Online press releases attract consumers: Study shows

Online press releases are an effective tool for attracting leads from consumers and business customers, a new study shows.

As reported in Shel Holtz' blog, Dr. MIhaela Vorvoreanu, with Clemson University’s Department of Communication Studies, presents the results of research conducted into the ROI of online press releases at the recent New Communication Forum in Santa Rosa, California. The study was developed conducted by the Society for New Communication Research for Vocus, which commissioned the research, The research team included Jiyan Wei from Vocus, Shel Holtz, SNCR Executive Director Jen McClure, and Dr. Vorvoreanu. TWI Surveys managed the online survey and produced the data that led to Dr. Vorvoreanu’s presentation on April 23, 2008.

Download the file here (MP3, 11.5Mb, 25:13).

If you'd like to get more leads from press releases, I'd recommend this service: Public Relations Software because Google indexes every press release sent by clients of this service. If you don't know how to write a press release, they will connect you with a writer who charges extremely reasonable rates, or you can find writers on elance.

Celebrate Your Career, Promote Your Success

Interior designer, author and PR LEADER Melissa Galt shares great ideas on how to frame and display the articles that feature you in this great video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDkrg4-q8Zk

I've written before about the need to frame your articles so your clients can see your success. Melissa does a great job of putting the words into action! For those of you who are visual and need to see the idea in pictures instead of words, this video is a must see!

How to Get Your Own Column in Your Daily Newspaper

Getting your own column in your local newspaper might not be as hard as you think!

Here's how one real estate expert got his own column in the largest newspaper in his state. He told me this story when I was a guest on Doug Huggins' teleseminar yesterday.

Harold is a former economics professor. He simply contacted his local newspaper editor and told the editor why he (Harold) was better qualified to write about real estate and economics than the staff reporter, and how he (Harold) could offer a different perspective than the reporter.

The editor agreed and gave Harold his own column, and his own blog on the newspaper's web site! Each column has Harold's phone number and email address so prospects can contact him!

Way to go Harold! You are an inspiration to us all!

My advice: Be like Harold. Get off your butt, pick up the phone and pitch your local business, lifestyle or education editor!

Michael Vick: There's a time to shut up

Whoever said "All publicity is good publicity" never met Stephon Marbury, the basketball player (I'll avoid using the term "star") who defended Michael Vick.

Vick, as you might recall, is in all kinds of hot water because he likes to see dogs fight. That kind of obsession can lead to the cancellation of your football career, lucrative endorsement contracts, fines and jail time.

If any time is the time to keep your mouth shut about defending Michael Vick, this would be a good time.

But Stephon saw this as an opportunity to get his name in print -- and did so just as he was promoting his own line of basketball shoes.

I'm sure his sponsor is having his lawyer review the sponsorship contract now.

Lesson learned: Watch what you say, when you say it, and be careful about hitching your wagon to a locomotive going downhill.

How NOT to impress a reporter

Here's a nice article about how NOT to impress a reporter. Read the article at "Catching Flack" to make sure you don't make these mistakes!

http://blogs.bnet.com/pr/?p=12

Business Week Quotes Oliva Fox Cabane, PR LEADER

Business Week quoted PR LEADER Olivia Fox Cabane in its May 8, 2007 story on how to market correctly in My Space and other social networking sites.

Olivia has been quoted in Business Week previously, in an article about how business school students can network effectively, on September 6, 2006.

Time Magazine Quotes Yanik Silver, PR LEADS Client

Time Magazine quoted Yanik Silver thanks to a publicity lead from PR LEADS in its April 26, 20079 issue.

The article is about "co-preneuring," the buzzword for co-owners of a business who share a personal life.

Yanik is one of the most prominent and respected Internet marketers. His products include:

Instant Sales Letters

Instant Internet Profits

33 Days to Online Profits

33 Days to Online Profits Video CDroms

Mind Motivators


Ultimate Copywriting Workshop

Web Copy Secrets

Magnetic Marketing

"Copywriting Seminar in a box"

Autoresponder Magic

Million Dollar Emails

NY Times Quotes Three PR LEADERS!

Three PR LEADS clients were quoted in the New York Times Business Section on Sunday, April 1, 2007.

"PR leads has been a cost effective way for me to get some PR and credibility for my new business. Along with my quotes in the NY Times and Juneau Empire, I’ve used the topics I’ve written on as the basis for articles for my website. I appreciated the initial tips from PR LEADS President Dan Janal that I received because they were short, to the point and practical," says executive coach Julie Moore Rapacki, President and Founder of Polish Your Star, LLC, www.PolishYourStar.com

"I have received quality queries from PR LEADS including: Wall Street Journal Online and Alaska Airlines magazine. Your tips on how to craft a response was also helpful. I have recommended your service to many. Thank you," says Cindy Ventrice, who provides relationship-building solutions that boost morale, productivity, and profitability at www.maketheirday.com and www.potential-unltd.com

"This is the second time I've been quoted in the NY Times because of responding to a PR Lead. The first time I got several phone calls from people interested in my speaking services. I also send the articles where I've been quoted to my "Top 100 Client List" as a way to position my expertise. It's a great investment of my PR dollars," says Patti Hathaway, Business Advisor and author of 5 books, www.thechangeagent.com


You can read the article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/business/yourmoney/01career.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin


Dan Janal
Your Fearless PR LEADER
www.prleads.com/blog

USA TODAY Quotes PR LEADER on Front Page!

Penelope Trunk, author of Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success, was quoted on the front page of the print edition of USA TODAY, March 29, 2007 in an article about lay offs at Circuit City.

Here's the link to the online edition of the story:

USA TODAY

"PR Leads has been really really good for me. I have gotten two calls from reporters each week that I've done it. To be fair, I am uniquely positioned to benefit from PR Leads, having been on the other side (as a columnist for the Boston Globe and Yahoo Finance) for so long. But I have followed your advice exactly, and I really appreciate all the coaching," Penelope emailed me.

You can read more about Penelope at

http://blog.penelopetrunk.com


Penelope is the third PR LEADER who has been quoted on the front page of USA TODAY. The other highlights are:

Patrick Snow, a motivational speaker, who was featured in an article and picture on the front page. Patrick tells me he was able to DOUBLE his speaking fee after the article appeared.

Arlene Vernon, a human resources consultant and speaker who wows people with Musical Keynotes, also was quoted on the front page of USA TODAY.

If you've been on Page One of USA TODAY because of PR LEADS, please let me know and I'll add you to the list!


Dan Janal
Your Fearless PR LEADER
PR LEADS Expert Resource Network
http://www.prleads.com

Do-It-Yourself Publicity Resources

You've seen the easy side of publicity with PR LEADS -- the reporters come to you!

The good news is that this is easy and pretty cheap. So what else can you do with the time you're saving?

Targeting the media you need to reach.

While we are very good at giving you a smorgasboard of opportunities, if you really need to be in Cosmo in six months, we can't be assured of helping you.

That's why you might want to do some PR yourself in addition to PR LEADS.

It isn't rocket science. Anyone can do good PR if you have the right tools.

That's why I'm recommending you read Bob Bly's e-book on "Do It Yourself Public Relations." You'll learn a lot and it doesn't cost a fortune like other ebooks online.

Check it out for yourself and see if you'd benefit from this:
Do-It-Yourself Public Relations

Here are some of the tactics you will learn:
-The easiest way on the planet to get your name into the newspaper or your favorite industry magazine next month -- or even next week.

-Local newspapers and niche magazines are eagerly waiting to promote your product for you. Here’s how to get them started.

-How the Elks, Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club can make you a local celebrity in your community.

-How to promote yourself on the lecture circuit without ever getting on an airplane or even leaving town.

-Simple trick multiplies the number of sales leads by 10 every time you write and publish an article. Not one marketer in 100 takes advantage of it.

-Self-assessment reveals in 10 minutes exactly what about you and your business is of interest to the media.

-Why and how to start writing articles and columns to attract new business – in the publications your best prospects read.

-How to get an editor to publish your article – without ever meeting her or even talking over the phone.

-How to turn a “no” from the media into a “maybe” – and a “maybe” into a “yes.”

-The world’s worst PR strategy … the best … and how to know the difference.

-How to turn your publicity into a direct response mechanism that draws prospects to your website.

And, much, much more!

Here's the link to see for yourself and see if you'd benefit from this:
Do-It-Yourself Public Relations

Let me know what you think!

Dan Janal
Your Fearless PR LEADER

PR Firms Have Power Over the Press

Reporters won't like to admit this fact, but the truth is that a lot of stories that appear in daily newspapers and magazines came from ideas pitched by public relations professionals.

The best PR people have rock-solid relationships with reporters who will accept their phone calls, read their pitch letters, schedule appointments with their clients and yes, write about the clients and their products.

If you doubt me, just look at the coverage of products -- from fashion and beauty to housewares and consumer goods to high tech toys and tools. Most of those articles got their start with a clever public relations person who had a relationship with the reporter.

It is so hard for any person to get a reporter's attention -- given all the email pitches, press releases and phone calls that are sent every day. A good PR person is worth their weight in gold because they can get their calls answered by the reporter friends.

But there are also a lot of bad PR firms out there. Companies that will wine and dine you with a senior VP who you bond with -- and then don't see again after you sign the contract. Instead you will be stuck with a recent college graduate who has no contacts with the media, no experience and will be learning at your expense. I know because people call me with their sad tales of woe after they've spend thousands of dollars and gotten nothing in return.

So I've decided to act as a matchmaker between people and companies with great stories to tell who need to find the right public relations firm to tell that story. I've been in this business for over 25 years and know the good firms and the good solo practitioners that can get results.

These are full-service companies that can write your press releases, construct convincing pitch letters and get the attention of the reporters that matter. And they all have track records of success. Or they are dedicated sole-practitioners who lead you through the dessert to reach the promised land.

If you are interested in having me help you find the best PR firm for you, send me a note with your goals and objectives -- be specific. You also must be willing to invest at least $3,000 a month for a minimum of six months. That's the entry point for any serious publicity campaign. If you don't have goals and don't have focus and don't have the ability to invest in yourself, then please don't waste my time or yours. There is also a minimal $50 application fee.

If you are serious about getting your message out to the media, contact us today.

We have a particularly good knowledge of publicity firms that specialize in healthcare, technology, authors, relationships, business, self improvement and spirituality.

Having a good public relations firm on your side could make all the difference to your success.



Dan Janal
Your Fearless PR LEADER
PR LEADS Expert Resource Network
www.prleads.com

My Success Gateway.com names PR LEADS the "Program of the Week"

PR LEADS is the "Program of the Week" for My Success Gateway.com, a site that helps provide great information for entrepreneurs and small business.

You can listen to my 35-minute podcast with Jim Peak by going to this page:

http://www.mysuccessgateway.com


The program will go live Thursday morning, February 21, 2007.

If you are not a PR LEADS client, you'll learn how this terrific service can help authors, experts and solopreneurs get publicity in major newspapers and magazines for a very low cost. You'll hear about several case studies of our clients who have made money by getting publicity. You'll also learn how the media likes to be contacted and how to write materials that get their attention.