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Other Added - Using Free Publicity to Grow Your Non-Profit
Reward your Employees with Travel IncentivesMotivating employees, especially highly competitive employees like inside and outside salespersons and telemarketers, can be a challenge. Sure, everyone likes cash, but what if you could offer a incentive that was worth more than cash? That's what travel incentives are all about.What do you think would generate more excitement among your employees; offering $50 to the person who sets the most appointments in one day, or offering a 3 day and 2 nights hotel stay in Hawaii including airfare? I'll bet that you didn't have to think about that for too long. The Hawaii trip wins hands down.I'll also bet that you're thinking "sure, I would love to give away a travel incentive deal like that, but how can I afford it?" Prepare to be shocked. You see, travel incentive coupons sell for pennies on the dollar. The key to success in offering travel incentives is their pe
I highly recommend that you use a cover page that states that your organization is a non-profit. The Radio Stations & Newspapers have to legally give Public Service Announcements (PSA). That is how I was able to get dozens of free newspaper articles and free radio commercials on NPR & WMTR for Toastmasters.
Free examples of press releases can be downloaded at http://www.getfreeads.com.
Now you have your own press release in your hands, but what now? You need to develop a list of fax numbers. You can do that by going to your county library and looking in their reference section for the following books: Bacon’s, Gebbies, Editor and Publisher, and Broadcast and Cabl
Writing articles, business blogging, presenting to a group or speaking to the media, in professional services are all great ways to position yourself and your business as a centre of influence. In other words, as a leading authority in your field.While it is important to develop your own methodologies and practices, do not forget that it is also critical to attribute your sources of information.Consider this as building your personal brand on the shoulders of giants.In a blog post that might for example that would be through a link back to the person you are referencing in your blog post and through a track back.In the case of speaking, it might be commenting on your research source.Many people think that to be an expert they must be the fount of all knowledge with unique materials.But have you noticed that in most business books by established authors, or when listening to an e
In this article, I will share three keys on how to gain not only new members, but also gain media/press coverage for your worth-while charitable causes, services, and events. This free publicity will lead to more community awareness of your organization’s activities and can lead to more donations, volunteers, and increased membership.
Key #1 – Media/Press’s Weaknesses
The press (i.e. newspapers and magazines) and media (i.e. TV and radio) are constantly getting requests for coverage. In order to improve your odds of coverage, there are two time periods to keep in mind: Hot Times and Cold Times.
The first period is known as Hot Times. This is when the press/media are covering a juicy story and will print or air anything even remotely associated with the topic. For example, during the Michael Jackson case, any lawyer could have called into a talk radio show and asked to give their two-cents on the trial. At the end of the commentary the attorney could have mentioned his/her name, firm, and phone number. The benefit was not only attracting new clients, but that he/she could then put on their marketing materials “As featured on X show” for added credibility.
An example of linking a product or service to a hot topic is the story of a restaurant in Texas. At the time, Bill “Big Tuna” Parcells was announced to be the upcoming coach of the Dallas Cowboys. The creative restaurant changed the name of their entr?e to “The Big Tuna”. They sent out a few press releases, made a few phone calls, and got literally tens of thousands of dollars worth of free publicity.
Another example was when I noticed that a contestant on Donald Trump’s The Apprentice was fired for poor presentation skills. I then sent out a press release that read “Don’t Get Fired for Poor Presentation Skills, Join Toastmasters”.
The second period is known as Cold Times. This time frame begins Thanksgiving and ends January 2nd. The reason why this period is called Cold Times is because the press/media lose approximately 25% of their resources since big business and the government goes on winter vacation. That means that they have more blank pages to fill between advertisements. Why not use your story to fill those pages?
You may be asking yourself, what do I do or say to fill these stories? There are two books I recommend to use should you not be able to link your story to a hot topic. Celebrate Today by John Kremer and Chase’s Calendar of Events. These two publications show holidays you didn’t know existed. For example, did you know that July 3rd is Air Conditioning Appreciation Day?
Key #2 – Killer Press Release
Once you have an idea for a story, it is time to type it up. It’s important that the press release be in the correct format. On the top right, it should read “News Release”, followed by your contact information. On the top left it should say “For Immediate Release”. The headline is the most important part of the press release. It needs to be juicy. The whole press release should be only 1 page and double-spaced. At the end of the page, put 3 centered # signs to signify the end of the release.
I highly recommend that you use a cover page that states that your organization is a non-profit. The Radio Stations & Newspapers have to legally give Public Service Announcements (PSA). That is how I was able to get dozens of free newspaper articles and free radio commercials on NPR & WMTR for Toastmasters.
Free examples of press releases can be downloaded at http://www.getfreeads.com.
Now you have your own press release in your hands, but what now? You need to develop a list of fax numbers. You can do that by going to your county library and looking in their reference section for the following books: Bacon’s, Gebbies, Editor and Publisher, and Broadcast and Cabl
These days if you don't blow your own trumpet then you are nowhere. This is why business houses and individuals leave no stone unturned when it comes to exploiting the various advertising mediums. The advertising balloon has caught the fancy of the advertisers who are thinking of flying high with their publicity dreams with it.What is an Advertising BalloonAn advertising balloon is a balloon which has some promotional slogan or graphic, printed across it. You can spot the advertising balloon swaying in the air usually in public spaces like above the fair grounds or in a marketplace, where it would have the greatest visibility.Why Advertising BalloonAn advertising balloon in essence will provide all the benefits that can be derived from any traditional form of advertising medium. That is, a strategically placed advertising balloon with the catchiest and the most persuasive slogan will never fa
An example of linking a product or service to a hot topic is the story of a restaurant in Texas. At the time, Bill “Big Tuna” Parcells was announced to be the upcoming coach of the Dallas Cowboys. The creative restaurant changed the name of their entr?e to “The Big Tuna”. They sent out a few press releases, made a few phone calls, and got literally tens of thousands of dollars worth of free publicity.
Another example was when I noticed that a contestant on Donald Trump’s The Apprentice was fired for poor presentation skills. I then sent out a press release that read “Don’t Get Fired for Poor Presentation Skills, Join Toastmasters”.
The second period is known as Cold Times. This time frame begins Thanksgiving and ends January 2nd. The reason why this period is called Cold Times is because the press/media lose approximately 25% of their resources since big business and the government goes on winter vacation. That means that they have more blank pages to fill between advertisements. Why not use your story to fill those pages?
You may be asking yourself, what do I do or say to fill these stories? There are two books I recommend to use should you not be able to link your story to a hot topic. Celebrate Today by John Kremer and Chase’s Calendar of Events. These two publications show holidays you didn’t know existed. For example, did you know that July 3rd is Air Conditioning Appreciation Day?
Key #2 – Killer Press Release
Once you have an idea for a story, it is time to type it up. It’s important that the press release be in the correct format. On the top right, it should read “News Release”, followed by your contact information. On the top left it should say “For Immediate Release”. The headline is the most important part of the press release. It needs to be juicy. The whole press release should be only 1 page and double-spaced. At the end of the page, put 3 centered # signs to signify the end of the release.
I highly recommend that you use a cover page that states that your organization is a non-profit. The Radio Stations & Newspapers have to legally give Public Service Announcements (PSA). That is how I was able to get dozens of free newspaper articles and free radio commercials on NPR & WMTR for Toastmasters.
Free examples of press releases can be downloaded at http://www.getfreeads.com.
Now you have your own press release in your hands, but what now? You need to develop a list of fax numbers. You can do that by going to your county library and looking in their reference section for the following books: Bacon’s, Gebbies, Editor and Publisher, and Broadcast and Cabl
Promotional embroidered products are items or products given to the public, free of charge, to hopefully increase sales or promote interest in a product or a business. An example of some embroidered promotional products is:• Embroidered caps and hats• Embroidered backpacks• Embroidered wool blankets• Embroidered sports and tote bags• Embroidered jackets and outerwear• Embroidered golf and button down shirts• Embroidered running shoes and sports clothesThere are several promotional products recognized universally that people collect as a hobby.Corporations spend billions of dollars annually on promotional advertising. The Promotional Products Association International or PPAI has conducted surveys on the impact, influence and exposure these products have on people. Seventy six percent of people that received a promotional product remembered the advertisers
Another example was when I noticed that a contestant on Donald Trump’s The Apprentice was fired for poor presentation skills. I then sent out a press release that read “Don’t Get Fired for Poor Presentation Skills, Join Toastmasters”.
The second period is known as Cold Times. This time frame begins Thanksgiving and ends January 2nd. The reason why this period is called Cold Times is because the press/media lose approximately 25% of their resources since big business and the government goes on winter vacation. That means that they have more blank pages to fill between advertisements. Why not use your story to fill those pages?
You may be asking yourself, what do I do or say to fill these stories? There are two books I recommend to use should you not be able to link your story to a hot topic. Celebrate Today by John Kremer and Chase’s Calendar of Events. These two publications show holidays you didn’t know existed. For example, did you know that July 3rd is Air Conditioning Appreciation Day?
Key #2 – Killer Press Release
Once you have an idea for a story, it is time to type it up. It’s important that the press release be in the correct format. On the top right, it should read “News Release”, followed by your contact information. On the top left it should say “For Immediate Release”. The headline is the most important part of the press release. It needs to be juicy. The whole press release should be only 1 page and double-spaced. At the end of the page, put 3 centered # signs to signify the end of the release.
I highly recommend that you use a cover page that states that your organization is a non-profit. The Radio Stations & Newspapers have to legally give Public Service Announcements (PSA). That is how I was able to get dozens of free newspaper articles and free radio commercials on NPR & WMTR for Toastmasters.
Free examples of press releases can be downloaded at http://www.getfreeads.com.
Now you have your own press release in your hands, but what now? You need to develop a list of fax numbers. You can do that by going to your county library and looking in their reference section for the following books: Bacon’s, Gebbies, Editor and Publisher, and Broadcast and Cabl
Applied research is based on the following hierarchy of information (with knowledge the goal):A descriptor is simply a descriptive statistic of one sort or another. This many students or this much money, are both common descriptors and your lowest level of data.Alternatively an indicator is a calculated statistic with an implied value. An example of this would be the money spent on post-secondary education divided by the number of students. This ratio has the implicit message that how much money spent per student is important.Descriptors have a face value that is incontrovertible. The square footage devoted to bathrooms in museums may not be widely useful but it is a real statistic.Indicators on the other hand can be developed that produce meaningless statistics. An example of this could be the school instructional budgets over the square footage of school bathrooms. There is no reason why th
You may be asking yourself, what do I do or say to fill these stories? There are two books I recommend to use should you not be able to link your story to a hot topic. Celebrate Today by John Kremer and Chase’s Calendar of Events. These two publications show holidays you didn’t know existed. For example, did you know that July 3rd is Air Conditioning Appreciation Day?
Key #2 – Killer Press Release
Once you have an idea for a story, it is time to type it up. It’s important that the press release be in the correct format. On the top right, it should read “News Release”, followed by your contact information. On the top left it should say “For Immediate Release”. The headline is the most important part of the press release. It needs to be juicy. The whole press release should be only 1 page and double-spaced. At the end of the page, put 3 centered # signs to signify the end of the release.
I highly recommend that you use a cover page that states that your organization is a non-profit. The Radio Stations & Newspapers have to legally give Public Service Announcements (PSA). That is how I was able to get dozens of free newspaper articles and free radio commercials on NPR & WMTR for Toastmasters.
Free examples of press releases can be downloaded at http://www.getfreeads.com.
Now you have your own press release in your hands, but what now? You need to develop a list of fax numbers. You can do that by going to your county library and looking in their reference section for the following books: Bacon’s, Gebbies, Editor and Publisher, and Broadcast and Cabl
You've had a successful business networking meeting. You've gathered dozens, maybe more, business cards. You remembered to make notes on the cards to remind you about the person you met. What Now?Follow-up is important, but before you do that… you need to get organized…1) Sort through your cards and split into 3 distinct piles; Hot, Warm and Cold… HOT: These are the people who you have arranged to contact, either because they want information from you or you have thought of someone you can put them in touch with. They are the people you are probably more keen to create a business relationship with. WARM: These are the people who you believe you could do business with, either selling or purchasing, in the future. But you have no strong reason to contact them immediately. COLD: These are the people who have no direc
I highly recommend that you use a cover page that states that your organization is a non-profit. The Radio Stations & Newspapers have to legally give Public Service Announcements (PSA). That is how I was able to get dozens of free newspaper articles and free radio commercials on NPR & WMTR for Toastmasters.
Free examples of press releases can be downloaded at http://www.getfreeads.com.
Now you have your own press release in your hands, but what now? You need to develop a list of fax numbers. You can do that by going to your county library and looking in their reference section for the following books: Bacon’s, Gebbies, Editor and Publisher, and Broadcast and Cable Yearbook. There you will find a wonderful list of contact information for magazines, newspapers, TV & radio shows. I recommend that you create a word document with just the fax numbers and get a subscription to Efax (www.efax.com). This software allows you to send faxes just like email, so you can easily send dozens of faxes with a single mouse click once you have your distribution list created.
Key #3 – Eliminating the Middleman
Now, the person on the other side of the fax is known as the “Assignment Manager”. In a word, this person is BUSY. They are listening to nine Police Bulletin radios for stories, the phone ringing off the hook, the fax is printing non-stop, and it’s their responsibility to send a dozen news crews out to cover stories.
More than likely, the Assignment Manager will throw away the press release you sent. I don’t tell you this to discourage you, but rather inform you of the reality. Sending a press release is like sending a message in a bottle. You don’t know if it ever made it to them. To further increase your odds of coverage, I recommend you compile a list of publications and TV news stations you would like to appear on. You can then read, watch or listen to those to figure out what reporter would most likely cover your story. Reporters are like cops, they each have different beats. Some specifically cover homicide, while others just cover sports, still others cover community stories.
Before you pick up the phone, there is just one more thing to prepare….your pitch. Your pitch must be concise and to the point. For example, the civil war can be summarized in two sentences:
The North Fought The South. The North Won.
The reason why I share this with you is that reporters are busy and you need to be able to verbalize your story idea in under 30 seconds or less. Here is a sample conversation with a reporter:
“Hi John, you don’t know me. My name is Sam. I read your article on XYZ Topic and enjoyed it so much that it’s on my refrigerator door. John, I’ve been looking for someone to cover a story, and I hope I have found the right person in you.” At this point, then you would give your two sentence pitch.
Notice that I sincerely complimented the reporter. The fact that you took the time to research his previous work will endear you greatly. Should the reporter tell you that he is not interested, ask for a referral. Then, immediately call the referral and mention “John insisted that I call you”, then, pitch the referral. Mentioning John’s name makes you a warm-contact and they will be more open to your pitch.
The Publicity Blitz
The name of the game is perseverance. Although what I described in this article costs little, it will take time and effort on your part. Using this technique, I was able to help my Toastmaster club go from 1 guest per meeting to a high of 18 guests per meeting. That was how we ultimately went from 35 members to 50 members within 90 days.
In closing, it’s all about The Buzz. The juicier you can make the story the better. Reporters are people just like you and me. At the end of the day, they just want to do a good job and go home. You are providing them with a service
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