One Good Thing Continues to Lead to Another — for Rent-a-Brain Client, Column Readers, and Me!

The day got off to a great start today with glowing feedback from a variety of sources. I heard from one of my Rent-Nancy’s-PR-Brain Clients this morning, and here is what she had to say:

“I have had so much success with the work you and I did. I have 6 radio interviews lined up this week, so just go ahead and let your network know this…you are a superstar!”

– Bea Fields, President, Bea Fields Companies Inc.

Receiving feedback like this is very rewarding. Bea and I first met at the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Forum in March of this year. She was the morning keynote speaker — addressing the topic of Managing and Motivating the Net Generation — and I was one of the breakout session leaders — talking about the power of DIY publicity. We both had the benefit of hearing the other’s presentation, and we connected by email to see how we could work together. She has since applied a number of my DIY Publicity tips to her benefit. She reported today that she has six radio interviews scheduled for this week! She is really delighted with how well her speaker sheet is delivering the engagements for her. It’s all good.

And, Amy Spain, the programming director for the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau, wrote to me this morning to share glowing comments about my June 10, 2008 presentation to her audience of 50 guests. She learned about me by reading my former column in the Snohomish County Business Journal.

“Nancy Juetten is a refreshing, energetic, and knowledgeable speaker. she lends her tips for improved publicity to small business owners in a captivating way. All of our program attendees walked away with concrete ways to implement or augment their own campaigns. Very relevant information!”

And, to make things even better, another programming director for still another quality local professional organization read my Puget Sound Business Journal column from last month, offering publicity tips to be learned from American Idol. He wants to talk with me about speaking before his trade group.

Speaking at events, writing columns for prestigious business journals, and connecting in person with engaging people are all powerful ways to build buzz and invite new opportunities to be of service. These are the things I advocate that you do to build the buzz about your business. I am not kidding when I say great rewards are waiting. To lend more support to this claim, I hosted another sold-out Publici-Tea™ Half-Day Workshop last Friday, June 13. Just for fun, I asked the 13 special guests in the room how they learned about the event. Here is what my guests reported:

• Heard me speak at the Women Business Owner event last year - 1
• Heard me speak at the North Seattle Community college on June 6 - 2
• Heard me speak at the North Seattle Community college last year - 1
• Learned about me and my expertise by viewing my articles and profile at www.BizNik.com - 1
• Saw something about my products at the website for the www.chatwithwomen.com radio show - 1
• Met me at a recent meeting of the eWomenNetwork - 1
• Got acquainted as a result of a blog post that invited interest and comment -1
• Saw a meeting notice posted in the Seattle Times business calendar - 2
• Heard me speak at a teleseminar and wanted to learn more - 1
• Registered as a result of reading about the event in the Media-Savvy-to-Go ezine -1
• Came as a result of the recommendation of a prior Publici-Tea™ guest - 1

Every guest came as a result of a publicity tactic I put in place to build the buzz about the event. I didn’t buy any ads. I didn’t mail any post cards. I just “alerted the media” and my own best customers and prospects via my ezine, the blog, and beyond. People came. And they raved about their experience. Best of all, one of my guests from a prior event just invited me to host another Publici-Tea™ in Tacoma, Washington to empower her extended network of small business owners who crave more buzz for their businesses this August 15. I’ll be putting the details of that event in place shortly and will be certain to share them with you so you can benefit.

All this is to say that one good thing does lead to another. When will you jump into the DIY publicity pool with both feet? Come on in. The water is just fine.

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.

Free Publicity Saves the Day — and the Life of Daisy Mae

I am a sucker for a good dog story, and I was moved to tears when I heard the story of Daisy Mae. This pup was born with a spinal problem that made it tough for her to use her hind legs. She was abandoned and later taken in by Rescue Pup, a relief agency. A few days ago, I received a desperate email from Rescue Pup that Daily Mae needed a new home or donations to sustain her special care. The letter asked for people to alert the local media to bring Daisy Mae’s plight to greater attention.

When you ask, you get. KOMO TV 4 did a news feature about Daisy Mae that aired the other night. Today, I received a letter with much better news.

“Hi everyone. I wanted to say thank you to all of you for writing in to the TV stations with our plea. It worked! Daisy was on Channel 4 as most of you know, and we had an amazing response. Daisy met a wonderful family today…..has two families meeting her tomorrow….and two more on Sat. Then we move on to the next 15 who would LOVE to adopt her! I just knew if we could just get her on TV the public would respond…..and they did. I am so thrilled for her. Daisy will finally get the loving family she so deserves. She is such a “people” dog that she so needs that one on one attention. A sanctuary (though they are a great resource) just wasn’t a good fit for her. In her new family, her spirit will thrive. I will update everyone when her new family is chosen. What a great problem to have — so many families who would adore to adopt her. When I went over to be with her tonight, I told her all about what’s in store for her soon. Every night when I tucked her in bed it broke my heart. It was a long and exhausting five months while she was being boarded, but I would do it again in a heart beat. She was a champ and hung in there. So with a sad heart that we will so miss her. My heart is full that Daisy will finally have that family who will spoil her and give her all she so deserves. Thanks to all of you and all your support.”

Now, I am reaching for the Kleenex for happy tears. A good dog story with a happy ending will do that for me every time. And free publicity is the hero in this case, along with the many generous, loving families who have stepped up to the plate to invite Daisy Mae into their homes.  Love that.

Trying to Retire in Turbulent Times? This Story Started with a Quick and Compelling Reply to a Media Lead

You never know when your comments will travel from one media venue to another to reach a huge audience of potential clients. Certified Financial Planner professional Steve Juetten woke up to a treat this morning when his comments about how to retire in turbulent times were featured on MSN Money.
A few weeks ago, he responded to a media lead from a reporter from BankRate.com seeking experts to speak on this topic. Since Steve read the book on the importance of responding to reporters in a timely, compelling, and helpful manner — and he happens to be married to the author — he jumped at the opportunity to be of service. Juetten’s comments ran prominently within the BankRate.com story.

That the story was picked up by MSN Money today was a huge bonus to building the buzz about his reputation and expertise among the many readers of this authoritative site, offering proof that one good thing can lead to another. Those online story links at MSN Money and BankRate.com will reside online indefinitely, making it that much easier for potential clients to learn about Juetten’s philosophies when they search for his name or expertise online. That will, no doubt, help many make the decision to engage Juetten as their Certified Financial Planner.

Are you having similar do-it-yourself publicity success? If so, please share your stories with me here at www.mainstreetmediasavvy.com. This blog enjoys wide readership, and you never know how far and beyond your successes can travel when the right people have access to your good news.

The Power of the Ask Delivers the Interview and the Article for Two DIY Publicists

Midori Yoshikawa is an award-winning interior designer who is serious about getting known. Just the other day, while attending a lunch event, she found herself seated next to Paul Casey, the host of the Small Business Innovators radio show that airs on Alternative Talk Radio. During the course of the event, the two of them got to talking, and Midori asked for the opportunity to contribute to his show. The end result is that Midori will be interviewed on April 13 during the 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. hours. She asked. She got. It’s a beautiful thing.

Anna Choi of Inside Out Investing and I connected briefly at the recent meeting of eWomenNetwork, and I mentioned that the Puget Sound Business Journal was planning a banking/investment/finance special section for April 25. I asked her if she had some compelling ideas that could add value to that special section as a means of bringing her values-based investment philosophies to an audience of business decision makers.

Over the course of a couple of emails, I invited her to review the “How to Pitch an Article the Media Can’t Resist”  special report she received in her Media-Savvy-to-Go Publicity Toolkit to refresh her memory about how to write a good article pitch. (This report is also available on an a la carte basis for just $10 and offers my proven approach to earning the “yes” to article pitches.) She did that and emailed a compelling pitch to Steve Goldsmith, the special sections editor. The result? She has been asked to write a contributed article based on her most compelling pitch.

The lesson here is that if you ask for what you want, you just might get what you ask for. This begs the question: What kind of local publicity do you want, and are you ready to ask for it? Great rewards are waiting. Just ask DIY Publicists Midori and Anna. This they know for sure.

Ready to Bring Your DIY Publicity Know-How Up to Speed in Short Order at Sale Prices that Expire 3-31-08?

Getting your story told in the media is one of the most efficient, high impact, and affordable ways you can attract new clients and be of greater service. And, once you see your name in print or online or hear your voice on the radio, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner. It’s just great fun. That said, this is just a quick reminder to jump on the Media-Savvy-to-Go Anniversary Sale now before prices go up on April 1. This useful e-guide makes it easy for you to enjoy more local publicity success with greater ease. There are plenty of worksheets, press release and pitch letter examples, and useful resources to help you get your media relations efforts ready to share with the media in your own backyard and beyond. The special report titled “How to Pitch an Article the Media Can’t Resist” will show you how to do exactly that. And the audio files and other tips booklets and special bonuses bring your publicity know-how up to speed in short order. People rave about it. And, if the whole kit is too much to take on right now, buy the Media-Savvy-to-Go Tips Booklets. This could be the best $7 you spend to catapult your business from the darkness to the media spotlight this year.

Shauna Brennan, founder of My Day Office, earned a front page story in the business section of the Seattle Post Intelligencer by following tips within the Media-Savvy-to-Go booklets. She said, “Talk about return on investment. It was a little bit of work, but so what! In less time than it would have taken to explain it to someone else, I was able to do it myself. That is the true beauty of it. I take these booklets with me everywhere I go. I use them as a checklist. They are small and convenient and fit easily in a briefcase or daytimer. I plan to share them with my customers to support their success.”

Publici-Tea™ Guest Earns Valentine’s Day Article Placement in the Bellevue Reporter

Award Winning Interior Designer Midori Yoshikawa attended a recent Publici-Tea™ half-day training event, and it really stirred up her enthusiasm to earn the ink for her interior design business that is based in Bellevue, WA. She collaborated with a writer to create an article about designing with love in mind, and she set her intention to earn a placement in a local newspaper to bring attention to her timely design tips and suggestions. The good news is that Midori’s article will appear in the February 14 edition of her hometown newspaper — the Bellevue Reporter. She is thrilled. This local newspaper is delivered to every household in this upscale community, and residents have the discretion and interest to engage interior design services. Chances are, Midori will enjoy new inquiries and earn new engagements as a result of this hometown media placement. And, she will have earned ‘published author’ status as well as a media clip she can use to serve future clients.

What intentions have you set to earn publicity for your growing business? And, more importantly, what actions have you taken to bring your intentions to print or broadcast? If you are ready to get into the media relations game, consider attending one of the upcoming Publici-Tea™ half-day training events. The next one is March 14, and you can see all the dates and read all the glowing testimonials at this link. I’d be honored to meet you and inspire you to enjoy more local publicity success with greater ease.

The Today Show Delivers a Perfect Fee-Only Financial Planning Prospect the Day After Christmas

The Today Show delivered a 27-year-old, Bothell, Washington-based financial planning service seeker to Steve Juetten’s fee-only financial planning practice a day following the national broadcast about last minute holiday gifts that make great financial sense.

This brings up a timely question to ponder.  How many leads do you need to consider your attempts at free publicity a success?  If one lead turns into a perfect engagement, chances are that many similarly perfect engagements will follow.  After all, perfect customers are likely to enjoy a fabulous experience with the right service providers and be compelled to talk about their experiences among friends, co-workers, and co-collaborators.

And, when you consider that the only thing at stake to earn the free publicity in the first place was less than two hours to write a press release, post it to www.theopenpress.com, and blog about it here, I’d say that Steve Juetten was a winner from the start.  (By the way, you can post your press releases for free at www.theopenpress.com.  Visit the site to learn more and see how easy it is.)

Steve is clear about the value he offers so he can attract more of the right clients to engage his fee-only financial planning services.  Those are exactly the right clients he wants to show up so he can make the difference he can make through his services.

I like to say that a perfect engagement can lead to happily ever after for those business owners who are clear about the kind of partnerships they seek.   Steve has that clarity.  His new 27-year-old prospect wants what Steve has to offer.   It’s a beautiful thing, thanks to the power of free publicity.   I can’t wait to hear that additional clients have found their way to Juetten Personal Financial Planning LLC, thanks to The Today Show and other means that bring the right clients to his door.

Small Talk Expertise Turns into Big Ink - Here’s How

Congratulations to Melissa Wadsworth for earning big ink in the Sunday edition of the Lifestyle section of the Seattle Times for her small talk expertise. The “How to shoot the breeze with ease” interview with columnist Pamela Sit was well timed for all the holiday parties now in progress. Here is the link so you can learn some timely tips right now.

I asked Melissa how this story came about, and here is what she said:

“Actually, this was a gift from the media gods. The reporter just called me out of the blue and said she had been looking at my website and would I do an interview about small talk for holiday gatherings. Of course, my experience with knowing what to do when the media calls you kicked into place. She gave me five days notice. That give me time to organize some thoughts and stories around the topic. When she asked for two high res head shots after the interview, I had those to send her, which I did immediately. I also followed up by passing along the notes I had made for the interview. That way, if she didn’t get what she had out of the actual interview, there was more information she could choose from. She actually used one of the points from these notes. After the article came out, I sent her a another thank you note, expressing what a wonderful writer she was. That’s it.”

To go one step beyond, I suggested she connect with the reporter to share her website after the fact to make it easy to refer readers to it to make their “Small Talk Savvy” books since that site wasn’t mentioned in the article. As luck would have it, the website offer came in perfect timing to respond to a reader request that can in moments before.

If you need help with small talk savvy, Melissa’s book can show you the way. Here is a link to learn more.

What expertise do you offer that is perfectly timed for right now? I’ll be giving a talk to the Seattle Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers in January. They sure have timely expertise to share to help folks get a jump start on being better organized in the New Year. What a timely idea that has legs to run. And, believe it or not, Valentines Day is just around the corner, and reporters with retail stories to tell in January want to hear the latest timely, newsworthy, and relevant ideas and trends to lend impact to their January reporting, just in time for the season of love. There is no time like the present than now to start pitching — and earning the big ink. Are you game? Have fun, and keep me posted on your success.

Fabulous Resources to Empower Free Publicity Success

It’s that time of year when business owners are looking to the New Year with high hopes about how things will be so much better with much more ease. If you are in that boat, this blog post is for you.

Here is a quick list of some of the fabulous resources I rely upon to earn publicity for my clients. Consider them for your do-it-yourself (DIY) publicity efforts. At the very least, subscribe to their free ezines and/or visit their blogs to sample their offerings to be convinced of their value. You have much to gain and nothing to lose.

PR Leads - Active Media Leads Direct to Your Inbox
Publicity Hound - Fabulous, Useful Publicity Tips and Advice
Get on Oprah with Susan Harrow’s Help
Gift List Media - Holiday Gift Guide Leads
Press Kit 24/7 - Need I Say More?
Plan Your Marketing Road Trip to Success
Create Tips Booklets and Make Money
Get Known Now with Suzanne Falter-Barns

While you are at it, consider launching an ezine of your own. I use www.constantcontact.com to send my ezines, and I have been very satisfied with the ease and reliability of this service.

2008 is going to be great. Just be sure to take advantage of the great and often free resources that are available to bring about more publicity success with greater ease.