Tips from February 5, 2010 The Small Business tips today discuss common public relations (PR) mistakes. Poorly Written Press Releases: Incorrect format, improper grammar and punctuation, and misspelled words contribute to a poorly written and structured press release. Don't send something out to the public and media that is not grammatically correct.  Over-Hype: Hype and excitement is important, but too much is over dramatic and will draw negative attention towards your PR campaigns. No Purpose: Press releases announcing petty, unimportant things related to your business doesn't convey a positive image and people will stop listening to you. No Plan: Releasing a press release to the public without a proper follow up plan is a huge mistake. You need to know what to do to proceed, who to direct questions to, and have a backup plan. Daily Overview: Sending out poor press releases for the wrong reasons with no p... [Read Full Article]

Small Biz Tip: How to Write a Press Release Tips from July 20, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss how to write a press release. Place contact info in the top right corner: name, position, phone number, email address. Under, write "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE." Don't say your business name in the title or opening paragraph. Get attention with relevant, interesting, or unique information. Use quotes & statistics from accurate sources to to back up your headline, opening statement & title. Keep paragraphs short. Include a boilerplate: summary information about your business at the end of the press release. Include "###" to mark the end. Daily Overview: Following a specific format will help your press release reach more of an audience and convey great information. [Read Full Article]

Tips from Friday, December 19, 2008 The Small Business tips today will be about doing press releases right. Is your press release newsworthy? It has to get attention: something unique, a community service, a celebrity? Write a headline for the release that will grab the reader's attention. Prioritize information in the press release. Most important news items in first paragraph. Details later. Include contact information and respond to inquiries quickly. Daily Overview: How important is your news? Don't cry wolf. Be interesting. Have priorities and be reachable. -- I post small business tips on my Twitter account each day, Monday through Friday. This is a reposting of those tips. [Read Full Article]