OK. It has been too long since I started a dialogue about the nuts and bolts of having a creative business. Sometimes I don’t really feel like I have much to share, since I learn so much everyday myself. So really, today I want to share some great blogs/write-ups on the topic of PRESS KITS AND PRESS RELEASES.

I am currently working on getting a press kit out, so this has been on my mind lately.

So here is the PR 101

What is a PRESS RELEASE? A written release of news worthy information sent to journalists or media personnel to encourage a story or a write up about the product or event. The release features the who.what.where.why and how of your company in a compelling way and should have some kind of urgency to it. (“my company teaches kids how to make their own dolls” vs. “Teach your child to make their own christmas gifts!”)

**An elevator pitch will help you here!

What is a PRESS KIT? A packaged set of merchandise for members of the media for promotional use. Things to include in your Press Kit:

• Background info on your and your company
• Fact Sheet listing specific features, statistics, or benefits
• Biography of you and other key executives in your company
• Past Press Coverage
• Photos of your products and people involved (high res photos)
• A press release (mentioned above) detailing the current news the media kit is sent in reference to
• Media contact information
• A CD or DVD if it is appropriate for your company
• relevant advertising material, such as: postcard, flyer,etc.

WHY ARE THESE IMPORTANT?

• enables press coverage in a wide variety of magazines and newspapers
• reaches diverse readerships
• possible to get you into really big features

Jaime Lentzner wrote on her blog today about the very topic: PR. She has some great tips about getting your products out there in magazines and other media. It is too good to sum up. read it here:

Bell and Boo mentioned yesterday about how she is busy getting press kits out and mentions to make sure you always follow up, and make phone calls to ensure your products are getting seen.

Startup Princess is chalk full of great marketing resources for Press Releases.

• Here is a fantastic article with inclusions you need to consider in a Press Kit.

At the last Startup Princess Retreat, I learned some new ways to get your Press Release out on the web. Here are THREE big ones:

PR WEB: get your Press Release out to the WWW. Here is more about how it works. It costs a bit, but allows for Maximum distribution to major newspapers, magazine, online distributers, etc. Have yet to try it, but I have heard nothing but rave reviews.

RAMBO:(stands for Reach a Mom Blogger) allows you to pick a category and see if companies have posted an interest in featuring a product and/or service similar to yours. Great way to send samples to magazines and blogs that will feature and your product! Feature of Twittermoms.com

BLOGS/TWITTER/FACEBOOK: Social media outlets there are so many blogs that feature new products daily. Find blogs whose readers would be a good match for your product and offer to send a free sample or offer a discount to the readers. One of the best ways to get your name out there to people who buy online. TIP: blogs run by real people with real interests. Don’t oversell yourself. Twitter and Facebook are a great way to mention updates in your shop that can potentially reach more people than your normal readership. Find the medium that works best for you. I am big on reducing excess computer time. Blogging is my thing, but I am dabbling in others and have been able to make contacts with people I wouldn’t normally get to!

Well folks, there is more. Oh so much more. When I get my press kits done, I am happy to share how they look. Details are everything…and so I am taking my time. But in the meantime…if any of you have anything to add to the discussion, please do! There is so much out there on PR for business, but not a lot on PR for CREATIVE business. Any other tips? Make a comment! Have questions? Leave a comment!

Happy press making!

I have been waiting for this weekend for a long time…Startup Princess is having an all women entrepreneur retreat in Park City Utah this weekend, and I am ready to soak it all in like a dry sponge. The weekend’s topics: Learn the Magic of Marketing to Women Online. Speakers include Gabrielle Blair from Kirtsy and Design Mom, Holly Buchanan and Michelle Miller authors of the Soccer mom myth , Janet Meiners Thaeler and expert on internet and affiliate marketing. I am also so excited to meet some attendees there: Gwen Bell from Kirtsy, Marie LaBaron from Make and Takes among others. I plan on coming back with LOTS and lots to share! And if you are in Utah, email me. It may not be too late to come and join up!

OK. Here is the chance of a lifetime. Mark your calendars and sign up for the Startup Princess Academy retreat featuring classes, workshops and networking with some of the most inspiring women entreprenuers. Here is what Kelly, founder of Startup Princess has to say about this event:

Women influence over 85% of all purchases, and they need to be communicated with in new ways–one size does not fit all. Please join us to Learn the Magic of Marketing to Women Online with TOP EXPERTS in a way that translates into MORE Consumers and BIGGER Profits! Be on the cutting edge in your campaigns to maximize your marketing budget for 2009 and learn how to create effective and free word of mouth campaigns.

Sounds perfect right? Well add meeting these FABULOUS WOMEN to the mix:

Barbara Jones, Holly Buchanon and Michelle Miller and my personal favorite who I can’t wait to meet in person:Gabrielle Blair (aka Design Mom). Now picture that with 3 gourmet meals, slumbering in an amazing resort, and a chance to rub shoulders with women as passionate as you are, and voila! A perfect getaway. But more than that: Much inspiration and information. And from personal experience, these retreats are 450% better than just reading a blog or book. Trust me.

To view the agenda click here

To register click here

See you there!

I never intended to go a week without posting. It just happened. Thanks for checking in while I was out.

This past friday I spent the entire day with really talented, and creative people. Women entreprenuers (most who are in the ‘start-up’ phase) all gathered for this fabulous Start Up Princess event called TOUCHPOINT in Salt Lake City, UT. It was wonderful to be so enlightened and educated in an environment that was focused on WOMEN in business. Cause let’s be honest…girls are a whole lot different than guys in this field:) I met so many great people with GREAT ideas and GREAT businesses. I met Jodi with Baby Bambu, Rebecca with Cap trappers, Chantelle with Zoom concierge services, I met the talented Ashely from Isabella’s umbrella. I met Kelly who markets her husband’s art just to name a few.

After this meeting, I felt motivated to discus in my blog some more of the “business” aspects of what I do…not because I have oodles of knowledge, but I find that there are so many ‘unspoken’ and ‘behind the scenes’ with how to start a business selling your craft. And from the readership I know about, I know a lot of you have ETSY shops, or want to get started with something similar.

And if I learned anything from the all day conference on Friday, it is networking and connecting is that greatest way to learn! In the beginning, when I was starting my ETSY shop, I would email people doing what I wanted to do, and what I thought was ‘harmless’ info that I needed, was almost like held secrets for others. I am of the philosophy that there is enough success to go around in this world. So, why not share and support each other in the mean time? I felt so supported from the other women on Friday who seem to be facing similar problems and who have similar motivations and goals.

So, I am adding a new section to my blog called “A bit of biz.” And that is what they will be. Bits. Cause that is all I know right now. Just bits. But, so far they work for me, so I thought I would share:)

Ok. So, I am a new fan of elevator pitches.

Elevator what?

Ya. I thought that too.

With this event in Salt Lake City, I knew there was going to be an elevator pitch competion with prizes $2000 in products and services, so I decided to figure out what was so great about it.

Google is my friend, and I learned very quickly that:

An elevator pitch (or elevator speech) is an overview of an idea for a product, service, or project. The name reflects the fact that an elevator pitch can be delivered in the time span of an elevator ride (for example, thirty seconds or 100-150 words). (from Wikipedia).

Why was this appealing to me? Because I had no idea how to sum up my product (without any visuals) in such a short amount of time, and I knew that if I knew how to, I would be a lot more successful at getting other people to believe in or be interested in supporting my business.

An elevator pitch is typically presented to a panel of investors who would be lending you money to start or further your business. So numbers and stats are a big part of the presentation as well. All of which I needed to know for myself anyways.

So, I wrote. I revised. I sent it to my Dad. I wrote some more. And then I hacked chopped cut and erased.

And, well….I won.

You can read about here. Not the best photo of me, but well, I was rather unaware that someone was taking picture because I was in complete shock that I won! It was a HUGE leap out of my comfort zone to present in front of a panel of judges as well as a large audience of business owners. But, getting out of your comfort zone is just what you need to build strength and confidence, and that was my main motivation. It wasn’t fun, but it was worth it!

But even if you aren’t going to pitch to investors, you NEED to know what you are about clearly and concisely. I didn’t realize how hard that was till I got started on this.

Here is what you need to answer:

1. What is your product or service?
2. Who is your market?
3. What is your revenue model? (how do you plan on making a profit)
4. Who is behind the company?
5. Who is your competition?
6. What is your competitive advantage?
   

Asking yourself these questions and writing them down will reveal so much to you. Especially when you put it in the context of someone challenging you. What DO you sell? Does it have a CLEAR branding? Who is your competition? How are you different? What is your plan to succeed in a competitive market?

All these questions I really wasn’t that excited to answer. I mean, “I am an artist, right? I just really like to draw!” Well, if you plan on making any profit from your hobby, you REALLY need to answer these questions. And believe me. It is harder than it looks. But, when you do, you will have a clearer vision of how to succeed with what you really love to create. Have fun!