Pay-for-play or pay-for-performance PR is a tempting proposition. It’s akin to lottery and casino come-ons, filled with the promise of winning the big jackpot. Only the jackpot here is landing a story placement in a major media outlet. … Read more
Traditional advertisements and marketing campaigns can only take your business so far. If you want to truly spread the message, you need to create a buzz about your business. After all, what better way to get your name out there than to let your audience do it for you?… Read more
For many, viral marketing is a mystery. When it does happen, you can’t figure out exactly how or why it happened. Because of its mercurial nature, many companies avoid viral marketing campaigns altogether, and that’s a mistake.… Read more
In your dream world, media relations would probably consist of getting in touch with a news reporter or a blogger, telling them your story, and getting all the coverage you want from them. Unfortunately, the reality is much different. … Read more
In your dream world, thousands of people read your blog every day, and every single reader agrees with your every word. Now, snap back to reality.… Read more
If you watch TV, listen to the radio or read a newspaper, you have seen and heard a public service announcement (PSA). (The phrase “the more you know” should ring a bell.) … Read more
The way your company responds to customer complaints goes a long way to shaping how the public perceives you. Just look at my previous post: @Target Customer Service = Fail. … Read more
At Target, I paid more and got less.
I was at a local Target store and mentioned to the Target cashier that I didn’t have my 10% off coupon earned through my Target Visa. She said as long as I used my Target Visa, any purchases made that day from any Target would get discounted by just coming back with my rec… Read more
Without a headline that demands attention, your press release will never have a chance of getting serious exposure. It doesn’t matter if your press release is being sent to editors at the top industry news outlets or if you’re publishing it online yourself, everyone – from editors to … Read more
As you proof-read your press release, you check to make sure all the essential elements are there: attention-grabbing headline, well-articulated news angles, dateline written in AP style, tightly-written introductory paragraph that includes all five “W’s,” a quote from a com… Read more