What Should Your “Promotional Tagline” Be?
Best To Let the Media Determine That
In my role as the head of a PR firm, one of the most common misconceptions I see has to do with the superlatives people choose to describe themselves. Now, I’m not referring to how the media positions someone, but rather how someone seeking PR wants to refer to him or herself.
I once overheard my senior strategist, Tony Panaccio, having a conversation with a client about what their tagline should be. It went something like this: Read more
So, You Want to Be The Next Big Talk Show Star?
There Are Two Ways In The Door, Depending On Your Resources
We’ve all said it at least once in our lives.
It usually happens when we’re watching TV and a talk show host is stumbling over their words or simply not being articulate, and we say either out loud or to ourselves, “I could do better than that.”
In my business, I get a lot of people who are of that belief, and many of them genuinely can do better than that. The disconnect is they believe that because they can be good on the air, it automatically means if they hire a PR agency to attract attention, they’ll have their own talk show and be a national celebrity. Read more on so, you want to be the next big talk show star? →
How Charlie Sheen’s Use of Talk Radio Demonstrates the Medium’s Influence over Everything Else
Have you noticed how Charlie Sheen has quieted down? It’s not that his public meltdown has slowed or that he’s run out of things to say. It’s just that he isn’t saying it on radio anymore.
I was actually surprised when I realized that Sheen’s daily presence in the news wasn’t just from his tweets or his videos that he posted online, but rather his radio interviews. The meatier comments the media used for their stories about Sheen actually came from his constant calls to national radio shows like The Dan Patrick Show, The Alex Jones Show and a wide variety of morning shows in different cities.
In fact, Philadelphia’s Wired 96.5 FM station – recognizing Sheen’s penchant for phone-in radio rants – flew a banner over Sheen’s house inviting him to call the station. He did and another news cycle ensued. Read more on Charlie Sheen's use of talk radio →
It’s Not Enough to Use Social Media: It’s Knowing How to Use it Effectively
Imagine yourself at a big cocktail party where many of the people may be potential clients and customers. Everyone is milling around, enjoying the evening and you’re working the room to meet those who interest you. Now, which communication strategy do you think is going to be more effective? Going from person to person, giving them your “elevator pitch” while handing them your business cards? Or simply engaging in genuine conversations about current events and issues relevant to your expertise?
I’m sure you’ll agree the latter is a far more desirable approach to meeting new people at a cocktail party and the same holds true when conversing on a social networking site. I learned this concept from social media guru, David Meerman Scott, best-selling author of the #1 bestseller The New Rules of Marketing & PR when I interviewed him a few years ago. Read more on why it's not enough to use social media →
You Don’t Need to Be a Celebrity to Get in the News
So, Why Would the Media Be Interested in Me?
In my more than 20 years in public relations, one of the questions I get asked a lot is, “Well, why would the press care about me? I just work for a living, like everyone else.”
The truth is that experts are experts, no matter their field, and as the media has grown over the past decade, it seems there is an endless hunger for experts to comment on the news. Keep in mind the media encompasses 24/7 cable news networks, news/talk radio stations, print media and online news sites that cover just about every topic you can imagine, and then some. While your expertise may be in a “niche” industry or profession, you’d be surprised how many media outlets might have need of your opinions and commentary for their coverage of the news. Read more on you don't need to be a celebrity to get in the news →
Do You Know Who I Am? And Do Your Potential Customers Know Who YOU Are?
You know who I am. Even if you don’t read half of what I send you, you probably recognize my name. Either I’m the person who sends you great advice on how to engage the media, or I’m the nudge who keeps emailing you stuff every week.
Either way, you know who I am and what I do. Now, can you say the same for your potential customers? When you go to industry gatherings, do people you’ve never met walk up to you and say, “Hey, I really like what you do”? If you’re an author, are you known for being an expert on your book’s topic?
That phenomenon-the sensibility that people you’ve never met know who you are and what you do-is the soul of public relations and the primary element of PR’s return on investment. Read more on do your potential customers know who you are →
When it Comes to Talk Radio, You Can’t Judge by Size Alone
Back in 1962, Avis Rent A Car began using the advertising slogan that is still in use today – “We try harder.”
The slogan was a nod to the fact that Avis was the second largest rental car company behind Hertz, and that as a result, they would always make an extra effort in a desire to overcome the competition. It’s a reasonably universal sentiment, as small corporations around the world employ the same tactic to provide better service or more flexibility than the market leaders. And the same can be said of talk radio. Read more on why you shouldn't judge talk radio shows by station size alone →
Stay Focused on Your Passion: Emmy-Winning Client Proves Passion and Drive Can Overcome ANY Obstacle
I spend much of my time doling out practical marketing and PR advice based on the harsh realities of today’s new economy. People ask me constantly for ways they can market themselves affordably and more reliably, so I try to make sure most of my tips are grounded and instantly useful.
But there is one particular element I discuss quite a bit in my book, Celebritize Yourself – I also refer to it so often when speaking to clients and potential clients that I sometimes feel I run the risk of it losing its meaning. The element I talk about copiously is following your passion, and because I hate the thought of sounding like a broken record, it’s refreshing when something happens that re-emphasizes the meaning of my words. Read more on passion being the driving force behind your success →
How to Get the Media Interested in You: You May Be Newsworthy Without Even Knowing It
Do you know what the media would consider newsworthy about you or your company?
Many new clients come to us with a strong opinion about what their “pitch” should be, but often miss the mark, in terms of knowing what will get the media to sit up and pay attention to their message. But it’s very understandable that this could occur, if you’re not working with the media the way we do, day in and day out, developing story angles intended to grab their interest. Read more on getting the media interested in you →
When Should an Author Start Thinking About Book Promotion?
Many new authors think the answer is either “when the book is done” or “doesn’t the publisher take care of that?”
But unless you are a Glenn Beck or Dan Brown, both of those responses are dead wrong. Read more on when an author should start to think about book promotion →
5 Steps for Using Creative PR to Become an Expert Celebrity
One of the things I love about my job is solving problems.
Sure, it’s great to have a client walk in the door who has a unique product or service, solid credentials and a compelling angle. It makes the work easier, certainly, but it sometimes is more satisfying to solve what a client thinks is an unsolvable problem in a creative way. Read more on the 5 steps for using creative PR to become an expert celebrity →
Put Your Expertise into a Book: Dave Ramsey’s Path to Celebrity
Today’s celebrity is not always a movie or TV star, or famous recording artist. Rather, today’s celebrity is frequently an expert in his or her field, whether it is decorating, gardening, investing or healthcare. These “expert celebrities” are the people we look up to, the people who have the information we are searching for, or who inspire us to make a change for the better in our professional or personal lives. Read more on putting your expertise into a book →
Do You Have What it Takes to Be THE Recognized Expert in Your Field?
You might see yourself as only one of a million people who are knowledgeable in a particular area, but your friends, family and colleagues may see you as the reigning expert on the subject, the go-to guy or gal with the answers. Read more on having what it takes to be the recognized expert in your field →
The PR Secret that Got Me Coverage in Forbes, Business Week and CNBC – All in One Day
A lot of PR consultants give advice, but how many actually live by it? In talking the talk for my clients, I also like to think I walk the walk.
In promoting my book, Celebritize Yourself, I have my team at EMSI treat me like a client. They help me write and distribute articles that are aimed to promote the book, following the exact process that we perform for our clients. Read more on the PR secret that got me great coverage →
The Road to Celebrity Can Have Many Twists and Turns
At the start of her career, Rosie O’Donnell probably never dreamed she’d have her own TV talk show, but she did. And with Oprah Winfrey’s landmark show ending next year, a new Rosie show is being positioned to take over from Oprah as the preeminent daytime talk show. Rosie’s success in the entertainment industry is a lesson to everyone with aspirations to become a celebrity themselves. Read more on the road to celebrity →
Why Did You Even Write a Book?
I have always loved authors, which is why I’ve spent twenty years of my life devoted to helping them promote their books and ideas!
I admire authors for their passion, tenacity and, well…chutzpah. Writing a book – and getting it published – is truly for the spirited and dauntless. Read more on why did you even write a book →
Why Getting Published Will Help Your Business
You know what hard work is. You’ve put in the long hours, worked late into the night, done more working than eating during the lunch hour—all to ensure the success of your business.
You may be thinking about what else you can do to get the news of your products or services more broadly known within your target market. Or, you might be brainstorming future steps to expand your business and make it even more successful. Read more on how getting published can help your business →
Can A Book Brand You as an Industry Expert?
In today’s economy, when businesses are struggling to stay afloat, corporate execs need to think out of the box more than ever before. They need to find a way to set themselves apart from others in their industry. Thus my mantra: a book is America’s new business card. Read more on branding yourself as an industry expert →
Embrace the Celebrity Within
Why Everyone Has a Little Celebrity in Them – And What to Do About It
Everyone is a celebrity at something, and by “celebrity” I’m not talking about movie stars, professional athletes or those overnight sensations that are here today, on the cover of People tomorrow and gone by Friday.
True celebrities are experts. In a lot of cases they’re experts at acting, putting a ball in a hoop or looking sexy in next to nothing. But believe it or not, most celebrities these days – the ones that keep auditoriums and hotel conference rooms and even bookstore shelves full – are folks like you and I; people who realized what they are very, very good at and put it to use by celebritizing themselves (or putting their expert status to use as a modern celebrity). Read more on embracing the celebrity within →
Celebritize Yourself: How to Build Your Brand as the Leader in Your Field
It’s one thing to talk about becoming a celebrity in your field. It’s quite another to actually begin the process. To make celebrity an authentic goal, we must first desensitize ourselves to the very word “celebrity.”
The best place to start is to refocus away from Hollywood or the Big Apple and turn it inward, toward yourself, your company, product, service, or expertise, and your industry. Celebritizing yourself from the ground up brings to mind two of my favorite domestic goddesses turned celebrities: Julia Child and Erma Bombeck. I point to these two iconoclastic women because we’re talking about specific industries, and these two virtually created their own. Read more on how to build your brand as the leader in your field →
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You Can Enjoy Expert Celebrity Status
Are you ready for your own brand of celebrity? Public relations expert Marsha Friedman teaches you how to Celebritize Yourself! Learn the secret to becoming an expert celebrity. Her book is the manual for becoming well known as an expert in your field! -
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