Free Publicity Tips | 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...]

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...]

The Power of the Press

September 20, 2011 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

I've been thinking about what I can share with you that will best help you achieve the level of success and visibility you're seeking. I was looking through the blog posts I've already written to see what was missing, and I found the hole: I hadn't shared with you my Power of the Press recording. It's PACKED with information and strategies you can use now! [audio:http://lisaeliapr.audioacrobat.com/download/3fa8b7d3-a562-489d-1e5a-9c4bbd647209.mp3] To download this recording … [Read more...]

Crisis Communications as Part of Your Public Relations Plan

August 3, 2011 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Hopefully, you will not need to use this information, but it’s good to know what to do if a crisis arises. If you’re a service provider, crises can arise from several situations, including being discredited publicly, a verbal misunderstanding or use of a poor choice of words. If you produce a product, crises can arise from a fault in your product, problems with distribution or questionable manufacturing procedures, among other things. These things can happen to individuals or companies of … [Read more...]

Do you do what you tell your clients to do? Why I’m finally doing more PR for myself.

July 8, 2011 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Do you do what you tell your clients to do? Listen to this recording to find out why it’s so important. [audio:http://lisaeliapr.audioacrobat.com/download/aa686a3a-c15e-9e21-ac0f-5bfb8fc66d57.mp3] Or CLICK HERE to Download the recording to your computer. Although we submit information in response to media queries on a daily basis for our clients, two days ago I finally started submitting some of my information and ideas to queries I found on HARO (www.helpareporter.com) and … [Read more...]

What is AP Style and Why Should You Care?

May 27, 2011 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

If you’re writing press releases or even if you are having them written for you, it’s important to know what Associated Press Style is because it will save you many PR hours and/or dollars. Associated Press Style is the media industry standard for journalistic style. Adhering to this style will make members of the media take you seriously, and it will make it easier for editors to publish your release immediately, and you ALWAYS want to make their job as easy as possible. First, … [Read more...]

Avoid These Mistakes in TV, Radio or Print Interviews

December 28, 2010 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Many years ago, I had a client who INSISTED that she didn’t need media training because she had been interviewed by the press and had created some of her own promotional videos. When I booked her on an NBC segment, she was unaware that a second camera was on her while the interviewer spoke. What was caught on camera? My client looking down at the ground, looking disengaged. NOT GOOD! This is one of the reasons I now insist on media training my clients or at least doing a mock interview or two … [Read more...]

You’ll be ready for big-time media when you have handled these 5 things.

November 1, 2010 By Lisa Elia 2 Comments

When it comes to publicity, most people don’t know where to begin. They’re not even sure if they’re ready for it. So, I created “The 5 Components of Publicity Readiness.” This is my quick list of the 5 things you should have handled before you begin going after “big-time media,” like the Today Show, the Ellen Degeneres Show, Oprah or even magazines or newspapers. I put it in true/false form so you can give yourself a quick test. Answer “true” or “false” to the … [Read more...]

Do You Possess These 7 Success Qualities?

October 7, 2010 By Lisa Elia 2 Comments

When you look at the people who achieve the level of success many of us aspire to, they seem to possess specific qualities. There are seven qualities I believe are necessary to succeed in achieving those big goals I know you have. Do you possess these qualities? Committed Do you commit to your success and the do EVERYTHING you can to achieve your goals, even when you’re tired, you have a lot on your plate or you don’t know what the outcome will be? Commit to everything you do. Those … [Read more...]

The Millions in Your Message

June 17, 2010 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Depending on where you are in your career, or where you’re going, the value of your message could lead to thousands, if not millions, of dollars. Getting your messaging down can help you attract clients, close the deal clients and garner exposure in the media, where millions of potential clients could find out about you. Clear messaging and differentiating yourself from others is especially important for coaches. Memorable phrases and messaging have laid the groundwork for books, movies and … [Read more...]

# 1 Smartest PR Move for Life Coaches

June 11, 2010 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

One of the best things you can do to guarantee your success as a coach is to name your programs and systems something memorable! There are so many life coaches vying for the same attention of journalists and radio and TV producers, and clients, for that matter. How will you stand out among the crowd? (If you’re not a life coach, apply this to yourself and what you do. If this doesn’t apply to you, you may still gain something from this article.) The truth is that MOST service providers … [Read more...]

Your Intuition and Your Messaging

April 22, 2010 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

It's easy to listen to others who tell us what we should be saying and how and when we should be saying it. I know because shaping clients' messages is a big part of what I do for a living. I also know that it's important for me to allow my clients to express THEIR true messages, passions and thoughts. I try to simply give them the tools they need to release those messages and then help them clarify them and express them in a manner that will be most impactful. However, even though this is … [Read more...]

10 Tips To Make The Media Love Working With You

April 14, 2010 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

1. Be polite and respectful. Remember that these editors, journalists and producers are paid to find stories that will interest their respective audiences. In essence, they are the experts on their particular media outlets. If they tell you your story is not right for their audience, believe them. This does not mean, however, that you can’t offer them another story unless they’ve told you that YOU are not right for their media outlet. 2. Know your message. You should be so clear on your … [Read more...]

Why Press Releases Still Work: Inc. Magazine Found Me Through One

March 18, 2010 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Want to know how a press release landed me an interview with Inc. Magazine? This is not me on the cover. (It’s a man, for starters.) Here’s what I did, and I can teach you how to do this, too! A few weeks ago, I wrote and distributed a press release announcing one of my free Ustream calls. You can read the article by clicking HERE. But let me break things down and explain WHY this press release attracted the attention of the media. 1. After opening with the news, which is the … [Read more...]

Twitter Tips from the Pros

February 12, 2010 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Whether you like it or not, social media is a must in business today, and it doesn’t have to be a time suck. You don’t have to share things on Twitter like, “Ugh, need coffee” if that’s not your brand. It’s definitely not my brand: I think my people are too busy to care about things like that so I only share what I think will be useful, interesting or inspiring. Twitter is actually a very useful tool to help you build your brand, extend the reach of your press releases and other … [Read more...]

Branding Consistency

February 5, 2010 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

You may have noticed that the masthead at the top of this e-mail looks a bit different. The reason for that is that I’ve decided to consolidate my branding. When I first decided to create my Secrets of PR Success Course and my PR coaching programs, I somehow thought I needed to do it under a different brand than Lisa Elia Public Relations, the full-service PR company I’ve had for most of the 14 years that I’ve lived in LA. So, I created The CLEAR Publicist around the word “CLEAR,” … [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...]

Create an Online Press Room That the Media Will Love

December 18, 2009 By Lisa Elia 2 Comments

If you want press coverage, make it easy for the media to cover you by having a great online press room. Journalists, bloggers and TV and radio producers are very busy, especially now that many of the media outlets have reduced their staff, so the more you can supply them with the information they need at the click of a mouse, the more they’ll want to work with you. One of the best things you can do to help yourself and the media you’re trying to attract, is to have a great online press … [Read more...]

Inspiration, Web Trends of 2010 and Best Viral Videos

December 8, 2009 By Lisa Elia 2 Comments

I came across some videos that made me smile and some very valuable information about web trends for 2010. From CNN: Web Trends for 2010: In this great article that was posted on CNN.com, Pete Cashmore, founder and CEO of Mashable, The Social Networking Guide (www.mashable.com) talks about 2010 web trends. I think this is a must-read for anyone in business: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/03/cashmore.web.trends.2010/ From Mashable The 10 Most Innovative Viral Video Ads of 2009 – … [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...]

How a Robo-Call Robbed Me

September 10, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

There was a company who had me on a robo-call list. So, my phone would ring, I would answer it, there would be silence as I said "hello" around 5 times, and then the call would cut off. This happened around 4 times a day. Even if I didn't answer, I would still have to retrieve my voice mail only to hear the dead air. I can't really ignore calls because they could be from clients or the media. When I calculated the time this wasted each day, I estimated around 5 minutes a day, which doesn't seem … [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 Experienced?

August 3, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

This question can be interpreted a myriad of ways. To classic rock fans, it’s a reminder of the name of an amazing Jimi Hendrix album and song. To young job seekers, it’s a question they’d usually rather avoid. To you, the entrepreneur, “Are you experienced?” is a question to ask yourself when looking at your web site and your manner of conducting business. Since I’ve mentioned Jimi Hendrix, I’ll use him as an example of someone who gave his fans an experience. He provided … [Read more...]

On Writing Well: Tips and Resources to Help

July 17, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

The ability to write well can lead to success. Even if you hire someone to handle your publicity and write press releases for you, it’s important to be able to write good business letters, notes and e-mails. There are some communications you will want to handle yourself, such as a brief thank you e-mail or a note to an editor who wrote a great article about you. Your writing style is a part of your overall brand and it can either open or close doors for you. What does your writing do for … [Read more...]

Watch Your Mouth (and Your Keyboard)

June 30, 2009 By Lisa Elia Leave a Comment

Authenticity and honesty are integral to creating a strong business and brand. However, this does not mean you must divulge everything about your business, nor should you. Since the recession hit, I’ve heard many business owners and entrepreneurs complain about how hard it is and how tough business has become. While people need to vent and express themselves, it’s important to consider several things before you open your mouth or hit your keyboard. Ask yourself these questions before … [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...]