Working With Freelance Writers

Written by Linda Alexander


Continued from page 1
value ofrepparttar piece if it were to appear in a competing publication. More Ways to Save Another way to save on freelance fees is to buy previously written/published articles. You can purchase second rights to articles that have appeared in other publications in your field or on other web sites. A generic article prepared by a freelance writer can be modified for your company. The freelancer will often try to sell a version to different editors, and this will usually cost less than articles written specifically for your publication. Doing your part Giverepparttar 106596 writer as much background information as you can. Share background information that a staff writer would have access to. Let her/him know about repparttar 106597 publication, website, business or product; about repparttar 106598 angle you are trying to write from,repparttar 106599 style you prefer, and aboutrepparttar 106600 subject ofrepparttar 106601 piece and potential contacts. Keepingrepparttar 106602 Project Running Smoothly Require periodic status reports on a project. That way you will have better communication and fewer problems when a "surprise" pops up. Be available for your writers. Offer to be contacted by more than one medium: Userepparttar 106603 phone, fax, email, a cell phone, or instant messaging to allow them to reach you easily. Understand that freelance material may require more extensive editing or revisions than pieces done on staff. However, as you andrepparttar 106604 writer establish a relationship through ongoing projects, she/he will learn your style and tone. If you are hiring a writer forrepparttar 106605 first time and are not sure about her/his work, assign a less important project -- perhaps something that could be eliminated if it were poorly written or not in on deadline. Once you find a writer you like, become an important client by giving her or him regular assignments. Later, if you need help in a pinch, they are more likely to give you their time.

Linda Alexander is a business writer and marketing consultant specializing in web and sales copy. Contact today to discuss your project! athena6173@qwest.net www.write2thepointcom.com


Public Relations Going O.K.?

Written by Robert A. Kelly


Continued from page 1

Let’s assume that we will strive to change existing opinion onrepparttar key issue. With your perception, behavior modification goals and now,repparttar 106595 strategy, established, progress will be measured in terms of specific altered behaviors, i.e., floor traffic returns torepparttar 106596 showroom; activist rhetoric declines; a low employee retention rate reverses. Such progress indicators can be set down, and agreed upon, oncerepparttar 106597 negative perceptions are truly understood, thus establishingrepparttar 106598 degree of behavioral change that realistically can be expected.

A Persuasive message

What do we say? Well, we prepare persuasive messages designed to inform, clarify, and impact individual perception in such a way that individual behaviors flowing from those perceptions are consistent with that desired by our organization. Bringing important target audiences around to one’s way of thinking really does depend heavily onrepparttar 106599 quality ofrepparttar 106600 message prepared.

The messages must contain clear evidence supporting your organization’s views onrepparttar 106601 issue such as a credible third-party endorsement of your position. Regular assessments of how opinion is currently running among employees, suppliers and community leaders should be made. Finally, action-producing incentives leading individuals to change their perceptions ofrepparttar 106602 issue, thus altering their behaviors, should be included inrepparttar 106603 message – incentives that testify torepparttar 106604 organization’s good intentions and veracity. It’s Tactics Time

Now, you selectrepparttar 106605 most effective communications tactics available to you.

The question is, how will you reach your target audiences – especially in various locations? You have many choices. Face-to-face meetings, email, hand-placed feature articles and broadcast appearances, special employee, supplier or community briefings, news releases, announcement luncheons, onsite media interviews, facility tours, promotional contests, brochures and a host of other carefully targeted communications tactics.

Reaching such audiences withrepparttar 106606 message through special events is particularly effective. They offer news value and include activities such as financial roadshows, awards ceremonies, celebrity appearances, open houses and trade conventions.

Your public relations effort effort can be accelerated, even amplified by carefully selectingrepparttar 106607 very best tactics from among print or broadcast media, key podium presentations, special events or top-level personal contacts. When these tools communicate with each target audience, they must score direct bullseyes.

And remember that vital torepparttar 106608 success of any action program isrepparttar 106609 selection and perceived credibility ofrepparttar 106610 actual spokespeople who deliverrepparttar 106611 messages. They must speak with authority and conviction if they are to be believed, and if meaningful media coverage is to be achieved.

Action

While it’s pull-the-trigger time, you should insure that you approach your target audiences with a tactical schedule calculated to reach them consistently as well as through varied media such as newspapers, radio and television appearances, high-profile speeches, facility tours and community briefings.

How are we Doing?

The key activity here is monitoring progress, seeking signs of improvement in target audience perceptions and behaviors.

You and your colleagues should speak regularly with members of each target audience, monitor print and broadcast media for clear evidence ofrepparttar 106612 organization’s messages or viewpoints and regularly interact with key customers, prospects and influential citizens.

Indicators thatrepparttar 106613 messages are moving community opinion – read perceptions and behaviors -- in your organization’s direction will start appearing. For example, indicators like comments in community meetings, local newspaper editorials, e-mails from suppliers as well as public references by political figures and local celebrities. The End Game

You’ll know when you arrive atrepparttar 106614 public relations end game becauserepparttar 106615 changes in behaviors will become truly apparent -- among them, encouraging supplier and thought-leader comment, increasingly upbeat employee and community feedback and an increased pace of positive media reports.

Bottom line? The public relations program can be deemed a success when you clearly meetrepparttar 106616 original behavior modification goal you set when it all began.

end



Bob Kelly, public relations consultant, was director of public relations for Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-Public Relations, Texaco Inc.; VP-Public Relations, Olin Corp.; VP-Public Relations, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net




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