Few people I talk to consider themselves authors; fewer still ever picture themselves writing a book. Well, if you’re still undecided about whether a book can propel you to expert status in your field, consider a scene of two people who walk into your office each seeking your business. Each has impeccable credentials, is wearing a tailored suit, and has an impressive resume that sparkles with confidence and great talent. Read more →
As a PR professional, I’ve never liked the way movies portray public relations people.
Usually, they’re characterized by Hollywood as slick-talking flim-flam artists who promise the universe and deliver next to nothing.
And there’s a reason why Hollywood zeroes in on that rendering of PR pros – because our profession does have its share of people who are just like that. I wish it weren’t true, because the vast majority of PR professionals have integrity and work hard to earn their clients’ trust. But the bad apples do exist, and every time I hear real life stories about those kinds of PR people, it infuriates me. Read more →
Why? Because they are America’s biggest consumers. According to Martha Barletta, author of Marketing to Women:
Women influence 95% of all purchases and control 80% of all household spending.
She specifically points out their spending habits in these categories:
“Buying the ‘small stuff’ has always been in the woman’s domain. Part of her domestic duties as wife and mother has been to keep the family healthy, warm, and well nourished. From the family meal to the family doctor, from shirts for her husband to shoes for her kids, chances are those choices have always been hers. Read more →
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, when you appear on television and are at the top of your game as a guest, it can completely change the dynamics of your business as well as your life! I’ve seen it happen many times with clients who know and love this medium!
As it’s important to me that our clients are groomed to do their best, we provide them with helpful tips they can study and apply. Let me share a few of these tips, in case you’re also using this medium as a means of promotion. These particular tips relate to your appearance: how to dress, which colors show best, make-up (that includes you guys as well) and more. I hope you enjoy them! Read more →
A few weeks ago I interviewed Lee Habeeb, a friend and business associate who is a “Talk Radio Coach to the Stars.” Lee currently coaches 7 of the top 10 talk show hosts in America; people like, Michael Medved, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Hugh Hewitt and Bill Bennett. He also developed “The Laura Ingraham Show” and was Laura’s Executive Producer for many years.
As Lee is one of the top “go-to” guys for helping national talk show hosts be the best at this medium – who better to give you advice on how to effectively use this medium when appearing as a guest! Read more →
It’s funny, but every time I sit down and write these emails to you, the thing that often comes to the forefront of my mind is “how can I get them to truly understand the value of talk radio?” You may ask, why is this so important to me? Because in my 20 years of doing publicity for everyone from The Temptations to Soynut Butter, I have seen companies and individuals alike explode their businesses off the back of talk radio interviews.
Talk radio, (one of the most under-utilized goldmines I can think of), can be a powerhouse in terms of promoting your book, your products, your company and services. As I write this to you, I’m reminded of a great example of this. A few years back we worked with Dr. Will Wong, a phenomenal media spokesperson who represented two different companies with natural health products. Both companies focused all their marketing efforts on ongoing talk radio campaigns. Read more →
When pitching your story to the press, there is something important to keep in mind: if you want to get the attention of the press, you have to think like the press.
In the 20+ years I’ve been in public relations, one of the most difficult elements of the game to teach clients is that the press is not a service organization whose sole purpose is to cover what PR people pitch them. Their business model is simple; they exist to inform and entertain their readers, so they can grow their subscriber base and sell advertising against those numbers.So, if you want to participate in the “press game” it is vital to recognize what wins the press loyal readers and increases their circulation…and then help them to do it! Step one is to get together a power-packed pitch. Read more →
As we all know, most large corporations have big advertising budgets to promote their products. Yet, savvy corporate marketers understand that publicity can be far more effective than advertising for connecting with consumers.The competition for publicity is fierce and an almost impossible task without having a good angle to grab the media’s attention. But, that’s where you come in. You and your book can provide an excellent PR opportunity for the manufacturer of products that aligns with your message. Read more →
An Exclusive Interview with Michael Harrison, Talk Radio Pioneer, and Founder of Talkers Magazine. (Referred to as “The Bible of Talk Radio” by Business Week Magazine)
A maverick in the world of radio broadcasting, in addition to being a weathered trade journalist, Harrison has been at the center of many of the most exciting radio revolutions of the past 30+ years. As you know, Talkers, is the leading talk radio publication and was one of the first radio trade journals to expand into the cutting edge technology of the “New Talk Media” which includes talk on the Internet and satellite radio as well as cable television. Read more →
“If I was down to my last dollar, I’d spend it on public relations.” – Bill Gates
As unlikely as it is that Bill Gates would ever be down to his last million dollars, let alone a single George Washington, the fact remains that it’s a powerful endorsement of the power of PR.
Still, when the economy is tight and corporations yank hard to get their belts down to that last notch, PR is usually one of the first few items on the budget that’s frozen or cut completely. To bean counters, it’s an easy choice. Because it’s impossible to track the impact of PR in strict accounting terms they consider it difficult to quantify PR expenditures. To the numbers guys, if something fails to leave a footprint on the spreadsheet, it is expendable. Read more →
