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Grab a cuppa & read

How to find publicity opportunities before you've had your morning coffee

17/6/2016

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I bet when you sit down at your desk in the morning, you check your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn feeds before you do anything else. You probably check social media before you even look at email. 

And that's fine. But instead of laughing at cat videos or clicking on a 'You won't believe what happened next' headline to a spammy site, do these two things while you're scrolling. It may just get you publicity, grow your business and all for very little effort.

1. Check out the news
  • Whichever social media platform you favour, make sure you subscribe to the news outlets most relevant to your business plus at least two national media outlets. 
  • Scan the headlines
  • Do any of the stories appear across multiple sites?
  • Is that a story that is in any way relevant to your business?
  • If yes, put out a post on Twitter using the hashtag #PRrequest - and state that you're available for comment on the issue.
  • If it's a big story, the media need experts and case studies to talk to so let them know that you're available.
  • What opinion, advice, tips or related story do you have that could act as a day two story? Send that as a short pitch to the relevant titles.
  • Make yourself available that day. Jot down a few key points you'd like to make so you're prepared.
  • Voila - you may just find yourself in the press simply by reading the news

2. Scan Twitter
  • As you're scrolling through the various rants on Twitter, be sure to check out #journorequest.
  • Journalists put out press requests using this hashtag. 
  • If you see something relevant, reply to them with how you can help.
  • If they come back to you, make sure you offer them an interesting story, angle, juicy facts, useful advice or meaty opinion.
  • Voila - without having to create a press release or come up with an entire campaign, you can get in the press simply by looking at your Twitter feed.

Of course, you may not get any response, but then again, you may. And it will have taken you the same amount of time as it would to post a comment on your twice-removed cousin's kitten video. Even if you don't get a response, you are letting people know that you are an expert and have something to say. You may not get a response this time, but you may start to get remembered so that when they do need a response, they turn to you.

I've appeared in national newspapers numerous times simply by following these two steps. It takes a tiny amount of effort and it just means switching on your brain to a few different things while you're already scrolling through your social media feeds. (If you need your morning coffee to get your brain switched on, feel free to have one!)

Lots of people don't bother with PR because they think it is too difficult. But these are two super easy things you can do that will start to get you thinking about all the opportunities that are out there. And trust me, once you get your first piece of press coverage, you'll want to get a whole bunch more.

If you would like to find out more about how to get publicity for your business, take a look at my Campfire Coaching cost effective training videos.

As always, share any successes you have with me either in the comments or over on  my Facebook page.
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Mid year review - how are you doing?

1/6/2016

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Disclaimer: I believe in honesty and keeping it real so that small business owners and solopreneurs feel less alone. If you want fakery, head over to the Facebook sponsored ads section....

It is 1 June. Yes. June. The sixth month of the year. Someone seems to have cranked up a time machine and hit the fast forward button. Back in January I wrote a plan about what I wanted to achieve this year. Here are some of the items:
  • Launch Ignite and get customers for it
  • Create and launch my online PR course (by March....bwahahaha - bless my naive little soul)
  • Get regular monthly clients on board
  • Hold at least one Campfire intensive with a client and two web copy clients a month
  • Create a retreat
  • Be earning xxx a month (I'm not going to share that because it has nothing to do with you nosey parker)
So how am I doing?
  • Well I did launch Ignite in January and got clients on board who were very happy with the work we did. But after a brilliant start, things have slowed. I haven't had enough Ignite clients. UPDATE: This service has now been changed. I now offer Campfire Clarity and Campfire Copy & Canvas sessions instead.
 
  • I have two monthly clients and have had interest from a third - but that isn't enough. Ideally I should have five. UPDATE: I now offer my 6-week Marketing Coach-sulting package instead of monthly packages.
 
  • I have held a Campfire Intensive and have written web copy for several clients, but again, I would like more of these. Frankly, I want a queue of people on a wait list for this so feel free to start a line....
 
  • I created a retreat! I can tick that juicy goal off and put sparkles on top. It will be held in September this year and I cannot wait. If you would like to book your seat at my campfire then please do! UPDATE: A new retreat is being held in May 2017. Details here
 
  • I am not earning what I set out to. Why? Because instead of building all of the above areas, I have been spending all my time doing the thing I haven't mentioned yet - the online PR course.

So about that online PR course....

​I have written about my learnings on creating an online course here. I am so close now, but I still have a HUGE amount of work to do. When you create a course it can either become all consuming so that you take your eye off the ball in other areas of your business, or you do the other areas of your business and end up procrastinating on getting your course done. I have probably done both!

But to put it into context, I have:
  • done a survey to find out what people want
  • translated the results into a course outline
  • created the content for all course modules
  • branded that up
  • made videos for each module
  • learned how to use Pages to design beautiful looking downloadables and supporting materials
  • built a Wordpress website complete with membership plug ins and payment systems with all my content hosted online
  • am about to create the launch funnel.
As learning curves go, this has been huge. So it may not be a March launch, but it will launch imminently. And I will be celebrating when it does. UPDATE: It has now launched and is available here.

On balance, how does my mid year report card look?
Although I feel as though I haven't ticked off nearly as many of my goals as I would have liked to and I'm still not earning what I want, I have made huge inroads into my goals. If I think back to my goal for running this business, it was to have financial freedom to live life on my terms, with time off to go on adventures and be with my children and husband. And given I took most of April off to explore New Zealand, I think I need to cut myself some slack and say, 'Actually lady, you're doing ok.'

So how are you doing? How is your year going? Are you where you want to be, ahead, behind? What can I do to help?  If you have any areas in your business that you need to just get off your to do list, let me know. That way, you'll be helping me reach my goals and I'll be helping you. A win/win. 

Leave a comment below or just email me. Let's have a chat.

​Now onwards and let's see what awesomeness we can achieve.
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    About me

    ​I'm Melissa. You can find out all about me here. This blog is where I share my advice that is longer than the snippets I share on my Facebook page. 

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