Reap the Benefits of Press Releases

Many of our customers have reaped the benefits of press releases. If you're considering expanding your horizon, then you should definitely include press releases in your marketing mix. You can share newsworthy information through the media either alone or in combination with other methods of communication. Press releases enable you to increase awareness, gain exposure, establish a presence, promote new services/products, make a statement or take a stance. Through a press release, new technologies/innovations can be announced, and multicultural or selected audiences can be communicated with directly. Whether you want to generate publicity for an event, develop an individual as an expert source or integrate images such as photos or videos, press releases are an effective marketing tool.

Multimedia Production

Multimedia production can be an effective tool in your communication planning. Scripted and produced multimedia can be used for marketing, advertising, and sales. It can include writing, animation, graphics, and music. Multimedia productions can be used as conference materials, for customer testimonials, training/education programs, public service announcements, radio and television spots, and special event coverage. You can post your productions on your website, send them out as emails, and include them as a trade show giveaway on a flash drive. Productions can be viewed on YouTube, linked on your Facebook page, and included in your LinkedIn Profile. Do consider where you might have an opportunity to incorporate multimedia productions into your marketing mix. It's a tool that is well worth the planning and can be viewed for years to come.

Corporate Newsletters

Lift the weight off of your shoulders by finding a company that will help you manage your newsletter every step of the publication process. Whether you have identified your need as being online or printed, there are companies that can help you coordinate and collect articles and photographs from contributors, write new articles and edit submitted articles, schedule photography, when needed, design, print and distribute, and help you manage your list. When newsletters are planned ahead and managed professionally, they are successful, leaving your internal staff to identify opportunities for article content or new and refreshing article contributors instead of trying to manage a detailed process on top of their day-to-day responsibilities. Whether your audience is your customer or your employee, you can use a newsletter to inform, educate and motivate. And whoever you're targeting, make sure you have appealing stories with eye-catching visuals and consistency in format.

Don't Assume You Know What Your Audience is Thinking or What They Need

Developing printed and/or online surveys should be an element in your marketing plan development. Surveys are a great way to capture trends, collect data, or assess client, supplier or employee satisfaction. You really should never assume that you know what your audience is thinking or what they want. With many of the online tools available, it is quite simple and cost-effective to put together an online survey. Print surveys might cost you a little more and take a little more time, however, depending upon your audience, you might prefer this route. You might not always like the information you get back, but it's necessary to make adjustments to your marketing message, tools and activities often to enable you to move forward.

How can you get started?

1. Identify required information for collection
2. Define your audience
3. Develop questions
4. Design and administer your survey
5. Collect and analyze data
6. Prepare a final report of your results
7. Identify what you can do to make necessary changes
8. Share your results and your plan of action
9. Develop a timeline and get buy-in
10. Move forward and make a positive difference