In building my business, I’ve found PRLeads.com very useful. Here’s how I use it.

John Reddish

1. I set up my account with key words relating to my expertise – reporters seeking expert input send queries to ProfNet for posting. Experts are free to respond or not. Reporters have no obligation to use input as received (so it’s important to either know the publication/service, or the reporter and what and how they write, or at least do research when you can (some items are cloaked) – Google search is great for helping me decide who and what to respond to;

2. I respond to those items that resonate with me, to publications where I think my voice will be heard and that seem to hold opportunity. I keep my overall branding plan in mind so that I don’t go too far afield from where I want to project myself.

3. Unless there is a special reason, or target market I want reach, I tend not to respond to authors seeking input for books they intend to publish. Not knowing them, or the other content they might use, I approach these queries cautiously;

4. To find out when I get quoted (sometimes the reporter lets you know, sometimes not), I do regular Google searches using my name, the reporter’s name and the publication’s name. Also of note, some reporters re-purpose and re-quote in syndication of their pieces and/or in using your input in related articles. I once gave a reporter input for a MS Small business site and more than a year later the same article appeared in East Africa Trade News – who knew!;

4. Once I have the quote, I get a link to it and send a brief synopsis of the article, the link and that fact that I was quoted to clients who might be interested, to clients where I need to keep contact, to prospects, to friends and family and post to my blog and/or web site. When appropriate, I also send the mailing to trade press (judiciously and only where it might be useful for them – some have even called with a new slant for pieces they want to do but this is rare) and alumni news outlets – you never know.

5. Once I know either the style/approach of the publication/service, or the reporter’s style, I decide on whether to go long- or short-copy.  If I think the reporter can use in-depth (not too in depth) background on his/her query, I give it.  Otherwise, I’m a big fan of bullets and key phrases that have potential for Buzz while still being dead-on.

This visibility builds credibility very well and makes client conversions more a process of helping them buy and not selling them.

Best regards,
John

John helps entrepreneurs and other leaders who want to master growth, transition and succession to get results faster, less painfully and in ways that work for them. This happens through consulting, coaching/mentoring, speaking, and/or training. Contact John: www.linkedin.com/in/johnreddish, or web – www.GetResults.com, www.TheSuccessionPlanner.com. John is a professional member of the National Speakers Association and the International Coach Federation.