3 Simple Steps to Getting Thousands in Free Advertising

Home
>
Advertising
>
3 Simple Steps to Getting Thousands in Free Advertising

3 Simple Steps to Getting Thousands in Free Advertising

Many entrepreneurs believe that they understand what public relations is, but very few do. Publicity and public relations can be used to boost your business by thousands of dollars a week or kill it; the trouble is using it to your advantage.

I'm going to cover a few of the basics for getting good publicity and why you need to do them. If you do, you can be assured that you will be increasing your business at a rapid speed. Publicity, if used correctly, can be many times more valuable than advertising, and best of all, it's free.

1. Always be honest- when you are talking with a journalist, either through email or the phone, you must always be honest. Journalists have a sort of BS detector and can see what is truthful, what is hype and what is outright lies. If your new, they'll probably excuse some hype for the first time but they will never forgive you if you outright lie to them.

2. Know what is news - if you are launching a new web page about your cats, that is not news. Honestly, no one cares. I really shouldn't be saying this, but you would be amazed at the number of people who put out news releases on subjects that no one in their right mind would consider news. However, many entrepreneurs don't realize when they are sitting on a publicity goldmine. For example, if a celebrity is a happy user of your product, if your company is putting out an interesting or unusual product or service or your company has come up with an extremely innovative product, then you probably have some news on your hands!

3. Know whom to target- when you are releasing a new hairdryer that increases efficiency by 40%, you can call the product sections of the news organizations near you. however, you would be ill advised to call an organization that has nothing to do with your products, "cat monthly", for example. "pr spam" is a much-feared problem for journalists and pr practitioners alike. My rule is that you can send a release to a journalist you don't know if you believe that it is very well targeted. I'm not like a few people who believe that you need their express permission; simply by being journalists and posting their information, they are inviting news. However, this being said, don't spam them.

Try to keep these rules in mind the next time you are looking to get some major publicity to skyrocket your business. Keep to common sense and use old fashioned networking, and you too will be sitting on a publicity goldmine!

Bryan Thompson is a young entrepreneur and founder of Press Release Writing Online (http://www.prwritingonline.com). In his experience as a freelance publicist, writer and entrepreneur, he has worked with dozens of small, medium and large companies. He is also writing a book on the basics of Publicity for small businesses and managing several other businesses at the same time. You may contact him at info@prwritingonline.com.

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Israeli troops approach Gaza population centers (AP)

AP - Israeli shells slammed into Gaza and ground forces edged closer to major population centers Tuesday, taking more civilian lives after Israel ignored mounting international calls for an immediate cease-fire.

Economic crisis, Obama response face new Congress (AP)

AP - The Democratic-dominated Congress convenes Tuesday to confront perhaps the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and to grapple with a hugely ambitious agenda set by President-elect Barack Obama.

Obama stimulus plan boosts business tax refunds (AP)

AP - President-elect Barack Obama's proposed stimulus package would provide businesses with billions of dollars in refunds on taxes they paid several years ago.

Obama's intel picks short on direct experience (AP)

AP - President-elect Barack Obama's selection of an old White House hand to head the CIA shows a preference for a strong manager over an intelligence expert.

6 countries lose Russian gas (AP)

AP - Six countries reported a complete shutoff of Russian gas shipped via Ukraine on Tuesday, in a sharp escalation of a struggle over energy that threatens Europe as winter sets in.

Burris making personal bid to join the new Senate (AP)

AP - Although he calls himself a senator, Roland Burris has found little support among fellow Democrats in his effort to take the Senate seat to which embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed him.

Nation's health spending rises, but not so much (AP)

AP - Health care continued to take up a greater share of the economy in 2007, as spending on hospitals, doctors and other services increased 6.1 percent to $2.2 trillion.

Rihanna taking no wardrobe risks for Malaysia show (AP)

AP - The good girl gone bad has promised to be good for one night. R&B sensation Rihanna will shun skimpy outfits when she performs in Malaysia next month, the concert's organizers said Tuesday, becoming the latest international star affected by the Muslim-majority country's strict rules on performers' dress.

Toyota to suspend production for 11 days in Japan (AP)

AP - Toyota is suspending production at all 12 of its Japan plants for 11 days over February and March, a stoppage of unprecedented scale for the nation's top automaker as it grapples with shrinking global demand.

Texas rallies past Ohio State 24-21 in Fiesta Bowl (AP)

AP - The Texas Longhorns will be No. 1 on at least one ballot. It belongs to coach Mack Brown. Brown said he made up his mind after Colt McCoy hit Quan Cosby for a 26-yard touchdown with 16 seconds to play, lifting the third-ranked Longhorns to a 24-21 Fiesta Bowl victory over No. 10 Ohio State on Monday night. The stunning strike capped an 11-play, 78-yard drive that took only 1:42.

Israeli troops deepen push into Gaza (Reuters)

Reuters - Israel moved forces into a southern Gaza town Tuesday and demanded Hamas be prevented from rearming as a main condition for a ceasefire in an 11-day-old conflict in which hundreds of Palestinians have been killed.

New Congress set to convene with economy in focus (Reuters)

Reuters - The new U.S. Congress convenes on Tuesday under pressure to deal with a worsening economy by passing a stimulus package that Barack Obama could sign into law soon after being sworn in as president.

European data grim, Toyota to halt output in Japan (Reuters)

Reuters - Dire economic data underlined the severity of recession in Europe on Tuesday, while Toyota Motor Corp said it would halt output in Japan in response to falling demand.

Russia gas disruption bites in Europe (Reuters)

Reuters - Russian gas supplies via Ukraine to the Balkans, Turkey and south-eastern Europe were halted on Tuesday and flows to EU-member state Austria dropped by 90 percent in a deepening price row between Moscow and Kiev.

California gay marriage battle turns to court role (Reuters)

Reuters - The legal battle over gay marriage in California turned on Monday to whether the state's top court could strike down a change in the state constitution that was approved by voters.

More Americans getting multiple chronic illnesses (Reuters)

Reuters - More Americans are burdened by chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, often having more than three at a time, and this has helped fuel a big rise in out-of-pocket medical expenses, a study released on Tuesday showed.

China seen facing wave of unrest in 2009 (Reuters)

Reuters - China faces surging protests and riots in 2009 as rising unemployment stokes discontent, a state-run magazine said in a blunt warning of the hazards to Communist Party control from a sharp economic downturn.

Prosecutors seek to jail Madoff (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. prosecutors asked a judge to jail accused swindler Bernard Madoff on Monday, saying he sent jewelry and other items worth more than $1 million to family and friends in violation of his bail.

Troops battle Hamas in Gaza cities as Israel spurns truce bids (AFP)

AFP - Israeli troops battled Hamas fighters in major cities of overcrowded Gaza on Tuesday as Israel spurned appeals to halt a war on the Islamists that has killed at least 580 Palestinians.

Russia, Ukraine trade blame as gas war hits Europe (AFP)

AFP - Russia and Ukraine traded blame Tuesday as a dispute between the two bitter ex-Soviet rivals triggered major gas cuts in Europe in a dramatic escalation the EU slammed as unacceptable.

3 Simple Steps to Getting Thousands in Free Advertising

Advertising Advertising