Archive for March, 2007

Talking points

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Whatever you think about Steve Wright on Radio 2, he is very good at packing his show with talking points. I often find myself repeating an interesting Factoid to my wife (sad, but true). I’ll always visit the website of the day if I’ve not seen it before. And they even list all the songs played on the show on the website, getting round the “ooh, did you hear that song on the radio, what was it?” thing.

Not only does all of this make me keep buying his product (i.e. listen to his show), but I’m telling other people about it.

Talking points are PR. They can be created by any business every day.

A village newsagents could compile the latest village news onto a sheet of paper and give it away to everyone who buys a newspaper. A used car showroom could put on regular free valeting lessons for people to learn how to make their cars look like new. A double glazing firm could send a window cleaner to keep your new windows clean for the next few months, free of charge.

To be a true talking point, it needs to be something you do day in, day out. Really it needs to be a part of your business, not just a marketing add-on.

Improve your creativity

Thursday, March 29th, 2007

If you’re a member of of the Telegraph Business Club (free to join, you just register), then you’ll find an interesting article here. It’s 10 tips to improve your creativity, written by a guy called Andy Green (no relation).

Persistence counts for a lot

Wednesday, March 28th, 2007

I’ve often said that the most important ingredient in getting free publicity is persistence. Whatever marketing or publicity you do, if you keep doing something day in, day out, it will eventually pay off for you.

This blogger Sparkatrician writes here about how he got his business Electrical Concepts mentioned on Virgin Radio. The mention itself won’t drive any business for him, but writing things like “as heard on Virgin Radio” and blogging about it WILL attract attention.

(I also love his logic about getting a shop unit instead of an office, if it’s only going to cost hima few extra hundred quid a month. He sees it as a marketing investment. You get the feeling this is a business which is going to keep making a splash because the owner keeps pushing his marketing and trying new things).

The Campaign for Little Britain (yeah I know)

Friday, March 23rd, 2007

The Campaign for Little Britain got a good slot on Stuart Maconie’s show on Radio 2 yesterday.

It’s a effort by some British shopkeepers in New York to get their block renamed Little Britain. A brilliant publicity effort.

The idea is awesome, it’s got some heavyweight support from Virgin Atlantic, and has the kind of talkability that makes getting publicity a piece of cake.

It doesn’t matter whether or not they win in their fight to get the block renamed; this campaign will do wonders for those shops.

The best bit for me was when the spokeswoman finished her radio interview yesterday – she said “toodle pip”!

Publicity opportunities for industry commentators

Wednesday, March 21st, 2007

Diary events like today’s budget are perfect publicity opportunities for industry commentators. Most local newspapers and radio stations will be interested in local comment on the budget, from accountants, estate agents, parents, drivers etc… (depending on what Gordon announces in the next hour or so).

Most of the publicity winners will have done their ground work already. It’s no point ringing your local radio station to offer comment now – most news editors will already have commentators lined up. But next time round, write to them two weeks before and follow up by phone a week before. There’s a chance you could become the commentator.

This goes for any event that is widely covered in the media and could benefit from loca reaction. Remember, the media are always looking for a new angle on a story, so you will be helping them, while also enhancing your image as an industry expert.

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