Snag Publicity for yourself

Your Publicity Matters

Snag publicity for yourself 

Facing the press can be a daunting experience. Getting publicity for yourself can often be frowned upon by others and risking yourself being tagged with titles like ‘media whore’ or ‘celebrity wannabe’.  The truth of the matter is, generating publicity can be an easy task if you understand the dos and don’ts in handling the media. A little publicity might just give you the extra fuel to steer your business to the right direction. Snag publicity for yourself with the following tips and pointers - 

Have a PR plan in place

One needs to take charge and be responsible for his or her own publicity. As the saying goes, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  Review your goals and targets for 2010 and ensure they fall into your master PR plan. A PR plan should include your objectives, targets, strategies and deliverables, to name a few. The duration of the plan should be from six months to a year. 

Prepare your PR tools in advance 

‘A press kit is to publicity what thunder is to lightning. Without it, a campaign has no voice’.  This is what Jodee Blanco says in the Complete Guide to Book Publicity (New York, NY: Allworth Press, 2000). 

The press kit is the foundation of any media relations program. In the kit, it should include – Press release, Bio sheet, Company history, Fact sheet, Brochure, testimonials, photos. 

Apart from having the right PR tools, make sure other communication materials like website, brochures, newsletter, etc are all in place. 

Hire a publicist

If you simply do not have time to handle your press matters, the right thing to do is to hire a publicist. A publicist will have all the necessary PR experience to manage your reputation. He or she will also have the right media contacts to ensure that you are profiled well in the relevant media. 

Write a Column 

Writing a column with a trade publication or local newspaper is a wise move. A column will give you credibility and catapult you before a wider audience. And since you will be viewed as an expert, it will open doors to many speaking engagements and opportunities. Other benefits include payment for the column. You could be paid a fee by the newspaper or magazine. 

Create rapport with journalists

Create your own media database and update it when you meet new journalists. After your interview with the journalist, send a thank you note via email to leave a stronger first impression. During festivities, it doesn’t take and cost much to send them an e-card or email. You’ll be surprised how far this little gesture can bring you.   

Do not neglect the social media

According to Wikipedia, social media is defined as media designed to be disseminated through social interaction, created using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques.  The two applications highly popular amongst Singaporeans are Facebook and Twitter. 

Other popular forms of online marketing are Google ad words, podcasting, blogging, and email marketing. 

Do not neglect the social media. With its viral nature, the mileage and reach is astounding and tremendous. 

Whether you run a commercial enterprise, a non-profit organization or an entrepreneur, the tips and ideas will help you generate tons of publicity. Your name, products, services or agenda, can all receive news coverage if you pitch it correctly. 

For more information on how to shine in the media spot light, log on to  www.yourpublicitymatters.com or email flaunt@yourpublicitymatters.com

a Jacket will do the trick

We are what we wear. 

Do you subscribe to this saying?

I was reminded by a new colleague recently about the need to portray ourselves professionally at all times. 

'A jacket is all it takes', she said. 

This new colleague of mine is a nice lady who has had vast experience in the field of PR & communications. As we were discussing about some of the members of the team, she highlighted the fact that all marketing staff should have at least a proper jacket with them at all times. 

They are all good staff! What they probably need is to have a jacket with them. Just put on a jacket, and they are good to face their stakeholders', she said.  

It may sound superficial but i actually agree with her. 

Stakeholders in our case, are doctors, media and the front line staff. 

My colleague even highlighted the fact that most nurses and front line staff are professionally and appropriately dressed. As marketing & PR practitioners, we cannot afford to lose out in the wardrobe department.  I agree. 

This is a fundamental requirement for any aspiring marketer or PR professional. 

A jacket will do the trick. Invest in a decent outer wear, and you be surprised how it will help you 'elevate' your status and rank. 

I found myself believing in this after my conversation with her. Any thoughts?

A publicist

Just to clear the air on what a publicist does.

Extracted from Wikipedia.

A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book or film. Just like lawyers, most top level publicists work in private practice, handling multiple clients.

In the world of celebrities, unlike agents or managers, publicists typically take a monthly fee for serving a client (whereas agents and managers tend to take a percentage of their client's gross income). Publicists can be at local, regional or national level. They can also have special expertise in areas such as entertainment or literary publicity.

One of the publicist's main function is to generate press coverage on behalf of clients and to serve as the bridge between clients, their public and media outlets. A publicist writes press releases, manages campaigns and performs other public relations functions. It usually takes many years to develop the media contacts, experience and relationships necessary to be an effective publicist.

Some publicists specialize in representing 'ordinary' members of the public to procure the maximum possible fee for stories they wish to sell to newspapers, television stations and magazines.

An older meaning of the term is closer to pamphleteer: someone who circulates ideas by publishing them, perhaps in ephemeral forms.

Everyone needs Publicity!

Yes, Everyone needs publicity.

Mr Jackson Lim (not his real name) is a struggling teacher caught up in his busy daily routine, preparing his teaching materials, giving lectures and tutorials & mentoring students. After 8 years in the educational industry, he questioned whether he is recognised for his efforts in his school. He is a quiet person who don't neccesary get alot of attention from students or his peers. He wonders why he is not moving up the ranks after 8 years of teaching in a local secondary school.

Alison is an account servicing executive working in a local advertising agency. With all the good marketing qualifications she has, it's tough not to see her worth to her company. Sadly, even though she's been very hardworking, she's not getting the kind of recognition she needs and she attribute it to her lack of áirtime' in her organisation. The general manager of the agency knows Alison, but not a on very close term.

The above are two people I've met recently. They need áirtime'in their area of work. How do they generate publicity or interest for themselves? And how do they use PR to advance their career?

Will a little publicity make a difference in their career?

Stay tuned.

Passion is what you need in life

There are people who procrastinate and let the world pass. There are also passionate people who make things happen & work the world. 

Successful people make things happen through passion, hard work and determination. 

And even if there's this thing call luck, as Oprah Winfrey profoundly said, 'Luck is all about preparation meeting opportunity'. 

We need to prepare ourselves for that opportunity.  

Often times, we find ourselves whining and complaining why we are in a certain state of our life. We give all sorts of reasons and excuses on why we can't move forward.

I have met very  passionate and successful people who truly enjoy and believe in what they do. Actors, PR folks, Doctors, Entrepreneurs, to name a few. And one common trait which i found was that they all have a sense of purpose & vision in life - something keeping them alive and breathing. 

It's difficult to identify that trait if we do not prepare ourselves for greater things. 

We need to sit down and re evaluate what we really need and do to make things better. 

And as i ponder, I realise, its really passion which keeps me going in my life. It's the only thing i need at this point to breathe. 

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Dennis T

How did i fare as a lecturer?

I was at Singapore Polytechnic yesterday at 3pm to give a talk on the Vietnam market.

I must say it was a nice experience and a fruitful trip. I procrastinated on my slides as i've only started working on it the night before from 10pm till 3am in the morning. Well for a 5 hours effort, i reckon i did a good job putting the fundamentals together,with nice photos and all.

Roger, who was the lecturer with International Business school was kind enough to invite me for a talk. "don't worry, just share your experience as a regional marketing manager. tell them about the nice experience you had in vietnam', he said. The truth is - my experience in vietnam have been really awesome, apart from my first trip which i was robbed. I am serious. And at knife point.

Will tell you more if you meet me in person.

Anyway, those are good memories. I always think the nicest thing one can experience as a person is when you travel. I have the luxury of extensive traveling in the course of my 9 years career working for a number of reputable companies. I have made nice and true friends from India, Vietnam and also US. Those experiences were great - driving in Delhi, getting robbed in Vietnam, meeting corrupted authorities from Bangladesh, Dhaka, All bizzare but they really made me who i am as a person.

Back to the lecture - I guess, & hope the students benefitted from my talk. I just wanted to share how one can learn great things when they are overseas. As Singaporeans, I believe we been too sheltered to the point we get fixated over certain perceptions which are not essentially the realities & truths. We need to constantly push frontiers and expose ourselves to deeper dimensions, and experience new things & arenas that are more uplifting and edifying.

Well to the students from Singapore Poly, thank you for your kind attention. You guys were great! I hope i had made a slight difference to your life.

Live your dreams and pursue them. No second guessing, don't look back and just go for it!

Why i admire my sister so much?

This thread is a non academic one. I just wanted to dedicate this space to my beloved sister who got married yesterday. 

My Sister is always self sacrificing. She has a good heart, someone who always put others above her. 

'Wendy is all about Life. Wendy is all about living life to the fullest' said Huipeng during the wedding ceremony. I couldn't agree more. 

Wendy and I took part in a local celebrity competition, 'star search' when we were younger.

We both thought our lives would change after the competition. :)

Wendy had big dreams. She has what it takes to be a star, very talented & gifted in her own ways. I always believe she'll go far in the entertainment scene.

As a brother, I share a lot of commonalities with her. Some spoken, some unspoken. I guess coming from the same background made me understand her better. 

I knew I haven't done enough for her as a brother. I know i had failed her in many ways. 

When i walked pass her room every morning, I only have one wish - the hope of seeing her happy and that i am able to help her make her life even better. Amidst my busy schedule, I know i have not spent enough time and effort on wendy. 

All i want is for her to be happy & not lose her 'self' after she get married. She will continue to pursue her interests and passion. 

She has found a good man, Julian. And Wendy will be an even better person. 

Wendy - Thanks for always being there for me. As you said, ' in life, we hold multiple roles - as a friend, a sister, a daughter in law, a daughter, a niece, a cousin. To all these friendships and relationships- let's hope we can push them to a greater level'. 

I hope our brother - sister relationship could be further strengthened & deepened, as we progress in every area & stage of our lives. 

Thanks You for being my sister. Love you. 

GOD Bless you in every area of your life. 

Dennis Toh

Why the Heineken AD IS GREAT!

The recent Heineken TVC must have resonated with most guys. I thought it was simply a brilliant idea. The delivery and execution was seamless and yet simple.  The TVC highlighted the fundamental difference between men and women. While women are thrilled and turn on by a closet filled with clothes, shoes, bags, etc, Men are highly charged upon seeing bottles of beer, to be exact Heineken stacked for their drinking pleasure. The reaction of the men were classic and priceless. 

A very hilarious and impactful one i must say. Kudos to the advertising company behind this campaign. Very high brand recall i must say. 

Dennis T

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Dennis T