Writing Copy for the Media

I was thinking about the conference the other day when I came across a poorly composed press release.  You see, writing separates the stringers from the professionals. No matter how many connections you have, if you can't write- you will fail. Period!

This said, I wanted to share the top 3 writing mistakes YOU need to avoid. If you don't, your peers will look at you like a stringer and you will not obtain any respect within the media relations field.

1. "At the end of the day"  - Do not ever use this. You should be able to write your point without having to point it out. If you have to write a "look at me" tag, the rest of your writing is fluff and journalists will hate it and laugh at it.

2. "I know you're busy" - If you're using this in a pitch or  a sales letter, slap yourself on the wrist. Everyone is busy. Writing this phrase just wastes more of the reader's time and it sounds corny. Avoid using this phrase at all costs.

3. "In this day in age" - Ok, first- we all assume that you are writing about the present. If not, why are you writing at all. The goal is to be media savvy and relevant. This phrase is ad copy and doesn't have a place in the PR world.

I hope this info. helps you become a better writer and understand what separates the true professional from the wannabe.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Hiring the RIGHT Teanm

We live and operate in a virtual world. In this world, we usually have to interview employees or contractors through Skype of through over the phone. Well, I have one question that will help you pick the right person to hire for your next ‘new hire’ quest – regardless of the position.

So, what is the question? “How is who you are now consistent or inconsistent with the person you were at 10 years old?” Now, look at how they answer the question more than the answer itself. Here’s why; the journey they are on is important. If someone where to say, “When I was 10 I thought I’d be an attorney but I ended up being a computer programmer”- you can ask what happened, get more insight as to thought process, ability to follow through on goals, ability to be distracted easily, schooling for computer programming, accomplishments, etc.

If you pay attention to the journey, the self-descriptions, and what they feel are ‘life events’ of importance between 10 and now- you will discover a lot about the potential new hire and their ability to mesh well within your company’s culture.

Trust me, this question works. A great way to see how effective it is is to simply use it on someone close to you before you use it in an interview. Ask your kids, parents, friends the same question. You will see how much information you gain and learn about them within the scope of their answer(s).

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Another Word on PR & Social Media

Every remove someone from your social media accounts because they are stalking every post you write? You know the type- they “like” or “retweet” everything you say. Even worse, their own posts are nothing more than selfies, rude memes and, of course, status updates from the gym! You want followers, but you want the RIGHT followers.

Here are my tips to navigating your way through your personal social media accounts like a pro;

#1. Don’t overshare. Oversharing photos of yourself, your pets and/or your kids is called annoying. Think of yourself walking down the street and someone stopping you every two seconds with a photo from their wallet to share with you. Annoying! Don’t be this person, especially if you run a company!

#2. Don’t buy “likes”, YouTube views or Twitter followers. We all can tell when “ana zhoisf sdjkdfhss” is a fake profile and you look silly with 10,000 fake followers reading your uninteresting posts. Value who you follow and appreciate those who REALLY follow you!

#3. Have actual conversations. OMG! Yes, don’t send important information via a text or a social media post. That’s classless- especially if it is a welfare check on someone’s emotional or physical health. Be personal, 

you will intrigue more people to follow you on social media when you show you truly care about others.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham

Social Media - PR it like a boss!

Yesterday I talked about using social media for unprofessional content. Today, I want to talk about how to use social media like a boss and own the landscape within your industry.

I've compiled a few easy and simple tips to help you quickly become a respected social media peer within your industry- PR related or not.

1.  Don't be initiative based. That's overtly promotion. Instead,be excited about the probabilities about projected outcomes and share that excitement with the world.

2.  Use and track coupon codes, specific created hashtags and client key word searches. Acknowledge what is working directly with your followers. True bosses give credit where credit is due. Not sure what I mean? Follow actor Jared Leto's Twitter account. He is constantly running beta tests and then thanking his fans. He has them engaged 24/7!

3. Build relationships and be serious about it. Most media resources (and all PR peers) are natural 'BS' detectors. If you're constantly pushing your selfies, your clients' initiatives, and "buy now" deals then no one will feel that you have a genuine interest in a real relationship as a media resource. Be on point without overtly promoting when it comes to visuals and content.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham of ThinkZILLA

1 “MUST” Tip for Breaking the Ice with A Member of the Press

Publicists don’t have a magic wand in their desk drawer. Their relationships with the media come from a long line of pitching, meeting in person, bugging, sending over holiday cards, repeating this process without feeling rejected, and then repeating it again. It gets easier as time passes and you prove yourself as a publicist, too.  

This said, I wanted to share one key thought (or magic want maneuver) today when it comes to breaking the ice with a much sought after member of the press. If you can’t crack a relationship (or even a smile) from a press agent, implement the Tripe R method. This method consists of Respect (1), Reliability (2), and Response (3).  

First, you have to respect the demand on journalists today. Many people blog for free and get paid by ads or PPC campaigns- not media resources.  This said, budgets are tight and reporters have more responsibilities along with a skeleton staff due to cutbacks. Traditional media is competing with a heavy freelance community. If you call a reporter once during the day, leave it. Don’t call four or five times. Don’t send emails throughout the day. Don’t trample on their time. Be respected and also make sure what you’re pitching is included in their assignments category, otherwise you’re just being annoying.

Second, be reliable. This means not exaggerating facts or shoving hype when speaking with a reporter. If a member of the press can learn to trust you as a resource, you will have them knocking at your door- not the other way around. So remember, never lie to the media to get press attention. It will backfire.

Finally, be responsive. If you can’t respond to any member of the press within 5 minutes of the day or night (and anytime of the day or night) you can say goodbye to your client’s story / interview and the relationship with the reporter. Most members of the press work long hours and are usually up late finishing stories. They may send you an urgent email at 1am asking you to verify a fact. Do it. Be available at all times to the media as this is part of your job as a publicist.

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham of ThinkZILLA

PR Presentations... What Are You Missing

I love when I see all bells and whistles on a competitor's presentation. It helps me a lot! While anyone can hire a cheap graphic designer off of ODesk.com, not to many know about the psychology behind design and marketing. This, my friends, is very important when pitching potential clients.

A beautiful design doesn't mean anything in business. Sure, it is nice to have but decisions are made on cost vs. experience vs. if a client feels comfortable (or not) working with you. When competing companies only invest in a design that looks good, it leaves an opening for me to follow the presentation with "what are they missing" when talking to the client.

If you are pitching clients based on visuals only, know that you are making a major mistake! First, you have to make sure you have the right visuals- not just ones that you like. You have to align your thinking and presentations with the temperature of your potential client's current look and feel. Next, you have to use the AMA's set of psychologically invoking marketing concepts. Then you have to follow this with real references, solid numbers, milestones and guarantee, and a work plan. This is the part where many PR professionals fail - the numbers and the data.

This said, as we head into a week of Thanksliving, check your pitches and your presentations. Give thanks for the business you earned in the past and think about how you can polish up your presentations in the future!

Until tomorrow,

Velma Trayham of ThinkZILLA 

Writing Content for Google

PR people now have to write for several different audiences, including the public who search Google. But, do you know how to write for Google. Just because you write something for the public and paste it to your blog- or other medium- doesn't mean Google will register it and make it searchable for others to find.

This mean you may have to write a piece three or four different ways to cater to traditional, new media, and Google audiences.  This is the main reason I want to focus today's blog on how to write for Google so your content (or that of your clients) is searchable and visible!

First, develop compelling content. Your content should be relatable to your audience and tell a dynamic story that cannot be found elsewhere. Google likes storytelling! Don't advertise yourself or write about how great your clients are. Advertising content is considered commercial content and Google will kick it out so that you buy an ad.

You also need to be aware of content structure. Google loves images, and it likes embedded links, too.  Make sure you ALT tag your images with title links or key words directly related to the content.

Finally, spend some time thinking about which keywords will give your website and pages better exposure. Test them by typing them directly into Google and see what comes up. Be organic, not over zealous, with your keyword placement and selection.

Need help? You may want to consider co-contracting with ThinkZILLA. I can help you write content that will rank highly on Google!

Until next time,

Velma Trayham