Are You Thankful? This Video is Timely, Now More than Ever

The media would have us believe that the sky is falling and there is nothing to look forward to as we all watch with worry and wonder about what is going on with the financial crisis and what will unfold with the upcoming presidential election.

Sue Lundquist, a local author and parent, was featured on KING 5 news about how she turned her own challenging life experiences into a powerful tool to reinforce the importance of gratitude among young people.  Now more than ever, gratitude is essential.  Treat yourself to this brief and compelling video, and spread the message.  Sue earned this media placement, thanks to the power and impact of do-it-yourself publicity.  She’d love for her message to carry around the nation and the world, now more than ever.

The purpose of the I’m Thankful™ Journal is to provide an opportunity for parent and child to communicate in an highly effective yet simple manner. The series of questions throughout the journal are easy to adapt and can be used any time of day and for many situations. Teaching the benefit of thankfulness and compassion even in the little things is a priceless value. It’s the little things that are infinitely the most important in life.  Kissing your child good night. Hugging a dear friend hello. These are the types of memories to cherish and be thankful for. All will benefit.  It is a win-win. To learn more about Sue Lundquist’s “I’m Thankful” journals, visit this link.

Sue will be joining a host of equally inspired business owners at the Grande Sized Publici-Tea™ Workshop taking place October 17 from 12:30 - 5 p.m. at the Mercer Island Community Center.  If you still want to claim your place, there is still time.  Visit this link right now.

Woman’s World Magazine Story Brings Tears and Action to Inspire Courage Among Those Dealing with Breast Cancer

It’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we have abundant opportunities to be grateful for our health and get into action to support others who need help, now more than ever.  Check out this inspiring story that ran in Woman’s World magazine about the amazing grace that took shape when one sister shared COURAGE and STRENGTH Affirmawraps from Affirmagy with a sister in hospice care and the impact powerful words made as she slipped away.

Do the good folks at Affirmagy want to sell more blankets?  Absolutely.  Does a story like this show that the nature of the business is so much bigger than that?  You bet. That is why this is such a powerful, inspiring story that had me reaching for the Kleenex.

If you want to enlist the attention of the media about your product or service, lead with a powerful story that resonates at an emotional level, and you will.  This story in Woman’s World magazine is proof positive of that.

There is much madness in the world right now.  We have to focus on the things we can control, and extending kindnesses to others right now seems like the perfect action to take.

Turn to Page 288 of O The Oprah Magazine to See Seattle Chocolates!

OMG.  Hurray.   Seattle Chocolate Company’s Extreme Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar to benefit breast cancer charities appears on the “Love That” page of the October 2008 issue of O The O Magazine.   Now, the readers of this most influential magazine will learn that the company donates 100% of its net profits from the sale of this gorgeous and very delicious dark chocolate bar to make life better for women who crave a cure for breast cancer probably as much as they crave and deserve fine dark chocolate.   I’ve been dreaming of a placement in this magazine for a long time, so today is a red letter day for me, too.  Love that.  I can’t wait to report back what happens for Seattle Chocolate Company as a result, though the credibility of this media placement will last indefinitely, and that is a beautiful thing.

Zookhooks Gets ANOTHER Story in Hometown Newspaper

I am a big fan of inviting interest in your evolving business success story in your community newspaper. First of all, getting seen, heard, and celebrated in your own backyard is thrilling. Second of all, your neighbors and friends are most likely to support you. And, finally, chatting with your hometown media is a great way to get your interviewing skills in shape so when it is time to meet Oprah some day, you are practiced and ready.

Alexis Meisel, founder of Zookhooks Inc., lives in Newcastle. I pitched the story about her fashionable and functional purse hooks to the reporter who writes for Newcastle News and enlisted interest. The better news is that Alexis’ story ran in the more widely circulated Issaquah Press, bringing her story to neighbors beyond her own backyard. Here is the story link so you can read all about her and her very useful and fashionable products that make sure your purse never touches the ground. If you can hardly wait to purchase your own collection of Zookhooks for your wardrobe of purses, here is the link to make that easy for you.

If you’ve been dreaming of earning Oprah’s attention for your story or your products, here is breaking news. The Grande Sized Publici-Tea is taking place on October 17 from 12:30 - 5 p.m. at the Mercer Island Community Center. My co-presenter for this extra large session that can accommodate up to 49 guests is Susan Harrow. She literally wrote the book on how to invite Oprah’s attention, and she is flying to Seattle for the first time ever to share her knowledge and tips with Grande Sized Publici-Tea™ guests. The link to register for this very special event should be “live” a bit later today, so check your calendar and save October 17 for this very special, empowering session that has the potential to rock your business to an entirely new level of media awareness! We’ve got plenty of high value bonuses to share to make the $397 tuition more than worth your while, and the opportunity to connect personally with Susan Harrow herself over tea and premium chocolate is just priceless.

Zook Hooks Inc. Starts Earning the Ink

We started our holiday gift guide pitching campaign for the Zook Hook purse hangers a few weeks ago, and the media placements are starting to come through. In addition to earning placements in several blogs which you can view at this link and this one, too — we’ve also enlisted the interest of the in flight magazines at Alaska Airlines to include these fashionable and functional purse hooks in their holiday gift guide. Since I am a big fan of seeing, hearing, and celebrating others when I pitch, I took the initiative to insert the photo of the publisher of the magazine within one of these sassy items. I had a package of three Zook Hooks delivered direct to her office with a personal note. A few days later, I followed up as I promised I would. I was rewarded to learn that the editorial staff at the magazine agreed that this item deserves a place in the holiday gift guide. Holiday travelers most certainly need to protect their handbags from germs and other ills, and they should certainly look good doing so! If you would like to purchase your own collection of Zook Hooks for your wardrobe of handbags, visit the company website today.

BizNik Article Placement Brings About Invitation from London

You never know how far your articles will travel or the impact they can have on others until you start posting at Biznik and other online avenues such as www.ezinearticles.  Just yesterday, I received a compliment from a new content site based in London, England to feature my do-it-yourself publicity articles and insights on their site.  My article on Biznik captured interest and invited an opportunity to share my expertise far and wide.  How cool is that?

Here is the link so you can see this site and explore the prospect of sharing your own perspectives to add value to this fast growing community.

Are You a Standout Small Business Owner? Smart Money Small Business Wants to Hear from You!

What makes you and your small business stand out from the crowd? If you can answer that question, Smart Money Small Business will consider running your profile, picture and answer in the Stand Out column. Click here to see samples of prior columns.  To be considered for this column, you’ll want to send an email (and a digital headshot) to Editors@smSmallBiz.com, answering these questions:

Your name

Your  business name and description

Location

Year Founded

Number of Employees

Web Address

What makes you stand out from the crowd?

What’s the best part about owning your own small business?

What is the biggest hurdle you’ve overcome?

What’s the best advice you can offer to others?

You won’t earn in the “ink” unless you jump in and take advantage of opportunities like this to share your story.  If not now, then when?  Only you can answer.  Good luck!

Letting You in on a Little Secret that Could Help Your DIY Publicity Effort

Did you know that I have a number of free audio files posted at my consulting website that make it easy for you to listen to my DIY publicity guidance without spending a penny? Well, it’s true. You can visit this site and listen to a number of prior teleconferences and radio interviews that offer great tips to help you earn free publicity.

I bring this up because I know many folks are searching for assistance to grow their businesses in challenging times, and gaining access to free insights and information is welcome, now more than ever.

If you have the opportunity to participate in radio interviews or teleconferences, be sure to record them. Then, you can make the decision to offer them to others for free or for fee to serve those who most need your help. You can spread the good news and information without ever leaving your office, and the impact your insights can have on others’ success can be powerful.

A “Hear Nancy on the Radio” button is posted to my website to make it easy for folks to listen in. People have called me to book me for speaking engagements, invite me to be on their radio shows, and purchase my information products as a direct result of listening to these radio interviews. And, people who have viewed my TV interview with BizTalk with Zita have done the same thing. I invite you to get your audio and video files in order and figure out the best way to share them with your customers and prospects to be of service in the ways that matter most to you and your business — and theirs.

As for me, I am really energized about bringing the Publici-Tea™ Half-Day Workshop to business owners everywhere, either in person or virtually, so they can gain confidence, skills, resources, tools, and connections to bring their success stories out of the darkness and into the media spotlight.

After listening to Robyn Spizman speak about the concept of WOW at the eWomenNetwork International Conference & Business Expo in Dallas, I am convinced that this event format is something unique, remarkable, and worthy of taking on the road and beyond.

Spizman says that WOW is that indefinable “something” that makes you really stand out. WOW happens when you and your business, ideas, and abilities exist in that very small zone called distinctive. You do something that’s so fresh, innovative, and impressive that you are memorable. And you make it look effortless.

The joy and passion I feel for these events is matched only by the light I see in my guests’ eyes when they realize that they really can do their own publicity, and they can’t wait to get started. The next session is August 15 in Tacoma, followed by another great event on September 12 in Bellevue. Thanks for helping to spread the word and signing up. And, if you’d like to bring the Publici-Tea™ to your hometown, let’s talk about it! Give me a call at 425-641-5214 or send me an email at nancy@nsjmktg.com.

Reading in the Hot Tub? You Bet! Thank You Better.TV

Temperatures are rising all over the nation, giving people everywhere good reason to head for the pool, the hot tub, or the beach to relax and enjoy. Steve Greenberg, the author of Gadget Nation, was so taken with the Aqua Reader from the e-store at Olympic Hot Tub Company that he elected to make it the first pool gadget he highlighted on this “Cool Pool Gadget” segment of Better.TV. And, he was good enough to include it in a special segment last week on CBS This Morning. And, the Aqua Reader was included in another video segment that aired in 20 markets across the USA. We are still waiting for the rush of orders for Aqua Reader at the Olympic Hot Tub e-Store, though we are delighted with the media coverage that is helping to spread the good news. Now that you know about this amazing gadget that holds your book and your drink and keeps both dry while you soak, perhaps you’ll be among the many to soon enjoy it in the comfort of your own backyard hot tub! Operators are standing by… By the way, I learned about Steve and his TV segments as a result of receiving a media query via a service I use called ProfNet. The media leads flow to my in box, and I reply with brief, compelling replies by the stated deadline. You can subscribe to this service or another very similar service called PR Leads. It’s well worth the investment for the results you enjoy by responding in a timely way to stories in progress right now. Jump right in and give this service a try so your products, services, and expertise can reach much wider audiences with ease — and you can spend more time relaxing.

Two Publici-Tea Guests Get Quoted in Smart Money Small Business Feature

People often call me their “Publicity Fairy Godmother” because it often happens that within days or weeks of chatting with me, they earn a place in the media spotlight. I love that because once people have a taste of seeing their names in print, they can hardly hold back their enthusiasm to keep the momentum flowing.

Regina Glenn and Debbie Whitlock were guests at the April 14 Publici-Tea™. Today, they are quoted in Smart Money Small Business about how they make professional development a priority while managing their growing businesses as a result of a gentle I suggestion I made to each to reply to an active media lead.

Every day, I learn of active media queries seeking experts to add value to stories in the works right now. When I have a client that is a perfect fit, I jump at the opportunity to help them earn the ink. In this case, Regina and Debbie were quick to reply prior to the posted deadline.  They enlisted the interest of the reporter with their brief, compelling, and specific comments.  Now their comments and references to their respected businesses are reflected in this story that has reach far beyond their Seattle backyard.

My business is all about helping people get seen, heard, and celebrated in their own backyards and beyond through the power of free publicity. New successes are unfolding every day to bring that mission to life. Are you ready to get into the game so you can enjoy the benefits that can flow to your growing business as a result of your enhanced visibility in the right media venues?

If so, why not sign up for the June 13 Publici-Tea™ at the Village Bellevue? Here is the link to make it easy to learn more and register. These events consistently earn rave reviews, and you owe it to yourself and your growing business to acquire new tools to help you enjoy more success with greater ease.  Spaces are going fast, so don’t delay in securing your place. Hope to meet you soon!