Man, I like this guy.

Seth Godin and One Swell Foop

http://tinyurl.com/5yt2lz

Press, News, Media - Release

A friend of mine recently took a new sales management position at a
software company. He's been there several months and there are good
feeling on both sides.

His boss asked him to put together a press release. He says it's kind
of fallen off the to do list what with all the other duties. Our
conversation took a turn and we did not explore this further.

Sometimes I think projects get stuck for want of a little
information. I know I have questions and while he might already have
the answers I wonder if it's not the writing of the press relase
that's the hold up. It might be other missing information.

(Not that I don't believe he's already got a LOT to do.)

Is it just those few scant words that go into the People on the Move
section? Maybe there's a head shot.

Such-and-such, Inc., of Here-and-There, has added So-and-so, as Sales
Manager for the Wisconsin and Minnesota territories.

If that's all it is, then the next step is who to tell.
Who needs to see the 'press release"?
Who is the audience? Customers? Competition? Corporate peers?

Is it readers of the Green Bay Press Gazette?
Business Journal?
Corporate Report Wisconsin?
Small Business Times?
Corporate house newsletter?
Corporate e-newsletter?
Corporate web and/or blog?
Some or all of the above?

Here, the press release might turn into releases - plural. The
business publications might run the shortest version. The house might
want something with a bit more story. So, look into the company
history a bit. See what's been done before.

It's tough to start the writing when you don't know what your readers
are reading. If all you need is the short story then the work is
almost done.

Ah, but the research continues. Who are the editors? What's their
format? Schedule? Contact information?

So, you think a writer is a writer because that's what the writer
told you. "I'm a writer." A writer is a researcher, an interviewer,
an analyst, and then a reporter of the information. But, before there are
any answers, there are questions.

Aren't there?

When you need this kind of help Your Message Doctor is here for you.

End note: Some are saying that the term press release is changing to
media release. This is the latest news.

Document your activity and keep moving

I had a face to face meeting recently with Katie Felten.
I'd met her a month ago at a LinkedIn Live training/networking/event
at the Perk and Pub in Elm Grove. And am glad I did.

Anyway, she expressed a need to exercise her news a bit and called me to recommend a regimen or some supplements.

Supplements are key. No one approach has it all. The regimen is 'keep
at it'.

And ...

It'll take an extra bit of work on our part because she's already
pretty fit. Just Google Katie Felten and see for yourself.
Or ... hit it here - http://www.mkelive.com/mke/

What she really wants to do in the short term is move appropriate
relationships to her associates, tie in as a LinkedIn trainer, and optimize her personal brand.

She's already on some recurring print and web calendars. And is
presenting LinkedIn to my Chamber Marketing group next week.

She says she's not a writer ... but she certainly is a communicator
and plenty tech-savvy. Sometimes all that's needed is a little encouragement and oversight.
And, as I was leaving our two hour meeting, her advisory board was
showing up.
This one-gal band has her own advisory board. See?

In addition to her monthly training spots I am recommending that we
put together an ebook for sale and give-away on her site and possibly do a video trainer-
taster suitable for YouTube.

And she needs to be blogging more often.

That's my vitamin B and band-aid for everything lately. More
communication. Not less.

Your Message Doctor is operating.

New Business

Your Message Doctor is:
• negotiating an editor spot with a local wellness provider directory
• assembling drafts and polishing presentations with a local
marketing group
• editing web and brochure text for Sarah of "I Do" Photography
• writing content and facilitating B2B networking for JoeNetworks.com
• preparing web content and collateral for ProfePat.com
• wondering "What can I do for you?"

Call or stop in at a JoeNetworks event. We'll figure it out.

http://www.JoeNetworks.com/calendar

Wednesdays - Breakfast at Benny's
7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Thursdays - 5 Star Coffee
7:30 a.m - 8:30 a.m.

email: David White @
Your Message Doctor .com
414-282-7185

Writer for Hire

Writing happens near the end of a process that often includes,
thinking, planning, meeting, proposal, research, interview, draft,
proof, edit, etc. That's what I mean when I say I do freelance
business writing.

Press Release? News Release? Media Release?
Your message can take many more forms these days. You can wait around
to get famous or you can be the media. Supplement your customer
service with more communication.

Pop Quiz

Prospects, leads and new business aside, how do you communicate and
give value to your current customers so that they are willing, even
happy, to talk about you to their families, friends and associates?

( Hint: One of the popular answers on the list you create will be All of the Above.)

What's News With YOU?

What's News With YOU?

• You call me. We set a time to talk.
• You share the best news of the day.
(Passion - what you give and share).
• I write up our interview.
• We decide who needs to hear it and how to get it to them.

You get to find out if I get it. Free.

Your passions about the topic is what translates and resonates with
your reader.

There is fine print to the offer. The first specification I can think
of is it will be a relatively short conversation. �

The value? You tell me.

Email Checklist

Could I have written a list like this?

I imagine. Many of the words wold be similar if not the same.
Since he's already done it - I'll just point you to it.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/06/email-checklist.html

http://tinyurl.com/6l5emx

Yudkin on Writing

I've subscribed to Marcia Yudkin's weekly email on marketing and
writing for a couple of years. I like the way she writes. I like the
way she thinks.

She says she's considering ditching the word writing because it plays
such a small part in the whole process.

She doesn't say what she proposes to replace writing with. Thinking?
Doesn't look particularly solid on a business card. Maybe that's why
there are so many consultants running around.

I've pulled three paragraphs below.

I'm considering ditching this word, because so much of what's
required to produce effective text - on a web site or
elsewhere - has nothing to do with crafting phrases,
sentences or paragraphs. Instead, it's thinking.

...

Only after rigorous thinking like the above does a so-called
copywriter go to work on the right words. Thinking dictates
how you create navigation options, provide information,
address concerns and orchestrate the ordering process.

....

Without rigorous thinking, writing is little more than
shouting at the wind.

....

So, I went looking for her blog and it's in password-protected space.
Apparently she's good enough to charge for her thinking.

Yes.

Time Warner Launches Bandwidth Cap

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20080603/tc_nf/60098

Writing - start with a classified ad

Seth's post on how thinking about writing begins to get it off track.

Think about what you're writing as if it were a classified ad.

You're paying by the word.

And, if you're not holding the reader's attention, it's costing way
too much.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/06/start-with-a-cl.html