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Become a Star: 10 Do-It-Yourself Publicity Techniques to Build Buzz for Your Online Business
Copyright 2005 Cherry Communications/Be Heard Solutions
Public relations is popular because it is very
cost-effective and it works. If you send out one press
release, for example, and it gets into print, it could
generate more interest in your product or service.
Businesses that want a leg up on their competition need to
focus on boosting their public relations (PR) efforts. This
is especially important for online businesses. It keeps
them from going under when the economy is weak, and gets
them ahead of their competitors when sales start picking
up.
Now is the perfect time to get a fresh start on publicity
strategies for your online business.
Here's ten tips using free publicity to kick-start an
internet business into high gear:
1. Write articles: Articles don't have to be long; they
just need to be informative. Writing articles gives you
instant credibility, too. Submitting online, as well as
offline, provides another good chance to get your name in
print at no cost. Be sure to put your contact information
in a contact resource box at the end of the article.
2. Write press releases: Reporters everywhere are looking
for stories, and a press release gives them the information
to write that story. Just make sure its newsworthy, not
just an advertisement.
3. Develop newsletters: Writing a newsletter is another way
to keep your name top-of-mind. This can be online or
offline. Both contain content valuable to your target
market and many times advertise your products and services.
The cost of this is nothing, yet the return potential is
infinite.
4. Use your business cards: Think of your business card as
a small billboard and start handing them out everywhere.
Include them in all your correspondence even in your
bills!
5. Start speaking: Speaking in front of an audience usually
makes you an expert. People like to buy from experts. If
they're in your audience, then they'll remember your
expertise and come to you when they need your product or
service. Speaking is free, and it's just like making a
sales call to many people at one time.
6. Offer free reports: Offering a free report online is a
good way to get an e-mail from prospects so you may market
to them later. This is the whole basis of permission-based
marketing, or opt-in lists. You can do the same thing
offline.
7. Get on the radio: Radio is expensive, you say? Not if
you are being interviewed or calling in on a talk show.
Getting interviewed is free, except for your continual
follow-up with producers. Calling in is free, but sometimes
it's hard to relay contact information.
8. Participate in online forums: There are many online
newsgroups or forums for a particular subject area.
Participating in these is another way to get your name out.
Many online forums will let you put an e-mail signature
with a link to your site or message with another site
linked. Take full advantage of this; these links get
clicked often when of interest to the forum participants.
9. Build strategic alliances: Introduce yourself to other
businesspeople who don't compete with you but sell products
or services to the same target audience. Offer to promote
them if they promote you. Make sure they're people you like
and trust.
10. Compose letters to the editor: Many times a letter to
the editor has a better chance of getting published than
the actual press release. You'd be surprised how many
people read this column in publications. This is also
another way to become friends with the editor. If they see
you enough and match you with a newsworthy press release,
then your chances of getting a press release in print
increases.
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Shannon Cherry, APR, MA helps businesses, entrepreneurs and
nonprofit organizations to be heard. Shes a marketing
communications and public relations expert with more than
15 years experience and the owner of Cherry Communications.
Subscribe today for Be Heard! a FREE biweekly ezine and get
the FREE special report: "Get Set For Success: Creative,
Low-Cost Marketing Tips to Help You be Heard." Go to:
http://www.cherrycommunications.com/FreeReport.htm
More articles by Shannon Cherry - http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Shannon-Cherry-304/
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