Reach Thousands of Your Prospects, Absolutely Free

I'm big on getting maximum marketing exposure at the lowest cost possible. After all, most small business owners don't have huge marketing budgets, so finding inexpensive ways to market is a necessity.

Recently I was able to get free marketing exposure for my business to 100,000 people. It was something that took an hour or two of my time and the payoff was huge. And you can do it for your business, too.

It's called Public Relations

And it's simpler than you might think. If you follow a few basic rules, you can get great exposure for your business, product or service without having to pay for it. Here's all I did. See if this might apply to your business.

I sent out a press release announcing the launch of my 10stepmarketing System to two local business publications. While it did not take a lot of time to write and send the release, there were a few key steps I took that you also must take to be successful with your PR efforts.

A few key steps

First, I found several publications that were targeted to the same type of people I am targeting with 10stepmarketing: small business owners. Once I had identified these publications, I did some research to find out the names of the staff writers who cover marketing.

I identified a "hook" to make the story relevant to the publications and I made sure the content of my release provided clear benefits to their readers.

I emailed the release with a note saying I would follow up in a day or two to answer any questions. I followed up with a phone call, speaking directly to one writer and leaving a voice message for the other.

A few days later, I received a phone call from the writer I had left the message for, and spent 20 minutes on the phone answering her questions and helping her understand more clearly how my system could help her readers. I even arranged for her to receive a copy of my product for review.

About a week later, both stories hit. One publication ran my press release verbatim and the other covered all the content in my release and added quotes and information from her phone interview with me.

PR isn't hard when you follow these 6 basic rules:

(1) Identify news outlets that reach YOUR target audience

(2) Send news that is important to, and includes a clear BENEFIT for the publication's audience

(3) Send your release to the APPROPRIATE writer or editor

(4) Include a "HOOK" or something that makes it more interesting or relevant to the publication and their audience (in my case, since the writers covered the local advertising community, I led with the fact that I am a local ad agency veteran)

(5) Follow up with a phone call

(6) Make yourself available to do an interview, answer questions or provide additional information

While I didn't expect a whole lot to happen as a result of this release being published (my objective was simply to announce the launch of my business and to pave the way for future news. I know it usually takes multiple message exposures to generate significant results), the short-term results were amazing.

Not only did it generate sales, I also received an invitation to speak as a result of the stories.

What news could you share about your business? What news outlets reach your prospects? Consider newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations, websites, and any other form of media you can think of.

What "hook" could you use? I challenge you to consider how you could use PR to market your business. It really is easier than you think and the results can be amazing!

(C) 2005 Debbie LaChusa

20-year marketing veteran Debbie LaChusa created The 10stepmarketing System to help small business owners successfully market their business, themselves without spending a fortune on marketing. To learn more about this simple, step-by-step program and to sign up for her FREE audio class and FREE weekly ezine featuring how-to articles, tips and advice, visit http://www.10stepmarketing.com

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Google News Updated : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:08:20 GMT US MBA's Mortgage Applications Index Increased 7.5% Last Week - Bloomberg 100 Mortgages US MBA's Mortgage Applications Index Increased 7.5% Last Week Bloomberg - 1 hour ago By Shobhana Chandra July 9 (Bloomberg) -- Mortgage applications in the US rose for a second straight week, a sign that falling home prices are attracting some buyers. Mortgage applications up 7.5% last week: MBA MarketWatch US mortgage applications increased last week-MBA Reuters CNN - Forbes - RTT News - 100 Mortgages all 15 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:38:08 GMT Iraq Wants Withdrawal Timetable In US Pact - Washington Post ABC News Iraq Wants Withdrawal Timetable In US Pact Washington Post - 8 hours ago By Ernesto Londoño and Dan Eggen BAGHDAD, July 8 -- Iraq's national security adviser said Tuesday that his government would not sign an agreement governing the future role of US troops in Iraq unless it includes a timetable for their withdrawal. Maliki's Withdrawal Card Wall Street Journal Iraqi Officials Still Insisting on Timetable to Withdraw New York Times istockAnalyst.com - AFP - CNN - Xinhua all 1,578 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:41:08 GMT G-8 Conference Tackles Global Warming Treaty - Washington Post BBC News G-8 Conference Tackles Global Warming Treaty Washington Post - 1 hour ago By Michael Abramowitz RUSUTSU, Japan, July 9-- The leaders of the countries most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions pledged Wednesday a shared effort to combat global warming, but developing countries like China and India continued to balk at the ... Bush: 'Significant progress' on climate change The Associated Press Emerging Nations Join G-8 on Climate New York Times Aljazeera.net - CNN International - Bloomberg - Telegraph.co.uk all 2,035 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:20:59 GMT Google adds third dimension to online social relationships - NetworkWorld.com Siliconrepublic.com Google adds third dimension to online social relationships NetworkWorld.com - 2 hours ago By Mikael Ricknäs , IDG News Service , 07/09/2008 Google has entered yet another space with the launch of Lively, a tool for creating 3D social spaces on Web sites, which is now available in a public beta test. Virtual world tipping point: Is there an enterprise use? ZDNet Google Introduces a Cartoonlike Method for Talking in Chat Rooms New York Times Reuters - The Tech Herald - eFluxMedia - Wall Street Journal all 263 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:04:08 GMT German shares up midday as financials rebound - Forbes ABC News German shares up midday as financials rebound Forbes - 1 hour ago FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - German shares were higher midday, led by financials, which rebounded from Tuesday's strong losses, and helped by soothing words from US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and easing oil prices. Fed ready to aid investment banks BBC News Fed Sees Turmoil Persisting Deep Into Next Year New York Times International Herald Tribune - Reuters - Financial Times - CNNMoney.com all 1,484 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:46:08 GMT Polygamist sect leader swaps jail for hospital - MSNBC KVAL Polygamist sect leader swaps jail for hospital MSNBC - 2 hours ago Warren Jeffs, the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has been hospitalized. Douglas C. Pizac / Pool via Getty Images FILE July 2: Michael Sean Winters, author of "Left at the Altar," joins the "Morning Joe" crew to ... Jeffs was taken to the Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las ... CNN Warren Jeffs Remains In Local Hospital KXNT Salt Lake Tribune - The Associated Press - Deseret News - Las Vegas Review - Journal all 309 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:48:40 GMT Coalition to lobby for US health-care reform - Reuters KULR-TV Coalition to lobby for US health-care reform Reuters - 17 hours ago WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) - A coalition of unions, think tanks and other groups launched an advertising campaign on Tuesday saying they want to ensure that health-care reform tops the US political agenda after the November elections. Coalition begins universal health care campaign Great Falls Tribune Coalition launches push for health care reform Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Rapid City Journal - Tampa Tribune - Beyond Chron - Washington Post all 291 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:09:32 GMT RSS Software Increase Web Traffic

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