Media coach Karen Friedman posted a great video showing how to make professional looking YouTube videos. Here’s the link:
Media Training: YouTube Tips to Make You Look Professional
March 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Publicity Tactic: Are Your Biggest Competitors Really Your Best Friends?
August 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
My article on Publicity Ethics last week really struck a chord. I received many “good job” messages and only a handful of unsubs.
Vijay asked a good question. Could I provide examples of “co-opetition” the word that means how to work with your competitors?
Some of my best friends are “competitors.” That is, we all offer PR services to authors, speakers, coaches, consultants and small businesses. However, we all offer a slightly different part of the publicity puzzle.
I provide leads and press releases.
Joan Stewart, the Publicity Hound, offers advice and training materials.
Jess Todfeld, Karen Friedman, Shawne Duperon, TJ Walker and Susan Harrow offer media training. They are all in different parts of the country, so I can match prospects with them based on geography and fit.
Jonathan Bernstein offers crisis communications counseling.
Bruce Freeman pitches the media.
Of course, I’m pals with Jill Lublin, Steve Harrison, Bill Harrison, Jim Bowman, Mark Harty, David Mathison, Nancy Juetten, Raleigh Pinsky, David Newman, Alex Carrol, Rick Frishman, Robert Stack, and a zillion other people who have helped me and vice versa.
While we are all in PR, we all do different parts of PR, so we can freely refer clients to each other knowing that we are helping our clients find the best person for the job.
That’s co-opetition.
We also might exchange small commissions (or not, depending on the relationship) and that sweetens the pot.
We also can pick up the phone and call each other to get feedback on our problems and insights into our ideas. I’ve killed many projects when my buddies told me the idea was stupid or already done. And I’ve had ideas made better with the suggestions of my co-opetitors.
There’s an old saying in the martial arts that you use your opponents force to your advantage. If he punches, you use that momentum to thrown him.
The same is true with co-opetition. If you try to fight your opponents, you waste energy and can get a fist in the face. If you use their momentum, you win, they win and the mutual client wins.
Try it.
Who are your biggest competitors? Can they turn into natural allies?
Should you pay outrageous fees for article reprints?
June 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Some newspapers and magazines charge for reprints. Some don’t. And some charge a small fortune.
Here’s a way to maximize articles without paying ridiculous prices for reprints.
You can put some content on your website for free, including:
- links to the articles. They click on the link and the browser opens a new window that shows the article. People see both sites at the same time.
- headlines of the articles
- short quotes from the article (The L.A. Times called Dan Janal “an internet marketing expert.” True, btw)
- general info about the article (i.e. I was quoted in the Wall Street Journal on June 15, 2010.”)
If you use these tips, you’ll get a lot of leverage from your articles without winding up in the poor house.
How to get reporters to give you the red carpet treatment
March 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
If you want to be treated like Hollywood Royalty by reporters, its actually fairly simple. Look to the Red Carpet for clues.
1. It happens every year. Reporters expect it. Their readers and viewers demand it. Reporters have to cover it. There are events in your profession that reporters have to cover, like New Year’s Resolutions in January, Relationships in February and Taxes in April. Find out what reporters cover and give it to them!
2. Actors and actresses come prepared. They don’t wear old rags. They are dressed to kill and they know what they are going to say. You should remember to treat your interview with as much preparation. What are you going to say? How do you want to appear to the media? Be like the Boy Scouts and “Be Prepared.”
3. Act like you belong there. Actors who were unknown a year ago walk with grace on the Red Carpet. Expert sources and thought leaders must display the confidence the same confidence. I’ve met many great people who have done amazing things but think they are not ready for prime time.
You are ready.
Now is your time.
Shine!
I have tools to help you reach reporters. Check out info on our up-to-date media contact databases and our guaranteed, quick and easy press release writing and distribution services at PRLEADSPLUS.com
Inspirational tips for entrepreneurs from the Olympics
March 1, 2010 By 1 Comment
1. It doesn’t matter how you start. It matters how you finish. The games started with a death and glitch with the torch. They ended on a high note. Life and business are long-term propositions. Brian Tracy says that everyone who is at the top of their profession was once a newcomer who knew nothing. But they read to get smarter, worked with coaches to get better and, eventually, they triumphed.
2. Don’t get discouraged by initial setbacks. Canada wanted to be the all-time winner of medals. In the first few days, they looked in danger of falling way short. At the end, they had more gold medals than anyone else. Have you invested a lot of time and energy but see disappointing results? Don’t give up. Success is just around the corner. Keep your eyes on the prize and don’t be dejected by momentary setbacks.
3. Sacrifice. Every Olympian seems to have endured a lack of time, lack of resources or lack of money. In other words, they are doing exactly the same things that you have done to build your business. To me, you are my Gold-medal hero.
Interested in having me coach you? Check out www.PRLEADStoPROFITS.com for details.
Marketing tips from George Washington
February 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
George Washington
In honor of George Washington’s birthday, here are marketing tips from the father of our country.
1. Always tell the truth. Nothing hurts your credibility with reporters or prospects or customers more than shading the truth. Look at Tiger Woods and Toyota. ‘Nuff said.
2. Eat the cherries, but don’t chop down the cherry tree. In other words, enjoy the fruits of your labors and always keep your main business well tuned for these tough times. If that means you need to get coaching and consulting help in marketing, PR and business growth, call me and I’ll explain how we can work together.
3. Watch out for splinters. Those wooden teeth have got to hurt.
Marketing Wizard Dan Janal Predicts 3 SuperBowl Winners
February 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
It’s five hours before the kickoff for the Super Bowl and I’m set to make my iron-clad predictions. With apologies to the Who and their Pinball Wizard, I’ll put on my Marketing Wizard hat to predict the three winners are in this year’s Super Bowl.
1. The Who. This year’s halftime act will expose hundreds of millions of people to one of the great groups of the Sixties and Seventies. I saw them in concert in Saratoga, NY and they were fantastic. They’re albums have sold zillions. But today’s youth probably knows them more for the ring tone at the beginning of the TV show CSI (yes, that’s the Who). Now they will become almost as well known as Lady Gaga!
2. Tim Tebow and Focus on the Family. Let’s face it. Many people watch the SuperBowl for the commercials as for the game (especially if the game is a bore!) The true value of any commercial is if it is remembered. I remember cute, talking animals from last year’s ads. I can’t tell you what product they pitched. But I can tell you that Tim Tebow got more media muscle for his ad even before it aired. The commercial has been covered and debated in most daily newspapers and opinion TV shows. It got free replays and it go people talking even BEFORE the show. Even Janet Jackson couldn’t do that. Tebow’s what advertising is all about.
3. Tebow would have been the hands-down winner, except for one Hail-Mary play. What’s better than getting the highest talked about ad? That’s the ad that got the most talk with the least amount spent. For that award, look to Mancrunch.com a company that CBS decided it didn’t want to sell an ad to. By nixing the ad, the company got a ton of PR. But the best part is that rumors are reported that the company didn’t even have the money to pay for the commercial! So they got a zillion dollars of publicity without spending a penny to produce the ad or buy the ad time!
That’s the play of the day!
What’s the message for you? Controversy creates publicity. What’s controversial in your field? Capitalize on it!
Publicity Coach Dan Janal Named One of “30 PR Experts to Follow on Twitter”
January 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Minneapolis – January 15, 2010 – Publicity coach Dan Janal has been named one of the top “30 PR Experts You Should Follow on Twitter” by eReleases.com.
“Dan Janal is a recognized publicity expert who understands the media. His PR LEADS service offers a unique way for users to reach targeted journalists under deadline,” said Mickie Kennedy, eReleases Founder and CEO.
Dan Janal
To follow Dan Janal on Twitter use @prleads or http://www.twitter.com/prleads He writes about new tactics and strategies to get publicity, as well as pointing to research and trends from other research organizations. While tweets are short, his blog posts go into more detail to help people get more publicity.
“My mission is to help small businesses and entrepreneurs get the publicity they deserve,” said Janal who combines coaching, consulting and mentoring into a uniquely helpful one-on-one consultation program. “By offering insights and tips on Twitter and my blog, I’m able to show people how to get things done quickly and easily. Publicity is not rocket science. Anyone can get publicity if they have a good coach.”
Paul King, CEO of Hercules Networks said of Dan’s coaching: “You opened doors which I did not know existed, and turned the strange and complicated world of PR into a simple, effective plan. As most brilliant people do, you made a complex process simple. Thank you.”
Dan’s coaching helps people get an outside perspective from an acknowledged expert in the industry. He has helped clients outline chapters for books, think of story angles that reporters will write about, and get clear on their marketing goals.
About Dan Janal
With more than 30 years of experience in publicity, Dan Janal is Founder and President of PRLEADS.com which has helped more than 4,000 small businesses and entrepreneurs get publicity in major media to boost their sales and profits. USA TODAY called Dan “a true Internet marketing pioneer.”
Based in suburban Minneapolis, Dan understands publicity as only a former newspaper reporter can. As an award-winning daily newspaper reporter and business news editor, he interviewed President Gerald Ford and First Lady Barbara Bush. Dan Janal is one of the most respected teachers, visionaries and entrepreneurs in the publicity community. He has written six books about Internet Marketing for John Wiley & Sons, and has been an in-demand, international speaker for nearly 20 years.
Dan was on the PR team that launched AOL and wrote one of the first books about Internet Marketing in 1994. He taught the first Internet Marketing class at Berkeley and also taught Internet Branding classes at Stanford. Corporate clients include IBM, The Reader’s Digest and American Express. He has spoken at conferences for the National Football League, Credit Union Executive Society and many others.
He has created innovative ways for people to get publicity, including the Cool Book of the Day site to help authors get publicity for books; and the Free Publicity Tools.com site to help entrepreneurs find resources to help promote their businesses.
For information about hiring Dan to speak at conferences, go to www.janal.com
For information on coaching and consulting services, go to www.PublicityLeadstoProfits.com
About eReleases(R)
In its 11th year of business, eReleases (http://www.ereleases.com) is the low-cost leader in press release distribution and writing services. The company was founded on the principle that professional press release writing and targeted press release distribution should not be out of reach for small and medium-sized businesses. The company earlier this year launched CauseWire(TM) (http://www.ereleases.com/causewire/), a press release service for nonprofit organizations, and GreenRelease(TM), a press release submission program designed to offset global warming. Through its PR Fuel blog and newsletter, eReleases.com features press release tips and resources for visitors who want to learn more about press releases.
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Walmart.com’s ploy: Good news for readers is bad news for authors
October 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The good news is that Walmart.com is selling upcoming hot books — including Sarah Palin’s book — for $10.
The better news is that Amazon is either going to match them or go a penny better.
And that includes shipping!
While this is good news for readers, it is bad news for authors. I don’t suspect that anyone will make money at $10 per book.
If Walmart.com is hoping to get spinoff sales on other products from browsers, good luck. That’s the only way they will make money. But if those buyers are looking for deals on books, they will also look for deals on other products Walmart.com carries. Coupon discount sites are only a click away.
This is also bad news for authors. If readers expect books to cost $10, there’s not much upside left for traditional publishers or self-publishers.
Play Ball! It’s Opening Day
I’ve always loved Opening Day for baseball because when you look at the standings, everyone is even. Each team is in first place. Each team has the whole world open to them.
Dan gets caught up in baseball.
Same with you. Treat Opening Day as a time to start over.
1 Reevaluate your website. Is it up to snuff? Check out the free resources at http://www.websitereviewslive.com. You might want to get in touch with my webmaster after you review his materials.
2. Reevaluate your PR and marketing plans. Are they getting results? If not, it is time to start over. Email me and we’ll set up a complimentary coaching session to see if I can help you. This offer applies only to present and former clients of PR LEADS and I *will* try to sell you on group coaching or individual coaching.
3. Reevaluate your profiles on Facebook, Linked In and Twitter. Do they represent what you are selling now?
Go ahead. Dust off those cobwebs. You just might find some new money buried beneath them!