Rembrandt’s Blog

Woo Hoo! Summer is finally here. It’s time for sun, fun and relaxation!

But hold on…Before you grab your towel and sunscreen, do you have a publicity plan in place for the upcoming months?

I’ll mention a few tips on the StartupNation Radio program this Saturday. But now is the time to prepare and pitch your “back to school” and “holiday” stories in order to meet appropriate publication deadlines for the cooler months ahead.

It’s probably the last thing you want to think about. But if take care of your work now, you’ll avoid a lot of stressful deadlines later on.

Here are three things to help you prepare:

1. Check editorial calendars.
What do your target media venues have planned for upcoming issues and segments? Find out by checking their online media kits and show schedules. How can your unique stories fit into their upcoming articles and productions?

2. Provide newsworthy information.
Contact media members and give them the unique ideas and data they need to produce future stories. Offer your experts as resources and be as helpful as possible.

And be sure your online media kit provides all of the quotes, facts, statistics, photos, etc. that reporters need to complete their work fast.

3. Make follow-up notes.
Once you’ve pitched a story and offered valuable information, make notes to contact the media members at the appropriate time in the future.

If their stories aren’t scheduled for a few months, they may forget about you. Prior to their deadlines, remind them about your conversation and provide unique information pertinent to updated industry trends and news.

Once you finish your work and have some potential media opportunities ready for the future, you can relax and truly enjoy your book at the beach!

For more PR and copywriting information, feel free to visit www.rembrandtwrites.com or send your comments below. Thanks!

Over the weekend, I went to see the new “Indiana Jones” movie. I heard mixed reviews about it, but I really wanted to see it on the big screen. (I’m sure many other fans of the epic adventure felt the same way.)

It had some good moments, but many scenes were “campy” for an adult. But I bet kids will love the film and it will make a fortune. My point? 

The producers targeted a specific audience in order to earn the most profits from the film’s release. And it’s the same with publicity. If you create a unique pitch specificially for a certain media member, your chances for successful press coverage increase significantly.

And in addition to providing a targeted pitch, think about the character of Indiana Jones. Here’s a few things he can teach us about PR and sales:

1. Act fast.
When faced with a crisis, “Indie” jumps into action and uses his skills to create the best outcome. Think about this when you receive a customer request or media call. React quickly and do whatever it takes to fulfill their needs.

2. Have integrity.
No matter what, Indiana Jones always tries to do what’s best. So if you’re faced with a stressful situation or enticed by “easy money,” always be honest and think about what Indiana Jones woud do!

3. Think about others.
When his friends and loved ones were in danger, Indie focused on rescuing them. As you create your media pitches and talk to customers, think about how you can solve their problems and make their lives easier. By providing valuable information, you’ll increase loyalty, sales and media awareness quickly.

These are just a few things to learn from Indiana Jones. And as you can see, he may just be a fictional action-hero saving the world, but he offers some great business and PR advice in the process!

Do you have questions about public relations and online copywriting? Please feel free to contact me, and I’ll try to help you out. Thanks!

On Tuesday, I shared some reasons for hiring a copywriter (instead of writing your marketing materials and website copy yourself).

More experienced copywriters can be very expensive. But they usually provide copy that increases sales for your business…amounts that far exceed their fees.

With this in mind, here are few tips to help you find the right copywriter to fit your needs:

3. Check references. 
Once you have some potential candidates to choose from, review their work samples. Also contact some of their previous clients to discuss their work ethic, results, project deadlines, and other important qualities.

4. Communicate upfront.
Before hiring a copywriter, be sure to discuss specific deadlines, goals and fees upfront to avoid negative surprises later. Sign appropriate contracts or agreements in advance. And you may want to start with a small project first and then go from there.

It’s a good idea to keep communications open. Set expectations to help reach goals and create a positive working relationship.

A Final Note
An experienced copywriter can help you communicate your key messages, optimize various elements in your print and online marketing materials and grow sales faster.

Take the time to find the right copywriter for your specific needs, and your business will always be one step ahead of the competition.

Thanks for reading, and check back for additional tips.

In the meantime, feel free to contact me at www.rembrandtwrites.com for more information.