Question

Topic: Other

Publicity - 6 Week Results Program?

Posted by Anonymous on 11/18/2011 at 12:01 PM ET 750 Points
After speaking to several PR firms it is agreed that four months is the expected time to get results soliciting newspapers and magazines, for my specialty product seen at www.TimberTerritory.com. It's a matter of timing and accumulating contacts before something breaks. For me too long to pay someone else.

Question: what alternative media can I solicit yielding a much quicker return, and where the expected results are similar to either niche or shelter magazines and the larger newspapers?

One PR guy says there are local TV shows which review new products. I wonder how many local TV shows this represents and how to find them myself?

[I'm rolling out a PPC feed across 60 comparison shopping sites plus Google and Yahoo. Sort of a set and forget situation. So I have a lot of available time. I am also finishing plans for a soc media effort, when started I won't have time to call hundreds of magazines. And soc media won't be an overnight success.

I know about HARO [the "help a reporter out" site] so this lead-generator might substitute for cold calling the media - only time will tell how good it works.

I can also do events. Not a clue how to do this. But a PR person experienced at this, if it is a quick return may be possible to use. I doubt home shows would work - and very expensive from my experience. Art shows are mostly juried and I don't make it myself. N.G.

I'm all ears for other prospecting avenues. Thankyou.
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  • Posted by modza on 11/18/2011 at 12:23 PM Member
    One thing you can do on your own is submit press releases through these free distribution services: https://mashable.com/2007/10/20/press-releases/

    While all publications prefer direct contact, which is time-consuming, you might as well use these as well. By the way, local newspapers and alt weeklies have much shorter lead times than magazines, so your timeframe is not impossible for them, especially if you find the right editor. But you are very late in the holiday season, no doubt about it.

    Gift suggestion sites abound (kaboodle, wanelo, whimventory, amazon's universal wishlist (any web site), etc., and you can still get some listings even at this late date in the season.

    By the way, your slogan on your website is almost invisible -- white text on a very light background. I'd change that right away!

    Good luck!
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 11/18/2011 at 5:55 PM Member
    You must get from behind the desk and stop waiting. I envision you waiting those months and your experts telling you "oh well, they saw it"....

    Is this is stand alone product or one that could be offered by another reseller? I don't see it attracting traffic on its own. But a catalogue company like Levenger might like it. Those are the kind of contacts you need to make.

    If your plan isn't distribution, then treat your website like a brick and mortar store. Get out and ask for the business.
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 11/18/2011 at 5:59 PM Member
    BTW, Home shows are not expensive. Quite the opposite.

    And since you seem to be just an affiliate -- my advice of going to distribution on surface may not seem to be helpful. It might-- I repped several lines where I went to the manufacturer and said "if I get it placed, what's in it for me"

    While there are plenty of non juried shows out there.

    As a stand alone, the line is too short. Either pick a product and run with it -- fusion market with couponers for example, or add to it with another supplier
  • Posted on 11/18/2011 at 6:27 PM Author
    Carol - it''s my line. I outsource mfg to a factory not owned by me. I can make 40% wholesaling it; dealers can do keystone. The dealer targets are a hockey puck, however. Levenger - good idea but their / my style is way off. Catalogs could be an awfully long sales cycle. I need to generate some business in the short-term. Maybe I''ll call a Bloomy''s purchasing agent and ask who his rep is.

    re: fusion market with couponers Not sure what this means.
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 11/19/2011 at 6:50 PM Member
    that is the exact advice when people ask about finding reps. Go to your target customers and ask for a rep they'd recommend. You find two things, one a rep they respect and a rep that actually works vs just takes orders. A rep will come with a book of contacts and potential business partners. Because they are paid on performance only, hopefully you have the full package they need to be supportive.
  • Posted on 11/21/2011 at 10:01 AM Author

    re: "potential business partners" what do you mean on this? you mean the rep''s other suppliers? how could they help me distribute? or finance?

    i have altered my search for the right stores. a new brand must take a while before you hit the sweet spot. you need to grasp the prospecting formula. my first attempt was lousy. ran into a couple big problems i did not foresee... [anyone see that guy''s post here... mba degrees in Egypt? [LOL] .
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 11/21/2011 at 10:26 AM Accepted
    Reps have a book of customers. Independent reps work strictly on performance and are already in the stores you want your product placed. They will help you get sales. They will also be good source of info on where this product should be placed.
  • Posted on 11/22/2011 at 9:40 PM Author
    carol - thanx for the help.
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