Archive for the Advertising category
May 31st, 2008
Nowadays, Austin Texas firms of every size have their own sites. However, given the vast number of sites on the Net, it can be rather difficult to create a website that is truly distinctive. This is one of the many tasks handled by Austin’s online marketing services. That is to say that as the commercial aspect of the internet grows, promotion and marketing enterprises become more and more important to would-be vendors.
With Austin Internet Marketing, a host of established methods are used to market your website, as well as provide web-based promotion for merchandise and services. Austin Internet marketing, provides tangible benefits, including affordable pricing, increased website traffic, opportunities for new business or growth of an existing one, plus a highly favorable return on your investment.
A large number of service providers are now emerging, offering Austin Internet marketing services for your company. The majority of Internet marketing companies employ strategies that are not only flexible and measurable but also reasonably priced. We will discuss some of the important internet marketing techniques adopted by Internet marketing companies.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most prominent yet cost-effective Internet marketing techniques. Many SEO companies Austin employ this method. SEO involves a variety of steps, including a review of existing pages, development of relevant and brief content, selection of suitable keywords, link popularity, inserting title tags and writing Meta description, inserting keywords in the URL, link exchange, search engine submission and also website protection. Austin Texas SEO helps many clients.
Pay-per-click is a very common strategy used by some internet marketing programs. Pay-per-click works by ensuring that small ads matching certain keywords are placed in search engine results. It’s important to remember that in a pay-per-click system, advertisers do not pay anything for ad views; advertisers only pay when the advertisement is actually clicked.
A pay per click system can be set up so that a specified amount has to be paid each time someone clicks on the ad link. You can also work with other web site owners to use this system to produce leads and possible sales as you direct the customer to a similar website with banners or sponsor links.
You will find that Austin Internet marketing companies utilize email marketing that targets potential customers using email to communicate and advertise. There is a wide variety of different techniques used to benefit clients, and they include banner ads, blog, article, and social marketing.
Almost every company of any size in Austin, Texas, has a website now. In fact, the main problem with the billions of sites on the Web is that they’ve gotten very hard to tell apart. Austin Internet marketing can help change that. Internet marketing is very important to online businesses today, because there are now so many of them that companies need to find a new way to stand out. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most well-known and economical methods of Internet marketing. Numerous businesses in Austin have implemented this technique. “SEO companies Austin” and “Austin Texas SEO” search terms will get you many results.
- Tom S Powers
May 31st, 2008
One very unique city like no other would be Austin, Texas. They have numerous cutting edge high tech companies, a very active youth segment, and just the right balance of everything to promote the very special traditions of Texas.
The competition for business in a vibrant city such as Austin is so fierce that businesses are turning to internet marketing and website promotion to maintain market share and increase their profit margins. This type of marketing might be done in addition to more traditional promotion channels such as signs and newspaper ads. Austin-area business owners who want to compete in the changing global marketplace stand to benefit from exploring the possibilities of internet marketing.
Make sure your style constantly comes across to your viewers. There is such a rare mix of people and culture in Austin, and you want to make sure that the unique Texas customs and ethnicity are represented. You want people that have visited, no matter how long they stay, to leaving with a feeling of wonderment knowing that it is unlike any other place on earth.
The city’s special kind of eccentricity can be seen in the cars, two or three every hundred, that carry bumper stickers reading “Keep Austin Weird”. When doing internet marketing in Austin, it’s important for your website to project your identity well. It’s not important to just draw a large number of people to your site. Instead, your goal should be to attract a smaller stream of prospective customers who have a high chance of converting into real, paying customers.
As Austin evolves with the dawn of the 21st Century it remains proud of its sons and daughters who helped make it great. Your Austin TX SEO, taking a page from the Texas Walk of Fame, must develop a clear brand strategy. Generating new additional revenue from their new site, including Austin SEO, will require web site proprietors to pay close attention to deal.
The details about your Internet marketing Austin company and what it stands for comes across on your website in ways you cannot even imagine. The brains of your visitors take in thousands of visual signs per second, and those visitors are making conclusions about your company based upon what they see there. Again, the objective is not to please every visitor. Relatively, the goal is to honor your brand and to let the brand shine through on your site.
Austin websites require ways to promote their businesses that not every company is considering. Most of these businesses have been involved in marketing. With the changing pace of the world, the Internet marketing Austin era is here and prepared for everyday business owners to get on board. As Austin evolves it remains proud of its sons and daughters who helped make it great. Your Austin TX SEO, taking a page from the Texas Walk of Fame, must develop a clear brand strategy. Generating new additional revenue from their new site, including Austin SEO, will require web site proprietors to pay close attention to deal.
- Tom S Powers
May 26th, 2008
A great source of both marketing and information in today’s era is the internet. Law firms seeking clients highly value Austin attorney internet marketing. Additionally, potential clients utilize it to best find appropriate representation needed both now and into the future.
Austin attorney internet marketing is a great way to reach new clients who do not have a clue about how to find and choose from the hundreds of local lawyers and firms. Using search engines and keywords such as “divorce”, a potential client can locate Austin law firm internet marketing and see which company appeals the most to them or seems to fit their needs.
In Austin, those who do lawyer internet marketing are naturally a member of the State Bar of Texas. A Texas law requires that anyone who specializes in a certain area of law must make it known if they are board certified in that area. Remember, however, that not everyone working for a certain firm will have the same qualifications.
When you are using Internet marketing in Austin, remember the language barrier. A lot of Austin citizens are immigrants who either don’t speak English or at least feel more comfortable speaking Spanish since it is their native language. Make sure that customers are aware via the Internet that your firm is bilingual and can easily accommodate them. Offering two websites - one in English, one in Spanish - is the easiest way to get the message out.
Internet marketing for attorneys in Austin also hone in on immigration policies. Thousands of Texan residents are not actually U.S. citizens and require the services of immigration attorneys in Austin. Even those who are legal citizens will need immigration attorneys to help advise them on how to get residency or citizenship in the United States. It’s a good business practice to advertise these services on the Internet.
Austin is a lively and bustling city with many cultures. With such a broad potential clientele, the Internet is the best way to reach people. Internet marketing simplifies the search for a good lawyer, and it is much more inexpensive and up-to-date than a big ad in the yellow pages. Any Austin law firm that wants to grow will need to take advantage of Internet marketing.
Since it’s inception, the internet has become an amazing resource for information as well as marketing. Austin attorney internet marketing provides law firms with a way to find clients as well as a way for clients to find representation for current and future needs. Advertising on the Net is an excellent means for Austin lawyer internet marketing to attract a new clientele. Naturally, you can take it for granted that a Austin law firm internet marketing who is advertising online will belong to the Texas State Bar. Potential clients should understand, however, that not all will have acquired similar certifications.
- Tom S Powers
April 28th, 2008
As an author, you may have recently published a book. I would venture to guess that you have put a lot of time and passion in order to create a piece of literature to be read by people all over the nation! Getting the attention of consumers though, can be really tough. As there are over 300,000 books hitting the market every year, it is vital to get yourself out there and tell people that your book is available both nationally and locally!
While national media exposure for you and your book is ideal, there is great power in local media exposure as well. Marsha Friedman, Founder of Event Management Services Inc, a national public relations firm says that ” By focusing on your hometown media outlets you will be able to build a solid base of fame and recognition from which to grow on. Creating as much “buzz” as you can locally will compliment your national campaign to no end and it also gives you invaluable media experience when the national media starts to knock on your door.”
The good news is that there are lots of local media that are interested in interviewing authors just like you. This gives you an upper hand in grabbing their attention, and you will also gain their support in spreading the word about your book!
So If you want to create solid book “buzz” in your hometown, here are some of Marsha Friedman’s recommendation that will help you achieve your promotional goals:
*Book Signings: When it comes to the secret weapon of gaining local exposure for your book, they don’t make ‘em any stronger than this! So what good are they? Well take a look at these facts: Books will be stocked on their shelves after you leave, unless of course you have a sell-out You’ll receive free advertising and promotion in the book store’s customer mailingsHighly visible placement of your books in store a week before your signing Employees of the book store will give you valuable third-party endorsements As you can now see, these really are a hidden book promotional goldmine. Marsha Friedman says, “Do as many as you can. Even look at other cities that are close by. Even ask friends and relatives to see about setting up book signings for you in their hometowns.” So let’s get out there and create the buzz that sell the books!
*Radio and TV Interviews : Almost every city has a talk radio or TV programs that have a guest format. Do your research on the web to find the main stations that broadcast in your hometown. Then go to their website where you will find information about the shows they broadcast. Marsha Friedman says, “Look for those with a format for guests and find the contact information for the producer.” Then call and pitch yourself as a guest. How many should you aim for? AS MANY AS POSSIBLE!
*Local Print Media : Marsha Friedman says, “When it comes to the print media, at EMSI we find that “Tips” type articles have an extremely high pick up rate with newspapers and magazines. If your topic offers any sort of solution to a problem, then a “Tips” article is what I would suggest.” Give 6-7 helpful hints and high quality solutions to a common societal problem. Find the print publications in your local market, do web research and find the relevant contact information for the editor that would cover your topic. No one relevant listed? Gun for the editor-in-chief. Write it so that it would be ready for publication!because if it is there is slight chance that they may print the piece “as-is.” But since you’re a writer, this should not be a problem.
Aim to get as many as humanly possible. If you would like to learn more about gaining media attention for your company, product or service, without the financial burden of monthly retainers, Marsha Friedman would love to help. Feel free to contact her directly at mfriedman@emsincorporated.com or visit her firm online at http://www.emsincorporated.com. As a PR expert Friedman has the ability to get the media attention that you desire without budget busting monthly retainers.
Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on public relations for nearly two decades as CEO of Event Management Services, Inc (EMSI). If you would like to receive her free Ebook “How to Be a Great Talk Radio Guest” visit http://www.emsincorporated.com.
- Marsha Friedman
April 28th, 2008
If you are one of the hundreds of businesses looking to gain national exposure for your company, products or services then you are probably facing the difficult decision of finding the right PR firm. What can make this decision difficult is that there are so many different kinds of public relations firms out there. Some are local, some national. Some retainer based, some project based. So how do you know which PR firm will be the best fit for your company’s objectives ? Here Marsha Friedman, founder of EMSI, a national and local publicity firm , will share her 10 tips on how to choose the RIGHT PR firm to get your message the media coverage that you desire.
1. Find a firm that specializes in your industry. “For example,” says Friedman ,” if you have a technical Business to Business then you should find a national PR firm that specializes in Business to Business . If the PR firm regularly works with companies that are in your industry, they will be familiar with how to express your message to the media.” Also, they should be able to get started right away . “If you choose a national or local PR firm who is unaccustomed to your industry, be prepared for them to spend some time researching your industry in order to get a full handle on your topic” adds Friedman . And guess who will be paying for the PR firm’s research time: you! “Most firms charge a costly monthly retainer, so the longer it takes for them to get started the more money that will be coming out of your PR budget . Just to give you an idea the minimum is around $3,000 per month, the industry average is approximately $5,000 per month and the large PR firms can charge anywhere from $20,000-30,000 per month.”
2. Choose a firm that specializes in your medium of choice. If you are ready to hire a PR firm, then chances are that you have given a bit of thought as to what medium you want to use. “When you are ‘auditioning’ public relations firms you probably know what media you want to use. It is useful to know that not all PR firms work with all types of media,” says Friedman . “A whopping 95% of firms specialize exclusively in newspaper and magazine exposure .” So if you are interested in doing radio or television you need to find a firm that specializes in these mediums. “The best way to find out,” says Friedman, “is to ask the PR firm if their specialty is radio, TV or print !simple as that!”
3. Make sure you request sample campaigns. “Before choosing a public relations firm, request to see some sample promotional campaigns that the firm executed for their clients,” says Friedman. “This is a great way to find out how hard the PR firm works for their clients.” Also, find out how long the campaign was. “For example, if they show you a PR campaign that has one huge newspaper placement (such as USA Today or The New York Times) and the duration of the campaign was 2 years - think twice. “If it took 2 years to get one major media placement, based on the minimum retainer level, you would have paid a massive $72,000 for that one newspaper hit.” Sample PR campaigns are a great indicator of the effectiveness, especially the cost effectiveness, of a PR firm’s work.
4. Find a pay-for-performance PR firm! The costly monthly retainer can drain a tight budget , so it is good to know that there are other options out there. Friedman says, “There are a handful of PR firms out there that get paid based on their results . My PR firm is one of these and it really works for our clients . The reason is that they only pay for the media exposure that my PR firm actually secures for them. So instead of paying a monthly fee, they pay for the results that my PR firm obtains for them.” By choosing a pay-for-performance firm you are truly making your PR firm put their money where their mouth is!
5. Speak to the PR firm’s clients. When you are choosing a national PR firm it is very important to ask to speak to some of their clients, past or present. When you speak to the clients , ask the PR firm’s clients what sort of radio, TV and print exposure they received and how long it took for the PR firm to obtain it for them. Friedman adds, “Great questions to ask are; How well did the PR firm’s staff interact with them? Did they seem interested in the campaign? Were the press releases and pitches up to snuff? These answers will give you valuable insight as to how the PR firm will handle your campaign.”
6. Be confident in their ability to deliver . Before you sign your public relations contract , make sure that you are convinced that the PR firm will execute a dynamic and successful campaign . Make sure to ask lots of questions, request copies of sample campaigns and then do a comprehensive review of all of the materials. “I would suggest that before you make your final decision you talk to owners and definitely request a proposal”, says Marsha Friedman , “ask the important questions. What media will they be using to get you exposure? How long the campaign will last? What are the goals of the campaign? How long will it take to meet these goals? How the PR firm answers these questions will ultimately determine the level of confidence you have in their ability to service your campaign .
7. Don’t limit yourself to PR firms in your area. If you’re looking for regional or national exposure don’t limit your search to PR firms that are located within your area . “Lots of clients think that the firm needs to be right around the corner so it is easily accessible for weekly meetings , “says Marsha Friedman . “But this is not how it works. In my 20 years of gaining national and local media attention for my clients, I have only had a face-to-face meetings with a small number . The reason for this is that I don’t need to. All of a PR firm’s work can be done via phone and email which is a far more efficient, and time saving, way to work.” If your goal is to attain national media attention, find a PR firm that specializes pitching to the national media. A national media PR firm’s skill level and specialization is what is important, not where they are located. If your goal is to gain local media attention, this is when it is a good idea to look for a local firm. Marsha Friedman says “As they are immersed in the market you are after, their contacts and knowledge will be far more effective than that of a national PR firm.”
8. Meet your Campaign Manager. There is one person in particular who plays a vital role in driving the success of at the PR firm: your Campaign Manager. Before you make the decision on which PR firm you use, meet your Campaign Manager. Find out what their experience level is and how long they have been with the PR firm. “A great nugget of information is that many Campaign Managers are rookies fresh from college,” says Marsha Friedman . “Even more frightening is that many national and local PR firms hire interns to handle the client accounts that are not at the ‘top of their list.’ ” If you don’t investigate the qualifications of your Campaign Manager, then how can you be confident that your campaign will be handled in a professional manner ?
9. Find a PR firm that believes in your message. The best type of PR firm is one that not only understands your message but also has bags of excitement for your topic. Marsha Friedman says, “If you find a PR firm like this, their enthusiasm for your message will show in how they handle your campaign . Their efforts will be more creative and their communications to the media will be attention grabbing and clear.” In order for a PR firm to successfully work for you, they need to understand your passion and be able to translate it into something that will be of interest to the masses. If they miss your point completely, it can really be costly. ”
10. Trust your gut. Marsha Friedman says, “My final tip to choosing the right PR firm has everything to do with your instincts ‘. When you are in the process of deciding if a PR firm is a right fit for your needs it is inevitable that you will have strong views about their work and approach. Even if everything seems perfect, if your instincts tell you otherwise - listen to them! ” Gut feelings tend to be accurate, so if the chemistry is off in any way, be weary of pushing the working relationship forward. There is nothing worse then finding out your gut feelings were right when it is too late!
There you go ! The 10 tips on how to choose the right PR firm for you! If you would like to learn more about gaining national or local media attention for your company, product or service, without the financial burden of monthly retainers, Friedman is available to be of service . Feel free to contact her directly at mfriedman@emsincorporated.com or visit her firm online at http://www.emsincorporated.com. As a PR expert Marsha has the ability to get the media attention that you desire without monthly retainers .
Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on public relations for nearly two decades as CEO of Event Management Services, Inc (EMSI). If you would like to receive her free Ebook “How to Be a Great Talk Radio Guest” visit http://www.emsincorporated.com.
- Marsha Friedman
April 26th, 2008
Email marketing is taking the world by storm. Nearly everyone has an email address, and thus, those who wish to market their goods and services effectively need to take advantage of this fact. Email marketing allows people to send out thousands of advertisements to people all over the world in a very short period of time. This means that more and more people are going to see your company and what you have to offer.
So you have your targeted mailing lists and your emails that you want to send. Why spend time and money on administrative costs to mail all of these people yourself, when you can have it done automatically? This is where autoresponders come in and can help you and your business thrive.
Autoresponders provide a very valuable service to those who employ their use. What do they do? This is quite simple, but often misunderstood by many people. These are not spam creators, as many people see them. Rather they are effective marketing tools that you can use to your benefit.
You will find this tool very versatile- with it, you’ll be able to send emails, notices, updates, and newsletters to the people on your email lists, and send them at predetermined times that you set up beforehand. This tool will free you from the many hours previously needed to send out all your emails and newsletters to the correct times and locations. With this feature alone, you will save your company lots of money and bring in new sales and profits at the same time.
A quick and efficient way to locate a quality autoresponder is to perform a Google search. Due to the high volume of companies providing this service, it is important to spend a little time learning more about what is being offered. Be sure to find one that can guarantee a nearly perfect delivery rate of at least 99% as well as limitless autoresponders, broadcasts and messages within a series. These functions are crucial for an effective operation and should be provided by any quality company. All these services should be available for a reasonable rate around twenty dollars a month.
You will have to pay for good autoresponder, but the amount of revenue increase you can expect to see should render the expense irrelevant. Email marketing is a must for any online business. If you don’t have an autoresponder working on your behalf, you are loosing money.
Not sure which Autoresponder is right for you? Read my side by side comparison of the top autoresponders at www.CompareAutoresponders.com.
- John Oszajca
April 23rd, 2008
People like to shop and buy latest home appliances for their home. It is a dream of many people to buy products and to own all the latest gadgets available in the market and to make their lifestyle easy. It is good to keep on changing machines that make your lifestyle comfortable and easy. But before going on a shopping spree it equally important that you do your home work, so that you do not regret with the purchase that you have done. There are a few things that you need to check out before you make the final purchase. These are durability, and after sales service if at all anything happens to the appliance that you have bought. Many people will go into the store without even thinking of how reliable an appliance is. How many times have you gone into the store and buy an appliance just to find out that the appliance started giving you headaches soon after you bought it.
Many times it has happened in the past that people buy a certain gadget and then use it, but once it gets damaged due to any reason, you do not get proper after sales service. Some times it is because of the company that makes the product and some times it is because of place from where you have purchased the product from. It happened with me in the past, I had purchase a washing machine from one of the leading mall in my city and it was working good as expected, but after three months of usage, something happened to the machine and it stopped working. I had a warranty of one year on it. So I contacted the customer care of that mall and told them about the problem. They told me to bring the machine to their place. I told them that the machine is too big for it to fit in my car and hence it was virtually not possible for me to get it there, but they were not at all helpful and finally I had to take the services of a pick up van and pay him the price for his services to and fro. This proved very costly for me and I realized that next time it is better to check out with such issues before purchasing, so that you can be aware of such issues.
I had planned to gift my wife with a new gas stove this wedding anniversary. I knew that she would be happy on receiving it. But with the kind of experience I had from that mall, I had decided that I will not go to that mall again, so where to buy a gas stove from? I discussed this with one of my friends, and he suggested me to look into internet for this. He also suggested me about this website Toronto appliances and he told me about the low prices that this website has. I logged on to this website and was amazed to see such low prices on their portal and with the kind of huge range they had in terms of variety with different brands. After about an hour of research I finalized on one of product by this company called Kitchen aid. The website had mentioned everything related to sales about their policy, warranties and after sales services. I was really happy to deal with this website as they shipped the goods on the specified day and time. This website also provides free shipping to customers in Toronto, who make purchase of more than a specified amount.
Since this was a surprise gift to my wife on a special occasion, she was really happy on receiving it. Thereafter whenever I purchase anything for my home I first checked with this website, Canada appliances. A buyer who is smart will make sure that he makes the best buy and gets the best value for money. Make the perfect, reliable and functional choice that will last a lifetime. An appliance that has been bought with prior thought and research will prevent you from having hassles later. Get your options right i.e. an appliance that is costly and has a huge brand name does not mean that it will fit your functional needs of the home and it is not true vice versa too. To end with, we humans always have a gut feeling follow that for choosing the right appliance for your home and make your kitchen your dream kitchen.
For best deals in home appliances visit Toronto appliance today!
- Micheal Coley
April 21st, 2008
Today the business world has hit a zenith in its competitive nature. There are millions of products hitting the market every year, many which die within the first few months after launching. How can you stay competitive and keep consumers educated about your company, product or service? The answer is by harnessing the power of public relations.
publicity can help you reach a broad national and local consumer base through talk radio, television and print.
In this article we will focus on the extremely popular medium of television and the facts and values of being a TV guest. ” As viewers expect to see celebrities on TV, when you appear as a guest on a TV show your credibility goes sky high” says Friedman , Chief Executive Officer of Event Management Service Inc, a national public relations firm. Here Marsha Friedman will tell us all about the medium that is TV.
1. Visuals, visuals, visuals. The great thing about TV is that you get to see what is going on in addition to being able to hear what is going on. .” Marsha Friedman says, “The producers of television shows think visually, and really want topics that will grab the attention (and keep the attention) of their audience. They want compelling conversation and pictures that will grab their viewer’s attention.”
A great method to getting your visual together is thinking like a child. How would I explain it to my son or daughter? What pictures can you use that will translate into graphics for a TV story? ” As an example, if you sell life insurance your ‘visuals’ could be graphs of the mortality rate of women vs. men to match your conversation about why women need to protect themselves and their children against the loss of their spouses” adds Marsha Friedman.
2. All newscasts have different demographics. Marsha Friedman says, “All of the main newscasts of the day are directly targeted to a drastically different audience . The early morning shows are usually watched by working adults and families getting ready for school. Afternoon shows are more geared to lifestyle segments. Finally, the evening shows are focused on news.” So when you are deciding on what newscast, make sure to know what market you are trying to target and choose accordingly.
3. Be sharp and concise. As opposed to talk radio interviews, TV interviews are short (typically 3 to 5 minutes) so you have to be REALLY sharp about knowing exactly what the message is that you want to leave the audience with and how to get it across in such a limited time. Marsha Friedman says, ” Before you go on air really get your sound bites down. Practice does make perfect, especially if you are going to be seen by millions nationwide!” 4. Don’t look like a slob. Nothing turns an audience off more than a guest who’s physical appearance is disheveled. Do you really believe anything they say if they look disheveled? The answer is usually ‘no.’ Marsha Friedman adds, ” Make sure you look good as your appearance will make a lasting impression. Do your clothes fit well (not too tight)? Are they clean and pressed (not old and ratty looking)? Do your shoes look professional? Is that red shirt you’re wearing, really the right color for you? Does that tie really go with that shirt?” A clean and sharp look will help people focus on your message, rather than your outrageous appearance.
With these tips you should be ready to get on screen and let the world know about your product! If you would like to learn more about gaining national and local media exposure for your company, product or service, without the financial burden of monthly retainers, Marsha Friedman is here to help . Feel free to contact her directly at mfriedman@emsincorporated.com or visit her firm online at http://www.emsincorporated.com. As a public relations expert Marsha Friedman has the ability to get the media attention that you desire without monthly retainers .
Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on public relations for nearly two decades as CEO of Event Management Services, Inc (EMSI). If you would like to receive her free Ebook “How to Be a Great Talk Radio Guest” visit http://www.emsincorporated.com.
- Marsha Friedman
April 16th, 2008
Talk radio interviews aren’t what they used to be.
Back “in the day”, hosts would invite guests into the studio for 30 minute or longer interviews. A guest would be able to do a handful of interviews and see their sales go through the roof!
Marsha Friedman, CEO of Event Management Service Inc , a national publicity firm says, “Sadly, those days are gone. Unless an author is a truly big name nowadays, the chances of hitting pay-dirt with just a couple of big radio interviews are history.”
The reasons are two-fold.
The first element is that the number of talk radio shows with a guest format has dwindled over the years. Friedman adds, “Next, the time each show allots for guest interviews has been drastically cut.” Blame the research. Researchers found that listeners are more likely to stay tuned if there are three 10-minute guests on a show instead of just one 30 minute guest.
When it Comes to Talk Radio Publicity, Quantity Still Rules.
Let’s think about this fact. Marsha Friedman says, “There are thousands of radio stations out there!many just 1,000 watts or so and without a big-name host. But that certainly doesn’t mean you should thumb your nose at them.”
Look at it this way. “If a 1000-watt radio station had, say, only 100 listeners, you’d probably think it wasn’t worth the trouble, right?” adds Friedman. Think about this. If you were booked to speak at a conference that had 95 people would you do it? Of course you would.”
See the quandary here? So decide not to pass up an interview, whether big or small. You’ll be building lots of selling momentum!and something else, too”, add Friedman.
Get Your Feet Wet in the Small Markets Before Taking the Plunge With the Majors.
Marsha Friedman says, “I have found in my nearly 20 years in talk radio public relations that is takes generally 10-12 talk radio interviews before clients feel totally comfortable being interviewed in the air. So it’s far better to make your first inevitable mistakes on a smaller stage than a bigger one, and that’s where the little stations come in. The small stations give you a fantastic practice field when it comes to radio pr.”
Having a large number of interviews under your belt will definitely give you experience. What is meant by practice is that you will be able to gather your thoughts, your pitch and interview style and sound like a pro in no time.
Typical errors for first time guests include not giving out their website address or the title of their book, or not mentioning it frequently enough. It’s also a mistake to mention these too often and upset the host, who will let you know that the show is not an infomercial.
Technical clients have a tendency to slide into techno-babble, and even good guests inevitably walk out of their first few interviews knowing they could have done better. But if you are going out to smaller stations initially, you won’t have a national audience hearing your mistakes.”
Sure, there can be pitfalls with smaller stations. Be prepared to run into some hosts who are unprofessional, and make sure you confirm an interview at least twice before you’re scheduled to be on the air.
But hey, what can prepare you for the 500 watt station in the middle of nowhere that’s hosted by a recent college grad. Many hosts won’t be as prepared as their big-league counterparts. So you may have to walk them through the major points of your topic.
Marsha Friedman says, “When it comes to these situations, your approach should be as if you have met the person for the first time and you need to explain what your topic is to this stranger. Don’t leave everything up to the host. Always be prepared for the interview. But remember; don’t talk down to the audience of a small radio station. You may be offending some very intelligent people without even knowing. Win over your audience, no matter what the size of the station!”
The bottom-line here is that small-station interviews not only can generate sales, they can prepare you for the big time.
Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on public relations for nearly two decades as CEO of Event Management Services, Inc (EMSI). If you would like to receive her free Ebook “How to Be a Great Talk Radio Guest” visit http://www.emsincorporated.com.
- Marsha Friedman