5 Strategies to Streeetch Your Nice Press

In the following story Provincial capital Star editorialist and lifelongCatholic, Kathy Shaidle, whose website tweaks confiningreligious and spiritual notions, talks just about how she's beengathering steam to publicize her site. Shaidle's irreverentcommentary spares no one. She dispenses her thoughts oneverything from rental a wedded priest to buyingenlightenment. What better way to provoke contention thanto challenge the sacred cow of people's spiritual andreligious beliefs? Visit Kathy's site http://www.relapsedcatholic.com and see for yourself whatmakes for nice arguing.

Where the religious rubber meets the pop culture road

That's the slogan at RelapsedCatholic.com, my daily weblog offaith & culture news. On March 27, 2001, my site was singledout for praise by the Site-A-Day newsletter.

1. Send out a press release just about your nice press to yourniche market

I Instantly sent out a short, punchy email press release(quoting Site-A-Day's rave review) to my list of religioneditors (in print and online), book reviewers (I'm besides anaward-winning author) and another Better of the Web sites.

The day the brief piece just about RelapsedCatholic ran in theOttawa Citizen, I logged my busiest single day ever, withmore than 300 hits. I was recently interviewed by theCatholic Register, too, and expect a similar spike once thatpiece runs. RelapsedCatholic was besides singled out forspecial mention in recent articles just about blogging, in bothInternet Business Forum and E-Zine Tips.

MY NOTE: Notice Kathy sent her press release to a VERYtargeted market (religion editors) that she had previouslycontacted. Often times you must contact an editor a numberof times with several ideas before he/she wish write aboutyou.

2. Email give thanks you notes and begin a correspondence withjournalists

I gained several valuable new relationships and helped cementestablished ones. I've been asked to write and speak onsubjects related to religion and pop culture. I feel thiskind of exposure increases my visibility and credibilitywith the press. Causing give thanks you emails after even as a smallmention has sparked continued correspondence with somewriters and editors. I may be better able to pitch otherstories to them in the future. I recently got a fan emailfrom the man who runs the ChristianityToday.com weblog,considered the better of its/our genre. He says he checks outRelapsedCatholic every day now.

MY NOTE: Thanking person sincerely opens lines ofcommunication.

3. Write press releases that can be written verbatim

Best of all, the Ottawa National written my press release,practically word-for-word, in their Sunday color section.RelapsedCatholic's hits that day were higher than they werefor the whole 1st month I was online!

MY NOTE: Write your press releases in the same formatjournalists use to write their pieces and you'll stand abettor chance they'll use your words instead of strugglingto capture your ideas by paraphrasing -- which can lead to adifferent interpretation than you intended.

4. Network with the press at your speaking engagements

I was asked to sit on a Periodical Association of Canadapanel, Writing just about Religion for the Laic Press. I alsoheld a book sign language during BookExpo Canada. Networking afterthe panel discussion led to new friendships with otherwriters/editors. And again, a spike in page views. Hits tothe webpage have remained fairly high, increasing four-foldsince the site's origin in Gregorian calendar month 2000. My logs show anincreasing number of regular return visitors since the pressrelease went out. Hits went from just about 300/month in Novemberto much than 2000 in April, and have remained steady since.I anticipate May's hits wish be just about the same due toupcoming story in Catholic Register, and continued mentionin the by-line of my Provincial capital Star column.

MY NOTE: Writers and editors are much likely to listen toyou once you've spoken on a panel (or at a keynote orworkshop). You've established yourself as an expert --someone who has expertness and is worth speaking with.

5. Continue sharing your news with the right targeted media

MY NOTE: Once you get the promotion ball rolling, support it inmotion by following any leads that could bring you morereaders, recognition and sales.

Kathy sent me her story and now has opened another avenue tomore promotion for her one mention. First-class work, Kathy!

Learn much just about acquiring nice press and self-promotion togain promotion for your business, product or cause in *SellYourself Without Merchandising Your Soul*(HarperCollins). Go to http://www.prsecrets.com for your free excerpts today.

Just just about THE AUTHOR
Susan Harrow is a top media coach, marketing strategian and author of *Sell Yourself Without Merchandising Your Soul* (HarperCollins), *The Ultimate Manual to Acquiring Engaged on Oprah*, and *How You Can Get a 6- Numbers Book Advance.* Her clients include Fortune 500 CEOs, millionaires, best-selling authors and booming entrepreneurs who have appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes, NPR, and in TIME, USA Today, Parade, People, O, NY Times and Wall Street Journal.