be your own publicity expert
[Take charge now!]
Publicize your business without wasting your time or throwing money away on expensive, ineffective advertising.
Whenever I speak at business events, I always ask the question, "How many of you have spent money on advertising, only to see it go nowhere?"
I am not exaggerating when I tell you that almost everyone in the room raises their hands.
You probably already know that your business depends on your getting noticed without without spending big bucks.
So I'll get right to the point.
I'm sure you already know how important it is to get your business noticed by your future customers. After all, you've probably taken a few stabs at this by investing money in paid advertising with few or no results.
And I'd bet you also know that getting your message out to your audience is the key to bringing in more people who will become new customers.
You've heard the expression it's not what you know, but who you know. There's truth to that, but knowing the what is equally important. Imagine if you could have both the what and the who? Wouldn't that be empowering?
HERE'S WHAT YOU
MIGHT NOT KNOW
Even if you're lucky enough to be a good writer and communicator, and have a basic grasp on how to generate some effective business buzz, becoming your own publicity expert can:
-
Consistently bring in bigger and better audiences
Have you ever held an event and few or nobody came? Knowing how to attract the right crowds will significantly boost attendance at your open houses, workshops, or gallery openings. -
Convert visitors into customers
When you attract larger and more tailored audiences, your message will reach the right eyes and ears and attract new customers. -
Open doors to the "gatekeepers," the folks who decide what gets aired or published
Earlier we mentioned the old adage that it's not what you know but who you know. While both have a place, the who can go far toward getting your news out to the public. Knowing how to reach these gatekeepers is half the battle won. -
Save money for other business needs
When you stop wasting money on ads that get little or no results, you free up some green to grow your business in other ways, like inventory, new equipment, or adding employees. -
Increase sales revenue
Bringing in a bigger audience consistently means more sales, no matter what business you're in. And it can make the difference between the "slow lane" or having customers waiting in line with credit cards in their hands.
I've created the only program of its kind to teach you exactly this:
How To Get Noticed Without Spending Big Bucks
Keep reading to find out how!
Even though the reasons to pursue becoming your own publicity expert are obvious, the path to doing it successfully is anything but!
Sponsoring a business event? AWESOME!
But how the heck do I get anyone to show up?
Your big event is coming. Maybe it's a real estate open house. Perhaps your band is playing a sizable concert venue next month. Or your business success workshop is ready to launch. You're so gung ho that you're telling everybody in your own circle of friends on social media. But even if you have hundreds of Facebook friends, is that really enough to bank on to get the word out?
You've heard that advertising could help. Perhaps it can. But where do you begin? Newspaper ads? Be honest – how may ads do you look at if you still read a newspaper? Yet your local papers, both mainstream dailies and alternative weeklies, are all too eager to have you sign on the line and shell out your hard earned cash for space on their pages. What about radio or TV ads? Those can get expensive fast! How can you be sure you'll get a return on your investment? The short answer is you can't be!
So without a certain degree of knowledge, the world of advertising is little more than an expensive crap shoot. More often than not, you'll just come up snake eyes. You might as well just throw your money out the window of a speeding car.
Here's why most businesses waste money on ads
Without prior knowledge or a viable plan to enter the world of advertising, businesses treat the process as if they were playing darts with a blindfold on. Media account executives come on as courteous, helpful, and friendly, but the bottom line is they just want to sell you the ad. This is not to say that a few strategically placed ads can't be beneficial, but you need to know when and how to take the plunge into the world of paid advertising. There are other roads to take. If you don't know what those are, then you will continue the frustration loop of buying ads and getting poor results.
Here's why most businesses fail to do this right
Ignorance is NEVER bliss. Even if you have money to burn, you have nothing to gain by throwing your publicity money away on ineffective ads.
Therefore, learning how to attract publicity on a tight budget is one of the first things you need to learn in order to build your business. You need to get it right from the beginning.
Luckily for you, most of your competitors don't know how to do this, either. So it's a simple fact that if you learn a few easy methods, your successful publicity will win you an edge over your competitors.
Even if you've already made a few mistakes, don't blame yourself. Arm yourself with the know-how you need to succeed. There's a golden opportunity for you to jump in, rearrange your thinking and methods, and start hitting the target with your publicity efforts while saving significant dollars that you can invest to grow your business.
That is... if you just learn how to correct the mistakes you've been making and move forward.
The 4 Mind Shifts You Need to Make RIGHT NOW To Become A Publicity Expert (and Publicize Your Business Without Wasting Time Or Money)
Mindshift #1
You think getting publicity is hard
You tried to put the word out there about your upcoming event. You even bought a week's worth of ads in your local newspaper. It cost you a lot, but it delivered little return in the way of attendance.
Why did it go wrong? You listened to the "experts" (ad salespeople), but the results were disappointing at best.
Here's the truth: Getting publicity is not hard when you master a few simple tricks. Stop relying on "experts" and start believing in yourself. It's amazing what you can do when you know how!
Mindshift #2
You've always believed you're not a good writer
Maybe you're great with numbers, or perhaps you're a really great artist or photographer, but writing has never been your strong point. Maybe you're the type who would rather have your head shaved with a rusty spoon than sit down and try to figure out how to write something. You loved school, but you squirmed when it was time to go to English class. Don't worry, we hear you!
Truth is you don't have to be Shakespeare to do some effective publicity writing. You just need to clearly state what your upcoming event is about.
Instead of fretting over what you perceive as weak writing skills, you can learn a proven formula that gets results. Once you master a few simple tricks, you'll be writing publicity copy like a pro!
Mindshift #3
You think getting publicity has to be expensive
You've been led to believe that getting publicity is a mysterious process, jealously guarded by shadowy "gatekeepers" who won't give you the time of day unless you are part of some exalted elite strata of newsmakers. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Here's the reality: There are reporters and editors waiting to hear your story, with space available in their publications or on their broadcast media to share your story with their readers, listeners, and viewers. The trick is knowing how to approach them. Once you know how to "speak their language," getting publicity for your events becomes easier.
So instead of relying on industry "experts," or trying to navigate the jungle of paid advertising, learn how to enter and be welcome in the world of the gatekeepers. Getting publicity is well within your reach, and it doesn't have to be expensive.
Mindshift #4
You believe it's hard to break into the world of publicity
How many times have you heard people say that it's not what you know, but who you know? There is indeed some truth to this, but it's not ever the whole picture. As mentioned in Mindshift #3, the "gatekeepers" are out there waiting for good stories they can share. So if your story is good, chances are also good that it will get shared. However, there is power in combining the what and the who.
People in all areas of life thrive on relationships. So building a basic relationship with the gatekeepers makes total sense. The first step is learning who they are and understanding how you can help them nearly as much as they help you. Learn to know the faces and names of the folks who create news in your area. Finding the right editor or reporter is half the battle won. Now you need to build a relationship. You want them to look forward to hearing from you about your newsworthy events.
So instead of fretting about your perceived anonymity, find out who are the right gatekeepers for your specific type of news, and take steps to become acquainted with them. There are some easy, common sense ways to do this. It's time to learn how.
Shh...I'm going to let you in on a
Sweet Little Secret
Even though getting publicity for your business and your events is not so hard, the fact is not too many people know how to go about it.
Those who get it will see attendance at their events keep climbing, while most of the rest will continue to spin their wheels and spend their money with little to show for it.
And the main reason for this is that although the barriers to low or no-cost publicity are fairly low...
... most people are facing rather high knowledge barriers. That means what you don't know really can hurt you!
But once you know the "secrets" and learn how to avoid the traps that can hurt you right in the wallet, the road to publicity is paved for you right from the start.
It's a road that enables you to bring in bigger and better audiences, convert more visitors into customers, increase sales revenue, get to know the media "gatekeepers," and stop wasting money on expensive, ineffective ads.
The key ingredient to all this is a course that shows you how.
And with your permission that's just what I'd like to have the privilege to teach you in Self-Propelled Marketing Academy.
Why I built Self-Propelled Marketing Academy
I have worked for newspapers, ad agencies, and marketing PR/firms, in addition to running my own PR agency over the last ten years. In that time I picked up some tricks of the trade that are tried and true in their ability to attain results.
I've taken much of what I've learned from a decades-long career in media and marketing and channeled it into the Self-Propelled Marketing Academy, an easy-to-follow comprehensive program that not only gives you the knowledge to become your own publicity expert, but shows you real-world examples of how to dramatically improve publicity for all your business events.
Even if you've tried and failed to get publicity for your events – no, ESPECIALLY if you have tried and ended up wasting hard-earned dollars on expensive but ineffective advertising – this course is for you. Or if you're new to the publicity game and you want to start off right, this course is for you, too.
You will learn strategies for getting local publicity, but more importantly, I'll give you a comprehensive step-by-step guide to publicity, augmented by real-world examples of how to implement it.
The end result: a broad, multi-faceted plan that consistently gets you high-end publicity for your events and keeps getting better results as you become a publicity expert and master these techniques.
"Self-Propelled Marketing Academy is a treasure trove of practical strategies to boost attendance at your business events by harnessing the power of local media. All that and more."
– C. Harden, Digital Marketing Agency Owner
Self-Propelled Marketing Academy is the only program of its kind that...
- Takes the mystery and guesswork out of getting publicity for your events.
- Shows you how to write effective publicity copy (press releases) without needing a literary degree.
- Delivers tried and true ways to find local publicity for your events with little or no cost.
- Shows you how to find and get to know the "gatekeepers," the people who can spread your news, without the need to pay for ads.
So if you’re finally ready to become a publicity expert and publicize your business without wasting time, throwing away money, or hearing only crickets at your events...
Here's how we'll help you get here:
Introducing
Self-Propelled Marketing Academy
BECOME YOUR OWN PUBLICITY EXPERT and attract more potential customers without wasting time or throwing away money on ineffective advertising.
Module 1
Using Newspaper Calendars To Drive Traffic To Your Events
Have you ever staged an event and nobody (or very few) came? Newspaper calendars are an excellent source of free publicity. Learn to use them to increase attendance at your events without spending a penny. Or would you prefer to continue throwing money at ineffective ads?
Module Highlights:
Identifying the publications in your area.
- Mainstream Dailies vs. Alternative Weeklies (what demographic each serves)
- Print and online editions
- Navigating calendar section user interfaces
- An online visit to a newspaper calendar section, including how to sign up and get your event published
Module 2
How To Write Press Releases That Get Published
In addition to newspaper calendars, press releases are an even more impactful source of free publicity. They're the bread and butter of getting your events publicized by local, regional, and even national media. Do them right and watch media pick them up and run them as is, or contact you to do a more comprehensive story. Do them wrong and they end up in some reporter's trash files.
Module Highlights:
Press release writing is an art. As you begin to master it, you'll get media attention for your news items. This 6-lesson module shows you all the elements of effective press release writing, including some real-world examples.
- Press Releases are event-driven. Without an event, there is no press release.
- Press Release ingredients include crafting a headline, your lead paragraph, body copy, and resources such as photos, videos, and links.
- Press Release local distribution – newspapers, radio, TV, popular area blogs
- National distribution through a premium online service, such as PR Web.
Note: This Press Release module could be a separate, stand-alone course, but is included as part of the Self-Propelled Marketing Academy.
Module 3
Developing Media Contacts (Meet the Gatekeepers Who Decide What News Gets Covered)
It's one thing to learn how to write effective press releases. But once you master the skill, where do you send them?
Reporters are busy professionals, and if you want to be more than just a blip on their radar, you need to get to know the faces behind the names. Here are some tried and true tips for developing your media list. The most important part is finding the right reporter/editor who covers your particular news market. Learn to speak their language, and soon your events will be out in front of your potential audience. Or, keep shooting in the dark and keep hearing more crickets at your events.
Module Highlights:
- Getting to know the face behind the name: It's not what you know, it's who you know. Learn how to get to know the right media people.
- Finding the best reporters/editors that cover your field.
- How to use the Internet to find the right Gatekeepers.
Module 4
Using Flyers and Brochures for Low-Cost Publicity
Flyers are an inexpensive way to get the word out for your upcoming events. This module is an overview of best practices and tips for producing effective flyers. Avoiding some basic pitfalls puts you in control of producing great flyers every time.
Module Highlights:
Flyers:
- The elements that make up a good flyer
- Striking the balance between design and readability without getting "artsy" or "trendy"
- Real world examples of artsiness gone wild versus an effective flyer
- Tips on printing
- Tips on "postering" around town
Brochures:
- The AIDA formula (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action)
- Making your brochure benefit-driven
- Learn the 5-second rule to capture (and keep) your customer's attention
- Using feature-rich bullet points that lead to specific action steps
- Reasons to "act immediately"
- Tips on printing and display
Module 5
How and When To Use Paid Advertising For Best Results
We recommend using paid ads prudently. If you've wasted money on ads without results, you may be wary of paying for advertising again. You want to make sure your advertising dollars are well-spent. This section explores some of the ways to use paid advertising to your advantage, rather than take the word of some advertising salesman and watch your hard-earned money fly away.
Paid Adverting – Part 1 looks at special advertising sections in newspapers as a source of publicity. Special advertising sections tie in with your niche, and they are a good place to try out some paid ads.
Paid Advertising - Parts 2 and 3 explore the use of Facebook ads.
Module Highlights:
- Get noticed with special advertising sections
- The cost advantages of multi-insertion contracts
- Ad sizes/costs: Using the Media Kit
- Facebook ad targeting: Custom audiences, location targeting, gender targeting, interest targeting, behavior targeting, connections targeting
- Facebook ad types
- Copy writing for Facebook ads
- Real word examples of effective Facebook ads
- Writing compelling ad copy
- The Call To Action
- Testing your ads
Module 6
How To Make Your Website Get Noticed
These days everyone and their cousins have websites. Individuals have them, companies have them, and even children have them. It's a website jungle out there! When planning your website, you need to find ways to make it shine, or itmight not be noticed at all. This module explores some web building tools and best practices to make sure the world notices you through your website.
Your Website – Part 1 looks at popular website building tools. It also explores web hosting (where you publish your site online).
Your Website – Part 2 shows how to search for domain names. It's easy to find out if the domain name you want is available.
Module Highlights:
- Looking at Weebly, Wix, Shopify, Squarespace, and WordPress (the #1 web building platform worldwide)
- Web hosting and how to get it
- How to get a domain name and URL address, including finding out if the name you want is available
- Getting started with inexpensive shared hosting
- Choose and sign up for a hosting plan
- Some advantages of Wordpress sites, including eCommerce (online stores)
- Simple SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tricks to improve your site's search ranking
- Tips and tricks, Yoast SEO, Google Analytics, and more
Here’s what you’re getting when you enroll today:
Self-Propelled Marketing Academy - $895 Value
You'll get access to all 6 video modules, cheat sheets, PDF files, and other resources and tools you need to BECOME A PUBLICITY EXPERT and get effective, low or no-cost publicity with ease and confidence.
- Learn simple but powerful strategies to get noticed by the "gatekeepers" – the folks who decide what gets into the news.
- Develop the skills you need to write effective press releases that get noticed and published by the media.
- Learn when (and when not) to spend money on advertising.
- Discover a no-cost method of driving traffic to your events through local print and online media.
- Utilize the power of flyers and brochures to get your business message to the public.
- Demystify the process of starting a website, and explore some tips and tricks to get your website noticed through Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- And MUCH MORE!
Limited Time Bonuses
"Done For You" Press Release Writing Template – $100 Value"
- Well-crafted, professional looking press releases are the ones most likely to be picked up by the media. Reporters and editors are extremely busy. A high-quality press release gives them the assurance that your information is both reliable and newsworthy. This "Done For You" Press Release template kit shows you a well-written press release, and then provides a "shell" you can use to fill in the blanks to write your own professional press release.
"Done For You" Effective Facebook Ads Template – $100 Value
- What makes an effective Facebook ad? More importantly, what are the factors that make an ad "convert" (customers click your call-to-action link)? Our "Done For You" template takes the mystery out of creating a great FB ad that is designed to get the results you're wanting.
PDF Cheat Sheet: Powerful SEO Tips & Tricks – $100 Value
- Do you have a website? You need some Search Engine Optimization (SEO). You don't have to be an SEO expert to get some good results in helping Google and other search engines find your website among a vast ocean of sites. These common-sense tips and tricks will increase your website's visibility.
Special Bonus: Members-Only Facebook Group for advice and support.
- We're sure you'll have some questions and need some support in your journey to becoming your own publicity expert. This members-only Facebook group is just what you need! Interact with the course instructor and other course participants to ask questions, get positive feedback, and share best practices. Our #1 goal is to help you succeed!
Total Bonus Value: $300
When you add it all up, that’s a value of $1,195
But when you enroll today, you’ll get access to everything for just:
Pay Monthly
3 Monthly Payments of
$75
OR
Pay Upfront
1 Payment of
$197
"Self-Propelled Marketing Academy worked for me! Great ideas for those who want to take control of their business advertising and marketing without spending beaucoup bucks."
MARK LEW
South Florida Business Owner
"The Self-Propelled Marketing Academy courses take the guesswork out of how to get publicity for your business events. It's a treasure trove of practical strategies to boost attendance at your business events by harnessing the power of local media. All that and more.
"The section on writing press releases could be a separate course in itself. Full of invaluable tips and tricks of the trade."
CHOYA HARDEN
Managing Member
Incredible Towns, LLC
Digital Marketing Agency
The Self-Propelled Guarantee
Get Self-Propelled Marketing Academy risk-free with our 30-day money back Self-Propelled Guarantee.
Learn the secrets of newspaper calendars, press release writing, developing media contacts and more.
Take the steps outlined in Self-Propelled Marketing Academy, and see tangible publicity results in the form of print or online coverage for your events.
If not satisfied within 30 days, send your media list or written press release along with an explanation of what you feel didn't work for you to [email protected] for a full refund.
Frequently Asked Questions
What others have asked before saying HECK YEAH!
to Self-Propelled Marketing Academy
(click the red arrows below to see answers)
By all means! Nobody is asking you to become the next Shakespeare. Once you master a few tips and tricks of publicity writing, you will be able to tell compelling stories about your business events that the media will want to publish.
You heard right! Reporters and editors are the "Gatekeepers" who decide what gets into the news. But here's a little secret: They want to get to know you! They are always on the lookout for news that fits their niche. Self-Propelled Marketing Academy shows you how to find the right Gatekeepers and how to get in their good graces when it comes to getting news of your events to their audience.
It definitely can cost a bundle if you go about it wrong. However, the methods you will learn in Self-Propelled Marketing Academy will empower you to get publicity like a boss for little or no cost.
I have spent decades in all aspects of media publicity. I have been a:
- Newspaper reporter and editor
- Advertising copy writer for ad agencies
- Design & Publicity Director for a multi-state marketing agency
- Director of my own PR/Marketing Agency
My decades of experience have been distilled into this course, Self-Propelled Marketing Academy to deliver tried and true ways for you to win media exposure for your business events.
If you know your own business and feel confident sharing your expertise with the public, you can do this. If you can read and write, you've got this. Publicity writing has some basic rules. Master these rules and you'll be batting right out of the park!
Yes! Sign up now and receive:
- PDF Cheat Sheet: Designing great Facebook ads
- PDF Cheat Sheet: Powerful SEO tips and tricks
- Checklist: The Elements of Effective Press Releases
- Membership in our closed Self-Propelled Marketing Academy Facebook group
Get Self-Propelled Marketing Academy risk-free with our 30-day money back Self-Propelled Guarantee.
Learn the secrets of newspaper calendars, press release writing, developing media contacts and more.
Take the steps outlined in Self-Propelled Marketing, and see tangible publicity results in the form of print or online coverage for your events.
If not satisfied within 30 days, send your media list or written press release along with an explanation of what you feel didn't work for you to [email protected] for a full refund.
Look in the section below to see what Self-Propelled Marketing Academy delivers.
Self-Propelled Marketing Academy is PERFECT for you if...
- You are just getting started with your business publicity and want to do it right
- You have already thrown away money on advertising that brought you few or no results
- You are a determined, take-charge breed of business person who likes handling things you can do yourself
- You're already investing time and money into making your business publicity work
- You are afraid that if you do things the way you have done them in the past, you'll get those same poor results, and now you're ready to do it right
- You are excited by the notion of taking charge of your own publicity
- Ready to take the actions needed to generate effective publicity at low or no cost for your business events
- You want a greater understanding of business publicity, even though you still intend to have someone else handle the bulk of it for you
If you said “YES” to at least 6 of the above, you are ready to Become A Publicity Expert!
I can’t wait to meet you inside Self-Propelled Marketing Academy.
Here’s what you’re getting when you enroll today:
Self-Propelled Marketing Academy - $895 Value
You'll get access to all 6 video modules, cheat sheets, PDF files, and other resources and tools you need to BECOME A PUBLICITY EXPERT and get effective, low or no-cost publicity with ease and confidence.
- Learn simple but powerful strategies to get noticed by the "gatekeepers" – the folks who decide what gets into the news.
- Develop the skills you need to write effective press releases that get noticed and published by the media.
- Learn when (and when not) to spend money on advertising.
- Discover a no-cost method of driving traffic to your events through local print and online media.
- Utilize the power of flyers and brochures to get your business message to the public.
- Demystify the process of starting a website, and explore some tips and tricks to get your website noticed through Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- And MUCH MORE!
Limited Time Bonuses
"Done For You" Press Release Writing Template – $100 Value"
- Well-crafted, professional looking press releases are the ones most likely to be picked up by the media. Reporters and editors are extremely busy. A high-quality press release gives them the assurance that your information is both reliable and newsworthy. This "Done For You" Press Release template kit shows you a well-written press release, and then provides a "shell" you can use to fill in the blanks to write your own professional press release.
"Done For You" Effective Facebook Ads Template – $100 Value
- What makes an effective Facebook ad? More importantly, what are the factors that make an ad "convert" (customers click your call-to-action link)? Our "Done For You" template takes the mystery out of creating a great FB ad that is designed to get the results you're wanting.
PDF Cheat Sheet: Powerful SEO Tips & Tricks – $100 Value
- Do you have a website? You need some Search Engine Optimization (SEO). You don't have to be an SEO expert to get some good results in helping Google and other search engines find your website among a vast ocean of sites. These common-sense tips and tricks will increase your website's visibility.
Special Bonus: Members-Only Facebook Group for advice and support.
- We're sure you'll have some questions and need some support in your journey to becoming your own publicity expert. This members-only Facebook group is just what you need! Interact with the course instructor and other course participants to ask questions, get positive feedback, and share best practices. Our #1 goal is to help you succeed!
Total Bonus Value: $300
When you add it all up, that’s a value of $1,195
But when you enroll today, you’ll get access to everything for just:
Payment Monthly
3X Monthly Payments of
$75
OR
Payment Upfront
X Monthly Payments of
$197
