Olive Our Tips

Social Media has become an essential marketing tool for companies around the world. This free and interactive medium allows for brands to connect directly with their target audience and large audiences around the world. That being said, creating a successful social media campaign is critical to the success of any marketing campaign. Here are 5 simple steps to follow to create the most successful campaign.

Image courtesy of www.wizmarketings.com

1.Create and Establish:The first step in creating a social media campaign is establishing where you want to set up your social networks. Facebook and Twitter are among the most popular but it’s always good to “branch out” and see what other sites might be a fit for your brand. For example PMD, Personal Microderm has a variety of video testimonials and they have found Youtube to be an excellent resource for reaching their target audience. Once you’ve established what sites you want to have a presence on, make sure to set up consistent accounts: same user name, similar password, pictures, etc. Your brand should be consistent in all facets of the World Wide Web. (Quick tip: It can be quite time consuming managing multiple networks and therefore we suggest using a platform such as Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to save time and have consistent messaging.)

2.Spread the Word: Now that your social media networks have been created it’s time to spread the word, get fans and gain followers! The first step is to suggest your pages to everyone you already know. Ask those working for you to do the same. Another trick is to tag large brands or media outlets. This will expose your pages to the larger audiences.

3.Give the fans what they want: You have the networks and the followers now it’s time to start creating brand loyalty and make your products memorable. No one wants to engage in lame advertisements. Consumers want valuable information, so give it to them! Let’s say you’re a jeweler like Charles Koll Jewellers why not give tips on how to pick the best diamonds. This information is extremely valuable to all consumers.

4.Engage your audience: Another way to engage the audience is to ask questions. Find out what they like and more importantly what they want! Always make sure to reply and thank those who interact with your brand. If executed properly, social media can be an extremely valuable tool in establishing relationships with your target audience.

5.Track Progress:Finally, make sure to track your progress. Pay attention to fans and followers. Notice posts that create interactions. Set monthly goals and use the sites tools to monitor your growth.

Now you have all the tools to create your social media campaign. What are you waiting for!?

By Jennifer Borba von Stauffenberg, president of Olive PR Solutions, Inc.

At Olive PR Solutions, Inc. we are asked all the time how we are able to secure such premium media coverage for our clients. The truth is that there are a lot of things that need to be considered when working towards building awareness of a company through media relations. There is not a cookie cutter approach to ensure the same outcome. We pride ourselves in finding the perfect mix for each of our clients.

Here are some key questions to consider:

1)      Is your product or service really ready and deserving of media coverage? Media coverage doesn’t improve your product; it illuminates the quality that already exists. At the end of the day, your product or service offering must speak for itself. At Olive PR Solutions, we only work with clients that are ready and providing something amazing the world deserves to know about. If you tell the media that your product will remove scars, it better really remove scars or you have just lost credibility and ours.

2)      Have you created your messaging? There is nothing worse than a media person calling and not knowing what to say. Have your seven-second elevator pitch ready at all times. Be sure to create press materials, so when the media calls, you have more information to provide, including a fact sheet, company bio, key executive bios, services/products one-sheet, high resolution photos (min. 300 dpi, 4×6”), and video. There is nothing more gut wrenching than a missed opportunity because you didn’t know what to say or a feature that doesn’t properly showcase your business because you weren’t able to convey the message to the reporter. Beware, they do copy and paste – you need to make sure everything you provide is original and quality!

3)      How do you determine whether to send a press release or a pitch? At Olive PR Solutions, Inc., we have a simple formula for this. Is it really news? If yes, create a press release and distribute it on the wire. This will support your search engine optimization. However, if it is more of a trend piece or a story idea, it should be in the form of a pitch letter. We also use a pitch letter for almost every press release. It helps the media to get your idea in addition to the facts – be creative!

4)      How do you know where to send the pitch? The only way to secure premium placement is to know where you are sending things. The best way is to start reading all the publications you are interested in securing coverage in. There is nothing more annoying to a reporter than receiving an irrelevant pitch. With the internet at our fingertips, there are no excuses anymore. Each time you write something, think about at least one key contact who you are writing to. It will help you to convey focus and authenticity in your message.

5)      How do you cut through the clutter to secure the BIG stuff like national daily TV and top tier magazines? It goes back to knowing the media you are pitching. Can you see your product or service on the pages of Glamour? If the answer is yes, then how? What does it look like? I once sat down for coffee and dessert with an anchor from Good Morning America and she gave me the most astounding tip:  Secure awesome local coverage if you want national coverage. Until that point, I always thought that you should go after the big stuff first and everything else would follow, but it turns out that national media does want to know if your regional media is covering your story. It makes them feel more confident because they know someone on their side has already done some research to prove you are legit.

6)      How do you establish a relationship with media contacts? It’s quite simple actually. You ensure that everything you do comes from a place of total authenticity and respect. Take time to understand their needs, be genuinely interested in what they are doing and reporting on, and reply to their needs as quickly as possible. Even if you don’t have everything they need at the end of the day. Shoot them over a message to let them know that you are working on it and provide them with a realistic timeframe in which you will be able to get back to them.

7)      Do you have the time to do it right? One of the biggest mistakes we see is people who think they can do it themselves while they still have full-time responsibilities in another area. Public Relations requires consistency and major persistence. If you aren’t following up with the media, you are likely missing some major opportunities. There is a reason for so many thriving public relations firms. It is an important practice and requires commitment and focus. If you are worried about the investment, don’t. If you select the right firm for your business, the return on your investment should pay for itself and then some.

For more information about becoming a client at Olive PR Solutions, Inc., please email me directly at jennifer@oliveprsolutions.com or call us at 619-955-5285.

Here are a few questions to help you decide:

• Are you ready to BRANCH OUT and get your brand the recognition it deserves?

• Do you want to see your business or products in national magazines, local media, online, on television, or on the radio?

• Are you looking for a seasoned public relations specialist who will not only help you publicize your business, but also provide you with strategic guidance you can use in all areas of your business?

• Do you need help getting the word out via social media?

• Do you enjoy working with people who are passionate about what they do and passionate about what you do?

• Is integrity important to you?

If so, give us a call!