MARCH 19, 2008
** More Ways to Get Free Publicity to Draw in More Business
By Adrian Newman, Founder of e-Wealth Daily
On Monday, I revealed three great ways to get free publicity
that could translate into more business, and more money for you.
They included finding the right contact, getting the right
information, and preparing a written communication to help get
you started.
Today, I'll continue with that theme and reveal tips numbered 4
through 7, which should give you all you need to take the first
step towards valuable free publicity:
- Watch Your Format
If your submission is not a typed, double-spaced, short piece
with your contact name clearly marked on it, it will be
discarded or misplaced. A print spot should not run more than
two pages. If you are inquiring about a broadcast spot, you will
be told about production standards and procedures, and be
given times for when someone will be available to record it in
the studio.
- Stay Aware of Current Events
Your business story may coincide nicely with a political or
regulatory change, a community event, a special feature, or a
specific time of year. Be aware of the media's needs. Press kits
from magazines and other journals will contain an editorial
calendar so you can see what types of feature articles are
forthcoming. A newspaper is a little harder to predict, but you
should be able to read a week's worth of stories and know
what's considered a hot topic and what's not.
- Follow Up on Your Initial Contact
Identify yourself, state the reason for your call, and ask if it's a
good time or if you should call back later on. Reporters and
editors are busy people, but they may have time to chat. Be
prepared in case they want to engage in further conversation. If
you are asked a question that you don't have an answer to
immediately, say so. Do not feel pressured. Suggest that you
had hoped for a scheduled, structured interview and, if it
cannot be accommodated, that you would be happy to answer
via a printed sheet of questions.
- Construct Your News Item with Care
You might be able to send some information ahead of time. If
you're writing the content yourself, adapt your style to that of
the publication for which it is being written. You should also
pay attention to insertion deadlines. Try to restrict your article
to one media outlet at a time. Once you have handed in your
copy, make a follow-up call to the managing editor to ensure it
is going to be run.
If you are scheduling an interview with a reporter, prepare for
the questions he/she will ask you and practice the answers.
Keep your answers descriptive, but short; try to make a
significant statement at some point and make sure that you only
say what you want to see in print or hear on the air. Try to
swing the focus of the story to where you want it to go, but
don't resist if the reporter asks questions you were not
expecting.
Remember that you may not get a placement on the first try;
most people rarely do. However, don't let that discourage you.
You might have to persevere or think of a new hook before you
can firmly land an appointment with a journalist. Keep trying.
What is the worst that can happen? You will be referred to
someone else at the paper or station. What is the best that can
happen? You could get a spot in the next issue or edition and
make a valuable contact who can then open the door for you on
future PR opportunities.
** Two Easy Ways to Cut Down on Business Costs
By Doug D'Anna, the "Hundred-Million-Dollar Man"
Keeping your costs low is essential to the success of a small
business. You can make sale after sale, but if you're sinking
most of your money into your business expenses, then you're
not going to make a profit.
You have to learn to keep costs low and get the most from your
business, and sometimes that means getting creative and
coloring outside of the lines.
Cutting costs doesn't need to be a chore. You don't have to
deny yourself anything and you don't have to make any huge
changes that will hinder your ability to do business the way
you have become accustomed to.
There are two very simple ways to cut down on the money you
spend in order to keep your business running. The first will not
only help you to cut down on costs, but it is also great for the
environment as well. It's something that every citizen —
business owner or not — should be conc! erned with. Using
recycled goods can save you a lot of money and you don't have
to give up on quality, either.
Things such as paper and printer toner can be large expenses
depending on what type of business you are running, so buying
recycled products could be a great way for you to save a lot of
money every month.
Recycled goods generally cost a little bit less because you're
not getting something that is brand new. But frankly, for most
products, such as paper and cartridges, it really doesn't make
much of a difference at all as far as quality is concerned.
The second great cost-cutting strategy is utilizing trade
strategies with other small business owners. I say "small
businesses" because it's doubtful that Coca-Cola will be willing
to trade with you for its products. The point is to negotiate
for something you need with another business owner wh! o will
also stand to benefit from the trade. The key to ! negotiat ing is
getting a win-win trade.
You could offer your products to another business owner who
could benefit in exchange for a product of theirs that you might
need. You don't need to trade for a product, either. Meaning
that it doesn't have to be anything that will cost you money.
You can arrange a trade for a service of some sort.
These are simple ways to help cut down on costs, and though
you might not see the difference now, by the year's end, you
will. Keeping costs low is essential for any business, big or
small. The more you save, the more money you can potentially
put in your pocket.
** How to Hone Your Personal Focus
By John Hurd, Chief Wealth Researcher
There are times when you feel your energy start to fade and the
motivation to keep working towards your goals gets harder to
sustain. Maybe this happens after a few too many challenges
spring up in your way. Or maybe you just aren't that excited
about your pursuits anymore.
Now, this isn't the time to throw in the towel. There are plenty
of reasons why you don't feel as energetic as you once did.
There are numerous distractions when it comes to running your
own business or reaching a personal goal. And these
distractions can all take away from the energy and zeal you
once had.
The good news is: getting back this energy is very possible and
not very hard to do.
All it can take is just a few simple steps that can help you
identify your strongest motivators and integrate them into your
daily routine.
- Know your motivations. What is it that first brought out
energy bursts every time you did that action or had that
thought? Is it your friends and family? Is it a singular personal
or financial goal? Whatever it may be, you should identify your
motivating thought and clearly define it.
- Identify major distractions. With bills to pay, sales to make,
people to contact and everything else that goes into making
more money, you're going to have countless distractions at all
times. Some of these are bigger than others and your goal here
isn't to list what stands in your way; it is to understand how
these distractions take away from your motivation. Some can
bring on thoughts of self-doubt and concern, while others are
simply speed bumps that can't be avoided.
- Focus on your motivation. Now that you've identified both
your motivations and your distractions, it's time to put them
together. Focus on the motivations that bring out your energy
in times of stress. Even something as simple as developing a
personal mantra such as, "I'm doing this for..." can help you see
beyond the doubt and focus on your goals.
** How to Make Sure Your Business Stays on Top
By Michael Newman, Self-made Millionaire
When the economy takes a bit of tumble like it is right now, it's
important to make sure your business stays on top. And to do
this, you'll have to be able to continue doing one thing: selling.
Of course, selling when people aren't buying can be rather
difficult. However, if you've got a product that you believe in,
you should be able to make your customers believe in it, too.
That's the key: no matter how tough the times get, you have to
continue to believe in your product and your ability to sell.
Your positive and upbeat attitude will resonate with your
customers and they will hopefully see it as a sign of hope in
tough times that will lead them to open up their wallet to
purchase what you're selling.
When the times get tough, you'll have to stay positive; and that
can be the quite difficult. Well, here are a few tips you can use
to keep your ability to sell on track:
Hustle: When you hustle, you can get more done to produce better results. Going out and looking for business using unconventional tactics or new ways you think will work in tough times will bring you more than good than bad. Of course, you'll have to contend with naysayers. But guess what? You never know. Things are always evolving and, under new circumstances, anything is possible and traditions are quickly forgotten. During these tough times, it's important to go the extra mile, making morephone calls and scheduling more meetings to get your product sold.
Talk to Experienced People: No matter what you're going through, there are people who've gone through it before you. Chances are you even know some in your industry. Contact these mentors and find out what they were able to do in order to get through the tough times. They may have some little known secrets that can get you over the hump. There is nothing more valuable than experience, so take the time to talk to those who have been there before.
Accentuate the Positive: In tough times, you'll likely find that the negativity in people's attitudes multiplies exponentially. This can have a huge effect on your outlook if you keep company with these people. Don't let negative people drag you down. During tough times, it's important to talk to positive, confident people. These are the people who are getting things done, making moves and finding the right ways to capitalize when everyone else is dwelling in misery.
Good times and bad times come in cycles; that's just how it is.
But regardless of the times, you still have to make sales. Try
using these techniques the next time your business is in a lull
and see if they can turn your frown upside down. |
