Listen to “Chat with Women” Radio Show Today at 8 a.m. for Local and National Publicity Tips from Me and Susan Harrow

If you are near your radio this morning at the 8 o-clock hour (PST) in Seattle, tune in to the Chat with Women Radio Show.  “Get Booked on Oprah” expert Susan Harrow and I will be on the show, offering useful tips to help you earn local and national publicity on a do-it-yourself basis.

Given how the economy is giving everyone a run for the money, there has never been a better time to roll up your sleeves and learn how to get seen, heard, and celebrated for your winning ways with the media carrying your story forward with impact and efficiency.  We are promoting two events we are hosting on October 17 at the Mercer Island Community Center, located conveniently at 8236 SE 24th St., Mercer Island, WA 98040-2235.

The first event takes place from 9 - 11 a.m. and puts Susan in the spotlight, sharing essential tips to earn Oprah’s attention.  The second event takes place from 12:30 - 5 p.m. and offers equal focus on how to earn local AND national publicity.  Visit this link and scroll to the center of the page to read about the VIP event.   Learn about and register for the second event at this link.

By the way, I was able to earn some big TV time for that nationally recognized expert I blogged about the other day.  KOMO TV 4 News came out to the “Stay Healthy. Live Young” event on behalf of Highline Medical Center’s ongoing 50th anniversary celebration and did that exclusive interview I was angling for with Dr. Mehmet Oz.  This was among the top ten most popular stories on the news, according to the KOMO 4 news website. Sometimes, you just don’t get confirmation of your interviews until the 11th hour — even when dealing with someone with the extrordinary national reputation as Dr. Oz.    We got confirmation for this exclusive interview just a couple days before event day, and reporter Marlee Grinter did a fabulous job.  More to the point. Dr. Oz did a fabulous job addressing the Highline Medical Center’s event guests.  Mara Burke, director of community relations and volunteer services for Highline Medical Center, reported that he was gracious, amazing, and invited a standing ovation from the 600 women who attended the event.  I would have expected nothing less.  It was an honor to have the opportunity to contribute to building the buzz about this sold-out event in my own backyard.

Interesting Times in the Media Call for New Ways to Build the Buzz

I’ve been working pretty hard to enlist the interest of the Puget Sound media in a big interview with someone with a national reputation and a timely message.  Two major daily papers have declined because they just don’t have the staff to make it happen.  Everyone is over-worked and over-committed.   Of course, big things are unfolding in the news — this week in particular — which makes it that much harder to invite attention to topics that are beyond the economy and the upcoming election.

While this isn’t news, now more than ever, it is essential to learn how to deploy the power and influence of bloggers and other online media to carry stories forward because the traditional media may not have the bandwidth to deliver what you need exactly when you need it.  

I’ve still got a few ideas in mind to earn the media attention I seek, and I hope to be able to report back that I’ve achieved my mission.  Stay tuned.

Seattle Chocolates Earns “Ink” for Doing Business and Doing Good

Did you see this fabulous blog post by Whitney Keyes, who writes the Biz Bite for the Seattle PI as a reader blogger?   It tells the story of how Seattle Chocolate Company CEO Jean Thompson launched cause related initiatives to make life better for women enduring breast cancer.  It’s a great read, and I invite you to check it out.

As you do, consider how news and expertise you offer can add value to this blog.  Whitney Keyes is a talented journalist, TV producer, and publicist.   She has a great nose for news.  With just the right approach on your part, your story just might earn a mention in her blog.  Why not take a shot and let me know how that works out for you.

In the meantime, next time you are shopping at your favorite grocery or drug store, keep your eyes open for the Extreme Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar from Seattle Chocolate Company and buy a bundle of them because 100% of the net profits benefit breast cancer charities.

Tacoma News Tribune Profiles Olympic Hot Tub Company

Check out this link to a story in today’s Tacoma News Tribune about Alice Cunningham and Olympic Hot Tub Company. This story resulted from a story pitch to CR Roberts that made mention of how Cunningham continues to reinvent how she connects with customers and prospects, even as she celebrates her 31st anniversary of doing business. She recently launched a blog as a means of connecting with a broader demographic, and that gave our team something to talk about that was timely and perhaps even more interesting than the celebration of the business anniversary. CR did a great job telling Alice’s business success story, and there are some good lessons within from which business owners can most definitely profit. Read on!

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.

Want Even More Ease When Promoting Your Business Events? Check Out This Tool!

Every day, there is something new to learn about making it easier than ever to earn free publicity, and I can hardly contain my enthusiasm as I share this latest tip to support your intention to earn more local publicity success with greater ease.

A special thank you to Marcia Brixey, the founder of Money Wise Women Forums, for alerting me to a fabulous tool that makes alerting the media to your business events easy, time efficient, and affordable. Check out this link for www.fullcalendar.com. This site makes it easier than ever to alert the media about your upcoming events if you live and work in the areas of the USA that are currently being addressed by this service.

I took this tool out for a test drive last week to promote my May 16 Publici-Tea™ Half-Day Workshop, and within days, dozens “Google Alerts” were arriving in my inbox to let me know that the message was finding its way to the online and print media. If you haven’t set up “Google Alerts” to let you know when your name or event is earning media attention, it is easy and free to do. Just visit “Google” and set up your account. This is an easy and free way to track how often your name, company name, or products earn attention in cyberspace and beyond.

The cost to alert the media about your event is $19.95, and I think it is well worth it. Take www.fullcalendar.com out for a test drive to promote your next event and see how much more local publicity success you can enjoy with greater ease at a price that makes good business sense.

And, if you have been waiting to register for the May 16 Publici-Tea™ to take place at The Village Bellevue, just two spots are left. Claim yours today by registering now. Treat yourself to the gift of time to immerse yourself in the how-to details associated with local publicity, and you’ll be one step closer to earning the recognition that could possibly catapult your company, cause, or product to the next level of fabulous.

Tales from the Media Trenches - and a Provocative Question to Ponder

My clients have great stories to tell, and the local media here in the Puget Sound region have been receptive to telling them. But over the last several weeks, I’ve heard some feedback that gives me pause. Two reporters told me that they thought my story pitches were very interesting, but they wouldn’t be able to write about them because my clients were prior featured in other local media. They wanted to write about businesses who have not had such exposure.

Now, on the one hand, you could say that the publicist is doing her job. On the other hand, what does a publicist do when a client is over exposed in the local market?

Publicity Hound Joan Stewart has posed a very provocative question to ponder. She asked via her Squidoo lens this question. If you had to devote time and money to either online publicity or offline publicity exclusively, which would you choose? And why? Visit this site to read the commentary and weigh in with your own perspective.

These are changing times in the media, and that means finding new ways to share your message so the right people will listen.

Media Savvy Column Continues to Pack a Punch for Spreading the DIY Publicity News

If you live in the Puget Sound region, you’ve likely seen the newly redesigned Puget Sound Business Journal. It’s an extreme makeover completed with the readers in mind, and I think it looks fabulous.

I am honored that my “Media Savvy” column continues to earn a place in the “Growing Your Business” section within this prestigious business journal. Just yesterday, a neighbor told me that she looks for my column every month and shares it with her network of self employed lawyers. Another colleague got in touch to let me know that the latest column about how to write a bio that actually helps attract new clients came at just the perfect time. This kind of warm feedback keeps me motivated to create even better columns for the months ahead.

If you need help writing a better bio, you can read my latest column on this very topic in the April 25 edition of the paper. If you are not a subscriber and don’t want to wait 30 days when the column becomes available online to non-subscribers, send me an email and I’ll send the column your way by email.

And, if getting your bio in shape to attract clients is a high priority, sign up now for the press kit writing workshop taking place Friday, May 30. Here is the link to tell you more about it, make it easy for you to read the testimonials from satisfied prior event guests, and sign up today. Why struggle a minute longer trying to tell your story when help from yours truly is so easily within reach? I can’t wait to be of service to the five lucky business owners to benefit from this super customized day of press kit insights and bio writing magic.  It’s a power-packed, results-oriented day that eases your bio writing pain so you can get on with your business and your life.    Enough said.  See you there!

Check Out These Publici-Tea™ Testimonials from April 18 and How The Guests Came to the Table

These Publici-Tea™ events keep getting better and better. Last Friday’s event was a sell out, and the event attracted an amazing contingent of inspired, generous business owners eager to support each other’s success through the power of publicity. Here is what my guests had to say:

“Quick start your publicity with this program that Publici-Tea™ offers. Whether you are a solo business or a marketing guru…the system and resources will help get you going and save you money.”

Rachael Costner,Women’s Resource Directory,Tacoma,www.sandscostner.com

“I loved the intimacy of this event. Each guest could have his/her issues addressed. I learned three things that I can immediately implement to become a known expert in purposeful profitability.”

Audrey Godwin, CPA,, The Godwin Group, PLLC,www.thegodwingroup.net

“As a new business owner, Nancy Juetten has given me the inspiration and confidence I need to launch my business with a ‘walk then run’ approach…I’ll be skipping the ‘crawl first’ phase.’”

Cheryl Michaels, The Color Coach,www.thecolorcoach.com

“We knew tea was good for our health. Now those lucky enough to spend time with Nancy know Publici-Tea™ is good for our business.”

Regina Glenn,Pacific Communication Consultants Inc.,www.pccus.com

“It’s about time someone realized that small businesses need exposure, but can’t afford it through traditional means. You have armed us with some nuts and bolts to make a difference in our businesses. This is very useful to all business owners. Many are in their first years, when marketing is vital, but money is tight.”

Lisa Pike,ScribeRight Transcription Agency,www.ScribeRight.com

“Nancy gave me the opportunity to get my arms around my media and public relations strategy going forward.”

Debbie Whitlock,Sound Financial Partners,www.soundfinancialpartners.com

“The information presented introduced new ideas and reignited many dusty recommendations from past forays into the publicity arena. You managed to corral some wonderful simple and common sense approaches to getting results. Your presentation helped clarify, inspire and gave us the tools to create our individual plan for the results we desire.”

Craig Weindling,Smiley Dog,www.smileydog.com

This time, I asked all of my guests how they learned about this event, and I learned some valuable information.

- One of my guests saw publicity tips I posted to www.biznik.com and was curious enough to register.

- Another saw an article written about me in the Bellevue Reporter last July and decided now was the time to register.

- One person heard me speak about the power of publicity at a presentation I made last summer for the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce.

- One person attended at the recommendation of one of my most powerful advocates.

- One person attended as my special invited guest because having a talented freelance writer in the room is a fabulous value to offer to guests and a great way to serve a writer seeking quality assignments.

-Seven guests are people I have met at local business networking events.

This is proof positive that the actions we all take to build the buzz about our expertise DO make a difference over time. Everyone differs in their readiness to get into action, but people do most definitely take notice of information that offers the potential to help their businesses grow.

Speaking of which, the next Publici-Tea™ is set for Friday, May 16 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at my lovely Bellevue home. Zita Gustin, social networking expert, will be my special guest with insights to share to empower buzz building via social networking. And, Betsy Talbot’s “Blogging from Start to Finish” special report will be included among the day’s powerful materials to lend even more fuel to your buzz and publicity building efforts. Register at this link to secure your place. Why not attend with your mastermind partner, best colleague, business coach or CPA? Then, you can serve as accountability partners, long after the Publici-Tea™ concludes. Only seven spots remain before this event sells out, so act today.

Loving the “Big Ink” for Seattle Chocolate Company

‘Tis the season for love … and chocolate, which explains why Seattle Chocolate Company is enjoying a flurry of winning headlines lately. Check out the company’s newly launched press room that showcases a sampling of headlines captured within the last couple of weeks. In particular, this cover story from the Seattle Times really shines:

Sweeter Sales - girl power turns business around.

The plan now is to bring these winning stories to the attention of decision makers at some of our nation’s leading women’s magazines, including Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal, Woman’s Day, and — of course — O. I’ll keep you posted on the success we earn as share “What Happiness Tastes Like™” with chocolate lovers everywhere. What fun!