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May 26, 2010

Press Releases, styles, and the importance of an extensive database


Filed under: Social Media, Tips — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Erin @ 7:54 pm


At one time, press releases were a part of the realm of print media. To some degree they still are, but the advent of the internet has broadened the broadcast range of press releases from newspapers and trade journals to niche industry blogs and websites as well.  Press releases have only become more powerful tools within the past ten years, rather than declining in relevancy.

What makes a press release different than any newsworthy announcement is the fact that press releases follow a specific format that allows them to be readily picked up by various news agencies. As technology and broadcast potential have expanded, press release styles have stayed more or less the same, allowing for some variations for subject matter. For example, a product launch press release may differ in format from a medical release. Different industries may also make better use of certain elements, such as quotes.

One thing that is true for all press releases is that a truly successful release will include some sort of element that is interesting enough to share as a newsworthy event.  For this reason, a press release should tell not only the when, who, and why, but also how this news will impact future business and client relations, or future research.

Another element that is integral to the success of a press release is distribution. While there are many places online to release press releases for free, often you get what you pay for. Nothing. Without access to information on journalists, news organizations, speaking events, and media outlets, it can be difficult to get a release the kind of attention it requires to make an impact.

A well organized database of journalists is one necessity for a wide distribution. A database, such as that offered by NuVisions will be able to provide detailed information about journalists, including their recent publications, and preferred method of contact.  This comprehensive database is continuously checked and updated to ensure that all the information is accurate and current.

In addition to sending out press releases to the right journalists, a powerful database can also tap into the power of the web, by linking users with influential industry bloggers, website owners, and key social media users. Detailed pitching profiles allow PR leaders to directly look for the journalists and writers who will be most interested and inclined to share their content.

The expansive database NuVisions offers will also provide information on current editorial calendars, speaking opportunities around the globe, and includes an awards database. That means that with timely alerts and information, PR teams can make sure their information is at the forefront of their industry news consistently throughout the year. A database devoted to distributing news can ensure that there is no missed opportunity, or that no time is wasted pitching news to uninterested parties. Press releases can always land in just the right hands in a timely fashion.

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June 2, 2009

Twitter Posting Frequency: How Much is Too Much? Or Too Little?


Filed under: Facebook, Interviews, Twitter, blogging — Tags: , , — Kat @ 9:06 pm

For quite some time NuVisions has been researching what people have to say on posting frequencies. Post too often and you smother your followers, but post too seldom and people lose interest in you. Both articles and blogs I’ve read state the same thing: it’s about quality, not quantity. Do you agree? How often do you tweet? How often do you think you should tweet?

I know I’ve personally unfollowed people because they posted too often. I’d log into twitter and find half or more of the tweets on my homepage were from the same user. It was hard to find anyone else’s tweets amongst his. He’d post 6 tweets in 15 minutes. On the flip side, I’ve also followed people who post infrequently that when I actually see a tweet from them, I don’t remember even following them.

What is an appropriate amount of time to wait in-between tweets? If you post too close together, you ignore the basic principle of twitter, 140 characters or less. You tweet 5 tweets in a row, it feels more like a blog post rather than a tweet. But tweet too far apart and you fall off your follower’s home page.

Do you count re-tweets (RT) as tweets? Replies? All of these factor in to your frequency. NuVisions wants to hear your thoughts. Comment here reply to us on Twitter @nuvisions.

TweetLater is a productivity tool that allows you to schedule automatic direct messages and set your tweets to post at intervals when you are busy. There is a free version and a professional version, describing many alluring services. But think about your followers, don’t they want personal interaction with you rather than an automated service? It’s similar to ghostwriting, some people don’t mind it, others find the behavior upsetting. Do you use TweetLater or a similar service? Tell us about it!

Jenny Cromie (@JennyCromie) explores “8 Sure-Fire Ways to Tick Off the Twitterverse” in a blog post on twitip.com. Do you agree with her list? Give us your list.

  1. TwitterNarcissist – “Cluttering up your page with inane details”
  2. TwitterSpammer – Following you to sell you something and obviously didn’t read your bio
  3. TwitterDigMeDude – “Having thousands of followers but who follow no one”
  4. TwitterBoty – “Repeating themselves because they are afraid you might not have ‘heard’ them the first, second, third, or even fourth time.”
  5. TwitterDumbLinker –“Telling me that something is funny and that I should click on a link isn’t enough”
  6. Twittermatic – Having an “automatic, canned response that they sent to everyone after that initial Twitter linkup”
  7. TwitterJabberJaw – “Dominating my screen, and apparently, not taking a breath—every day, all day long”
  8. TwitterSmarmySales – “Taking up Twitter space to sell your services, toot your horn about how awesome your business is, or aggressively market whatever it is you’re trying to market.”

Cited: http://www.twitip.com/8-sure-fire-ways-to-tick-off-the-twitterverse/

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May 24, 2009

Let others do your marketing for you. The power of viral networking to generate leads.


Filed under: Fundraising, MySpace, Social Media, StumbleUpon, Tips, Twitter, blogging — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Erin @ 1:15 pm

Congressman Fred Upton and Erin Schneider

Congressman Fred Upton and Erin Schneider

Ok I know I have said this before and I am going to say it again. Networking is one of the most important keys to generate good PR and thus generating leads through referrals. I don’t know how many times I have gone to a chamber event and told someone who I was and I got an immediate response of, “Hey didn’t you work with so and so on a project not too long ago? I’ve heard all about you. I have a few questions for you regarding such and such…”  This right here is a great example of letting others do your PR for you. You just had someone talking about you in a positive light and will spread the word that you’re at the event and that you are worth talking to. Make people think of you not someone else when they need a service you provide. Here are a few examples of what I am talking about.

 

 

1. The first chamber event I had gone to was an eye opener for me. I met people who I had worked with a few years before and got to talking and catching up on what we had been up to since we worked together. After the event I walked away with 4 sponsors for one of my clients for an event that I was putting together for them. A week later I received a call from someone I passed out my business card to. He knew someone who was looking for someone to help raise funds for his nonprofit. We set up a time to meet at Biggby’s and he gave me 2 leads.  We have been working together ever since. He passes me leads all the time now. I’m still actively seeking business but with someone passing referrals to me all the time I don’t need to spend so much time doing it.

2. I was at an event I put together for a nonprofit and was introduced by the owner to a supporter who when told my name said, “So you’re the famous Erin. I’ve heard so much about you and all the good things you’re company are doing to help. I’d like to schedule a time to sit down with you and talk about having your company help me out with my marketing.”  Now I was calm on the outside but on the inside I was jumping for joy! I had only been working with this organization for 5 days! Out of that one event I gained 3 new clients all from word of mouth. He had heard about me from someone else he met at a Chamber event. I didn’t even know the person who he met. It was all from word of mouth PR. How crazy is that?

Here are the basics of what I am trying to teach you today. The goal in any business is to sell a product that people will pay a good price for and then you can generate money right? Companies spend thousands of dollars each year on marketing and PR materials and sometimes it works but most of the time it is just wasteful in my opinion. What if you can generate the leads you need to make the sales and do it without spending thousands of dollars each year would you jump at the chance? That would be a boon wouldn’t it? I have taught so many companies how to do this and it only takes a few hours a week.

Here is the secret to my success. I give out free information all the time. The more free information I give out the more people seek me out and from that I gain business and people who generate free PR for me by telling others about NuVisions. I am online about 30 minutes a day working my social networking sites giving out free information and generating PR and leads. I attend free marketing and nonprofit seminars online once to twice a week for an hour at a time to keep up to date with the latest trends and I take what I’ve learned and tailor it to what services I perform. I spend a total of 5 hours maybe a week doing it all and I spend a total of $0 dollars to do it. It’s all free marketing and PR for NuVisions.

Now if you are scared about giving out free information don’t be. Free information will show you as a leader in your industry and will keep people coming back. Go to as many events as you can. Strut your stuff and generate some good PR. Did I mention it is all FREE?

Contact me today to find out how I can help you generate leads using free marketing and PR. NuVisions will show you the best methods to use for your organization.

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