Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!

I hope you all have had some time to relax and ruminate on your life and career for the new year. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, I'm reformatting this newsletter and sending it out twice vs. once a month. It will be shorter, but packed with information as always. I'm still fussing with the format so you might see an evolution over the next few months.

On the one hand I thought I needed to make a solid decision in order to send out a clear message--I'm consistent and reliable. I often get hung up on these little, but important details. Then I realized that the newsletter can evolve and you all won't be too pushed out of shape. Some things take time and we can't rush them.

I recall the story of Zorba the Greek who wanted to hurry the process of a cocoon to butterfly and so breathed on the tightly wrapped chrysalis. The butterfly emerged before it was ready and crumpled up dead before Zorba's eyes. He vowed never again to try to force something to happen before its time.

Now I know that this newsletter is no butterfly, but all the same.... I'm wishing you the space to let your projects evolve and to move forward with them at their own pace.

Warmly,

Susan

10 WAYS TO MAKE A PUBLICITY PLAN FOR THE NEW YEAR

Make a daily, weekly or monthly publicity plan. Aristotle said, "excellence is not an act but a habit." Do one thing every day to increase your publicity. If you're not a daily kind of person, do a batch of things weekly or monthly. The important thing here is to be consistent.

If you do something daily the habit becomes ingrained more quickly--and then it's not such a big job. Take the path of least resistance. If you can't pick up the phone, pick up your pen. But before you do anything, mull over what you want for the New Year and set a plan that will attract the kind of press coverage that will bring you the clients, sales, engagements or recognition that you want. Here's what I suggest to get you started.

1. Speak.

Speak about your work, ideas, philosophy. Get the word out in your community. You can begin to speak at schools, rotary clubs, and adult learning centers like the Learning Annex.

For an easy blueprint on how to apply to adult learning centers and structure a class effectively, get my new ebook titled "Skyrocket Your Speaking & Writing Career" at: http://prsecrets.com/store/sectoskyryou.html.

2. Post your articles.

I've met some great people with prominent websites who have become affiliates, and invited me to stay in contact with them by submitting more articles to their ezines. Great exposure!

You can post your articles in Article Announce--Writer & Publisher Exchange. For this exposure you must subscribe first before you can submit an article to: article_announce-subscribe@egroups.com. This group has targeted lists for business, home, health, Internet etc. http://www.egroups.com/group/article_announce.

Get your article syndicated to over 10,000 sites. Read the submission guidelines carefully before you submit. Your article won't even be considered if it's formatted incorrectly. http://www.web-source.net/syndicator_submit.htm. (BTW You can become an affiliate of mine and earn instant income. Find out how at: http://prsecrets.com/affiliateinfo.html)

3. Contact the producers and editors you want to write about you.

Submit fresh story ideas via phone, email or snail mail, whichever way is most comfortable for you. The important thing is to do something. And to do it regularly.

4. Subscribe to Dan Janal's PR leads service.

You'll get reporters' requests for experts and story leads sent to your email in-box. Go to: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=20994 (The price just increased to $495 from $295 after subscribers got tremendous results.) Even at that price it's worth it.

Hint: Even if a reporter doesn't respond back to you keep his name on file and start your own database so you can pitch ideas to him later. I keep mentioning this service because of its incredible value. You don't have to do anything pro-actively except respond!

5. Subscribe to the top publications you want to be in.

Study their style, content, tone, and note the writers that cover your beat (field/issue) before you pitch an idea. Start a file with email addresses of the writers you admire. When you send in an idea, compliment them on a recent article they've written to show you're familiar with their body of work.

6. Comment in your professional newsgroups.

Help someone else if you can't do something for yourself. Kind words travel fast.

7. Update your press kit--online and on paper.

What's new in your business?Can you tie into something that's topical today? Get fresh ideas by re-reading (or reading for the first time if you're a new subscriber) all the free articles about publicity, marketing and media coaching on my website. Go to: http://prsecrets.com/articles.html.

8. Get Chase's Calendar and find something relevant to publicize every day, week or month of the year.

The 2002 Chase's Calendar lists more than 12,000 historical anniversaries, holidays, birthdays, and events. You don't even have to think of an original angle, just tie your event, product or service into an existing day. http://www.chases.com.

9. Promote your ezine regularly.

Go to http://www.ezinehub.com to find ezines that would be interested in your topic/subject. Keep your ideas circulating.

10. Market your products to mail lists and newsgroups.

Check out http://www.liszt.com and http://groups.yahoo.com. This is an indirect, long term and time-intensive, but effective way to promote yourself. Monitor the groups first, answer questions, establish your credibility and make sure your signature file isn't too salesy. People will get to know and trust you over time.

One well known Internet "guru" told me that one of his affiliates has a newsletter subscriber list of over 50,000 members, but only a small percentage of those people buy his products or the products that he recommends. I think it's much better to establish a loyal customer base slowly than to bulk up a list with people who aren't invested in you and your services. If people like, trust, and respect you they will want to support and continue their relationship with you.

FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF MEGA-SUCCESSFUL SPEAKERS & AUTHORS

What do famous seminar leaders and authors know that you don't? That they can get free publicity and sell thousands of dollars of products by teaching at Adult learning centers. Follow the footsteps of people like Deepak Chopra, Suze Orman, Ray Bradbury, and Barbara Sher to jumpstart your business for the new year.

If you're looking to get speaking engagements at corporations, organizations, or associations, gain more national recognition and higher speaking engagement fees, sell more books or products, or build your business within your community, this ebook is for you. Get "Skyrocket Your Speaking & Writing Career" at: http://prsecrets.com/store/sectoskyryou.html and start your local or national publicity campaign today.