AD SPECIALTIES AND MORE Let them assist you in creating new, innovative and exciting ways to promote your business, while helping you stay within your budget. They offer competitive pricing without sacrificing quality or excellent customer service. Visit them online at www.adspecialtiesandmore.com
ASCENSION ON THE MOVE Check out the hottest television program in the area. Ascension on the move is all about the people of Ascension; their lifestyle, culture and heritage. Maxine Crump and Clint Falconbring you a weekly television series of quality programming where community members can turn to for the shared experience of the rich traditions and changing tides of this rapidly growing area. www.ascensiononthemove.com
HAMBONZ PIANO ROOM This soulful "jukejoint" does not sell pianos. Instead it is a nightclub decorated with antique pianos, photos and memorabilia from jazz, reggae and blues musicians of the past. Hambonz hosts weekly karaoke, live bands, DJ’s, and a jukebox in a setting that is uniquely Louisiana. www.hambonzpianoroom.com
SMEARY PIGEON Got poetry? They do at www.smearypigeon.com. The mission of Smeary Pigeon is to create an open forum for all poets to establish themselves on the web and post their writings. All visitors are able to submit reviews of the poems on this site.
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Better known as the Ascension Parish Tourist Commission, the name is not the only thing to have changed. Check out the new website and let us know what you think. www.ascensiontourism.com
STUDIO S PORTRAITS The uniquely artistic photos of Shannon LeBlanc are now available for viewing online at www.studiosportraits.com. Check out the variety of photographs and stay informed of upcoming Special Edition Portraits.
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Press Releases for Every Occasion
To many marketers, the press release is something of a "one size fits all" proposition. You want to get media coverage, you knock out a press release, send it to some journalists and sit back and wait.
Of course, smart Publicity Insiders already know that's a prescription for failure. You know that your press release has to have a "hook", be well written and sent to appropriate journalists in an active, not passive, manner. But there's another part of the puzzle that even savvy publicity-seekers sometimes miss -- you can't just write "a press release", you have to write the right kind of press release.
Let's look at some releases suitable for "harder" and more timely news...
The News Release
To some folks, "news release" and "press release" are interchangeable. Not to me. I use the phrase "news release" to refer to a release that, well, carries actual news. Let's face it, most of what a business has to say to a journalist isn't exactly "stop the presses" kind of stuff. But, on occasion, something of real significance occurs. A merger, a stock split, a major new contract, winning a national award...something that's truly timely and important. For these sorts of events, don't mess around. Craft a solid, hard-hitting News Release that's written in pure journalistic style (lead includes "who, what, when, why and how", language is in 3rd person and completely free of hyperbole). Use journalism's "inverted pyramid" -- most important information at the top, next most important info in the second paragraph and so on down.
Tell the entire story in the headline and subhead. Again, don't get cute -- get straight to the point. The headline "Acme Corporation Selected by Pentagon to Supply Troops with Widgets" is far better than something like "Guess Who's Making Widgets for Uncle Sam?" or something "clever" like that. In the subhead, fill in some details: "$18 Million Contract Largest in Company's History". Talk about getting straight to the point! You've just given the journalist the meat of the story before she's even read your lead.
Add a "dateline" (Akron, OH) at the beginning of your lead (first) paragraph. In the dateline, use your company's hometown (or the location where some news has broken. You can be a bit creative hëre, if it helps maximize your impact. For the above example, you can dateline it Washington, DC and say that "The Pentagon today announced that it has selected an Akron company...").
In distributing the release, use e-mail, fax, a distribution service such as PRWeb or PR Newswire, or even overnight courier. The goal is to get it into journalists' hands on the same day you distribute it.
Executive Appointment Release
Most businesses send out a brief release and headshot when someone new is hired or a major promotion is made. That's fine, and it will get them in the "People on the Move" column on page 8 in the business section. It's an ego stroke for the employee, but that's about it. Savvy publicity seekers use the Executive Appointment release to generate real publicity. Here's the key -- don't just announce that someone's been hired or promoted. Rather, explain why the move is significant to the company -- and perhaps the market -- as a whole.
For example, Jane Smith has been hired as your company's new director of sales. Not so exciting. However, the reason you hired her is because she came from a major online retailer and do the big guys use planning to overhaul your salës system to compare with the state-of-the-art systems. Hmmmm...that's a lot more interesting. So why not tell the media about it?
The key ingredient is context. Your headline may still look like that of a typical Executive Appointment release (Acme Names Jane Smith New Director of Sales), but starting with the subhead, you begin your journey off page 8 of the business section and onto page one (Hiring of Key Figure in Online Sales Explosion Marks Important Shift in Acme's Sales Strategy). Ah, now you've entered the realm of news, not business as usual. And a sharp business editor will see that a local company is doing something far more significant than just making a hire.
Dateline the release, fax (or even messenger), email or regular mail it over to your local business editor and follow up with a phone call. Offer Jane Smith for interview, too.
The Media Alert
The Media Alert is a deceptively simple creature. It's essentially a memo from you to TV, radio and newspaper assignment editors, city desk editors and others who decide whether a particular news event is worth covering. They're used to alert the press about news conferences, charity events, publicity "stunts" and other events.
The point of the Media Alert is to, in just a few seconds, tell a journalist about the event, how to cover it and why it's important that the media outlet, in fact, covers it. Most publicists are pretty good on the first two points -- almost all media alerts do a decent job of telling what the event is, where it will be held and what time it starts. It's the third aspect -- the "why" -- that will make the real difference, though. And it's the thing most publicists do a lousy of job of conveying.
First here is a word about format. Use standard press release headings (contact info, "For Immediate Release" and headline). The rest of the document should be a few paragraphs, spaced at least three lines apart from one another. The first paragraph should begin with What: and continue with a one or two line description of the event (WidgetFest 2004, a celebration of young minds). Next paragraph, When:, after that Where:
Now Here's The Key Paragraph
Why You Should Cover WidgetFest 2004: The brightest young minds from around the region will gather to present their inventions, as Acme Corp. celebrates the state's top high school science students. The event will be a visual feast, with a host of awe-inspiring inventions, many colorful, active and exotic, on display. As part of the event, John Smith, Ohio’s Science Teacher of the Year, will distribute more than $10,000 in scholarships to budding Einsteins.
The key? This line: "The event will be a visual feast, with a host of awe-inspiring inventions, many colorful, active and exotic, on display." I just spoke an assignment editor's language, telling him that this will provide lots of cool visuals, making for great video or photos. The bit about the scholarships and the Science Teacher of the Year assures him that this won't just be a promotional stunt. So what are we offering? A non-promotional, feel-good event with great visuals, just what an assignment editor is looking for.
This article is by Bill Stoller, Publisher, http://www.publicityinsider.com
HISTORY GETS A NEW LOOK The River Road African American Museum recently upgraded their website which nows gives a wonderful expression of the true treasures to be found their. Please take a moment to experience for yourself the unique beauty of this Louisiana gem and the new site. www.africanamericanmuseum.org
SOMETHING GREAT IS COOKING The Grapevine Market and Cafe recently redesigned its marketing brochure with the assistance of Dezins. You can almost smell the tantilizing flavors of this restaurant's award-winning Louisiana cuisine on this beautiful marketing piece. Side 1 Side 2
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Tips for Building your Email Database
Over the last 3-4 years, email has become a valuable and dynamic communication channel for many companies wishing to market to their clients and prospects affordably.
However, many budding e-marketers are hampered at the outset by not having enough ‘opted-in’ email addresses. Bought in lists are often poor in quality, not sufficiently targeted and too expensive.
Therefore, owning a powerful ‘permission based’ email database has become one of the key challengers for marketers in the new millennium.
What follows is a number of practical techniques to help you capture this crucial information.
Giving In Order To Take - The Customer Value
People are unlikely to give their email address if a- they think they will be spammed and b- if they get nothing in return.
Language and Tone
Make it clear to your prospects and customers the benefits they will get from allow email communication (eg: product information, quality information, special offers, industry news, order tracking, increased speed of service, or the chance to win something) and explain to them exactly what you intend to do with the information.
Competitions
"Free" can be immensely popular, and when you offer something of value free to the winner of a contest, you'll can achieve many sign-ups. Of course, you may find you've selected for the cheap "something-for-nothing" crowd, and they may be more interested in your prize than your product or service. So make sure the prize is directly related to what you offer if you're trying to target your list.
Web marketers can't get something for nothing either. People will give their information in exchange for something they perceive has value.
Newsletter Subscriptions
When you offer a free newsletter that the site visitor believes to be of value, you'll get many sign-ups.
Remember you can ask other profiling information at this stage too. However, the more information you ask for, the fewer people will complete the form, so I ask for only an e-mail address. This limits my ability to personalize mailings and market from the list, but it brings me plenty of subscribers.
Include a newsletter sign-up form on every page of your web site and your subscription rate should dramatically improve.
Doing the Two-Step
There is a way to combine both approaches. You could ask for the e-mail address only, and when they respond, program the site to say, "Thank you for subscribing. We have a special report/gift/prize to those who complete filling out our form" and then ask some more questions. When they submit, ask more yet. You'll get both many e-mail addresses and more information from people willing to offer it. Microsoft does this on their site, and it can be very effective.
Direct Mail Campaign
You could send direct mail campaign to your current CRM system, which entices recipients to go onto your website and submit their email address. It is crucial to insure that the incentive is pertinent and attractive enough to encourage people to go online and submit their details. (One example could be the chance to win a free years membership)
Fax is another more affordable channel of communication you could use for an email pick-up campaign. For more information contact us
Viral Marketing
By harness word of mouth via the internet, you can rapidly build up new and targeted prospects email address for subsequent e-marketing campaigns. This is one of the most effective and cost efficient methods of building your email address database.
The way a viral campaign might work is as follows. You could send an email campaign to however many email addresses you currently have, which publicize a something about your company or products. For example, a special offer you have or a new product launch. You would also ask recipients to forward on the message to 5 of their friends who live in the local area. For example:
“If you send this email on to 5 of your colleagues – you will be entered into a prize draw to win a w/e for two in the Bahamas”
When a recipient fills in their colleagues email addresses, this information is automatically uploaded onto a email database of new prospects which you can use to send subsequent email campaigns.
Other Pick-Up Opportunities
Every opportunity should be taken to ask for an email address when you communicating with a client or prospect – be it as part of a direct mail, telephone or any other method of communicating.
Add the question to the script in your telemarketing and customer service process
Include pick up forms or change of address details with your invoices and direct marketing campaigns
If you have an office or retail outlet that customers visit, create a poster and run a competition
Train all your staff to pick up email addresses whenever they communicate with customers and prospects
Privacy Concerns
But lest we e- marketers get carried away with collecting personal information, we must be aware of a two-pronged trend: (1) a fear of loss of privacy by individuals and (2) you may be aware that Australia has an extremely strict policy about data collection and storage by companies, and violation could severely effect the way you conduct effective e-campaigns.
The Australian Direct Marketing Association has led the way with privacy policy recommendations to all its members.
Responsible Web marketers will post clear privacy policies on their sites and adhere strictly to them.
Summary
In summary, be proactive and determined about capturing e-mail addresses and other information from your visitors, but show integrity about the way you use that information. After all, relationships -- and successful businesses -- are built on trustworthy behavior.
But if you can obtain an e-mail address and permission, you'll be able to inexpensively market to that visitor again and again for the life of the e-mail address and make many, many sales that eluded you on a customer's first visit.
This article taken from http://www.cminteractive.com/?article=emarketing
DEZINS WELCOMES CALLEN CRANFIELD Dezins recently hired Callen Cranfield to assist in the print and web development services we offer. Callen is a native of Gonzales, Louisiana. He is 20 years old, and some of his hobbies are art, and playing music. He is currently in art school at Southeastern University where he is studying to get his degree in digital design. He also plays the saxophone and the guitar in his free time. He looks forward to expanding his education and experience by working at Dezins so that he can pursue his dream of becoming a digital artist. Dezins is excited to have Callen onboard.
HOW'S YOUR HOST? It is a pleasure to announce that Dezins - Print and Web Services will now be offering full hosting for websites. Prior to this, Dezins partnered with U.S. Web Providers in order to offer this service. The hosting company is an internationally recognized web hosting company with offices all over the world and a record of immpecable service. Dezins personally thanks Ed and Sandra Roberts for all of they have done for Dezins over the past years. Because of their mentorship, Dezins has now grown even more. So contact us today with any questions or comments regarding your present web hosting packag. CHANCES ARE - WE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY.
2005 IS UNDERWAY! HAVE YOU UPDATED YOUR HOMEPAGE? The easiest and most inexpensive way to keep your site looking new is to simply change a few photos on your homepage. That way visitors that return to your site will have a new look to greet them. It's Fast! It's Simple! AND It Costs Very Little To You! Most sites can be updated for $50 or LESS! So all you have to do is contact us and we'll get back with you with some ideas. 2004 was a great year and 2005 is going to be even BETTER! Contact us for more information.
A NEW ADDRESS FOR dezinSOURCE For those of you with a keen eye, you might have noticed that the address for dezinSOURCE has changed. If not, don't feel bad. Former issues of dezinSOURCE were found at www.dezins.com/dezinsource BUT NOW the new address for this monthly e-newsletter is www.dezinsource.com. The main benefit of having a separate address is that now we have TWO websites available for online searchers to find that BOTH have to do with Dezins - Print and Web Services. It's like having two advertisements running in the same issue of a magazine... more exposure... more results! Maybe this is an idea you would like to explore for your website. Contact us for more information.
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