Dear Friends,

We live in a country where fast wins.

But sometimes overnight isn't fast enough. Last year, Grameen Foundation USA (they are the biggest micro-lenders to third world countries) landed an article in the Wall Street Journal thanks to PressKit 24/7.

The reporter on deadline called late Wednesday night and needed to wrap up the story early Thursday morning. If this global nonprofit didn't have an on-line press kit they would have lost out.

Did you know 90% of media professionals prefer on-line press kits to clunky tear sheets and printed documents? Electronic press kits have come of age. So if you're not emailing your press releases and don't have an on-line press kit you're giving up a lot of potential media coverage.

I was talking to Drew Gerber, mastermind of the nationally- renowned virtual PR firm http://www.Wasabipublicity.com and http://www.PressKit247.com, about the next wave of on-line publicity. Reporters and producers do everything fast. Having an on-line press kit available 24/7 gives them access to you when THEY need it.

Now I realize that most people aren't in a position to spend the $3000-$10,000+ a month to hire a publicist and I've been looking for a solution to that problem for years as I get calls and emails from people every week who want a big publicist but have a small budget.

Drew and his partner Michelle Tennant have the solution. You're hearing about it first here. They are offering my subscriber list and only mine, a new service called "My Team Does Presskit247."

What you get:

Your own personal professional writer who works with you to help you hone your national brand, platform and messaging that will attract the media. Then your writer creates your materials and then posts them on-line for you in a special area where the media can search by subject. In addition, they pitch you to the radio, TV and print outlets based on the daily leads they get from the media who are actively searching for experts.

I'm not sure you realize how valuable all this is...because I can tell you that most people haven't a clue about pitching the media. By having a professional publicist pitch you, you increase your chances of getting interviewed by about a thousand percent. That may sound like an exaggeration, but it isn't. I've worked with hundreds of very smart people but few of them ever really get how to pitch themselves to the media. And you can take all the classes you want, but this kind of skill gets developed over hundreds of hours of phone work and many years of practice.

For a free demo, call 888-513-5302 and ask for Drew, email him, or click here.

Warmly,

Susan

What You Should Have For Your On-line Press Kit

An on-line press kit gives journalists everything they need when they need it. As you know journalists and producers are always on ridiculous deadlines. I once spoke to a freelance journalist who complained, "I called this source an hour ago and she still hasn't returned my call." Their sense of time is compressed from being in a pressure cooker 24/7 to get their articles filed on time. So you don't have to live that kind of life get all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's what you need:

1. Bio or Backgrounder.
2. Photos, Logos or Images.
3. FAQ or Fact Sheet.
4. Story Ideas.
5. News/Publicity.
6. Video.
7. Articles.
8. Your Books.
9. Spokesperson Credentials.
10. Contact/Buy Information.

If you don't have all these yet, don't worry. Build as you grow.

1. Bio or Backgrounder.

Your bio establishes you as an expert in your field and gives the media a sense of your talent and skills. Give a quick thumbnail of the essentials in a paragraph and then expand it with more details. I suggest providing headers for each paragraph for easy reading. Include all your skill sets broken down into categories for easy skimming. See my bio here

2. Photos, Logos or Images.

The media want to see you, of course, particularly TV producers. Do you and/or your products make a good photo op? Make available (professional photos only) in both high resolution for magazines and newspapers and easily downloadable small files as JPGs for the Internet. If you have action photos and a logo for your business include those as well. Here's a fine example for products

3. FAQ or Fact Sheet.

This is a quick list of statistics, research, and factual information that shows your subject in a national perspective. You want to let the media know that your topic is of urgent importance. See how it's done here

4. Story Ideas.

Stating story ideas gives the media a jumping off point for interviewing you. While they may not use the exact subjects you list it gives them a sample of the kinds of topics you can address. I like how Sandy Sandler goes against the grain of buying high tech toys by saying, "Craft projects using the Bowdabra can help unleash a family's creativity along with their dependence on technology for fun. Brain research proves creativity and problem solving abilities are enhanced and nurtured by hands-on, sensory activities for children." Who knew something as simple as tying bows could be broadened to include creativity? Notice the breadth and scope of these.

5. News/Publicity.

Where have you been quoted, profiled or featured already? Put the logos or images of the media outlets right there on your website. Link to the articles or get permission to put them on your website in their entirety. Take a look here for a linked list.

BJ Gallagher highlights hers in a "Latest News" section. Look at Lissa Coffey's site for the use of images. She also has some nice media raves on this page. It's reassuring to the media when their colleagues weigh in about guests. This is the one field where no one wants the virgin.

6. Video.

Post a short (two to four minute) video in Quicktime or Streaming video so it can be accessed on all platforms. (Macs can't open Windows Media Player). Any producer who is serious about booking you on a major national show wants to see how you perform. They really only need about 30 seconds to yay or nay you. See some of Stacy DeBroff's--like the CBS Early show and other clips here.

7. Articles

Where have you been published? Articles add to your credibility. The more recognizable the publication the better. If you're a columnist you have even more clout. Take a peek at Lisa Earle McLeod's syndicated newspaper columns at ForgetPerfect.com.

8. Your Books.

List the books that you've written published by a recognizable publisher. While self published books count to you, in this realm they count very little. If you're a speaker and sell your titles at the back of the room and have sold at least $3,000 copies you'll begin to have a semblance of credibility. Be sure to mention how many copies sold if it's significant. See an example here that has impressive awards, clear visuals and crisp testimonials (and it sure doesn't hurt that one of the books boasts "as seen on Oprah").

9. Spokesperson Credentials.

If you're positioning yourself as a spokesperson potential clients want to see who you've represented and they also need to know you're a facile talker who can improvise. Here's Jonni Kennedy who has done a nice job of visually depicting her clients. In her bio she says "In addition to countless trade shows, webcasts, videos, infomercials, and voice overs, Jonni is a seasoned broadcaster with appearances on The TODAY Show, CNN, Regis Live, Crossfire, Cartoon Network, FNN, Fox News, Home Shopping Network, and MSNBC, among others. You know from her background that she's had plenty of experience in front of a camera and speaking before substantial audiences, though she doesn't have any videos up on her site yet.

10. Contact/Buy Information.

Make it easy to get in touch and to buy. Provide an 800#, website, email address, ISBN numbers, quantity discounts, bulk sales, availability, guarantee etc. I'm always surprised at how many people forget these most important details. If you're giving away money or products to charities let it be known. Make it simple for the media to give their audience the best ways to buy your products or services.

You can learn the formulas for creating these materials in my book Sell Yourself without Selling Your Soul.

Create your on-line press kit so you'll be ready for any media opportunity--even if it comes in the middle of the night. For a free demo, call 888-513-5302 and ask for Drew or, send an email, or click here.

Hire a Publicist for $1800/mo

Press Kit 24/7 is an online press kit service that allows you to be in charge of your own press materials any time of the day, without having to rely on a webmaster. With this proprietary Internet technology, keeping your press materials up-to-date will be as easy as using your own word processing software. Offering the creation, hosting and an expert profile with personalized pitching by a professional writer to 7,000 reporters for only $1800/month for one year.

NOTE: For a free demo, call 888-513-5302 and ask for Drew, send an email or click here.

P.S. The software has made it simple for people to upload all their information without any techie skills. (That sure speaks to me).

Sound Bite CDs + Online Class

For those of you who have been wanting to take my sound bite teleclasses...

I turned them into a CD set + online seminar, so you can go at your own pace and learn how to create sound bites that do double duty: sell--and entertain.

I noticed that many of the seminar participants didn't want to practice their sound bites in the "spotlight" in front of the group. With this self-paced seminar you get the benefit of hearing how to do it, sans anxiety!

Discover how to create your essential messages for TV, radio or print without selling your soul--and while selling your product, service or cause.

Bonus! You get a sound bite buddy to practice with and a special resource: a community of people who are actively interviewing in the media that you can communicate with in my forum. Go here to turn your next media interview into a profit center.

Free Teleclass: Get Yourself on TV Any Time Any Where

Join me and Lisa McLeod to discover how you can get yourself, your cause or your product featured on TV.

Lisa McLeod is the hilarious author of Forget Perfect and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist who, armed with only a laptop and a cell phone, booked herself on over 30 TV shows including Good Morning America, Fox News, Good Day Atlanta, and Living it Up with Ali and Jack.

You'll learn:

• The one thing that determines whether a producer reads your email or sends it straight to the trash
• The single biggest mistake 99% of people make when pitching
• hy a lazy producer can be your best friend
• What to put on your web site to make producers call
• How to leverage a single local TV appearance into national PR gold
• What to say--and not to say when you get the big call
• How to make sure your segment spotlights your book or product

Date: Tuesday, June 20
Time: 10am-11am Pacific
1 hour
Cost: FREE
Register: send a blank email

NOTE: You'll receive a confirmation email with the call details typically within a few hours of sending an email. If you do not, please check your spam filter and/or whitelist the name newslettereditor@prsecretstore.com.

Limit: The first 100 people--register early so you don't get left behind.

Find out how to pass the producer's audition (their call to you) here.

Writer's Chat about Oprah & Getting that Elusive Book Advance

I'm doing my very first chat with Shalla de Guzman's Writer's Group. Come on over and ask me a question. I'll answer them on June 14th. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShalladeGuzman/

Get Your Blog a Top Ranking

Visit WordTracker to receive a list of the top 500 searched keyword phrases emailed to you each week. I know it may take some imagination to work in myspace, Paris Hilton or panic at the disco but use those keywords in your blog entry and see your search engine ranking soar. See how I did it with Paris here.

Come Meet Me

Anywhere in the World
Shalla de Guzman's Writer's Chat
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShalladeGuzman/
Post your questions by June 14th

Anywhere in the World
Get Yourself on TV Any Time Any Where
June 20 2006
10am-11am PST
Register: send a blank email

Anywhere in the World
Christian Work at Home Moment
March 5 2006
6:30pm CST on KCRO 660 AM
KCRO 660 AM, Omaha or listen anytime

Anywhere in the World
Q&A to Get on Oprah & Other TV Talk Shows Teleclass
1 hour
Download it at no charge

Anywhere in the World
Get a 6 Figure Book Advance Teleclass
Anywhere in the World
1 hour
Download it at no charge

Anywhere in the World
Become a 60 Second Sound Bite Genius
(For Pitching, Producer calls, Networking or Presentations)
1 hour
Download it at no charge

For further schedule information and course descriptions please visit us.

NOTE: Some new classes do not yet have descriptions. Your patience is appreciated.

Quote

Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.

~ Mark Twain