Creating positive buzz – bucksmontmom.com
Here is another “creating positive buzz” post brought to you by Innovate Services PR|Editorial.
We’re sharing how entrepreneurs and small business owners create positive buzz for their products and services; whether they have someone handle all aspects of buzz generation for them or they put their marketing hats on and do it themselves.
This week we interviewed Jessica Cohen, founder of www.bucksmontmom.com.
Why did you start your business and when?
BucksMontMom.com launched in July, 2009. My background is in Advertising and Marketing for magazines, but magazines have just taken a beating since the recession began. In the meantime, the ROI from word-of-mouth referrals had become more and more apparent. Who are the primary household decision-makers? Moms. So the idea of launching a hyper-local online magazine for Moms was akin to the universe opening up right in front of me.
bucksmontmom.com is an eye-catching lifestyle site for moms in suburban Philadelphia. The site provides a friendly, practical environment with continuously updated, relevant information on a variety of topics for women. In addition to its articles and blog, bucksmontmom.com provides the readers with: current local and parenting news, a page of Local Experts as a first resource for moms, a great calendar of regional events, information about area businesses and mompreneurs, an introduction to local charitable organizations and shopping resources for moms. bucksmontmom.com happily recognizes we can remain sophisticated, independent women who are defined not just by our role as mothers but by our many varied interests and activities.
When you started your business what (if any) public relations activities did you incorporate?
I did not incorporate public relations activities when I first launched. I wanted to get a feel for the response to the site first – to see what pieces were well-received and what could be improved. It was not until I added I created a new value-added reason for people to visit the site that I began a public relations campaign in the traditional sense.
What public relations activities do you incorporate today?
I recently put out a press release for a new item on my web page. The majority of PR activities prior to that were generally done through Social Media outlets.
What do you find is the best way for you to “create positive buzz” around you, your business and/or your products?
Networking, networking, networking and referrals that have come through networking! When someone is passionate and authentic about their business it shines through in person in a way that cannot necessarily be achieved by other means. I use Social Media outlets as a way to stay on trend and inform my readers of important items and happenings. I am most proud that the buzz has grown organically because to me it means that the product is both valued and valuable.
Do you think public relations can be successfully done without expertise in that area? Why or why not?
Everyone can write a press release. Yet everyone cannot write a strong press release. A seasoned PR professional can simply write it more effectively than the average individual.
Have you employed the services of a professional PR firm or professional PR virtual assistant? What was the outcome?
Yes, I did, Innovate Services! The press release was picked up by Yahoo News so for me it was a success.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs seeking to “create positive buzz” around their business or products?
Be authentic. Be passionate. Provide great customer service. Care about your customers and their businesses. If you do these things, your reputation will precede you.
Copyright 2010 Innovate Services & Teresa H. Berger
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: Jonathan Fields Shares His Wake Up Call
Ever heard of Career Renegade? If not, check out what the author, Jonathan Fields, says about his life transition to work he’s passionate about:
This is the kind of wake up call many of us do not want to have! Now is the time for us to focus on work that inspires us; that drives our passion. If you are doing what you love, making a difference and following your passion let me know…I’d love to help you create positive buzz about your passion-filled business.
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/.
Turning a negative into good PR for a cause.
When you can take a Cancer diagnosis and turn it into a positive raising awareness and funding in a creative way like Drew, you’re amazing!
Other amazing Philadelphia area folks finding creative ways to help fight Cancer and life-threatening illnesses:
- Esther at One Day Living – she’s a Cancer survivor and author launching a non-profit to help families facing life-threatening illnesses.
- Carla Wilson & Caroline Wright — an amazing duo who trekked 190 miles coast to coast in England to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
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!
Creating Positive Buzz: Simplified Public Relations & Marketing Support
People are often visually driven…images motivate and communicate.
Innovate Services partners with virtual assistants, fitpreneurs, mompreneurs, and solopreneurs to help them get their message out authentically; creating positive buzz for their businesses. Our passion is helping spread the word; through avenues like press releases, story pitches, ghostwritten articles, social media, philanthropy and more.
Does our video below help communicate that or are we missing the mark?
Feel free to let us know…business and life is an ever-lasting opportunity to learn and grow. And I’m always up for enlightenment and growth!
Copyright 2009 Teresa H. Berger, MBA & Innovate Services PR|Editorial
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
K.I.S.S. Tip – What Information is Best For a Press Release
One of my readers recently asked what information is best to include in a press release?
There are key components to press releases that should never be skipped when writing a press release:
- Your name.
- Your company name.
- Your contact information.
- Your product or service name if you’re announcing it for the first time.
- A link to your website (or better yet, an interior page of your website specific to this press release).
- A captivating or at least informational headline that tells people who and what the press release is about.
- A quote from you or a client explaining the problem you’re solving, why you received the recognition you’re telling us about, what your role in the community event you’re writing about was…something that helps the reader understand better your message and business.
- A closing line directing readers to the appropriate site for more information on you and your business.
If you are stumped for topic ideas for your next press release, take a look at our free topic ideas for generating buzz. Up next…case studies — great press release examples.
Copyright 2009 Teresa H. Berger, MBA & Innovate Services PR|Editorial
simplified, consistent public relations | copywriting | copyediting
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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