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7 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Get Successful Media Exposure

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7 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Get Successful Media Exposure

Today more than ever it is important for entrepreneurs to differentiate themselves from others in their space. To get noticed, you will need to stand out.

The best way to do so is to create a strategic publicity plan consisting of several ways to get media exposure for your brands and products. Make sure each step of your plan works together to help you achieve your overall desired goal.

Here are 7 ways to get media exposure:

 

1. Building relationships with the media

Besides having a publicity plan, building relationships with a journalist, host, and producers are very important, and will be key to your success in getting exposure. This means Googling them, following them on social media, and determining what kind of content best suits their audience. This also means following their specific guidelines that they have laid out on their sites for submission and interview requests.

 

2. Get good at telling your story

The media and their audiences love a great story! Going on multiple interviews and speaking to groups provides you a way to practice your storytelling as well as increasing your exposure. The more you tell your story the better you get at delivering it. You create raving fans when you can eloquently tell your story in a way that captivates their attention.

“Stories grab us. They take us in, transport us, and allow us to live vicariously and visually through another’s experience.” – Kristi Hedges

3. Podcasts and traditional radio

In the last 3 years podcasting has become a conduit for people to connect to influencers in their field, and to successfully get the word out about their brands and products. You can start a podcast of your own or be a guest on one that talks about the field you are an expert in.

Podcasts are often pre-recorded, making it more convenient for listeners to go back and listen to a show when their time allows it.

Even though podcasts have become increasingly popular, being Interviewed on traditional. AM/FM radio is still a way to share your message. Podcasts and radio stations are now working together,  by using pre-recorded shows to share on the traditional syndicated airwaves.

 

4. Become a syndicated columnist

Being a contributing writer for a large platform will build your credibility, differentiate you from others in your field, give you access to millions of potential clients, and send traffic to your website. Which will help you build your subscriber list, and sell your products.

 

5. Social media

Social media is the place where you can get to know not only the people in the media but also the people who follow you and are a fan of your work. You can share your radio and podcast interviews on social media, as well as share the places you have been noted. This gives you the opportunity to engage with those following you and encourage them to share your work on platforms such as:

  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

“Technology and social media have brought power back to the people.” – Mark McKinnon

6. Align yourself with a cause

There is nothing more heart touching than showing people how much you care about a cause. Align your business services and products with a cause that means something to you, and offer a percentage of the proceeds to be donated to the cause. The organization will often place you on their website, and even in their newsletters.

 

7. Hire a publicist

Not every entrepreneur will hire a publicist, but for those who do, remember a publicist role is not to sell your books and products; their job is to get you in front of audiences so that you can. No one will ever be able to sell your audience on you better than you can!

When you hire a publicist, you hire them for their ability to position you in the media, coordinate your schedule with the media and their connections and likeability, and most importantly their time.

 

Getting media exposure takes a lot of work, but having a publicity plan in place will give you a roadmap to follow. Eventually, people will be calling you to learn more about what you do because your name will be everywhere.

Thank you for reading my article! Which one do you think is the most important to your success?

I am a 5 time stage 4 cancer survivor who founded a company called 2 Dream Productions,Inc. There was a time in my life I did not think I would get to live my own dreams so I created a company to help others live theirs. It was through their dreams I began to live my own. I am contributing writer for places such as the Huffington Post, The Good Men Project, and She Owns It. My goal is to inspire others to live their dreams and to leave a legacy for those who dare to believe that anything is possible. You can find me at www.michellecolonjohnson.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/2DreamProductions?pnref=lhc.

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Startups

5 Strategic Power Moves to Successfully Build Your Empire

Transitioning from idea to empire is a journey of strategic planning, execution, and constant evolution

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how to build your empire

The journey from a fledgling idea to a thriving empire is both exhilarating and daunting. The Startup Launchpad is not just a process but also a strategic framework that enables visionary entrepreneurs to become market leaders. This framework comprises five power moves, each a critical steppingstone in building a successful business.

These moves—Ideation, Business Plan, Online Presence, Strategic Marketing, and Launch and Growth—are the blueprint for turning aspirations into achievements. (more…)

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How to Avoid Startup Clichés and Buzzwords When Pitching Investors

Using jargon can make you sound like you’re trying to fill space instead of providing meaningful data

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How to pitch investors better

Entrepreneurs frequently seek startup funding through a variety of channels. Yet, none seem as challenging as successfully pitching to experienced investors. After all, investors are pressed for time and eager for opportunities. These characteristics make it challenging to motivate them, especially if you’re bombarding them with a pitch full of jargon. (more…)

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From Idea to Empire: 5 Power Moves for Your Startup to Thrive in Today’s Market

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial

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How to thrive in the startup market in 2024

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial.

A few months into the startup, I was quick to gauge why it is necessary to go beyond the nuances of operational efficiency and the art of sustaining a business amid growing competition.

Collaboration is key.

The HR and the recruiting teams work with departments to foster a culture of collaboration, but what’s indispensable to business performance is the sync between the marketing and sales teams. What we’d consider as entrepreneurs is the need to ensure seamless collaboration to predict and achieve business goals together. In turn, this will help secure long-term recurring revenue for the business.

Besides, entrepreneurs need to focus on revenue as they gear up to take their startup from $0 to $1 million. The journey is filled with critical decisions, from identifying your target customer base to choosing the right funding strategy.

So, what next?

Read on… because here are five practical, results-driven strategies that you as a founder can implement to make a mark in their industry.

#1. Embrace the Lean Methodology

What is lean methodology?

It is all about pivoting resources to create more value for customers with fewer resources. 

This principle encourages you to be more agile and allow rapid iteration based on customer feedback rather than spending years perfecting a product before it hits the market.

Want to implement it?

Here’s what you can do.

Build “Measure-Learn” Loop: What I did was develop a minimum viable product (MVP), a simple version of the product. You can do the same since it allows you to start the learning process as quickly as possible. After launching MVP, measure how customers use it and learn from their behaviors and feedback.

Here’s what I can recommend here:

  • Identify the core features that solve your customers’ primary needs and focus solely on those to develop your MVP.
  • Know the feedback channels where early users can communicate their experiences, suggestions, and complaints.
  • Analyze user behavior and feedback to make informed product development and iteration decisions.

#2. Focus on Customer Development

Let’s talk about taking our startup to the next level. 

It’s not just about getting customers – it’s about really getting to know them. We need to dive into their world, understand their struggles, and see how our product or service can make a difference in their lives. 

It’s like we’re detectives, piecing together the puzzle of our business hypothesis by actually chatting with our customers

What would you ideally do here?

Understand Customer Segments: I’d say, start dividing your target market into segments and develop a deep understanding of each segment’s demographics, behaviors, needs, and pain points. The idea is to get into their shoes and really feel what they feel.

Ensure your Product Clicks: When starting up, think of what you offer and consider whether it clicks with what our customers need. My thought was “Does my product solve their problems? Does it make their day better?” Put yourself through a tough grilling session to show customers the value proposition and ensure that the product’s promise matches what our customers are looking for.

I’d recommend the following actions here:

  • Talk to them – through surveys, interviews, or even casual chats. The goal? To gather real, raw insights about what they need and expect.
  • Use the collected data to create detailed profiles for each type of customer. This way, everyone on our team really understood we were serving. I think this should help your startup as well.
  • Try out different versions of our product with a few customer groups. It’s all about feedback here – understanding if you’re hitting the mark or if we need to pivot.

#3. Foster a Data-Driven Culture

The digital world is highly data driven since it fuels key decisions in a startup. 

I believe it’s essential for us to build a data-driven culture. This means, you’ll move from making decisions based on hunches or assumptions. Instead, the focus should be on data analytics and insights to guide our strategies and improve our outcomes.

What can you do?

Use Data Analytics Tools: You should be using these tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data related to customer behavior, market trends, and our business operations. Here, consider the adoption of pipeline forecasting that leverages AI to find patterns in marketing data. 

In turn, you’ll get areas for improvement since it can analyze historical data and predict the outcome for you to plan your.

Action Items:

  • Pinpoint key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your business objectives and ensure they are measurable and actionable.
  • Next, you can consider training your team to understand and use data analytics tools. This might involve workshops or bringing in experts to build a data-savvy workforce.
  • Once everything is in place, regularly review data reports and dashboards. This gives us a clear picture of a startup’s health and helps adjust your strategies and predict future trends.

#4. Strengthen Your Financial Acumen

A good grip on financial skills is important to steer your business towards growth and making sure it stays on track. For this, you’ll have to understand the money side of things, which helps you manage your cash flow. Think of figuring out smart investment moves and sizing up any risks that come your way.

Here’s a tip on how you can get savvy with your finances.

Maintain Rigorous Financial Discipline: I’m really focused on cultivating a strong company culture, one that truly resonates with our mission. So, I’d suggest fostering open communication and encouraging a sense of ownership and collaboration among everyone in the team.

Action Items:

  • Get to know your financial statements inside out – I’m talking about the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. These are like the vital signs for your business’s financial health
  • Use financial forecasting that helps predict your future money moves. With this, you will have a heads-up on upcoming revenues, expenses, and how much cash you’ll need. Also, research on the available financial forecasting tools that can make predictions spot-on.
  • Don’t go at it alone. Regularly touch base with financial advisors or mentors. With them by your side, you’ll have a fresh perspective on your financial strategies to ensure you’re on the right path to hit your business goals.

5. Prioritize Team Building and Leadership Development

It is crucial to focus on building a solid team and developing strong leaders. This means putting our resources into the people who are going to propel our company forward. 

What you’ll aim for here?

Creating a culture where everyone collaborates and every team member has the chance to emerge as a leader.

What I would do:

Cultivate a Strong Company Culture: This culture should mirror our mission and foster open communication. It’s important that it encourages everyone to feel a sense of ownership and work together.

Invest in Leadership and Team Development: As founders, we’ll have to make way for opportunities for teams to enhance their skills, face new challenges, and grow in their careers.

Some concrete steps that you should consider taking:

  • Begin with clearly communicating your startup’s vision, mission, and values so that every team member is on the same page.
  • Conduct regular team-building activities and workshops to boost skills and strengthen a sense of unity and collaboration.
  • How about starting a mentorship program within our organization? The more experienced team members could guide and support the growth of newer or less experienced folks.
  • Alas… encourage feedback at all levels. We should keep striving to create an environment where open, honest communication is the norm and everyone feels safe to speak up.

I know it’s one thing to get your head around these ideas and quite another to actually make them a part of your everyday business life. But that’s where the real magic happens, right? It’s all in the doing. 

As a startup founder, this means more than just being a big dreamer. How about rolling up your sleeves to be the planner who pays attention to the smallest details. Ultimately, these tips and more tactics around it will help carve a leader in you who listens and cares and the learner who’s always ready to adapt

So, as you’re either starting out or moving forward on this entrepreneurial adventure, keep these practical tips right there.

May these be your guiding lights, helping you steer through the wild and exciting world of building a startup that’s not just a dream, but a thriving reality.

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12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup

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Image Credit: Unsplash

A few weeks ago I launched my startup. It took exactly 12 months from the initial idea until the moment I saw my app in the App Store. And these were some of the most challenging, fun and exciting 12 months of my whole life. (more…)

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