If a producer called you today for a TV interview would you be ready?
Would you be able to turn a brief conversation with a newspaper or magazine editor into a free publicity opportunity?
Upon their request, would you be able to send a reporter all the information they needed about you in a professionally branded electronic media kit INSTANTLY?
For most people, the answer to all these questions is a resounding NO! However, there is no reason that a lack of media preparedness should be a barrier to your media success!
FOR A LIMITED TIME
Momentum Media Group is offering a special rate on one of our newest and most exclusive service offerings: HIGH-POWERED PRESS KITS – For authors, experts and executives. Visit our website today today to get your custom High-Powered Press Kit.
Hear her on the Synergy Energy Show: http://tobtr.com/s/2428485. #BlogTalkRadio #pr
Social Media Marketing is the NEW and NOW method for generating buzz (and more business) through social networking and Web 2.0 websites.
Do you feel confident in doing it?
Do you have the “Swagger” to Attract a Tribe, Build a Brand, Close the Deal and Get The Money?
It’s not rocket science – but it does take someone to show you how to do it RIGHT. Without the hype. Without the Techy Talk and Geek Speak. Just someone to break it down for you so you can actually GET THIS THING moving - so YOU CAN
build your online brand to bring in business,
get some videos up that will go viral,
attract “raving fans” on Facebook and Twitter and
harness the secret power of Linkedin!
For the past 5 years I spent thousands of dollars and thousands of hours figuring out the perfect social media system that I could use that would: Not require me to spend countless hours online
Build a loyal email database and social media following
Market my business and my brand to attract influential clients
Create and market information products that sell very well on my website
Use email and internet marketing techniques to bring in thousands of dollars per month
And finally, get hundreds ofthousands of monthly visitors to my websites and blogs who have interest in my services and products and ready to do business!
Now, I’ve got it! I’ve got this all down to a complete set of strategies that work – and I want to share this information with you so you can be confident and get your social media SWAG on!
You are invited to my Social Media Swag Seminar where you can learn my time-tested and proven Social Media System that I have used for many years.
So get clicking. You are one click away from awesome.
Most authors want to sell books, but many never will. At least not more than a handful.
The #1 way to sell books is to get yours to stand out from the millions of others that are out there.
Below are 12 very easy to implement “stand out” ideas.
1. Article marketing
One of the oldest online marketing strategies is still one of the most effective. Writing articles that tie into the theme of your book should be very easy. After all, you are a writer.
Even if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands you can take portions of a chapter and create several articles.
At the end of the article add in something that drives readers back to your blog, website or landing page to opt in for something of value. Yes, ethical bribes still work.
2. Tell people
You need to let your friends, family, colleagues, clients, peers and just about anybody you know that your book was published. After all, if you’re not willing to talk about your book others may not be either.
3. Reviews from happy readers
Third party endorsements (verbal or written) are a great way to have your book stand out. Just today I began reading a book my nutritionist recommended.
Recently Sandi hosted a workshop on food cravings. During her presentation she recommended the audience read two books. I wrote both down and upon returning home immediately ordered the Kindle version of the one that most caught my attention.
Once I’m done with the book I will write an Amazon review. It’s likely I will even blog about the book. Viral marketing at its best.
4. Facebook
Start a page for your book. I have done that for the last two books I was the marketing director for. The strategy worked well in that we created interest in the book before it was published.
Once you start the page you need to let everyone know about it. Be actively involved with those who “liked” the page. Otherwise the page is a stagnant piece and does you no good.
5. LinkedIn groups
A fantastic way to build a loyal following of potential buyers of your book(s) is to start a LinkedIn group that is specific to the theme or genre of your book.
Does a group take work? Yes. But so do all the other methods outlined in this article.
The fact is, anything you do is going to take effort.
6. Blogging
By far one of the best things you can do to build visibility, credibility, market reach and SEO is blogging.
Here are only a handful of ideas for what you can blog about regarding your book.
7. FAQ’s
Frequently asked questions as they pertain to the theme of your book. If you’re not sure what the main questions your potential readers have, ask. Even if you have a pretty good idea, ask.
One way to do this is with Survey Monkey. When someone completes your survey give them a gift for doing so without requiring any opt in. This creates a win/win.
Try the survey method. Not only can you post results on your blog, you can write articles and develop products based on the answers.
8. Tips
Based on the theme of your book you can write tips that are specific to the interests of your market.
Just like I did with this posting, you can do so with your book.
9. Interviews with other authors in the same genre
If your book is a how to, you can profile those who got specific results based on the information your book outlines. This not only increases potential reader interest, it substantiates the value of your book’s information.
11. Guest Blogging
One of the fastest and most effective ways to increase market reach and visibility for you and your book is to be a featured blogger on other high traffic blogs.
12. Videos
Without a doubt video is one of the most powerful marketing tools you can use to promote your book. You can do book trailers, short readings, or simply share stories as they relate to your book. Be sure to be animated during your shooting and use keywords both in the spoken part of the video and the title and description.
So there you have it… 12 simple ways to gain visibility for your book(s).
3 Simple Steps to Begin Making Money Online Right Now! FREE online course from Kathleen Gage. Kathleen works with spiritually aware speakers, authors, coaches and consultants who are ready to turn their knowledge into money making products and services. http://www.streetsmartsmarketing.com/3simple.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6010505
Content is king on the internet. But you don’t have time to create it? Watch or read about ways to use Easy PLR in your business, on your blog or website. PLR is a tip from Pam Perry, YOUR PR Coach.
Content is always in high demand. Right now the focus seems to be on Private Label Rights (or PLR) articles. PLR articles are pre-written and sold in packages to online businesses looking for content. The big selling points of PLR articles are that you may edit the articles and that there is no author bio required (so they don’t have any outbound links).
Compare PLR articles to free reprint articles. Free reprint articles from places like EzineArticles.com or freeaffiliatearticles.com are written by people who have something they’d like to share. (Or, they are sometimes written by people just publishing junk, in the hopes that they’ll get some incoming links. But, good article directories will delete those, so we’ll focus on the good ones here.)
So, which is better? Honestly, each has its place. Sometimes you’ll find an excellent free reprint article that you’ll want to share with your readers and you won’t mind a bit having an outbound link, especially if there is an affiliate program associated with it. The free reprint article added value to your readers, and you didn’t have to write the article. That’s what free reprint articles are all about.
Other times you’ll already have an idea in mind for a topic and you’ll just want a boost getting that section of your website done. If you run across a high quality PLR package on that niche, you’re set to go.
So, how do you know which PLR service or membership to choose?
Here are some guidelines to follow:
1. Some PLR sites offer a monthly membership where you receive a grab-bag of articles – on any topic. If you already know what you need, this may be a waste of money. Other PLR sites will list topics and you can buy the articles in a shopping cart. That ensures you receive the articles you need when you need them.
2. Are the articles written by professional writers with experience? Or are they outsourced to the cheapest overseas help they can find – no matter the quality? If the articles are going to be a reflection of your business, you’ll want to ensure that the articles are well-written.
3. Who’s running this thing? Is the PLR site run by someone who knows about content or someone who thinks they can ride the content wave and make a quick buck? Make sure you’re hitching your wagon to someone who knows what they’re doing.
Those are just a few tips to keep you from wasting money on a PLR site that you can’t use. Continue to use free reprint articles, but look into PLR articles as well. They can both benefit your website and your business.
Nicole Dean is the co-owner of http://www.EasyPLR.com – where you’ll find high-quality PLR articles sold in very limited quantities.
As a veteran guest of hundreds of talk radio shows, I can tell you that radio is one of the best free promotional tools available to virtually anyone selling a product or service. I discovered the magic of free radio marketing in the 1990s after writing my first book. Looking for an inexpensive way to get publicity and sales I sort of stumbled into a goldmine – and a free publicity course I purchased served as an excellent pick and shovel to mine the gold.
Talk radio is still very popular today. Radio hosts are always looking for interesting guests. If you offer something that would be of interest or benefit a large audience, you’re probably a first-rate candidate as a guest. And you don’t have to be plugging a book to make it on talk radio. Sure, you’ll often hear authors talking about their books, but any topic with wide appeal can get you bookings if you’re smart about how you present yourself.
The formula is easy. If you’re promoting something to a local market you’ll need a list of local radio stations. If you’re looking for a national audience you’ll be looking for a national database. From here, it’s really simple. You or someone acting on your behalf simply calls the station seeking the producer or host of the show where you’d like to appear. Explain what you have to offer in the way of a good show. Some people are shy talking about themselves in this way. No problem. Simply call as a representative of yourself. Yep. Speak about you in third person. And keep this in mind, the show needs you as much as you need the show.
I learned something interesting in the early going and it paid off in thousands of sales when I needed them most. It was my sole job in any radio interview to make the host look as brilliant as possible in the eyes of his listeners. When you go a great show you make the host and producer look like geniuses. And there’s an obvious benefit to you. When you do a great show everyone benefits. The listeners get great information. You sell your products. And the host looks good in the eyes, or ears if you will, of the listeners. And you’ll often get invited back.
So how can you accomplish all of these things? Practice getting good at delivering excellent information. I’ve found the story format is best. When I was describing the methods in my first book, one devoted to showing people how to get a great deal when buying a home, I’d use real examples. People like true stories, especially where the underdog wins. I was able to illustrate the fact that regular people could use my techniques to buy property way under market. Since many folks don’t see themselves as being able to pull something like this off, they are intrigued when they hear stories of others who actually have. In other words, if one regular person can do it, they can.
Along those lines, gather stories of people you’ve helped. It doesn’t matter if you’re an accountant, personal coach, the pastor of a church, dog groomer, or marshal arts instructor. I’d be willing to bet you’ve made a difference in someone’s life, and that’s your angle. Before you approach the talk show circuit, map out your unique approach, gather your stories, and practice. This isn’t hard but it does take some preparation – unless, of course, you’re already a natural storyteller.
If you plan on using this method of free publicity you might want to set up a little sales system because many talk show hosts are more than willing to help you plug your product or service. So having a toll-free number to call or a Website where they can buy is a must. One more thing, make up a list of questions you want the interviewer to ask you. That makes things easy for the both of you. And by all means, don’t be nervous. Most interviews are done by phone so you’ll be able to have a cheat sheet close by. Keep it conversational as though you’re talking to a friend. After all, you are.
The article you’ve just read is little more than a brief outline of the entire story. Yes, getting free radio publicity to promote your products is simple and you can easily use it too. To get the rest of the story and discover how to entirely avoid the trial and error process, visit: http://www.freepromostory.com
Who is your main customer? What do they look like? What do they watch? Listen to? What other media do they consume? The more research you do the more you can identify and target your ideal customer to BUY YOUR BOOK!
Step 2: What’s your PLATFORM? Find your “book hook.” What message are you marketing?
Get your message “out there!” But what do you want to say? Are you an expert? An evangelist? Do you want to position yourself as a “brain” or a “creative” – or do you have endorsements that will speak volumes for you? Who you have endorse you will “pin point” how you will be perceived/branded in the market. Make sure your message that you communicates makes the media say “wow” and not yawn. Examine yourself and find your unique selling position. Why is your book worthy of media attention?
Step 3: Build a media “wish list”
We would all love to be on Oprah, Tom Joyner and Steve Harvey and TBN…that’s a for sure best-seller status. But starting out, get a focused, realistic media database that reaches the core target audience. What do you read, watch and listen to? Do you really know the media? Google the media you know matches your platform. Look up other authors in your genre and Google them to see where they have had media hits. Put those on your “wish list” and go and find those same reporters/stations. No need buy expensive media lists and doing mass mailings – that is old school and doesn’t work.
Here are some Eblast services/media to look at:
(targeting the African-American and faith-based African-American markets) BlackGospelPromo.com DetroitGospel.com
GoodGirlBookClubOnline.com
UrbanGospelPromo.com
GospelCity.com
BlackBookPromo.com
UrbanRoundUp.com
GospelEblast.com
GospelEFlyer.com
TheLoopOnline.com
MIProductions.org
GospelTruthMagazine.com
CushCity.com
UrbanGospelPromo.com
GospelFlava.com
Rawsistaz.com
MosaicBooks.com (300 BookClubs)
FriendshipProductions
GospelFruits.com
Izania.com
BlackChristianbookpromo.com
Gospeltube.com
Blacknews.com Christianbookbuzzonline.com
Step 4: Create dazzling press materials
If you’re trying to pitch Essence, “O” magazine or your local weekly neighborhood newspaper, you better come correct. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Get customized press kit folders if doing mailing. Or get graphics help to design your EPK (electronic press kit). But whatever you do, get great author photos. A picture is worth a thousand words – and a “glamour” shot will get you noticed. Even in the Christian market, sex appeal sells. Make sure your press releases, fact sheets, articles and pitch letters stand out from the crowd and “position” yourself. BRAND!
Great error-free press material is the foundation to a good campaign.
Step 5: Media contact – they are your friends.
How do you meet the media? Go where they go. Go to conferences where you know media will be there like the Gospel Heritage Conference, The PowerNetworking Conference, The Stellar Awards, ICRS (formerly CBA) and even the regional/local National Black Association of Black Journalists. Not a bad idea to even join as an associate member. You’re a writer, right? Networking and building relationships is critical. If you can meet them, keep in contact by commenting on their work – so they know you’re just not “begging” allllllll the time – but really are an educated media consumer. (Also get their name right!)
When you prove yourself as an “expert” and dependable source of information, you get reporters to contact you over and over. And they will tell their friends about you because you will become known as a good source.
But never brow beat and badger a reporter/producer with unwanted phone calls, faxes or E-mails – that’s a quick way to make an enemy with the whole industry. If they don’t respond, ask them why and then move on. There are tons of other media that will reach your target market. Use your time and energy wisely and don’t be a pain – and when you really have something to contact them about – just a quick email is all that is needed.
I am often asked by small business owners and entrepreneurs if they should be using Twitter for their business. They seldom like my answer, mainly because I respond with a series of questions.
www.twitter.com/smsperrypr
“What is your goal for using social media?”
“Who are you trying to reach?”
“How much time are you willing to spend each day on social media?”
“Do you want to use Twitter, or feel like you ‘should’ use Twitter?”
“Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone and make a commitment?”
Until these questions can be answered, Twitter and other social media sites would be a waste of time. Chances are, the business owner would get frustrated with the results because of unrealistic expectations, and give up, but not after spending countless hours online without a clear voice or message to promote about themselves or their business. Sometimes sending mixed signals is worse than being silent, and the same holds true when entering the world of social media.
For businesses that are ready to make the commitment to social media, Twitter is a great tool for quickly sharing information, gathering real-time feedback and establishing relationships and building a buzz.
A recent study by Chadwick Martin Bailey and Imoderate Technologies found 67 percent of Twitter followers are more likely to buy at least one brand since becoming a follower and 79 percent of followers are more likely to recommend at least one brand since becoming a follower.
The study also found Twitter followers want to be “Brand Insiders,” with “to receive discounts and promotions” and “to be the first to know information about the brand” as the primary reasons they follow a brand on Twitter.
Followers have shown their loyalty and willingness to spread the word about your business, so it makes sense they want to be rewarded for their support. Who doesn’t want to be considered an insider, receive preferential treatment or save money?
Here are some tips for using Twitter to
create a buzz for your business (or book):
1. Offer inside scoops, special, discounts, coupons and other incentives exclusively to you followers
2. Ask for help or ideas
3. Solicit ideas or solutions to challenges
4. Publish solutions, useful tips and fun facts
5. Comment and retweet to recognize and acknowledge followers
6. Answer tweets, but resist the urge to sell
7. Participate in conversations
8. Thank people for following
9. Join Twitter chats to be seen as a leader in your field and learn from other experts
Incorporating just a few of these tips will greatly increase the amount of buzz generated about your business. Just remember to be consistent and have patience. Most of all, be yourself and have fun.
(c) 2010 Kristina Shands and Authentic Communications
Kristina Shands is the owner of Authentic Communications, a communications and marketing firm specializing in telling stories that move people to action. Authentic Communications collaborates with small businesses and entrepreneurs to spark interest, create a buzz, build connections, increase loyalty and inspire action in order to attract new clients and increase visibility. Download a special report, “Six Questions to Develop Your Business Story (and set yourself apart from the crowd),” at http://authentic-communications.com. Contact Kristina at kristina@authentic-communications.com and follow her on Twitter (@authenticbuzz).
The easiest way to get publicity is to find out what a producer/editorwants and give it to them.
How much publicity can you get? $100,000 a month at least. It’s simple but you have to follow a lot of steps. It snowballs…then people come knocking at your door.
Start with “grass roots” and build out. Try out the smaller stations/newspapers first.
There are some companies that you pay for performances not promises. (Guarantees are what people want).
People can pay for interviews secured. People can pay $2,000 to $10,000 a month.
It’s never to early to get started with your publicity campaign. 90 days is not too early. You can get pre-orders and you can plug your website. You can do seminars.
Give away books to get publicity.
THE BASICS. Need: Media kit (A folder with the pasted cover of the book on it. Then a press/media release, bio, testimonials, GOOD photographs). The media know that you’re a professional if you have this.
Optimize them so people can find it high on Google. PRWEB.com is a good one and ChristianPRGroup.com
10. Write a column for a local paper for free in exchange for a plug for your book.
11. People are always looking for more content. (Newspapers and broadcast) – so send out a newsletter to the media, send postcards, send emails.
12. Build Relationships with the media…and other book clubs.
13. Do Teleseminars or regular seminars – this establishes you as an expert.
Millions of people log on to the internet daily. The internet has become a big market for products and services. In addition, as you know, marketing your product or service anywhere needs promotion because you need to make your presence felt to consumers.
Writing press releases is one of the most important ways to promote your website over the internet. Writing press releases frequently will attract web traffic to your site.
Press releases are an essential part of advertising and promoting your campaigns online, and hence writing an effective press release, which is newsworthy, and attention grabbing is very important. Simply writing the PR does not help your purpose. It needs to be well complemented with proper use, to get the most effective result.
* Your PR needs to stand out so that the media and or consumer will see that it is newsworthy and it is something they want to explore of purchase.
* The more people want to read your PR, the more advertising you will be getting online. Your Christian-PR news release is like a “virtual sales brochure” that can attract potential customers. Hence, the body of the PR should be factual and informative, giving the readers like bloggers, the consumer and media a reason to read your press release.
* After identifying your target audience, you should write your PR keeping in mind the maturity level and the attitude of your audience. Write more versions of the same press release to cater to the different fragments of your objective market.
* The titles of your press release acts like a door bell, it should attract attention.
10)The news media is now everyone who can find you on the Web. Are your ideas being “broadcast” so more people find you? Are you creating new ideas, and moving forward and bringing those who search on problems to find your solutions? Please read that once more: People know their problems; they don’t know your solutions. That’s the commonality, and why a campaign we’ve run for a year on the phrase “disgruntled employees” that was based on an Alan Weiss news release headline — “Creating Loyal Employees” — has had thousands of click-throughs. Have you made a list of your clients’ problems? The blogs, comments and news releases you push via our system, reach the media, the Internet, syndication – and, most importantly, your buyers, the public that search the Internet.
9)Speak? Train? Consult? Coach? You’ve bottled a lot of information and experience over the years. Are you re-packaging it? Sure that “book as a credential” is what everyone says you need, and that’s a great welcome token, give-away or deal sweetener. I’ve left it off this list, for I don’t think “having a book makes you an expert.” You have to be an expert before you are able to author the book. A book is a fancy business card, as most people never get past the dust jacket. Want to hire a great dust jacket person and write four chapters? Then, be very careful which chapter you run first, for consultants have to listen and come up with the solution. Speakers offer a great overview and insights but often are not responsible for client success. Trainers help you with defined problems and offer programs, and coaches seem caught in a time warp of pay, based on time not success. What are you selling? Solutions, ideas, driving lessons or therapy? If you have a book, it should start conversations which end in conversions and business for you.
Publish a bio. Make sure it comes up #1 at Google when your name is searched. Make sure when people “Google” you they see your bio and your accomplishments first. Remember this is very different than #1 where you are creating a “search phrase” so that people who don’t know your name can find you.
7)Use Skip’s 20-20 media rule. First, make a list of your best 20 revenue customers. Then, figure out which media outlets they follow. Make up a list of the 20 editors or journalists that most influence your 20 money makers. Create a media tip list for those 20 journalists: On an IRREGULAR basis, only when you have ideas or things you know they want, sent it to them. Don’t fall into the trap I saw when I interned at the Larry King Show decades ago. I asked the producer why he was throwing away some of mail unopened, and he said: “I’ve seen stuff with that return address before and it wasn’t interesting.” Send out good ideas, not just about you, but as a “cub reporter” for your list. (Thanks to Skip Weitzen, author of “HyperGrowth,” for his added advice here.)
6)Figure out your “needle-in-the-haystack” uniqueness. Use those phrases as your meta-tags, on your Web site, in your “elevator speech.” It should be two or three word and put it everywhere — from your business cards to your vanity license plate. Use WordTracker.com and KWMap.com. Watch my videos at www.WebHandbook.com to learn how.
5)Get inbound links to your URL: ExpertClick.com has 48,000. Test your count by entering “links: and your URL” into Google. Try it with both the “www” and without. Ask for text links with your special words in them. Ask for links from sites that have better rankings than you have; search Alexa.com or DMOZ.org to find them. Get and read the Bruce Clay Search Engine book. I spent time and money to earn Clay’s SEO training certificate. For $27, you can buy this useful book. Read the back issues right now at http://searchoptimizationnews.com/
4)Give face time. Make sure people know and see your photo. Do you have an “official” current photo? Have you plastered it as many places as possible? I was flabbergasted at a recent association board meeting when it was asked if you should have your photo on your Web site. You are the brand: People have to know who you are. (GlamourShots.com will even do your hair!)
3)Be seen and travel. Take clients, current and former, as well as prospects to dinner. You can listen to what they want, and learn how you can serve them. Even if people cannot make the event, they are pleased they were invited. One on one, the ideas can flow over a bottle of wine. One dinner at the Rainbow Room in New York this year has resulted in so much referral business I can’t believe it. This is just #2 “face time” in person.
2)Have testimonials available, and check them. What do people say about you on “the street”? Find out by asking around. Yes, have those mystery shoppers call your business, and report if someone trying to book you for a speech can — ask them to call speaker bureaus and ask about you. Search the Web. What information do they get? What kind of follow up?
1)Don’t just donate time; stake out a leadership position. At an association that can benefit from your participation, you’ll meet and help others. I’ve volunteered at International Platform Association and will be part of its 2010 national conference.
Mitchell P. Davis, Editor, Yearbook of Experts www.YearbookofExperts.com
Broadcast Interview Source, Inc.
2233 Wisconsin Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
Main phone: (202) 333-5000
Maybe if you have a great idea, post a comment here at this blog.
Church Marketing Strategies For The Body of Christ by guest blogger Theresa Croft
Church marketing for your corporate body of believers involves implementing strategic marketing to help fulfill the Great Commission of reaching out to save the lost. The church marketing plan discussed here is NOT about developing fancy flashy material, or expensive advertising campaigns with a “fast talking” preacher-salesman mindset. It is about using sound marketing principles and applying them to your church as you fulfill God’s call.
In fact, church evangelism and basic marketing have some of the same purposes. It’s to get the “word out”, to make others aware of a service or product offered to potential clients (or members for the churches), and to motivate them to “buy” or take part.
A preacher or evangelists already has some great skills of selling. Instead of making a deal for a product, they are attempting to “close the prospect” in accepting Jesus as their Savior!
Hence, ministry marketing is put into place to reach out and attract the lost for salvation first, and then to teach and train them to play a vital role in your church’s vision to impact the world.
This church marketing plan involves accomplishing what Jesus said in Mathew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the sonand of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you….”
So where do you start your own church marketing? Clarify Your Vision
Identify what you believe is your church’s vision or destiny. What part are you going to play in making disciples? Is your focus on the homeless on your city streets or the rich and famous?
Define and Write Down The Marketing Plan
Church marketing planning will help connect you to your desired goal and destiny for your body of believers. Having a written ministry marketing plan will put you in the top 5% of ministry marketers, according to Chris Forbes, the “Ministry Marketing Coach.”Write out the goals and make a time table to accomplish them in one year to 18 months. Praying and asking for a “God-inspired” ministry marketing principle or a marketing anointing is a great place to start.
Find Your Focus Group
Focus on the “WHO” you want your specific church marketing to reach. You have to know who you will be talking to, in order to effectively communicate and speak to their needs.
For example, in my days of working at the Christian radio station, we knew based on Arbitron ratings and other studies, that are main listening audience base consisted of women in a certain age bracket. So we aimed our promotions and ministry marketing focus to reach out and help that particular group. When I was on the air, I knew I was mostly talking to this targeted group of women, so I spoke in a way where I tried to minister to their specific needs and concerns.
So take the time to write down characteristics, demographics and any information you can to identify your target group. Study and learn as many things as you can about them. As you get to know your target audience more and more, you will be able to connect and communicate to the people you want to reach.
Branding
Branding is what differentiates you from other ministries. Sometimes the religion of your church is what creates a branding. Non-denominational churches don’t have this as much as say, a Baptist or Catholic church.
So branding is not about trying to get your focus group to choose your ministry over another, but to show them you have a definite solution to their need.
For example, I used to go to a church where people who ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles were accepted without a blink of an eye. Any given Sunday, you’d see many come through the church doors with their leathers on and some with their black Tee-shirts saying, “These ARE my Church clothes”. This is a good example of how branding can attract the kind of people of which you desire to teach and minister.
When you have a good branding in your marketing approach, you know your message is clear, you have established credibility, and you have found a way to emotionally connect with your target audience. The result is a motivated group of people who are loyal and want to help you to accomplish your vision.
It’s interesting to note that the branding of your ministry often resides within the hearts and minds of your church members. It is the sum total of their experiences and perceptions, some of which you can influence.
Promotion and Using Video Ministry
Your church marketing plan obviously will have an element of promotion in it. But I am not referring to the kind of promotion that costs a great deal of money, such as advertising and expensive billboards. You can promote through learning to write news releases and sending them regularly to your local media outlets. Get the word out through Community Calenders, Public Service Announcements which many Christian Radio Stations offer, and local involvement in areas where your target audience is likely to be found.
Back to the example of a targeted group that includes Harley Riders, or Bikers. Find out when they have their regular rides, meetings and special events. You can find ways to use these events to connect with them. Have a special “Biker’s Sunday” to invite more motorcycle riders to your church.
One key element in this promotional part of Church marketing is a website. Having a professional website is a must in a church marketing plan in today’s fast pace world of technology. Almost everyone is on line. The audience you can reach there is incredible!
But let’s make one thing clear. It’s not just about having a website for the sake of saying you have one! It must be professional and exemplify excellence in all facets. Having a fancy web site with blinking animations and scrolling text is NOT what I mean.
Content is what keeps keeps people coming back and new people finding you on line. Write great content to meet the needs of your church body and your target group. Tell them not just what’s happening at the church, but what is going on in heart of your pastor, worship leader or youth pastor. Ultimately they are desiring that you speak life into their daily challenges with words of hope and instruction from the Word.
Powerful testimonies of what God is doing in Church members lives should be featured and updated often. Testimonies will do more to “sell” the benefits of your ministry than anything else. Create a section in your website where you get members to speak into a camera and testify. This is one ministry marketing strategy that hits a “home run” every time.
This leads me to one passion I have in using video ministry and multimedia tools. We live in a media saturated world. According to comScore, 75% of Internet users watched online video in May 2007, averaging 158 minutes per viewer. Nearly 8.4 billion videos were streamed online in the month of May. That’s a lot. And it’s increasing day by day.
I started a Video Production Company a few years ago to help churches and ministries use video to promote themselves and to use on the front page of their website. I have also worked with Christian schools producing powerful video marketing promotional tools. You can check one I did recently by clicking here. I can think of no better way to illustrate this type of Promotional Video tool that can help in your branding and marketing than to show it to you….ON VIDEO. This is one of my favorite ways to help with ministry marketing.
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Soon to be released, Ministry Marketing Productions will present the Book, “Ministry Marketing Strategies For Today’s Christian Ministries”.
Check out a preview with this video: Ministry Marketing Video Series Teaching The Power Of Social Media (Part 1)
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We’d love to provide more information to help you in marketing and information concerning the latest online strategies.
Video is proving to be a key element in any market plan. Why not take advantage of it. You don’t have to be a “YouTube” channel, but you can provide powerful videos on your church website or on your own church’s video channel!
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Everyone seems to be looking for another stream of income because certain “brooks” have dried up!
Well, Ministry Marketing Solutions is about that – providing solutions!
This Thursday, Dec. 3, from 9 pm to 10 pm EST, I will be hosting a teleseminar with “Mega Branding Super Star,” Cedrick Harris.
Topic: “How to Succeed in Network Marketing with Personal Branding & Attraction Marketing”
This is a complimentary call, holding nothing back. Cedrick Harris is going to bring it!
Cedrick has coached thousands of people to success and has amassed a yearly seven-figure income over the past 3 1/2 years online.
He is an internet marketer, affiliate marketer, network marketing super star – and we are joining forces to give you the stepping stones to success too!
This call will give you a jump start on how to Brand YOUR Best Life. The marketing system we’ll be sharing with you is proven – and it works. I’m a witness!
If you are more than just curious about making serious money online using a proven internet marketing system, don’t miss this call!
Many people say that we could charge $200 for this material, but you get it as a “thank you” for being one of my faithful readers. I want you to Brand like a super star!
P.S. I will also be interviewing the Social Media Sista/WebTech Girl Lashanda Henry on The Synergy Energy show. Tune in on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at Noon EST. She knows her stuff! This is like a preview call for the Branding Secrets Teleseminar on Tuesday, Dec. 15 that I’ll be doing. Check it out (it’s a podcast too) http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ministrymarketingsolutions
P.P.S.
Register for the Social Media Marketing Teleseminar “Branding Secrets” Teleseminar by Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 and get FREE 15 min. personal consultation with me. Limited to the first 10 registered only. Go to: http://www.PamPerry.EventBrite.com
Lately I’ve been attracting questions from first time authors on how to get their books “out there”. In other words, now that your book is done, how do you tell as many people as possible about it? Book marketing! Since my conversations with these writers were brief I kept the tips as simple as possible, but then it occurred to me: this was exactly how I was planning the marketing of my newest book. I’m purposely keeping it simple so I don’t get overwhelmed. And overwhelm is common. After all, according to John Kremer there are 1,001 ways to market your book. You can’t possibly do them all! So here’s the easy way to look at book marketing. Make good choices and you’ll find just the audience you’re looking for.
Decide What Media You’ll Target
You don’t have to use all media in your marketing plan. Choose what you’re most comfortable with and what would bring you superior results. Perhaps you prefer print (newspapers and magazines) to radio and television. Or maybe you’ll limit your choices to radio and the internet because that’s where you’re most likely to find the types who will read your book. Is direct mail your cup of tea? Making this choice will help you focus. It will also save you money: pursuing everything can get really expensive.
Set Specific Goals for Each Target
Some writers will try for a mention of their book and feel triumphant if they get one review or one interview. That’s great, but a real marketing strategy will help you to secure more than one review or more than one interview. But it won’t happen unless you set goals and shoot for them. Let’s say you choose the internet, magazines and radio as your desired media. Your goals could be: –Internet: Get enough partners to do an email blast to 2 million people. –Magazines: Get mentions and/or reviews of your book in 4 magazines read by your target audience. –Radio: Do 4-6 radio interviews a month.
Write Down Action Steps
Now that you have these goals, what exactly do you have to do to achieve them? For your internet goal, your tasks may include seeking out like-minded partners who have lists of their own to send an email on your behalf. For your magazine goal, you’ll probably send out regular press releases and story ideas to the editors of the magazines. Likewise for your radio goal. Once you see the steps written down, it’s that much easier to put them in a calendar and schedule time to get them done.
Take Action Daily
Make sure you do something everyday to forward your goals. That’s exactly what Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen did to make Chicken Soup for the Soul a success. They called it “The Rule of Five” and they made sure they did five things from their action plan every single day. It paid off for them big time. You can do the same. Remember to go back to your plan and read it again if you get distracted or become overwhelmed. Your plan will remind you of what you want to achieve and what choices will help you to do so. It’s like they say about eating an elephant–you can do it. It just takes a while and you have to take small bites!
Sophfronia Scott is Executive Editor of the Done For You Writing & Publishing Company. Learn what a difference being a published author can make for your business. Get your FREE audio CD, “How to Succeed in Business By Becoming a Bestselling Author” and your FREE online writing and book publishing tips at www.DoneForYouWriting.com.
The title of your press release should be short, meaningful and descriptive. The title is the determining factor of whether or not people will ever bother to read further. Consider using a subtitle to summarize the content.
2. Make sure the information is newsworthy.
You are wasting your time and money sending out information that people wont care about. Ask yourself –“would I read this?”
2. Speak to your audience.
If your sending a press release out to the Black media, you must make it obvious how your information relates to the African Americans.
4. Don’t be too fancy.
Avoid the excessive use of adjectives and fancy language. Don’t bold or underline words within your body. This is unprofessional. The content alone should sell its self.
5. Include all forms of contact info.
Include your email address and 1-2 phone numbers. If someone is trying to reach you for an urgent story, you want to be easily reached. Also, include your web site address so they can research more about what you do.
6. Use BlackPR.com for distribution.
When your press release is final, use BlackPR.com to distribute it to all the Black newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations. They only charge $150 bucks to do this. Also, consider using PRweb.com to increase search engine visibility.
7. Send press releases regularly.
A well- written press release can easily get you radio interviews and other media coverage. This, in turn, drives traffic to your web site, and more sales to your bottom line. The key is to be consistent. Send out press releases on a monthly basis, and consider writing weekly or bi-weekly columns to distribute as well.
Dante Lee is the founder of Diversity City Media, a multicultural marketing empire. Visit his daily blog at www.DanteLee.com
Clients and colleagues often tell me that they want to earn Oprah’s attention or have their stories told on National Public Radio or Good Morning America. I applaud these intentions and suggest that they consider their hometown media first. Why? Because earning media “ink and air” in your own backyard is the first step towards earning the credibility to secure national media placements.
Putting all of one’s eggs in the national media placement basket is a risky strategy at best. The editors and producers at these national media outlets sift through thousands of story pitches every day in search of just the right stories to share with their audiences. The chances of your story rising to the top of the stack without the credibility of prior hometown media coverage are slim.
And, earning national publicity is not for the faint of heart. It takes time, research, great storytelling, planning, tenacity, follow up, patience and a lot of pluck. Some clients are fortunate to earn Oprah’s attention in a heartbeat, though most toil for many months and even years before earning their moment in the spotlight. All the while, these business owners still need to turn a profit and make magic happen in the marketplace in order to keep their doors open for business.
And even when you make a persuasive and compelling pitch to the local media, sometimes, for whatever reason, the daily newspapers will pass on your story. That is when you have to dig deeper and consider your options.
For example, while working with a local Vietnamese millionaire and motivational speaker to promote a big event in Seattle, I came up empty with both the Seattle Times and the Seattle Post Intelligencer. Undaunted, I approached the Northwest Asian Weekly about doing a story about this local entrepreneur. I also approached the Beacon Hill News and the Madison Park Times with similar story ideas because my client got his start in residential real estate working the Beacon Hill neighborhood and he lives in the coverage area served by the Madison Park Times.
Guess what happened? His story earned front page coverage with bold, color photos in all three local newspapers, just in time to attract interest and boost attendance at my client’s big event. And, those prominent stories were persuasive and compelling in my efforts to earn three radio interviews that targeted just the right audience of potential guests to benefit from this client’s message before the event took place.
Now, my client has some powerful print and broadcast support posted to the press room on his event Website to lend credibility to future events. This makes it easy for future event guests and reporters to visit the site to learn more about what he offers. And when the national media come to call, he already has earned both the credibility and support of his hometown media, making it that much easier to tell his story to a national audience.
In addition to earning ink and air for your business, local media opportunities offer you the chance to practice sharing your message and refining your interview skills before the national cameras and reporters come to call. Those bright camera lights can be daunting to the uninitiated, and you sure don’t want to make any message or performance mistakes when the national press is at your door.
My best advice is to start at home while you also swing at the national media fences. Brainstorm your own “top ten” list of premier media placements in your own backyard, and begin the process of appealing to those editors and writers whose job it is to inform, inspire, and serve the media consumers where you live and work.
Yes, please reach for the stars by working to earn the attention of O Magazine, National Public Radio, and Good Morning America. And remember that telling your story to your hometown media outlets can be pretty powerful, too.
Nancy S. Juetten is a Main Street Media Savvy expert who owns Nancy S. Juetten Marketing Inc. and is the author of the Media-Savvy-to-Go Publicity Toolkit which helps business owners get heard, seen, and celebrated in their own backyards and beyond through the power of free publicity.
Learn more about her award-winning PR Products by visiting
Click and get all the information you need to market
your book, brand your ministry and promote your platform online.
Hey Future Best Seller!
Would you like to get a whole lot more national publicity and promotional exposure for what you do?
Want to be written-up in more magazines, newspapers and interviewed on top radio/TV shows?
How about getting lots of other people to eagerly promote your book, product or service?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, I’d like to invite you to a free telephone seminar my friend Steve Harrison is offering this Tuesday, October 27th where you’ll learn practical strategies you can use to promote almost any book, product, business or service.
To reserve your spot on this free 75-minute teleseminar - which I’m offering at your choice of two time slots on Tuesday (10/27): either 2:00 pm Eastern (11:00 am Pacific) OR 7:00 pm Eastern (4:00 pm Pacific)
– go here now:FREE PR Call!
Here’s some of what you’ll learn on Tuesday’s call:
* Why conventional press releases are not always
the best way to contact journalists and what to
send instead.
* What a Good Morning America producer told Steve
is the absolute best way to pitch his show — something
very few publicity-seekers do but dramatically
increases your chances of getting booked.
* Understanding the mindset of journalists and
producers and how it differs by type of media outlet.
* The surprisingly simple strategy a former Oprah
guest booker told Steve everyone should use when
pitching the show.
* Five proven ways to create a compelling publicity
“hook” or angle.
* How to get other people to promote your book,
products and services.
* What you should never wear on a TV show.
* Some simple non-publicity strategies you can use to
get the word out.
* Book not out yet? You’ll learn some tricks for how
to structure your book so it’ll be a whole lot easier
to get publicity and promotional exposure.
The “new” economy is online – learn how to work it!
Detroit, Mich. (September 2009) — In this challenging economy, people have noticed the world is quickly changing from the industrial to the technical industry. This means people are moving from manufacturing work, which was popular throughout 1990′s, to the ever-growing world of the internet.
Why? Because the internet is the largest market place in the world, with billions of buyers and sellers all coming together to exchange goods and services for cold-hard cash. And, if you’re not capitalizing on the internet…you will be left behind!
People are earning from hundred to thousands of dollars a month via the web – using automated systems. “The money is NOT automatic, but if your system is automated – the money will come. It takes time to get there but once the you know what you’re doing online and your systems are in place it can happen,” said DetroiterRalph Claxton, who is the founder of Tech Club CPR (www.techclubcpr.com), an internet coaching and training organization located online.
Claxton’s Michigan partner, Pam Perry, of Farmington, is the chief visionary of Ministry Marketing Solutions, Inc. She is a publicist turned social media marketing expert. The two met online early this year via a mutual twitter friend and have been tweeting, blogging and podcasting ever since.
Claxton and Perry spent thousands of dollars on internet training over the past few years. They each clunked down almost $20,000 in live seminars, online courses, books, teleseminars, e-courses, home study courses and personal coaching from the “masters” of internet marketing.
Now, the two internet marketing mavens have come together to help other entrepreneurs and authors make money online – without spending an arm and leg.
On Saturday, October 17 from 10 am-4pm (Sweetest Day in Michigan), The Tech Club CPR will host a sweet deal for those who are serious about making money online leveraging social media.
Authors, entrepreneurs or those just looking for an additional revenue stream can come to the “boot camp” at the Courtyard Livonia, 17200 N Laurel Park Drive in Livonia, Michigan near Laurel Park Mall.
“Because we get calls all the time from people who want to learn how we do what we do, we wanted to share our resources, experiences and give them an up-close and personal event to show what we do behind the scenes. Our mission is to help people crack the internet code,” said Perry.
The Tech CPR Boot Campis basic training for people who are comfortable with the internet but find it hard to really leverage it to make money online, brand themselves and keep up with all the new social media tools. “If you can log on, browse, click, drag and drop online, we can help you get to the next level,” said Claxton.
Claxton and Perry will provide hands-on internet training so that everyone will leave with knowledge of how to play the game of Social Networking.
Those who attend the Tech Club CPR will discover….
· How to master every technique needed to become an advanced internet marketing money-making machine.
· All the tricks, tips, and secret techniques used to easily navigate the internet like a pro.
· How to use Social Networking to earn a hefty income with popular sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
· How to build a stable online business just by following along with a few video tutorials.
· How to Use YouTube, Google, Ning and other sources to increase traffic to your blogs or affiliate links
· How to Utilize CPA networks, Clickbank, Commission-Junction and E-Junkie to maximum effect
This Boot Camp is different from others because people will get personal attention that will cater to those from beginner to the advanced level. “Without all the techno-speak,” added Perry.
“All the other courses were too techy and made me feel intimidated. We won’t do. I personally want to help people avoid costly mistakes I made when attending over-priced seminars that left me with more questions than answers. Me and Ralph want everyone to leave our boot camp ready to go get paid without having had to pay an arm and a leg.”
Added Claxton, “the last event we did in Farmington Hills, people walked away feeling empowered. They had their ‘aha’ moments – and we still get tons of testimonials,” said Claxton.
To see the videos of some of the testimonials and more details, go to: www.TechClubCPR.com.
For more information on early bird registration for the boot camp event on Sat, Oct. 17, go to Tech Club CPR website or contact Pam Perry via info(at)ministrymarketingsolutions.com.
Hold you accountable. It’s too easy to neglect or postpone tasks critical to the sales and marketing of your book. I require a commitment from you to buckle down and get them done.
Develop and refine your ideas…make a plan. You have great ideas. Some are easy to put into practice and others need refinement. I have a working knowledge of hundreds of PR strategies and marketing know-hows to adapt to your book. Come away with a workable plan that fits your schedule and budget!
Share a wealth of PR strategies and secrets. When you’ve just “run out of ideas” on how to market and sell your book, I will educate you in the industry and PR principles you’ll use to get results.
Provide you with the contacts you need. When you need contacts or resources for the marketing of your book, I have an extensive network of media and publishing industry contacts and know where to find the information.
Give you perspective from the outside looking in. It’s possible to lose the ability to “see the forest for the trees” once your book is published and ready for sale. I am there to take a fresh look, knowing what to look for, seeing the market potential and providing you the accurate, frank and honest feedback that you need to be a success.
Need help to get started with branding yourself “online” too – don’t know where to start? Start here… www.prbootcamponline.eventbrite.com &www.techclubcpr.com
Publish a bio. Make sure it comes up #1 at Google when your name is searched. Make sure when people “Google” you they see your bio and your accomplishments first. Remember this is very different than #1 where you are creating a “search phrase” so that people who don’t know your name can find you.
Church Marketing Strategies For The Body of Christ by guest blogger Theresa Croft
