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The Voice Of Reason

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Let's start at the beginning. Often Marketing and PR are confused. The fundamentals are distinct--yet, they both offer vehicles to build your brand.


What is Marketing? What is PR?


Marketing and public relations (PR) are two distinct disciplines, but they share some common goals and often work together to achieve them. Here are the key differences between marketing and PR:

  1. Goal: The goal of marketing is to create demand for a product or service and ultimately drive sales and revenue. The goal of PR is to build and maintain a positive reputation for a brand, increase brand awareness, and build relationships with stakeholders.

  2. Audience: Marketing typically targets a specific audience, usually based on demographics, interests, and behaviors. PR, on the other hand, targets a broader audience, including the media, investors, employees, customers, and the general public.

  3. Tactics: Marketing tactics include advertising, direct mail, email marketing, social media advertising, and sales promotions. PR tactics include media relations, press releases, events, influencer outreach, and crisis management.

  4. Metrics: Marketing metrics typically focus on sales and revenue, such as conversion rates, customer acquisition costs, and return on investment (ROI). PR metrics typically focus on brand awareness and reputation, such as media mentions, social media engagement, and sentiment analysis.

  5. Timeframe: Marketing campaigns typically have a short-term focus and are designed to achieve specific goals within a set timeframe. PR campaigns, on the other hand, have a long-term focus and are designed to build and maintain a positive reputation over time.

While marketing and PR have different goals and tactics, they both play a critical role in building a strong brand and driving business success. A well-coordinated marketing and PR strategy can help businesses to reach their target audience, build a positive reputation, and ultimately, achieve their business goals.

As an entrepreneur, it's essential to know how to pitch yourself to the media. Whether you're launching a new product, announcing an event, or simply sharing your expertise, getting your message in front of the right people can help increase brand awareness and boost your credibility.




Here's a comprehensive guide on how to pitch yourself to the media, the importance of a media sheet, what you need on the media sheet, and how to be your own PR agent.

  • Identify your target audience

Before you start pitching to the media, it's crucial to identify your target audience. Who are you trying to reach? What publications, blogs, or TV shows do they consume? By understanding your audience, you can tailor your message to resonate with them and increase your chances of getting coverage.

  • Craft a compelling story

To capture the attention of the media, you need to have a compelling story. Your story should be timely, relevant, and unique. Think about what makes your product or service stand out from the competition, what challenges you've overcome, or what trends you're tapping into. Your story should also have a human element – something that people can relate to or be inspired by.

  • Create a media sheet

A media sheet is a one-page document that provides all the essential information that a journalist or producer needs to cover your story. It's like a cheat sheet for the media. The media sheet should include the following:

  • A brief overview of your company or product

  • Your contact information, including email, phone number, and social media handles

  • A short bio or background information on you as an entrepreneur

  • High-resolution images or videos that can be used for the story

  • Any relevant statistics or data that support your story

  • Testimonials from customers or industry experts

NEXT:--->

  • Research media outlets

Once you have your story and media sheet ready, it's time to research media outlets. Look for publications, blogs, or TV shows that cater to your target audience. Study their editorial calendar and see if there are any upcoming opportunities that align with your story.

  • Pitch your story

When pitching your story, it's essential to personalize your message. Address the journalist or producer by name and reference their previous work. Start with a catchy subject line that summarizes your story in a few words. In the body of the email, briefly introduce yourself and your story. Then, offer to provide more information or schedule an interview. Remember to attach your media sheet and any relevant images or videos.

  • Follow up

Journalists and producers receive hundreds of pitches every day, so it's crucial to follow up. If you don't hear back after a week, send a friendly reminder. You can also try reaching out on social media or through a different channel.

  • Be your own PR agent

Finally, to be your own PR agent, you need to be proactive. Don't wait for the media to come to you – seek out opportunities to share your story. Look for speaking engagements, guest blogging opportunities, or podcasts that align with your brand. Use social media to engage with your audience and share your expertise. By being your own PR agent, you can establish yourself as a thought leader and increase your visibility.

I get it, pitching yourself to the media can be a daunting task, but with the right strategy and mindset, you can make it happen. By identifying your target audience, crafting a compelling story, creating a media sheet, researching media outlets, personalizing your pitch, following up, and being your own PR agent, you can increase your

Now that you understand the process here are some of my favorite PR tools:

  1. HARO (Help a Reporter Out): HARO is a free service that connects journalists with sources for their stories. You can sign up to receive daily emails with queries from journalists who are looking for sources for their articles. Responding to a HARO query can be an excellent way to get media coverage and increase your visibility.

  2. Cision: Cision is a paid service that offers media monitoring, media contact database, and PR measurement tools. You can use Cision to research journalists and media outlets, build media lists, track media coverage, and measure the impact of your PR efforts.

  3. Muck Rack: Muck Rack is a paid service that helps you find journalists, monitor media coverage, and track your PR campaigns. You can use Muck Rack to build media lists, pitch journalists, track your coverage, and measure the impact of your PR efforts.

  4. Canva: Canva is a free graphic design tool that allows you to create high-quality visuals for your media presence. You can use Canva to create media sheets, press releases, social media graphics, and other marketing materials.

  5. BuzzSumo: BuzzSumo is a paid tool that allows you to research content trends and influencers in your industry. You can use BuzzSumo to find popular content, identify key influencers, and track social media mentions.

  6. Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a free tool that allows you to track website traffic and measure the effectiveness of your PR campaigns. You can use Google Analytics to see how many people are visiting your website, where they're coming from, and which pages are most popular.

By using these tools, you can streamline your PR efforts, identify media opportunities, and measure the impact of your media presence. PR does not have to cost a lot--it just costs a little elbow grease.


More Questions? Reach out! --> julie@themediacasters.com


YOU GOT THIS--Jules

And don't forget to check out my Media Workshop--
You will get all the tools you need to pitch yourself and create a powerful media presence.

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This week, I wrote a partnership agreement in 3 minutes. This week I sent out 2 email sequences in 4 minutes. Today, I sent found 50 curated hashtags in 1 minute.


WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD OF CHAT GTP

What is Chat GPT?


ChatGPT: Is Revolutionizing the Landscape for Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized various industries, and the latest addition to this trend is OpenAI's ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a language model that has been trained on a massive dataset to understand human language and generate human-like responses. The model has been designed to assist businesses and entrepreneurs in a number of ways and is set to change the employment landscape as we know it.


Improving Efficiency and Agility

One of the most significant benefits of ChatGPT for businesses and entrepreneurs is its ability to automate tedious and repetitive tasks. ChatGPT can handle customer service inquiries, answer frequently asked questions, and even generate reports, freeing up employees to focus on more critical tasks. This increased efficiency and agility will allow businesses to save time and money while improving the overall customer experience.


Reducing Employment Costs

ChatGPT has the potential to change the employment landscape by reducing the need for a large workforce. With the ability to automate routine tasks, businesses can reduce their employment costs, freeing up resources that can be redirected toward growth and development. This reduction in employment costs will allow businesses to remain competitive and maintain their bottom line in a rapidly changing economy.


Enhancing Customer Experience

ChatGPT has been designed to provide quick and accurate responses to customer inquiries, improving the overall customer experience. The model's ability to understand natural language and provide human-like responses means that customers can receive the information they need quickly and easily, without having to navigate complex menus or wait on hold for hours. This enhanced customer experience will drive customer loyalty and improve a business's reputation.


Providing 24/7 Support

Another major benefit of ChatGPT is its ability to provide 24/7 support. Businesses can use the model to handle customer inquiries outside of regular business hours, ensuring that their customers receive the support they need when they need it. This round-the-clock support will help businesses maintain a competitive edge and provide a significant boost to their bottom line.


While this innovative powerhouse has the potential to change how we do business, are there issues looming with this AI advancement?


ChatGPT and other AI technologies have the potential to automate certain tasks that were previously done by humans. This could result in job losses in certain industries. However, it's important to note that AI also has the potential to create new jobs and improve existing jobs by making them more efficient and fulfilling.


The jobs most at risk of being automated by ChatGPT and other AI technologies are those that involve routine, repetitive tasks, such as data entry, customer service, and certain types of administrative work. For example, ChatGPT can be used to automate routine customer service tasks, like answering frequently asked questions, which could lead to job losses for customer service representatives.


However, it's important to understand that AI is not going to replace all jobs. Instead, it will change the nature of work and create new opportunities for people to use their unique skills and talents in new and exciting ways. For example, AI can help humans be more productive and creative, allowing them to focus on the tasks that require their unique abilities and skills.


So, while ChatGPT and other AI technologies may have the potential to eradicate certain jobs, it's important to remember that they also have the potential to create new jobs and enhance the quality of existing jobs. And, as with any new technology, it's up to us to determine how it will be used and how it will impact our lives and our work.



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The Deets: This is why I think ChatGPT is a non-negotiable

Here's why I love ChatGPT and why it has captured my heart:


  1. Chatting with ChatGPT feels like talking to a real person: ChatGPT has been designed to understand and respond to natural language, which means that chatting with it feels like talking to a real person. Whether I'm asking a question, making a request, or just having a casual conversation, ChatGPT always provides human-like responses that are natural and engaging.

  2. ChatGPT helps me save time and be more productive: ChatGPT can automate routine tasks, like writing reports or answering frequently asked questions. This saves me time and helps me be more productive, so I can focus on the things that are truly important to me.

  3. ChatGPT is always available: ChatGPT is always available, 24/7, which means I can use it whenever I need it. Whether I'm working on a project in the middle of the night or need an answer to a question on the weekend, ChatGPT is always there to help.

  4. ChatGPT makes me feel like I have a super-smart friend: ChatGPT is like having a super-smart friend who can answer any question I have, help me with my projects, and even make me laugh. It's always there for me, and I love that feeling of having a trustworthy and intelligent companion.

So, whether you're looking to save time, be more productive, or just have a fun conversation, ChatGPT is an amazing tool that I wholeheartedly recommend. It has captured my heart, and I know it will do the same for you.


You Got This--Jules


Julie Lokun, JD, is the founder of The Mediacasters, a mission-based company that elevates the visibility of entrepreneurs and creatives through podcasting, publishing, and public speaking. Julie is the author of 4 best-selling entrepreneurial books and hosts three podcasts.


Julie is a writer at heart and contributes to Entrepreneur Magazine and Mind Valley.

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It's difficult to make specific predictions about the business climate in 2023, as it will be affected by a number of factors such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, economic conditions, and political developments. However, here are some potential trends and factors that could shape the business environment in 2023:

Why listen to me?


I am an advocate for brand builders who are looking to change the landscape of their businesses. I am a writer for Entrepreneur Magazine, a badass business builder and facilitator of dreams. If you like what you read-check out my podcasts, OBSESSED, and THE MEDIACASTERS.



Remote work and hybrid models: Remote work and hybrid models of working may become the norm as companies adapt to the changes brought by the pandemic.

  1. Increased focus on sustainability: Companies may be under greater pressure to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their environmental impact, as well as adapt to the potential effects of climate change on their operations.

  2. Continued pressure on data privacy and security: Companies will have to continue to comply with data privacy regulations and protect sensitive information.

  3. Supply chain disruptions: Companies may continue to face challenges with supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic's effect on global trade and logistics.

  4. Emphasis on Innovation: Companies will need to focus on innovation to stay competitive in the market.

  5. Increased demand for e-commerce and digital platforms: With the pandemic's effect on consumer behavior, e-commerce and digital platforms will continue to grow in popularity.




Overall, the business environment in 2023 may be shaped by a combination of pandemic recovery, economic conditions, and technological advances, which may present both challenges and opportunities for companies.

My Favorite Free tools on the Internet to Grow your Business

There are many free tools available on the internet that can help businesses grow and improve their operations. Here are a few examples and ones I am obsessed with:

  1. Google Analytics: This is a free web analytics service that provides insights into website traffic and visitor behavior.

  2. Hootsuite: This is a free social media management tool that allows businesses to schedule and publish content on multiple social media platforms.

  3. Mailchimp: This is a free email marketing tool that allows businesses to create and send email campaigns to their subscribers.

  4. Canva: This is a free graphic design tool that allows businesses to create professional-looking designs for social media posts, flyers, brochures, and other marketing materials.

  5. Trello: This is a free project management tool that allows businesses to organize and track tasks and projects.

  6. Zoom: This is a free video conferencing and webinar tool that allows businesses to conduct remote meetings and webinars.

  7. Google Docs: This is a free online office suite that allows businesses to create and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

  8. HubSpot CRM: This is a free customer relationship management tool that allows businesses to manage and track leads, customer interactions, and sales.

  9. Yoast SEO: This is a free WordPress plugin that allows businesses to improve their website's search engine optimization (SEO).

  10. SEMrush: This is a free tool that allows businesses to track their website's ranking and performance in search engines, as well as those of their competitors.

Keep in mind that these are just a few examples, and there are many other free tools available on the internet that can help businesses grow and improve their operations. It is most important for you to recognize that you need to be consistently agile and open to innovation. Understand that multiple revenue streams is the key to supporting all business plans.


And don't forget to reach out to mentors, coaches, consultants, and other amazing humans that have paved the way before you. After all, if you feel you know it all and are the smartest person in the room--you are limiting your potential.


You Got This--Jules



Why listen to me?


I am an advocate for brand builders who are looking to change the landscape of their businesses. I am a writer for Entrepreneur Magazine, a badass business builder and facilitator of dreams. If you like what you read-check out my podcasts, OBSESSED, and THE MEDIACASTERS.



If you do not connect with my message-let me know why the heck not!




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