Monday, December 14, 2009

10 Ways Blogging Will Simplify Your Marketing Program (Guest Post)


This is a post from one of my favorite blog: HubSpot's Inbound Internet Marketing Blog! All PR Professionals should listen up!!! Here's the post:

When marketers and small business owners consider blogging, they typically worry about added complexity. For a small team already managing many different channels and campaigns, content development can be a daunting undertaking.




It shouldn't be. A great business blog will actually help simplify your marketing program. Blogging is like elegant architecture -- it accomplishes multiple functional goals with minimal structural elements.




Consider an elegant building like the Hearst Tower in New York City. It manages to address various goals -- excellent workspace, environmentally sensitive construction and design, historic preservation and aesthetics -- with one simple, creative structure.



A business blog achieves elegance in the same way. It helps accomplish all of the goals listed below with a single thoughtful stream of content. A traditional marketing team would have to address each of these goals with a separate campaign:




1. Search Engine Optimization -- The best way to improve your SEO is to get more sites to link to your site. The best way to do that is to give people something remarkable to link to -- that means content, which means a blog.



2. Social Media Optimization -- If you're an active listener and contributor,it's not hard to build relationships on social media sites. But to get value out of these relationships as a business, you need to drive traffic back to your site from these sites. Your blog is the best way to do that.



3. Lead Generation -- This blog is one of HubSpot's most important sources of high-quality leads. People find this site because of the useful content, then they discover that we sell a related product. Many of those people request a product demo, and many of those people become customers.



4. Educational Value -- As part of the sales process, our sales team often needs to explain the inbound marketing vision. Fortunately, they don't spend too much time on that because the people who our sales team speaks with have read a lot about HubSpot and inbound marketing and understand its value based on what we've explained in webinars and blog articles like this one.



5. Thought Leadership -- Every business wants to be a thought leader. It's a cornerstone of an effective marketing program. If people know you're leading the development of your industry, they'll gravitate to your business. Today you can't be a thought leader if you don't have a blog. The blog is where thought leadership happens.



6. Nurturing -- Nurturing is a critical part of any sales cycle. It's the process of educating your prospects and building trust with them until they're ready to buy. There are a lot of complex, expensive software applications that focus on lead nurturing, but few are more powerful than a simple RSS feed or email subscription to a high quality blog.


7. PR -- If you're writing arduous, multi-page pitches for news organizations, you're wasting your time. You should put your time and energy into blog posts that share new data, break news or offer unique new advice, then share that post in a quick email with your contacts at news organizations.



8. Brand Building -- Today great brands are built by a company's product and content. For example, at HubSpot, content and marketing education is a big part of our brand. These values are communicated almost entirely through the advice, data and media we publish on this blog.



9. Recruiting -- To recruit top talent, you need to be able to communicate your company's values and vision clearly. You can do that in an interview, but you can do it with far more depth and nuance in a blog. As a prospective employee, I'd feel a lot closer to a company that I can understand through 300 high-quality blog posts than through a single About Us page.



10. Company Communication -- Many marketers overlook the internal value of a blog. If you want to make sure your entire company is up-to-date on domain knowledge and the current issues facing your industry, you should blog about them publicly. It's an elegant way of sharing information across your company.


Yesterday New York Times columnist Tom Friedman wrote about a Great Inflection in the U.S. economy. He described it as a "mass diffusion of low-cost, high-powered innovation technologies ...transforming how business is done."



Blogging is a powerful, elegant technology at the core of this Great Inflection Friedman describes -- and one of the techniques that will help your business get through the Great Recession we're in the midst of.

Guest blogger: Rick Burnes, http://www.hubspot.com/
 
For social media marketing teleseminar, visit: http://www.pamperry.eventbrite.com/

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

PR 2.0 = The Evolution of PR, Nothing Less, Nothing More by Brian Solis (guest blogger)



There are many of us running back and forth from the edge to the center who would love to drop “2.0″ from new evolution of PR. Hey, it’s even the name of this blog, and has been for years, but there’s a reason I haven’t changed the name yet.



The subject itself is a catalyst for healthy, informative, and motivating conversations.



I was reminded of this as good friend Kami Huyse shouted on Twitter recently, “I hate PR 2.0 I HATE PR 2.0. I can’t say it any louder, you get my drift. Come on folks, we aren’t software developers here.”



The irony is that when I first started using the term in the mid-to-late 90s during the Web 1.0 era, it was indeed inspired by software development. To reach a state of “2.0” after releasing the first iteration of software is a momentous step – a proof point that we’re on the right track, but that by listening to customers and also innovating, you could constantly release a better product.



And she’s not the only one talking about the so-called PR 2.0 contingent.



Noted PR fortuneteller, Amanda Chapel, captured it so eloquently, “History won’t be kind to PR 2.0, i.e. a moment in time when infatuation with tools replaced understanding of communications.”



It’s clear that there are those who want to help and those who want to cash in. I’m in the help category; so let’s do something about it.



Regardless of terminology let’s just say that there are those who believe…



PR 2.0 = Good Public Relations, i.e. effective communications.*



Yep, that’s a footnote.



*In a perfect world, it is what PR should be and should’ve been all along, but it isn’t.



Somewhere along the way, PR lost it’s way and created a new “sub” standard for what should have been one of the most respected positions within business marketing. Words such as shill, spin, sales, BS, bluff, exaggeration, arrogant, sensationalist, and oblivious, have become synonymous with this once golden profession. While the majority of the PR industry truly believed they were doing the right thing, the truth is that it took the Internet to expose our weaknesses and most importantly, it provided the infrastructure for us to learn from our mistakes publicly.



The reinvention of public relations was sparked ten years ago and its just now gaining momentum.



1) PR as an industry is in dire need of evolution in order to not only stay relevant, but also prove that in the social economy, it can be one of the most effective forms of marketing that cultivates customers, ambassadors, and enthusiasts.



2) Social Media is not New PR. It is a classification of “socialized” media and it is inspiring new PR, but they are not one in the same.



3) Darwinism will weed out those who don’t get it as well as those who pretend to get it (even if they don’t realize they don’t get it).





There’s a tremendous amount of confusion within the globally distributed halls of PR, and instead of debating and focusing our energies on 1.0 vs. 2.0, we should be working together to help people make the migration to new methodologies, strategies, and showcase the tools to participate.



The divide between those who do get it and the people that don’t is oceanic. Equally, there are veterans and opportunistic marketers who “believe” they get it, but actually don’t and are actively pushing this substandard, naïve, or manipulative form of person-to-person marketing…and they too must also learn.



Narrowing that chasm is a personal objective for me.



Here’s how I defined it years ago:



PR 2.0 was born through the analysis of how the Web and multimedia were redefining PR and marketing communications, while also creating a new toolkit to reinvent how companies communicate with influencers and directly with people.



It is a chance to not only work with traditional journalists and analysts, but also reach out to a new set of influencers, customers and peers.



No BS, no hype, just an understanding of markets, the needs of people, and how to reach them at the street level – without insulting everyone along the way. PR is evolving into a hybrid of communications, evangelism, and web marketing strung together by the teachings and benefits of sociology and psychology.



Obviously, the Web matured over the years. You could have simply subbed “multimedia” with “new media” several years ago and most recently, “Social Media.” Yet they’re all still relevant.



The classification was simply a reference for reflection, inspiration, and education.



Let me be clearer.



PR 2.0 is the understanding and practice that communications is a two-way process and incorporates the tools, principles, strategies, and philosophies for reaching, engaging, guiding, influencing, and helping people directly in addition to the traditional cycle of PR influence.








Social Media, the interactivity of the Web, and the rise of democratized content indeed represents a much-needed reinvigoration for a tired and complacent industry.



The only reason I run spend my free time writing about this is to spotlight the ongoing evolution of marketing to bring things from the edge to the center so we can all learn and grow together. It’s also one of the reasons I joined Chris Heuer and a group of other pioneers to co-found The Social Media Club. If you get it, share it.



In this regard, the principles and philosophies of PR 2.0 (originally) are truly different and noteworthy when compared to what we practice in traditional Public Relations and what we’re taught in school – although there are some fantastic people out there working to change this, Jay Rosen, Dr. Kaye Sweetser, and Robert French, just to name a few. There’s a balance between old, proven, and what’s new that we must equally embrace in order to be successful and effective.



What’s undeniable is that the Web has created and forced new channels for the distribution of information “at,” “to” and “between” people. It changed everything. It’s forcing traditional media to evolve. It’s creating an entirely new set of influencers with a completely different mechanism for collecting and sharing information, and is also reforming the daily routines of how people discover and contribute content.



The debate surrounding the “name” for this renaissance is insignificant and is a distraction from the more important parade of new and renewed ideas, strategies, and practices that help companies tell their story more effectively, genuinely, and convincingly. People will align with the moniker they believe in as long as it all nets to the same thing at the end of the day.



This isn’t about the critics or those who believe they’re above the rest of us, or even the enthusiasts who are overly passionate about the tools they use for sharing content in Social Media Marketing, this is about those who are learning, and more importantly, who want to learn about how PR can change for the better.



It’s not the tools. It’s the communicator.



It’s not the story; it’s the personalization and the targeted benefits and value proposition that compel someone to not only listen, but respond.



Let’s help those millions of Public Relations professionals and students who are just now, or soon will be, introduced to the new world of communications many of us have already been navigating for years.



They’re embracing the new school of PR as a personal responsibility and commitment to make things better.





New PR is only new until it’s not, and quite honestly, everything simply folds back into Public Relations.



Until we can get the rest of the world on the same page however, New PR deserves its own attention in order to help those looking to learn and understand where they need to be.



PR 2.0, New PR, Online PR, Social Media Marketing, Conversational Marketing, Influencer Relations, Relationship Marketing, Community Marketing, whatever we call it, there’s no denying it is representative of a shift in communications.

It’s migrating from a broadcast mechanism to a hybrid assembly of traditional PR combined with web-savvy, social-awareness, intelligence, and a real understanding of markets.



These more enlightened communicators get it and can effectively ignite relationships with people directly (conversations) and through peer-to-peer influence. One-to-many PR does not dissipate either; it becomes more targeted and informative.



For over ten years, we have had the ability and the privilege to virtually communicate directly with people, complementing our traditional channels of influencer relations.



The difference though, is that we’re required to participate in a more informed and intelligent way. It’s quite simply the minimum ante to jump in. Unfortunately, however, many communications professionals are merely using the same old tools and strategies to reach a very sophisticated group of consumers.



It’s not just about “finally” getting on Twitter, blogging, podcasting, creating profiles on social networks, putting videos on YouTube or uploading artwork on Flickr. These tools will come and go. It’s about what you do with them to create mutually benefitial relationships within each online community.



Be the person you want to inspire.



It all comes down to social sciences and the understanding, that New PR and Social Media Marketing is guided by sociology. The study and observation of online cultures, their interactivity, and the humanization of what it is we’re hoping to carry into these important communities will by default, improve the foundation for forging successful and mutually beneficial relationships. That’s where it all starts. Spin, hyperbole, messages, pitches, blasts, and voicemails have no place in the new world of communications.



Think intelligently.



Whether we’re talking about traditional PR or new PR, it was and is still rooted in relationships.



Online and offline PR require strategies that were supposed to be part of PR all along (know what you’re talking about and to whom your talking, who/what you represent and why it matters to the people you’re trying to reach).



In my opinion, there is no such thing as PR 2.0 as a practice. It is simply a game-changing mantra. But, if 2.0 is a mantra for evolution and change, then yes, it implies that there was, and still is, a traditional way of looking at things.



Whether you subscribe to the label is moot. If you believe in the reinvention of a more socially conscious, informed, and relationship-driven form of public relations, then that’s all that matters. Call it whatever you want, just as long as you contribute value to the evolution instead of stealing from it.

Guest blogger: Brian Solis
Brian Solis is Principal of FutureWorks, an award-winning PR and New Media agency in Silicon Valley. Solis blogs at PR2.0, bub.blicio.us, and regularly contributes marketing & tech insight to industry publications.



He's a published author and an avid speaker on the topic of new marketing and engagement. Solis is among the original thought leaders who paved the way for Social Media. He's a co-founder of the Social Media Club and a founding member of the Media 2.0 Workgroup


Register to Social Media Marketing Teleseminar: www.pamperry.eventbrite.com (get free mp3 on Be the Media)

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Ardyss International Super Star Pam Perry explains the "real" story for her PINK

The best advice I ever got: Get YOUR Mammogram. Thanks. I care. Get yours too. Brand YOUR Best Life and get your Levive!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk: Yelling vs. Whispering

I love him. He's crazy - but for real. That's important. Get moving on your dreams.......go for it. Brand YOUR best life!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Season Premiere of Oprah with Whitney Houston!

Everyone deserves a "comeback!" REVIVE, RESHAPE and RESTORE YOUR LIFE like Whitney Houston.

The Oprah Show had made tv history over and over... and they are about to do it again! The 24th season is kicking off with Whitney Houston! About to release her first album in 7 years, Whitney is talking to Oprah about it all!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

From A Whisper To A Scream - Shoestring Marketing and PR Tips


Your Message: From A Whisper To A Scream - Getting Your Product Out There On A Shoestring Budget

Happy 4th of July family. Here is an article that I am quoted throughout. Good information to help you become A Brand New You.

Your Message: From a Whisper to a Scream

Check out these low-cost marketing ideas for your new business.
URL: http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneursstartupsmagazine/2009/june/202090.html

You’ve got a great idea and a plan to turn it into a business. Now all you need are customers--and to get them, you need to spread the word about what you’re doing. One problem: Your marketing budget makes your grade school allowance look like a princely sum.

Not to worry. There are plenty of ways to promote your business without spending a lot. The key to effective penny-pinching promotion, say marketers Travis Miller, 32, and Jimmy Vee, 33, founders of Orlando, Florida-based Gravitational Marketing, is to apply creativity to established techniques and emerging opportunities to reach a specific audience. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Get Profiled
In 2007, when Seth Mendelsohn founded Simply Boulder Foods LLC, a Boulder, Colorado, company that makes gourmet sauces, he started posting profile pages on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. Mendelsohn, 31, estimates he has “a few hundred followers, and they all want to hear about our company,” which has projected 2009 sales of more than $100,000.

Some of these sites allow users to start special interest groups or fan pages, which Miller says you can use to talk about your products and build bigger audiences.

Make Yourself a Star
Perhaps you’ve never thought of yourself as the next Larry King, but today’s media vehicles make it possible for you to host your own show--for nothing. PR expert Karen Taylor Bass, 42, author of You Want Caviar, But You Have Money for Chitlins, hosts her own show on the free network BlogTalk Radio, a social radio network where hosts can create free, live, call-in talk shows using an ordinary phone. The shows are archived and available for download as podcasts. You can also post podcasts to your website or shoot your own videos and place them on YouTube or in your blog. “Don’t forget public access television, where you may be able to create your own show and reach local audiences for free,” Bass says. Business owners should check with their local cable companies for terms and restrictions.

Pluck from the headlines
Publicity 101 tells you to build a media list and send relevant news releases to the contacts on it. That works, but Stacey Dolezal Susini, 35, a former TV news reporter and the founder of Zontis Public Relations in Dallas, says you can get even more mileage by watching what’s in the news. First, understanding the beats--or specific topics and regions--each reporter covers can help you better target your list. In addition, by piggybacking on existing headlines, you can put yourself in the spotlight. “Is there a charitable organization in trouble? If so, host a food, coat or clothing drive for them at your place of business,” she suggests. Then call your local media and tell them what you’re doing.

No time to compile a media list on your own? Try services like Contacts on Tap, (which costs as little as $395 for a year-long subscription (and offers a 15-day free trial), or use a service like Bulldog Reporter (bulldogreporter.com), which lets you build a list, then pay $2 per name.

Go for the Demo
By demonstrating your product or service, you get to show prospects firsthand why they should buy from you, Mendelsohn says. While he now has a hectic grocery-store-demo schedule, he got his start at local farmers markets that only charged him a percentage of the day’s sales.

“Look for local events where you can connect with a lot of people, then let them know where they can buy your product in the future,” he says. Get more mileage by filming your demo or presentation and posting it online.

Find businesses in your backyard
Got local businesses that would be good customers? Susini suggests offering employee incentives to various businesses. Call their headquarters and ask how you can offer discounts or other special offers to their employees. If it’s a good fit, the HR department will promote your business to staffers without you having to do more than ring up sales. Similarly, she says, you can cross-promote your business with other businesses, offering discounts to their customers--and vice versa.

Be a Winner
Jenny Hwa, 31, founder and creative director of Loyale, a New York City sustainable clothing company that saw first-quarter sales growth of 70 percent, scours magazines and trade media on the lookout for awards competitions. In 2008, she was honored in awards co-sponsored by Glamour and O magazines, as well as one from iconic fashion designer Eileen Fisher. Another award she won was judged by editors from Glamour, Lucky and InStyle magazines, as well as popular website DailyCandy.com. “It was a big year for us,” she says, “and we got a ton of great publicity and met some important contacts because of the awards we won.”

Give it Away
Free stuff is always a hit. Miller suggests offering free reports or special offers on your website in exchange for the prospect’s e-mail address. Retail businesses might consider a small gift with purchase or other loyalty program for customers who make repeat purchases.

Speak Up
From local chamber of commerce meetings to national trade events, booking yourself as an expert speaker can be a great way to get attention--and new business. While it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, Bass says, many events and meetings are hungry for good speakers who can share valuable information, rather than an overt sales pitch. Best of all, she says, you can recycle your speech by turning it into a podcast for your website, a blog post, an article for a trade publication or even a series of Twitter posts. While you’re at the event, be sure to collect contact information from the people there and follow up. Says Bass, more than 70 percent of prospective leads are never pursued.

Get Sourced
When reporters need sources, they may turn to a handful of services. Help a Reporter Out, also known as HARO, started as a Facebook group and is now a service with more than 50,000 subscribers, connecting reporters and sources. Sign up for free at helpareporter.com. Similar services charge fees such as PR Leads--which helped Hwa get interviewed by national magazines--and Publicity Hound.

Don’t do it
There are some things that aren’t worth the money, no matter what your budget. Here are a few:

Going after Oprah: Yes, The Oprah Winfrey Show is the gold standard of publicity; but it’s a long shot. If you spend all your time and money going after this, you could miss valuable, revenue-generating publicity in smaller vehicles that are easier to crack, says Jimmy Vee of marketing agency Gravitational Marketing.

Printing costly press kits: PR expert Karen Taylor Bass cringes when she sees glossy printed media materials. She says, “It’s far more effective to use e-mail.”

Hiring a big agency: If you need to hire help, find a good service provider who works with startups and understands budget constraints, Vee says.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Talented Beautiful Smart & Sexy- Women of Color We Are In Fashion

Do You B.E.? Xerox Says... Yes We Can!

President Obama Taps Judge Sonia Sontomayor For The High Court The Face of A New America



It's a new day for all Americans. There is something to say about folks from humble beginnings, excellent work ethics and HUGE dreams. We salute our hermana, Judge Sonia Sontomayor!

A Great Time To Be A Woman. Xerox Appoints Ursula Burns
We are seeing the Obama Factor, Michelle that is ... Black Woman are SO in. It's no secret to US-- we have always been smart, talented, beautiful, diverse, multi-lingual, sexy and B-A-D! Congratulations to Ursula Burns, the FIRST Black Woman to take the helm of a Fortune 500 company.


Lebron James ... Pure Magic
This is my favorite time of the year to watch basketball ... the well marketed and 'corporate ties NBA Playoffs. I love sports... especially basketball... it's refreshing and sexy to watch well compensated athletes W-O-R-K it O-U-T. Of course, you might catch some magic here and there. This past Friday, did not disappoint with 1.0 seconds on the clock and Sir James with a basketball. Cleveland listen up - play 48 minutes against Orlando, each player needs to step up and you must win on Tuesday!
Do You B.E.?

I love Black Enterprise - let me say that from the jump. Wasn't really certain about going to Detroit for the Entrepreneur Conference -- given the state of the Motor City. Well, I came out stronger, better and more thankful. Met Pam Perry of Ministry Marketing Solutions for the first time since our first encounter 2 years ago via the web; we did a FREE PR Bailout Boot Camp together in the Big D; almost 60 people deep on a rainy Saturday with Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

I would say my best memories from this year's conference was:
1) Town Hall meeting discussing President Obama's Economic Agenda: A Boom or Bust for Black Business? moderated by the distinguished Professor Charles Ogletree, Jr., Harvard University, with a spirited panelists including Tara Wall (Washington Post) and Warren Ballentine (syndicated radio host). 2) Entrepreneur Awards Luncheon with special guest Spike Lee. It was refreshing to hear Spike complete sentences and not be so vague. 3)Chris Bryant, founder of Rapport Strategies giving a dynamic presentation on "Preparing the Work Force."
Next year's conference will be in Atlanta and the networking and knowledge is well worth the money and energy. We must invest in each other.

John Conyers Is He Smoking ? What Do You Mean A Performance Tax For Radio? Many Radio Stations and Black Artists Will Be Impacted
Call Your Local Radio Station and Legislature To Learn More

Conyers Makes Statement Regarding The Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848).


Conyers Makes Statement Regarding The Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848).

Rep. John Conyers, Jr. , (D) MI-14 made the following statement, on May 13th, 2009, at a Judiciary Committee hearing before offering an amendment to the Performance Rights act insuring that the needs of small, minority, religious, and non-music broadcasters are taken into account as he and other Members of Congress continue to work on the legislation. The statement indicates his intentions to improve the legislation.

As everyone in this room knows, the Performance Rights Act is one of my top priorities this Congress.

On one hand, I believe that the time is finally ripe for establishing some form of equity for recording artists – allowing them to be paid fair compensation for their creativity.

On the other hand, I am concerned about the economic impact this bill may have on broadcasters, particularly smaller broadcasters.

I know times are tough, and it is not the intention or goal of this legislation to drive broadcasters into bankruptcy or to bring about a widespread consolidation of the industry.

That is why I have been, and remain, committed to finding a middle ground on this issue. I believe a number of steps we can initiate today will help us achieve this result:

First, I – along with a number of my colleagues – will be offering a managers amendment that addresses several of the concerns that have been raised at our hearings and subsequent meetings.

The Managers Amendment provides a number of accommodations, including delaying the bill’s effective date, reducing the royalty payments due, and insuring that the needs of small, minority, religious, and non-music broadcasters are taken into account.

Second, today’s markup is not the end of the legislative process, and I remain ready and willing to work with all interested parties in developing any necessary further accommodation, as long as they are willing to work with us in good faith.

Third, I am requesting – along with Ranking Member Smith and Reps. Jackson Lee, Gonzales, and Lungren – a GAO study to analyze the economic factors for radio broadcasters and performing artists and copyright owners related to this Act.

This does not mean that we do not have enough information to move the bill forward at this time, but that as we move forward we can and should supplement the information available to the rate-making authority.

Fourth, I plan to remain diligent in ensuring the vibrancy and competition available in the broadcast and other relevant markets. The last thing any of us wants to do is preside over a broadcast market that becomes more concentrated, and less diverse.

I therefore plan to work with Subcommittee Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Smith and Subcommittee Ranking Member Coble in planning hearings on this subject in the very near future.

I understand this is an important an emotional issue for many. Creative rights go to the core of our cultural and intellectual health as a society. Broadcasters are a vital cog in our local communities and our political debates.

I believe we can encourage creativity, while at the same time protecting the economic viability of local broadcasters, and I believe today’s markup represents a good first step towards protecting both.

###05-14-2009###

Caviar & Chitterling - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Caviar--Chitterling TONIGHT @ 8PM
Exclusive with Thembisa S. Mshaka
Author
Put Your Dreams First- Handle Your Entertainment Business

Call-in Number: (646) 200-4565

Upcoming Show: 5/26/2009 8:00 PM
Bookmark using any bookmark manager!
Host Name: Caviar & Chitterling
Show Name:

How To Put Your Dreams First & Succeed In The Entertainment Biz


Length: 30 min
Description:

GameFace Brand Makeover
Philadephia
Tweet me @ PREXPERT
Facebook @ PREXPERT
http://www.taylormademediapr.com
http://www.karentaylorbass.com

Available for Speaking Engagements

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Pam Perry, US Rep John Conyers and Karen Taylor Bass & Sherry Washington

Detroit PR Bailout was a hit. Congressman John Conyers was there and we honored him on his 80th with a birthday cake from Kris Creations! Sherry Washington (far right) was gracious and let us have her Art Gallery for the day! Awesome event...entrepreneurs and authors were inspired.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Detroit: Run Don't Walk, The PR Bailout Is This Saturday

Do YOU Need a Bailout?

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Is the Tough Economy Troubling You & Your Business?


· Are you in a sales slump and in an idea funk? Need a way to pump up the activity in business, book or ministry?
· Need more NEW customers right now - and want to know why your marketing is not working now?
· Need a "recession-resistant" PR strategy that brings in new customers, at an affordable cost?
· Are you working too hard for your income - feel like your business owns you instead of you owning it?

· Want to know a better way to market on "auto-pilot?"



For more information, click here

DETROIT NEEDS A BAILOUT NOW –

AWARD-WINNING PUBLIC RELATIONS/BRANDING EXPERTS
KAREN TAYLOR BASS AND PAM PERRY TO HOST
FREE PUBLIC RELATIONS PR BAILOUT BOOT CAMP FOR ENTREPRENEURS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS & INDIVIDUALS

GUEST SPEAKERS: CONGRESSMAN JOHN CONYERS, JR & FRANKIE DARCELL, 92.3 THE MIX, “TALK OF THE TOWN”

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POWER-PACKED 3 HOUR SESSION, LEARN PR STRATEGIES TO INCREASE BUSINESS & CREATE POWER BRAND

Detroit, MI– Communications and Marketing experts Karen Taylor Bass (TaylorMade Media) and Pam Perry (Ministry Marketing Solutions) have teamed to present a public relations/marketing “Boot Camp” titled “The PR Bailout,” Saturday, May 16, in Detroit, MI. The three hour power-packed seminar will take place from 1:30pm-4:30pm, guest speakers: Congressman John Conyers, Jr., and Frankie Darcell, 92.3 The Mix, “Talk of The Town” at the Sherry Washington Gallery, 1274 Library Street, (Downtown) Detroit. The “Boot Camp” is absolutely FREE.

It’s no secret that given the economy, it is imperative to market one’s true authentic self when seeking clients, employment opportunities and growing a business. In an unsettled economy– everyone must
develop a BRAND NEW ATTITUDE to “standout” from the competition.
The PR Bailout Boot Camp will demonstrate how entrepreneurs can make the economy work and be fearless. Also, learn how to sell and position brand like nobody’s business.



The workshop is geared to empower participants with simple, yet effective PR techniques aimed at enhancing their career opportunities as well as help them take concrete steps toward realizing their full potential in business and beyond. The session will address “Branding, Blogging, Volunteerism and Strategic Alliance ” and much more.

Regardless of the industry, today’s business landscape demands that individuals possess the talents necessary to best position themselves for success. The abilities to hewn one’s image, identify and utilize viral marketing campaigns, and strategically self-promote, among others, are invaluable assets in anyone’s career development. The ”Boot Camp” will help participant’s gain a firm grasps of these and other vital skills.

Together, Taylor Bass and Perry have more than 40 years of public relations and marketing expertise.

Here's what other's have said:
"It's not often that you find an EXPERT who willing to go above and beyond what is expected in order to help someone else! Pam Perry is truly a blessing, ready and willing to share her wealth of knowledge with those who are ready and willing to receive and act on it! God Bless You Pam Perry!" - Renita Collins, Author, "31 Days Of Focus"

"When I read what Karen was offering her PR Boot Camp, I was determined to be there. For the first time, I traveled 8.5 hours to New York alone in my car. The PR Camp was great! It introduced me to the latest in public relation. Her presenters were awesome!! They ignited my excitement even more to get out there and let the world know about my business and passion to serve others. The camp delivered more beyond my expectation. As I traveled back home, I was overjoyed with future possibilities and goals I can indeed achieve. Thanks Karen! " - Dr. Willie Mae Hawkins, Spring, Inc- A National Single Parenting Ministry


"I have witnessed first hand Karen Taylor Bass' approach in taking a product from (relative) obscurity to notoriety" ~ Jill Scott Pictures, Images and Photos
Jill Scott, Grammy Award Artist, Actress, Author & Poet


"Hey Mrs. Perry!! I wanted to let you know I'll be a Guest Expert on the Tyra Banks Show on Monday! Thanks to you! I'm on your mailing list, so I'm able to take part in all of the teleconferences you promote and I've learned soooo much! And as a 25 year old mediocre Author/Motivational Speaker, I've been able to tell my story on Oprah and be a Guest Expert on Tyra within a month of one another. Aint God Good!!! Thanks!" - Tony A. Gaskins, Jr. , author












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Saturday, April 4, 2009

Pam Perry, PR Coach, Ministry Marketing Solutions - Digital Evangelism

Pam Perry presenting at seminar called, "How to Market Your Ministry." This presentation was called, "Digital Evangelism." Like a copy of the powerpoint? Go to SlideShare.com and get a copy to download or go to www.MinistryMarketingSolutions.com to contact the MMS office. Video done by Ivory Coast Communications, Bob Ivory and taped by Eagle Communications. Tina Polite also spoke at this same conference with Bob.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Taylor Made Media: Professional Media Development

Taylor Made Media: Professional Media Development


PR BOOT CAMP
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Do you want to learn the secret to getting your BRAND featured
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Network vs. net worth



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How to be an Internet superstar



SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Harlem Office State Building
163 W. 125th Street
New York, NY 10027

Karen Taylor Bass
Considered one of the premier authorities in the public relations industry, Karen Taylor Bass has set the standard in providing Branding, Marketing and Public Relations to entrepreneurs and corporations. Her message of public relations as an empowerment tool has appeared in such publications as Black Enterprise, NY Daily News, Marie Claire, Ebony, Billboard, and Essence, The Network Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer to name a few. As a requested motivational speaker, Taylor Bass, has shared her message with audiences at such institutions as Columbia University, Howard University, The Learning Annex, The Black Enterprise Entrepreneur Conference, The University of Texas (Austin), National Association of Black Accountants Conference, and Annual Arab-American Conference





Tenille M. Robinson
Small Business editor at BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine. She is responsible for writing and editing features, and determining the editorial direction of the Enterprise and Motivation departments. She reports on small business and franchising news and opportunities, and interviews notable personalities for the magazine’s popular Backtalk column.




LeGrande Green
A seasoned TV veteran who has supervised teams of producers at The Oprah Winfrey Show, Sally Jessie Raphael and other nationally syndicated programs. The recipient of four Daytime Emmy Awards, Green garnered praise and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News/Talk Documentary for "Unsolved Hate Crimes of the Civil Rights Movement.
www.legrandetv.com





Nicholas Hirshon
A prominent staff writer at the New York Daily News covering all beats from culture to politics. NY Daily News boasts a daily readership of 2.5 million. www.nydailynews.com




Rosalind McLymont
Editor-in-chief of The Network Journal, New York's premier magazine for Black professionals and business owners. She also is a partner in McLymont, Kunda & Co., an international trade and business development strategy firm with clients in the United States, Africa and the Caribbean. www.tnj.com





Andrew Bass
As Chief Idea Maker of Straight Design, Andrew Bass has spent 20 years perfecting his craft in the areas of identity & branding, editorial design, print media and promotion which culminated in starting his own boutique studio in 2004. His company provides Fortune 500-styled visual strategies for small-businesses and not-for-profits that are simple and direct. Having worked and led various art departments of corporations like ESSENCE Communications. McGraw-Hill, Earl G.Graves, LTD; CMP Media and VNU Business USA. www.str8tdesign.com

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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Is It Really Free Speech? NY Post Cartoon InAppropriate

Is it really free speech?

This cartoon is simply inappropriate for a myriad of levels. It's blatantly racist.

NY Post you need to be checked.

Why would you portray the President of the United States in this manner? Are you afraid that President Obama will succeed and lead Americans out of this financial calamity caused by the Bush Administration? The NY Post has been against the stimulus package from the beginning citing every reason why it won't work and no real suggestion or indication that maybe ... just maybe... this package could work to stimulate the economy and save everyday people from drowning.

If one of us fail ... we all fail. This is America where all dreams are possible. Right?

All New Yorkers are outraged by the cartoon. This is not a Black thing ... its an American thing.
Get with it.

As a PR Expert, impression and authenticity is everything. I preach to my clients and constituents about accountability. Is this the image and perception you want the "world" to see? I would hope not.

We are all responsible for making a better world.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

NonFiction Book Publicity Tips With Steve Harrison

Visit http://www.TheBigSecretToGettingPublicity.com/?11291
for info on the Publicity Summit! Get major media!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Perfect Pitch: Dina Bair

What does the media want...they tell you here! Ask the PR distinction with help navigating media...if you need some help.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Trend Spotting and Predictions for 2009

Publicist & author Penny Sansevieri (pictured above)


"In the midst of adversity lies opportunity - if you expect it." -- Pam Perry, PR coach


As we roll into 2009, I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at some trends for the New Year and ways you can turn these trends into profits for you. Increasingly, we find that with attention spans shrinking, trends seem to come and go a lot quicker. That’s why it’s imperative to know your market and know what the trends are that will have a long-term affect on your sales as opposed to those that are fairly short-lived. Some will be expected trends but I think you’ll find a few surprises in here as well.


1)Green: anything and everything or related to conservation. The same is true for organics and organic products and books related to these topics. Also, keep in mind that it’s not cheap to be green so the more you can teach people how to be green and save money, the more popular your book or product will be.


2)Entrepreneurs:
more and more people are leaving their corporate jobs (whether willingly or through a layoff) and finding a safe haven in the entrepreneurial market. Anything related to office, home office, start-ups, inspiration for business owners, whatever it is, it’ll be in high demand. We’re seeing a huge uptick of folks starting businesses and in fact, it’s predicted to be a very fast growing market in 2009.


3)Social networking and anything related to Web 2.0:
whatever you’re doing, make sure you’re doing it online. There’s a huge surge in this market and we predict an even bigger one to come. If you’re not online in a way that supports your book and gets to your consumer then you should make that your #1 priority for the New Year.


4)Outsourcing: this is a big one
. As more companies lay off, outsourcing options will expand. I’ve read reports saying that companies will start outsourcing everything from HR to accounting. This is great news if you offer a service, if you do and your book ties into this position use your book as your business card. Now is the time to expand on the benefits and cost savings of going the outsourcing route.


5)Business coaching:
could it be that the explosion of entrepreneurs will require more business coaches? Possibly. But trends suggest that any business related coaches will be in high demand. Coaching, while having become a bit of a cliché term, is still a popular field, no matter how you define it.


6)DIY: the do it yourself culture will be out in full force in the New Year. If your book or product dials into that in any way, make sure to maximize this benefit in your marketing materials. (see #8 too)


7)Pets and anything related to pet ownership: it’s been a trend for years and it only keeps getting bigger. Anything pet-related and any other sort of tie in will be huge and only grow even more as the year wears on. Four out of ten US households have a pet (most of them a dog), so offering up products and services to that market is a sure win. Also, there are particular markets that tend to be recession proof. Pet services is one of them.


8)Home: consumers are staying home more than they ever were. If your book is on decorating, home-care, DIY renovation, real estate, and anything in between. Get out there and market it aggressively to decorating sites, home owner-related sites, the DIY market (you’ll find a lot of these folks on Facebook) and real estate sites that are directed at consumers.


9)As time wears on the idea of browsing online is going to shift and consumers will want to get to their data, product, or service fast. What does this mean for you? Well for one thing it will force those of us who are marketing online to be pinpoint accurate in our messaging. There’s little or no time for fluff and, as I mentioned earlier, surfing for the sake of surfing is no longer part of the consumer mind-set.


10)If ads are your thing, then consider this, Advertisements are going to become so desperate that you’ll start hearing a term called Shockvertising, this form of advertisement using shocking words or images to get the viewers attention. We saw this in the UK with the ad for Dexter. I’ll save you the description, it wasn’t pleasant but certainly shocking. You can only imagine I’m sure.


If all of this has left you wondering how you can be a trendspotter in your market here are a few ways you might be able to capture early trends within your marketspace:


1)Listen: listen to what your readers/consumers are asking for. If you start seeing the same request over and over again this might indicate an emerging trend.


2)Read: read publications in your market, go to conferences (these don’t always have to be in-person events, they can also be online) and get to know who your competition is in this space. Read publications, other books. The best sales person is one who is constantly learning.


3)Go online: find out what people are buzzing about on blogs, web sites, even Twitter. You’ll get a lot of real-time data to work with when you know where your audience resides and where they’re talking about what you’re selling!


As we all try to make our marketing dollars count for even more, trends and marketing to these groups is becoming even more important. Taking risks often means wasted marketing dollars. The more certain you can approach marketing, the better served your campaign will be and the quicker it will get off the ground.

From A Marketing Expert
http://www.amarketingexpert.com/ameblog - Hear Penny on the Chocolate Pages Show discussing Red Hot Internet Publicity with Pam Perry

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