Now I may be a little prejudice, but I must tell you when I get these ads that say:

You can now do your own website – get rid of you web designer do it yourself – or – Build a website yourself; we give you all the tools – or - Host with us, build your own website and updated it with our new super duper template builder (only $100. a month, ugh!).

I cringe, on the surface it sounds really good. Why not save bundles of money doing it yourself – after all you are on a limited budget. However, I have had too many new business owners that have gone through that route and came to me with disastrous results.

Let me explain myself.

Building a website is like building your store (brick and mortar). Now if I sent you an advertisement stating – build your own store, I will give you all the tools, and you will save a bundle on having a professional builder do it. You think WOW, that is a good idea – you pay me my $49.95 and I give you the tools to do it.

When you look around, and you see all the saws, hammers, nails, cement mixers, wood, brick, sheet rock, pipes, etc. laying there in a pile would you know what to do?

Even if I gave you a 300 page book with directions – are you up to the task? Of course not – unless you are a contractor that has had the extensive experience of building offices before.

OK then let’s say you see all the stuff and think – I will just get some more books on how to build an office building…

Do you genuinely think that would be the thing that would give you the expertise to know how to build an attractive – store inside and out? Then you realize you have to buy the lot to build the store front on. Then you have to do the signage…

This may sound like an exaggeration but makes my point.

The time and effort you would put into building your website – doesn’t mean you are good at creating the look and feel that your clients would be attracted to. What about making sure that you site is a marketing machine? Do you know how to build that type of website? Do you know how to collect names from your visitors so you can market to them? Your website should give a professional presentation – the appearance layout and content should be done with the help of a professional.

There are places to cut expenses and your website is not one of them.

There are millions of web designer – but not all have the gift of design as well as the extensive experience to know exactly what you need in order to make your websites a viable commodity. Your best bet is to find a designer that you have confidence in – you know they are familiar with all aspects of an e-business website and can guide you in the right direction.

Hire a professional that has been in the industry long enough to know what it takes to have a successful website.

When you hire the right professional web designer/developer you’re not only getting an expert at building an effective on-line presentation, but the guidance they give you will be invaluable.

I have written so many
articles and consulted with so many businesses – I forget that a lot of people
really do need to know things that I have ingrained in many – I tend to think
people already know this stuff – but in reality, just because you know it doesn’t
mean you don’t need to be reminded. In addition, if you don’t know this
information, I would be neglect in not passing it on.

So many people get
“freaked out” when they have to write articles – be it for article marketing or
blogs… Essentially both are the same.

You don’t realize the
information you have within you – especially if you are passionate about your
business. You can research and come up with oodles of things to comment on or
have material for.

If you are already writing
a blog then you have articles you can use for article marketing – really!

As simple tip that will
save you so much time and effort you will not believe it. Write your articles –
blog posts in word or another word processor of your choice. Save it in a
folder for re-use

It will make your
marketing efforts so much easier. You need to get information fast pull out the
article and re-use. Why re-invent the wheel if you can go back to an article
you have already written and use it for Squidoo, hubpages, a special report or even
to submit it to article marketing websites???

 

You will not believe the
benefits you will reap as a result of article marketing. I know a lot of you
are so busy it seems like you just don’t have time but – if you have an online
business you must make the time.

 

Some Benefits of Article
Marketing:

 

• It positions you as an
  expert in your field.

• It will add backlinks to
  your website – that are invaluable in search engine marketing.

• It will give you added
  exposure with fresh content – every time you post to your blog.

• You can refurbish your
  articles for places like Squidoo, Hubpages

• You can pull your articles
  together and create a product i.e.: Report or e-book that can be packaged and
  sold.

• You can give away your
  book or report as an opt-in offer allowing you to build the list of people
  interested in your business.

• Put affiliate links in
  your articles and books to make some residual income…

• The list goes on and on
  need I say more?

 

If you are already into
article marketing you must read my latest post on my other blog Promotional
Designer!

 

http://tinyurl.com/articlesmarketingdifference

 

 

Tags: articlemarketing, how to write articles, online marketing, tips for writing articles

How My First Press Release Came About

I wrote my first press release about 8 years ago. I was putting on a free seminar at a local place of business – I had a good friend who gave me her list of personal contacts (I couldn’t thank her enough). She had the names of all the editors of the new papers in my city and thankfully was willing to give me her sources.

Because this event was based in a particular region – it needed to be published in the appropriate newspapers and publications close to where I was holding the free workshop. I was hoping I could get it into some of the larger local papers – my hard work paid off one of the biggest publications – The Deseret News – did publish the press release - all because I wrote a good cover letter, addressed the editor by name and wrote a great headline and simple copy – my seminar? A timely seminar that would help out the business community.

 “How to utilize the internet for business growth”

Newsworthy, timely, and free…

I had about 60 business owners show up and to this day I am getting phone calls from businesses that were at my seminar and need my services.

Was this press release and seminar a success “You Bet” – but it all started with one idea – and a well written press release.

These days we submit a lot of press releases to online websites - when they are well written and newsworthy they can do a lot to bring you business and make you stand out from your competitors.

 

But Press Releases are so Yesterday!

 

You may have read “Press Releases” are not the way to market, I have even read the press releases are a waste of time!

 

Nothing can be farther from the truth – a properly written and executed press release can attract new groups of people to your business, get your company on the radar as well as give you great backlinks (and we all need those for search engine positioning) to your website.

 

It is important to understand that a press release is not an advertisement or a large promotional piece to hand out to unsuspecting readers.

 

So what is a press release?

 

It is something that is news worthy – an award your business won – a unique event or grand opening - A good press release answers all of the “W” questions (who, what, where, when and why), providing the media with useful information about your organization, product, service or event.

 

If your press release reads like an advertisement, you need to go back to the drawing board.

 

In this day and age you can send press releases to newspapers, submit them on-line, have them published on social media sites.

 

The trick is having something of value that a newspaper online or off finds newsworthy enough to publish.

 

One of the most important things you can do is develop the headline – it is no different than any news story or article you write if the headline attracts journalists they will read your press release and if it is newsworthy they will use it

Press releases are not meant to tell the whole story. They are meant to give the reporter an idea of what’s happening in your business that their readers need to know about.

If the journalist would like additional information or would like to arrange for an interview, he/she will call.

Your press release should be approximately 400 words - 500 maximum. Use only enough words to tell your story. Avoid using flowery language, or redundant expressions such as “added bonus” or “first time ever”. If you can tell your story with fewer words, do it.

Wordiness distracts from your story. Keep it concise. Make each word count.

When writing your press release us a word processor like word, you will need to write – read – edit – print it and re-edit. Making sure it is formatted to perfection.

I always write my articles, and press releases in word. I save them in word docs simply because I want to submit them to various news agencies and press release web site. 

Having a copy to draw upon later is really a big help and saves a lot of time.

Example of a Press Release:

Below is an example, this is an actual press release that one of my client’s received after working hard to become one of the top companies in her industry.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wasatch Front Ski Accommodations Receives 2009 Best of Salt Lake City Award

U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., March 20, 2009 — For the second consecutive year, Wasatch Front Ski Accommodations has been selected for the 2009 Best of Salt Lake City Award in the Tourist Homes category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Nationwide, only 1 in 70 (1.4%) 2008 Award recipients qualified as 2009 Award Winners. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Local Business Association
Email: PublicRelations@USLocalBusinessAssociation.com
URL: http://www.USLocalBusinessAssociation.com

# # #

As you can see it is simple, precise and to the point – it give a synopsis of the award given to my client as well as a little background about the company who gave the award – this lends credibility to the award that was given.

Formatting Standards

 

• Create a headline that draws attention, put it in bold type just above the first line of the body of the press release. Headlines typically highlight the most important, significant or shocking fact in the release.

 

• Create a dateline - the first line of the body of your press release - that includes the city where the release is generated and the date (i.e. SLC, UT. - January 1, 2009).

 

• Make certain the first paragraph includes all the vital information: the where, when, why, what and who.

• Include some tantalizing peripheral details or facts to spark curiosity in following paragraphs. A good press release not only informs but also teases.

 

• Wrap up the last paragraph with a “for additional information” line, a place to find more details. An annual report or a Web site can be great sources of information.

• Center these marks, ” # # #” or “-30-”, at the bottom of the page to indicate the end of your release.

 

Remember you only get one chance at a great first impression – so be sure that your press release is a strong one!

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Tags: marketingyour business, press releases, how to write a press release, publisize your website