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Are you aware that countless opportunities to send out press releases and receive valuable, free publicity get missed everyday?  There are literally dozens of newsworthy opportunities for getting positive media exposure.  Being recognized on a List of some kind or receiving an award is a great way to generate publicity for yourself.

It also becomes a win-win situation for you and the person (or business) honoring you because they get publicity too!

Here's the one I created after being named one of the Top 50 Fabulous Women Entrepreneurs:

(Durham, NC-July 22, 2011) Beverly Mahone of Durham has been named one of the top Fabulous Women Entrepreneurs by SistaSense Magazine and Black Business Women Online.  Mahone is one of 10 women selected in the category of print and digital media.  After leaving the television news business in 2006, Mahone created BAMedia which caters to fellow baby boomers who want to learn how to self-promote themselves and their businesses. 

In making the recent announcement, SistaSense Editor-in-Chief LaShandra Henry says “I see thousands of black women whose deeds go unnoticed. I wanted to recognize the BBWO50 for their hard work and diligence and show Sistasense readers these are our women to support, promote, and aspire to be like.  Henry says she chose women who have built established businesses with visible growth over time both online and offline. She also focused on up and coming women entrepreneurs whose innovative online business ventures are publicly recognized. “In short, these women are widely respected for the businesses they have established and their social influence both online and offline is undeniable,” she added.

Mahone says, “I am honored to have been included on this list.  LaShandra Henry is right.  Many times Black Female Entrepreneurs are overlooked in spite of how hard they work and the expertise they bring to the table--especially those of us who are baby boomers.” 

You can find complete list here:  http://www.sistasense.com/2011/07/sistasense-magazine-july-issue-bbwo-50-fabulous-women-entrepreneurs

**If you want to learn more about how to self-promote, contact me**

According to the Business Dictionary, collaboration is a cooperative arrangement in which two or more parties (which may or may not have any previous relationship) work jointly towards a common goal. 

As a veteran journalist and media trainer, I clearly understand how collaborating with others can generate lots of publicity—especially if you team up with folks who love to promote what they do.  In his post, 8 Ways to Promote Your Work Through Internet Collaboration, Alex Mathers offers some great tips on how you can team up draw more attention to a particular project or event. 

One of the tips offered by Alex is Working with Others on Collaborated Projects.  Alex says,  ”Pooling skill and talent in this way will lead to high quality projects that will greatly boost the value of your personal portfolio and support your self-marketing efforts.”  He also suggests that you team up with someone who is well known so that you can piggy-back’ on their success and promote via the contacts they have as well.

That's what LaShandra Henry has done for her upcoming SistaSense Power Circle TeleSummit.  On July 29-30, LaShandra is going to show you how collaboration really works.  Take it from someone who knows---and someone who thrives on doing it!

If you're trying to get some media exposure for yourself or your business, one of the most important things you need to know is "Who's Who" in a newsroom.  Not understanding who calls the shots for precious airtime will have your hopes quickly fading to black.

Here are some of the key people to know in radio and television:

• News Director/Assignment Editor - Determines what news goes on the air. Handles all news releases.

• Editorial Director - Person to contact to offer editorial comment or to respond to a station editorial.

• Community Bulletin Board Director - Person to contact for announcing meetings and other community-related (normally FREE)events.

• Public Service/Community Relations Director - Contact for public service announcements (PSAs), pubic affairs talk shows or community calendar listings.

For national talk shows, the key contact is the Producer. For example, Gina Sprehe was one of the many Producers for the Oprah Show. Having her direct email and phone number was a BIG PLUS for contact purposes.

It would also be in your best interest to find out the NAMES of all media contacts and establish a relationship with them so they become familiar with you when you call or write.

If it's your time to shine, the BAMedia Contacts Directory can help you turn on the spotlight.  Get your copy here for the low price of $29  http://beverlymahone.com/bammedia/bamedia-directory/

Are you one of those people who wonders why you never get any traction from the press releases you send out? Maybe you’re the Rodney Dangerfield of press releases–you get no respect because your releases aren’t worthy of the kind of attention you think they deserve.

How many of these press releases do you think editors get to read every day?

• How many long, badly-worded releases will they read before, eventually, they become instantly
  put off just by the length of a press release?
• And how much more likely do you think it is that an editor will read your SHORT, quick-to-read, press
  release?

Many press releases are often ignored either because they are poorly written or fail to offer anything of value to the journalist who is looking for a news or feature story. You must have a story to tell, a hook, or an interesting angle.

Another thing, it doesn’t matter how well you have written your press release, if it’s too long then it won’t get read. So keep your press release short. Remove words that do not need to be there.

If you follow these simple rules you will restore the respect your press release truly deserves.

To get your free copy of BAMedia’s: How to Make Headlines with Your Press Release, click here: ebook

During the summer months, you can always count on the media to do some type of weather-related stories. This could also be your opportunity to promote yourself and/or your business.

Developing ideas that can help you promote your business in summer doesn't have to take a great deal of time or a large financial investment in order to see positive results. The key to getting the media's attention is to come up with a creative (and fun) campaign that will help them generate a news or weather-related story.

Here are some examples:

Offer cool down treats: Arrange a day with a local ice cream store to have a free ice cream giveaway for anyone who walks in with your business card. You would certainly need a budget for that--especially if you've circulated A LOT of business cards. But you could also limit it to the first 25 or 50 customers and let the media know you're doing this as a Summer Appreciation Event.

Another similar idea is to simply pack some ice cold drinks and take to employees who have to work outside for a living. It's a nice gesture and may not only give you some media exposure but also some additional business.

Host a Pool Party for kids: Contact the local weatherman and invite him to come over and offer some tips on how to stay cool this summer. Certainly, his or her own station will cover the event.

Product giveaways: When I was promoting my book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age, I offered a fan as a part of the promotion. If you purchased a copy of the book, you also got a free "hot flash" fan. Find something creative you can give away that would be directly tied into summer.

Sponsor an activity or event in your community: Check with your local Chamber of Commerce, City Hall or your local church for community events and find out how you can get your name or business connected. It would be worth sitting out in the hot sun for a couple of hours if a TV or newspaper crew stopped by to interview you, wouldn't it?

Check the websites of your local stations: Find out what they're up to and see how you can get involved--if only as a volunteer. You can network your way from there.

If all else fails, create your OWN media event and post it on YouTube, Vimeo, UStream, etc. You may find yourself getting even GREATER expsoure.

All of the events should be planned well in advance to give you time to promote and alert the media, which requires press releases and other announcements to be sent at least two weeks in advance.

Understanding how not to OVERUSE social media to maximize your business opportunities is the focus of this year’s All Women’s Social Media Summit.

A six-member female panel will share tips on how to generate revenue and capitalize on networking opportunities.  BAMedia is hosting the third annual event.  Organizer Beverly Mahone says each woman brings a tremendous amount of experience to the table which will be extremely beneficial to the audience.  “These are the women who take social media to another level.  They’ve learned how to navigate their way and master their craft through sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and FourSquare.  And they do it without being overwhelmed at the end of the day or week." 

Kelly Duffort, a web strategist, is one of the panelists for this year’s Event.  As the Principal and Founder of  KD Web Strategies, a consulting firm that advises companies how to take their overall web presence (e.g., websites, blogs, social media profiles) to the next level.  Kelly says, “Whether you love it or hate it and whether you understand it or avoid it, social media is changing the way people communicate – personally and professionally. If you use social media wisely to promote your business, you will be amazed at the connections it enables you to make and the doors it opens for you.”

This year’s social media summit will be held at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, NC.  Early Bird Registration is currently underway.  The first ten women to register will receive a free 30-minute consultation with a member of the panel, preferred seating at the Summit and Luncheon, business card info in the Program Book and an opportunity to promote your business at the Summit. 

You can register here:  http://beverlymahone.com/women-social-medial-summit/

If you haven’t received the kind of media attention you’re looking for, it may be because you don’t pass the “so what” test.  What is that?  The “so what” test gives potential clients and customers a valid reason as to why they should care about you, your business and your message.

When you’re competing for the media spotlight, you must keep in mind that there are probably hundreds of people who do what you do.  Before you rise to the top, you should ask yourself the following questions:

So what sets you apart from others doing the same thing?

So what makes you special? 

So what benefit does the audience get by hearing your message?

So what impact will you have on the community at-large?

So what call to action do you offer that’s creative or unique?

So what’s your public service all about?

Media interviews can be as much or as little as you make them.  To get started on your media adventure, pick up a copy of my BAMedia Directory, a comprehensive Directory of media contacts nationwide: BAMedia Directory

Are you a fan of the soap opera, Days of Our Lives?  If so, which character is your favorite? 

I have been given the opportunity to interview one of the actors from the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. If you are, here’s your chance to be a part of the upcoming show, The Boomer Beat, on WCOM Radio. 

Please let me know who you would be interested in hearing on my radio show and what question(s) you would ask.  If that actor (or actress) is chosen, I will read YOUR questions(s) on the air and identify you as the person who asked the question.  If more than one person chooses the same actor/actress, I will read their question(s) as well.

The Days cast members are  promoting the iconic soap opera’s 45^th anniversary and accompanying book, “Days of our Lives 45 Years: A Celebration in Photos.”  Days has the distinction of dedicating many of its storylines to a mature audience and focusing on characters who are grandparents, matriarchs and patriarchs, and who have been on the show since or near the beginning, including John Aniston, Louise Sorel, Suzanne Rogers, Peggy McCay, Joseph Mascolo, and real-life couple Susan and Bill Hayes.

The deadline for submission is Friday, Feb. 18 at 5pm.  Feel free to post your responses here or you can send your suggestion to:  beverly@talk2bev.com.   The listener will be invited to the station to ask their questions on their air.  If you can’t make it, I will read your questions during the interview and identify you as the person who asked the questions.  You will also receive an autographed copy of the newly released book, “Days of our Lives 45 Years: A Celebration in Photos.”

The winner will be notified by email.

Helping reporters and talk show hosts do their jobs will, in turn, help you achieve your goals. If you make them look good, they will be more likely to give you a some quality air or print time and even keep your name on file as a “go to” person for future reference.

By establishing a relationshp with your local media, you are setting yourself up to be their “expert” and that becomes a win-win situation for everybody.

Here are some suggestions on how to strengthen your position with the media:

Let Your Personality Shine Through: Not everyone has an outgoing, bubbly personality but if you come across as warm, genuine and sincere, the media will love you for it.

Know How to Communicate: Understand that interviews consist of more than one or two-word responses. It is also more than a one-sided conversation so don’t try to dominate.

Are You More than an Expert?: Can you speak on a variety of related subjects in your area of expertise or are you a single-minded individua?.

Be available on demand: Unless there’s a major emergency, can you be available at a moment’s notice and still come across as polished and professional—even when you’re not real sure how the interview will go?

I was invited to be a guest on My Carolina Today twice in two weeks because I was available at the 11th hour literally.

Demonstrate your viewer potential: Get your base of folks who admire what you do to send emails to the station on your behalf. That will send a signal to the station that they made a good choice in asking you to be a guest and, more often than not, will invite you back again for a future interview.

After being interviewed the first time on My Carolina Today, I asked members of my group, Boomer Diva Nation, to check out the video online and post a comment. To date, my video is the one that received the most comments.

To receive more valuable media tips as well as a national list of media contacts, I invite you to pick up a copy of my comprehensive BAMedia Contacts Directory, located here:  http://beverlymahone.com/bamedia-directory/

Writing a press release is a great way to get exposure for your business, service or product without spending a lot of money. It’s an excellent way to make important announcements to interested readers.

Here are some examples of when a press release would be a good idea:

1. Submit a press release about a trade show or seminar you’re hosting or attending.

2. Write a press release about a free class you are teaching that would be of interest to the public.

3. Create a press release about your new web site, or any awards your web site has won.

4. Write a press release about any awards you may have personally won.

5. Create a press release about products or services you’re giving away.

6. Submit a press release about a business association or club you’re starting.

7. Write a press release about a famous person who’s endorsing your business.

8. Create a press release about a partnership you are creating with another business.

9. Submit a press release about a new book or e-book you wrote.

10. Write a press release about major sponsorships you’re involved in.

11. Inform the public about a contest you’re having.

12. Write a release about any charitable projects you’re involved in—especially during the holiday season.

13. Announce your appearance on a radio or television program.

14. Announce the start of your new internet radio show.

15. Write a release if you’ve been invtied to speak at a conference or other type of event.

If you think of any other reasons, please feel free to add them here.

Having a good command of the english language is not only important verbally but also in the written word. That brings me to the subject of spelling and how important it is to check it BEFORE submitting a press release. Misspelled words will make your credibility come into question—especially if you’re an author. One might wonder if your book is also filled with typos and other grammatical errors.

OK, so here’s a made up press release with some of the most commonly misspelled words. How many did you find?

***The first person who correctly guesses the number of misspelled words will win a free copy of my BAMedia Contacts Directory.*** (Cut and paste press release in email with misspelled words highlighted in bold. Submit by December 15 to beverly@talk2bev.com ).

New Car Dealership Comes to the Triangle

Congradulations to Taylor’s Automotive for finding a location in Raleigh to set up they’re new automobile dealership. The Mayor says, “It is a priviledge to have such a fine business here. Their the epitomy of what automobile companies should be like.”

Andy Taylor, owner of Taylor’s Automotive says the location came highly reccomended to him by people in the community. “We initially thought being next to a cemetary would be disasterous for our business but that’s not the case at all. We don’t think we will loose any business by being in this location.”

To celebrate they’re grand opening, Taylor Automotive will be inviting the general public in for a pig pickin’ complete with all the fixins’ including marshmellows. “We don’t want to embarass anybody by doing this. We just figured that since we’re in the south, it’s our perogrative to do what we want to make future customers feel welcome.”

To registrar for the celebretion in advance, please call Taylor Automotive at 919-555-1919.

The grand opening is tenatively set for November 21.

Nancy Michaels and I share something in common. She used to be the Publicist for Matt Lauer and Matt and I went to college together. I believe that makes her qualified to offer tips on how one can go about getting media coverage.

In a recent blog post titled How to Reinvent Your Relationship with the Press, Nancy offers 10 Tips on how to get reporters, producers and editors to take notice of you.

Her list is a good one—especially #1 where she suggests you take inventory of what’s going on in the world around you. Your hometown reporters are always looking for local angles to national stories so if you have one, that can certainly give you :15 to :30 of time in the media spotlight.

Another tip offered by Nancy is to make sure you keep an up-to-date database of contacts. When trying to establish media resources, it’s always good to have a contact name versus a “Dear Sir/Ma’am.” That’s one of the reasons I created the brand new BAMedia Contacts Directory. It is one of the MOST COMPREHENSIVE media directories you’ll find with REAL NAMES & REAL PHONE NUMBERS.

In my 25 plus years as a journalist in radio and television news, I have established many contacts and am now sharing them with you. You can order your very own copy right from this website for the special introductory price of $49.95 You will find yourself paying double–perhaps triple the amount for LESS information. Pick up your copy of the BAMedia Contacts Directory today and start doing as Nancy suggests: reinvent your relationship with the media.

For those of you who don't know, I spent more than 25 years in radio and television news. I was everything from a reporter to fill-in anchor to assignment editor and producer. I even filled in as a photographer during my early days in TV.

Today, my role as a media consultant is to help those seeking media attention find it. That includes coaching and preparing clients so they will be, what I call, “media marketable.”

But those seeking media attention aren’t the only ones who need tips. Anyone who is or wants to be in the business of interviewing others should have their act together as well. With BlogTalk radio on the scene, many wanna be radio hosts have popped up.

So here are some tips for those of you who want to give your best as the interviewer on the airwaves:

• Never give your guest the questions in advance. Many guests will try to give you a list of prepared questions. It’s OK to accept them but let them know you may not ask any or all of them. Giving them the questions in advance allows them to rehearse answers and not come across as natural during the interview.
• Always check to make sure your equipment is working.
• Treat the guest with respect. The interviewee deserves respect whether they are the President or just an average Joe Blow.
• Take control of the interview. Don’t let your guest over your show.
• You are not the center of attention. Remember you are there to get the perspective of the guest not give your own.
• Do the research you need to, but don’t try to cram it all into your questions. Before you start the interview put yourself in the shoes of a member of your audience. If they were here, what would they ask?
• The interview is a conversation. It is not a confrontation. You are not there to make the interviewee look stupid.
• Shorter questions are better than longer ones. The more detail there is in the question the more difficult it is for the interviewee to track what you are asking. Be as direct as you can without being rude.
• Be sure of your facts. There’s nothing worse than being told you are wrong by an interviewee – especially when it’s live.
• Listen carefully to your guest’s responses. You might come up with some follow-up questions.

Being credible as an interviewer means being professional and prepared.

If you've ever wondered why you didn't get any coverage from your local media for an event or announcement, it may be because you didn't send your press release on the right day.

It's true--reporters are always looking for stories but some days are better than others when it comes to getting their attention.

Mondays: It's the beginning of the work week for most journalists. They tend to get swamped with releases and announcement that all seemed to have piled up from the weekend. Your announcement may seem like small potatoes in comparison to some others and go unnoticed.

Tuesdays: Good Day! Email boxes have been cleared out (for the most part) and now they can take a serious look at what is being received.

Wednesdays: Another Good Day! To me, it's better than Tuesday for some of the same reasons.

Thursdays: Another Good Day!

Fridays: Unless you are hosting an event that involves a well-known celebrity or your event is larger than life, Fridays aren't really good days because it's too close to the weekend and journalists are thinking more out their weekend and cutting out early.

Saturdays: Believe it or not, I think Saturday is a GOOD day---if you are having some kind of activity on that day. Weekend Assignment Editors struggle to generate news and if you are doing something noteworthy, they would be likely to cover it. It could be a great human interest story for them.

Sundays: It depends. It could be good if you are doing something on THAT day. Otherwise, if you are submitting a release for something going on the following week, it could get lost in the pile up.

Whenever you choose to submit your release, make sure you follow up with someone in the newsroom to make sure they received it.