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!

A lot of entrepreneurs ask me how to get started with their public-relations efforts. And the most common questions pertain to finding a good publicist.

Before hiring a new PR expert, it is essential to conduct research, check credentials, get client testimonials, and ask important questions.

To start, review your goals.

What do you expect the publicist to do for your small business?
What kind of budget do you have to work with?
What are your immediate deadlines?

You really need to know exactly what you are expecting before speaking to a potential publicist. This way, you can clearly communicate your expectations and goals during your search.

When you are ready to interview a new PR expert, here are some sample interview questions to ask:

1. Who will I be working with and what is that person’s experience?

2. Will more than one person at your organization be helping me, or will I have one, central contact person?

3. How can you help my small business reach my specific goals?

4. How long do you think it will be before I see results?

5. What services are included in your fees? What products and/or services cost extra?

6. How do your contracts usually work?

7. Is there a way to have a trial period before making an actual commitment?

8. What happens if I am not satisfied with your work?

9. Do you have some references I can contact?

10. Why should I use you for my public relations needs instead of another organization?

These are just a few questions so be sure to add those pertinent to your specific needs. Check out PRSA.org for more information.

And as a side note, be wary of anyone who can guarantee placements. In today’s media world, full of last-minute news coverage and uncontrollable edits, it is very difficult to guarantee a publicity placement.

Also, look for someone that you feel comfortable with and can act as an extension of your team. And for your protection, be sure to sign a contract that both parties can agree upon.

You can significantly increase sales and awareness for your small business through publicity. And if you don’t want to do it yourself, be sure to take the time to find the right publicist for your specific budget, goals and needs. Otherwise, you might spend a lot of time, money and effort with little results.

If you’d like assistance with your publicity efforts, have questions or would like to receive my newsletter full of helpful tips, feel free to contact me at www.rembrandtwrites.com. Thanks!