A Day in the Life of a PR Pro
Every week I write about the things I think can help people do a better job of marketing themselves by using PR. From a purely media standpoint, it makes sense for me to do that. After all, I’m the CEO. I wrote the book. I’m the expert.
But, I am profoundly proud to say that I am not the only expert. At EMSI we have a team of experts and quite frankly, this team is one of the best I have had in my 21 years of running this business. The work they do on a daily basis is phenomenal.
I thought I would introduce you to them, one by one, over the summer months, and allow them to tell you about what they do every day to book interviews on radio and TV and obtain print coverage. I believe it can be truly enlightening and helpful for you to learn how they overcome obstacles and meet challenges in order to consistently arrange media day in, day out, week in and week out. Read more on a day in the life of a PR pro →
The Joy of Teamwork: A Peek Inside Some Solid PR Campaigns
I love building teams. Witnessing good teamwork is not only one of the joys of my job, but it’s also the clearest way to success in doing just about anything. One of the best parts of my job is watching my team work together and get results for our clients.
It’s so satisfying, because I have seen the downside. I had that job that tied my stomach in knots, where every morning I regretted having to go to work. So, one of my goals in building my company was to ensure that no one who was on my team would ever feel that way. That’s why, when I see them succeed, and the excitement and joy they get from doing so, it not only makes me proud – it also makes me happy.
The way our team works is actually quite simple, with very few moving parts. When our clients sign on, they complete a questionnaire that sheds light on the issues they care most about, and then we gather the team with the client on a conference call so we can walk them through how we operate. Read more on the joy of teamwork →
Why Can’t I Just Talk About My Book On The Air? Why Using the Media to Sell Books is a Finesse Play
Unless you’re Oprah, a former president or a major celebrity, there is one question you will likely never be asked by the media when promoting a book.
“So why did you write your book?”
They won’t ask it, not because they don’t know you’re an author nor because they’re being rude. They won’t ask because the media doesn’t exist to help authors sell books. The media exists to create content that informs and entertains its audience, so that their audience stays tuned in. The more audience they have, the more advertising dollars they can charge for their print space and air time. Audiences are what make them money.
This is one of the most common disconnects we usually see with those who are new to the game of PR. Authors expect they can use the media as a venue to talk about their books, while the media is only interested in them for their expertise and the information or entertainment they can offer their audiences. Read more on why you can't just talk about your book on the air →
Get Customers Influencing Stores to Stock Your Product
Usually, I like to dispense advice from the standpoint of having been in the media for 20 years, but this week’s advice is more in the land of common sense.
When you go to the store and you can’t find the exact product you’re looking for, what do you do? Do you just go home empty-handed? Or do you ask a manager? Most of the time, I ask a store or assistant manager if they carry the product, or if they can order it. And, most of the time retailers want to work with customers, so they’ll find a way to get what you want. After all, if they can service your needs, hopefully you’ll keep coming back. Read more on getting customers to influence stores to stock your product →
Are You On Top of the News? It Can Dictate Your PR
One of the things I tell clients who want to get coverage in print and online press is that they have to read the news. If you want the print media to cover you, I think it simply helps if you know what it is they like to write about.
Part and parcel of my being a PR professional is to subsist on a vast daily diet of news digested the old fashioned way. I read newspapers and magazines, and at night and in the morning I watch a lot of television news programs, with a pretty even mix of straight-up news broadcasts and “talking head” panel shows.
My chief strategist calls that “old school.” He still reads the equivalent of two newspapers a day and he watches news broadcasts and talking head shows, as well – but he does it all online in smaller bites. He has a lot of hands-on PR work to do each day, so he can’t devote hours upon hours every day the way I do. Read more on being on top of the news →
When is a Good Time To Start Your PR Campaign? How About NOW?
“What may be done at any time will be done at no time.”
– Scottish Proverb
Okay, don’t ask what the Jewish grandmother from New York is doing with a Scottish proverb. My chief strategist found it for me, and it fit the tone of my message today. Read more on when is a good time to start your PR campaign →
Want to Get on TV? Follow a Daily News Routine to Increase Your Chances
Over the years, I’ve always advised my clients that if you want to get in the news, you have to watch and read the news. I know it sounds a little like “bumper sticker” advice, but it’s really not meant as a sound bite. In fact, we use a practical application of that advice every single morning at our agency.
It’s actually a very simple list of easy steps that anyone can do, and it can get blockbuster results. Read more on a strategy to get on TV →
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 →
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 →
The True ROI of Public Relations: What Do You REALLY Get From a PR Campaign
Public relations is the hot potato of the marketing budget.
Chief Financial Officers hate it, while salespeople and business development executives love it. Every year, when the budget is drawn, this is typically how the conversation goes:
CFO: What’s the return on the PR budget?
Marketing Director: I don’t know. Read more on the true ROI of PR →
The Street: Marsha Friedman Interview with AP Journalist Erin Conroy
EMSI Public Relations CEO, Marsha Friedman, was interviewed by AP journalist Erin Conroy.
The AP article was picked up by The Street, which has 4,259,490 VPM (visits/month).
EMSI Celebrates 20th Anniversary!
EMSI turns 20 this week! After two decades in public relations, we’ve seen over and over again the effect great publicity campaigns can have in helping both businesses and individuals achieve the success for which they have worked so hard. Read more on EMSI's 20th Anniversary →
KLOS-FM, Mark & Brian Show, February 12, 2010, Dr. Harold Katz
Dr Harold Katz was interview on KLOS-FM, the “Mark & Brian Show.”
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How to Get Your Web Site Mentioned on the Air
More and more, the Web site is becoming the point of sale for many businesses, whether they are product or service oriented. E-commerce is driving more consumer sales than ever before, and the Internet has already become the first stop for companies interested in B2B products and services. Read more on using TV and radio interviews to drive traffic to your website →
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 →
How Do You Plan For the Unexpected? Why Crisis PR Can Save a Company
There is a new price tag for failure, approximately $21.5 billion.
That’s the amount financial analysts say the Tiger Woods PR debacle has cost the companies who had hired Tiger as a spokesperson. The personal loss of credibility goes far beyond affecting the $100 million man, and has substantially affected the value of the companies who depended on his image to sell their products and services. Read more on why crisis PR can save a company →
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 →
How to Reach Your Niche Target Market through the Mass Media
Are Consumer News Publications Better Than Trade Publications For Reaching Your Target Market?
I’ll admit that sometimes they make me feel guilty.
They sit in the corner of my desk, ignored, orphaned and gathering dust. They arrive on time, every month, and I push them aside in favor of more mission-critical tasks. I really don’t throw them away until they start piling too high for me to see over them, but I feel guilty when I discard them without looking at them. Read more on how to reach your niche target market →
Does Your Message Tie Into Resolutions for the New Year?
If So, Don’t Miss This Window of Opportunity for Media Coverage
I know, I know…the holidays are upon us. And we are all scrambling to get everything done at this busy time of year – professionally and personally. Read more on to tie your message into New Year's resolutions →
Six Ways to Tell if Public Relations is For You
One of the universal truths of PR is that it can help anyone, any company, any business in any industry. There is not a single commercial enterprise that cannot benefit from the power of public relations, and the scope of PR is limited only by the scope of the media.
Advertising is constantly changing, and what works today will likely not work tomorrow. Advertising resides in the realm of paid space, and so its only purpose is to serve the needs of the advertiser. Read more on how to tell if PR is for you →
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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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