by Guest Blogger, Shannon Cherry
If you want to make 2010 a year where you become the recognized expert in your field, you need to get your name out there. But how can you do that when you have limited resources to spend?
Think about using publicity. And you CAN do it. It merely takes time – and a strategy. Review the seven steps to creating your own publicity plan:
1. Determine who your target audience is. It may be more than one, but your prospect is not everyone on the planet! A good way to find out is look at who presently buys your product or service and create a profile of them.
2. Choose 3 strategies you will use for each market. They can include:
* Speaking/workshops
* Press releases
* Articles
* Ezines or print newsletter
* Letters to the editor
* Postcards
* Networking events
* Blogging
* Podcasting/Videos
* Social Media
3. Decide a measurable goal for each strategy. How many speaking engagements do you want each quarter? How many releases will you send out each month?
4. Write down several topics or themes. Create at least one for every goal you set. For example, if you are a parenting coach, themes could include: working from home with kids, toddler tantrums, and fun family ideas.
5. Discover how to do each of the strategies by researching them online. There are hundreds of articles and tips on each PR strategy on the web. They can assist in implementing your plan.
6. Arrange time each week to work on your goals and strategies. Research shows that a small business needs to spend about 20% of its time marketing. And if you’re a new business it’s more like 50%. So block out the time every week on your calendar.
7. Check your progress every three months to evaluate and tweak if necessary. You may find that some strategies aren’t working well, and others are really paying off. This way you can discard what ineffective and change your focus, if you need to.
Companies who use publicity often see more benefits, than not using it. It saves them from going under when the economy is weak, and gets them ahead of their competitors when sales begin picking up.
Be doing this at the beginning of each year, you’re more apt to get the visibility and credibility you want, and as a result increase your sales.
About the Author:
Shannon Cherry is known as The Power Publicist. She helps small business owners, coaches, consultants and entrepreneurs create a powerful presence using low-cost, high impact publicity methods. To get Shannon’s Be Heard! free publicity power pack visit http://www.beheardsolutions.com
