When you write an ezine, be sure to post the article to your blog. Google could index it and it could rank high in their results. I can’t guarantee that will happen to you, but it does happen when I do it.
Here’s proof.
Within a few minutes of posting the article, it appeared on page 1 of Google.
It’s been a year since I resumed writing this weekly newsletter and I thought you’d benefit from what I’ve learned.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Should I Write an Ezine?” or “Is it worth writing an ezine?” then read on.
I started writing my ezine last year when the economy was bad, business was getting harder and I realized I needed to do more outreach to prospects. I also needed to strengthen my ties with current clients so they wouldn’t leave and also have the opportunity to buy more services, like press releases and media databases.
I thought I had a good customer communication system going by offering teleseminars several times a month for free. But as business continued to slow, I realized that tactic wasn’t working very well.
So I thought it was time to start a newsletter. I had done one years ago, but since it was a lot of work and business was easy, it fell by the wayside. Sound familiar?
Here’s what I’ve learned in the past year.
1. Consistency. In the past year, I’ve written 98 articles. I never would have written that many articles if I hadn’t faced a deadline every Monday.
2. Flow. Since there are 52 weeks in a year, you have no doubt figured out that some weeks I wrote 2 or more articles. I think the act of starting to write one article leads you to write another article. In other words, the creative juices start to flow.
3. Reprints and Reach. Nearly every week, something happened because I sent out the newsletter. Ariel Ford took two of my articles and reworked them for printing in the Huffington Post. Other readers reprinted my articles on their websites with links back to my site. All that link juice adds up in better search engine rankings. And the reprints expose my name to more potential clients.
4. Sales. Some small percentage of readers paid me to coach them or they bought additional services, like my Guaranteed Press Release service.
5. Returning Clients. Some larger number of former PR LEADS subscribers signed up again. It just shows that you have to be in front of people so when they are ready to buy, they think of you. We’ve faced some competition in the last year or two, so it is important for former clients to realize we are still in business and stronger than ever. So when they get disillusioned with other services, they come back and are grateful we still maintained our high standards.
6. Relationships. Several readers began corresponding with me on a regular basis. It’s always nice to build relationships. You know who you are, Marcie, Roberta and Jeff!
7. Get More Leverage from Content. I posted the newsletter articles on my blog and on eZineArticles.com so I got more mileage out of each message. If I had it to do over again, I’m not too sure I’d post to eZineArticles since it seems that Google ranks their links to the articles higher than my links (or not at all if they consider it to be duplicate content.) I am asking myself if it is worth the tradeoff: Exposing my articles to a new audience through EZA, or getting more links on Google. I think the latter might work best for me. What do you think?
8. Speaking Opportunities. I’m still waiting for a speaking opportunity to come in through this method. Any ideas?
9. Publishing Opportunities. I’m still waiting for a publisher to call me. Actually, no, I’m not. I just wanted to show you that while good things happen with an ezine, you can’t always get what you want. You have to keep plugging away.
10. Branding. Each week, more than 10,000 people see my name on the email that contains the newsletter. Some people open it (about 12.5 percent) and the others don’t. But they see my name and branding each week. As master marker and speaker Patricia Fripp told me, “It is not your client’s responsibility to remember you are still in business.” This newsletter lets people know I’m here when they need me.
What’s ahead of the next year?
1. Consistency. Keeping up with writing an article a week.
2. Keywords. Focusing on using more keywords so more people find articles on Google.
3. Videos. Putting more content in video format since it helps with search engines and it helps people who have a visual and auditory learning style.
If you need coaching, publicity tools (media lists, press release writing, press release distribution) or publicity consulting, call me. For a free 15-minute evaluation to see if we’d be a good fit, send an email to me at dan@prleads.com. Unlike other gurus, my rates are actually reasonable!
Many people want to get publicity for their books into the most widely read newspaper in the US. But few are chosen.
I recently saw a front-page interview with a new self-help author so I decided to deconstruct the story to find out the publicity strategy used because I always like to give my book author clients tips on how to get publicity.
First, the person had professional credentials. She has a master’s degree in social work from NYU and was a therapist in Beverly Hills.
Second, the book was published by a major book publisher. The publisher was Voice, an imprint of Hyperion.
Third, her father was Tom Brokaw. He’s a former TV anchorperson of NBC news and a best-selling author in his own right.
I’m not sure which of these three factors played the deciding role in getting the interview with USA TODAY. Do you?
Only kidding.
Of course there was only one factor to consider: Her father was a celebrity.
Here is a link to the article.
I can name more than 100 clients who have the same professional credentials and publishing experiencebonafides. (I can even name 10 clients who are in Beverly Hills!) But I can’t name any that have gotten this kind of great publicity out of the gate.
For the rest of us, we have to keep on writing press releases, writing articles, pitching the media, and doing all the other things that sell books.
I am always reminded of Mark Victor Hansen telling me how he launched “Chicken Soup for the Soul” which was rejected hundreds of times before a publisher agreed to print it.
He would do five things each day to promote the book. They would be small things, like send a review copy to a celebrity, or call a reporter, or do a book signing. After a while (and it was long while), the book finally took off and launched one of the most successful franchises in publishing history.
So my questions for you are:
1. Do you have a famous father?
2. Are you willing to do five things a day for a very long time to make your book a success?
Google announced it has cracked down on “content farms” that are full of trivial articles that yield unsatisfying results.
Their intent is pure: they want to get the best possible search results for their searchers – you and me.
But their method is open to debate.
They are the sole deciders of what is good content and what is bad content.
I’ll be the first to say there are good content sites and bad content sites. Good content sites give information.
Bad content sites have some of these traits:
A jumble of dozens of articles on one page.
- Very small type that can barely be read
- Zillions of hyperlinks leading to ads
- Many blocks of ads between paragraphs and alongside articles
- Misleading pages that don’t contain the content you were looking for
- No way to find the content easily, with a search tool or a menu structure
- A very obvious game plan to make money on ads and not provide real value to readers
On the other hand, there are many sites that would be labeled “content farms” like e-how, that actually provide good value. These sites have in common:
- Useful information.
- Links to related information
- A respectful number of ads
- Attractive layouts
- Easy to read fonts
While it might be easy to distinguish between these two examples, it could actually be harder than you think. That’s because I think the latter scenario is fine, but Google apparently does not. There are many good sites that display content that Google is about to ban. That raises the question: Where do you draw the line?
Is WebMD beyond the pale because they answer many questions in simple language?
Are article directory sites content farms because their missions is to act as a middle man where they post information articles with the purpose of being reprinted on sites that want content?
And just how much information should an article have for it to be considered “good enough?”
If you don’t know about a certain topic, then introductory level material would be great. If you have a Ph.D. in that subject, then this snippet would seem trivial.
For example, if your doctor told you had atrial fibrillation in your heart, that would be the first time you heard the term. He would probably explain it, but you’d miss out on half of what he said because you’d still be in shock. So you go to Google and type the term. You’d find dozens of articles and answers about this term. Nearly all would be written for the layman that you are. You’d probably walk away from the computer feeling that Google showed you good results.
However, if you’re a doctor looking of the latest research on a-fib, you might be disappointed. However, you’d probably modify your search to something more focused like, “What is the latest research on a-fib and diltiazem?”
Both responses are useful.
On the other hand, I recall reading an article on a shopping site that said, “Thanksgiving is a major holiday in the United States. It is marked by families getting together. Many people eat turkey although some families eat other foods. They also like to watch football on television.”
This isn’t news to me or you, but if you were a recent immigrant to the U.S., it would be kind of useful, don’t you think? They can dig deeper for info about the Pilgrims, Indians, recipes for cranberry sauce and the odds on the Cowboys game. But it is a start. I’d find it trivial (and so would Google), but to newcomers, it might be exactly what they need to read in exactly the right grade level of writing.
The question is: Is it too dumb?
That’s open for debate.
Google’s actions also raise a bigger question about where your content can or should appear – and the possible de-listing that could result.
Is your site in danger of being labeled a content farm because you might have printed an article from an industry leader? Or could you be labeled a content spammer because you gave permission to have your article printed on a website belonging to your trade association or even a newspaper?
Would you be guilty of content spamming if you posted an article on your blog, uploaded it to an article site, like EzineArticles.com and submitted it to your industry trade journal?
There have been debates about the “duplicate content” question for years. I think people decided they wanted to reach the readers of those sites primarily. They did not want to try to trick the search engines.
What does Google’s new policy mean for them?
I have no idea.
I always advise people to play by the rules, play it safe and play it conservatively. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of Google because the penalty is you might be blocked from their search results.
I respect Google for wanting to present the best search results. I certainly hate getting bad results. I must admit that Google does a great job whenever I search for something, whether it be info about a-fib, the latest iPad rumors or the cheapest place to buy a product.
So Google, keep up the good work. But please be clear about:
1. What is good content and what is drivel.
2. What is good syndication and what is spam.
Honest people with something to say need to know what we can do.
To see Google’s blog about this, go here:
http://ow.ly/44SN8
Watson the computer beat two of Jeopardy’s all-time champs.
But was it a publicity stunt or was it an honest match?
As any arm-chair player of Jeopardy can tell you, there are two essential skills needed to win:
1. knowledge of facts, history, trivia and wordplay.
2. a quick trigger finger.
Watson knows the answers. Cool. So does Google (or did we forget that there is another computer that can answer questions from humans). But was Watson allowed to click in faster than competitors? If it did, then the human competitors were at a severe disadvantage. If they aren’t allowed to answer the questions, then they can’t possibly win.
Would it be possible to check the code and rule set that allowed for Watson to click in and be allowed to answer the question first?
The News Interview You See Might Actually Be a Paid-for-Promo
Beware.
The person you are seeing interviewed on TV might have paid for that spot.
It’s true.
There seems to be a new trend going on among local TV shows as well as cable news shows to sell interview spots to authors, speakers and business people for fees ranging from $900 to $4,500.
While this isn’t illegal, the practice is disturbing.
As a viewer, I expect the news directors and producers and reporters to carefully decide who they want to interview for their spot segments. These people should be interesting, newsworthy, and controversial or pass the general litmus test of “news.”
It could be hard news like a politician defending her views. It could be the head of a charity group talking about some feel-good event he is promoting, or anything in between.
They all have one thing in common: a news person felt they passed the test.
But there appears to be a pay-for-play element creeping into the news biz. Producers are actually asking potential guests to pony up a few hundred or thousand dollars to appear on their shows.
The spots are labeled as news, not advertising.
One of my clients says the producer told her this was part of a new trend called “branded entertainment.” There’s even a Wikipedia entry about this!
The producer said that infomercials aren’t working any longer, so this form of 5-minute interview tied to a news show is the new, bright shiny object that people are chasing after.
Another client said that he can get a contract to appear on a local TV show for 50 segments for $900 a pop.
Apparently, I’m the last person to know about this (or maybe you are). But the cat is out of the bag. TV stations want to make money and they are looking to guests to foot the bill.
What should you do?
First, remember that there still are legitimate TV shows that will be horrified to hear about this trend. I don’t think Oprah or Regis or Ellen or Piers will allow pay-for-play.
Second, I’m sure there are late-night talk shows that have always operated on a quid-pro-quo basis that allowed celebrities to come on to a show to promote their movies or their books. That’s where the commercial line begins to blur. But it’s been going on for a zillion years and isn’t about to stop.
That puts us back on point. What should you do if a producer from a real TV shows asks for money?
First, determine if this is a real show or not. There are lots of companies that claim to be TV shows that will film you for a fee and say they will air the episode. But they are frauds. Either they don’t air the show, or the show is viewed by a very small audience. It’s a scam.
Second, if the show is legit (as the above two cases with my clients show), then determine if you can win. Ask yourself: “Will the money I invest make me as much or more money?”
For example, if I pay $900 to appear on this show, will I sell $900 of books, consulting, coaching, speaking or products?
If the answer is “Yes,” then go for it. That’s what advertising is supposed to do.
But beware:
1. Don’t commit yourself to a long-term contract you can’t get out of. You might have good success in the beginning. But if the sales start to diminish, you could lose your shirt.
2. Make sure the show actually does reach your target audience. It is nice to be asked to be on a TV show in Sweden, but will that reach the people who can buy my your services?
3. Make sure the show airs at the prime time to reach your audience. Does your audience watch TV as they eat breakfast, or at 2 in the morning when they can’t sleep?
4. Make sure you get copies of the video to use in any way you want. You will want to get the most value you can out of this video. In addition, it will be much higher quality than anything you can do with your Mac and a green screen.
Once the interview airs, make sure you make the most of segments. For example:
1. Link to the videos from your website.
2. Publicize the fact you were on TV, especially if you signed a long-term contract and you are now the expert correspondent for the show on your specific topic.
Remember, not everyone sees every minute of every episode of every TV show (or newspaper for that matter). You must promote your appearances to the people who don’t watch TV or read newspapers or who happened to be working at the time the show aired.
The old newspaper editor in me cringes at the thought of paying to be on TV and the station not labeling this as a pay-for-play event. But they didn’t ask me for my opinion. I’m just showing you how to maximize your opportunities in this new age of media when all the rules seem to be changing.
For my new book on how to get more leads and referrals, I asked my followers for tips. Here are the answers. If you’d like to suggest your ideas, please click this link and I’ll send you a copy of the electronic version of the book — plus you get great publicity!
Click this link to contribute: http://ow.ly/35PMG
Thanks,
Dan
1. Referrals By Writing Answers To QuestionsI answer questions at www.allexperts.com and get at least four new contacts for my contact list every day. Thanks to Cynthia Lett of The Lett Group |
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2. The Power Of Social Networking, Or, How Bad Sinuses Helped Me Land A Board PositionEarlier this year I decided to follow some marketing advice that I read a while back. The article said that our service providers like doctors, dentists, and others don’t know what kind of work we do unless we tell them. I followed up diligently and looked for my doctors on Facebook, with the intent of connecting with them to request referrals. Much to my surprise, I found the doctor who performed my sinus surgery in 2008. This person had exactly four friends on Facebook at that time and I actually knew one of them! The man I recognized worked at GE when I was an engineer there in 1984. I contacted this former co-worker via Facebook and received a very enthusiastic response. In fact, he was so enthusiastic that he invited me to join the board of directors for a local nonprofit technology group. I never thought in all these forty-plus years of having lousy sinuses that my condition would lead to a board position. That is the power of social networking. Thanks to Monica Johns of Clarity Management Consulting |
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3. Don’t Spam. Look, Listen, And Read Before You Send.Journalists and bloggers are overwhelmed with p.r. spam and inappropriate pitches. Alienate one of them, and they can do something worse than ignoring you: they can publish a denunciation that may live forever as one of the first things people find when they search for your name. Before you call, e-mail, or send a message on Twitter to a journalist or blogger, familiarize yourself with what they write about, and how, to make sure your pitch is appropriate. Different journalists and bloggers have different preferences. Look for a “How To Pitch me Page” or the like on their Web site, or instructions on their contact page about how they prefer to be contacted. If there’s nothing explicit, look at their home page and read the last few entries and the category labels in their blog. Beware of purchased or rented media lists or media directories — even the “reputable” ones include inaccurate, unverified information scraped from the Web. Thanks to Edward Hasbrouck of Hasbrouck.org |
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4. Consistent Quality ContentConsistently Tweet and post high quality content that your target market needs and values and leads and referrals will follow. Thanks to Martin Soorjoo of Investor Pitch Clinic LLC |
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5. Less Is MoreWay too many people have very short attention spans. If content does not grab within a short time period (ranging from a few seconds to 2 minutes), the reader exits. So this tip is to make the message meaningful in as few words as possible WITH the opportunity for the reader to ask for more. In addition, make sure images do not dominate the page and hide the content of your message. Thanks to Richard Oppenheim of gettingyoupastgo.com |
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6. Stop Wasting Valuable Networking TimeI use HappyGrasshopper.com to automate my relationship marketing. They keep in touch with all the contacts I make that don’t have an obvious direct path to the sale. These are the people I meet at networking events and parties but that don’t really fit on my email newsletter list because they aren’t interested in my products. Once or twice a month, Happy Grasshopper sends them a message from “me”. (My contacts will never know!) Before reading any further, look at the corner of your desk. Is there a pile of business cards there? No? Check your drawers, pockets or glove box. Those cards belong to the hundreds of people you have smiled for, chatted with, listened to, and vowed to follow up with – BUT DIDN’T – because you don’t have time to stay in touch with people who aren’t likely to buy. Happy Grasshopper does a good job of keeping in touch for me and it’s really inexpensive too – just $19 a month. Hope this helps… Best, Dan Stewart Thanks to Dan Stewart of Happy Grasshopper |
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7. Use A Service Like Reporter Connection To Get Leads On Fresh ContentI use Reporter Connection as an expert looking for publicity, and also as a journalist looking for experts. I learned a long time ago that the only way to acquire loyal customers on the Internet was to establish trust by consistently publishing quality content. Anyone that has ever kept a blog knows that creating good content for a long period of time can be hard. I have had great success generating good content by interviewing struggling business owners who have vowed never to quit. And how do I find all those struggling business owners you might ask? I posted a journalist query on Reporter Connection, in which I asked for feedback from people that have succeeded in life and business by vowing to never quit. The query generated over 60 good leads. Doing the interviews has not only gotten me good and original content, but it has helped me to establish a great relationship with the people I interviewed. I firmly believe that we can only succeed by first helping others. Thanks to Sara Morgan of Custom Solutions |
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8. Landing Page Link LoveInstead of having your single Twitter link go to your website home page, or blog home page, send it to a unique landing page. Use a similar approach for FB and LI. Because each site will attract a different potential customer, you can customize your landing page to their unique characteristics and needs. Even better, start split testing to see which landing page for each social media channel gets the best results. Thanks to Nicole Fende of Small Business Finance Forum |
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9. Business Networking Program At Church In SacramentoA friend and I started a Business Networking Program at our church, Spiritual Life Center in Sacramento CA. We meet monthly with each guest sharing information about their business. We are also in the process of developing an on-line directory of all of the business people. We then plan to put together a printed directory so the members of our church look first at the directory when they need services. Marie Wilson, Wellness Coach. Website: www.MarieWilson.Info. Thanks to Marie Wilson of Wilson Enterprises, Inc. |
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10. Getting Leads By Participating In ForumsOnly respond when you can add something new to the conversation. When you leave a comment, lead with your strength. For example, if you have new research findings, use those in your answer. If you’re good at diagnosing a problem, start there. Result: you’ll be known for something specific, instead of just being smart. Folks there will then know how to refer (or work with you.) There’s a difference between being helpful and showing your brand. Thanks to Vickie Sullivan of Sullivan Speaker Services Inc. |
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11. Anchor Your Keywords For More Traffic To Your Website.The best tip I learned from Barbara Rozgonyi was to use your main keyword phrase within the headline and body of a press release. If you create an anchor link for that phrase that links back to your website, it increases the traffic to your site for that keyword phrase. Gail Doby, ASID, is a Business Shortcut. She helps busy Interior Designers build a more profit and passion-filled business. Gail is an NCIDQ certified designer with more than 20 years of experience in estate home construction and renovation. Thanks to Gail Doby of Design Success University |
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12. Find The Pain; Create Customer Gain!Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter provide search capabilities that let you zero in on the topic(s) in which you are an expert. Use these tools to narrow the field, then review the results returned. Look for conversations where you can help a person with a question or who may have a problem creating pain for them/their business. Then, give your best help without selling. When you respond in ways that acknowledge their pain and provide viable solutions [without selling], your professional expertise and generosity speak for you. Louder than any marketing message you might send. The more you do this, the more your reputation for being a go-to person on that subject will spread. For every person who asks a question on LinkedIn for example, hundreds have the same question and just haven’t asked it yet. You can answer those questions. Similarly, you can reply to others’ questions on Twitter and Facebook in a helpful way. Answer once and post it on all 3 sites for even more coverage! Thanks to Linda Lopeke of SMARTSTART |
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13. Join A Cause And Help OthersThink about how good you feel when you’re able to help another person or be part of something bigger than yourself. Get referrals by inviting people into a mission of service. You can ask members of your “tribe” to help you help others by identifying those who could benefit from your content. For example, my new Pain Stompers system helps people make a positive difference when someone they care about is in pain–whether physical, emotional or financial pain. At the end of the blog posts, press releases or newsletter articles– with social media links– I say, “Do you know anyone trying to figure out the best way to help? Please forward this post to them and invite them to my site for more.” Thanks to Vicki Rackner of Www.DrVickiRackner.com |
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14. Dive In!You won’t get results from LinkedIn by sitting on the edge of the pool. Join as many LinkedIn groups that fit your target audience. Then become an active participant in discussions. Start discussions that will be of interest to your audience, and give you a chance to share your expertise. Always give value. People will get to know your face, and you will be perceived as a valuable resource. Wouldn’t you rather do business with someone you know? Dive in and put LinkedIn to work for you! Thanks to Pam Alexandra of Positive Action Coaching |
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15. Include More Than The Simple Facts For Your Twitter ProfileWant to have lots of Twitter followers? I have almost 24,000. Make sure your profile includes your photo to show you are a real person. Also what do you want the reader steps to take with you and your business? Tell them. My profile includes my name, location (important) and website and I say, “Communications Expert, Author, Information Marketer, Publisher. I love to help writers. Let me know how I can help YOU!” I’m inviting direct interaction. Plus I use TweetAdder as an affordable twitter-building tool: http://budurl.com/wtwadd It is easy to use and automates much of the drudgery of it. Thanks to Terry Whalin of terrywhalin.com |
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16. Gain Topic Mastery Through A Targeted LinkedIn GroupCreating a LinkedIn Group on your specific area of expertise can work dramatically to bring attention to your business — whether on a local or global level. Start discussions on a variety of related topics and be sure to recognize and acknowledge new members and respondents. I encourage them to add their expertise or ask questions to the group to generate interaction. The more targeted your group name, the more likely you’ll attract serious hot prospects or JV partners for future ventures. Be sure to respond to the discussions and actively contribute your insights to the group. Through my Child-Centered Divorce LinkedIn group I’ve made many new business connections, new partners to collaborate with and sold new trainings as well as products — around the world. This is easy 24-hour marketing that works to the degree that YOU work it! Thanks to Rosalind Sedacca of Child-Centered Divorce |
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17. Catching Your Clients Comments Before They Leave!I think the best way to use the internet is by making your blog accessible for your clients. I will be starting a blog available right in my office for clients to comment on after their massage. They will more likely refer people to the site as well as visit themselves when they have writtten something personal. Thanks to Ethelyn Hinrichs of AhhSpaMassage |
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18. Getting More From Each Of Your LeadsWhile most businesses focus on getting more leads, and let’s face it that’s a major way to grow your business, most overlook a simple strategy that can increase your profits without increasing the size of your customer-base. The more focused your niche, and the more closely-tailored your products are to that niche, the more money you can charge. Let me give you a highly simplified example: Marketing Guide: $9.00 You get the idea. This concept can be applied to any marketing niche you care to name and it is the secret to attracting more customers who are looking for exactly what you’re selling, and who are prepared to pay a high price fro what you have on offer. Thanks to Patricia Skinner of ISpeakSEO |
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19. Listen To Your AudienceOne of the best ways to use social media is to LISTEN to your audience. Instead of telling others to check out your latest blog post or visit your website, it’s more effective to build a relationship first. Compliment someone on their article or ask them a question about their website. I did this and it led to my Exit Planning column on AllBusiness.com. Feel free to take a look at my articles in the Exit Planning section or visit my website on www.ExitPlanPros.com/blog for timely information on how to grow and exit your business. -Gary T Brooks GaryTBrooks@ExitPlanPros.com www.ExitPlanPros.com/blog GROW your business while PLANNING your exit. Thanks to Gary Brooks of Exit Plan Pros |
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20. Using The Facebook Notes Feature To Generate Unexpected ReferralsOne specific strategy we use to generate referrals is by taking advantage of facebook’s notes feature. Using notes allows us to automatically feature actionable content on our wall (speaking opportunities). This kind of content encourages our “fans” to check back often to see if an opportunity is right for them. If they decide to dig deeper they will find that a membership is required to submit an application. What we’ve discovered is that even if the speaker is not a good fit for a job opportunity we’re announcing, our fans will often refer a colleague who may be a better fit to check out the details. These referrals have led to new customers we might not have had otherwise. How to: On your fan page go to the “notes” section (located at the top and sometimes hidden from plain view). You will then see an option to “edit import settings.” All you have to do is enter in your rss feed and click save. You can see this in action at http://www.facebook.com/SpeakerMatch. Thanks to Paul Ellul of SpeakerMatch |
People are always asking me what to do with all the great media coverage they get with PR LEADS. Here’s a great idea from Robert Livinsgtone of IdealCost.com. He has his media hits printed on his business cards. He has the normal info you’d expect to see on a card, like name, contact info, etc. But on the back he lists the high-value places he’s been quoted in under a column labeled “In the News.” I also like his line at the bottom, “and many more.” Thanks for sharing, Robert.
Business cards are pretty cheap these days (at least on the Internet), so why not print a bunch of media-savvy cards and impress your next networking meeting?
Business cards are pretty cheap these days (at least on the Internet), so why not print a bunch of media-savvy cards and impress your next networking meeting?
Do you have a great way to promote your publicity? Tell me and I’ll share it with everyone.
You can see other posts for my responses on how to get the most from your publicity.
Bloggers have influence and major players are reaching out to influence them.
Consider these events at BlogWorld:
General David Petraeus
- General David Patraeus took time out from defending out country to welcome people to BlogWorld and to thank bloggers for supporting the troops and their families. BlogWorld held a separate track for military blogs. Other tracks were for business, travel, food and sports.
- Mark Burnett, creator of Survivor, The Apprentice and other reality shows, used BlogWorld for the world premier viewing of a trailer for his latest show, “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.”
- Political consultants Mark Penn and Karen Hughes, veterans of two White House staffs, spoke about social media and politics.
- Borders announced software program to turn a book into a blog and have it sold via their bookstores – for $85, which includes the cost of an ISBN number. The head of the program told me that an ISBN number alone usually costs more than $85.
- SONY showed a prototype television with Internet capabilities. Tech pundit Jim Louderback said it was not ready for prime time, but that it did herald the beginning of a new era of convergence of the two media.
Meanwhile a room full of 100 food bloggers anxiously took notes from PR people who showed them how to curry favor with reporters and with brands – and learn a bit about journalistic ethics in the process.
In another room, several hundred corporate employees talked about how to measure ROI on social media and new media tools. Wrapped in numbers, metrics, formulas and algorithms, the session was not for the faint of heart, but for B-school wonks.
Still in another room, newbie bloggers were learning the ins and outs of creating content, creating community and creating income.
As panelists made their points, many in the audience tweeted and re-tweeted key points and sound bytes. Some presenters paused in their talks to point out they just said something that was tweetable.
Still others checked their messages on Facebook and Twitter (using HootSuite for the most part).
If one message came through loud and clear it was the social media was about creating conversations, not broadcasting messages. Case in point, two bloggers took to the microphones during Q&A to blast Penn and Hughes for talking in talking points, but not engaging the audience. The politicos answered the bloggers with more talking points but never once asked the questioners for their ideas.
Old habits are hard to break.
My audience is mostly speakers, authors, consultants and coaches. Most of whom think social media is a giant time waster. I can see why: Most messages I get from them are promotions for their webinars, teleseminars and thinly-veiled commercials for their books, consulting clients and other self-serving and self-promoting ventures. Of course no one engages in conversations with them. There’s no meat. People can see through an ad, even when it isn’t labeled an ad.
If you want to be successful with social media (and this conference showed me that many big companies really are getting ROI from their efforts), then it is key to engage so you can build visibility, trust and then sales.
So, what do you think?
Dan Janal is a very successful entrepreneur, professional speaker and marketing coach who helps clients build their businesses by improving their strategy for using publicity, marketing, Internet marketing, e-commerce and sales. To see how you can improve your business, go to http://www.prleadsplus.com
Follow me on twitter @prleads, http://www.facebook.com/danjanal and Linked In and my Linked In group, “PR LEADS.”
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If I were trapped in a mine, thousands of feet underground for more than two months, I don’t think my first thought would be “How can I get media training.”
Then, again, I wasn’t trapped in a mine with the world looking on with wonder and pathos. The miners who were living in horror, apparently, were thinking several media steps ahead of me.
Chile
According to the Toronto Star, the miners asked for and received media training so they can sell their story – er should I have written “tell” their story instead? Ooops. Freudian slip.
“With as many as 2,000 journalists waiting for them on the surface, the first thing they asked for was media training,” the paper reported.
Movie deals, book deals, TV interviews and the like are all in the offing for these tragic heroes. I wish them the best. No one should have to through the troubles they’ve seen.
I guess this shows how media-centric the entire world has become. Everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame, make a killing and ride off to the sunset. New thought. No one wants 15 minutes of fame any more. They want their entire lives broadcast on TV or YouTube or Facebook for the world to see and for them to monetize.
I just hope no TV producer thinks of a Realty TV show where 33 people are forced to live in a collapsed mine and vote one person off each week. There’s a saying about life imitating art.
If you need media training to turn your big disaster into a winning moment, send me an email and I’ll put you in touch with one of my many friends who do this work.