1.  8 Free Ways to Promote Your Small Business By Helen Todd, APR Helen2o: Fluid Communications

2. About Me  In communications business for 18 years.  Worked at Regions, HealthSouth, Southern Living, UAB, ad agency, television news at Fox 6, and radio at WQLT/WSBM.  Accredited in Public Relations since 2000  Masters in Engineering  PRCA Practitioner of the year in 2007, and designated senior practitioner the same year from SPRF.  Level 4 certified Whitewater Kayak Instructor

3. Overview  Step 1: Figure Out Your Audiences  Step 2: Reach Out to Media  Step 3: Leverage Social Media  Step 4: Free Directory Listings  Step 5: Optimize Your Website  Step 6: Become an Expert  Step 7: Get Involved  Step 8: Consistently Brand Your Business

4. Step 1: Audience  Who do you need to reach?  Who will buy your product?  Who has a stake in your success?  Businesses in the area with 50 plusemployees  Trade associations  Print, online and electronic (TV & radio)media  Social media  Bloggers  Your employees and stakeholders

5. Pick the Media ① Local Business Journal ② Business Section – local daily ③ Local TV Morning Shows ④ Local Talk Radio ⑤ Community Newspapers ⑥ Bloggers ⑦ Trade media ⑧ Magazines

6. What to Pitch?  Is it the first, best or brand new  Award wining or trend setting  Solves a problem  Provides a unique service  Is it visual (TV mostly, but even print is getting into video)

7. How to Pitch ① You have two sentences ② Be dynamic ③ Don’t over promise ④ Provide contact information ⑤ Be available See book for examples

8. Step 3: Social Media

9. What is it?  Linked In – Professional network  Facebook – Social network: friends & family (brand pages)  Google+ -- Social network: circles, hangouts  Twitter – 140 characters or less  Foursquare – location, yours and others  Pinterest – Media pin board

10. Caution on Content Be spontaneous – not stupidNo bad meetingsNo illness detailsNo hot tub pics

11. Programs to Manage  Postling – used to be free, now charges $5 a month  TweetDeck – free, allows you to arrange your feeds, schedule tweets, etc.  HootSuite – still has free option but for $5.99 a month you get more bells and whistles, such as analytics.  Dlvr.it – Free basic, but premium option for business

12. Step 4: Free Directory Listings ① Claim your business in directories: ② Google Places ③ Yellow Pages online ④ Yahoo ⑤ Yelp

13. Step 5: Your Website Basic Elements  Company Overview – what do you do in 30 words or less  Who runs your company?  Video showing what you do  Pictures – worth a 1,000 words  Contact us page (get email addresses)  Success stories  SEO

14. Step 6: Be An Expert  Create a blog  Talk about trends  Schedule your posts  Combine with social media

15. No. 7 – Get Involved  Network with local organizations  Volunteer with a non-profit  Look for other entrepreneur groups  Check out your local Rotary or other club  Propose speaking to other organizations

16. No. 8 - Brand ① Company name & logo are your calling card ② They should be on everything: social media, email, website, etc. ③ Tagline?

17. Bonus – Media Do’s & Don’ts Do’sDon’t * Do find reporters who write about your business * Don’t mass email them hoping you will hit the right person * Do send an email to a reporter with a story idea * Don’t keep hounding them about it if they told you no * Do call and ask a reporter to have coffee or lunch * Don’t call when they are on deadline * Do call the assignment editor at the TV station to make sure they have your information * Don’t ask them if they are going to be there * Do pitch the media on your news conference or event * Don’t over sell it * Do call and tell a reporter you liked their story * Don’t call and say you hated it because it didn’t come out as expected

18. Send Comments to: Helen.Todd@Helen2o.com