Publicity Archives

Wendy's PR Crash Course
January 10-11, 2008
Orlando Marriott Downtown

It's official. After years of friends and clients asking why I produce killer seminars and conferences for other people and organizations but never host my own, I'm going to do so.

I've already lined up some of the top PR and business development experts in my personal database (developed over 20 years of actually working in the corporate world and PR industry, not just reading about them). From launching your own publicity campaign to streamlining your business, you'll hear from some of the best.

This will NOT be a "sit in your chair and listen to one talking head after another drone on about how they got super rich in just a few hours with very little effort" seminar. If you're looking to catch lightening in a bottle and get rich quick, this event is NOT for you.

Wendy's PR Crash Course WILL be a highly interactive, hands-on educational seminar from which you will leave with tangible results. You'll actually implement some of the tips and techniques we teach before you ever leave the event. That way, if you have questions, you'll still be in the room with the instructor and can ask questions RIGHT THEN to make sure you've got it.

Normally, I like to have every little detail finalized before I promote an event, but this is going to be so big, I wanted to let you know NOW so you can save the date and plan to make 2008 your best year ever.

For more details, visit our seminar page and look for Wendy's PR Crash Course

It's official! I am going to be a co-author with Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield on the latest edition in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Chicken Soup for the University of Central Florida Soul is now underway. Proceeds will benefit the UCF Alumni Association.

If you are a member of the UCF family - student, alumni, parent, faculty, staff or administrator - and have a great Chicken Soup story, we want to hear from you. The critical point, though, is that it has to be WELL WRITTEN. You may have a truly great story that you tell very well, but if it's not WRITTEN well, we won't be able to use it.

How do you write a great Chicken Soup for the Soul story? Download the story guidelines for complete details.

MEGA Book Marketing University
Learn from the best of the best!
March 2-3-4, 2007
The Westin LAX
Los Angeles, CA

Register by Midnight PST this Thurs., Feb. 1 and bring a friend for free! Plus, you'll get the complete $349 home-study course at no additional charge.

One reason I recommend and attendees return again and again to MEGA Book Marketing year after year is the amazing faculty of best-selling authors, marketing mavens and publishing pros the MEGA team pulls together for each event.

It's an inviation-only event, so this is your personal invitation from me. Here's the catch, you have to register using this link so Mark will know I invited you.

Mark hand-selects each speaker, so you get a comprehensive education in everything it takes to become a best-selling author. Everything is covered… from how to get your book proposal noticed ... to cutting-edge marketing techniques ... to staying sharp mentally and finding the inner strength and persistence to never give up on your dreams.

This year, you’ll learn from not only Mark but his ”Chicken Soup” co-founder Jack Canfield...one-of-a-kind motivational mentor and “A Child Called It” author Dave Pelzer ... nationally syndicated columnist and best selling author Harvey Mackay...superstar literary agent Jillian Manus, and others.

You'll also have the opportunity to meet a variety of top agents and publishers that always say "yes" to Mark's personal invitation for them to come and scout for talent.

Read more about this year’s faculty and what you’ll learn.

Josh Hallett points to an article in which he was quoted in the Florida Times Union over the weekend. The article underscores the power a disgruntled customer can have to affect, positively or negatively, a company's reputation.

Dissatisfied with the response from Shands Hospital to his concern over a post-surgical infection, a patient set up a "Sucks" website and has encouraged other disgruntled patients to post their stories. A Shands VP's "no comment" response to the reporter doesn't do much to enhance the hospital's image in this story.

Most people tend to read "no comment" as "we have something to hide." A better response may have been "Unfortunately, the patient privacy laws prohibit us from discussing individual cases, but I can say that we are dedicated to patient care, as U.S. News and World Report continually recognizes by identifying Shands as one of the best hospitals in the nation."

On a side note, I was pleasantly surprised to see Jonathan Bernstein also quoted throughout the article. Jonathan and I belong to a PR discussion group and he always offers keen insight and valuable advice.

Do you have an online newsroom where media can access information about you and your company at their convenience? Is your online newsroom effective?

TEKmedia has recently updated its Tips for an Effective Online Newsroom, originally pubished in the May 2003 issue of PRSA's Tactics.

Download a free copy.

Wayne Kelly and I are hosting a complimentary preview for our publicity course at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon (East Coast). We'll be giving participants a sneak peek into the full course, which launches September 22 and will enable you to:

* Create an effective media release
* Identify your target audience
* Determine the station formats best suited for your business, product or services
* Develop your personal pitch for radio and TV producers with help from industry experts
* Compile a list of target stations to whom you can pitch
* Consult one-on-one with award-winning experts Wendy Kurtz and Wayne Kelly
* Confidently and competently promote yourself, your book, your product or your service

Sign up by visiting our publicity site and the dial-in number and passcode will be emailed to you.

If you own or work for a small business, consider nominating yourself and/or the business for recognition during the 2006 National Small Business Week. The 2006 celebration will honor nearly 25 million small businesses nationwide for their personal achievements and contributions to America's economy. From the SBA's web site:

National Small Business Week honors America's entrepreneurs -- the men and women who start and grow the small businesses that drive our nation's economy. As part of the celebration, the U.S. Small Business Administration and its partners recognize small business owners and advocates from across the country.

Get more info or download a copy of the Nominations Guidelines. Nominations must be submitted by November 4.

Wayne Kelly (my award-winning Top 40 radio host buddy) and I are gearing up for our next "30 Days to Publicity Success" telecourse, which starts September 8.

Highlights from the list of things you'll learn:

The 5 different types of publicity and which are the fastest, cheapest and most prosperous;
The 5 critical components of any media release and how to integrate them into your pitch;
What the most important part of your media pitch is; and
The single most important question you must ask regardless of what type of publicity you are seeking.

You'll also be coached on radio interview etiquette, learn interview techniques that could have the media begging you for an interview, and receive your own practice interview on .mp3 with a professional critique that you can use to improve.

Not sure you're ready to enroll? Register for one of our complimentary preview classes.