Writing services for small businesses: brochures, web content, manuals. J&M Marketing. <meta name="keywords" content="small business marketing and writing, sonoma county, santa rosa, manuals, brochures and web site writing" /> <meta name="description" content="Writing and marketing services offered in Sonoma County for small business owners. Copywriting for brochures, press reelases, web sites and training manuals." /> <link href="style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> </head> <body> <div id="wrap"> <div id="container"> <div id="graphic"><img src="images/main-graphic.gif" width="375" height="270" /></div> <div id="page-bar"> <div id="page"> <p>thoughts</p> </div> </div> <div id="main-nav"> <ul> <li><a class="main" href="index.htm">home</a></li> <li><img src="images/separater.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="main" href="marketing.htm">marketing</a></li> <li> <img src="images/separater.gif" class="navmargin" width="100" height="20" /> </li> <li><a class="main" href="web.htm">web</a></li> <li><img src="images/separater.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="main" href="video.htm">video</a></li> <li><img src="images/separater.gif" class="navmargin" alt="" width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="main" href="writing.htm">copy<br />writing</a></li> <li><img src="images/separater.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="main" href="workshops.htm">workshops</a></li> <li><img src="images/separater.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="main" href="samples.htm">recent<br />work</a></li> <li><img src="images/separater.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="main" href="aboutus.htm">about</a></li> <li><img src="images/separater.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="main" href="contactus.htm">contact</a></li> <li><img src="images/separater.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> </ul>  </div> <div id="sub-nav"> <ul> <li><a class="sub" href="nurturing.htm">nurture your customers</a></li> <li><img src="images/separateblue.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="sub" href="customerthink.htm">think like a customer</a></li> <li><img src="images/separateblue.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="sub" href="prsuccess.htm">PR success</a></li> <li><img src="images/separateblue.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="sub" href="oncall.htm">on call marketing</a></li> <li><img src="images/separateblue.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="sub" href="marketingplan.htm">you need a plan</a></li> <li><img src="images/separateblue.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="sub" href="websites.htm">web—the missing link</a></li> <li><img src="images/separateblue.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="sub" href="effectiveadvertising.htm">effective advertising</a></li> <li><img src="images/separateblue.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="sub" href="marketingmind.htm">marketing state of mind</a></li> <li><img src="images/separateblue.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="sub" href="focus.htm">small biz focus</a></li> <li><img src="images/separateblue.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> <li><a class="sub" href="consistency.htm">consistency</a></li> <li><img src="images/separateblue.gif" class="navmargin" alt=" " width="100" height="20" /></li> </ul> </div> <div id="content"> <h1>Realistic Ways to Public Relations Success</h1> <p> </p> <p>You don’t need a high-priced, big name PR agency to get the word out on your products and services.</p> <p> </p> <p>PR is simply what it states—your relationship with the public. Do you nurture it? Let it ride? Do you decide what to tell the public about your business? What to elaborate on, what to moderate? Do you have control over what is said about your business? No one knows your company better than you so who better to speak about it.</p> <p> </p> <p>Some companies just don’t know where or how to start. To begin, you need a means with which to communicate. Maybe it’s as simple as appearing in an online directory, or sending out a press release to the local paper and other key members of your audience or industry.</p> <p> </p> <p><b>Before You Begin</b></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li class="text">Make sure your core company message is always consistent—it makes you recognizable. Your “boilerplate” can be updated, but should retain inherent characteristics and appear at the end of the release. It’s your signature.</li> <li class="text">Have a press release template ready to go. That way your releases will look similarly, and it will make it easier to get the news out in a time-sensitive situation.</li> <li class="text">Develop a network of local papers, Web sites, trade publications, industry peers. Aim toward your audience. Are they really the New York Times type or more the local Tribune crowd?</li> <li class="text">Use your Web site as a PR tool—it’s nearly free.</li> <li class="text">Don’t just rely on your list of contacts to do your work for you—follow up with a call to answer questions after you’ve sent out a release.</li> <li class="text">Get the word out about yourself in a magazine article. You’re an expert on your business, industry or nonprofit niche—write something about it. Then the media and your customers will look to you—the expert—the next time and the time after that, not only for bylined articles, but to be quoted in their article.</li> <li class="text">Don’t forget about buyers’ guides—those directory listings of companies segregated by category. They are often free. </li> <li class="text">Lastly, a press kit is easy—a backgrounder on your company, contact information, recent news releases, maybe a product brochure—just the basics.</li> </ul> <p class="main"> </p> <p class="main"><strong>Don't Forget the Web</strong></p> <p class="main"> </p> <p>Are you watching your online reputation? Monitoring what others are saying about you and taking the appropriate action when needed?</p> <p> </p> <p>It is critical that you protect your reputation. Online conversations are ahppening every minute online. Be sure to be part of the conversation about your business—thanking those who refer others to you, correcting problems someone may have noticed and correcting misstatements. </p> <p> </p> <p>It is your reputation—protect it!</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Copyright ©2003-2008 J&M Marketing. All Rights Reserved.</p> <h1 class="topline"> </h1> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-5514723-2"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); </script> </body> </html>