better, or cheaper than you, you should not be doing it yourself.
Today the availability of contract help is virtually infinite. There are independent professionals providing administrative and technical support, accounting, marketing and everything in between.
Besides paid help, other forms of support are also important. Finding networks, taking training, and getting some form of coaching are all ways to create support teams for entrepreneurs.
Sherri Garrity is the Chief Corporate Fugitive and creator of the Five Keys Success SystemTM for ex-corporate employees and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to break free from the confines of their corporate experience and unlock their business potential for greater personal freedom and prosperity. The Corporate Fugitive system demystifies the business of setting up, managing, marketing and growing a successful entrepreneurial adventure. Visit www.corporatefugitive.com for free tips on how to unlock the business in you.
Innovate Services PR|Editorial
simplified, consistent public relations | copy editing
Ever wear your Nametag 24/7? A good “best practices” lesson…
I recently stumbled on Scott, The Nametag guy. He has some really great, helpful tips and is just easy to listen to…so take a peek at one of his videos here:
Video not working? Click here for Adobe Flash 9!
Why Squeeze Pages Are Stupid
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I found this article by Sean D’Souza worth sharing. I’ve seen squeeze pages crop up everywhere and always wondered if anyone else felt a little disappointed or turned-off by them as I have. Don’t get me wrong, I understand their purpose…but many just seem so long-winded and impersonal or even fake; not what I would call a good marketing tactic. Read what Sean has to say and let me know your take on squeeze pages. Imagine you went for a date with a person you hadn’t met before. And your date wore a paper bag on his/her head. He/She refused to show you his/her face. That date refused to tell you anything about his/her past. Or let you into any information at all. And yet you had to give them information. Like your first name, last name, blah, blah, blah. How do you feel? Well that’s exactly how the customers feel. They feel irritated, frustrated and to choose a mild word: trapped. They know they want the information, but they can’t seem to get the any information from you without filling in that stupid form. Squeeze pages are stupid They are contrary to human nature. They force you into a corner. They force you to part with information based on some random headline and bullet points. So why do we have so many squeeze pages on the Internet? Why do people catch colds and coughs? Yes, one person has it, and then it spreads. One person put in a squeeze page, then everyone else decided to follow suit. And don’t get me wrong. Squeeze pages work. They work wonderfully. Well, so does Bruno, who’s six foot nine inches and weighs 400 pounds.Just because it works doesn’t mean you have to follow suit. Because there are other things that work. Like non-threatening, non-Bruno, no-squeeze pages. Pages that get you to sign up not through intimidation and fear. But pages that get you to sign up because you want to do so. Because persuasion is stupid. Persuasion implies that you acted against your nature. And why get customers to act against their nature when they will gladly give you information? A good opt-in page should entice. It should give you lots of details. At Psychotactics, we’ve collected names, addresses, home numbers, postal addresses, mobile numbers, city, country on our opt-in pages. All without twisting anyone’s arms. We’ve done it to entice customers to subscribe to the newsletter. Or to opt-in to a workshop. Or to buy a product or service. Our customers give us bucket loads of information, because they trust us. They believe in us. They know they’re not on a yucky blind date. I’d rather have that kind of customer, wouldn’t you? Sure beats being squeezed! |
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©2001-2009 Psychotactics Ltd. All Rights Reserved. |
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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