How to find a good story for PR

Duct Tape Marketing Newsletter

DuctTapeMarketing.com
May 23, 2006

In this issue:

Resource #1 - Instant Press Release
Resource #2 - PR Blogs
Main Article - PR Story Starters
Resource #3 - List of PR Resources
Duct Tape Coaches - Hire A Duct Tape Marketing Coach
Free Magazine - 4 free issues of PRWeek
Featured Reading - Feeding the Media Beast - Mark Mathis
Featured Listening - Isle of View - Jimmie Spheeris

Mack Collier at the Viral Garden has taken the Alexa data and come up with a top 25 marketing blogs list. Some you've heard of, some, I suspect, you have not. I find these types of lists to be a good way to find some really good new (to me at least) blogs.

You can always view past newsletter issues here!

Featured Resource - The Duct Tape Marketing System Workbooks

Public Relations - Earned media attention and expert status -
Buy Workbook Only | Buy Workbook and CD

In this workbook, we cover some of the strategies and tools employed by professional public relations firms to help you gain positive press and avoid the pitfalls that cause most business owners to fail in this arena. Obtaining media coverage for your firm is not necessarily difficult, and it is well worth the effort; but there are strategies and tactics you must understand in order to achieve the greatest success.

In this workbook you will:
1) Create a targeted media list
2) Learn how to stand out
3) Discover ways to use the media to promote your business

Instant Press Release - Free - Online Press Release Creator Allows You To Instantly Create Powerful, Attention Grabbing, Perfectly Formatted Press Releases in an instant.

List of Notable PR Blogs - Blogs are a great place to pick up some real world PR tips and strategies - who knows you might even learn some marketing

Minor PR Story Starters
How To Get Just a Little PR so you Get a Lot

Use the following questions to help you brainstorm for potential PR topics. One of the surest ways to get more media coverage is to get some media coverage. Start small, but be consistent. It is a good practice to attempt to get some form of coverage every month. The more successful you are in terms of sheer volume of coverage, the easier it is to get full-length feature coverage. Is that Oprah on the phone!

Have there been any personnel changes, promotions or additions in your firm?
Have you taken on a new partner?
Are you planning to expand your operations?
Have you landed a significant new project or customer?
Are you conducting educational seminars?
Have employees completed industry apprenticeship or certification?
Are you planning to speak at a professional organization's meeting?
Have you, or anyone on your staff, received an award in your industry?
Has a trade association cited you for excellence?
Have you, or any of your staff, been elected to serve on the board of directors for another company or volunteer organization?
Has your company sponsored a charitable fundraising event in the community?
Are you doing anything that is a new trend in your industry?
Are you mentoring other businesses owners or students?
Does your business have a high number of women or minorities in management positions?
Have you supported one or more of your employees through an unusual crisis?
Do you offer any unusual employee benefits or incentives?
Have you solved a problem in your industry?
Is your marketing unique?
Have you started a new department or business?
Have you significantly expanded your current services?
Have you moved to new or larger offices or substantially renovated your offices?
Have you become a new dealer for a name brand product?
Has your company been in business for 5, 10, 15, 25 or 50 years?
Have you discovered new ways to use technology in your business?
Have you discovered new ways to market your products or services?
Have you increased your sales since last year? Is that unusual for your industry in today’s economy?
What’s the income trend in your industry? Are you following the trend or breaking out of the mold?
Do you have a strong opinion on a local situation or community problem? Can you offer a solution? For example, a construction company might devise a way to organize left-over construction job site materials to benefit an organization that repairs homes for low-income residents.

The Story Beyond the Story

If possible, you should always try to plan stories that may create other stories. In other words, look at your story idea as a series of news releases.

Let’s say that you have donated your firm’s services to paint the local senior center. While the donation itself is a wonderful thing to do, you can get the most mileage from a PR standpoint if you announce the arrangement; announce the painting day activity; and plan a little get-together at the center to “reopen” with a fresh coat of paint. (Pictures are great here.)

The idea is to keep the presses rolling. In some cases you may actually get two or three follow-up stories, but the main point is to change your thinking about how to create stories in general.

~ ~ ~

John Jantsch is a veteran marketing coach, award winning blogger and author of Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide published by Thomas Nelson - due out in the fall of 2006

He is the creator of the Duct Tape Marketing small business marketing system. You can find more information by visiting http://www.ducttapemarketing.com

You may reprint this article in its entirety if you attribute the article to John Jantsch and include the information about the author above.

Duct Tape Coaches - Duct Tape Marketing Authorized Coaches - coming to a town near you (already spanning the USA, UK and Canada!) - FIND OUT MORE

The If you really want to take your business to the next level hire a Duct Tape Marketing Coach.

Duct Tape Marketing Coaches can offer you personal and phone based marketing coaching based on the Duct Tape Marketing Ultimate Marketing System.

The network of Duct Tape Marketing Authorized Coaches will become the recognized brand of small business marketing coach. Find A Duct Tape Marketing Authorized Coach

Next Group forming for training in September 2006! To be notified Email John Jantsch

List of PR Resources - Some more PR resources from around the web. Find links to media directories, press release distribution services, pr blogs and news alert resources.

Featured Reading

Feeding the Media Beast - An Easy Recipe for Great Publicity - Mark Mathis

This is one of my favorite books on PR because Mathis does a great job of demystifying the media and demonstrating that effective PR is really like any other form of effective marketing.

Featured Listening

Isle of View- Jimmie Spheeris

This album is solidly on my top 25 list but sadly has been tied up in a legal battle since Spheeris died. This is the only album he created and it was finally issued on CD a few years ago and sells for around $100 used.

Featured Resource #1
The Duct Tape Marketing Small Business Marketing System

This complete small business marketing program contains 15 workbooks, 12 audios CDs - packaged in a Duct Tape Marketing 3 ring binder. This is the same tool I use to coach my clients. Find out more.

Featured Resource #2 - The Duct Tape Marketing System Workbooks

The Ultimate Marketing System individual workbooks and audios. 15 workbooks and 12 audios. Buy one or buy them all. $29 Workbook only/$39 workbook and audio. Individual Workbooks and Audio CDs

Featured Resource #3 - Digital Version Now Available for Immediate Download

Referral Flood - How to generate a flood of new business without spending one dime on advertising

I just released a digital version that allow you to download the 125 page ebook as a PDF file and MP3 Audios. I also passed on the saving to you. The digital version is $79 (as opposed to $97 for printed version) + no shipping

Resource - Get Local Search Engine Traffic

Don’t Let Your Small Business Get Left Behind in the Local Search Engine Game

Get your local business found online automatically by local prospects with a Duct Tape Marketing Local Search Engine profile. One of the best ways to get your business found in your town by local prospects. More

Featured Resource #3 - Blog Lightning - How To Create and Promote Your Blog In A Flash

Drawing from my experience creating blogs, including my award winning Duct Tape Marketing Blog, I have launched a complete step-by-step guide that takes you by the hand and shows you exactly what to do to instantly create and promote a successful blog for your business.

You also get 14 video screencast tutorials that allow you to watch over my shoulder as I actually do the steps I outline in the system - It does not get any easier than this! - Order Blog Lightning

Featured Free Magazine

PRWeek Subscribe to free publications on a wide variety of topics and industries

Duct Tape Marketing Podcast

Tune in each week as I interview some of the brightest business experts, authors and entrepreneurs. Subscribe and get the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast delivered to your iPod or other mp3 player.

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