Category Archives: Getting Published

Press for Success

Are you a great or not so good client ?

I have worked with various clients and found that some people, most people do NOT know how to obtain media coverage and/or do not even want to do so, and yet, their dilemma is they know that they need TO PROMOTE THEIR BUSINESS OR BOOK. Many business owners and authors are juggling too many balls and cannot find the time nor energy to obtain PR. Or do not know how to write press releases that get published or think that they do not have the skill, talent or creativity to do so. Or they are afraid of the media, and some combination of these makes them avoid, procrastinate and not get the job done.

Some people have unrealistic expectations and want good press but do not think that they have to do anything, that they can just hire someone else to do it for them. If a client does not provide the information, quotes, industry expertise and/or whatever else is needed, even a great publicist cannot do the job flying alone in the wind.

If a publicist sets up an interview and the client does not show up or is ill prepared, the client needs to rethink their priorities and goals for obtaining publicity, to say the least.

A great client knows that they are part of the equation and have a job to do, working with a publicist and do their homework and provide what is needed on their side. Takes two to Tango and Two or more to obtain press.

 

“If the client is able to provide the PR agency with the information they need, they will help them meet their goals. A good client understands that reaching goals takes time, and has patience with the agency while they work. Above all, a good PR client actively participates in their relationship with the agency, helping the two-way street that is public relations run smoothly/”

https://www.bulldogreporter.com/exploring-clientagency-relationships-what-makes-a-good-client-in-public-relations/

 

 

Some tips to maximize press for success

 

Take a calendar and mark down holidays, news, events, and book or movie releases as inspiration to create press releases that relate to your company.

Regularly speak as the expert on your topic at conferences, workshops, events and colleges, business groups, and wow the audiences with your tips, knowledge and entertaining but informative talks.

Build and develop a relationships with reporters,editors, and writers who will write about you and your company, product or service,  book, whatever you are promoting, if and when YOU GIVE THEM CONSISTENTLY WHAT THEY WANT.

Give back to your community with charitable donations and sponsor events, art foundations, sports teams, booster clubs, groups and camps.

Host book signing events, movie nights, holiday themed parties, charity events, scavenger hunts, barbecues, bakeoffs, cake sales, pizza nights, wine or beer tastings, weddings,anniversaries,flash or cash mobs,or whatever is appropriate and fun and will attract new customers and the press.

Be round, square, or diamond-shaped… in other words, STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.

Work with your publicist and give them whatever they need to GET THE JOB DONE FOR YOU.

 

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DARE TO BE DIFFERENT, INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE

Johnny Cupcakes sells t-shirts in shops that look and smell like bakery shops

“A food themed clothing brand was weird to many people, but weird is good! It gets people talking. I started making more Johnny Cupcakes t-shirts that poked fun of pop culture, replacing known references with cupcakes. One particular logo, the one most identifiable with Johnny Cupcakes today is a cupcake with crossbones. Guy’s thought it was funny and girls thought it was cute. The design caused curiosity and conversation amongst strangers. More than anything, it made people smile.

“When it came time to open a store, I really wanted it to be an unforgettable experience. My dad and I transformed my first store location into an old fashioned bakery where I displayed t-shirts in vintage, industrial refrigerators and on baking racks. I even made it smell like frosting! This is and always has been the model for all of my stores. Even when you purchase a t-shirt, we package them in our signature pastry boxes.

“I’ve always taken my advertising budget and put it into building unique experiences through our products, packaging, events, and retail environments. By doing this, people end up doing the advertising for us through word of mouth. Through the unique nature of the brand, we’ve been featured in press outlets that I would have never imagined in my life!”

 

https://kitchen.johnnycupcakes.com/story/

 

 

Let’s discuss your publicity needs TODAY. Call me at 702-225-8206 or email me at

prmatchmaker at yahoo.com.

 

NOW, you’ve MET your PR MATCHMAKER… LET’S GET SOME PRESS FOR YOUR SUCCESS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

writing romance

OK, for years now, I have been writing non-fiction in the form of newspaper and magazine articles, press releases, newsletters, brochures, website copy etc. for clients, romantic and dog travel guides, all non-fiction.

 

and behind the scenes, in a secret cave somewhere, location not to be disclosed, I have been coming up with names and stories for all kinds of fiction from YA, children books, films, and even romantic comedy novels including the ones based upon my experiences growing up in NYC and my sad excuse of a romantic life.

 

with the romantic novels, I loved reading Jennifer Cruisie, my first love and when she stopped writing by herself, ugh, and I had read all of her older books, I asked a librarian if there were other writers like her out there and she told me about Janet Evanovich and I got into the Stephanie Plum series. Once in awhile I read books about dogs such as Spencer Quinn’s Chet and Bernie series written from a dog’s point of view, mysteries that are funny, too. I got to read one and loved it and then was blessed with being able to review them on my Have Dog blog will travel blog, yay.  da perks da perks.

 

all of this reading other people’s books inspires me and I guess I should also mention Tawna Fenske, who I interviewed on my dog blog before she became a famous author of 13 romantic comedy novels.

 

Now on Kindle, I read and read and read, mostly free or cheap romantic novels and other books about writing fiction, romance, and dog books too.

 

And I guess the point here is that writers LOVE LOVE LOVE to read. And if you want to become a published writer, you should jump on the book wagon, too.

 

anyway, it used to be that I would write a romantic novel and stop after Chapter 3, but NO MORE, people. I am on my way, finally, to writing chapters and chapters of this idea that I had, the story has changed numerous times, settings and characters and plots, but I have at last written maybe seven chapters, did an outline, chapter by chapter and have committed to writing the story, even if I don’t really even know what it is completely.

 

Just get the thing done.

 

when i asked Tawna for advice years ago, she told me JUST KEEP ON WRITING.

 

Persistence.

 

and then once you write, you edit and find an agent and a publisher.

 

That is the process. I have helped others DO IT. But you know sometimes we can do things for other people that we find it difficult to do for ourselves.

 

ENOUGH.

 

It is way over time for me to progress and complete my first fiction book, romantic comedy and GET ON WITH writing more and more and more books.  because of course, you want to see my name on romantic comedy novels, sexy who donits, and books with peculiar characters in strangely familiar situations, don’t you, don’t you.

 

 

OK, I am hot on the trail of finishing. And soon I will obtain an agent who loves to laugh, eat chocolate and donuts and dogs, NO, loves dogs but does not want to eat them, except hot dogs, OK, an agent who eats hot dogs aka frankfurters, the healthy kind, and more importantly a genius who recognizes extreme talent and a brilliant mind. OK, someone who wants to represent this bicoastal, former New Yorker, Californian. Anyone, please.

 

Happy New Year !!!

Is one of your New Year’s Resolutions to Get Published in 2015?

Now is the Time to Get Started !!!

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You Need Creative PR for your book, business, club, church, company or organization in order to

Attract Media Attention, Gain Credibility, Enhance your Bottom Line, Garner New Clients and Customers.

Professional Word Management for when words matter

Have to build your business or brand on social media? Frustrated or don’t know where to begin with Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, and more?  I am here to guide you every step of the way. I can create or improve your Facebook business page, help you attract the media attention you want and enhance your online credibility. I’m a published freelance writer and PR expert, so I can assist you with obtaining publicity in print media, too.  Let me help you get the words out to your target audience. Tell me your communication goals and we can create a strategic plan. Fifteen minute complimentary consult, call me at 702-225-8206 or email me at prmatchmaker at yahoo.com.

You need a Professional Word Manager to show you how to:

Be Real and a Star

Create News like a Pro

Dare to be YOU

Nowadays, whether you are a newbie or an old pro, technology and media is constantly changing… everyone is seeking the limelight… how do You Stand Out?    

Learn How :

*  Authentic stories, heartwarming, inspiring, and true are always in vogue

*  Write NEWS Releases that ARE Published (or garner Interviews)

*  Your Websites key ingredients

*  Professional Secrets that Score Instant Credibility

* How a Long and Winding Words Maze (Jargon and Excess) will leave you in the dust

* Are Flash Mobs, viral videos and/or Social Media important?

Samples Galore

Press Releases that Go Nowhere and others that Get Published

What do your Lead, Headline, Quotes and Statistics Got to Do with Getting Published?

Have a 30 second Elevator Speech/Pitch that Works?

Ready to Interview?

Basics / Bonuses

* Tweet like Big Bird

* Shine on Facebook

* Blog Anyone?

* Building a Platform Online

* Networking 101

Call CeliaSue at 702-22-8206 or email prmatchmaker at yahoo.com for your complimentary consultation (15 minutes).

Great Cuppa News

Journalists LOVE a good Press Room

 

does your website have one?  Does it look anything like Starbucks?  If not, give me a call and we can make changes to it, add one and / or assist you with it, so that your phone starts jingle jangling with calls from the media. “Hello, Oprah?”

 

a journalists dream… the fabulous Starbucks press room

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who could ask for anything more?

what works: interesting people featured news stories with photos integrated all together in an array / slide show of different stories

Headline that catches your eye and goes along with the story, not rocket science, folks

it is easy to navigate throughout the news site / press room, easy to read, easy to find whatever you are looking for

below the news (you can push the button/ click to read more about that story or read below and find different categories of stories you might be more interested in, stories about their coffee and beverages, fast facts, food, customer experience, wellness, and they also feature their twitter feed

then at the very bottom, they list ALL of their Social Media that you can click on, info about the Company, Brands, Media, Facts and Reports, so you know where to go to find whatever you want, there is a contact link at the top of each page, plus in each press release (which does not seem like a press release, it is a news story, and contact us at the very very very bottom too

you can download info and images and see related stories all on the same page

https://news.starbucks.com/

A few weeks ago, I listened to Oprah interview the founder of Starbucks, CEO Howard Schultz, and it was quite more than I had bargained for. This guy was a poor kid from Brooklyn. He did not aspire to have or own a coffee empire. He wanted to make a difference in the world and “build a company with soul.” And at one point in his life, he had the opportunity to buy a local coffee emporium called Starbucks. He made it what it is today, one coffee cup, one barrista at a time.  here is a link to the video:

https://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/First-Look-Oprah-and-Starbucks-CEO-Howard-Schultz-Video

Spinning Stories like a Savior

Once upon a time, there was a guy named Jesus who told stories. They were called parables. He seemed to get a lot of followers around the world, huh. He gained people’s attention by speaking truth, in plain language and also overturning myths and status quo accepted practices, all thru the power of his words. Ok, yeah, he also performed a few miracles, too… turning water into wine, a few pieces of bread and fish into loaves enough to feed 5,000, walking on water, raising the dead, and more. It was these stories that also built his church and army of believers for many many years, even today.

Am not saying that you have to be a Christian and believe in a religion, but since today is Easter, once a pagan holiday that was turned into a story of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, you just might get with the program… Words have power.  Stories have everlasting Life. And you just might be able to sell more products and services by telling compelling stories, heartwarming tales, and spinning little itty bitty twitter bite sized snippets.

dog bake

“Stories connect us to one another. Stories stimulate our imaginations. Stories are at the heart of the most successful

“Many studies confirm that people are moved by emotions and that stories are the most effective way to tap into those emotions. In fact, Princeton University researchers discovered that stories enable “brain-to-brain coupling.” In other words, if I tell you a story, the same regions of our brains light up. That means we are literally in sync!

“Stories break down walls between two people, leaving the listener more receptive to the numbers and the hard evidence. Let’s look at how stories impact some of the most jaded of all audiences — early stage investors.

“Angel investors invest in people, not products. While the big venture capital deals capture business news headlines, the vast majority of entrepreneurs get their start with smaller “seed” investments typically made by friends and family or early-stage investors. Yes, these small investors want to make money, but they also want to trust the people they back and to feel as though they have a connection with them on an emotional level. Storytelling is critical when pitching to these type of investors.

“…In the knowledge economy you are only as successful as your ability to transfer the information you have — your knowledge — to others. Stories facilitate the sharing of that information. Stories illustrate, illuminate and inspire. Tell more of them.”

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/231098

And if you are not a great storyteller, then hire a writer like moi who would be happy to turn your stories into wine and chocolate.

Have a great Holiday !!!

How much are your words worth?

The next time someone asks for a freebie, someone to write / edit a book gratis, aka complementary, expecting you to work for FREE, will you craft a similar response?  I definitely will.  Love it.  Since today is Equal Pay Day seems appropriate, too since women accept far less money/pay than they deserve working two or more jobs every day.

 

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below, this is from Doonesbury cartoon about how dollars = freedom of speech according to the Supreme Court’s latest decision which seemed appropriate (and funny) in this context too

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Book Magic

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Fairy godmother or not, are you suffering from obscurity? If so, you’re not alone. Thousands of people are invisible. Thousands of people hide their gifts and talents and business behind jargon, boring copy, and hard to read press releases and website copy. No one understands their products / services. No one cares. In a busy market place, they are busy getting ignored. Their products stay on the shelf gathering dust.

Thousands of people have self-esteem issues. If you don’t do anything about it, so what. No one will buy your products / service. Your business will fail.  You will become a statistic. Half of all businesses fail during the first five years, according to the Small Business Administration.

Ever watch those shows on TV, Restaurant Impossible and others? Many business owners do not promote their business and what happens? Nothing.

You will be a perennial wallflower, the person who cannot succeed, always gets passed over for promotions, the person who never finds their soul mate, the person who never publishes the book that they know that they were born to write. The person who wishes, hopes and yearns for something more out of life but never fulfills their dreams of Getting Published. The person who spends their life waiting for their Fairy Godmother to DO something. Or for Some Day (the day between Sunday and Monday).

We can help you go from obscurity to limelight by getting your business the media coverage you deserve. A few articles in local and national publications can get those widgets flying off the shelf in no time.

We can assist you in writing that book and getting it published. And maybe even fulfill some other dreams.

For a 15-minute complementary consultation to discuss your business needs and/or book project contact 702-225-8206.

We provide:

  • Book editing
  • Ghostwriting
  • Book proposals
  • Manuscript evaluation
  • Help finding literary agents and publishers
  • Self-publishing
  • Book Publicity/Promotion
  • Classes, Events, Seminars, Workshop Promotion
  • and more

If you wanna dance with me… Contact me at 702-225-8206 for a 15 minute complementary call to discuss your Book Project.  It could be just the MAGIC you need!

Hook your audience

 

Good reminder from John Kremer about how to write a press release that gets the job done (to obtain media coverage) because it is newsworthy as opposed to one that is not. If your first sentence leads to snoozing, then it’s a loser. If it makes the media sit up and read, then it’s a winner. Simple, easy as pie, 1-2-3.

 

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Newsworthy Leads Make a Difference

 

As a former journalist, I certainly knew how to write a press release for my first book. The press release said something like, “A new book about how to attract volunteers is published.”

The response? ZERO. Zippo. Nada.

Discouraged, I went to the library where I read in the Washington Post that Congress was considering a 4.2 billion dollar cut in funds for education. I then re-sent the exact same press release, adding
one sentence at the beginning:

 

“With Congress considering a 4.2 billion dollar cut in funds for education, a book about how to attract volunteers could become a survival manual for American schools.”

The response? 31 talk-show bookings.

The book, To Lead Is to Serve – How to Attract Volunteers & Keep Them, has become an evergreen bestseller and was quoted on television by President George Bush. It also led to more books and a successful speaking career on the topics of nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and leadership for women.

All of this because I added one newsworthy sentence to a press release.

— Shar McBee, author of To Lead Is to Serve – How to Attract Volunteers & Keep Them

Web: https://www.joyofleadership.com

 

https://askthepublicist.com/newsworthy-leads-make-a-difference/

Between a rock and a hot French guy

 

 

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just because you may know (and by know I mean be intimately acquainted with to have a passing knowledge of your neighbor) a writer, even a working writer, a published writer, does NOT mean that you are entitled and going to get FREE anything (free books, free advice, free ghostwriting, free publishing of your life story). No one expects their doctor to give them free health care or their vet to give their dog a free annual exam. But for some reason, too many people expect writers to give them free everything. Like, how often do we hear, just write my life story, turn it into a screen play, or get it published, and you will get a percentage of the royalties. Sure, because you will be so generous and motivated to offer us a decent percentage of the profits. As if there are ever going to BE profits.

I have found that some clients have a difficult enough time doing as I ask them to do while paying for my services. If they were NOT paying me, they would do nada, zilch, zip, nothing because they were NOT motivated. Plus the fact, what are we writers supposed to LIVE ON (yes, I mean pay the rent with) while we are doing YOUR work for you? oh so selfish. It is particularly difficult to get it into some folks heads that WE writers are people, have jobs and bills, too. Oh, just do it in your spare time. Yeah sure right. We will work on it Some Day, the day between Sunday and Monday, just like you have been working on it Some Day.

 

what does any of this have to do with a hot French guy? well, I was once married to one. And some day I may tell you about it. Right now, I will say this, he constantly offered carrots and then as soon as I got close to getting whatever it was that I wanted from him, he snatched it away, out of reach. A cruel person. My friends warned me not to marry him. That he had major mommy issues. And I should have known better. But you know some times the heart wants whatever it wants, no matter how futile it is. Sigh.

 

Now if I were more like my dog, I’d be better off when it comes to men.

 

I’m too sexy for my dog. well, my dog is not at all interested in sex or romance. She is doing just fine without a boy doggie at her side. Of course, she has all of the neighbor boy doggies anxious to play with her. Gizmo waits for her every morning by his fence. So does Lobos. And whenever Milo escapes his tether, he runs over and sniffs around to see if Cici can come out and play with him.

 

Girl dogs need boy dogs like a whale (fish) needs a bicycle. Cici just says no (growls) at boy doggies. She will have none of it when they try to ride her rump. It occurs to me, why is it that humans who are supposed to be all superior to dogs (if you believe the rhetoric of macho men), cannot take no for an answer from women? either they dismiss us, ignore us, or try to force us to do whatever they want us to do. And/or blame us for stuff that is NOT our fault. Like their own insecurities and problems.

 

One time hot French guy DID admit that he was jealous of ME. That I was brilliant and creative and attractive. And because of all of that, he felt insecure and simply HAD to make me crazy, ie, flirt with other women so that I would get green with jealousy. You see, it started with HIM. Of course, it also started with ME not being CLEAR that I deserve REAL LOVE, TRUE LOVE, to be cherished, appreciated, and valued by a man.

 

The moral of the story is that you can use your crappy love life (or any other part of your life) as fodder for your romance books, learn something and make money. Otherwise, your broken heart is worthless. And you too can become an old maid, old crone or crazy cat or dog lady in your old age.

 

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https://celiasue.com/2014/01/27/love-bites/

I have been trying to get through writing ONE romantic comedy book for awhile now. Think Jennifer Crusie meets Janet Evanovich meets Ciciville. Well, I had some of the elements down that I want in the book. But so far, I have changed the locale four times, from Las Vegas, to a made up town in Arizona based upon an actual town in Arizona, to 29 Palms and now we have landed on Virginia City, NV. Back to Nevada.

 

The setting is because it is about a romance blooming in the desert. And it has ghosts, a haunted B&B, that was a former house of ill repute, and a dog that goes humping everyone’s leg in the night. The heroine has two romantic interests. One her boss, Editor/Publisher of the newspaper she works for. Oh no no, you did not. Yes I did. And a new reporter. The two of them are to write dueling columns about a topic, to bring the gender wars into focus, gin up controversy and to sell newspapers. She is not sure how she feels about any of it. And she has two old aunties, who raised her, who think she is getting married to a dog. She IS planning a BIG gala dog wedding to raise funds for the local animal shelter. But her aunties are Lucy and Ethel on steroids. So what do you think? Would you read a book like this?  If I can get passed Chapter 3, perhaps you will be able to do so.

Tipping off the press

Got a HOT NEWS TIP?  Do you  know what makes reporters/editors cringe when you tell them your tip?   If you are pitching a reporter or editor a story about your book, business, (product or service), then you might want to get on their good side and how to develop a good working relationship. Otherwise, the press/media people will avoid your news tips, press releases and pitches like the plague. And once you get a reputation as a pest, you probably will not be able to recover and Get Published.

PR PRO’s and PR NO’s

Here are five things that reporters hate… take heed:

https://www.ereleases.com/prfuel/5-things-reporters-hate-2/

Most of the press releases that come across my desk, make me snore, (boring), wonder why someone is bothering me about something that has NO RELEVANCE whatsoever to anything I write about or am interested in, and/or is missing critical info and I am supposed to do the lazy PR person’s work for them?  If you just send me a link and expect me to click, I probably won’t.  If you expect me to do the thinking for you, I will not. And I am not going to search for the story, either. If the subject line of your email, says press release, I will more than likely delete it without a care in the world.

 

Perfect example of the kind of NONSENSE I receive for my DOG TRAVEL BLOG on a regular basis… she wants to write for my dog blog and to send me an article on job markets, online education, implications for students for a DOG TRAVEL BLOG…maybe this person does not know how to read English… and what is even more insane is that she includes a link to a blog post of MINE… unbelievably crazy.

 

I’m a researcher for a site dedicated to online education. I found your blog celiasue.com/2012/12/07/holiday-gift-guide-for-pets-plus/ during my research and I thought you may be interested in an article I recently published about how the job market is affecting college programs and the implications for students.

Please let me know if you’d be interested in reading this and possibly sharing with your readers. I’d be happy to send it over to you.

Thanks,
Celine James

 

 

Five things reporters love (how to STAND OUT from the press release slush pile)

1. A truly newsworthy and relevant story with credible quotes, stats and information that NO ONE ELSE has (an exclusive) about a topic they write about Know the Correct Format

2. A short pitch with an amusing or entertaining headline and lead that is relevant and could be fun to write about Presentation is Important 

3. A go to PR Pro who knows what they are talking about (not in jargon), is willing to go to the ends of the earth to get me what I want/need and does not waste my time with trivial nonsense

4. A pleasant courteous professional who has clearly read my work and knows what I want in a story and does not try to sell me the Brooklyn Bridge

5. A PR pro who I can count on to provide numerous stories and interviews with clients that deliver over time

And if you are a whistleblower with a HOT LEAK, here’s how to tip off the press… can you twitter away your story???

https://holykaw.alltop.com/how-to-leak-to-the-press-in-a-non-private-world?tu4=1

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