If you’ve spent any length of time in the Public Relations field, you know our profession is changing at a break path speed. Many are learning and using new technology, social media and measurement tools. Others are being left in the dust. Keeping up you’re your education is essential. Yesterday I hosted a free Teleseminar, “Build Your Proactive PR Strategy for 2009.” Hundreds of PR and marketing professionals, small business owners, and corporate and nonprofit folks took part because they understand they need to learn in order to succeed.

Here are 5 tips that can add to your PR success:

1. Develop a Roadmap and Direction. Classes, technology, webinars, social media and gadgets that can help us with PR and marketing can be overwhelming. If you are unsure where to begin, I can offer you a quick one hour coaching call to “chunk down” your priorities and get started. We can map out a 30-60-and 90 day plan together so you have concrete goals to work on daily. Without a map, it’s easy to drift aimlessly.
2. Start Thinking Big. Most organizations have a story to tell but they don’t THINK they have a story to tell. Forget humility; it’s time for you get publicity and grow your visibility, credibility and revenues.
3. Tie-into Everything that Happens. When you pay close attention to the news and headlines, opportunities to promote your organization will be endless. Every story, book, movie or program you see, think about how your organization can connect to it. This will enable you to ride the coattails of other people’s news without having to actually do much but offer your insights and expert opinions.
4. Include the Human Factor. News is about people and people love great stories. Focus on the emotion of your pitch and how it affects the general public. The “WOW” is more important than the “HOW.”
5. Commit Yourself to Continuing Education. Imagine if you significantly increased your media placements, learned 3-5 new online technologies this year and had new prospects and customers calling daily. At the end of 2009, what will it feel like to say you have accomplished this? Commit yourself to education.

On February 6, my eight-week “Do it Yourself PR Toolbox” Teleseminars will begin. Registrations are continuing to come in as more and more people like you know that they can succeed and grow their company or nonprofit. The most important step you will take is right here: Register at www.prtoolbox.net.

Communications Quote:
“If you must speak, ask a question.” – Denis Waitley

My Favorite Quote:
“Everything depends upon execution; having just a vision is no solution." – Stephen Sondheim