Author Archive
Interview with Founder of Beauties on the Go and Director of the TEEN LUVE Program
Posted by: | CommentsInterview with Gabriela R. Chavez
Kristin: What is your business background?
Gabriela: Because of positive think
ing and eternal optimism, I have an aptitude for developing strong professional relationships. Because of my genuine compassion and unwavering persistence, I have acquired professional experience in print and promotional modeling, hosting Hollywood events, and raising funds for charitable organizations such as the Chaka Khan Foundation.
I have also worked as an independent marketing consultant for the corporate, spa, sports, and entertainment industries. Having interacted with professionals, celebrities and athletes on all levels, I have developed the necessary skills to take on complex projects.
Kristin: Gabriela, give us a brief overview of the TEEN LUVE Program, BOTG, and the three VIP Memberships BOTG offers.
Gabriela: A) Teen L.U.V.E-The Teen L.U.V.E Program is a not for profit program, 501(c) (3), created by Beauties on the Go to empower at-risk teens. We provide our teens with L.U.V.E, which includes Listening (L), Understanding (U), a Vision (V), and Encouragement (E).
B) Beauties on the Go was created to simplify women’s lives and bring out their inner and outer beauty by inspiring and supporting them by providing resources that help in every aspect of living. Beauties on the Go is a community created by women for women that lead busy lives.
Maximize Productivity Using Social Media
Posted by: | CommentsIn this day and age, there are so many different social media sites to choose from that it can become a full time job to update and monitor each profile. To eliminate that stress, follow these 13 steps to become more productive:
1. Select the top five social networks you are interested in joining. Check out Ning.com as it offers thousands of social networks for just about any industry.
2. Use www.Twitter.com and www.Facebook.com as platforms to brand and market your company.
3. Research and contact bloggers who would be interested in your market/customer. The only thing that counts is how you can add value to their audience.
4. Use social media as an online public relations platform by announcing any relevant news.
5. Create a channel on www.Youtube.com and develop a series of videos.
6. Get involved with www.Technorati.com if you have a blog.
7. Comment on message boards and forums relevant to your industry.
8. Turn your blog into a mobile site. Make it accessible for your readers online.
9. The more ways you can spread the word of your social media efforts, the more exposure you will get. Offer RSS subscriptions.
10. There’s a chance that people on certain social networks might know one another. To make sure that you don’t offend anyone or step on anyone’s turf, make sure you are friendly, polite, and objective.
11. When you track your inbound links, contact the bloggers who mentioned your company to build relationships.
12. Never underestimate the power of video. Video interviews and podcasts are great ways to make your blog come alive.
13. Never make false claims on social networks because chances are, it will ruin your reputation.
Finally Get on TV with the Right Pitch
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s 2010 – Stop Procrastinating and Kick Your PR Plans into High Gear this Year
Getting in TV is one of the best ways of generating publicity that increases your brand awareness, your creditability as an expert, get more clients, and increases sales.
Yet, it is not easy if you don’t know how to craft a pitch that is tailored perfectly to meet the needs of the show.
Many business owners make the mistake of drafting the same pitch to various TV shows; however, that’s a no-no because no two TV shows are the same. Each pitch has to be tailored to match what the TV producers are looking for.
Furthermore, a TV pitch letter is very different from a press release. A press release generally announces news or a story that is newsworthy and it is specific toward a field. Press releases are generally sent to print publications such as magazines, newspapers, and online publications.
To draft a pitch that brings results, follow these steps:
Crush Your Competition in 2010
Posted by: | CommentsYou are probably wondering how your competitors are getting write-ups and articles in newspapers, magazines and trade journals and getting interviews on TV?
You are diligent about submitting articles and press releases to the media but nothing has been published. You ask yourself why, only to find out that you have not been submitting the right information in the right format.
1. Understand that newspapers, magazines and trade journalists are not interested in providing sales content to their readers. They are interested in providing content that is newsworthy and that is going to interest their readers. For instance, if you are located in Atlanta and you are holding a food drive for local shelters during the holidays, most likely larger city newspapers like the LA Times are not going to be interested in the story because it is not local to their readers. However, if you were to pick a nationwide angle – how hunger is rampant in the USA and how local businesses can help feed the hunger in those cities, would probably be more interested in the story. Press releases, email and telephone pitches and query letters are the ways to touch base with the media. If a journalist shuns you, don’t take offense. Most media pros are bombarded with badly written pitches from annoying and self-serving business owners or obnoxious PR people.
Interview with Prominent Skin care Expert and Make up Artist, Tayelor Kennedy
Posted by: | Comments
Kristin: Tayelor: What is your line of business? What services do you offer? Where are you located?
Tayelor: I am a make-up artist and stylist. I service, Connecticut, New York, and Boston. I offer make-up application for brides, custom eyebrow shaping, eyebrow and eyelash tinting, custom blend foundation, and, powder, make-up bag makeover, and, cosmetic and fashion personal shopping. I currently work specifically with brides, bridesmaids, and with the mother of the bride and groom. I work with my clients to choose the right gown and make-up style that really reflects her core personality.
Kristin: Tayelor, working as a solopreneur is very interesting, especially working as a makeup artist. Why don’t you tell us about how you got involved in that line of work?
Tayelor: My interest of beauty began at home. My mother was the ultimate classic beauty. She was very adamant about skin and body care. She started me on the daily and nightly ritual of, cleansing, toning and moisturizing when I was about 10. And, I would sit and watch her dress for her nights out, watching with fascination as she applied her make-up with precision, which led me to attend Christin Valmy International in NYC to become an aesthetician. There were make-up classes included but, by then I was self taught and freelancing for various cosmetic lines.
The Four Essential Elements to Your PR Toolbox
Posted by: | CommentsEver since the revolution of the Internet, more and more brands are becoming digital. To start playing with the big brands, smaller guys have to learn Internet based PR. They have to learn the right tools and tactics to stay ahead of the curve with the rest of the digital world. To be properly equipped, you are going to need the four following tools in your PR toolkit.
Search Engine Optimization – Optimizing keywords and phrases is the top key to positioning your business as one of the top rankings on Google, Yahoo, and MSN. News content, press releases and images and videos are the primary ways to move up the ranks. Plus, the better your SEO results, the more visibility and credibility your business will get. Moreover, journalists and bloggers will see you and will want to cover feature stories on you and your business.
Social Media is vital to developing a robust PR strategy. Many audiences spend time reading and are influenced by social media. Even though updating twitter, facebook and sending out press releases takes a lot of time, it is worth its weight in gold. You have the ability to connect with potential clients, while positioning yourself as an expert in your industry. Just remember, don’t try try to sell your prospects, just educate them on how you can help better their lives.
Want to fatten up your press page? Read this…
Posted by: | CommentsA solid press release gets the attention of the media. A press release could be one of the most cost effective tools any business owner can use. Press releases could be used to leverage more media attention – a feature story, an interview or a bylined article if you like to write.
Content and formatting are both imperative when it comes to a press release. You want to make it easy as possible for prospective media professionals to review and pick up your story.
Follow these points when drafting a press release:
Newsworthy content – the point of releasing a press release is to tell the world your news. It’s not self-serving or a sales pitch. The questions a press release address are: what, when, who, where and why about a person, event, service or an organization.
Use a strong headline. The headline and first sentence should provide the story with the following paragraphs providing strong details. The opening has to grab the attention of your readers.
The essential components of a press release are:
“For Immediate Release”
Contact information – Name, Organization, address, email address, web address
Learn How to Pitch the Media Correctly, without Upsetting Prospective Contacts
Posted by: | CommentsPublicity is more credible than advertising because it isn’t paid for directly by the company or person, while advertising space is. Public Relations specialists can’t control the size of a write up as much as advertisers can.
When your product, service, name, or company is in ink, it can generate great media attention, which is why billions of dollars are spent on PR every year.
When targeting specific publications, you should not send out mass emails with pitches and press releases because it is considered spamming. Each pitch needs to be tailored to meet the audience of the publication.
In email pitches and press releases, make sure the subject line is relevant because you want to make sure the email gets opened. The press release is one of the most cost efficient ways to generating publicity when you have a targeted media list. Keep the press release short and concise. Don’t use flowery and ornate language. Media professionals want news; not to read the greatest piece of literature since Tolstoy. Remember, editors/journalists have no obligation to run your story.
Make sure you press release follows the correct format. Stay tuned for next week’s lesson in formatting a press release.
Interview with Prominent Radio Show Host and Entrepreneur, Sharifah Hardie
Posted by: | Comments
Kristin: Sharifah, why don’t you give us some background information on your entrepreneurial journey?
Sharifah: I am a single mother of two and began my online experience as a way to provide for my children. After surviving several crushing disappointments including two failed marriages, being laid off six times, homelessness, the death of a close friend and the struggle to provide childcare for my children while I worked, I was determined to succeed.
Kristin: What are some of the projects you are involved with currently?
Sharifah: I am currently host of “Ask Sharifah Radio” at www.blogtalkradio.com/sharifah and the new television show, “Business Basics” going into production November 2009.
Kristin: How do you keep yourself motivated? What tricks can you give the readers of this magazine to keep themselves focused?
Sharifah: I keep myself motivated by realizing that there are a lot of business owners who need help and assistance in growing their businesses. Sometimes providing advice can be daunting but when I see the change in the attitudes of my clients, when I recognize the difference I am making it is all worth it.
