Becoming Your Small Business PR Specialist

When big businesses develop products or services, they hire public relations specialists to promote them. The public relations specialists’ job is to organize a promotional campaign to drive business through the door. They provide a press release or story to journalists in online and offline media. They’re hired to promote and create buzz about the new service or product. Making a small business P.R. campaign is a lot easier than many would think. By becoming your own public relations specialist, you can promote the same way, leaving your local Wisconsin competition in the dust.

First, make a list of potential contacts from local papers and also check online for free press release sites. In other words, find places looking to promote new businesses or products. A Good journalist is looking for a unique story to write about and small business success is one of them.  You’re making their job easier by bringing a story to them and cutting their workload down significantly. They often spend more time looking for a story to write about, than dong what they love, interviewing people and writing stories to publish!

You can find many find journalists working for a local newspaper by simply checking their website for the e mail address. You can also call local newspapers and ask to speak to the small business reporter or local beat reporter. Your business contact information will also be included in the newspaper article so people can contact your business. Get yourself in front of thousands of people this way and help your business take off.

The next step is to write a press release that you will send to local newspapers and also Internet press release sites. It is a factual non sales release explaining what great thing has happened with your business. Of course you will link to your small business website. This will drive many people to your site and the press releases will rank highly in the search engines.

These are the same techniques used for exposure in magazines and other forms of media. Most have online and offline editions. When news is considered legitimate, it’s taken more seriously that any advertisement you can buy.

The best part of this P.R. campaign is that it won’t cost you a dime. Feel free to call me or e mail for some help with this.

The Number One Rule to Website Design

Wisconsin web design has a basic philosophy that drives how any website is designed. This rule is not hard to follow, difficult to implement, or hard for anyone to understand. It is one of the simplest design mistakes to make and the most important to avoid. What could be so simple to do but rarely done by small business websites? What is this mistake?

Providing something of value to your reader! Yes, i know it is not something outlandish and that hard to understand. Yet, most small business websites just tell there visitor what they do. They list products and services because they are trying to sell them. does the visitor care? I say NO!

Most visitors search the web for information about something that interests them. 85% of the time local shoppers go to the Internet to do research before they purchase a product at a local store. So the thought behind this is I will list my products for them to see I have the best product, price, etc. really good concept lets sell on price, WRONG!!

Why not show the consumer something different that shows the value you provide as a business. Something that seperates you from the rest of the sell on price people. For instance you sell lawn mowers. Instead of listing all lawn mowers and their price, put up a video on landscaping and how your mower will help in the design a beautiful lawn. Give away information how the consumer can grow grass greener and more plush than their neighbor and why your mower will cut that better than any other mower.

That was just a quick example but the possibilities are endless on the amount of information you can give away to help. I know your first thought is I can’t give away free information! They will just get my information and go somewhere else. True that can happen but I think you will find that most local shoppers want to buy from someone they trust and can get answers from. If you show your knowledge and willingness to help they will pay more to make sure you are there to help. Give it a try and you will be surprised how much people will appreciate what you have done.