Top Ten Ways for Start-up Entrepreneurs to get Free PublicityWritten by Tara Kachaturoff, Executive Coach
1. Submit a free press release. Go to site www.prweb.com and sign up today. Write a press release about newsworthy items going on in your business. Use it to announce new additions to your staff, a new book you have written, or an upcoming workshop you plan to teach. 2. Write articles. Write articles and submit them to websites, like www.ideamarketers.com, www.goarticles.com, or www.articlecity.com that offer them for free or fee to online newsletters and ezines. You can include a captivating byline, complete with your contact information. Next time someone reads one of your articles; you may be contacted and might even get a new client. 3. Design a captivating email signature. Make sure your email signature includes your name, company name, telephone, fax and email address. But also add other information to capture attention of readers. You might include a catchy slogan or an offer for a complimentary session. Better yet, if you have a new class to offer or have a book or article published, include a line about that as well. You might want to use a different typestyle and have contact information for that specific item as well. 4. Write a newspaper column for a local paper. If you are a personal coach, you might create an “Ask Coach” column. Be prepared to write a lot of articles or responses to readers’ inquiries. The most successful writers will be experienced ones and those who have a unique coaching specialty. There are thousands of coaches. Why are you different and what type of useful information can you offer to readers? While there is a chance you might be paid for doing this column, don’t count on it. Most likely, you will be able to include full contact information in byline which will make it easy for interested readers to contact you. 5. Contact your local talk radio station. Local talk radio stations are always looking for interesting people to invite as guests. In order to get an invitation, you must have something captivating to talk about. There are thousands of coaches who coach business and personal issues. Do you have a specialty which makes you unique, i.e. a wedding coach, a relationship coach, a real estate coach? Have you developed a special and unique program which people can follow to dramatically change their life? Have you written and published a book? As they say in Hollywood, “don’t be dull and don’t be desperate.” Dull definitely won’t do, if you want to be on talk radio!
| | Top Ten Tips for Writing a Professional Overview or BiographyWritten by Tara Kachaturoff, Executive Coach
A professional biography or overview, showcasing your background, experience and expertise, is a necessity for every business owner. This often overlooked marketing tool is an excellent way to introduce you and your business to potential clients and possible strategic business partners. Potentially, it might open up opportunities for speaking engagements, radio or television interviews, or a feature print article. While any information about you and your business is helpful, information that is presented in a professional, well-polished manner can make all difference in how others perceive you. Consider these important points as you craft your own professional biography.1.One page wonder. Your professional biography should be a few paragraphs and kept to one page or less. One page is perfect for copying on reverse side of a handout or flyer. Several paragraphs, left justified make it easier to read and skim. 2.First, second, or third person? Always write your biography in third person. That is, refer to yourself by your name or she/he as appropriate. It sounds more professional as it appears that a third party wrote text. For example, “Alexandra has been featured in New York Times, Forbes, Newsweek, and Time magazines.” 3.Business in brief. Not only do readers want to know what you do, but also they want to know who you work with – because they might want to work with you! A professional biography should include a sentence or two about your business niche (or niches) as well as types of clients you serve. A modified version of your 30-second elevator pitch might be perfect. 4.And winner is…. Make sure that you include a list of awards that you have received. Readers are interested in knowing about your talents and organizations that recognize you for them. 5.Organizations. Include names of organizations, clubs, or associations to which you belong. A reader’s interest might be highlighted at seeing that you belong to same alumni association or professional business group. Again, these connections might possibly lead to some interesting and exciting business opportunities. 6.Certifications and designations. Include any professional certifications or designations you hold. Make sure you write out their names in full, rather than use abbreviations. Not everyone might know that CMA stands for Certified Management Accountant. And, perhaps, in a different discipline, it might represent something else – like a Certified Materials Analyst. If you no longer hold a particular designation, but it has played a major role in who you are and what you do, don’t hesitate to make a reference to it. For example, “Ann is a former Certified Data Processor and spent last decade as an adjunct faculty member teaching higher mathematics at University of Colorado, Boulder.” Don’t include abbreviations of college degrees, like MBAs as it looks unprofessional. The only exception to this would be for a Ph.D. designation.
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