PRactical PR BlogJust another WordPress weblog

This is a follow-up post to the one on September 11, 2009.  Thanks to Donna Maria Coles Johnson, of the Indie Beauty Network, for suggesting that I write a follow-up.

Here is the original post – with my notes on what I actually did:

I wrote this on September 11, 2002.  I’ll be doing the same thing today.  How about you?

I have been wondering what I should be doing today. I don’t feel much like working.  Then I read an idea from a Ft. Lauderdale man, who suggested that today be a day of service.
 
Most of us are familiar with volunteering, but there are so many ways to help others.  So for those of you who want to help your country and its inhabitants, here are some ideas:
 
1. Give a sincere compliment to someone who really needs it – done – this is one of my favorite things
2. Help someone in their job search – yep, had lunch with someone, brainstormed, and gave her a copy of Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich – always a good motivator
3. Write a check to a charity – Forgot to do this, so I just donated to Uplifting Athletes, based on a recommendation from Tom Burke, a fellow BC alum, who mentioned that BC footballer Mark Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma. You know, donating money to charity is such a high, isn’t it? 
4. Adopt an animal – Adopted a greyhound a few months ago
5. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while – Didn’t get to do this on Friday, but did it on Sunday – a good friend from BC who I hadn’t spoken with in years – great to re-connect, Ellen!
6. Donate blood – Drat – didn’t do it – ok – I just put it on my to-do list for this month
7. Volunteer somewhere – or check on volunteer opportunities – Didn’t do this, but I just put in another call to Girl Scouts, where I’m trying to volunteer to be a Troop Leader and haven’t received a call back (hint, hint)
8. Buy a product or service – help our economy – Did this – never seem to have a problem doing this either
9. Support someone’s dream – yep
10. Ask for forgiveness – yep, right Mom?
11. Remind your loved ones that you love them – always
 
 
God Bless America!
 
Margie Zable Fisher
 

I wrote this on September 11, 2002.  I’ll be doing the same thing today.  How about you?

I have been wondering what I should be doing today. I don’t feel much like working.  Then I read an idea from a Ft. Lauderdale man, who suggested that today be a day of service.
 
Most of us are familiar with volunteering, but there are so many ways to help others.  So for those of you who want to help your country and its inhabitants, here are some ideas:
 
1. Give a sincere compliment to someone who really needs it
2. Help someone in their job search
3. Write a check to a charity
4. Adopt an animal
5. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while
6. Donate blood
7. Volunteer somewhere – or check on volunteer opportunities
8. Buy a product or service – help our economy
9. Support someone’s dream
10. Ask for forgiveness
11. Remind your loved ones that you love them
 
 
God Bless America!
 
Margie Zable Fisher

Soon I’ll be launching a new online publication for Women Business Owners (WBOs).

If you are a WBO, I’d love you to do the following:

1) Sign up for the new, no-cost WBO Digest now.  You won’t be disappointed.  Sign up for it here:  www.wbodigest.com.
2) Enter to win $100 for you or your favorite charity by spending two minutes providing info on content you’d like to see. You can go to the survey here.

Everyone who fills out the survey by 5 p.m. Eastern on Friday, September 4, 2009, will be entered to win $100 for you or your favorite charity.

Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,
Margie

Margie Zable Fisher

Many of you have participated on my DIY P.R. teleseminars on how to get publicity for your products.  Just as many of you have said that you would really prefer if I and my team do the work for you, and have asked if there is a “special package” I could put together, to get product publicity for the fourth quarter.

The answer is yes – for fashion and beauty products, since we do so much work in those areas.

Announcing the Summer Product Publicity Program for Fashion and Beauty Products – Only 10 Slots Available – June-August, 2009

What you’ll get:

- A minimum of 50 one-on-one pitches to top national magazines, including O (Oprah) Magazine, Real Simple, People StyleWatch, InStyle, Good Housekeeping, Self, Vogue, Glamour, Lucky, Allure, and more
- Follow-up and coordination of information and samples to be sent

Cost:  $2,999

We only take on products we love, so we’ll need to learn more about your product.  Please email me at info (at) zfpr.com with Subject Line “Summer” if you’re interested in this program, with the following information:

- Description of products
- Web site
- Price range of products

Thanks, and we look forward to speaking with you!

Don’t waste another cent on ineffective email marketing!

Think email marketing doesn’t cost you anything?  Think again.  The time involved, and the potential to do damage to your relationships, makes it an expensive proposition.

Many of us make mistakes when we market through e-mail, and we could be creating much better relationships and getting more sales by making some tweaks.  That’s what we’ll be covering during this call.

(Even if you can’t make the call live, you’ll be able to receive the audio download and transcript by signing up now.)

Here’s what you’ll be learning on this call:

• What types of emails you can send to market your products and/or services
•  How to track the success of your email marketing
• The five pieces of information you must include in every email
• What Subject Lines get opened
• Examples of emails that weren’t successful, and ones that were – and why
• How often you should send emails
• And much more!

The call takes place on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, from 2-3 p.m. Eastern.

The cost is $49, until 11 p.m. Eastern on Monday, June 15, 2009.  Then the price goes up to $99.

Sign up here.

P.S. – We always have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there’s no risk to sign up.

Would you like to be like one business owner I know, who attributed over a million dollars in sales from one Oprah (O) Magazine free publicity placement?

I’m guessing the answer is yes.

And I’d like to help you do that — quickly, easily, and most importantly, inexpensively.

Now most people don’t wake up one day, make a call, and get their products in O Magazine, or Good Housekeeping, or Woman’s World. But after years of doing this, and getting thousands of publicity placements for clients, I have learned some pitching secrets and tips, to help you make that happen.

Of course I knew you’d also love to hear from actual Magazine Editors from top media outlets, so I asked some to participate on this call.

Announcing our New Teleseminar
________________________________________
Magazine Editors Share How to Get Consumer Product Publicity
________________________________________
Ready to sign up now? Sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/ckoowv.

I put this teleseminar together in May because that’s when we start our big push for fourth quarter holiday gift guide placements, since many top media outlets have a six- or seven-month lead time for gift guide submissions. But here’s what you may not know: These same Magazine Editors are responsible for product publicity throughout the year, as well as fourth quarter holiday gift guides.

In fact, I am working with one of them now on a placement for her July issue.

And, by the way, you can hire me and my team, to do this for you. And we’re really good at what we do. But as a big proponent of Do-It-Yourself Public Relations, and saving money, I’m assuring you that you can do it yourself.

What will you learn during this teleseminar?

• What types of products top magazines are looking to feature
• What to include in a pitch to get the attention of top Magazine Editors
• How to find the right media contacts to pitch your product to
• The five pieces of information you must include in your pitch to make it successful
• Examples of successful product placements – and why they got in
• And much more!
 
Questions and Answers:
 
Q. Who Will be Participating on the Teleseminar?
 
A. I will be hosting it and sharing tips. Amy Bates Stumpf, of the Gift List, a media contact database, will also be offering her tips. And, of course, Editors from top media outlets including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s World and more will be sharing tips and answering your questions (note: these media folks have confirmed, but occasionally drop out at the last minute due to the demands of the media). Tentatively confirmed are folks from O Magazine and AARP.
 
Q. When is the Teleseminar?

A. Live, Wednesday, May 20, 2009, from 2-3 p.m. Eastern.

Q. I Can’t Attend Live – Can I Get It as an Audio Download with Electronic Transcript?

A. Yes, you will get the Audio Download and Electronic Transcript if you sign up before the May 20 live teleseminar, but I may not be offering it after that.

Q: Do you have a money-back guarantee?

A: Yes. You can use this information for thirty days, and if you don’t see the value, just let me know, and I’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

So, while this teleseminar can be worth thousands of dollars to you, you get a ridiculously low price of $99, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

What are you waiting for? Sign up now: http://tinyurl.com/ckoowv.

This past December, I got one of my clients featured in O (Oprah) Magazine’s gift guide.  The client was able to attribute well over $10,000 in sales in December to that one placement.  One business owner I know attributed over a million dollars in sales from an O Magazine gift guide placement.

You may not know that May is when we start our active pitching for holiday gift guide placements, because many top magazines have six or seven month lead times, and stop accepting submissions at the end of May.

On May 20, 2009, at 2 p.m. Eastern, Gift Guide Editors, Amy Bates Stumpf of the Gift List, and I will be sharing tips on how to get great holiday gift guide placements in top media outlets. If you can’t attend it live, I will be taping it for audio download, and creating an electronic transcript.

Gift Guide and Product Editors from top media outlets including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s World and more will be sharing tips and answering your questions (note:  these media folks have confirmed, but occasionally drop out at the last minute due to the demands of the media). 

While this teleseminar can be worth thousands of dollars to you, you can get the Early Bird price of only $49, if you register by 5 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, May 13, 2009.  After that, the price goes up to $99. Sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/ckoowv.

Today one of my colleagues grumbled to me about one of her clients. It seems that my colleague had helped her client grow immeasurably through her P.R. efforts, and the client had won an award.

Sounds good, right?  Well the client had the award committee send an invitation to my colleague, asking her to pay for the fancy lunch and awards ceremony.  I told her that she should recommend, as a P.R. effort, that her client buy a table and invite people who have helped her get so successful, including my colleague.  After all, what better way to thank those who have helped you than to have them participate in an event honoring you (without them footing the bill)?

Then I started thinking.  I was recently invited to a luncheon honoring a former client, who I had helped put on the map.  Granted, this client has achieved much in recent years, and probably would think that I’m overestimating my role here, but I was the one who got him his first national publicity placements, which led to bigger things soon after.  Now I’m not looking for a free lunch, but I really think that this client should have thought about inviting me as his guest.  And he should buy a table, too, for others who have supported him (maybe he already did, and I wasn’t invited).

So I’m going to let him know about this post.  And hope he doesn’t get mad, and know that I think he’s awesome and wish him the best always.

What do you think?

This past December, I got one of my clients featured in O (Oprah) Magazine’s gift guide.  The client was able to attribute well over $10,000 in sales in December to that one placement. 

You probably already realize that getting publicity in top media outlets can lead to terrific sales.

That’s why I’d like to give you a free teleseminar on getting publicity for your products.

This offer ends shortly, and you can get this $49 teleseminar as a free gift with purchase of the publication every Woman Business Owner needs, WBO Digest. We offer a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee on WBO Digest, but you’ll get to attend the teleseminar free of charge, no matter what your decision.

Plus, you’ll get another incredible bonus:  a free month of the WBO American Dream program (a $39 value), with discounts on great products and services, a library of teleseminars that will help you grow your  business, free business coaching, and much more!

You can choose the newsletter payment in a monthly or annual option.

To sign up for the monthly option ($9.95): http://tinyurl.com/dd2pvf

To sign up for the annual option:  $99: http://tinyurl.com/chcsge

________________________________________
Try WBO Digest, and Get a Free Teleseminar To Learn How to Get Publicity for Your Products, Plus a Free Month’s Membership in the WBO American Dream Program
________________________________________

As I mentioned, this past December, I got one of my clients featured in O (Oprah) Magazine’s gift guide. 

You may not know that May is when we start our active pitching for holiday gift guide placements, because many top magazines have six or seven month lead times, and stop accepting submissions at the end of May.

On May 20, 2009, at 2 p.m. Eastern, I will be sharing tips on how to get great holiday gift guide placements in top media outlets, along with my guest Amy Bates Stumpf, of the Gift List. If you can’t attend it live, I will be taping it for audio download, and creating an electronic transcript.

While the teleseminar is priced at $49, I am offering it to you for free. In addition, you can get a free month of the Women Business Owners (WBO) American Dream program, including our monthly teleseminars, discounts, and community, with the purchase of our monthly print newsletter.

What is the value of a free month’s membership in WBO American Dream?

• Teleseminar – value $49 – on a different topic of interest each month – previous transcripts in our library (which you can access) include how to grow your business with Facebook, using video in your business, hiring great independent contractors, and more
• Discounts – hundreds of dollars of discounts, from attorney fees to gifts, including 50% off my DIY P.R. products
• Fr.e.e business coaching – over a $1,000 value
• Networking with other women business owners, to get sales and ideas – priceless!
• P.R. Opportunities from my and my team’s media contacts – priceless!

Our monthly full-color print newsletter, WBO Digest, is unlike anything out there, and was created to provide Women Business Owners with quick, useful information to save them time and money.  It’s light enough to take with you when you’re on the go, and hole-punched so you can keep it in a binder for future reference.

You can view a sample of the newsletter here: http://tinyurl.com/d7q6lq

Here are some comments about the newsletter:

“What a great newsletter, Margie! Each article is informative and to the point. As a busy entrepreneur, it’s helpful to have so much useful information right at my fingertips. And, it’s also a terrific way to bring our community of female business owners closer together. Thank you!”
- Debra M. Cohen, Home Remedies of NY®, Inc., Hewlett, NY, www.HRNbiz.com

“I love the look of the newsletter. It’s easy to read and fun, also nicely laid out, not busy like some.”
- Donna Maria Coles Johnson, Indie Beauty Network, Charlotte, NC, www.indiebusinessblog.com

“I sat down with my first issue of WBO Digest and read it cover to cover — and loved it. And that’s saying a lot because I usually skim things. So, thanks, it really is a great read and I’m looking forward to more!”
- Carrie Bell, Madcapz, Larchmont, NY, www.madcapz.net

“This newsletter is amazing! Margie, you’ve done it again! There was more interesting, useful, actionable information in the first issue than other newsletters give in a whole year. Anyone looking for brilliant ideas from a super-savvy business owner needs to sign up today!”
- Wendy Guarisco,  The Guarisco Group, Atlanta, GA,  www.guariscogroup.com

So, if you’d like to get the newsletter, for a year, plus the free teleseminar and fr.e.e month of the WBO American Dream program, you have until midnight, on April 30, 2009, to sign up.

You can choose the newsletter payment in a monthly or annual option.

To sign up for the monthly option ($9.95): http://tinyurl.com/dd2pvf

To sign up for the annual option:  $99: http://tinyurl.com/chcsge

P.S. – Make sure to get your free teleseminar and month of membership in the WBO American Dream program by signing up by midnight on April 30, 2009.

 Great offer from my friend JoAnn Hines, the Packaging Diva:

 How would you like 6 leading industry experts to evaluate and critique your packaging at no charge? Yes, you heard right!
 
I’m the Packaging Diva the “go to” person in packaging. I’m one of the most connected packaging people you will ever meet.
3,500 + follow my packaging tweets on Twitter @
http://Twitter.com/packagingdiva
1,600 + follow me on LinkedIn  @ http://linkedin.com/packagingdiva and thousands read my newsletter Packaging News You Can Use.

I’m launching a new web site that’s perfect for your product packaging. I’m looking for great products and their packaging to showcase in the initial launch. The premise is simple, you post your product JPEG and description including a link back to your site and I provide the network.
 
I need your new product packaging now for my new packaging blog launch and for an EXTREMELY limited time you can have an evaluation done at no charge for the premier launch. This offer is limited to the 1st 15 respondees only.
 
Please respond via email for more details to joann@packagingdiva.com
 
Happy Packaging!
JoAnn Hines
Packaging Diva
Packaging for people and products

Personal Website: http://packagingdiva.com/