Recycling Article – September 2003 – Free Advertising!
I know, I know, you don’t have much money for advertising. But… surely you are interested in it if it’s free?
Don’t underestimate the value of press releases for your business. In fact, you should set a goal of issuing one by-monthly, no less than 4 times a year. It’s easy and costs almost nothing.
Look for things to announce: new products, employee promotions, a new service you’re offering, a business contribution or awards your business has won. You must make sure your release is focused on the reader, consumer or customer, promoting products that will benefit them. If the release focuses on promoting your business, it won’t get published.
You can write your own press releases. I always did and as a result have been written up in many newspapers and trade journals, including Inc. Magazine twice!
Writing my own press releases has been a huge boon to my business. I recently issued a press release about my free, monthly, auto- recycling Enewsletter and got over 100 registrants in just a few days. And it can be a boon for you also. Eventually, I found a source for writing press releases and recommend you try her. Marcia Yudkin specializes in helping people with small businesses write press releases. She can be reached at 617-266-1613. You’ll find her easy to deal with and very inexpensive, just a few hundred dollars. What kind of ad can you get for $200? One story placed in a newspaper is more cost effective than an ad.
For mailings, use Microsoft Word. Go to the Labels section (under Tools) where you can create and save a template of the addresses of your chosen media. Don’t forget to include your banker to receive the press releases. Include other media of interest as you discover magazines that might be appropriate to your industry, trade journals and even newsletters that may relate to your business, such as one put out by your association. My media list grew to well over 400 in just a few years. When a press release is ready, I print out the mailing list on labels, and they go in the mail in no time. The technology and services are available to make this important task easy. You can also release through a wire service (I use PR News-wire) to area media, news-wires and the web for about a hundred dollars.
The key to placing press releases successfully is to make them about the benefits to consumers or customers who subscribe to your target publication. It won’t be published if it simply promotes your business. A good professional helper like Marcia Yudkin can help you see this and improve your placement numbers.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my free monthly auto recycling Enewsletter, with news and tips, register at www.autosalvageconsultant.com
Remember, only you can make BUSINESS GREAT!
Please email if you would like me to send previous articles, or visit www.autosalvageconsultant.com.