I'm back

Sorry gang, I was away for a while. Had to take care of my mom after my dad died. She went down hill, double pneumonia then recovered, broke leg and sprained both ankles week before she was to go to Italy with a friend, had cancer, went thru chemo and radiation, survived, appendix removed, stent in her heart valve, then cancer came back, weent to grandson's wedding and passed last June. That's a run on sentence I know.

http://www.legacy.com/MailTribune/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=112951733

So I am recovering, mourning, sibling hell, starting over and making a living. On a new journey and loving it!

Real Estate

Another thing. Call your universe of influence. Call them up and ask them if they know anyone who is moving or thinking of moving, you should get at least 2 good leads.

And you know that there are alot of houses for sale and you can hold an open house but do it with a twist.

Selling fashion

Thought I would post this just in case someone was looking for a rep for their fashion related product:

www.neacshow.com

http://neacshow.com/lines.asp?CT=ACCE&LN=&H=Y
(most listed are either reps or designers) you want the reps

And since this is an apparel club but in New England, other apparel clubs may help as well:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Apparel+club%22

Real Estate

I have decided to post different strategies that I have used in the past that have worked for clients. Maybe the market they pertain to may work for others. This one is real estate. I have several friends and business associates in this field. The current real estate market in Oregon and Northern California (and around the country for that matter) presents an interesting climate and a test of our innards. For the agents and brokers, the buyers, the sellers and even the office staff at the Real Estate office. Of course the media doesn't help with a slant to reporting the negative, newsworthy hype of doom, buyers afraid to purchase, thinking that if they wait the bottom of the market will come and whala! they get a great buy. So they wait before jumping in. Sellers are holding on to every one's equity and hoping. And real estate professionals are surviving, thriving or trying to adjust or are just giving up.

We all have been in this state before. After the dotcom crash and even prior to that. What I tell my clients as it relates to real estate is to go back to their basics. What did you do in the early days when you first became a real estate agent/broker or developer. When you took your brokers test and passed did you press release it to the Business Brief section of your local newspaper? When you sold a particular property or got a big listing, did you announce it? You can announce it via a press release and post it on sites like prweb.com, press-world.com, free-press-release.com, express-press-release.com, california-press-release.com, media-press-release.com, prleap.com, clickpress.com, theopenpress.com, 24-7pressrelease.com. You can even post it on craigslist.org for your area.

Did you give a class to attract buyers? Send flyers to renters that were handed out by your local boy scouts to save money. If you did give a class be sure to post it in all the local calendar sections of newspapers, radio online sites, tv online sites and your local bulletin boards--online or at your local supermarket and lunch spot.

What type of class can you give? Seniors and reverse mortgages? Can't afford your mortgage-maybe turn your home into a rental property? First time buyer? In Oregon there is a program for first time buyers that assists them with a down payment to get their home. Check out all the free options available to buyers. Maybe your market share is with college grads, young married couples who can afford a condo or townhome or cooperative. Or maybe even a house or mobile home on a piece of land.

What helped you buy your first home and offer it to others. Videotape yourself and post you or your listings on YouTube. We are a digital age.

We all network and everytime you meet someone new, you give them your card. Be sure to have your website URL address on your business card. Your website is your brochure. If you do not have time or the know how to create a website. Check out your local high school, junior college or university. All have intern programs. It might be a way to get a student to help you out and not cost anything or a small amount.

Learn how to better present the history and current market story to your buyers and sellers. What worked before? Do it again. Update your buyer and seller listing presentations with supporting graphs, statistics, use your company marketing and advertising tools and incorporate into your presentations.

Educate yourself. Become an expoert in short sales, REO, foreclosures, etc. Make sure you are receiving current market data from local sources.

Write a business plan. This will help you structure and focus. Make specific goals, track your expenditures and return on investment. Know what's working and what is not and make the adjustments necessary.

Take care of yourself and be good to yourself. The reason you are having a slow time is to meditate on what is important to you. Get back in touch with you. You are the creator of your own destiny. No negative thoughts. You cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought. One book that I have been reading that is changing my life is Jack Canfield's Success Principles. You get to write affirmations and read them daily and amazing things happen.

Make a daily activity plan and work it. How many calls, how many face-to-face contacts, emails, mailers, network meetings to go to before you finish your day. And while you are in your car driving home, put on a motivational tape or CD. Or record your affirmations and recite them on the way home.

And if you need help-ask for it. Form a support group or chat with others via real estate forum sites--they may have suggestions.

Be sure to eat right and exercise. Don't take the elevator take the stairs or take the brisk walk but be sure you have your business cards with you. And spend time with your kids. Go to their games, meet their coaches and the other parents, they could be a client someday. Always look good too and smile. Life is good. Life tests just makes us more creative and stronger.

Strategies

Trying to figure out where to get publish is not an easy task. There are lots of different angles a company can take. Do your homework. Determine unique selling propositions, positioning if you like, that lend themselves to several niches-existing or new ones. Find attributes that are very leveragable assets. Let's say you have a new product that you are launching. The upcoming launch gives you the news hook you need to mount a visibility campaign and build awareness in target markets. If you give your emphasis either on the company over personalities, a press conference or event is probably not a necessary ingredient. But if you are emphasizing personalities, then the person-to-person contact via a press conference is a must.

You can certainly plan an "anchor event," where appropriate, but an Internet release with the proper story "seeding" and follow-up will likely suffice. So develop the necessary materials and strategy, prepare the launch campaign; and, conduct the launch and follow-up using online resources as our focus.

Corporate Backgrounder

If you you are going to do press releases for your company or products, you should also have a press kit. Some of the items in the press kit include a FAQ sheet, bios, and a Corporate Backgrounder. The Corporate Backgrounder is a 4-6 page summary of your business history and state of affairs that identifies type of business, founder history, some fiscal commentary, facilities, markets into which your company sells, how products are designed, produced and marketed, the nature of the competition, and other information, such as where the business stands in its projections for share of market growth. Business and financial press refer to the backgrounder whenever they are doing a story on your company or industry. Here's a questionnaire that may help:

Corporate/Personal Backgrounder

Questionnaire: the following information will be used to write a corporate backgrounder
--an evergreen piece that will be used in press kits and information packets.

What year was the company founded?

By Whom? (list all founders and titles)

What is the genesis of the company? What is the story behind its inception?


Who are the company’s affiliates or key partners? Affiliates?

How is the company organized? A corporation? Sole proprietorship?

In what state is the company incorporated? Registered?

What is the address of the company’s headquarters?

How many square feet or offices does the company have?

How many employees does the company have?

Please finish the following sentence: [your company] is the leading _____________.


To expand on the last question, please describe what your company SELLS/DOES.

What is the company’s stated mission?

How does the company sell?

In what marketplace does the company operate?

Who are the company’s customers?

Who (what companies) are the company’s competitors?
Direct?

Indirect?

In What other ways do you “differentiate” your operation from the competition?

What is the company’s “Unique Selling Proposition” or “Case Statement”?

How does your company “promote” its products/services?

What is the company’s rate of growth?

What are the company’s goals?

Short-term?

Long-term?

List company milestones (A chronology)
(milestones can be years in the business; number products you carry, where published, etc; who carries your products, reps, etc.; geographic distribution of products, etc., celebrities who have bought you)

Personal information: (optional)

Date of Birth Hobbies

Place of Birth Children

Education Pets

Current business or personal address Role model – hero(ine)

Years at that location Favorite movie

Years in the region Favorite music

Previous employment & experience Favorite quote

Appointments

Memberships

More about me

Someone told me I should state what I do and what kind of experience I have as this is about PR. So here goes....

Your investment in the creative mind of an experienced, marketing focused, but small business-oriented consultant can produce greater returns in the next five years than almost any other investment you can make.

I am that consultant. I have worked with small businesses for more than 20 years. I have experience marketing home décor and garden products, golf products, food, organic, wine accessories, children's products, day spas and spa products, public speakers, real estate and construction, fashion, beauty, pet products, inventions, medical devices, automotive aftermarket, safety, security, travel gear, boating products, authors, furniture, restaurants/bars, jewelry, toys, ergonomic products, and more.

I have experience from concept and copy production, strategic planning and crisis response, political communications, social networking campaign design and management to directing marketing for products, conducting PR, managed advertising and trade-show appearances, reworking corporate brand/logo to managing complex, comprehensive product-based and reputation-management programs for clients.

My clients have been mentioned by popular blogs and podcasts, as well as, featured on radio & television shows such as: HGTV-I Want That, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, NPR, the Auto Channel, and the Howard Stern Show.

My efforts on behalf of my clients have resulted in coverage by trade and consumer publications, including (but not limited to) articles in: AP & Reuters wire; McClatchy-Tribune Special Sections; Contract; Log Home Living; Antique West; Award; Tango; Elle; Lucky; Fresh Cup; Better Homes & Gardens; Renovation Style Magazine; Wine Spectator; Laptop Product News; Small World; Gifts & Dec; Giftware News; Custom Home; Pool & Spa; Natural Food Merchandiser; Gourmet Product News; Coffee & Tea Journal; NW Palate; Wine & Country Living; the Veterinary Practice News; Fortune Magazine; Forbes; National Safety Council's Safety & Health Magazine & Endorsement; Sunset; Entrepreneur; Playthings; Tow Times; Security Product News; Truckers News; ATV Rider News; Fuel Oil News; Convenience Store Decisions; Good Sam RV Club Magazine & Endorsement; Northwest Construction; Big Apple Parent; Police One; Kick Starts; Pet Biz; The Animal Print; Dog Fancy; Pet Connection, syndicated column; Whole Dog Journal; Police Chief Magazine; Outdoor Edge; Gun Dog Magazine; Impressions Magazine; The Australian; Pet Age Magazine; Corporate Logo Magazine; Ski Press World; Vancouver Pet Magazine; NY Post, and many more.

I have a database of wholesale sales representatives in the United States and Canada who represent food, giftware, stationery, housewares, garden, drug, discount, HBA, home center, hardware, bath, decorative accessories and other product categories.

I have a database of private equity investors and assist some businesses in locating funding.

I work with you to develop an appropriate budget and I am paid on retainer.

Creating a Business Plan

Your purpose in creating a business plan may be to obtain financing, to create a guide for managing your business, to clarify your business operation, to focus employees on core business objectives and goals, or some combination of these
or other factors.

Creating a business plan is the process of making a road map for your enterprise—it is an essential part of any business if it is to succeed.

The business plan serves many purposes and is essential to starting a new venture as part of your business. A business plan consists of several parts.

• Create a Mission Statement reflecting the core purpose of your business, stating the basic values and goals in a short, focused sentence of no more than 20 words. Ask yourself: What is the purpose of the proposed project? What benefit will it provide? Who are the costumers?

• Create a Marketing Slogan, consisting of a short, clever, even humorous translation of your mission statement that conveys a single, simple thought about your business to your customer.

• Set Measurable Goals & Objectives. Goals are 3-5 years out; objectives are things you want to accomplish in the next year. Some areas for consideration may include sales volume, profits, customer satisfaction, owner compensation, number of employees, employee development, etc. To set goals and objectives, ask yourself the basic: What? Why? How? When? and Who? questions. Then set timetables to match goals and objectives. Who will be responsible for what activities? Who are the key employees and what are their titles? How long do you plan to operate this venture? How many hours are you willing to commit to this venture? Where do you see the business in 3-5 years? How are you going to promote customer satisfaction?

• Gather Information from reputable sources to document your business plan. You’ll want to know about potential buyers and expenditures, preferences, and interests;competition and complementary services in your area; etc. These types of surveys are available from the OR Economic Development Department Tourism Commission and various associations. Also you can check trade publications and call yoou research dept. at your local public library, they can help too.

• Describe Enterprise: When was it started, or projected to start? Why was it started? Who started it? How does the enterprise fit in with your overall business or operation? How are you set up as a business (sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, regular corporation, chapter S corporation)?

• Describe Your Product or Service: Write down what you are selling to the public or the trade. Why should people buy your service? What does it do? What makes it unique? What will it cost to provide this service or product? How much will
you charge? How does it compare to other similar recreation enterprises? Are there complementary services in the area?

• Define Your Customers: Who are you targeting for your enterprise? You’ll want to define: gender, age, income, occupation, location, family status, children, education, and interests. For example, if you are developing a fee hunting enterprise, you’ll probably look at males in the 25 to 50-age range. Survey information on this type of profile may be available from sources listed later in this publication.

Success stories

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0525/biz/stories/01biz.htm

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0423/biz/stories/02biz.htm

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0524/biz/stories/01biz.htm

http://www.best-voip-provider.com/hunter_communications_completes_network_fhf.jspx

http://www.rednova.com/news/technology/151988/hunter_extends_reach_with_wireless/

14th one down
http://wimaxnetnews.com/

http://www.petrome.com/news/techtelecom.html

celldata.wifinetnews.com/ archives/2005/03/welcome_to_cell.html

near the middle
http://www.wimaxcoop.com/aggregator/categories/6?from=20&PHPSESSID=2e2358e2d1133052d8d29646a8522ee5

Newspapers on the Web

Some links to help you find business editors at newspapers, click on the "contact us" section:

http://www.usnpl.com/

http://www.ipl.org/div/news/browse/US/

http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/usstate/usatable.htm

Announcing Radio Trade

Some radio stations will trade with you. For example: You may offer 10/$10.00 gift certificates, valued at $100.00. The radio station would give 10 of those certificates away on the air thus promoting your business to 10 different people plus all the radio listeners listening at that time.

For the value of those certificates: $100.00, you get your own dedicated commercials and the DJ will "promo" several different times per each giveaway.

Not all radio stations offer trade. Like you, they are in the business to make money. Some will do trade and cash. Some have "seasons" that they accept trade certificates. Call and ask for a sales representative and they can advise you.

Another way to promote you business

Another way to promote your business is by utlizing your co-op advertising dollars: a cost sharing arrangement in which your vendors provide financial assistance for your advertising - be it, yellow pages, radio, TV, print ads, advertising specialties, signs, printing, etc.

Good News Travels Fast

One way to get published is to call your local newspaper business section editor. he editor may do a write up about your and your business. This costs you nothing but time and a phone call or email.

Are you a product driven company? Are you a sole proprietor?

Did you know there is a way to promote your company and/or products without spending an arm and a leg?

The way is called a press release.
What is a press release?

A press release (also called a news release) is a document issued to the media, financial community, trade industry analysts, investors and consumers to announce a product, partnership, acquisition, event, personnel change, or other newsworthy item.


Editors, reporters, journalists and talk show hosts depend on releases to alert them to unique products, trends and changes in the business landscape.