I’ve Been Tagged by Zita Gustin - What I am Reading Now…

I am pretty new to blogging, but I sure see the value in it. Thousands of people visit this site every month, and I am committed to delivering value to keep you all coming back. It’s also pretty fun to build community this way, so tonight, I am just going with the flow. I just got “tagged” by Zita Gustin, the Savvy Networker.

The Rules of the Game:

1. Provide a list of the books you’re currently reading.
2. Pick up the nearest book, and open it to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence, and post the next three sentences.
4. Tag 3-5 more people by posting comments on their blogs.
5. Link back to the person who tagged you. (It’s nice to leave them a comment, too!)

Like millions of other Oprah book club members, I am reading Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth — Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.” Starting on page 123, here is the fifth sentence and the three to follow:

“Cooperation is alien to the ego, except when there is a secondary motive. The ego doesn’t know that the more you include others, the more smoothly things flow and the more easily things come to you. When you give little or no help to others or put obstacles in their path, the universe — in the form of people and circumstances — gives little or no help to you because you have cut yourself off from the whole.”

I am just amazed by the power of these words as they relate to networking, media relations, and just about everything else in life. So, now — I am tagging a few people I trust, like and respect so they can get in the game, too.

Kristen Marie Schuerlein, Affirmagy - You must check out her new limited edition line of Affirmawraps!

Susan Harrow, PR Secrets - She wrote the book on how to earn Oprah’s attention, and who among buzz seeking business owners isn’t interested in that?

Michelle Price, A Third Mind - She was the voice of reason who got me started in blogging in the first place. Thank you Michelle!

Joan Stewart, Publicity Hound- A definitive and highly useful, “always tells it like it is” resource on free publicity

Suzanne Falter-Barnes, Get Known Now - A branding coach who helped me figure out my unique selling proposition so I could take my “get seen, heard, and celebrated…” message to cyberspace and beyond and grow my business in powerful ways. And she also pushed me toward blogging to realize even greater possibilities. Thank you Suzanne.

So, there. I got into the game. Good for me. Tag!

The Next Press Kit Writing Workshop is May 30. Join in and Get Your Bio Created at Long Last

Thanks to a great idea from Publici-Tea™ guest Margit Crane of Rock the World Coaching, I created a press kit writing workshop that I took out for a couple of winning spins. Based on the great feedback I received from those bold enough to try a brand new program, I have officially launched the press kit writing workshop. The next event is Friday, May 30 at my lovely Bellevue, WA home. You can read all about it — including the fabulous testimonials — and register at this link. There is room for just five business owners to allow for plenty of personal attention, so jump into action now if getting your bio created at long last is something you would like to take off of your to-do list.

And, speaking of Margit Crane, she just earned some good ink in the Seattle Post Intelligencer. I asked Margit how this coverage came about. She said she wrote a comment on Paul Nyhan’s Working Dad blog. It just so happened that one of Margit’s friends is the reporter’s neighbor, so she mentioned to him that Margit would be a good source of commentary on comments related to dealing effectively with teens. The next thing she knew, Margit and Paul were having a conversation that resulted in Margit being quoted in the paper for her expertise. One comment on a reporter’s blog can deliver great dividends. Why not give it a try to see how your expertise can lend perspective to a reporter blog in your community? You have little to lose and much to gain. And if you need to get your bio in order before you start contacting reporters, check out the press kit writing workshop. The last two events sold out within hours, to act now and register.

Mompreneur Profile Brings New Readers to the Blog. Want to Enjoy Similar Results for Your Business?

I don’t just offer free publicity tips. I follow my own advice.

One of the things I want to do is bring more small business owners to this blog to benefit from the information, tips, and resources I share. A few months ago, I submitted my “Mompreneur” story to MomtobeDepot.com for editorial consideration, and the editors featured it earlier this month.

If you are a “mompreneur” with a sassy story to share about how and why you started your business, why not submit your story for consideration? It could take a few months for your story to rise to the top of the stack, but the wait is well worth it when you consider the new people who will flock to your website or blog to learn more about you and how you serve others.

Besides, this is a fun site, especially for those with moms-to-be in their lives. In fact, one of my clients — Seattle Chocolate Company — is featured within the Mother’s Day Gift Guide. Hurray to ProfNet.com for alerting me to this media opportunity that has delivered ink to my client and will likely be responsible for the delivery of premium Seattle Chocolates to appreciative moms everywhere.

Seattle Times Makes Big Cuts in Editorial Staff

These times in the local media, they are a changing. The Seattle Times is making a number of substantial staff cuts that will most certainly make it tougher for DIY publicists to earn the ink. Here is a link to offer some of the details. Here is a link to the blog for the newspaper guild with even more details.

Take Time to Just “Be” - Alice Cunningham Says

It’s a joy to work with so many inspired business people who have so much to teach me and others about what it takes to earn success in business. Alice Cunningham, co-owner of Olympic Hot Tub Company, knows a thing or two about how be successful in business and in life after 31 years of launching and growing her company into an award-winning retailer that makes it easy for others to take it easy in their own backyards.

One of the big ideas she advocates is allowing yourself time to just “be.” So often, we get into multi-tasking mode as we all strive to make miracles happen in our businesses. Just the simple act of walking away to be in nature, tend to the flowers in the garden, or soak in the hot tub can provide moments of fabulous inspiration. Alice says it is when we are relaxed that we get our best ideas. Give yourself permission to just “be” and see what magic manifests for your business and life. You have little to lose and so much to gain.

Just Two Spots Left for April 18 Publici-Tea™ - Does One of Them Have YOUR Name on It?

Folks continue to rave about the Publici-Tea™ Half Day Training Events Here is one powerful example:

“Nancy’s knowledge and enthusiasm for advising the small business owner are limitless! I left the seminar with a concrete, 5-step plan I could immediately implement for our company to be seen, heard and celebrated in the media. I’m excited about the synergy developed with the other participants and look forward to participating in this energizing “think tank” again soon!”

Laurie Lamoureux,Chief Box Opener, Out of the Box Unpacking Service, www.WeKnowWhereToStart.com

If Spring is the perfect time to get into DIY publicity action to build the buzz about your business, check out the site and claim one of the remaining two spaces for the April 18 event as your own. I look forward to working with you and supporting your success.

The Power of the Written Word Gets Support from WordWise.com

Tips on how to write better always catch my attention. WordWise was created to offer writing tips for public relations professionals – and for people everywhere and is written by Dan Santow, a former journalist who now works for one of the largest private PR firms, Edleman. In his words, “The tips, which are about grammar, usage and style, have a dual purpose – to remind my colleagues in public relations of the power of the written word (I’m lucky to work for a company that not only prizes, but expects, expert communications skills), and — more generally — to support and perpetuate clear, concise, creative, honest, lively, stylish, compelling writing everywhere.” Enough said!

Thanks to Sharon Baker for sharing still another great tip to support DIY pubilcity success.

More DIY Publicity Tips from Sharon Baker

If you’re looking for an even more in-depth analysis of national magazines, check out Mediapost’s Magazine . While somewhat snarky, writers offer great insight on the state of certain national publications and how they’ve changed and previews new editions to the nation’s news rack. A must read for developing pitches aimed at publications they have reviewed.

Sharon Baker Chimes in With More DIY Publicity Tips to Guide Your Success

Anyone who wants to know what journalists are thinking, what they are worried about or how they are working toward delivering the news in the future should regularly read www.Poynter.org. Their tag line is very appropriate “Everything you need to be a Better Journalist.” The Poynter Institute is a school for journalists, future journalists, and teachers of journalists, according to the site. Jonathan Dube, who regularly posts Web Tips has a great one today that Do-It-Yourselfers will find very useful. It’s posted here: http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=32&aid=138326

Here’s the first part of what Jonathan wrote:

“Earlier this month, CNN launched a new site dedicated to user-generated content that is unmoderated — basically, a news version of YouTube. The site, currently in “beta” or test mode, can be viewed at iReport.com.

Since August 2006, CNN has been featuring audience submitted photos and video on CNN and CNN.com under the “iReport” brand — but only material carefully vetted by its journalists. The network has received nearly 100,000 news-related photos and videos from viewers, but only published or aired about 10 per cent. Now, all of those submissions, and everything submitted going forward, can be viewed at iReport.com.”

Do-It-Yourself Publicity Seekers should read the rest of the post, check out the site and get cracking on creating their own newsworthy content with an eye towards publishing it on iReport.com.

Fun Headlines Help Build the Buzz for PositivelyFundraising.com

Kristen Marie Schuerlein, founder of Affirmagy, continues to find new ways to inspire people through the power of words. Her latest venture — Positively Fundraising — makes it easy for youth groups to raise funds for causes close to their hearts.

As we discussed all the different angles to highlight in connection with this launch, I did my own little jump for joy at the prospect of supporting kids without having to buy a pantry full of sugary snacks. I know a bit about this since I have a ten-year-old son who has asked me to buy cookie dough on more than one occasion.

We had some fun creating headlines that got to the meat of this matter. Two of the favorites are:

Parents everywhere delight in buying a new product for youth group fund raisers that warms hearts without widening waists.

Parents everywhere delight in buying a new product for youth group fund raisers that isn’t cause for more cookie dough.

We were having fun finding a way to ease pain among parents and still deliver a compelling and memorable message. Word is spreading fast, and hopes are high that hundreds of youth groups across the nation will flock to PositivelyFundraising.com to launch their most successful fundraisers ever with the power of words leading the way. Read the press release at this link.