Month: October 2010

Top 8 Reasons To Hire PR pros…

By Tatyana Gann

from the desk of Tatyana Gann

Nashville TN

Should you hire PR pro? The burning question every business owners asks and wants to know the answer. When you have the right team, it is like putting pieces of puzzle together! It perfectly fits and you see bigger picture. That is what PR pro can do for you..

On my Mondays I work at Panera Bread, at my favorite coffee shop. I get my coffee, my cinnamon crunch bagel and sit down to write. I love the sound of the wood burning in the fireplace. It brings very peaceful feeling! Something about the fall season makes me fall in love with scent of maple, coffee and cinnamon. Only in the fall I can enjoy the scent and it motivates me to write, create and get inspired.

The fall is when all things come together. Our mind prepares for work and creativity. We also tend to meet awesome people when we are inspired. They come when we least expect them! Last week I met this awesome woman who was siting next to me in Panera Bread.

We started a conversation, and we realized that we were both PR gals! It was surprise to me because we do not often meet people who have exact same interests and life passions.  It was liberating and exciting to meet a person who loves to write, connect and serve people as much as I do. With her background in doing celebrity PR, we  have discovered that every small business owner who wants to take their business to a new level can benefit from PR services.

That little conversation turned into a new friendship and a new business partnership. We talked about one hot topic: our PR clients and how public relations work has changed for PR professionals. I can say it truly evolved into something more powerful. However, the perception of PR agencies, firms is all about media, TV, radio, magazines has not changed in many business owners eyes.  What happened in the past few years, business professionals turned to more natural ways of connecting with their audience. They turned to social media, video marketing, blogging and creating networks with their customers without realizing they are doing PR on the own.

However, the majority of business owners who are not internet marketers by trade, have no idea how to put together a blog, a marketing campaign and not to mention a PR campaign. That is why immediately they either remove PR campaign out of their business plan or allow very small budget.  Traditionally major PR firms agencies will charge $2500 a month and more to provide complete PR services.

What do you do when your budget is under 2000 dollars or even 1000 dollars a month?  Do we fire or hire a PR pro?

There are few good reasons I believe  your business can benefit with the help of PR professional.

Ready to have a PR pro to represent your vision?


1. Free  your time

That is huge for business owners. They can finally focus on what they love to do the most! You can have fun with your business. You can hire a professional team to manage PR campaigns and build your business the right way!

2. Give you an immediate online exposure:

With proper SEO done for your press release you can dominate first page of Google and have targeted traffic to your website.

3. Start building the history of your company.

It shows your customers who are you and why they can trust you. Especially if you open online PR room you can archive all press releases that shows your customers what you have written, all recent developments that are happening with your company

4. Media appearances:

Allows media to contact you  for interviews and other appearances. It brings more credibility to your company and builds your name very fast. Without stories, no media!

5. PR pro can boost your self esteem:

My biz partners call me cheerleader.. In some way it is true!  You cannot believe how much support and confidence business owners can receive from PR professional who can see only the best in the business and bring media attention!

6. Product Awareness

It helps to build your company brand and protect it. Press releases for example or any other publicity can spread via social media networks.  A PR pro can guide you in the right direction and bring feedback from readers, your customers and that can help you to drastically achieve  better results.

7. Credibility

You will have more than your personal site. Third party publicity increases credibility

8.   New business relationships:

They can connect you with the right business people and even investors, sponsors for your business.

One thing you have to remember public relations is about giving your business boost, building your credibility. Often PR pros can inspire you to take actions and show you how to take actions. PR pros open the doors to places where you are afraid to go alone.

Enjoy your week

Tatyana Gann

Founder SmokinHotPR Boutique

How To Easily Remove Writer’s Block in 10 Steps

By Tatyana Gann

Writer’s block?

Did you know that there is a simple way to remove a writer’s block and have natural flow of thoughts?

No I am not talking about hypnosis or listening to some mind changing meditation Voodoo tapes.  Have you ever sat down to write and felt your mind was empty? You had no ideas and not even a hint of topics you want to write about…You take a note pad, a nice looking pen and get comfy ….Blank…Blank..

Nothing happens. You get coffee, some cream and even get some chocolate hidden in the cupboard. You get excited thinking “This is IT. I will be great” …  But nothing happens. You begin to worry how you are going to come up with the ideas for your next article, press release and blog post.

You feel tension is building up and you feel overwhelmed. You write couple ideas and then start writing. Your phone rings, your kids are at home asking twenty questions in less than 5 minutes.  Life goes on.. but you have projects in your mind that need to be completed. You are looking out of the window, watching clouds and getting nowhere..


Are you still in a dream land?

Much of what you are going through with a writer’s block is totally normal. Even the best writers get them. It is NOT something you have to worry. What I have discovered that people need to follow few steps that are so simple to practice and all you need is YOURSELF to do it on a daily basis. Yes I said on a daily basis.

Here is the simple formula that will help to remove the writer’s block and open your mind to seeing things differently with a fresh perspective.

1.       Make sure to REST: The most important factor that determines your creative flow is REST. You must have rest in order to function and that includes your writing, especially if you do it for living. You must rest during the day. Some may not agree but taking few short breaks and even nap if you work at home can help you to feel refreshed and recharge. It can remove the block when you let go.

2.       Tell funny stories : Funny stories related to the topics  might be ice breaker with your customers. Make sure they are REALLY funny and not just for you.

3.       Research what your customers talk about your products and services or even remember interesting stories they shared previously. It does not have to be totally new.

4.       Make a video: Video is an excellent way to speak what you want to say because later you transcribe it. You can even use older videos because  by listening it might give you ideas what to say and how to say it.

5.       Make Audio and then transcribe as well.

6.       Use photos for publicity. Often making a photo blog post can be quite effective because it shows your life or lifestyle of your clients/customers

7.      Famous authors: Read books of famous people in the same niche as you are.  Contact authors and ask them for permission and then tell them you wanted to interview them too. Then, write a book review and the review of the interview. You can blog  about it or send out as an event press release.

8.       Book reviews: Write reviews about the books on Amazon and then post review on your blog or talk in your press release. Amazon gets a lot of traffic and your reviews can be quite helpful. You will be attaching yourself as expert to the community of Bloggers or a business owners who also blog about their products. It is a huge plus!

9.       Gozillion of topics: Do not focus on writing zillion of topics. Take the hot related topics from Google.com/trends and talk about on your blog or even video.

10.   Total relaxation: Sometimes all you need to take 2 days off and enjoy time with your family or your friends and let it come back to your naturally.

When you are ready to write, it will come together. When your mind is ready, it is ready to let the ideas out one idea at time. I usually feel them coming as natural flow and I write them down, record them. I have paragraphs come to my mind easily when I am relaxed, but focused. I do not feel tension. I feel smile inside and it becomes easy!

Ready to smile and enjoy the writing journey?

Enjoy it!

Tatyana Gann

Tatyana Gann & Smokin’ Hot PR http://www.smokinhotpr.com/ Ready to get access to the simple formula for creating a proven marketing and online PR campaign? It’s time to get back to the basics and enjoy simple PR and marketing methods that work around the clock. Learn how you can tap into the markets you never thought possible and how to establish your online credibility very fast. Tatyana and SmokinHotPR consulting is an online PR service on steroids – it gives you a quick and simple formula to do your own PR and eliminate marketing headaches.


David, the Giant Goliath and Fears

By Tatyana Gann

Your probably wonder, “Tatyana, what does the story of David and Goliath has to do with my online publicity?”

Have you ever thought you need to become a super duper  copywriter to write effective publicity? How can I write a story? Where can I come up with topic ideas?  We get scared, our mind goes blank and nothing happens with our creative flow.. That flow looks like congested traffic on the highway. We feel FEAR creeping in…We create scenarios in our head what it would be be like if our story flops. What if nobody reads it. What if nobody pays attention.  What tools do we need to have to add extra buzz?

In the publicity world every business owner, a celebrity or an average Joe wants to be famous for something. We go out of our way to do something EXTRAORDINARY and turn ourselves inside out to prove we are the BEST.  We seek the latest and greatest marketing and publicity tools to give us a makeover. We feel if we ONLY get the latest and the greatest thing it will equip us to be better at our business.

The other day I was reading the Bible story of David and the giant Goliath.  David was an average guy for everyone.  Nobody saw him great and even family did not see him the greatest! However, it did not stop him to see his own talents, greatness.  He believed he had EVERYTHING he needed to succeed in his life. As future king his biggest enemy Goliath was the tool that God used to make him David , the KING and of course he defeated the giant.  Later on, we know that David did not have much to defeat the giant but only one  slingshot and 5 stones. Not many powerful weapons you would say, but he had faith and took an action!

What are your stones? It can be imagination or your skill you take for granted right now. You may not be the greatest writer but you can be great story teller. Publicity does not have always be written. It is a spoken word. That is why so many business owners immerse in the video  marketing. Some take awesome photos and start photo  blogs to share the world who they are and how they think.

I learned that the best tool you can have in your arsenal is YOURSELF. Your thinking and your heart are your true weapons. They can defeat anyone. How? Nobody is like you..You may not know the latest and the greatest. You have imagination. Tools are always available there to use. Your faith in your story, your passion will do  more for you than fancy widget that carry no emotions.

The lesson is this: You do not need many tools to compete with others. You do not need to worry about others stealing your ideas. Do not focus on it. Focus on what you have NOW, your mind, your talents and your passion! Go for it.. Skills will be developed. Extra funds will show up to market your business when you use what YOU GOT now..

In my publicity world I have THREE musketeers who are always there for me: my blog, my video, my press releases. They are free. They work.. They share my story. What do you have today that makes you proud that you can do RIGHT AWAY to share your ideas, your concepts? Take time and think about it. You will come up with more things you think you had. No need for expensive VOODOO software, courses and events. Use what you have today and take you to a new level. Then you will be able  to deal with any other challenges much easily.

Believe me, I am not against widgets and tools . I use them every day but my focus is on  what I love to do because it can make me  focused, excited and bring results. Then my writing and my video publicity has meaning to me and others! Then your story carries the heart with it!

Have you reached out for a slingshot and your 5 stones?

Have awesome week
Tatyana Gann

Tatyana Gann is the founder of the Smokin’ Hot PR Ezine and Smokin’ Hot PR Boutique, providing publicity, online PR services and even private VIP consulting. Tatyana Gann is ready to bring you publicity tips, advice and PR services to help you gain more raving fans for your business and create smokin’ hot publicity! She has a simple formula for creating a publicity plan that brings results! Grab your FREE publicity weekly advice at: http://www.smokinhotpr.com/

Press Release Rules: How To Write A Press Release

By Tatyana Gann

When it comes to writing a press release many business owners often feel stuck in the area of press release distribution.  How often did it happen to you? You felt your head was spinning with ideas and what each company could do you for you. You make a list of them, look at prices, features and get more confused. You do research and all you see everyone says they are the best service since the sliced bread. You give up, right? Does it sound like you now?

Taken From Flickr.com

Well, let me tell you a short story…

A few days ago I was talking to my client who was using  PR distribution services couple years ago but it did not work for him as he wanted to.  He gave up on PR services though he truly believed it was a way to go to share his story, his product concept. He knew he needed PR for his business but he did not know where to go. Can I tell you it happens often? Customers try PR services for short period of time and then get discouraged and cancel everything. They forget one thing. Publicity results are not always instant. It takes 60-90 days to bring the results.

You have to have a plan. If you do not have a publicity plan like in anything you do, you will fail and your expectations for PR services will be low. Writing a good press release takes efforts. Some people say you can write a press release in 30 min but for me it is a piece of art. It is a masterpiece. Why?

First of all you have to have one idea in mind. You write to an ideal buyer. If you are in a business of selling healthy chocolate and you want to write a press release to a buyer who is looking for gluten free chocolate, you must talk to a customer who wants that feature in their chocolate. They want to know how gluten free chocolate tastes before they even buy it, and what others say about it, such as experts in gluten free chocolate business. Your press release is not a generic dry story that you cannot even stand reading. It must be all about your customers and how you make them feel. You must research your niche, your keywords.

Secondly, when it is done, edited, you seek the ideal places. I personally recommend to use SEO releases services for press release distribution such as PRWeb.com or Ereleases.com and also  social media online PR rooms such as Pitchengine.com They are low cost, effective and they are authority. Depending on your budget you can use these services to distribute your press releases. Then, later on you can add new services. These are proven resources I use and recommend.

Third, you want to make it exciting. You can embed videos and images with your press releases. What I love about my Pitchengine media room is that you can add your images, related videos, links related to the content you are sharing and make it fun and easy to see. For example in my recent PR story for my client I wrote a social media release that was designed for local optimization and his name.

You can see a press release example and discover how fun and exciting it can be.  It had videos, images that are totally optimized for search engines. Times changed and today you can be creative and innovative with your PR strategies. Your story becomes the center of the party. You are the host and people are listening to you! ( We had fun at Mari Smith birthday party who is our Facebook marketing queen)

Fourth, you must submit to social bookmarking services as Digg.com or Delicious.com to gain more exposure and links. I also recommend to submit your story to communities that can syndicate your stories. Hint. Take your press release you have written, write a review on it and post on your blog. Then take the blog post and submit to a blogging community..

Because  I am totally in love with public relations, writing publicity for my clients and bringing positive light that every business owner wants I have patience for working with people who are ready to threw in the towel.  I believe that PR is coming back full force and with new wave of PR 2.0 and upcoming PR 3.0 things will change in your favor. It will make it more easy, less expensive and easy for your customers to read and purchase your products.

Tatyana Gann is  the founder of SmokinHotPR E-zine and SmokinHotPR Boutique, specializing in PR consulting, mentoring and writing services for business owners. Tatyana is a mompreneur who resides with her family in Nashville TN.   Get instant access  to SmokinHotPR Ezine: PR 2.0 Secret Strategies, Creative and Innovative Marketing Ideas To Build Your Business.

Are you truly listening…Late night PR geek chat, SEO and Cabernet

By Tatyana Gann

Writing SEO press releases for your business and products can be time consuming and challenging, especially if you have to understand SEO guidelines and how to push your story through social media channels.  Last week I was staying late and was talking to my new Twitter friends.

While I was enjoying glass of Cabernet, researching keywords for my new lessons, I engaged into the conversation with few people who were interested to know about PR. Some questioned the PR model and some loved it. My fun tweet about Cabernet made an impact!

I honestly did not expect that my tweet about Cabernet and SEO would turn into the late night PR chat. We talked about  SEO press releases, an online PR tool to share stories and create history for your company business. Later one I connected with my ideal clients who wanted to know how to get the publicity on the web. I did not have to convince anyone about the benefits and importance of PR campaign.

What I realized  I was being REAL with my audience. I was listening. Listening from my heart and was clear about what ideal prospects were talking and their feelings. I was also passionate about what I was sharing. I was using some elements of humor in my conversation. Social media is all about being SOCIAL. It is about putting effort and answering questions, adding comments, bringing more value. We must go extra mile!

Are you listening or come to social media platforms with your agenda and wearing ear muffs ?

When it comes to writing a press release for your business, we seek to bring solutions to problems. Press release story now becomes social platform. Your customers share your story because they know it will benefit their circle of friends. It is not any longer one way street. It is no longer fax press release, or a press release announcement that is dry and boring. We can share our stories and exciting news without being boring or too enthusiastic!

I think so many biz owners still think that Twitter or Facebook platform is all about advertising. They see people who automate every tweet and get discouraged.  They use cheap pitches. No wonder, business owners loose the hope in the social media and how it can help them. They focus on buying Twitter followers or have someone manage social media profiles. I think they are missing the main POINT- it is about listening others, listening from their heart and responding in the same manner. If you automate everything, who listens whom?

Social media is about showing real you, even when you have a glass of red wine and trying to figure out keywords, write ideas for your business. It may sound silly to you but it is REAL for viewers. Many business owners act so sterile. They are dry, without any emotions.

What happened with people? Did they remove the emotions and become robots who post and answer with no personal touch? Do they even show real them? How do they write? Where do they go? What is their life like today? Are they real?  Public relations is about people, interacting with people even if it is on sofa late at night with a glass of red wine!

Today writing PR stories are becoming more and more effective for several reasons:

  • Business owners are forced to be REAL to get the targeted buyers
  • It allows to bring visibility to the content of a website
  • It allows to share a story via social media networks
  • It generates instant feedback from the followers, fans
  • It is viral tool
  • Low cost comparing to traditional advertising
  • It allows to gain credibility
  • Awesome tool for online reputation
  • List Building Method To Bring Fresh Leads
  • Low cost method to connect with other business owners and form partnerships
  • SEO friendly: more stories more inbound links

What do you think about writing press releases or pitches- stories for your business and products?  How do you see it can benefit your business? It is time to write, share stories, gain visibility? Videos are not enough. You cannot be a slave to old marketing methods..In my video about using social media releases I shared my views on the old marketing methods and how we are still slaves to old ways instead of embracing the social media and PR trends.

Writing press releases can give you the missing piece you have been seeking for! It will make you stand out and give you authority. Today when we face daily competition we must stand out!

When you combine PR and SEO then add social media you can reach buyers, get media attention, share your radio interviews, videos and set up a newsroom to establish your brand..

Are you ready for a major change in your business? If you feel like you are ready for massive exposure, PR campaigns is the way to go of course along your marketing campaign.

Love to hear your feedback.

To learn about our consulting and coaching visit our OnlinePR Consulting for Small Business Owners

Tatyana Gann

Tatyana Gann is the founder of Smokin’ Hot PR Ezine and SmokinHotPR Boutique, providing publicity, online PR services and even private VIP consulting.  Tatyana Gann is ready to bring you publicity tips, advice and PR services to help you gain more raving fans for your business and create smokin’ hot publicity! She has the simple formula for creating a publicity plan that brings results! Grab your FREE publicity weekly advice at: http://www.smokinhotpr.com/

Marketing Lessons From Seth Godin’s Action Figure

By Tatyana Gann

What can we learn from the best selling author Seth Godin?

On Saturday afternoon I found myself in the action figures section of a toy store in Franklin TN, while my boys were looking at their favorite toys when I saw something and I could not believe my eyes, the action figure of the best selling author Seth Godin.

To my surprise, it was the last doll on the shelf, and even though, they had other action figures of many famous people, Seth Godin figure got my attention. The creator got everything right about its design, even his socks. Well, but no purple cow!

Later that day I posted that photo on Facebook, and it got so much attention!  My facebook friends went WILD! One of my friends asked me, “Tatyana,  did they have a purple cow toy too?” Everyone was so anxious to learn if I got the toy and how cool it would be to use it for my training series. Tweeps on Twitter were tweeting my Twitpic Seth Godin photo.

One big lesson I learned that day that Seth Godin has become a marketing legend.  His impact on the marketing world brought fans around the world  and made him the best blogger, the best selling author of books from “The Linchpin”, “The Purple Cow”, ” Tribes”. In public relations branding is vital. His brand is recognized even in a small historical town of Franklin TN.

His style, his unique personality enabled fans to put his products in front of their friends and create more than just a customer base. It is building Seth Godin ‘s fans empire!

Seth Godin earned his amazing publicity on the web by being authentic .  He became known as the guy who speaks about tribes, a purple cow and why you must be a linchpin.  He is a true wizard, a philosopher that everyone respects online.

When I thought about his influence online and even offline I saw the the following:

1. He is unique

2. He stays true to what he thinks and speaks

3. His books tell the brutal truth

4. He knows how to engage into conversations with his audience

5.  He is not AFRAID to be different

6. His offline PR is superb. He reached new customers with an action figure.

7. He is an innovator

8. He is a mindset teacher

9. He teaches how to be human in business relationships

10. He loves to be shocking and controversial.

What do you want to be known for in your business community?

Your business is about YOU, your passions and sometimes being controversial, unique is WHAT people are seeking.

Being  YOU is the best online PR for your business and it will get in the right places. It will bring your the ideal clients you are seeking without forcing your product awareness down your potential customers throat!

One more thing….

Are you ready to get the best publicity for your business, share your story and let your customers put your name in front of each person?

We have got special fall classes for you! Please share with your friends!

Click here to read about our PR 2.0 University
We look forward to serving you!

Tatyana Gann

Founder, http://www.SmokinHotPR.com

Do you remember your first date?

By Tatyana Gann

“How would you like to know the little secret to creating successful Facebook relationships with your friends and turn fans into loyal customers?”

A couple of days ago I was in the Pottery Barn store and I stopped by to check out new office accessories. A young lady was looking at the same chair and we started talking about it, its quality and how fun it would be to have one in the office. We discovered that we were both moms, business owners and our conversation lasted almost an hour. We really connected from the first time we opened our mouth.

Monica asked me what I did for living. I said,” I teach how to combine public relations, social media and bring you more online publicity, new connections and new buyers”.  She looked at me with a little bit of surprise and curiosity and said, “Do you use Facebook and how do you find clients with Facebook?” She also mentioned she did not want to start selling products from her gift shop to her Facebook friends. She was afraid to sound like a salesman.

How often do you feel this way? We start a business, we have products to sell, we create Facebook profile or a Facebook fan page, but we forget how to connect with our first customers.  We think we need to do something extraordinary to be successful. We hire the best expensive web designers, put fancy colors, widgets and then feel stuck. We forget to go back and learn about people!

What I discovered the store owner was a brilliant business woman. She was already using social media strategies in her store without using Facebook but we were able to see the power of Facebook marketing for her business to bring current clients and create the loyal customers community who will pay the premium price.

I asked her one FINAL question to help her to understand the power of social media: if she remembered her first date. She started laughing… I am sure it brought memories. I told her it worked the same  way on Facebook. You learn to connect with people first and show them how unique your service is to them! You find everything about THEM by being real and genuine.

(myself and my husband in San Diego, dating still, 14 years into our marriage)

Dating can teach you a lot about building Facebook relationships. Pay very close attention.

In my video above I am sharing Facebook marketing tips and mistakes people make on Facebook and Twitter.  I hope it can bring some clarity on how to become the best connector by using powerful social media and PR strategies that are simple, proven and fun!

Remember PR means PEOPLE RELATIONSHIPS. My friend, the author of the book “Putting People Back into Public Relations”, Deirdre Breakenridge, talks how social media and modern public relationships changed the way companies build business and how relationships with customers is #1 priority. It is a nice resource to help you to understand the world of PR and social media and how perfectly they intertwined.

Have an awesome day!

Tatyana Gann

Founder, PR 2.0 Mentor

http://www.SmokinHotPR.com