Press release faux pas: Keep these mistakes out of your PR materials

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Everyone wants their press release to capture national headlines. At the very least, some social media traction would be nice.
What would keep your release from doing that?

1.       Spelling and grammatical errors.  Nothing is worse than whne you forget to use your spell chck. Right? :)
You will instantly lose credibility when you misspell words, use the wrong ‘they’re’ or ‘their’ or forget to add a period in between sentences.

2.       Being too wordy. Keep it simple. No one wants to read multiple pages about something that could be said in less than one. Most press release distribution services recommend keeping your release to no longer than a page.

3.       Check yourself before you wreck yourself. This cannot be stressed enough: double check the facts! You don’t want people showing up to your news conference on May 8th, if it’s really on the 18th.

At the end of the day, you can have the most newsworthy topic in your release, and you can use a global newswire to distribute your news, but if it’s riddled with any of the previously stated press release faux pas, there’s a good chance it won’t make an impression on your audience. Or at least not the one you were aiming for.

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Jessica@seligmultimedia.com

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Did Reese’s arrest totally tarnish her reputation?

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reese witherspoon sweet home alabama

I don’t think so. Here’s why:

In the past 20-plus years that actress Reese Witherspoon has been in the spotlight, she has been able to retain a fairly squeaky clean image as one of America’s favorite girls next door.

On April 19th, in the wee hours of the morning, the loveable, Oscar-winning actress shocked her fans after getting arrested for disorderly conduct in downtown Atlanta with her husband, Jim Toth, who was arrested for a DUI.

According to the police report, Witherspoon played the “celebrity card” by asking if he knew who she was and also questioned the officer’s legitimacy. Hollywood’s sweetheart had had one too many drinks and showed a far more sour part of her personality than the public is used to.

While the media can be quick to judge and label the 37-year-old, mother of three as a brat or predict that she may be headed for a downward spiral, I would make the argument that the arrest can actually benefit her image.

Witherspoon has lived a relatively quiet life for a celebrity. She has had little drama, no trips to rehab or prior arrests. She gives off an unblemished perception of herself that is unfamiliar to most.

Nobody is perfect and that includes celebrities like Witherspoon. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone has said things they do not mean. Mistakes do not suddenly stop at 22 (I’m talking to you, USA Today).

Michael Bublé, a friend of the actress even commended her for showing “graciousness, class and great dignity” in dealing with the arrest. Witherspoon’s good friend, Chelsea Handler agrees that it was “not a big deal.”

Witherspoon made a mistake, which she acknowledged and apologized for. No one can control what has happened in the past; they can only control their actions in the aftermath.  I don’t imagine she or her husband will be involved in any drinking and driving or disorderly conduct anytime soon, or ever again.

In the end, I believe that her arrest will make her appear more human and vulnerable to the public, ultimately creating a more relatable image.

So let’s hold off on calling her a “train wreck” or “brat” until it happens a second time, shall we?

Witherspoon Little Nicky

 

Have questions, comments for Liv?

Contact her at: (813) 708-1220 x7783, Liv@SeligMultimedia.com
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What PR pros could learn from troubled, former child stars

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It is rare to go a day or two without Lindsay Lohan or Amanda Bynes making headlines for their crazy antics. From obscene tweets to hiding under tables in Brazilian nightclubs, these now grown-up movie stars are having their fair share of questionable moments, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.

Behavior and constant negative media attention that Lohan and Bynes receive daily are a publicist’s worst nightmare. So what can PR professionals learn from these troubled actresses?

  1. Actions speak louder than words. Since 2007, Lindsay Lohan has had multiple run-ins with the law, including DUIs. (For more information, check out Lohan’s arrest records.) While she has tried to apologize for her actions, she has yet to take any serious steps to cleaning up her act.
    As PR pros know, it is important to practice what we preach. If your latest press release or pitch to the media touts a major donation to charity, make sure that all of the money goes exactly where it should.
  2. Not everything needs to be shared. Amanda Bynes recently used Twitter to let her feelings for popular rap artist Drake be known. However, her obscene tweet was something all of us could have done without.
    Often, our goal in public relations is to land media attention for a client or company as it pertains to products, events, news, etc. It is important to know when to seek out media coverage and when to let certain pieces simply be featured in an online-only press release or on social media. Have an updated version of a top-selling product is coming out? Great! Get in touch with your connection at The New York Times. But chances are, he or she is not going to care about minor internal promotions.
  3. Have a plan that moves you forward. Lohan and Bynes both started as child actors with bright futures in film as well as on TV. Unfortunately, neither has been making recent headlines for amazing films or projects.

PR professionals are closely involved with helping clients or their companies reach a certain goal. Whether it is to improve overall company image or to increase product sales by 500%, public relations plays a great role in that. In order to do so, PR professionals need to do substantial research, planning and execution to get their company or client moving forward.

With talks of rehab and interventions being tossed around as frequently as their nightclub visits and strange moments on New York streets, there is always a chance for a turnaround for Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes. Maybe there will be a PR professional brave enough to step up to the task of turning their images around….

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Jessica@seligmultimedia.com

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Public relations tips that help your small business PR in a big way

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Working for yourself or running a small business can be overwhelming. Focusing on a high quality product and technical business side usually comes first, so it is understandable when public relations slip through the cracks. However, having good PR is an important factor to the long term sustainability and success of your business.

Here are a few friendly reminders that will help you keep your PR in check:

1. Use it or lose it
Many times businesses think that merely having a Facebook page is enough. They do not realize not updating and interacting with potential customers regularly, their page is probably doing more harm than good. Having outdated information or an old page starts to look like a dying business.

Having no Facebook page is better than having a stagnant Facebook page.

Two friends of mine have small businesses that they have recently started. One bakes custom cookies and the other is a hair stylist.  They both created Facebook pages to better promote their businesses.

Here are some of the great ways they used their Facebook to engage existing customers and attract new ones:

a. Hold seasonal contests and promotions for your product
Holding a contest every month or two months generates excitement and buzz on social media. This gets others talking and interested in your product and potentially build more business.

For example, have your followers share the page for a chance to win a sweet treat or luxury hairspray, or a discount off their next purchase or service.

b. Post about the latest trends in your business
Whether it’s how cookies are the new cupcake for trendy sweets or a review on the best hairbrushes for different hair types you should always make your posts interesting and useful to your followers.

Find out what is going on right now in your line of work and talk about it on your page.

c. Use seasonal festivities as a way to build business
Is there a big game coming up? Why not suggest bringing custom cookies with your team’s logo to a sports gathering?

Is it almost prom season? A friendly reminder to girls to book their appointment before you are filled up is another great idea.

Use what is going on around you to your businesses advantage.

2. If you want something, ask for it
Don’t underestimate the power of reviews and testimonials. Before I purchase a product or try a new restaurant I look for online reviews first. I am more likely to go with a product with more reviews and an above average score, than new product with zero reviews and no score.

This is the way many consumers think, that is why it is important to make sure you ask for reviews and testimonials.

After you ship your product, throw in a thank you note and ask your customer to go online and share their opinion. After you say goodbye to a client, ask them to post a review of the services they received.

Make it as easy as possible for your customer or client to spread the word. Include the link on your thank you note and on the back of your business card.

3. Don’t take yourself too seriously!

Have fun and let your personality show in your business. People feel a strong sense of loyalty with brands they relate to.  So show your fun side, crack jokes and engage your audience in an interesting conversation.

I hope these small tips will help in a big way and make it easier for you to build a successful and sustainable business and allow you not fall behind in your PR.

 

Have questions, comments for Liv?

Contact her at: (813) 708-1220, Liv@SeligMultimedia.com
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How social media amplifies your press releases, increases exposure

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Social media has swept through the 21st century the same way televisions and radios did upon its inception. The top three social media sites, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn all have over 110 million users. But with nearly seven billion people in the world, that means there are still “a few” people who think social media is a passing craze.

If you are one of those people, it’s time to fall in line.Social Media sites Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube logos

If you are one of those people, and you are a business owner, wake up!

While social media may seem intimidating and time consuming, done properly, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, especially for businesses.

The ability to connect with your consumers on a personal basis through Facebook and Twitter can provide a limitless amount of new business while the professional connections made via LinkedIn could be the missing piece to taking your business to the next level.

Coupling these sites with traditional marketing techniques such as press releases and other advertising tools will allow your company’s reach to expand exponentially.

You can not only provide information directly to your customers with social sites, but you can collect info from them as well. Creating polls, answering questions or providing specials and discounts to your Facebook friends or Twitter followers can lay the groundwork for a client base that can become very loyal and eager to share all of your brand’s social happenings to new potential customers.

Let’s say your latest press release describes new products made available. By using your Facebook and Twitter accounts to spread the news, your company now has a platform to inform your customers directly and, for the most part, it’s free!

The vastness of the social media universe can be overwhelming, but there are websites and links available that can ease this process. PRNC TV, a YouTube channel dedicated to providing public relations tips and info, debuted with a segment offering great pointers for new users and those with stagnant accounts.

Operating without a social media presence can be possible, but it’s like writing a press release by hand when you have a computer. Why waste the resources?

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Tyler@seligmultimedia.com

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What makes your press release stand out in the crowd

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Writing a press release that is newsworthy, accurate and full of the right information can be hard work. You must find a balance between catchy, attention-grabbing writing and delivering the information in a quick and effective manner.

So what is going to help your press release be successful? Using a press release distribution service is a great option; highly skilled writers have experience in delivering your message with the most powerful punch possible. If a press release newswire is not possible, here are a few tips to help your press release become more successful.

  1. Liven it up a little.   Journalists and media contacts are bombarded with dozens of press releases every day. Not only do they want to read the ones that are of interest to them and their audience, but they also want to read ones that are exciting. Yes, stick to the four W’s of journalism, Who, What, Why and Where, but also be sure to use eye-catching language that isn’t too cheesy to readers.
  2.  Keep it simple.    In addition to weeding through releases, journalists are short on time. Period. While it’s important to make your release worthy of your reader’s attention, it’s even more important to keep it short and sweet. Make sure the basics are included in your release. If the journalist wants to know more, they’ll reach out to you. (So be sure to include your contact information!)
  3. Double check your work.    The moment your reader notices a typo, poor grammar or a misspelled word is the moment you lose your credibility and their attention. Review your release a few times, and if possible, have a colleague or friend check it over for any mistakes or confusing statements.

While press release writing can seem like a daunting task, with the right and thorough preparation, you can create a news release that is eye catching and informative.

Have questions or comments for Jessica?

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