Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Olympic Hot Tub Company Co-Founder Alice Cunningham recalled a heart-warming story from Father’s Day weekend that offers proof positive that good things come to those who wait — for customer and retailer alike.

The wife of a deserving dad heard Alice’s radio commercial and asked her mother-in-law if she should get her husband a hot tub for Father’s Day, and she agreed. The couple had shopped at Olympic Hot Tub Company 12 years ago before they built their house and ran out of money. Then kids came along. To make this a very special Father’s Day present, they told him that his gift present was at the end of the map. They got in the car.  He followed all sorts of clues, driving around town until they pulled into the Olympic Hot Tub Company parking lot in Issaquah, WA. The wife said, “Congratulations! You found it. Now we’re going in and buying the hot tub.”  And so they did.

There are a few lessons here.

• Not everyone buys the first time they hear your message.

• Be consistent in sharing your message.

• Offer compelling reasons to buy that are well timed for gift giving occasions like Father’s Day.

• Develop a brand personality that helps customers and prospects choose your company above all others.

• Make your product or service relevant and welcome in the best and the worst of times — and ride on trends gathering speed as you share your story. Now that people are “stay cationing” instead of “vacationing” because of the high cost of gasoline and just about everything else, the timing has never been better to take it easy in your own backyard.

Business is booming at Olympic Hot Tub Company.  And at least one deserving dad who visited the Issaquah showroom last weekend is soaking happily having waited 12 years for his hot tub dream to come true.  Good things come to those who wait.

Here is a Working Link to Help You Sign Up for the “Get Known as an Expert” Teleseminar

The link I shared in an earlier post didn’t work. Here is the correct link to make it easy for you to learn 15 proven ways to get known as an expert in your field through the power of free publicity at noon (PST) on June 26, 2008. Apologies for the error. Sign up now to secure your place. “See” you on the call!

Upcoming DIY Publicity Events to Empower YOUR Success This Summer. Act Now To Reserve Your Place.

In Seattle, we’ve been enduring “Junuary” — which is that time of year when the Universe can’t quite decide that summer has arrived. But something shifted yesterday, and the weather was warm, bright and glorious. Hurray. Now that the dog days of summer are almost here, why not make plans to get your DIY publicity machine in good order.

One of the most essential elements of your DIY publicity toolkit is your online press room, including your bio. If yours is boring, non-existent, or lost in cyberspace, make the commitment now to address that. After all, when the media come to call and ask for your photo, bio, and other background information to learn more about you and your company, it’s just plain awkward to say that you haven’t yet gotten around to it. Let me ease that pain for you this summer.

No More Boring Bios!

I’ll be teaching three Winning Bio Writing Workshops this summer. Each session is limited to five business owners so I can provide plenty of personal attention. We’ll cover the importance of an online press kit, and you’ll leave the session with a business building website bio that will make you beam with pride and make it easier than ever to attract more of the right clients with greater ease. I’ll listen carefully to your story and do just about all the heavy lifting with the pen for you. Prior event guests have marveled at my ability to get to the essence of what makes them special in the marketplace. Many have struggled for years to get to the point that would matter most to their customers and the media. Let me make it easy for you. The upcoming dates are June 27, July 25, and August 29. Sign up today.

And, I’ll be collaborating with Stacy Karacastas — the Marketing Junkie herself — to present a teleseminar about how to get known as the expert in your field on Thursday, June 26 during the noon hour (PST). I’ll talk about the 15 ways you can get known as an expert in your field. I’ll share real examples of how these methods have paid off for my clients and for me. And, I’ll make it so easy for you to get started and realize results that you’ll wonder why you waited so long! You won’t want to miss this! Here is the link to make it easy to sign up. “See” you on the call!

New Audio File Makes It Easy to Pick the Low Hanging Media Fruit to Create a Fabulous Local Publicity Basket

If you missed Friday’s publicity presentation at the North Seattle Community College Network Breakfast, I’ve got great news for you. You can still learn how to pick the low hanging media fruit to create a fabulous local publicity basket, and you can do it with the convenience of never having to leave your office. You can listen to the audio file, read the written transcript, and get all the benefits of the great information right now.

Programming Director Hendricka Benjamins said, “Last Friday’s presentation was GREAT! Everyone went home with useful, practical tips they could immediately put to use. I like how you empower your audience and make every person feel like they can be more media savvy.” The audience comments about the presentation were equally positive.

When you listen, you will learn:

• What kinds of stories are likely to earn the ink for the small retail feature in the Seattle Post Intelligencer
• How to get “Your First Job” highlighted in the Job Market section of the Seattle Times
• What to say and who to call at the Puget Sound Business Journal to earn a bylined article to bring your expertise to the attention of business decision makers who can’t wait to benefit from the wisdom of your sage advice
• Easy ways to promote your business events to earn media attention and invite “more butts in the seats”
• And so much more.

If you want to build the buzz in the Puget Sound region about your business, you will do yourself a fabulous favor by availing yourself to this engaging, empowering, and information-packed Audio Presentation #6 today so you can apply the pitching tips to your immediate do-it-yourself publicity advantage. Here is a link to make it easy to learn more and buy Audio Presentation #6 now.

Why wait another minute when you can start picking the low hanging media fruit to create a fabulous local publicity basket for your growing business? I can’t wait to receive your order so you can be empowered to help yourself earn the publicity your company deserves sooner versus later.

BankRate.com Reporter Comes Calling Again, Resulting in Big Ink for This CFP™

My husband Steve Juetten, a Certified Financial Planner™, was delighted to get interviewed for a story on www.bankrate.com a while back. It turns out the reporter thought highly of his expertise and commentary because she called a second time to enlist Juetten’s commentary about another timely topic that is giving folks a run for their retirement accounts. When she called, she asked for an appointment. He said, “I know your time is valuable and deadlines are always looming. Would now be a good time for you?” What a wise question to ask. The reporter was thrilled to earn Juetten’s immediate attention, and the result of that conversation is a second story that you can read at this link.

Juetten’s commitment to be of service to the reporter, honor her time commitments, and provide stellar input for her story on the spot made her job of reporting much easier. Now, people everywhere who are raiding their retirement accounts to cope with today’s economic woes can benefit from Juetten’s sage advice, thanks to the fabulous reach of this article on www.bankrate.com.

One good media placement can lead to another when you treat each conversation like a relationship you have the intention to build over time. Juetten’s “ink” on www.bankrate.com is proof positive of that. Now, with media momentum on Juetten’s side, perhaps coverage on MSN Money will soon follow. It has happened before, and I believe it can happen again.

Publici-Tea™ in Seattle Anyone? Plus, One Spot Remains Open for June 13 Event. Claim It as Your Own!

I’ve been hosting these popular Publici-Tea™ Half-Day Workshops in Bellevue for seven months, and I am curious if folks would be happy to have me host events in Seattle. I’d be happy to bring the Publici-Tea™ to Seattle if there is enough interest among buzz seeking business owners who have learned to trust this blog for all things do-it-yourself publicity related. Can you chime in with a comment to the blog or send an email my way at nancy@nsjmktg.com to share your interest in enjoying Publici-Tea™ and do-it-yourself publicity conversation over tea and Seattle Chocolates at a location on the other side of the I-90 bridge? I’d sure appreciate it.

By the way, there was a capacity crowd at the North Seattle Community College Network Breakfast last Friday as I shared my “How to Pick the Low Hanging Media Fruit to Create a Fabulous Local Publicity Basket” presentation. This was just the content small business owners in attendance were hungry to receive. And, the better news for you is that I captured the presentation on audio file and will be making available for your purchase very shortly. Stay tuned as you won’t want to miss out on this very practical, actionable information to catapult your story from darkness to the spotlight in short order.

Finally, I have one spot left for the June 13 Publici-Tea™ taking place at The Village Bellevue from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Claim this final spot for your own by registering at this link right now!

Just Five Spots Remain for the June 13 Publici-Tea™ Workshop. Does One of Them Have Your Name On It?

Every Publici-Tea™ Half-Day Workshop has earned guest raves of satisfaction, and that brings me great joy while empowering my guests to earn their own winning publicity on a do-it-yourself basis.

I am aiming for another sold out event for Friday, June 13 at The Village Bellevue from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. There are just five spaces left. Check your calendar and see if you can make it a priority to invest time and attention to learn how to invite media attention to shine on your growing business.

During the event, I cover DIY publicity, including blogging and social networking basics. And, blogging expert Betsy Talbot is my special guest this time.  She will dig into the details about blogging as a powerful relationship and buzz building tool that you can deploy to your benefit.

Plus, I’ve compiled quite an extensive list of frequently asked publicity questions over the last six months of Publici-Tea™ Half-Day Workshops, and this special report is a new element of the event that offers even more value in exchange for your investment of time and money.

Read the glowing testimonials and register at this link to assure your place.   The June 13 event is the last Publici-Tea™ Half-Day Workshop on the calendar until September 12. Get inspired about do-it-yourself publicity before the dog days of summer set in. You’ll be glad that you did, and I can’t wait to meet you.

If Yours Was Among 800 Email Pitches Received in a Given Day, Would Yours Stand Out?

Doesn’t that question stop you right in your tracks. It sure gives me pause.

While enjoying lunch yesterday at a rare visit to Whole Foods Market in Bellevue, I received what seemed like divine inspiration to write a pitch on behalf of one of my clients. I raced home, put fingers to the keyboard, and composed a sassy pitch that was targeted very specifically to an influential reporter with a weekly column that earns plenty of readership. Within minutes, this reporter replied with her interest in interviewing my client. It was magic.

While I had the reporter on the phone, I took the opportunity to mention another pitch that I thought would be on target. I could sense the reporter wasn’t listening, so I paused and said, “Would it be better for me to put this in an email so you can consider it more carefully when the timing is even better?” She answered “Yes.” And then she said she gets 800 emails a day. 800 emails a day! That she responded in record time to the first pitch with a “yes” was a powerful demonstration that a sassy, specific pitch is always the right way to proceed.

If your email pitches have “blah, blah, blah” boring subject lines and boilerplate messages, you don’t stand a chance of capturing interest and inviting interviews, especially when yours is among 800 pitches waiting in line to earn consideration. So before you hit “send” on that pitch you are working on, put it through your own “blah, blah, blah” filter and see if you can go deeper to get to the heart of why anyone should care and why your news matters in a manner that is beyond boilerplate on every score. Otherwise, sit out and wait until you can. Reporters everywhere will thank you.  Best of all, your pitch will stand a much better chance of being among the few pitches that escape the wrath of the “delete” key and earn serious editorial consideration.

Want to Pick the Low Hanging Fruit and Create a Fabulous Local Publicity Basket? Meet Me Friday, June 6

Who you call to spread your news matters as much as the news itself when do-it-yourself publicity is the task at hand. I speak at the North Seattle Community College Network Breakfast this Friday, June 6 about how to pick the low hanging media fruit to create a fabulous local publicity basket. I’ll share some of the names and contact information for media contacts I value when earning “ink and air” for my clients is the essential task at hand. Visit this link to register, bring plenty of business cards, and don’t forget a pad to take notes. And, while you are there, you can take a closer look at the Media-Savvy-to-Go Publicity Toolkit, Media-Savvy-to-Go Tips Booklets, read about the June 13 Publici-Tea™, and treat yourself to these tools and the well reviewed half-day event to propel your own story forward. I’ll be offering the toolkit for sale at this event at a special, event-guest only low price, and I’ll offer tips booklets to at least one lucky event guest.

And, while you are planning your events for this Friday, June 6, why not make a day of it and attend the eWomenNetwork event in Everett to hear Olympic Hot Tub Company Co-Founder Alice Cunningham share essential lessons learned over 31 years of business success to catapult your own success forward? I read her speech yesterday, and it is fabulous. Come on along. Join in the fun and inspiration. Register today. It’s going to be great. Of that, I have no doubt.  I just finalized my own event registration moments ago.  See you soon, either at the North Seattle Community College Network Breakfast or the Everett luncheon meeting of the eWomenNetwork.

Story in Bellevue Reporter Compels Me to Bark about the New Wash Spot for Dogs

So often, I write about how you can pitch your story to the local media and earn the ink to grow your business. Today, I am writing to share how something I read in the Bellevue Reporter compelled me to act, buy, and support a new local business in town. There is a new dog wash in town, located conveniently at Marymoor Park in Redmond. This park offers a popular off-leash dog park for canine companions of every variety. Just like a car wash, you guide your pet into the Wash Spot stalls, pay conveniently by credit card, and then bring on the bubbles and the blow dry — all for just $8.75 for the express wash.

After playing in the water and rolling in the mud, my golden retriever Shadow was a perfect candidate for this experience. I put on the apron provided, rolled up my sleeves, and washed my dog. Everyone left happy and clean. I’ve read that more people in Seattle own pets than have kids. If that is the case, business at the Wash Spot should soon be booming with your local support. If you live in the Seattle/Bellevue area, make plans now to romp around with your dog at Marymoor Park soon. Splash in plenty of mud puddles. And don’t leave without first washing your dog.  And, if you have a local business story that your community would find of interest, why not make today the day to make your pitch?  If you want to connect with the Bellevue Reporter, Craig Groshart is the editor, and his email address is craig.groshart@reporternewspapers.com.