Find out why likeability may be the key factor to getting Diane Sawyer's job as the host of Good Morning America—and who is in line to take her place: http://prsecrets.com/publicityblog.html

Dear Friends,

My beloved cat Buddhishka died the day before Thanksgiving.

She was my constant companion for eighteen years and I miss her terribly. Of course I knew that she would have to go sometime and had thought about how it might be between us when that hour came.

What I wasn't prepared for was how I responded to her decline. At one point when she was down to four pounds (from nine) and she could no longer jump up on the bed, I began wishing for a swift end. Then I caught myself. What I realized was that it was painful for me to watch her wind down from life and I wanted to prevent that pain.

I began to see how, in other ways, I wanted things in my life to happen faster--in my career, in my body, in my clients. I remember my friend Kare Anderson, of http://www.sayitbetter.com, saying "Go slow to go fast." So I sat down to meditate in the garden to try and let go of "the hurry sickness" and let things move in the order that they do. The natural process of things that happen takes time--much to my, and perhaps your, frustration.

Remember Zorba the Greek's story of the butterfly? "I remember one morning when I discovered a cocoon in the bark of a tree just as the butterfly was making a hole in its case and preparing to come out. I waited awhile but it was too long appearing and I was impatient. I bent over it and breathed on it to warm it. I warmed it as quickly as I could and the miracle began to happen before my eyes, faster than life. The case opened, the butterfly started slowly crawling out, and I shall never forget my horror when I saw how its wings were folded back and crumpled; the wretched butterfly tried with its whole trembling body to unfold them. Bending over it, I tried to help it with my breath. In vain. It needed to be hatched out patiently and the unfolding of the wings needed to be a gradual process in the sun. Now it was too late. My breath had forced the butterfly to appear, all crumpled, before its time. It struggled desperately and, a few seconds later, died in the palm of my hand."

If you think that things should be happening faster for you in your PR efforts, perhaps as the New Year approaches you might consider at length what you wish would hurry up in your life and think of it in two ways: as a blessing (time makes sure that everything doesn't happen all at once!) and as a reminder to consider where you need to realign your thoughts, feelings and actions to allow things to unfold.

Buddhishka took her time, and my sweetie and I were constantly by her side until the moment she took her very last breath. It all happened too fast, but in just the right time.

I wish you much coziness and happiness for the holidays and the New Year.

Warmly,

Susan

P.S. For the New Year I'm creating a way that you can succeed in all your PR goals--at your own pace--by gathering the very best products of my colleagues for you in a comprehensive package. If you have an ezine or newsletter list that may be interested, then consider becoming an affiliate and I'll send you more detail on this exclusive mega sale. Or if you'd like to just pass the word on to make a bit of extra income, become one of our affiliates and refer your colleagues to participate--you'll still earn 10% of the revenue from their buyer sale.

Write Press Releases Properly

1. Your Headline dictates whether a reporter will read your release.

Studies have shown that media people spend an average of five seconds reading a release before deciding whether to continue reading, or toss your release in the trash. Which means it doesn't matter how great your information is if the headline stinks. According to publicity expert Marcia Yudkin, when a newspaper editor or reporter reads your press release, they are looking for answers to three questions:

1. What is this?
2. Who is this for?
3. Where is the news significance? In other words, how does this affect me or my readers?

This holds true for anyone who reads it--including potential clients and customers.

The most effective press releases I've done for my clients (the ones that made the media call) have been the ones that incorporate a strong story idea about a topic that includes, but is not directly about them. For example, one of my copywriters came up with this headline: While most kindergarteners are picking their noses and feeding their broccoli to the dog, six-year-old Jace Richards was publishing his first book.

Do you notice how specific that is? Most publicists and people doing their own PR make the mistake of creating a headline that's big and broad. Wrong. Make it small and specific. The narrower your topic, the more arresting it will be.

The first paragraph then tells the larger story: Atlanta, GA -- Last month, over 60,000 grownups attempted to write a novel (even a really bad one) by participating in National Novel Writing Month, and nearly 90% of them failed. Depressing? Sure. Especially when you consider that young kids all over the country are taking time out between Power Rangers and, well, time-outs, to write bestsellers.

We went on to discuss those kid bestsellers and how this was an important--and unusual trend.

2. Words may not be as important as we think.

Photos and visuals take center stage, much to most people's surprise. A current survey of journalists by PR firm Bennett & Company indicates that PR professionals may not even have to scribe a single sentence to gain the media's attention. Of the 543 journalists who responded to the survey, forty-one percent said that visuals might dictate their content, and an overwhelming 90 percent said visuals are somewhat important or very important to them. Plus, when you do your own photos and visuals you control how you're perceived. A win-win for everyone. Consider using less words and more images.

3. Internet press releases have different rules.

For one, they need to be even more brief, and the sentences short and snappy. Shorter paragraphs and more white space mean that you need to get to the point asap. Use bullet points so a journalist can scan your key messages. And make sure that you have search engine friendly key words and phrases that people needing your product, service or cause would use to find them on Google.

These tips were adapted from Joan Stewart's excellent "89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases." To get the free email tutorial go to: http://snipurl.com/13vrv

Puzzled About the Best Way to Write a Press Release?: You can Write for Consumers and the Media

My respected colleague, Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, is offering a free email tutorial called "89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases."

It explains why you should no longer be writing press releases only for the press, but for consumers who can find your release online, click through to your website and enter your sales funnel, even if journalists don't think your release is worthy of their attention. The tutorial includes several excellent examples of "before" and "after" press releases.

Sign up at http://snipurl.com/13vrv

I'm at tip #60 and am still learning. What I love about Joan is that she used to be a reporter and comes up with the newest "what's next" on the publicity forefront. This tutorial has some brilliant strategies that you can do with or without a publicist.

Become a Part of My Team

In January, I'll be promoting a comprehensive collection of my colleagues' publicity products for a fraction of the cost for a limited time. If you, or someone you know has a list of people who need publicity, (entrepreneurs, authors, small business, work at home moms), who may like to participate in getting the word out (and earn 50% of the profits), then join our affiliate program and find out more.

My dream is to make sure that everyone can afford the tools that they need to become successful at the level they want, through publicity. And, with your help, I'll do it.

Please pass this on to others who might be interested.

Feed the Hungry Children

For all of us who have plenty and wish others did too--you can make a massive difference in the lives of 3 Million American Children with a dollar and five minutes.

Go to http://www.FEED333.com - It may change the lives of 3 Million kids, and yours at the same time. Please pass this on to others who might be interested.

Come Meet Me

Anywhere in the World
Blogging to Grow Your Business
November 15
Time: 10am-11am Pacific
1 hour
Register: send a blank email to oprah-202311@autocontactor.com

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 at http://cwahm.com/wordpress/blog/

Anywhere in the World
Q&A to Get on Oprah & Other TV Talk Shows Teleclass
1 hour
Download it at no charge at:
http://prsecrets.com/free-sign-oprahtvtalkshow.html

Anywhere in the World
Get a 6 Figure Book Advance Teleclass
1 hour
Download it at no charge at:
http://prsecrets.com/free-audio-signup-6f.html

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 at:
http://www.webmarketingmagic.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=114141

For further schedule information and course descriptions
please visit:
http://prsecrets.com/speakingkeynotesworkshops.html

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

Quote

Rather than trying to control what can never be controlled, we can find a sense of security in being able to meet what is actually happening. This is allowing for the mystery of things: not judging but rather cultivating a balance of mind that can receive what is happening, whatever it is. This acceptance is the source of our safety and confidence.

~ Sharon Salzberg