PRWeb just made some major changes to their web site. Overall they are welcome.

Home Page Changes

On an aesthetic level PRWeb’s new home page and logo is brighter (I really like the new brighter logo – we share an affinity for red and black!). They have made their value to small businesses more clear too.

The home page is more dynamic. Rather than showing all press releases on the home page they just highlight a few (notice the ones highlighted have photos) and list others by category. The new approach will help them in search engines (they’ll be able to rank for terms relating to press releases rather than on terms in other people’s news releases).

The home page also has more multimedia, which is something they encourage others do in their press release writing. PRWeb says using multimedia in press releases means people spend more time on your press release. Spending more time on a site is a an indication that they found something relevant or useful and is another ranking factor.

PRWeb ad: Get your news to consumers, journalists and bloggers. Increase your rankings in search engines. Drive traffic to your website with press releases

Twitter
They now include live tweets on the home page. They already integrate tweets into the submission process (which studies show are more likely to get clicks and are twice as likely to engage with your brand and click on ads than other social networking sites).

Multimedia Features Emphasized
The press release summary, main quote, images and video more prominent citing a correlation between using video with news content encourages people to act. From the study:

Among the key findings are that news is the most popular online video category and that consumers are taking meaningful action in response to video ads…

With this change you should put more thought into your summary and consider the $360 distribution level that includes video. The nice thing about this pricing model is that they include a lot for one price.

I just read that Business Wire’s internal research says that using any graphic or video in your press release increases gets you 2.5x as many clicks as a text-only press release.

Traditional newswires charge more for extra words, images, for additional target markets or for by location. At $360 you’re exposed to the top 100 newspapers which is a big score if your story gets published. Newspaper sites tend to rank highly in search engines. However, it’s more limited if your trying to get the attention of traditional news sources.

Search Engine Improvement
Also significant is overhauling the code so the pages load faster – another factor in search engine optimization. You can read more about the changes here: http://www.bloggingprweb.com/introducing-the-new-prweb-web-site

Suggested Future Changes for PRWeb
These are great improvements but I there are more I’d like to see next. I’ll list 3 ideas below.

1. Improve the site search – I can search by exact title and still get pages of irrelevant results – you must put quotes around the title to find it. I’m glad they send an email with a link but if you don’t have it yet, don’t have access to the account and don’t know the exact title,  it can be hard to find your press release. Maybe Google Site Search would be an improvement.
2. Make the payment process easier to use. Rather than a simple text link that says, “Additional Options” I wish they made it more clear where you are in the process and used buttons rather than text to go to the next step.
3. Include a retweet button on every press release. I know there are links but I’m a bigger fan of a Tweet Meme button that makes retweeting the press release a no brainer and shows how many others have retweeted it. Since folks on Twitter are more likely to read it anyway, why not?

Thanks for the upgrades PRWeb – look forward to more!

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• 3 Things You Should Know About the New PRWeb (toprankblog.com)
• A Press Release That Led to BIG Sales (onlineprbook.com)

This is a list of resources that I use and recommend. I will add more in-depth reviews on some products. These are products and services that I use in my own business. There are some affiliate links.

Search engine optimized WordPress Theme

Thesis (it costs but it is worth paying for). I’ve had success getting very strong results using this theme. It’s a little technical still but the search engine benefits are to notch. Based on what I’ve seen from another blog I plan to convert all of my blogs to Thesis.

Press Release Sites
These are web sites that take press release submissions. Prices range from free up to hundreds of dollars per press release. Which to use depends on the newsworthiness of your story to the media. The free sites often don’t get your news distributed, just published. When you pay you’re getting more exposure through the partnerships the newswire has with various media outlets (magazines, radio, newspapers, TV) and web sites (CNN, Yahoo News, Google News, financial web sites).

Free press release sites
PR.com
PRLog.org – allows picture, video, 3 URL links, published immediately, Google News

Mid-range – starting at around $50
24-7pressrelease.com – decent SEO features, my 2nd favorite. Low cost to embed a video in your press release. I would choose the $85 level.
PRLeap.com – lots of great features for about $50
Clickpress.com – also about $50
PRWeb – my favorite for the  SEO features, email distribution, and online coverage. I use the $200 package (starts at $80)

More Expensive – but worth it if you have a strong  or very timely news story
These sites have credibility with the media as well as many online features. Be warned that you’ll pay for each feature and it can add up. I suggest just targeting a certain metropolitan area or industry. Prices start at about $300 and can go upwards of $900. Can get media lists to send your news to targeted publications.

PRNewswire – the oldest newswire used by everyone from Oprah Windfrey to Apple.  This links goes to their small business toolkit where you will get special pricing if you’re a new member. I have sent a press release over PRNewswire with stellar results (Seth Godin said he really liked my press release). If you sign up and request more info you’ll get the best pricing for a traditional newswire service.

Business Wire – high touch, great service
Market Wire

Password Remembering Tool
Roboform – This tool is for the power user who has a ton of passwords and wants to make them secure and not have to remember them (just one master password). I recommend getting the thumb drive option so you can have your passwords on the go to use on any computer.

Sponsored Tweets
Want to get the word out on Twitter about your new ebook or other product? Try Sponsored Tweets. You choose which people you’d like to make an offer to based on cost, interaction scores and more. Set your budget and give a sample tweet which is clearly marked as an ad and can be edited. Both sides must approve before going live. Great way to launch a new campaign – but don’t choose the CPC model – lots of spammy accounts.

Web Hosting
Bluehost. I’ve been a customer for years because it includes 24/7 phone support. Very affordable and supports unlimited domains on one account + 1 free domain name. Adequate for most web sites. If you want to install a blog on your own domain, call them and they will walk you through how to do it.

Marketing Advice
MarketingSherpa – they have great case studies and packed with tested information on how to market online. I’ve read them for years. The articles are free for several days then they go into a subscription so I copy/paste the ones I like into a Google Doc.

Email Marketing
Aweber – this is the program that the gurus use for autoresponders and email management and analytics.

Media Leads
HelpaReporter or HARO. Free media leads – you get this email newsletter 3x a day with journalists requests for sources for stories. If you respond you could be featured in their story for some great publicity. All sorts of magazines and mainstream down to a basic blog are pitching. You can also use it to find your own sources for blog posts, interviews, books, etc. Great way to see what is being covered in the media right now and get into the head of journalists.

Publicity Newsletter
Publicity Hound. Learn the ropes of getting publicity with this free email newsletter from Joan Stewart. Her blog is always timely and she has products to help the novice learn how to get PR. She is very practical and hands on in her approach so you can get step-by-step instruction.

Affiliate Networks
Want to get paid for referring others to products and services? These networks have the code, banners and other resources to do the marketing. You get links and they track sales and give you a percentage. Join many different programs and get paid all in one place.

Commission Junction – one of the biggest and most popular affiliate networks. Pays out every 30 days.

ClickBank – the standard for selling ebooks & electronic media and software
E-Junkie – E-junkie provides you copy-paste “buy now” buttons and shopping cart to let you sell digital and tangible products. Also easily add an affiliate program.
LinkShare used by major brands – one of the larger affiliate networks.
ShareASale – mid-range affiliate network with a great reputation for being affiliate friendly.

Affiliate Crew

Avant Link – Specializes in affiliate tools including datafeeds and high tech affiliate tools. Features many outdoor retailers.

Google Affiliate Network Not as easy to use as other networks but run by Google and so it has a lot of advertisers.

Impact Radius -track sales across print & all media

Note: some links are affiliate links which means I make a small amount for referring you to these sites.

• Epic Meeting Fail! http://bit.ly/aghQdF #EpicMeetingFail (Ad) #
• Digg.com has their biz cards letterpressed. Very old school meets new school. #
• @slashcareer thanks for explanation. It presents a challenge to sell to clients – which 1 to pick for syndication?? in reply to slashcareer #
• Kodak's social media policy (PDF) http://bit.ly/aWk6ow #
• @kristenfischer Thank you Kristen – I'm glad you found me too – let me know if I can help! in reply to kristenfischer #
• Check out @PRWeb Online Marketing Conference – Wed. May 12. I'm speaking @skydiver @ducttape + more http://tinyurl.com/ThriveJanetThaeler #
• @lonewordsmith is this for the PRWeb conference? You're saying it's in the middle of the night for you? May get transcript… in reply to lonewordsmith #
• It's ironic that the women's in tech social media conference only has men speaking. #
• RIGHT NOW: Last chance to win a copy of "The Referral Engine" by John Jantsch @ducttape. Just comment here to enter: http://oran.gs/Sx #
• @Peter352 maybe that's it in reply to Peter352 #
• @ryles If men in tech held a social media conf would they only invite women 2 speak. True that women are underrepresented in this space? in reply to ryles #
• Great example of social media + print ads + microsite + local event promotion = sales: http://bit.ly/czFkfS from MarketingSherpa #
• 3 Tips for getting PR for your Business http://bit.ly/cdDtRj #
• @crymiller thanks – excited to see my article today on @startupprincess – it's PR week, right? http://bit.ly/a0POrS in reply to crymiller #
• Thanks Michael @magnusearch I'm writing another article now – over 1200 words. Wish it came this fast when I wrote my book. #
• @ProfNet there's a case study on your site about press releases & how many got interviews. It was about 7 months. Can't find it again. Help? in reply to ProfNet #
• @ProfNet that isn't it but I like it too. It talked about sending a press release each month & how the personal stories result in coverage. in reply to ProfNet #
• @slashcareer I try to steer away from subscriptions. Most of my clients are sporadic. Don't do the volume – most product dev. in reply to slashcareer #
• @RobertGrevey one of my least favorite 1st sentences in press release is about how they are a leader. No substantiation. They made it up. in reply to RobertGrevey #
• @magnusearch here's my book http://amzn.to/7Y5IKD – if you read it I'd love to hear what you think in reply to magnusearch #
• Events that are not free or close to it are hard sells right now. Have you noticed? Maybe because more events planned – make extra $ #
• @RobertGrevey another trendy phrase I don't like in press releases: "today announced" in reply to RobertGrevey #
• @slashcareer I'm not building that part of my biz. I'll continue to write press releases but I prefer to teach people how/sell content. in reply to slashcareer #
• @slashcareer I hear you. It's tough to make a living on sporadic isn't it? Most bills are not sporadic. Must create residual income. in reply to slashcareer #
• @slashcareer info products (content) + membership site in reply to slashcareer #
• "There's nothing deader than an old press release" – @davidhenderson #utprconf #
• "Many agencies are too slow to be in the online world" The world is passing them by. – @davidhenderson #utprconf #
• "Newsrooms online have become graveyards for press releases." @davidhenderson told how he revives them w/ blog powered newsrooms. #
• Did you know that the famous "Will it Blend?" commercials ended 2 weeks ago with a blended iPad? Boredom killed the YouTube star. #utprconf #
• @magnusearch please give our best to Greece. in reply to magnusearch #
• I think @Blendtec should turn the Will It Blend series to fans. Let them make parodies & hold contests/post & promote on their sites. #
• Another idea for @Blendtec – B2B commercial with Lazik company. Blend all the glasses of people who no longer need them. #
• @etkotite now that is a story! in reply to etkotite #
• I finally got to see a live "Will it Blend" commercial. It was a rake handle & it was a little more intense than it looks on YouTube IRL #
• Surprising how many in the room at #utprconf had never seen a "Will it Blend" video. In your own back yard. Should be in your text books. #
• @taylormarek yes – you could get splinters if you were sitting too close! in reply to taylormarek #
• @carysnowden It was downtown SLC yesterday. I didn't feel like live tweeting, I wanted to just listen. So catching up today. in reply to carysnowden #
• @carysnowden I will blog & tweet about the post. After I go work out & write a press release. in reply to carysnowden #
• What phrases do you hate to see in press releases? #
• "I do not like unnecessary hyperbole – let the product win the reader over, not hype (esp if it's not warranted)" says @MalcolmAtherton #
• Quick – Moms out there – what do you want for Mother's Day? me: Samsonite spinner luggage #
• An analysis of 40 press releases on Business Wire thanks for tip @MalcolmAtherton #
• @KristenDeem Shoot – I was carrying it around. I could send a copy. Email me janet@onlineprbook.com in reply to KristenDeem #
• @jet_set wants to be left alone for Mother's Day. Somehow I doubt she'll get her wish… in reply to jet_set #
• @inevergrewup I should trade you both – it's too quiet here – need a few more kids (not going to happen) in reply to inevergrewup #
• I don't think this is a good sign: On my blog it just said Firefox prevented this site from opening 60 pop-up windows. Yes 60. #
• Melissa is going to be my new intern – looking forward to working with you too @melissa913 #
• RE: @britopian Michael,
  Yes, there is definitely a conflict between a personal brand and the brand you work for. I h… http://disq.us/dm9to #
• My husband got a MSI touchscreen computer & I'm unexpectedly jealous. #
• OnlinePRBook Post: Which newswire will get you the most media coverage? http://bit.ly/dzbCNc #

I attended the PRSA/IABC half day conference in Salt Lake City. It’s a first for me because I’m not a PR pro. But I find a natural home in PR because I believe the industry needs online marketing. It’s no longer something that specialists do – it’s part of the domain of PR. The lines are blurring so each is a blend of the other.

As David Henderson pointed out in his presentation with a dramatic image of ships falling off the ocean, the industry is at the edge and are hurling towards a huge drop. There is urgency to learning how to work faster and to use tools to help publish and share information in real time. The world is moving quickly on.

Journalists and those in the media are now expected not only to create but to publish and promote content. Just like online marketers. We’re being judged by the same sort of criteria – time on site, links, search engine rankings. When I go to my industry conferences we’ve beat that drum almost too much but in PR it’s still relevant.

So I’m very curious to listen to the comments and get a gauge of where people are in all of this. How engaged they are with social media, if they are partnering with online marketing agencies or bringing new talent into their agency.

As an example, Blendtec’s Kels Goodman was there talking about their wildly successful viral marketing campaign. At least 8 people had never seen (and maybe never heard of) a “Will it Blend?” video. This is surprising because this is one of the most important and successful online marketing campaigns in history. It’s a text book example and regularly cited in books and articles. It was made when YouTube was new (2006). And it’s in our own back yard – a privately owned Utah company. I lived a mile or so from them and had a good friend who worked there. This story is a triumph and it did have a financial impact eventually – but not in predictable ways.

The problem is despite our client’s wishes we can’t make something go viral. Most ideas won’t be. We lose a bit of control (being authentic demands it) and most of all we take risks. We connect dots and hope for success. This is not business as usual and we’re all on the roller coaster ride together. We can choose – either have fun or scream our heads off.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Top 3 Ideas from PRSA/IABC Utah Conference (newspapergrl.com)
• Write a Press Release for Online Buzz with Janet Thaeler and PRWeb (prweb.com)
• The New Rules of Marketing & PR. Second ed. David Meerman Scott. (regnordman.com)

• GIVEAWAY! Enter 2 win 7-nite Caribbean cruise 4 fam of 4 from #RoyalCaribbean http://bit.ly/bcg9aq #gno PLS RT #
• Join #gno w/#royalcaribbean & @oasisandallure Tues 4/13 (9-11 ET) 2 chat fam travel/cruise vacays. RSVP @ http://bit.ly/9iMSgp PL RT #
• Preparing slides for upcoming @PRWeb webinar in May for small businesses. See http://tinyurl.com/ThriveJanetThaeler #
• RT @bookmarketer Why Don't Authors Research the Industry Before Publishing Their Book? by Irene Watson @ReaderViews http://bit.ly/cDBAln #
• RT @shuey03 This is what I am getting for lunch today with @ashbuckles… http://n.pr/9eWZvm [you are crazy & this is a great PR shtick] #
• Which headline do you like best? A: Utah Mom Shares Her Family’s Russian Adoption Story on Good Morning America #
• B: Utah Author Tells Her Family’s Russian Adoption Story on Good Morning America #
• C: Utah Family Shares How They Cope: Their Russian Adoption Story #
• @ParkCityTV right – she's not famous (yet) in reply to ParkCityTV #
• @ParkCityTV You should interview her on your show – it's quite a story. in reply to ParkCityTV #
• So far the vote is A – using the word mom and share make the story stronger. #
• @scottcowley You win!! That is a killer headline! #
• @mawbooks it's not a book – but the author wrote a book about her experience raising her daughter. Good timing w/ Russian boy adoption story in reply to mawbooks #
• @kbstudio I esp. like the Russian princess part – the child's name is Victoria! in reply to kbstudio #
• I love crowd sourcing headlines – Twitter does not fail. Thanks for your input so far… #
• @scottcowley It certainly paints a picture of drama and intrigue! in reply to scottcowley #
• @mawbooks The author's name is Jodi Bean – the book is "Love Lessons" She's married to the president of @OrangeSoda (which is how I know) in reply to mawbooks #
• @WynnLasVegas loved our stay last week – tough to come home! We woke up to an amazing 2-window view of the strip every day. in reply to WynnLasVegas #
• It's fun seeing my logo when I go to PRWeb's home page – check out their conference May 12! #
• @GregDigneo thanks and our webinar on using news releases as lead generation tools will be coming up right after! in reply to GregDigneo #
• I've been looking for couples to attend a marriage retreat (to test it out). What I learned so far: most women say yes but the men say no #
• You confirmed my suspicions – @eglue @wordymouth – men would rather not hear about their marriage issues (esp. in front of others). #
• Poll: Raise your hand: How many married men would attend a marriage retreat (no cost to you)? What would it take to get you to go? #
• @jayandball I followed you could you DM me your email address/contact info. in reply to jayandball #
• @DesireeW I guess my husband is an anomaly. @slashcareer exactly what I think would entice men to go! #
• @SeagullFountain I thought your husband was more…well he's married to a feminist. I guess I had preconceived notions about writers in reply to SeagullFountain #
• @wilcoxaj I'm convinced you'd do anything if it were 1- free 2- fun in reply to wilcoxaj #
• Someone just commented on my blog that the owners who started Quizno's also own @Smashburger True? #
• So many deadlines today – feeling stressed to try to meet them all! Good thing my taxes were filed in Feb. #
• thanks for the referral @sahans – @MommaDJane I DMed you – let me know if I can help out. #
• Anyone tried the new Twitter ads – http://www.tweetup.com? #
• My coworkers @orangesoda made this video: http://bit.ly/cpsSni Guess what they are trying to say about the internet. #
• So busy with deadlines I had to skip @postsecret event at the U last night. Sometimes work has to come before fun dangit. #
• @iGoByDoc exactly in reply to iGoByDoc #
• Just completed "10 Ways to Rock your Next Online Press Release" for my @PRWeb presentation for Thrive http://tinyurl.com/ThriveJanetThaeler #
• @iGoByDoc Hmmm, I'll suggest that to product development… in reply to iGoByDoc #
• Like how VMG BPO – an Indian outsourcing company that did work for CDBaby – sends emails about new services then let's customers try free. #
• Just finished writing, "LinchPin by Seth Godin: Is this Book Indispensable?" Will link when live. #
• Is Everyone Ditching Their iPad? ht @StKonrath http://ow.ly/1yZKy #
• I just learned that tomorrow is "Foursquare Day" – will you celebrate it? #
• Check out this photo of me with @skydiver at Affiliate Summit. http://twitpic.com/1fty75 #
• @SocialNetNanny I bet I'd like it too. So if anyone wants to donate their iPad to me I'll graciously accept. in reply to SocialNetNanny #
• I might celebrate Foursquare Day with you then! @JackieB3 @matthod what time will @taslut be there? How about it @seobyswaby – film live? #
• Hmmm. @JackieB3 says 5pm @matthod thinks12:30 for @taslut @poundersgrill tomorrow. Hoping it's lunch not dinner. #
• @Paco_Belle most likely I'll be there (I give up trying to lose weight!). Have an appt. in S. Ogden at 11:30 so I won't be on time. in reply to Paco_Belle #
• I tweet something I found on Facebook that goes to LinkedIn where my friend Kevin commented on it. Where should I respond? #
• I pasted Kevin's comment back onto the original FB status (that was a feed of the original guy's tweets) @laraineking @maxbizmom @RickGalan #
• This can get confusing and complicated. At least texts are not involved. Need to have all messages come to 1 place. #
• RT @Jackie Banda BIG shout out2 @usuprssa conference speakers presenting @ #ragancisco http://bit.ly/cpoGfZ @codella & @NewspaperGrl #
• Love your book about referrals @ducttape Question: Is consistency a prerequisite to being a referral engine? #
• Linchpin message: be an artist (creative work) Referral Engine message: create systems. Both about being remarkable. #
• Why do some people make it hard to do business with them on purpose & others focus on making it as easy as possible? #
• Is one trying to weed out people who waste their time & the other selling a commodity? #
• @ducttape I think I'm doomed then in reply to ducttape #
• @NteeJ I see business consultants who are better at making people feel good rather than getting them business. #
• @NteeJ In other words, they get referrals from satisfied customers (who get results). in reply to NteeJ #
• Another thought is: I've never worked so hard to give something free away. High value + low cost or free = suspicious & noncommittal #
• @NteeJ good point – but if snake oil is what they want they it's alright, right? surprisingly a lot want snake oil (or to feel good). in reply to NteeJ #
• @ParkCityTV I'm not sure why that made me laugh – probably because my next question is are you in on the retreat? in reply to ParkCityTV #
• @NteeJ me neither in reply to NteeJ #
• @NteeJ I have no qualms about walking away if I don't think I'm a good fit or can help them either. #
• Companies with blogs generate 67% more referrals online than those w/o blogs according to @Hubspot research http://bit.ly/b1D0tO #
• @SmashburgerUT thanks for the #FF – is this Paco? in reply to SmashburgerUT #
• [Idea] Foursquare could predict where you'll be tomorrow, not just record where you are. http://bit.ly/a0NQbH #
• #ff Thanks for the retweets today!@NteeJ @dyejo @JackieB3 @ParkCityTV @JonBacon @taylormarek @fredabramson @5dollarairplane @SEObySwaby #

I just learned about Zemanta, added the plugin and started using it. I’m in love. It takes your blog posts, other people’s related posts, your images, other people’s images and you can add the content with a click. Also has tags and I haven’t figured out how, but it also has affiliate links from Amazon.

Now PRWeb has partnered with Zemanta so you can choose related press releases to add to your story – again with a click. The options show up in the right hand column of your blog admin in WordPress.  PRWeb says over .5 million blogs link to their press releases (see this search of Google).

I’m pretty excited about the innovation I see with press releases, social media and blogging. There’s newcomers presslift.com and pressdoc.com that are not about distributing news but aggregating social content in one place and sharing it. I’m planning to try both out and blog about the results.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Blogging is fun again with Zemanta and Apture! (72suited.com)
• PRWeb Partners with Zemanta to Enhance Visibility of News Releases in Blogosphere (prweb.com)

I’m addicted to LinkedIn lately. I asked this question and got so many answers.

Have you ever found success tweeting your news to journalists on Twitter?

I was looking for people who have gotten news coverage because of a tweet. I also want to know if people had found success using a paid service like Muckrack. PR Newswire will tweet your press release for $75 and PRWeb will for free (at the $200 level and above).

Google now ranks tweets in search results and the higher authority the person who tweets the better it is for your rankings.

“we use at Microsoft twitter to do interviews (twitterviews) with our CEO and other specialists of the department and we often get a good coverage on newspaper or magazines.”

Kristopher who does PR for ARUP Laboratories has had some success pitching on Twitter:

“We got a product write-up in BusinessWeek online for a very big client last year. We built a twitter page for our product as it was launching at CES and then targeted the industry as well as media. Just getting that coverage in BusinessWeek was a success to me.

I have pitched other reporters through twitter with varying success, either outright ignoring my pitches or replying kindly that they weren’t interested. Robert Scoble has a friendfeed room designed specifically for pitching him, and he really responds…

It’s a good venue for reaching out to the media because it circumvents the gatekeepers, and in that light I think PR people need to understand how twitter and other platforms work. (Even so, when a writer takes a story idea, they usually still have to clear it with their editor.) But it’s not the place to build a strong, lasting relationship with the media, I think that it can be an ice breaker, but email or phone call or face to face are the best places to build lasting relationships.”

Tonya who is an adjunct professor gave a great tip – to set up keyword searches on Twitter:

“I’ve used Twitter to reach out to journalists and bloggers, schedule interviews, and follow up to their requests. I wouldn’t use a paid or automated service, but I do set up keyword searches on Twitter and follow relevant journalists. Then when the opportunity comes, I’m already there.”

Melissa, a wellness expert said a tweet led to an interview:

“I don’t personally tweet links to press releases but I have had editors from Better Homes and Gardens and Parents Magazine interview me because of a specific tweet that I sent offering a wellness tip.

I also always tweet out my media coverage – you never know who is watching!

I made a list of several national media members on twitter if you’d like to follow. It’s mostly lifestyle oriented.”

She has a Twitter list that includes journalists: http://www.twitter.com/casseracomm

Now it’s your turn to answer – had any luck using Twitter to pitch stories?

I’ll be speaking at the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Utah Chapter for my employer – OrangeSoda.

Day: January 20, 2010
Time: 12pm noon
Location: The Pizza Factory – 2230 North University Parkway, Provo

Members and non-members welcome

Here’s the topic: Pitching to a Search Engine. Here is a preview of my DVD that just came out about this.

We all think of our publics when crafting messages, but have you
been including search engines in that planning? While a search
engine may not be a “traditional” public, 70 million people get
their news online every day, so knowing what a search engine needs
n order to maximize your news reach is a skill set you should, and
can, master.

Janet Meiners Thaeler is the author of I Need a Killer Press
Release, Now What???, and a recognized
expert in the field of SEO, social media, and crafting press
releases for the online world. She recently won the award for “Best
Social Media Content Guru” from the Utah Social Media Club, and her
webinar entitled “Creating a Killer Publicity Strategy with Online
News Releases” for PR Web was attended by thousands and earned her a
spot on PR Web’s list of “Best PRWeb Webinars of 2009.”

Janet will talk to us about how to think of a search engine like a
public, and will teach us best practices that will make your
releases and social media campaigns stand out and be recognized by
these increasingly important news vehicles. You will come away from
this luncheon with tools you can put to use right away and a renewed
confidence in your ability to reach this untraditional, but often
misunderstood public.

Here’s my life in Facebook updates:

Highlights of 2009:

I made my own products, which I should’ve done sooner! Since writing a book I’ve written more about other authors and bought more books myself.

• My book, I Need a Killer Press Release, Now What??? was published and is selling on Amazon and Happy About! (what, you haven’t seen it yet? what are you waiting for)
• A companion DVD – Killer Online Press Releases was produced (and it was a LOT of work, tons of hours but it’s for sale!)
• I’ll soon be selling the audio and transcripts of my webinar with Joan Stewart

I partnered with amazing people & organizations this year:

• Joan Stewart, the Publicity Hound
• Spoke at 2 universities
• Spoke at the American Muslim Consumer Conference (where I was not the only one who didn’t drink)
• One of the judges of the best press releases of 2009 at PRWeb
• webinar with PRWeb (voted one of the best of 2009 and “met” Bill Stroller the Publicity Guru),
• Creating Wealth Podcast with Jason Hartman
• Online PR Podcast with Pete Codella
• webinar with Jeremy Palmer (who taught me that you should always be reading and learning even if you’re successful)
• More to come in January!

I also blogged a lot and started a new online pr blog

• Wrote for Anita Campbell’s Small Business Trends site
• Wrote for the American Express Open Forum
• Wrote for my friends at Dream Systems Media

Next up for 2010:

• Developing my email list – yes it’s amazing that I haven’t done this yet!
• Finishing the update to my SEO press release ebook
• Some book partnerships?
• Create an online store to sell my products

To do on the break

• Read this ebook from the 1800s about the science of wealth
• Finish watching this video of Tim Ferris and finish the 4-Hour Work Week
• Listen to the top webinars of 2009 from Vocus
• Listen to the top 5 webinars of 2009 from PRWeb – mine’s on the list!
• Listen to top webinars of 2009 from Hubspot
• Read and check out the top web sites of 2009 from Time Magazine

On a personal note, I haven’t taken so many vacations or learned as much and worked as hard on my business as I have in 2009.

What was significant about your year? What is in store for 2010? Share in the comments.

Peace, prosperity and fun to you all! Let’s Crush it in 2010!

PRWeb is offering free access to view their Best Webinars of 2009. My webinar with PRWeb and PR expert Bill Stroller is in the top 5.

PRWeb’s top five webinars of 2009 include:

View the Best Webinars of 2009 are available on-demand for a limited-time only. Check them out – I’ve always found PRWeb’s webinars to be top-notch. I was especially interested to hear Greg Jarboe because I mention a case study in my book about Southwest Airlines. It’s a classic. I learned that Greg is the one who was behind the successful campaign.