Expatica.com published my article on both the French and Swiss editions today.
"Where can I find a hair salon?" is the #1 question women of color, especially, ask me about visiting, working, and living in Paris and now Geneva.
When in Paris or Geneva, check them out.
Here are more options from my pal, Priscilla Lalisse of Prissy Magazine in Paris.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
On Writing News Releases that Work…
If you missed Hubspot's free Webinar on News Releases, check out this presentation. I'll have more to add on this topic in my next entry so stayed tuned!
http://www.hubspot.com/archive/news-releases
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Switzerland: Europe’s Best-kept Secret!
Expatica.ch, a really great English-speaking resource publication, interviewed me this week about living and working in Switzerland. It was a fun interview!
You can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/q43uho
People often ask me about the differences between working and networking in the United States and Europe. They also ask me about the differences between the U.S. and Europe when it comes to gaining media coverage. The differences are vast at times when it comes to networking (both online and offline), but when it comes to gaining media exposure, most of the same rules often apply.
I apologize for not blogging more often, but I took a little break to get my family settled and also to move from Paris to Geneva. Now, I'm so happy to be back and can't wait to share some new ideas with everyone so that they can get their in-house media engines all revved up and going!
The rise of social media is such an interesting piece to add into the media mix. How it's altering the ways in which we communicate with journalists as well as potential customers is fascinating as well. I'll be blogging and tweeting more about what this all means for the small-businesses owners. If you have any questions or topics you'd like me to cover, email me or follow me on Twitter!
Monday, November 01, 2004
Getting More Mileage Out of Your Media Coverage
For me the best part about working in media relations is actually seeing your news story in the media. I guess because media placements are tangible results of all the hard work you've done on the behalf of a client or an organization. The feeling can be so exhilarating and addictive that once you've seen that piece in the newspapers or in some electronic medium, all you want to do is go out and get more.
Many small-business owners know this feeling all too well, and they do a fantastic job in securing the initial news coverage but unfortunately, they often forget to do the little things that can give that coverage some extra mileage.
For example, the last time that your company was featured in a news story, what did you do to get a little extra mileage? Yes, you probably showed the article to your family and friends. You might have even distributed a copy of the media clip around the office.
Next time consider the following options for giving your media coverage that extra mileage:
1. Send local news coverage to nationally based reporters or syndicated columnists; nationally recognized pieces to high profile magazines; highest profiled print pieces to electronic media.
2. Frame all media clips and hang them in the president's office.
3. Hang framed media clips in the office lobby or waiting room. Place extra copies on the tables in the office lobby and also in conference rooms.
4. Convert media coverage to either HTML or Acrobat PDF files and post them on your company website. Supply the appropriate links to your media coverage so that visitors can find your info on your website or through search engines.
5. Include the most high profiled media clips available in company sales kits and also company press packages.
6. Use excerpts of the media clips in company brochures.
7. Send media clips to venture capitalists or company's banking institution.
8. Distribute the media clips to strategic partners.
9. Hand out media clips at trade shows, conferences, seminars and networking events as part of your event packet.
10. Mail the media clips to trade associations representing your company's industry.
11. Keep employees, key team members (attorneys, accountants, etc.), customers, and vendors informed by highlighting the media clips in the company newsletter.
12. Turn the media clips into a sales tool and send to all prospective clients.
13. Print out all media clips and maintain them in a media file so they can be copied and sent at a moment's notice.
14. Turn your Outlook address book into a media coverage distribution list.
15. Add a link to the news story in your e-mail signature.
The bottom line is this. What you do after securing the media coverage matters just as much as what you've done before. So go out there and put your company on the map. Who knows? Getting some extra mileage out your media coverage could bring your company an additional client, strategic partner or more media coverage - all very good things, indeed!
Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondavé Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her by e-mail.
Many small-business owners know this feeling all too well, and they do a fantastic job in securing the initial news coverage but unfortunately, they often forget to do the little things that can give that coverage some extra mileage.
For example, the last time that your company was featured in a news story, what did you do to get a little extra mileage? Yes, you probably showed the article to your family and friends. You might have even distributed a copy of the media clip around the office.
Next time consider the following options for giving your media coverage that extra mileage:
1. Send local news coverage to nationally based reporters or syndicated columnists; nationally recognized pieces to high profile magazines; highest profiled print pieces to electronic media.
2. Frame all media clips and hang them in the president's office.
3. Hang framed media clips in the office lobby or waiting room. Place extra copies on the tables in the office lobby and also in conference rooms.
4. Convert media coverage to either HTML or Acrobat PDF files and post them on your company website. Supply the appropriate links to your media coverage so that visitors can find your info on your website or through search engines.
5. Include the most high profiled media clips available in company sales kits and also company press packages.
6. Use excerpts of the media clips in company brochures.
7. Send media clips to venture capitalists or company's banking institution.
8. Distribute the media clips to strategic partners.
9. Hand out media clips at trade shows, conferences, seminars and networking events as part of your event packet.
10. Mail the media clips to trade associations representing your company's industry.
11. Keep employees, key team members (attorneys, accountants, etc.), customers, and vendors informed by highlighting the media clips in the company newsletter.
12. Turn the media clips into a sales tool and send to all prospective clients.
13. Print out all media clips and maintain them in a media file so they can be copied and sent at a moment's notice.
14. Turn your Outlook address book into a media coverage distribution list.
15. Add a link to the news story in your e-mail signature.
The bottom line is this. What you do after securing the media coverage matters just as much as what you've done before. So go out there and put your company on the map. Who knows? Getting some extra mileage out your media coverage could bring your company an additional client, strategic partner or more media coverage - all very good things, indeed!
Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondavé Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her by e-mail.
Friday, October 01, 2004
Putting the Local Spin on a Global Story
If you run a small business and occasionally there is a demand for your products or services overseas, should you really be concerned about attaining foreign media coverage? A friend in Chicago, who runs a consulting firm catering to upscale clients in Europe, asked me this question recently. The short answer to her question is yes!
Businesses of all sizes are competing in a global economy. Almost all companies have web sites, and if you are selling products or services directly through your website, then the chances are great that many of your clients may reside outside of the United States. So if your company sells widgets and they are selling like Fish 'n Chips in London, why not contact one of the business reporters at the Times to tell your story? Here are a couple of examples to illustrate my point.
A few years ago while working for a small online publishing firm, our marketing team monitored our web traffic reports every month. Over time we discovered that a large segment of our readership were Russian. The traffic was so significant that we eventually launched a Russian edition of the magazine complete with Russian columnists. We, of course, threw a media party in Moscow and invited the local media. When the magazine debuted we received some great press coverage from the Russian newspapers.
It happened again while handling PR for another online publisher. When the company wanted to launch a Spanish edition of their website, our team contacted the Spanish news wires. The company's president conducted interviews in both Spanish and English and the story was disseminated across Spanish newspaper and radio outlets throughout the United States and also Latin America.
Intimidation and language barrier fears are probably the main reasons why more small-business owners are unwilling to make contact with the foreign press. Although communication may be a problem in some instances, don't forget that English is the language of international business. Thus, you'd be surprised by just how many journalists speak English because a lot of them have worked in the United States covering stories.
But if you're still nervous about contacting the foreign press then there are two useful tactics.
First, make contact via e-mail rather than phone. Even if the reporter doesn't speak perfect English, chances are he or she will still be able to understand written communication perfectly well.
Second, most foreign newspapers maintain a news bureau in major cities. It's usually just one reporter covering stories, but contact them with your story idea. Even though they're are often very busy, they still are always hungry for a great story.
The bottom line is this. All news is local. Whether the reporter is in London, Bangalore or Indianapolis, they all want the same thing: a great story that appeals to the local audience and is relevant to the news beat that they cover. Never losing sight of the impact your products or services have on a foreign audience yet also being able to make a meaningful connection is an invaluable skill that anyone can learn with practice. Not only will you be showing the local reporter that you understand them, but it will just make your story that much more appealing. And that's how you put the local spin on a global story.
Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondavé Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her by e-mail.
Businesses of all sizes are competing in a global economy. Almost all companies have web sites, and if you are selling products or services directly through your website, then the chances are great that many of your clients may reside outside of the United States. So if your company sells widgets and they are selling like Fish 'n Chips in London, why not contact one of the business reporters at the Times to tell your story? Here are a couple of examples to illustrate my point.
A few years ago while working for a small online publishing firm, our marketing team monitored our web traffic reports every month. Over time we discovered that a large segment of our readership were Russian. The traffic was so significant that we eventually launched a Russian edition of the magazine complete with Russian columnists. We, of course, threw a media party in Moscow and invited the local media. When the magazine debuted we received some great press coverage from the Russian newspapers.
It happened again while handling PR for another online publisher. When the company wanted to launch a Spanish edition of their website, our team contacted the Spanish news wires. The company's president conducted interviews in both Spanish and English and the story was disseminated across Spanish newspaper and radio outlets throughout the United States and also Latin America.
Intimidation and language barrier fears are probably the main reasons why more small-business owners are unwilling to make contact with the foreign press. Although communication may be a problem in some instances, don't forget that English is the language of international business. Thus, you'd be surprised by just how many journalists speak English because a lot of them have worked in the United States covering stories.
But if you're still nervous about contacting the foreign press then there are two useful tactics.
First, make contact via e-mail rather than phone. Even if the reporter doesn't speak perfect English, chances are he or she will still be able to understand written communication perfectly well.
Second, most foreign newspapers maintain a news bureau in major cities. It's usually just one reporter covering stories, but contact them with your story idea. Even though they're are often very busy, they still are always hungry for a great story.
The bottom line is this. All news is local. Whether the reporter is in London, Bangalore or Indianapolis, they all want the same thing: a great story that appeals to the local audience and is relevant to the news beat that they cover. Never losing sight of the impact your products or services have on a foreign audience yet also being able to make a meaningful connection is an invaluable skill that anyone can learn with practice. Not only will you be showing the local reporter that you understand them, but it will just make your story that much more appealing. And that's how you put the local spin on a global story.
Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondavé Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her by e-mail.
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
The Power is in the "Pitch" Letter
Ask the average small-business owner and most will tell you that they know they need to actively promote their businesses to the media. Sometimes it's a matter of not knowing where to begin, but many fall short of achieving their publicity goals when faced with the prospect of having to write the dreaded press release. Yikes!!
Yes, writing press releases can be a scary affair, but did you know that there's an even more effective tool available in your PR arsenal? It's called the "Pitch Letter." Taking time to learn how to write one skillfully in order to attract the media's attention could reap far greater benefits than a traditional press release and here's why.
Writing an effective pitch letter accomplishes two goals. It not only shows the reporter that you understand your business and how it fits into a specific industry, but it also shows the reporter that you understand what types of stories he or she likes to cover. The reporter will be impressed that you've done your homework.
Pitch letters are personalized. You can't send out pitch letters to reporters blindly - not even to a targeted list of reporters all covering the same industry. So when a reporter gets your letter, he or she surely knows that the letter received is tailored to his or her needs alone.
Pitch letters are meant to be exclusive. You may have some basic points that are important for all reporters to know about your business, but your primary job is to craft a relevant, yet different story angle for each targeted reporter.
Consider these eight steps when constructing your pitch letter:
1. Begin with a greeting.
2. Introduce an intriguing issue relevant to the reporter. This is the first paragraph of your letter, and use it to demonstrate your familiarity with a specific reporter's work and the topics he or she covers.
3. State a relevant problem and/or consequence. Identify an emerging trend or big issue within your industry, and prove that you understand its impact in both the long and short term.
Provide a solution and introduce your company. Introduce your company and describe how your services provide solutions. Emphasize why your solutions or ideas should matter - not only to the reporter but to your potential customers.
4. Supply a link to background information. Direct the reporter to your online newsroom to review company press releases, fact sheets and third-party testimonials.
5. Close with an action you intend the reporter to take and thank them for their consideration. Ask the reporter to consider visiting your company website; invite the reporter on a tour of your facilities if appropriate, or simply ask the reporter to contact you via phone or e-mail to discuss details for a possible feature story.
6. Include all means of contact. Add you name, title, company and mailing address. Reporters must know how to reach you in a 24-hour cycle so also include your phone number (office, home and cell), fax number, pager number, e-mail address, and your IM address.
7. Keep your letter short. After writing a draft continue editing until the message is informative, concise and direct. The reporter will greatly appreciate this gesture because it's considerate. Reporters don't have time to read long missives.
Keep in mind that the number of reporters targeted doesn't matter nearly as much as the impact and size of the reporter's' readership. Targeting one reporter might yield greater results than sending a press release to 100 reporters. That's why if given a choice, many PR professionals will spend the extra time cultivating, one-on-one relationships with one reporter at a time. This is also why it takes a long time to actually attain media coverage.
Here's an example to illustrate my point. It might be very important for your company to receive media coverage among reporters covering the automotive industry. Therefore you might want to spend time getting to know the needs of the automotive reporter at USA Today and pitching him or her ideas in hopes of securing a large feature rather than sending out general press releases to all the automotive reporters in your database. A press release sent out to hundreds of reporters might only get a couple of lines of coverage. The exclusive pitch to one reporter at a major newspaper or magazine might yield a full-page article so the value is tremendous.
The bottom line is this. By no means would I ever suggest that small-business owners stop writing and issuing press releases to the media completely. However, sometimes there are better ways of getting the media's attention, and you can achieve masterful results simply by varying the means in which you make contact. Whether you're a small-business owner handling your own media relations or part of a small in-house team, your goals are always to build long-lasting relationships with the media and to maximize coverage opportunities. The ability to achieve these goals often can be found in the power of the "pitch" letter.
Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondavé Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her by e-mail.
Yes, writing press releases can be a scary affair, but did you know that there's an even more effective tool available in your PR arsenal? It's called the "Pitch Letter." Taking time to learn how to write one skillfully in order to attract the media's attention could reap far greater benefits than a traditional press release and here's why.
Writing an effective pitch letter accomplishes two goals. It not only shows the reporter that you understand your business and how it fits into a specific industry, but it also shows the reporter that you understand what types of stories he or she likes to cover. The reporter will be impressed that you've done your homework.
Pitch letters are personalized. You can't send out pitch letters to reporters blindly - not even to a targeted list of reporters all covering the same industry. So when a reporter gets your letter, he or she surely knows that the letter received is tailored to his or her needs alone.
Pitch letters are meant to be exclusive. You may have some basic points that are important for all reporters to know about your business, but your primary job is to craft a relevant, yet different story angle for each targeted reporter.
Consider these eight steps when constructing your pitch letter:
1. Begin with a greeting.
2. Introduce an intriguing issue relevant to the reporter. This is the first paragraph of your letter, and use it to demonstrate your familiarity with a specific reporter's work and the topics he or she covers.
3. State a relevant problem and/or consequence. Identify an emerging trend or big issue within your industry, and prove that you understand its impact in both the long and short term.
Provide a solution and introduce your company. Introduce your company and describe how your services provide solutions. Emphasize why your solutions or ideas should matter - not only to the reporter but to your potential customers.
4. Supply a link to background information. Direct the reporter to your online newsroom to review company press releases, fact sheets and third-party testimonials.
5. Close with an action you intend the reporter to take and thank them for their consideration. Ask the reporter to consider visiting your company website; invite the reporter on a tour of your facilities if appropriate, or simply ask the reporter to contact you via phone or e-mail to discuss details for a possible feature story.
6. Include all means of contact. Add you name, title, company and mailing address. Reporters must know how to reach you in a 24-hour cycle so also include your phone number (office, home and cell), fax number, pager number, e-mail address, and your IM address.
7. Keep your letter short. After writing a draft continue editing until the message is informative, concise and direct. The reporter will greatly appreciate this gesture because it's considerate. Reporters don't have time to read long missives.
Keep in mind that the number of reporters targeted doesn't matter nearly as much as the impact and size of the reporter's' readership. Targeting one reporter might yield greater results than sending a press release to 100 reporters. That's why if given a choice, many PR professionals will spend the extra time cultivating, one-on-one relationships with one reporter at a time. This is also why it takes a long time to actually attain media coverage.
Here's an example to illustrate my point. It might be very important for your company to receive media coverage among reporters covering the automotive industry. Therefore you might want to spend time getting to know the needs of the automotive reporter at USA Today and pitching him or her ideas in hopes of securing a large feature rather than sending out general press releases to all the automotive reporters in your database. A press release sent out to hundreds of reporters might only get a couple of lines of coverage. The exclusive pitch to one reporter at a major newspaper or magazine might yield a full-page article so the value is tremendous.
The bottom line is this. By no means would I ever suggest that small-business owners stop writing and issuing press releases to the media completely. However, sometimes there are better ways of getting the media's attention, and you can achieve masterful results simply by varying the means in which you make contact. Whether you're a small-business owner handling your own media relations or part of a small in-house team, your goals are always to build long-lasting relationships with the media and to maximize coverage opportunities. The ability to achieve these goals often can be found in the power of the "pitch" letter.
Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondavé Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her by e-mail.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Finding Your Company's "Wow" Factor
Sometimes when trying out a new PR angle for one of my clients or for my own company, I ring up my best friend in Chicago. Somehow by doing so and monitoring her reactions to my idea, I can accurately gauge whether or not the story will be receptive to the media.
My best friend's insight is always helpful; not because she's a reporter or a member of the media, but because she's your average newspaper reader and television news watcher. She represents the average reporter's audience. And if ever during a conversation she says, "Wow, I didn't know that!" I know that I've struck gold because it means that I've found the "Wow" Factor, and I probably have an interesting story to tell to reporters.
So what is this "Wow" Factor and why is it important? At its most basic level, it's a test for newsworthiness. In addition, I like to think of it as that certain something that ordinary readers just find interesting about any story. The information can be historical in nature, thought-provoking or eyebrow raising, funny or a satisfying tidbit for the curious minded.
Recently I put my friend to the test when a client from Paris, an American expatriate and cookbook author, was planning a small promotional book tour in selected cities around the United States. I worked on my story idea and when ready, I casually brought up the subject to my friend during one of our regular weekend gab fests.
I knew we had a winning story when in between bites of food my friend said, "Yeah, but I thought Paris was the 'food capitol of the world! How odd that you can't easily find soul food there!" Here was the "Wow" Factor I was looking for, and her reaction gave me the confidence I needed to proceed with pitching my story idea to local reporters back in the United States with great success.
Some Tips on Finding Your Company's "Wow" Factor
1. Look at your company's operations and accomplishments objectively. Too often small-business owners assume that because they know everything about their companies and the industries they represent that everyone else knows as well. Everyone doesn't know what you know so spread the word.
2. Keep a diary of interesting stories involving your company, and learn to view these stories as potential ideas for the media.
3. Dust off your company's fact sheets and statistics, and use these documents to develop your "Wow" Factor.
4. Share story ideas about your company with selected family or friends who are not directly involved in your business or industry.
The bottom line is this. The average business owner knows way too much about their business. That's why if a family member or friend finds your story interesting and says, "Gosh, I didn't know that!" then chances are, a reporter and his readers will have the same reaction. So the next time you have a PR angle for your business, go ahead and call up a good friend or family member before you reach for your reporter rolodex or database. Your family and friends can be your most honest critics. They think like members of the media and most importantly, they think like your potential customers. If you can impress them just imagine how many more folks you can wow!
Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondavé Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her by e-mail.
My best friend's insight is always helpful; not because she's a reporter or a member of the media, but because she's your average newspaper reader and television news watcher. She represents the average reporter's audience. And if ever during a conversation she says, "Wow, I didn't know that!" I know that I've struck gold because it means that I've found the "Wow" Factor, and I probably have an interesting story to tell to reporters.
So what is this "Wow" Factor and why is it important? At its most basic level, it's a test for newsworthiness. In addition, I like to think of it as that certain something that ordinary readers just find interesting about any story. The information can be historical in nature, thought-provoking or eyebrow raising, funny or a satisfying tidbit for the curious minded.
Recently I put my friend to the test when a client from Paris, an American expatriate and cookbook author, was planning a small promotional book tour in selected cities around the United States. I worked on my story idea and when ready, I casually brought up the subject to my friend during one of our regular weekend gab fests.
I knew we had a winning story when in between bites of food my friend said, "Yeah, but I thought Paris was the 'food capitol of the world! How odd that you can't easily find soul food there!" Here was the "Wow" Factor I was looking for, and her reaction gave me the confidence I needed to proceed with pitching my story idea to local reporters back in the United States with great success.
Some Tips on Finding Your Company's "Wow" Factor
1. Look at your company's operations and accomplishments objectively. Too often small-business owners assume that because they know everything about their companies and the industries they represent that everyone else knows as well. Everyone doesn't know what you know so spread the word.
2. Keep a diary of interesting stories involving your company, and learn to view these stories as potential ideas for the media.
3. Dust off your company's fact sheets and statistics, and use these documents to develop your "Wow" Factor.
4. Share story ideas about your company with selected family or friends who are not directly involved in your business or industry.
The bottom line is this. The average business owner knows way too much about their business. That's why if a family member or friend finds your story interesting and says, "Gosh, I didn't know that!" then chances are, a reporter and his readers will have the same reaction. So the next time you have a PR angle for your business, go ahead and call up a good friend or family member before you reach for your reporter rolodex or database. Your family and friends can be your most honest critics. They think like members of the media and most importantly, they think like your potential customers. If you can impress them just imagine how many more folks you can wow!
Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondavé Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her by e-mail.
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