Alexa Fischer, Wanda Wen and Me

I got a note from someone this week wondering if SMARTY was for her – an established business owner – noting that the organization seems “geared for start-ups.” I had to laugh a little, knowing how many of you are veterans – pulling in hundreds of thousands (or in some cases, millions) a year, with books on best-seller lists, products in stores like Sephora, Barney’s and Wal-Mart, and client rosters that look like a Who’s Who of brands. We must not even measure success in dollars…let’s measure it in living by our own terms!

Maybe it’s because we interview so many successful people – and because we’re asking the questions, it might seem like we don’t know the answers ourselves? (Nope. We love case studies, though, and realize you’re never too successful to learn from someone else’s story.)

Maybe it’s because there’s a perception that if you “need community”, you must not be very good at what you do? (Oh, boy.)

We love our early stage business owners, and our goals for them are to help them build a solid foundation. But the real genius of SMARTY is how many diversified backgrounds thrive within this community. We’re all beginners at something. And, we’re all masters at something else.

Still not a Member? Join at the Big SMARTY Membership level before the end of 2011 and get a free BrainCircle session with me in January PLUS two free months of Membership!

A BrainCircle is a laser-focused two-hour session led by a small business expert and is designed to address six entrepreneurs in a small group setting. Each person brings a problem, and together, we find a solution. Partnership issues? Marketing questions? PR conundrum? Distribution dlilemma? These coaching sessions are fast, furious and effective.

Such great events and workshops coming up now through the end of the year and into 2012.

We rarely run Membership specials so now’s the time to join and get a little something extra.
Amy

Christine Woodward of My PR Tools

Honestly, it’s not rocket science. If you want to get an editor’s attention then all you have to know is this:  Editors print what their readers are interested in. It’s just that simple. So do some research on the print and online media outlets that attract your target market and then follow these tips.

The best releases have these qualities:  

1. They focus on why the product, service, or event is significant now.
2. They clearly demonstrate why it is important to the readers.
3. They present clear, simple and timely information.

Press releases are always written in the third person; so think like a reporter and write accordingly. Stay away from marketing fluff and hype and make sure all your information is accurate and timely.  You’ll start with the most newsworthy aspects and work backwards.

The Major Elements:   

The headline:   This is the first thing that an editor sees, and it must be persuasive. It should instantly draw in the reader with a compelling snapshot of what your release is about. Remember to include your company name in the headline.

The subhead:   This goes below the headline, in italics, and emphasizes the most important angle in your release.

The lead sentence:  The most important thing to emphasize right at the start is the significance of the news at hand–why should the reader care? Don’t make the editor work too hard to discover the news in your release. You want the editor to know up front that you understand the audience and have made your release relevant.

Demonstrate the benefits:  Next, go into a couple of sentences to demonstrate and quantify the significance of the news.

Get a quote:   Whenever possible include a quote. This could be from a third-party source or from one of your top executives or clients.

Provide the details:  Provide additional details of the project, service or event. Be sure to embed links in the copy to your website to provide more detailed information.

About you:   And finally, you want to end with a brief boilerplate paragraph that describes your company. Of course include your website. A reporter will typically go there first for more information about you.

Contact:  Remember to include all contact information: name, phone and email.
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If you’d like more information, including sample press releases, building your media list, pitching to reporters, and optimizing your release to enhance search engine ranking, see the MY PR Tools Media Guide.

Feel free to give me a call at 310.546.2926 for a complimentary strategy session. I’ll be happy to show you how to take your business to the next level with affordable marketing strategies that hit the sweet spot with your target clients. And for more marketing and PR tips visit my blog.

- Christine Henry Woodward