Business | Lisa Elia PR

Before you hit SEND, Choose Your Communication Method Wisely

April 20, 2012 By Lisa Elia 4 Comments

Have you ever received an angry response to an email you intended to be neutral or even nice? Or, have you sent a text thinking it would be quicker than a phone call or email, but what resulted was an hour of thumbing messages back and forth. A colleague called me a couple of weeks ago and she was distraught because a client had let her firm go after receiving an email that she’d sent. Apparently, this client was demanding more of her and her firm than they were contracted to receive, so … [Read more...]

Free News Wires

February 15, 2012 By Lisa Elia 9 Comments

One question I get a lot is, “what do I do with my press release once I have written it?” One of the first things I recommend doing is to post your press release on a very effective news wire, such as Marketwire or PR Newswire. You can also post your news release on many of the free news wires. I’ve created a list for you below. Have you distributed your press releases on any free sites or paid sites? If so, I'd love for you to share your experiences below. Or, if you haven't what's … [Read more...]

How to Handle Requests for Free Consultations

January 23, 2012 By Lisa Elia 204 Comments

Do you ever receive those calls or emails from people who say, “I just want to pick your brain about...”? Just the phraseology is a bit invasive, isn’t it? Really, who wants someone picking their brain? Sometimes people dress up these requests with an offer for lunch or dinner or something else, so before you agree to a meeting, be sure you know what you’re going to discuss at your meeting. If you’re a coach or service provider, when someone wants to pick your brain, essentially … [Read more...]

The 5 Ws of Your New Year

December 27, 2011 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

You have probably heard that when writing a press release, you should start with the “who, what, where, when, why (and sometimes how)” of your story. These are often referred to as “the 5 Ws”. What if you start your new year the same way? I’ve written a list of questions that will help you create “The 5 Ws of Your New Year”. Get yourself into a quiet place, grab a pen or keyboard and let your imagination and dreams guide your answers to these questions: 1. Who will … [Read more...]

Bring Out the Bling in Your Business

December 21, 2011 By Lisa Elia 6 Comments

DON’T BURY YOUR GOLD: As you work in a specific field for any number of years, it’s easy to take for granted all the golden nuggets of information you’ve accumulated over the years. Don’t assume that others know everything you know. Many people need the information and products you have to share and they will pay well for them. Put your golden nuggets out there for the world see! STRING YOUR PEARLS: A single pearl is beautiful, but when you string them together you … [Read more...]

Giant Leap or Baby Steps…Use the STAR Method to Decide

December 14, 2011 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

There are so many messages going around about how you MUST take giant leaps in your business, but I don’t necessarily agree that this is the truth for everyone, at all times. Sometimes, in certain areas of your business giant leaps are necessary, whereas in other areas you may need to take baby steps at this moment. I created The STAR Method™ because many people ask my advice about what to do when and where they should focus their energies. You can use The STAR Method™ for making … [Read more...]

Success Is in the Details: Are You Managing Yours Well?

December 9, 2011 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

This is the time of year when some people start to pull back and relax a bit, while others are planning for a successful 2012. A great strategy, with specific action steps, is what leads to success. Mindset and goal setting alone won’t do it: you need to take the right ACTIONS with the right mindset to achieve success in business. There are so many people talking about how to achieve success and how to market, but I find that a lot of people need help organizing all the information and … [Read more...]

The 5 Ms of Business Success

May 16, 2011 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Over the years, I’ve studied what has made some people multi-millionaires or billionaires. I’ve also reflected on how I started my own business with a few hundred dollars of start-up capital and built it into the thriving business it is today, and what is making the difference in getting us from a multiple six-figure company to one that will bring in seven figures this year. This is how I created the 5 Ms of Business Success. This is a simple explanation of it, and there’s much more to … [Read more...]

Referral Sources Can Be the Key to Exponential Growth

January 3, 2011 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

One of the ways to control your business more quickly is to tap into the power of good referral sources. In my own business, I can trace back hundreds of thousands of dollars I earned over the years to just a few people who have referred me business. I recorded a message for you about this topic about how you can foster relationships with your referral sources and make getting new business a lot easier. Listen by clicking on the audio player … [Read more...]

Does the Way You Talk About Yourself Help or Hinder You?

December 30, 2009 By Lisa Elia 3 Comments

Quite often we’re unaware of the little ways in which we tell people exactly what we think of ourselves. I’ve heard people say things like, “It’s been such a tough year; we’re really struggling,” or “Well, I have a little business I run out of my living room,” or “I’m just getting started so my business is really small.” First of all, just hearing yourself say those words aloud reinforces small, limited thinking and a self-image that isn’t as professional or successful … [Read more...]

How To Be a Great Client and Get the Most from Your Vendors

December 4, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Public relations encompasses how you relate to ALL of your publics, which includes not only your customers, but also vendors, employees, and almost everyone you encounter. One of the things people in business often don’t give enough attention to is their vendors. Your vendors can be fantastic referral sources and they help your business to function optimally. There’s so much focus on getting clients, do you ever ask yourself what kind of client you are? Would YOU want you as a client? … [Read more...]

Give Yourself a PR Check-Up

November 24, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

With the year coming to an end, now is the time to set yourself up for a strong leap into 2010, but you won’t know where you’re going until you know exactly where you are right now. So, I’ve created this PR Check-Up to help you assess your current situation so you can determine what you can do, where you need help from your team or others and what your next steps should be. 1. Is everyone on your staff/team well informed about the company you’re your offerings, pursuing the same goals … [Read more...]

ON FANS AND PEARL JAM: A LESSON IN CUSTOMER SERVICE

November 15, 2009 By Lisa Elia 3 Comments

My husband and I attended a Pearl Jam concert last month, as guests of lead singer Eddie Vedder’s mother. We spoke to people who sat next to us at dinner at a nearby restaurant before the show and to people who sat near us during the concert, many of whom overheard our conversations and were excited to meet “Eddie’s mom.” Many of these ardent Pearl Jam fans had traveled from as far away as Canada, New York and other locations, taking time away from their jobs, to see their favorite … [Read more...]

Does Your Product or Service Change Lives?

October 2, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Most of us, if we’re honest with ourselves, want to leave a great legacy in this world. One of the ways we do this is through the services and products we create. A few years ago, I learned that my friend Renee was the granddaughter of the man who had invented Kevlar. I was so surprised because Renee and I had known each other for five years before this even came up–that I was from Delaware and so was her grandfather and that he was this amazing inventor. I found out that my father worked … [Read more...]

Holding Events to Gain Publicity: Should You or Shouldn’t You?

August 20, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

People often believe that if they hold an event and promote it well, they’ll receive scads of publicity and many people will attend. This may or may not turn out to be true. Events can be a great way to introduce a hot, new product or service, create awareness for a cause or brand a company. However, some events can be costly and don’t produce the results people desire: I believe this is because they have not gained clarity on their goals for the event and analyzed whether it’s the best … [Read more...]

Are You Contracting or Expanding?

June 8, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

The recession is over. Are you still contracting when you should be expanding? When the recession hit, many people went into fear mode and they began contracting: they let their fear dictate their decisions. They stopped spending money on education or promotion or anything they thought wasn’t a necessity. Yet, these are the very things that can often help you succeed in any economy and even more so when you need an added advantage, such as during tough economic times. Now that the … [Read more...]

Prepare, Polish & Prosper

June 2, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Before you make any presentation, whether it’s on the phone, in person or via Skype, the best thing you can do is to prepare yourself. Once you’ve prepared your presentation, polish it, refine it and rehearse it again. Great presentations lead to sales, joint partnerships and prosperity! 1. Establish your goal. Think about your reason for making this presentation. For example: Are you trying to establish a connection with a new person or group of people who could become clients, … [Read more...]

Do You Have The Tools You Need?

May 28, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

I had a computer problem a few days ago. I knew what the problem was, only because my magical tech guy had helped me identify this same problem in the past. So, I went to my cupboard and took out my super-mini tool kit that’s filled with doll-sized screwdrivers. I opened the bottom of my computer and re-seated the hard drive. As someone who’s not very mechanically inclined, I was quite pleased with myself, not only because I knew what to do, but because I had the right tools to do it. As … [Read more...]

How Strong Is Your Foundation?

May 26, 2009 By Lisa Elia 2 Comments

Core strategies and structures can speed up your success and save you bundles. Solid, successful businesses and solopreneur ventures are built on a strong foundation with good planning. This does not mean you need to spend months creating a business plan. What it does mean is that you will speed up your success and save yourself bundles of money by planning certain elements of your business well from the beginning. Think about PR long before you think you need it. Generally, people … [Read more...]

It All Begins With You: Are You Ready to Shine?

May 19, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

When people think of public relations, they often think of it being something outside of themselves, but it really begins within. It begins with you! Without you, the entrepreneur — the creator of your product, your service or your enterprise — there would be nothing to talk about or promote. It all began with your idea, your concept and your passion. This is the foundation of your PR campaign. Before you can decide how you want to relate to your publics, you have to get clear on your … [Read more...]