Why PR is a Vital Force (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Because it can alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors. Something of profound importance to businesses, non-profits and associations who can sink or swim on how well they employ this crucial dynamic.

Community Based Marketing Strategies (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

As small businesses we have an opportunity and an obligation to help keep our communities strong. As small business people we have an awesome distribution system, reaching hundreds of people every day who come into our stores. If we are a mobile service business we see hundreds per day on our route. If you volunteer to deliver flyers to all your customers for an upcoming club event, you can develop incredible rapport with these groups. The word of mouth referrals will be great. Consider the fact that these service clubs contain the grass roots movers and shakers of the town. You can put up flyers for events on your counters or post a flyer in the window, this does tremendous advertising for positive events.

5 Critical Tests Every Press Release Must Pass (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

You've heard "them" say it, haven't you?

By "them" I mean the experts. The teachers. Even somepeople from advertising & PR agencies.

35 Quick Tips for Writing A Press Release (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Layout1. 1-2 pages in length.2. Double-space.3. 1.5 to 2 inch margins.4. Use company stationary with logo and slogan.5. Avoid bright or dark-colored paper.6. Center "News Release" at top.7. Place a "release date" under "News Release".8. On second page, type "page 2".9. Use company stationary with logo and slogan on page 2.10. Leave out "release after" date on second page, all else should be the same.11. At end of press release, type "-30-" or "# # #".12. Include both black & white, color, and a variety of font sizes (but no more than four).

Do You Have A Press Package? (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

How do you make a friend of the media? A press package can go a long way in helping you deal with the media. It allows you to have everything you need handy.

The Press Release: How to Get the Media to Pay Attention! (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

As many of you already know, promoting and marketing your business in as many creative ways as possible is crucial to the success of your venture. But finding ways to get noticed presents a major challenge for most entrepreneurs. One of the most cost effective and powerful methods of getting noticed is by way of a good press release. Why? Because it has the potential of reaching millions.

PR: Lets Talk Fundamentals (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

How much more fundamental can you get than this? As a business, non-profit or association manager, if you don't get your most important outside audiences on your side, you will fail.

Why PR Can be Effective Medicine (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

When properly applied by business, non-profit andassociation managers, public relations "medicine"does something positive about the behaviors of thoseimportant external audiences of theirs that MOSTaffect their operations.

Is This Any Way to Run Your PR? (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

You bet!

Especially for business, non-profit and association managers who REALLY need to persuade their key outside audiences to their way of thinking. Then move them to behaviors that lead to the success of their department, division or subsidiary.

Knowing the Community (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

You are in business for yourself, but how well do you know your customers and community? A good way to become better at understanding your community is to develop spread sheet databases of service clubs in your town with contact names, phone numbers, email addresses and brief descriptions. You should know all of the Volunteer Support / Service Clubs in your town. You will find sample letters in your Microsoft Word and Excel programs to make your job of creating these databases quite easy. You'll also find a list of service clubs at your local chamber of commerce and you can build your database from there. You will also find information in the newspaper under; what is happening events with contact names and sources. The file you create should be labeled Service Clubs Data Base and contain contact information for clubs such as:

Maybe the Strongest PR on Planet Earth? (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Strong for business, non-profit and association managers when they use the fundamental premise of public relations to produce external stakeholder behavior change - the kind that leads directly to achieving their managerial objectives.

Cultivating Positive Media Relationships (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Some people think that publicity is all about paparazzi snapping photos of celebs and intruding into their private lives -- or as Woodward and Bernstein blowing the lid off of a government scandal. But, as a small business owner, publicity is actually one of your greatest allies! People who read about you in the newspaper or hear an interview with you on the radio will sit up and take notice -- much more notice than if they simply see a flier of yours posted at the Laundromat. But you have to be in charge of your relationship with the media, and make sure that it is a good one!

Financial Planners Get Free Publicity With Email (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

In previous articles for marketing-minded financial planners, I've discussed what to say to a reporter over the telephone.

Make Sure Your Media Room Rocks (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

If a reporter was writing a story about you and your company and she visited your website, could she find anything useful and interesting about you to use in her story? And could she find it quickly? Or would she immediately abandon your site and look for one of your competitors to write about?

33 Reasons To Do A News Release (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

News releases are not the best way to get major media coverage, but they can be used to increase the frequency with which your company name appears in the press.

Yes, There is a PR Sweet Spot (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

And here it is: public relations alters individual perceptionleading to changed behaviors among the key outsideaudiences of a business, non-profit or association manager.It happens when the manager applies positive actionsaffecting the behaviors of those important externalaudiences that most affect his or her operation.

Public Relations Strategies: Focus PR Campaigns with Media Coverage Analysis (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Prior to launching a new public relations campaign, evaluate the media coverage you've gained and dig deep into the coverage your competition has received.

Publicity - What to Say to a Reporter (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

You can have dozens of marvelous ideas to get free publicity, but nothing will happen unless you pick up the phone and call a reporter.

Go Ahead, Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Call a Reporter (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Yes, you can call a reporter.

I've said it before, in dozens of articles and presentations to financial planners looking for free publicity. Hopefully now you're getting comfortable with the idea. Go on. Pick up the phone. Reporters and newspeople are human beings like the rest of us.

Three Publicity Tips for Marketing-Minded Financial Planners (July 23 2007)         - claim this article

Financial planners, the first thing to know about reporters is this: they are busy.

Often, they are too busy to read a press release, too busy to wait for you to call back, too busy to find the "best" resource. This leads to three tips for marketing-minded financial planners.