13
Jul
2010
Use Press Releases To Give You Visibility In Your Local Business News
To become more visible in your local business news, you must become consistent in releasing timely press releases. A press release is basically a news story striving to get media attention for a company. It focuses on such things as a specific event, product launch, or company update.
Your first press release (also known as a news release) should introduce your business locally (or to the world, depending on your product or service). Write a release as if you’re a reporter who’s doing an interview with a business owner.
A press release should not come off sounding like an advertisement. It should be more of a news-style story. This is what will make it appealing to the media.
If you’re not confident in your abilities to write a release there are services available that can do a professional job for you. They can also submit it for you.
Another challenge for some is trying to come up with ideas for continuing press releases. Here are a few tips that may help you with this thought process:
-It can be used to educate readers about something unusual or new about a product, service or technique in your local market. The more unique, the better your chances are of gaining wide distribution in your local business news.
-Relate your product or service to a time of celebration such as a holiday or famous birthday, etc. Local events taking place in your area are something you can become involved with.
-You can write it as a form of entertainment. If something humorous happens at your company, or a customer has a funny story to share, this can make for interesting reading. You can even offer discounts or gift certificates to people who participate in your “fun” contests.
-Similar to educating is “informing”. A release, for example, can be used to provide readers with news updates about technology or new procedures within your industry. Readers are always interested in electronics, software, or items of self improvement.
-Tie it into volunteerism. You can get involved with business volunteering in many ways. Once you gain insight, experience and information about whatever charity you assist, you can write about it in an informing way.
Write about what you’ve learned concerning the disease or cause. Use the voices of others for more perspective.
-Give away stuff! Draw people to either your place of business or your website by giving away promotional items (shirts, hats, knick-knacks), e-books with great information, or actual products. Denny’s annual super bowl promotion gives away a free breakfast each year which draws huge media coverage.
You can build a deep customer list this way by asking for email addresses in return for the free stuff. This allows you to now follow up with email advertising and information campaigns, giving you additional exposure to your customers.
Using press releases to become more visible in your local business news serves at least two great purposes. You not only take advantage of free advertising, but you are communicating valuable information to your customers.
If you enjoyed this article by Jeff Schuman about press releases for local business news please visit our Links local business website:
today. We help small business owners use the internet to grow their business in their local market. http://www.LocalBusinessGroup.com
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15
Apr
2010
An Online Local Business Forum Is Effective For Word Of Mouth Advertising
One of the most effective types of advertising since the first-ever business has been Word of Mouth advertising. Now with the addition of social media sites, an online local business forum is not only more effective, but creates very affordable advertising.
If businesses utilize their forums correctly they can initiate and direct the conversations in a very positive way. The readers and forum participants are those that spread the word, often bringing in new clients and valuable repeat business.
By allowing site visitors to post reviews to your local business forum you’re giving those customers a chance to influence others on a global scale. That’s how the popularity of social media has changed the playing field: word of mouth marketing is now more than just beauty shop discussion or letters to the editor of the local newspaper.
One person who has hundreds, thousands or even millions of online followers can have a huge impact on a product or service. Think of Oprah online. Big companies have been tapping into this social media, or as they call it, social marketing, for years.
But it’s also readily available for small local businesses. Including a forum on your website to encourage customer involvement and interaction is simple to do. You might need to initiate conversation and encourage participation, but once you get the ball rolling they will do the rest.
Adding a business blog in addition to a forum is another effective idea. Blogs allow you the opportunity to share up-to-the-minute thoughts and ideas about your business. They should be linked to your website for easy customer access.
Blogs become free publicity for your business as they influence search engines when potential customers search online for products and services that you offer. As you can see, this type of “ad campaign” is an awesome and affordable way to drive traffic to your site.
You can even include videos- they can be produced fairly inexpensively- which can spread quickly online. Your business’ return on investment for this type of marketing will be incredible.
As with any type of word or mouth marketing, you do have to be aware of negative communication or misinformation being spread. A disgruntled customer or a competitor out to sabotage you can certainly cause some damage.
That is why you will need to be very aggressive in getting out as much positive and accurate information as you can. Don’t overlook the importance of timeliness and consistency. Make known your achievements and successes and add positive customer reviews and testimonials.
Most people are realistic and can see through the few sour grapes that show up, especially if there is a huge ratio disparity between the positive and negative.
Summary: You can reap great benefits by offering a local business forum to tap into the thoughts of your customers. You can also utilize social media to expand on your forum and to take advantage of the free publicity that it brings.
If you enjoyed this article by Jeff Schuman on local business forums please visit our local business website today. We help small business owners grow their business in their local market using the power of the internet. http://www.LocalBusinessGroup.com
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