“When you are real in your music, people know it and they feel your authenticity”.  Wynonna Judd”

From the desk of Tatyana Gann

Nashville, TN

Beautiful words, right? I think each of us is an artist inside. Each of us plays our own music. We are composers of our life and how the world views us!

“The publicity is all I need!” I hear it all the time from some of my clients who are seeking to get media attention and increase their online presence.  I often want to ask them the question if they really know what they are getting themselves into because I often see some of them do not know what they really want to be and do in life!

This year I had a wonderful  makeup artist, my German friend Kim, at the Chanel boutique.  As women, we all love having “Me” time to feel special and beautiful while enjoying a lady’s chat. We were talking about fashion, new fall styles, new holiday colors and the quality of Chanel products. While chatting, we brought up a great point: quality, authentic products will always enhance your inner beauty as well. We cannot put something fake on our face. It will damage our skin, how we look and how we feel!

Often in our business, we want to create an image, a persona we want to go by and be known for in our circles of influence. However, many business owners forget one thing: they start to reinvent themselves! They try to come up with a new version by making up something about themselves that is not true or real. The real problem is that their new makeup is cheap… bad quality. They lose sight of who they are while chasing something that does not belong to them.

Here is one little tip I want to give you that can summarize what I want to say:

Publicity tip: Love what you do… because if you do not, you create the wrong image and wrong publicity for yourself. Publicity sticks to you and then it takes your own energy and your own time to bring the real you back. With the wrong publicity, you will bring wrong connections, wrong friends and wrong results and even worse- feeling miserable inside! Being a fake flake can cause more trouble for your business, your relationships and it can really destroy your reputation.

A friend of mine shared a story about Johnny Carson. In his biography about his personal life, a shocking truth was revealed… Johnny was miserable. Right before going on the stage for his “The Tonight Show”, he would put his smile back on and would greet his audience. He was not happy inside. His real make up was absent. He wanted to please his audience ONLY. It was his job. It was his PUBLICITY.  Honestly, he was too afraid to tell the truth to himself. I would say he was too worried what everyone would think or say. Did he forgot why he was doing all that? Was he real? Was he passionate about his work?

What do you REALLY love about yourself and what you do? Show it to people. Let it shine through… be YOU.  Authenticity is one of the major secrets of effective publicity that will stick out and bring more light into everything you do. It will truly open doors to the media and to new connections! Because when you feel that light inside, it attracts the best! The light attracts!

When you are not real with yourself, it shows up in every piece of publicity about your business and your life. You will eventually have to go back to the starting point and really begin all over again, because you will not feel right and it will not serve your purpose!

One more important aspect of real, authentic publicity is our core values. They affect our publicity and what we stand for. Personally, I had to let go of some people in my life, so that I could let the right ones in. Values can define how we want our customers to view us. Values are the core of how we do business and how the media perceives us. Values determine the network of people we build.

Remember, just one small mistake: being fake for the sake of popularity can be very costly! Your make-up can build you up or tear you and your business down. It’s your choice.

What do you think?

It’s time to be REAL.

No I am not a spy…I am not a secret agent…BUT….

While back I went to a self defense seminar where my son’s three instructors were giving a 60 min lesson to women in our community, and I was quite surprised how many women wanted to be in that class but only few of them showed up. Sounds familiar? I am sure it does. Let me tell you more.

Well, when I got to class I was quite nervous, and did not know if I could do what they taught; though, I took Martial Arts few years ago, and I realized it was time to get back in to get that cool boost in self esteem. I saw few familiar faces of few moms, and I felt more safe just to know that I was not a crazy mom who wants to learn how to fight bad guys.

I hope I will not have to do but what I want to do is to share the principles I learned from the class that were so profound and so simple that I had to write them down and share with you.. Life does not have to be so complicated as well as your business. Unfortunately, we often do complicate our life, and then we wonder why we are so worn out and cannot enjoy every moment.

One lesson I learned is that you donot have to fight that big guy in order to win. The knowledge is the power. You must learn how to be aware of your surroundings and find areas where a big guy cannot outperform you and honestly it is your mind and your knowledge of certain strategies. He may be bigger and can conquer anyone but he may loose in a fight with you because you know more.

How often we are intimidated by big dawgs in our industry? We often give up before we even try. We often give up because we find excuses of not having enough money, enough time or we are not good enough.. For whom? I think Jack Canfield in one of his books said that when you were 30 you were afraid of what people thought of you; when you were 40 you just wondered of what people thought of you and when you reached 60 you realized nobody really cared and you have wasted time comparing yourself with others. I would agree on that with Mr Canfield.

My Business Tip: We all have the same destination in mind but we might take the different paths. Acquire knowledge of who you are first and then use it as your weapon in your business, the same way you would use it if you had to fight 250 pound guy on the street. You might not beat him up with your fists and knock him down, but you might affect the outcome with your knowledge of his reactions to certain things. That is how business works.

Do not fight competion. Do not fight big dawgs. Respect them. Let them be big dawgs in their niche, in their business. You need to be you today. Stay in your flow and do not change its direction. We often try to change and be somebody else and we force ourselves to jump on the a different path hoping it will take us faster to our final destination.

1. Acquire knowledge- it is your POWER.

2. Learn about your competition

3. Do not fight them but respect them.

4. Discover your strengths and weaknesses and work on them

5. Be in the flow and do not change that flow.

6. Protect your knowledge. It is your best asset.

Have an 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

Mompreneur Crystal O’Connor Launches Exclusive Working Moms Membership Site!

Savvy mompreneurs like Crystal O’Connor believe working professional moms deserve to have the best education to skyrocket their business. She is my phenomenal client, an amazing woman and I am very proud what she is delivering to her clients. To assist women reaching their goals, O’Connor recently launched Moxie Talk, a community where working moms regain their identity, come alive and truly shine! Moxie Talk is a community where moms can obtain knowledge and discover new ways to create a six figure income and beyond!

Crystal O’Connor’s dream finally came true when she opened the door to the community for professional women, working moms and even a few curious men! Working moms finally have a new hub where they can learn, connect, and create fast results in their businesses within the next 90 days. O’Connor has quickly become known in business circles as “Moxie Mompreneur”.

O’Connor is in the business of helping other professional working moms to find their success by following their passion and using her simple business blueprint. In a recent article, O’Connor stated, “Success in anything takes a very clear mindset and clearing out the ‘stuff’ that is holding you back.  For instance, we often use excuses because of fear and let procrastination hold us back when success is just right around the corner.  Sometimes we may not realize and there are those that may deny it… but, a lot of the beliefs about ourselves hold us back… those beliefs are WRONG… they are almost always fallacies!”

According to business coach Crystal O’Connor, women want to be more ambitious, knowledgeable, profitable and savvy; they want to be looked upon as serious, fearless business women. O’Connor’s Moxie Talk members training platform for business owners can take their business to six figure levels.  O’Connor provides solid business advice that working moms can use immediately to soar like an eagle!

The new Moxie Talk membership site is a key business tool and a valuable resource for women to expand their online businesses. It will propel businesses of many mompreneurs to the top and for some moms it will create a new beginning.

In a phone interview with publicist Tatyana Gann, O’Connor said, “Moxie Talk is a place where women can learn from others and grow far beyond what they could alone financially, spiritually and emotionally.”

Professional women, moms, and leaders like Crystal O’Connor will find Moxie Talk a place where women and even men can discover their purpose and transform their current business into a more profitable venture.

O’Connor believes in the power of relationship marketing and has always taught her clients how to be a person of influence, leadership and inspiration. O’Connor said, “Moxie Talk’s purpose & conversations are centered on prosperity through inspiration, partnerships, mentoring and step by step tutorials that lead women to income levels they never imagined.”

Moxie Talk’s plan for its members is very exciting, intense and filled with action! Weekly classes will include the following:

• How to fight and face fears that are holding us from success!
• Advanced social media methods to build an online fortune
• How to create an info Product that sells and enjoy getting paid during its creation.
• Solving dilemmas between the right and wrong price point(s) for your product(s)
• How to pinpoint the profitable Joint Ventures and master relationship building to make life easier and more joyful!
• Creating Tele-Seminars, Webinars, Tele-Summits and other ways to increase CASH-FLOW and add some zeros to your checking account balance!
• How to stop procrastination and be a doer!
• How to improve your writing skills so you can write the way professional copywriters do to convert your traffic into paying buyers.
• How to set up your website/blog to build your list of qualified leads and get buyers within a short period of time.
• How to simplify the business through outsourcing.
• How to develop your inner voice and become more aware of the limitless possibilities & decode how people are actually making money online.

Are you ready to learn the most unique ways to increase passive cash flow and marketing strategies to create magic in your online business? Plus, learn about upcoming training events at Crystal O’Connor’s website.  For instant access to her weekly ezine, visit http://www.MoxieMompreneur.com

For savvy business owners who want to take advantage of her business community visit her brand new membership site at http://www.moxiemompreneur.com/moxie-members/

Crystal O’Connor is a mompreneur, a business coach, an author, a publisher and the author of Moxie Money Making Manifesto and Fearless Ambition Magazine. She is a mom of three beautiful kids, a devoted her life to assisting her clients to propel their business to a new level .  To learn about her membership Moxie Talk visit http://www.MoxieTalk.com

Today Featured Press Release:

Business Blogger Jessica Miller-Merrell is hosting a blogging mastermind breakfast on Saturday August 6, 2011 at Hilton Bayside Hotel. Miller-Merrell encourages bloggers to  join her for a special breakfast where they will enjoy a delicious meal at Velo Restaurant inside the Hilton Bayside Hotel. (Please note Jessica Miller Merrell MasterMind Breakfast is  neither endorsed by, nor affiliated with BlogHer, Inc. or BlogHer ’11.)

The most ambitious women are gathering together for an exclusive breakfast to discuss blogging tips and show how women can express their own voice via blogging. Business blogger Jessica Miller-Merrell understands that in today’s world, it is difficult for women to succeed on their own. Women seek a way to surround themselves with the savviest women and be a part of a larger community. Miller-Merrell is currently working on her second book which will provide an in-depth look into the world of blogging. Miller-Merrell is attending BlogHer’11 conference in San Diego and wanted to meet her friends in a nice cozy environment.

The Blogging Mastermind Breakfast is a way to give back to women bloggers who make a living at blogging, inspiring, teaching and transforming people’s lives.   According to Miller-Merrell, the breakfast is a special event to get to know the blogging moms, establish a strong bond among her guests and enjoy lively conversation.

Jessica Miller-Merrell said, “I believe women bloggers can be that gem the recruiting agencies should be seeking out and paying attention to the savvy women regardless of their age, or color of skin. Women who know how to connect, think, write, show accountability and can be more than just a writer, but a real entrepreneur. I believe that the Blogging Mastermind Breakfast is a great way to meet powerful and influential women, interview them for my upcoming book on blogging and share my business knowledge.”

Jessica Miller Merrell cordially invites selected writers to enjoy a beachside breakfast with the best blogging minds. Jessica added, “ As women bloggers we focus on thought leadership and exchange of ideas to grow each other’s business. I believe this event will be an opportunity to show the world what mom bloggers can do and how they can truly impact the US economy doing what they love to do.”

For more information about The Blogging Mastermind Breakfast visit EventBrite website. To get instant access to Jessica Miller-Merrell’s newsletter, grab a free copy today at http://www.blogging4jobs.com.

Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR is an author, HR consultant, new media strategist, and author who writes at Blogging4Jobs.com as well as a Leadership Columnist for SmartBrief.  Her company, Xceptional HR offers social media strategies, human resources, and recruiting consulting with an eye on digital media.  Jessica is the author of Tweet This!  Twitter for Business, a how-to business guide for Twitter. Listed as the number 6^th most influential recruiter online and as the 21^st most influential woman on Twitter, she is a highly sought after speaker.  Follow her on Twitter @blogging4jobs.

Disclosure:

Jessica Miller Merrell MasterMind Breakfast is  neither endorsed by, nor affiliated with BlogHer, Inc. or BlogHer ’11

“How COULD press releases be your next hottest PR trend?”

We live in a world of trends. We buy fancy shoes, green cars, raw foods, and even vegan cheese! Today, everyone is a trendsetter. People want change. We are all creating changes. Being a trendsetter is risky, but also very beneficial. It makes us feel renewed, younger and motivated! Trendsetters get noticed and publicized!

For the past two weeks, I have conducted research, writing and putting together content for my PR client. He is a trendsetter. He always has been… From the beauty industry to creating a successful business in less than 5 years, he has set the trends to bring families back together, working together, creating together. He is a master of relationship marketing!

When I think about trends in Social Media 2011, I often think how our world would be if we did not have social media. Social media is a catalyst. It has accelerated everything we are doing online.

When it comes to creating publicity, online marketers only have blogs, articles and video marketing in mind. They forget one of the most important elements. A good salesman is the one who tells the best story and knows where to share it. He knows the right channels.

Now…Do YOU Want to learn how to WRITE a social  media release? Did you know online business owners believe that press releases are no longer an effective source of marketing? They still believe it is some sort of  voodoo marketing strategy that is boring and has no results. With the huge wave of social media marketing, many business owners only focus on Twitter or Facebook marketing and forget one very important method that has been used for generations: PRESS RELEASES!

Some marketers still feel that press release marketing no longer serves their purpose. According to David Meerman Scott’s new book “New Rules Of PR and Marketing”, press release marketing is no longer about announcements or cheap sales pitches, but instead about conversation directly with your buyers.

The “Good Old Days” are gone. Spending Big Bucks On Publicity is NOT necessary.

Just last week I was on the phone with an amazing business etiquette coach who created great publicity for her from the USA Today newspaper to even the NBC Daily Show. Her presence was amazing offline, but she realized after we spoke that she needed an online presence. She saw the importance of having a blog and started immediately on creating her blog and her online persona.

Press Release marketing MUST be on the top 10 list of marketing methods you use. I often compare press releases with cappuccino, topped off with extra espresso! Marketing campaigns without press releases are like drinking a decaf cappuccino, thinking it will give you buzz!

My new friend asked me why she needed press releases as a part of her marketing campaign. At first, she really did not understand why she needed to use them to tell her story and why press releases are important. I am sure David Meerman Scott would agree that press releases can bring the right buyers to a website… not just curious readers. It is all about the angle we use in telling our story.

With the growing role of public relations in social media, more business owners are turning their heads toward new and creative marketing strategies instead of looking at them as something dull or boring. Recently, I interviewed the amazing Deirdre Breakenridge about her book “Putting People Back into Public Relations” and role of social media and PR for business owners. In the book, Deidre Breakenridge and Brian Solis mention that “social media releases are bright and shiny objects.” I can say they stick out like a sore thumb!

Press Releases are about creating dialogue online.

As a marketing strategy, Social Media Press Releases are not “the new kid on the block”. They have been around for many years. Brian Solis became a pioneer in learning and applying social media releases as one of his PR and social media strategies. Social media releases are a very effective form of marketing. A Social Media Release is an “energized” version of a dull press release that used to be a tool for many journalists and business owners who wanted to make announcements.

Let’s look at this scenario to help you understand how social media releases can be one of the best methods to generate traffic and establish authority. Let’s say you have a traditional business and have decided to put together a Facebook page, Twitter profile and a marketing company blog. Now what?… Here is what you can truly experience by embracing the power of social media and online communication with your clients.

Online Presence is A Big Happy Family!

1. Family effect

You  must understand that a Facebook fan page is your family. Your Twitter cirle of friends is your family. How can you bring your older clients that you had in your business to Facebook or Twitter? What should you do? The first thing you need to do is emphasize that you want to reconnect with your clients on Facebook or Twitter, so you can share latest news, special offers, your loyalty program and coupons. You want to express thanks to multiple clients and build a tight, inner circle. I promise you they will want to know your news. Who doesn’t?

2. Engaging into social media

Once you createa Facebook fan page and Twitter Profile, you can send promotions, loyalty programs, and discounts to your products and services. In my recent post “Who Took Face Out Of Facebook” I talked about the importance of being transparent, authentic and innovative. You can share stories of your clients with photos, videos and events your company has conducted. It is all about communication. Now the best part- your clients will want to share with their network and now your big family will have new members because you were able to establish trust and relationships with your older clients and customers. That is powerful! The key here is TRUST.

3.  Your new hub: your company blog

As a blogger, I can encourage you to take advantage of having a wordpress blog. Many fortune 500 companies are changing their platforms to blogs and a blog platform can make your social media release presence much easier. A Blog post on its own can serve as a press release platform if you utilize social bookmarking services and widgets. Video posts are great for SEO purposes as well.

4. Online Newsroom

You can create your own online newsroom as I did with Pitchengine. They offer monthly and annual memberships and even free trials to their service for 30 days. Online newsrooms allow you to create your social media releases and they play a big role in establishing your brand; your company name. If your company provides services for various clients, you can utilize it for your marketing purposes. You can add your related links, quotes from top professionals in your field, your recent videos related to your subject along with the main keywords you want to target. You can be on the first page of Google within just few hours!

Here is what Rhonda Cort has to say about Press Releases:

“Tatyana Gann writes press releases packed with power and authenticity. Through her clever methods and strategic placement of keywords, video, audio, blog posts, images and links, she brings your press releases to life! I could stop there and it would have been well worth the investment, but there’s more… My press release was on page one of Google in just hours! Why struggle doing it yourself when you can get stellar results? Contact Smokin’ Hot PR immediately.” Rhonda Cort “The Magnetic Woman” CEO, International Speaker, Mentor and Stylist http://MagneticMojo.com

5.  Share, Share and Share

You can share your social media release via tools available in the backoffice of Pitchengine.You can create instant tweets that are ready to share with others and also have an opportunity for others to create viral marketing campaigns. On my radio show I spoke with Deirdre Breakenridge the author and PR 2.0 expert and she told me something amazing… She said that her book “Putting Public Back into Public Relations” with Brian Solis got the most views and book sales from utilizing a social media release!

I hope that you can see a bigger picture of social media releases being the hottest PR 2.0 trend and start using them as part of your marketing campaigns! This little shiny tool can spark your business and set the web on fire!

Tatyana Gann