Hire an English major:
if you want to hire someone smart, bold, creative, who knows how to think critically, and has writing skills, hire an English major…
Monthly Archives: June 2013
Tipping off the press
Got a HOT NEWS TIP? Do you know what makes reporters/editors cringe when you tell them your tip? If you are pitching a reporter or editor a story about your book, business, (product or service), then you might want to get on their good side and how to develop a good working relationship. Otherwise, the press/media people will avoid your news tips, press releases and pitches like the plague. And once you get a reputation as a pest, you probably will not be able to recover and Get Published.
PR PRO’s and PR NO’s
Here are five things that reporters hate… take heed:
Most of the press releases that come across my desk, make me snore, (boring), wonder why someone is bothering me about something that has NO RELEVANCE whatsoever to anything I write about or am interested in, and/or is missing critical info and I am supposed to do the lazy PR person’s work for them? If you just send me a link and expect me to click, I probably won’t. If you expect me to do the thinking for you, I will not. And I am not going to search for the story, either. If the subject line of your email, says press release, I will more than likely delete it without a care in the world.
Perfect example of the kind of NONSENSE I receive for my DOG TRAVEL BLOG on a regular basis… she wants to write for my dog blog and to send me an article on job markets, online education, implications for students for a DOG TRAVEL BLOG…maybe this person does not know how to read English… and what is even more insane is that she includes a link to a blog post of MINE… unbelievably crazy.
I’m a researcher for a site dedicated to online education. I found your blog celiasue.com/2012/12/07/holiday-gift-guide-for-pets-plus/ during my research and I thought you may be interested in an article I recently published about how the job market is affecting college programs and the implications for students.
Please let me know if you’d be interested in reading this and possibly sharing with your readers. I’d be happy to send it over to you.
Thanks,
Celine James
Five things reporters love (how to STAND OUT from the press release slush pile)
1. A truly newsworthy and relevant story with credible quotes, stats and information that NO ONE ELSE has (an exclusive) about a topic they write about Know the Correct Format
2. A short pitch with an amusing or entertaining headline and lead that is relevant and could be fun to write about Presentation is Important
3. A go to PR Pro who knows what they are talking about (not in jargon), is willing to go to the ends of the earth to get me what I want/need and does not waste my time with trivial nonsense
4. A pleasant courteous professional who has clearly read my work and knows what I want in a story and does not try to sell me the Brooklyn Bridge
5. A PR pro who I can count on to provide numerous stories and interviews with clients that deliver over time
And if you are a whistleblower with a HOT LEAK, here’s how to tip off the press… can you twitter away your story???
to blog or not to blog
to blog or not to blog that is the question…
if you want to have a blog for your business (or have one and have trouble keeping up with writing it) and would like a professional writer to write/edit it for you, give me a call at 702-225-8206.
Do…
- • Use your own voice, but make sure it’s in line with your brand
- • Be open and honest – show your personality
- • Create your own content (You know your clients/customers best)
- • Vary what you post: switch between videos, images, and prose
- • Be conversational: you want to talk to your clients, not talk at them!
- • Spread the word about your blog: link to it on your social network sites, and make sure it’s in an obvious place on your website
- • Get involved with the blogging community: comment on other blogs, find similar people to you, invite people to write for you
- • Update regularly and routinely: make a schedule and stick to it
- • Link to other useful sites: be a useful resource for your readers
- • Be a source of help: offer information and practical advice
- • Write for other blogs, and get people from other blogs to write for you: spread your authorship and authority
- • Have a variety of writers: use your director, sales manager, sales assistants, allowing readers to get a feel for the entire business, not just the top end!
I would add: Be interesting, entertaining, informative, offer how to tips on important subjects to your readers in a variety of formats.
Write subject/headlines that catch people’s attention
Get to know your customers better, ask for feedback and LISTEN to it.
Be clear and concise… less is more…
Don’t…
- • Promote your business all the time! This isn’t the place, and it’ll quickly switch readers off
- • Hire a copywriter who a) doesn’t understand your tone and style, and b) couldn’t care less about what you stand for
- • Regurgitate content posted on other sites
- • Write badly: if you’re not a natural writer, there are writers and editors that can help you
- • Forget about your audience/customers: don’t write for yourself, think about what will interest other people
- • Lose direction or focus – it’s good to have a variety of posts, but readers should know what to expect. Pick a subject and stick to it!
- • Forget about style and design: try to create your own theme, instead of relying on the most popular designs. Make it look like yours, and in line with your website’s design
- • Be salesy! People try and directly sell their products, but it doesn’t work. This isn’t the place
- • Just publish: it’s vital to proofread, re-read, edit!
- • Outspokenly insult people or businesses: you must be careful! Not only is it unprofessional, but it could also be libel. If you’re not sure about something, don’t post it
- • Alienate yourself: unless you run a political or religious business, stay away from these subjects, and other controversial topics. Use your own personal blog for that.
Working for free
There was a time and place to work for free when I was just starting out as a writer. I would write articles just to get published and to build my portfolio so that I had something to show prospective clients and/or employers. That time has passed a long long time ago. However, there are occasionally still a few people who seem to think that it is just fine and dandy to request free work because I will be able to add it to my portfolio, they will refer other people to me, and/or when they get rich and successful, they will reward me from their profits. Thanks but no thanks.
I had to laugh when I read these articles about Web Designers who apparently get the same baloney from cheap folks who think that they are entitled to something for nuthin. Love some of their responses.
These articles could have been written by and/or for writers…
“The old story
You’ve heard many reasons a client has for demanding free work.
“There will be plenty of money LATER!”
“We’ll consider you our ‘in-house’ designer once business gets going.”
“I have rich friends who’ll see your work and hire you for big bucks!”
“This is a great opportunity for you” (they never say why).
“You can put this in your portfolio!”
“…I do wholeheartedly enjoy lending a helping hand whenever I can. But I also have bills to pay. I sincerely believe this entitlement syndrome is, in some sense, a general oblivion to the graphic design industry. That since it “only” involves time and not always a tangible product that, it should come at minimal or no cost because they assume I have “free time” in which I’ll happily do this favor for them.
“…When someone busts out the ‘good for your portfolio, or will get you paid work,’ I usually tell them that my portfolio is pretty full of paid-for jobs. If they are so sure that I will get other work, perhaps they can bring in 5 new pay jobs for me and I will give them a commission for one free job of a value equal to the most expensive one they referred.”
“…When you believe there’s no way out of doing it for them, ask them to do some free work for you, too. I had “new friend” ask for a huge project for free and I smiled and replied I would be happy to do it. Then I said, “you know, I was going to ask if you could handle some legal matters for me (she was a lawyer). She said she was too busy. I responded that I understood and told her I would have the project done in three or four months. She couldn’t wait that long and dropped the request.
“…If I can give some good parting advice when I come to free work:
Say “no” when it comes to doing work for a business.
Tell your friends, no problem” but you need time to fit it around your business schedule.
Cover your hard costs or the free job ends up costing you time AND money.
CeliaSue writes 