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.

Wall Street Journal to Report on Getting the Most & Best PR for the Least Money & Effort

The Wall Street Journal’s Small Business Link is preparing a story for December 17 about getting the most and best public relations exposure for the least money and effort.  If you have ideas, recommendations, and success stories to lend to this timely and relevant topic, this is a great opportunity to share and perhaps have your business and its local publicity success  showcased within the pages of the Wall Street Journal.

Send your suggestions to sblink@wsj.com so you can empower and inspire other buzz-seeking business owners.  

And, if the Media-Savvy-to-Go tips you enjoy from reading this blog, my Puget Sound Business Journal “Media Savvy” newspaper column, the Main Street Media Savvy Publicity Tip of the Week radio show, the Media-Savvy-to-Go ezine, and the Publici-Tea™ training I offer contribute to your success, don’t be shy about mentioning it!  Thanks much.

Hurray for ProfNet, PR Leads, and the Quest for PR Success with Greater Ease

Did you know that you can sign up for a fabulous service called PR Leads that funnels active media leads direct to your inbox for your timely and compelling reply? I subscribe to a similar service for PR firms called ProfNet, and it is fabulous. Within the first ten days of initiating my subscription, I earned five national media placements for clients and for myself.

For example, just yesterday, I was asked to call a nationally syndicated columnist about a story pitch I made about champagne marketing on a beer budget. The columnist said, “You get an A+ for responding to this query. Your reply made clear that you had visited my website, reviewed prior columns, and prepared a submission that was exactly on target for my needs.” He added, “Thanks for making my job easier.” Read the rest…

GoMobile Advertising Earns Front Page Business Feature in the Seattle Times!

It’s a great day for GoMobile Advertising, a Kent-based company that offers eye-catching trucks with floor-to-ceiling windows that travel the streets of Seattle and beyond to build buzz for clients’ businesses, causes, and promotions. The company earned a story on the front page of the business section of today’s Seattle Times. Here is the link:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/

The folks at GoMobile have been powerful advocates for my Media-Savvy-to-Go message and have had me speak before their U.S. affiliates to spread the word about do-it-yourself publicity. Clearly, they are taking their own advice and earning front page business coverage in the process. Hurray!

Also making news today within the same Seattle Times retail report is Affirmagy for its courage campaign to raise money for breast cancer research and education, while offering encouragement to those newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Seattle-based Affirmagy, which sells blankets with inspirational messages, hopes to raise money next month to fight breast cancer by promising to donate $7.99 for every $39.95 purchase of a pink “Courage” wrap and “Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor’s Soul” book. Donations will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month next month. The blanket’s sayings include “I will not give up” and “My courage makes me brave.” To learn more, go to www.affirmagy.com.

If ever there was a cause to support at the right time, this is it. Please visit Affirmagy’s Website and purchase a bundle or two or five for women you have never met who need the courage and encouragement that this special gift delivers in a way that really inspires.