Susan Young's
Amplify Blog
Ā
Ā
Ā
You Don't Need Media to be Wildly Successful. You Need This...
There’s 1 thing I despise about people in public relations and the online marketing space.
You know, the cutesy 30-somethings who brag about pulling in 7 figures while bopping around in Barcelona.
They can land you bigtime interviews with Oprah, Dr. Phil, and Grant Cardone.
But there’s a catch.
They deliver sound bites and temporary confidence for your 15 minutes of fame.
Temporary doesn’t cut it for experienced, savvy entrepreneurs.
Look, I started my business as a media relations and PR company in 2000.
I spoon-fed clients pithy soundbites so they'd feel confident and credible during interviews.
And here’s what I know 1,000% that you may not realize.
Media attention rarely brings lasting success or self-assuredness.
It doesn't have...
5 Common Rookie Mistakes to Avoid When Looking for Publicity
“If you want to attract media attention, think like a reporter.”
It’s something many professionals who want to be more visible must learn. But what does it mean? How do reporters think? And why do you need to be privy to this information?
You can’t effectively pitch stories to anyone in traditional or social media if you don’t understand how their minds operate.
How do journalists, bloggers and podcasters decide what is newsworthy and what gets tossed?
I was a news reporter. Please, allow me to share these five common rookie mistakes small business owners should avoid when looking for publicity:
Rookie Mistake #1. I can sell my products and services with an article, post or interview. It’s all about me! When pitching a self-serving story that fails to connect with a specific audience, you’re missing an...
7 Tips on Creatingā€”and Managing Your Content Calendar Ā
In a perfect world, we could put a pushpin on a calendar date and plan out days, weeks and months of special events, announcements, contests and news to share. Wow, an entire road map of content, blog topics and email promos. It would work out just fabulously.
[RELATED: To continue learning about communicating with confidence and clarity, join Communication Nation on Facebook.]
Of course, anyone who has walked the planet for a few decades knows that social media—and breaking news—can quickly push our best-laid plans out the window. If the TV interview you’ve been working on for weeks has arrived but there’s a major earthquake in California, your big moment might be rescheduled—or axed. That’s why you—and your editorial calendar—must be flexible.
First Things First
Though content planning can bring challenges, savvy professionals still keep a framework in place.
Templates that allow you to easily track—and...
Opening the Window of Opportunity
One of the things I missed the most when we moved from New Jersey to Texas is the change of seasons and opening the windows in our house.
In San Antonio, the air conditioning is on for 9 or 10 months. Of course, we're grateful to have AC in the steamy months. Still, I miss the change of seasons and cracking the windows in the house to enjoy the breezes and crisp air. It's refreshing and brings a new energy.
The same is true with work...businesses need to re-energize and take advantage of the many windows of opportunity that are often right in front of our faces.
For entrepreneurs and professionals who want publicity, there is a HUGE window of opportunity to get media attention and "free press"---right now!
NewsFlash: The next 3 months are fresh with topics and timely subjects for interviews and stories in print, radio and TV news (traditional)...
10 Tips on How Successful Brands Manage a Media Crisis
"This kind of thing never happens here."
How many times have you seen and heard that line in the midst of a breaking news story?
Business leaders who think a publicity crisis is "for someone else" are likely to get caught short when something unexpected happens. Hopefully it won't be a massive incident that the networks cover. Still, we must be realistic because a local story can negatively impact your brand reputation, hiring and revenue for years to come.
If a plane or truck crashes into your building, you may find yourself scrambling to craft a statement or press release. A white-collar crime or violent incident can also attract unwanted media attention.
The following 10 points will help you be proactive when dealing with reporters and the public.
1. Have a crisis management plan in place and update it once a quarter. This...
10 Takeaways from PRSAā€™s Annual Conference
Austin, Texas was the backdrop for the Public Relations Society of Americas’ International Conference #PRSAICON2018.
What’s on the mind of PR pros these days?
The theme: Convergence and Communication covered a range of topics including conflicts, creativity and client relationships. Crunching numbers (data and measurement) was a hot topic as well.
The three-day event was packed with dozens of workshops, networking and impressive keynotes. Though I was one of the presenters, my greatest joy was sitting in the audience listening and learning from such knowledgeable and interesting peers.
We’re at a time in history when the media has become the scapegoat for what some claim is “fake news.” Others are attempting to clarify the obscured lines between trained journalists and the media. The conversations remain more...
How to Get Reporters to Read Your Email Pitch
Your email pitch hangs on eight words…or less.
The secret to gauging the interest of reporters and influencers who may want to interview you is complicated. The recipient must know from your subject line exactly what you have and why it’s relevant right now. Your goal: immediate clarity. In eight words or less.
A terrific pitch piques the interest of the reader because it’s about their audience. When pitching your story, forget cutesy. It's confusing and irritating to busy reporters. All they want you to do is make your point.
I’ve been on both sides of pitches, as a news reporter and anchor in a chaotic radio newsroom and as a publicity strategist working to get my clients media coverage.
Here are tips from the pros about what gets their attention when sifting through their inbox.
- “The subject line must be clear so I know what...
