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Introducing the FIRST "PeopleWhoProsper.com" featured entrepreneur, Rochelle Carter, SPHR. Since starting Ellechor Publishing House in 2009, she has signed 12 authors and released six books! Ellechor is a royalty paying/no author investment, Christian book publishing company. She also started Live.Write.Publish! which is a self-publishing imprint for authors who want to maintain full control. I have had the privilege to ask her a few questions and hear her inspirational story and share it with you!

She answered a few questions about herself so that we may get to know her.

1.Tell me your story. What were you doing before you started your own business?

I was, and still am, a Senior Professional in Human Resources and a Project Manager. I had a great job right out of College and was blessed to work with many great people at a great company.

2. What made you want to start a business and what is your mission?

I started this business as an investment and for the long-term satisfaction of a family business. I needed to put myself in a position where I could have a business that I loved and create opportunities for others. I chose publishing because reading is my passion and writing was my hobby for a long time. I thought it was time we made our relationship official, plus I had always wanted to be an editor!
Our mission is to produce quality Christian Fiction and Non-Fiction that changes lives while entertaining, and to provide hope/support to aspiring authors in a company that will dream big with them.

3. What inspires you? What keeps you motivated daily to keep growing your business?

My love for books inspires me, and my authors keep my motivated daily to do my best and to keep growing this cause. They have put their faith in God and in me, and I pray that God continues to bless me so that I can bring inspiration to them. I ask myself daily, what have I done for my authors today? What have I done to promote Christian books today?

4. Do you have a mentor? Who is it and why? Do you believe it's important to have one?

This is a surprisingly tough question! One mentor is Demetria Hayes, because she brought me into Human Resources and the world of helping people. Without her guidance, I may not have been motivated to find my true joy in work. I do a lot of career counseling and resume writing because she showed me how I can use my skills to help others. My second and all-time favorite mentor is my mother. She worked hard to get her Masters while raising four children, started her own business in a time of need, went to the Philippines to gain her PhD later in life. She is always getting things done!! It's so important to have a mentor, because they are the one person you will never compare to and therefore your motivation to keep moving. If you no longer see the value in your mentor, you need a new one! You should never be without a positive influence.

5. What would you tell someone who wants to get involved in your line of business but doesn't know how to get started?

Call me! Or, just jump right in. Thinking about writing a book? Just start! Want to be an editor? There are plenty of college students who need help. Offer your services free of charge to an author with a completed manuscript in exchange for a reference. There is no great starting point. I have met with many professionals in my journey who wanted to set me back, and I refused. I have not regretted it for one moment, because God has blessed me with a great team and we are getting things done right!

6. What advice would you give to someone with an entrepreneurial spirit?

If you are looking for something lasting, forget the get-rich-quick plan. What do you LOVE to do? What can keep you up hours at night with no regrets? Do that! Write the business plan- it doesn't have to be pretty but cover the basics in 4 pages or less. You can refer to it as a basic outline until you work out the details. Find others with your same passion, always keep learning more and be willing to adjust to new situations.

I just want to thank Rochelle for stepping up and taking the plunge of telling her story. It is so refreshing to hear other people's stories sometimes for many reasons: 1. to learn from their mistakes. I know, may sound a little harsh but it's true. That's why these people share their stories, so that you don't have to go through some of the same hardships they went through. 2. to gain, rebuild or sustain your motivation. If they can do this, surely you can! So, make sure you're reading successful and prosperous people's stories often to keep your fire burning!

Again, thank you Rochelle for sharing how you became so prosperous.

Til next time!

Hear Rochelle's story on PeopleWhoProsperTV

We are always looking for people to feature on PeopleWhoProsperTV and garrisonprosperitysolutions.com. So, if you're bold enough and proud enough of yourself and your accomplishments in business, then I dare you to share your story with us! Just email PeopleWhoProsper to Tamara@garrisonprosperitysolutions.com for more details!
Tamara Garrison-Thomas
deut8:18
www.garrisonprosperitysolutions.com

One of the biggest mistakes of the new entrepreneur is focusing on the wrong people and on the wrong things. How do you determine if you are focusing on the right customers and/or potential customers? How do you determine if the people that you are focusing on are worthy of your time? Whether it be a prospect, a potential prospect, a new customer, or a potential customer, you should always ensure that your efforts and your time are well spent. Otherwise you are wasting time and to be frank – you are missing out!

Let’s take a realistic perspective. From day one you should realize that not everyone deserves your time and not everyone deserves your attention. In spite of what you have heard in the past, everyone is not your customer. You are in control and you need to maintain control at all times. Know who your target market is. Know who you should be targeting as customers and partners. You want quality. You want leaders. You want thinkers. You want producers. You want initiators. You want implementers and executors. You want results! You know what you need and therefore you should not settle. If you are settling you should come up with a plan to stop settling.

Focus your efforts. Focus your time. Focus your attention. Where there is focus there is growth. When you have growth you have profits. When you have continued focus and continued growth your profits continue to grow and you are able to reach more people!

Let’s Partner and Increase Your Results!

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Like My Facebook Page! & I'll Like Yours!

Hello everyone!

With each year that I have my locs, I wish I had gotten locked up sooner.  I would go on and on about them, but I'll keep it simple and do a list of why I love my locks.

1. I wake up and they are done.

2. I can shower and shampoo using the same bar soap (handmade all natural soap) and my hair is done.

3. If I want to I can roller set my hair.  Braids it and take it aloose and that's a new style.  Wear it in updos and so much more.

4. I don't have to worry about sweating it out or getting it wet.

5. I no longer need a comb, brush, or lots of products to untangle it.

6. It grows and maintains its growth.

7. It all my hair.

8. It feels good just playing in them. Running my hands through them easy.

9. They move with my head which I find pretty cool.

I am MiMi Fleming and I have Sisterlocks. I love them so much that I became a Certified Sisterlocks(TM) Consultant.  If you are in the Triad area of North Carolina or don't mind a little road trip, then I would be honored to introduce you to Sisterlocks. 

Sincerely,

MiMi of Tomoka's Twists

Click for more information about Sisterlocks!

YES, I AM GOING THERE!

WHY? Because this is an issue I'm seeing entirely to much and it is time for the women who are experiencing lack in their business to take a look at what could be the problem and take the steps to correct it.

What gives me the right? Well, because I've been there. Early on in my online entrepreneurial journey, I was a self proclaimed "Women Entrepreneur" for a long time, not making any money.

I thought entering the World Wide Web would bring me almost instant success (I said almost, because I knew I wasn't going to become rich over night...but sure it was going to be soon after)

I'm not ashamed to admit, I didn't have a clue...at first. I had an opportunity, a few ideas and was positive, I was gonna get paid! But after months of barely making enough money to pay my web hosting, I had enough sense to see what I was doing...was SO NOT working.

What I see today with many women,  some of them in my circle, is that they are not making any money, yet they continue to do the things that are NOT giving them the results they want.

If you want to be a women in business, making a generous profit that continues to increase month after month, you have to make some serious changes...PERIOD, starting with, (1) Changing your way of thinking, (2) Be willing to learn and/or invest in what it takes to "Get it Right" and (3) Be intentional and seriously, GET TO WORK!

Let's Be Real... This thing called Entrepreneurship, is not easy. It takes a lot, and that's why it is not a preferred choice for everyone. You have to be willing to give it your all...and then some, make sacrifices, and by no means can you give up.

What I discovered for myself, and from talking with those women who aren't making money in their business, is that there are a few things that always arise and are key setbacks that prevent you from really experiencing an abundance in your business.

1. There is a lack of focus, clear direction and an actionable plan. For the most part, many women just simply don't know what to do. They have no clue where to start or even how to start so they operate in spurts based on what they see others doing.

One week they are actively promoting their business, sharing and interacting online...then they disappear, only to resurface weeks later and repeat the cycle. There is no consistency so these women fall off the social radar and are rarely taken seriously.

2. The "Serial Entrepreneur". Many of my Go-Getter sisters fall into this category and I totally support multiple streams of income...however, the problem here is with the women who are starting a new venture every other week and have yet to completely establish the previous business.

To be quit honest, these are the women who generally make the least amount of money, if any at all because they are often paying out, way more than what is coming in. With the different businesses they operate, they are often unable to discover and connect with a specific target market and in the process, reach only a very few.

3. Not committed to the full investment of time required. These are the women who have a clear goal and know what they have to do but are unable to dedicate the amount of time it takes to get it done. Because of this, they often go unnoticed even if they provide a remarkable product or service.

This woman may have other things going on in her life that keep her from being able to pursue her business in the manner in which she desires.

4. Making Excuses. This is another area many women fall into. Far to many excuses as to why they can't start or grow their business. A lot of times it is because of a full-time job, or they are a single parent, or school or money...for some, these can be legit reasons BUT, there are lots of women who have the same things going on in their lives and still make it happen.

Most of the time, excuses are a disguise for fear. Fear of the "what if's...". As a lot of us do know, FEAR will stop anybody dead in their tracks and surly keep you paralyzed in your business.

Do you fall into any of these categories?

If so, I encourage you today to take a step back and reassess your situation. Acknowledge where you are falling short and determine the steps you need to take to move forward in prosperity.

It's not easy, and we have all been in at least one, or some of these places at some point in our journey. The key to getting unstuck is to seek out the best support for you.

Connect with a Network Community of like-minded women for support.

Choose the educational tools you need to help you become business savvy.

Consider investing in coaching to develop small business "know-how" and skills.

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A strong book cover is a necessity when it comes to publishing a High Quality book. As much as we may not like it, books are judged by their cover! According to ‘The Wall Street Journal’, “The average bookstore browser who picks up a book spends eight seconds looking at the front cover and 15 seconds reading the back.”

Therefore, the window of opportunity to sell the book by its cover is limited. To attract attention and make a lasting first impression, be ready to do all that you can to be at the top of your game and make that first impression one that last in the mind of the viewer. 

Read More: http://wattspublishinggroup.com/the-benefits-of-strong-book-cover-design/

Original Purpose of Lace Wigs

Lace wigs have been around for many years. The original purpose for lace wigs were to serve as hair prosthesis for individuals suffering from hair loss due to medical reasons such as Thyroid, Cancer, Alopecia and Trichotillomania. Please note if you are currently suffering from any of these conditions Ego Extensions is here to help. You can feel beautiful again. Our realistic looking lace wigs will give you back the hair you once had or have always wanted. Our Private Boutique and caring staff will explain in full detail all of your options.

Lace Wigs for the Everyday Woman

Celebrities have now brought lace wigs into the limelight. Music and Television Icons such as Beyonce Knowles, Tyra Banks and Janet Jackson have long been praised for their gorgeous locks. For many years people thought that they had the "Perfect head of hair extensions”. Only recently has it been revealed that they are actually wearing Full Lace Wigs! Every woman no matter her ethnicity longs for beautiful hair that is easy to manage. Ego Extensions is here to provide you with just that. We provide lace wigs in a variety of styles and price ranges to ensure that all women can experience celebrity status hair.

Types of Lace Wigs

Lace wigs come in a variety of hair textures, cap styles and colors this information is very important to know when it comes to ordering your Ego Extensions Luxury Unit.

Lace Front Wigs

The Lace front wig cap construction consists of lace in the front and a wefted lace cap with adjustable straps in the back. Human Hair is attached to the Lace base. The hair can be washed, flat Ironed and styled as desired. Lace front wigs cannot be worn in high ponytail because of the wefted cap construction in the back. The lace in front goes to the middle portion of head and a realistic part can be made up to that area. Lace front wigs are less expensive because of their cap construction and are perfect for the client who is looking to have a wig which can be taken on and off on a daily bases with the optional choice of glue or tape.

Full Lace Wigs

Full Lace wig hair systems are the ultimate choice for your lace wig needs. A full lace cap has human hair hand tied into the base with stretch in the middle and baby hair around the perimeter. This wig can be parted throughout from front to back, the fine lace creates a look of "hair growing out of your scalp”. The hair can be worn in high and low ponytails and can be flat ironed, washed and styled as desired. No one will ever know that the realistic looking full lace wig is not your own hair. This lace wig must be attached with Glue, Tape, Wig Combs Or Clips.

Glueless Lace Wigs

Glueless Full lace wig hair systems are constructed with a full lace cap with stretch in the middle and adjustable straps in the back. This unit also has baby hair around the perimeter and can be worn in a high ponytail. The wig can be parted from front to back and has the appearance of "hair growing out of the scalp”. The hair can be worn in a high ponytail and can be flat ironed, washed and styled as desired. This unit does not require glue to be attached and can be applied and removed as desired.

Hair Types and Textures

Indian Remy: This is Indian Remy Human Hair and it comes from the Indian Race. • It is naturally thick and lustrous • The straight hair texture waves up when wet • Great for all hair textures.

European Remy: This is European Remy Human Hair and it comes from the Caucasian Race. • It is Caucasian hair which mostly comes from Europe • It is lighter and thinner then Asian and Indian Remy • It has a butter soft silky feel • This hair has a lot of movement and lays down great for straight styles • Much more expensive to acquire this type of hair • Great for Straight textures.

Chinese Remy: This is Asian Remy Human Hair and it comes from the Asian Race. • It is heavier, thicker and slightly more dense then Indian Remy • It is not as shiny as the Indian Remy • Texture feels nice and smooth • The straight texture waves up slightly when wet • Great for all hair textures • Makes a nice and soft Yaki textures • Makes a very natural Kinky Curly Texture with less shine • Great for Straight and Wavy textures as well because it has a lot of body.

Malaysian Remy: This is Malaysian Remy Human Hair and it comes from the Malaysian Race. • It is heavier, thicker and more dense then the Asian and Indian Remy • It is not as shiny as the Indian Remy • Texture feels very soft and smooth • It has a lot of body • The straight texture waves up slightly when wet • Much more expensive to acquire this type of hair • Great for all textures • Makes a gorgeous smooth and soft Yaki texture • Makes a heavier straight texture then the Asian and Indian Remy.

Types of Hair loss

There are many types of female hair loss - This page explains what they are, and which type affects you.

Generally, women find any form of hair loss much more embarrassing than men. As such, they are far less likely to accept it, and much more likely to seek treatment for it.

The treatment required for one type may differ from another, so it's important to seek professional advice and find out exactly what type you have.

What Type of Female Hair Loss do You Have?

Hair loss often has a genetic connection and, as such, can affect both men and women. But, whilst the vast majority of men will experience androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness), for women it's a bit more complicated.

Most types of hair loss are also connected to hormones in some way. And women have a greater fluctuation in their hormone levels than men (due to menstruation, pregnancy and the menopause). It follows that, whilst statistically fewer women experience hair loss than men, they tend to be affected by more types.

So, let's look at these different types of female hair loss.

Telogen effluvium

Up to 50% of all women may experience significant hair loss by the age of 60. Chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) is the second most common type of hair loss after androgenic alopecia and, between them, these two types account for as much as 95% of all female hair loss cases.

Telogen effluvium can be connected to many things including nutritional deficiency. This deficiency is largely due to iron depletion (from menstruation cycles). It can build up slowly over many years and lead to CTE. Vegetarians might also experience CTE (including men).

Telogen effluvium is evenly distributed (diffuse) thinning across the entire scalp (i.e., not just the crown of the scalp). And, because this thinning isn't just confined to one area, telogen effluvium is not normally obvious to other people.

But, just because you might be the only one who knows about it, doesn't necessarily make it any more acceptable.

Androgenetic alopecia

As stated earlier, androgenic (or androgenetic) alopecia mostly affects men. However, as the name suggests, this type involves genetic inheritance, and so can be passed on from parent to child (both male and female).

It also involves androgens. These potent hormones are produced by women in much smaller quantities than they are in men. However, they can still affect a women's body. As such, androgenic alopecia is also a form of female hair loss.

Alopecia areata

If your hair falls out literally overnight and in clumps, it's probably alopecia areata. Alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis are also types of alopecia areata. Alopecia areata causes incredible distress to those it affects. This horrifying disease can be extremely rapid and extensive.



Traction (friction) alopecia

Braids, clips and other hair accessories can, to an extent, literally pull your hair out! Over time, ponytails, cornrows, even excess brushing or combing can also cause this type of female hair loss. If you want to find out more,

Chemotherapy hair loss

This form of hair loss is due to the powerful chemicals used to treat various forms of cancer. Whether or not chemotherapy is the best form of treatment depends upon the type and extent of the cancer involved. As such, chemotherapy may lead to both male and female hair loss.

African American Lace Wigs


Many women of African American ethnicity are experiencing thinning of the edges due to extensive long tern wear of hair extensions, braids and chemical processing. Our lace wigs come in a variety of styles giving you the ability to let your own hair relax and grow back. Many clients keep their own hair in it's natural state and wear lace wigs styling them as they wish. If you are an African American woman who is searching for a company with understanding of African American hair textures and styles then contact Ego Extensions.



(Please note all clients may not have hair grow while wearing lace wigs each person’s form of hair loss is different.)

Hair Care Instructions for Full Lace Wigs

Company Product Suggestion: Avanti Silicon Mix


1. Keep the hair clean. We suggest that you wash the hair at least once or twice a week with warm or cold water. Please wash the hair immediately after swimming, spa, exercise, and etc. When dirt and sweat accumulate, hair tangles. Too much leave-in conditioners and other hair care products will create a build up on the hair and will cause it to tangle faster. If the hair feels dry or heavy with build up, wash it with good shampoo & conditioner.

2. Before washing the hair, spray mixture of conditioner and water and brush the hair from bottom up. You must gradually wet the hair down and brush it gently before you completely wash the hair. If the hair is very dry and a lot of water is added at once, hair will swell up like sponge and tangle! Therefore, it is important to gradually wet the hair and brush it.

3. After wetting the hair, add shampoo and conditioner and brush thoroughly. Be sure to wash and brush the hair in one direction. Rinse the hair completely with water and towel dry. It is best to air dry the hair but you can also blow-dry with low to medium heat.

4. Make sure you brush the hair daily and apply some leave-in conditioners so that the hair is soft and moist. A good leave-in hair treatment can keep the hair from drying. But remember not to put too much otherwise there will be a build up and make the hair feel too heavy. If the hair feels too dry or heavy with too much hair care products, you should wash the hair completely by following steps 2 and 3.

5. When swimming, always wear a cap to prevent prolong exposure to chlorine or salt water which causes the hair to tangle. Always wash the hair right away with shampoo and conditioner after swimming in both types of water. When going to the spa, the hair should be brushed out completely and should be wrapped in a cold wet towel.

6. Make couple of big braids when going to sleep, swim, or exercise (please untangle the hair before making the braids). NEVER SLEEP ON WET HAIR. Make sure the hair is completely dry before going to bed.

7. You can also make a leave-in conditioner at home by diluting conditioner (10%) with water (90%). Apply the mixture lightly onto your hair and brush the hair from the end to the top near the scalp. Although it is important to apply leave-in conditioners to keep the hair from dryness, it is important to keep the hair clean by washing the hair about twice a week so that it will not create a build up.

8. It would be advisable NOT TO TINT, COLOR, PERM OR DO ANY EXTRA CHEMICAL PROCESSES because it has already been treated. Please be extra careful with blonde and other light colored hair. They are more chemically processed than the dark hair. Therefore, we will not be responsible for the outcome.

9. Please check the hair before you use the hair. Be certain that the hair texture, color, length, and quality are what you want. We will not be responsible for the hair if it is not in original condition. For the WET & WAVE hair such as the French Refined and the European Wave, you may test the curl by wetting a small portion away from the rest. Place the hair on a desk, pull a small portion away from the rest, spray some water, and let it soak for about 15 seconds. Hold the top of the hair while it is on the desk and gently brush the wet portion from the bottom and watch it wave. Towel dry and scrunch it to wave up more.

10. Some hair comes out form the wefts easier than others (e.g. silky hair). In cases like this, you may glue or reinforce the weft before putting it on.

Washing & Conditioning your Hair System
Shampooing and conditioning your hair system is not like shampooing your natural hair. Rubbing shampoo into your hair system as if it were naturally growing hair will cause the hair to tangle.
Here's the step-by-step method we've found best for giving your hair system a professional shampooing and conditioning.
The method we recommend will prevent tangling, and can be performed either on a plastic head mold or when you're wearing your system in the shower.

Step 1 : Start by taping the hair system itself to the plastic mold, then use the brush to comb out any tangles in the hair itself.
Step 2 : Next, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of water and shampoo. Make sure the mixture is thin enough to spray effectively (try a 50%/50% mixture).
Step 3 : Spray the shampoo/water mixture onto the hair system.
Step 4 : Then comb the shampoo into the hair. Repeat the process as needed.
Step 5 : Finally, rinse the shampoo out of the hair with lukewarm tap water. Comb out any remaining shampoo with the brush.

Help with Washing your Hair System
Now that you've shampooed your hair system, we can begin conditioning it. The steps are exactly the same.
Step 6 Fill a spray bottle with a conditioner/water mixture. Again make sure the mixture is thin enough to spray easily.
Step 7 : Spray the conditioner/water mixture onto the hair system.
Step 8 : Then comb the conditioner into the hair. Repeat the process as desired.
Step 9 : Rinse the conditioner out of the hair with lukewarm tap water.
Step 10 : If you're wearing the hair system, use a towel to blot out (not rub out) the excess water. Comb and style the hair and let it sit to dry. If you want to use a hair dryer make sure it's set on a gentle setting and isn't too hot.

Your Wealthy Business Series: Learn my 10 Step Business Strategy Secrets when it’s time to move beyond Solopreneur and into Enterprise building.

Join me Thursday August 18, 8pm est where I share with you my Top 10 Secrets to building a wealthy business model at home and how I went from simply owning my job (or rather it owning me) to a thriving and profitable business that most people don't even know I own! Let's face it, YOU can't run your solo-business forever! It's time to work even SMARTERand start making your business work for YOU! Let me show you how!

Your Business will Die when you do if you don't adopt Wealthy Business Strategies

You've build a profitable Solopreneur Business but you really desire to build a Wealthy Enterprise that relies less on you over time but still increased wealth. It's Time to go from simplyOwning your Job to Building a Entrepreneurial Enterprise

As a business person you figured out how to go from an "Expensive Hobby" to "Profitable business", now it’s time to learn from big corporations and take your profits from just managing living expenses and a profitable lifestyle to six (and even seven) figure wealth by building a company versus a solo practice so your money keeps making money for you long after you've stopped working! I share what I learned in 12 years of Fortune 500 Corporate America that I carried with me as an entrepreneur and why you should adapt these strategies in your businessRIGHT now!

In my 60 minute (jammed packed! I have SO much to share!) I share my BEST strategies in building my business and how I've helped others achieve six & seven figure status in theirs.

See if these programs may work for you. If not please pass it along.

Help you, Help someone else.

one time fee. no monthly fee, 6 sign ups and earn. Small group of friends/family can work together to earn.

payments go out daily, you do not have to wait until the end of the month or some other specified time

http://www.911gascard.com/moneypoweredge/

 and.....

One referral, One trial, One credit earned, receive $20 cash

http://one.zipnadazilch.com/index.php?referral=158220

 Thank you.

Kimberly

A recent question was asked in response to my post "Is Government Contracting for Your Small Business?" as to "What is the most common mistake SME's can make while dealing with the government? There are several common mistakes SME's can make while dealing with government. Here are some of the common ones:

1. Truly understanding the customer needs. Sometimes the potential customer is not clear on what they need even when the contracting officer releases the RFP or RFQ. Keep in mind the contracting officer is obtaining the specs of the opportunity from their client who may not be clear on what the needs are for the scope of work.

2. Understanding the sales cycle can take much longer than what we experience in the commercial marketplace. There are many variables that impact the decision on whether or not the contracting officer will select and engage a contractor for the work to be performed.

3. The agency may decide to perform the work in house after they have received proposals outlining the performance work plan.

4. Not requesting a debrief on why your proposal or quote was not acceptable in response to the RFP or RFQ in order to obtain lessons learned.

For additional information on government contracting assistance, plese contact our office at info@trinitystrategicconsulting.com.

OPEN A BOOK TO A GIRL'S LIFE

ALL BOOK SALES SUPPORT A  "BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM"

FOR GIRLS AGES 12 - 17

Victorious Living for Moms

Letters to a Mother's Heart

Authors Darnice Wright & Kenice Griffin

Our Chapter:

But God, Has the Final Say

Victorious Living for Moms is the collaborative effort of over 30 authors from around the country who have put pen to paper. In this time and season, mothers need much help and support as they journey through life.  The WrightVision Foundation, Ment4U Mentoring Program “BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM” mission is to provide life skills for under-served teenage girls ages of 12 -17 in the Woodland Community of Ward 8. Our target goal is to reach 30 teenage girls at each of sessions covering the topics of: (1) Healthy Life Styles, (2) Etiquettes, (3) Exploring Entreprenuership, (4) Job Readiness, (5) Nutrition and Education and (6) The Road to the University.  http://www.wrightvisionfoundation.org/DONATE.html 

STUDENTS SEEKING EDUCATION by EXPERIENCING ACADEMIC AMERICA (S.E.A.)

S.E.A. will begain posting scholarships for students enrolled or planning to go to college. Look for our daily post starting September 1, 2011. S.E.A. will also have a new website. www.sseeaa.com

P.S. Looking for a mentor, to help with the college application process? S.E.A. will help any student/parent that needs help.

Thank you

Norris Coleman, Director, of S.E.A.

"EVERY TRULY GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT IS AT FIRST IMPOSSIBLE" 

I had my big reveal along with four other ladies at the The Phoenix Mercury game. They used my short interview to spotlight and did the reveal on camera. A missed opportunity for great pr. I wore my jewelry but should have had a T-shirt,apron, jacket something with my brand or website on it. Shows the value of Branding Materials. A coach had me wearing my jewelry at all times but sometimes you need a liitle more. I'm having some T-shirts down with just wirequeen.com on them. What do you use when you can't talk your brand but need to still get that FREE public relation handled?

As a publicist (and producer) with 20 years experience, I know when someone is ready for the “big time” and when they are not.

The major media “gatekeepers” are very particular. They can spot an amateur in a split second (and you only get one chance to pitch).

Surprisingly though, most people (especially authors) think they are ready for Jay Leno, Steve Harvey, CNN, USA Today, Good Morning America, Fox News, Essence, Today show, etc. But they are not.  What’s so funny is that the shows or publications they want to be on or in – they don’t even watch, listen or read!

There are so many variables to getting major publicity. It does not happen because you have a good book, a new product or a friend who works for the station or publication. Major publicity doesn’t even happen if you have a good publicist with connections.

It takes a strategy, a strong brand and information that make the media’s job REALLY easy. (Because they are so busy!!!)

Here are some things you must have if you want to be considered to play in the big league with the big boys:

1. A track record. Most authors think that if they could just be interviewed on a major network when their book is released – they would set them up for major sales. Listen, a new book is not news.  A good TV producer is not looking for the “new kid on the block” to present to their viewers, they want to score a guest that has some STAR power. A guest that has some juice; some awards; someone who has a following and people want to watch.  So, this means you must start small, start local and then you can progress to regional and national.  This takes TIME.
2. A good internet presence. If you think just having a website is enough – think again. Everyone has a website. You must prove to the media that you have an online following and dominate the search engines in regards to your expertise.  If you say you are an “expert” – the media’s proof is to see whether you show up on page one of Google when they put in that query about the topic. If you don’t show up at all. NEXT. So you must know SEO, have a blog, some Facebook fans, Twitter followers and so on.
3. A concise, professional media kit. This is the hub of your information. But wait, don’t just throw together a press release, bio and some jpeg photos and call it a day. Think this through. Make this a tool that the make the media go “wow.” Meaning, there is no searching for answers, or searching for photos, or searching for video clips, or searching for current key facts or links.  This is a living document that you keep on your website under a tab called “Media Kit” or “Press Kit.” But make it stand out and make sure your contact info is there and you are available 24/7 for the media. So, yes you must put a mobile there or your publicist’s mobile number there.

A good media kit should have –

a. A long and a short bio (in third person not first person please). How are they going to introduce you if they have to rewrite your bio because you wrote it in first person? Make it an exciting bio too. Have a one sheet too. This is info about you in a snapshot. Hire some to help you if you need it. Read bios of the experts in your field for samples.

b. Interview questions the media can ask you (because they probably won’t have time to read the whole book or do all the research on the topic you’re an expert in – so help them out!) Prepare at least 10 to 15 questions. Also good to have is a FAQ sheet and pitch letter.

c. Photos. Have an assortment of PROFESSIONAL head shots, speaking shots, full body shots and if an author, the book cover. Please have high-resolution photos available on the site for magazines too.

d. Previous media hits with links to video and audio interviews. Media begets media Also if you have endorsements – include those in the kit as well. They want to see what others are saying about you. So the more you show how you were featured in other media and seen by other people (preferably other experts), the more comfortable they will feel about booking you.

e. Radio and TV Interview Ideas. Think like a journalist or producer.  Write out a show description or have a list of topics with bullet points you can speak about on the air.

f. Articles. Have some articles ready for the media to use for the prep of their story or to post on a blog for further info after the interview. They can be published or unpublished articles or even blog posts. But you want to provide them with background research from you about the topic you’re being interviewed about. A link to old newsletters are good to have included as well.

g. PDF of your book for the media to access in a hurry.

4. An intro video of you speaking at events. Showing you speaking in front of an audience with some audience reaction. This is extremely important if you want to get book on a major network.
5. A calendar of events. Media want to know that you’re busy – and have an active itinerary. Remember the media wants to book and interview those who are in high demand and have a strong brand.
6. Lists. Media love lists. Become a valuable resource for the media. Create Top Ten lists for your industry. These are good for sidebars for articles they are writing. Or the list could be used as a “teaser” when promoting a show.
7. A tight brand. Professional graphics. Professional photos. Professional website and blog. Professional newsletter. Keyword here: PROFESSIONAL. Not homemade. If you have a “DIY” look, it screams amateur.  Pay a professional. If you want to roll with the big dogs – don’t be cheap with your brand.  You have to pay to play.

Finally, timing is everything – but equally important is being prepared. There is nothing worst than having an opportunity to get major publicity and goof it up because you were not prepared. (The media is very quick to say “no go” – and it takes time for them to give “yes, it’s a go.”)   

Learn to stay prep (become a student of the media) and continue to market and grow your brand.  Strong SEO, a polished brand, networking and consistency will yield great results.

http://www.socialmediaprsolutions.com