Rarest Words

London, a city that was once considered to be a major fashion capital is all set to move its focus to another activity. The city is focusing their attention on synchronized swimming. This is a very brave move considering that the city is only just recovering from the disaster of the poor economic conditions in the recent past. The West End area in London was the one that suffered the most as most office rentals either moved or shut down.

The construction the East London underground is scheduled to begin in 2010. This along with the upcoming Olympics as well as the new developments at Bishopsgate and Old Street are boosting the confidence of this city.

A few months ago, Drivers Jonas conducted a survey which reported that Waltham Forest, Hackney and even Newham have shown a 20% drop in their property value however London’s commercial property value showed a mere 13% drop.

When the project just began the enthusiasm of the Olympics was already lost and the construction was delayed. Another negative was that the sales of properties began to show a dip once again.

The sales this year have been positive. With the exception of Redbridge and Hackney all boroughs showed a positive sales report. The new commercial developments in Hackney are predicted to bring a positive change in their sales reports.

The Bezier in West End is another development that is much talked about these days and it is expected to increase the commercial rates of the property. It is located near the Old Tube station and is expected to house 127 flats and commercial office spaces.

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Have you ever paid attention to an audio book? If so, you have listened to a voice talent. Audio book narration is just one of the numerous voice over jobs that are available out there. If someone is taping an audio book, they would usually sit in a studio and read the book out loud. Sometimes the voice over talent will apply different accents for different characters, but other times they do not have to. The voice over talent will read until he or she has done it right. An audio book narrative needs to be flawless and there are no slips allowed.

With skill and and a proven track record, EdgeStudio.com is an industry leader in voice over training and voice over jobs. Companies across the world turn to Edge Studio for voice over castings. EdgeStudio.com offers voice over talent for a wide variety of client projects extending from video games, translations, movie trailers and animated characters. Voice over narration is a rising area, growing ever more important everyday to radio, television, and movies.

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Quality voice over production can be acquired at any price point. Anyone who is serious about utilizing voiceover talent for a project should unquestionably consider outsourcing to a professional voiceover studio. The experience and knowledge acquired by outsourcing to a voice over production studio is not only within your reach, but it can be affordable as well. The exposure of a quality television ad or radio spot can equal more potential business and revenue. The upturn in sales means that you acquire a return on your production investment.

When you need the words to fit a specific period, plan on three words per second. Being ready to train your talent for speaking a little more slow and clearly than usual is also advisable. Poorly articulated words and bizarre vocal patterns can affect the quality of the finished product and have an adverse effect on the customers you are attempting to target. It is worth the time and effort to choose a production studio with expertise and and a proven track record. Outsourcing your voice over work can keep you on track as well as guarantee the caliber of your work will be professional. Without it, you may be forced to deliver the lines all on your own.

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Christmas is not about the presents we get, but it is the time to rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ, out Savior. Carols are great way to express that rejoicing. So, go ahead and hum, sing, or whistle any of the carols you want! Did you know that the Anglican Bishop of Croydon in England, Nick Baines, says traditional Christmas carols are misleading, embarrassing and twist the birth of Jesus into a commercialised fairytale?

Songs are a great way to keep preschool children sitting still for long periods of time, event though many parents want most play times. It is a good to reinforce the tradition and the familly values you’re teaching them. Use your creativity and make up your own to a familiar, popular children’s tune that will be easy for them to remember. More than everything, Christmas carols are songs written to be sung just as much as played, and these are a few singing favourites.

Original carols were pagan songs and were subsequently banned from many churches, the term means meaning “rural”, “rustic” and comes from the Latin paganus. Today’s Christmas carols often celebrate the birth of Christ, yet pagan carols were simply a celebration of such events as the winter solstice and the harvest tide. Byt the way, Camilla Kerslake, 21 years old classic singer recorded her own versions of two classic pieces, ‘Ave Maria’ and ‘Pie Jesu’ to show off her remarkable voice. Equally, she is learning daily about what does and does not suit her pure and vaulting classical voice, a coloratura soprano. She also released an excellent album with soulful christmas songs. Everybody is hugely grateful for her musical gift and songs she released for this Christmas. Thanks to Camilla’s debut album, we will enjoy christmas singing on Silent night song lyrics in a warm family atmosphere this year.

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The new development project for the Scottish Provident building has landed in troubled waters as construction work has been held up before it could begin by Australian developer Stockland, who has refused to move ahead with construction unless more prospective tenants are found.

Tenants are hard to come by currently, as sale of pre-lets for future development projects has come down due to the recent economic downturn. Therefore it seems one of Scotland’s largest city centre business projects may not see the light of the day for quite some time.

Standing on St Andrew Square, the Scottish Provident building is to house apartments, offices and shops, but work is moving sluggishly due to a weakening interest in pre-lets. Stockland’s UK managing director, Ken Lindsay, said that tenant interest has evaporated in the present economic situation. With prospects of pre-lets getting bleaker by the day, the company has been forced to play it safe, particularly so with more rentals showing interest in the desk space to rent sector that involves no contract tie-ins. Click here for more info on rent desk availability.

He further stated that Stockland understands that pre-lets are going to be low, and they are well prepared to start work. However, the company wants to see a bit more interest in the project before laying the first brick. Lindsay put the blame of the delay solely on the poor state of the economy.

Meanwhile, with the buildings’ interiors having been thoroughly cleared, the project can be flagged off by Stockland without any delay. Once contractors get the thumbs up on the project, the buildings will be knocked down and new structures will take their place.

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Quality public relations does something positive for
business, non-profit and association managers about the
behaviors of the key external “publics” that most affect
their operations. In other words, it alters individual
perception that leads to changed behaviors among their
really important outside audiences.

In so doing, PR helps persuade those key external
audiences to the managers’ way of thinking, helping
move them to take actions that allow for managerial
success.

The alternative to quality PR suggests this question for
managers: are you simply looking for publicity, or do
you want public relations that really CAN change in-
dividual perception and lead to equally changed stakeholder
behaviors that help you get your money’s worth?

If that’s the high ground you have in mind, take a look
at this PR action blueprint: people act on their own
perception of the facts before them, which leads to
predictable behaviors about which something can be
done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion
by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the
very people whose behaviors affect the organization the
most, the public relations mission is accomplished.

Thus, public relations quality begins with these two realities:
1) the right PR really CAN alter individual perception
and lead to changed behaviors that help you succeed,
and 2), your public relations effort must involve more
than good times, booklets and press releases if you really
want to get your money’s worth.

Results, for example, like membership applications on the rise;
prospects starting to work with you; customers making repeat
purchases; stronger relationships with the educational, labor,
financial and healthcare communities; improved relations
with government agencies and legislative bodies, and even
capital givers or specifying sources looking your way

With the passage of time, you may well see rebounds in
showroom visits; new proposals for strategic alliances and
joint ventures; community service and sponsorship
opportunities; enhanced activist group relations, and
expanded feedback channels, not to mention new thought-
leader and special event contacts.

Quality results means your PR crew - agency or staff -
must be committed to you, as the senior project manager,
and to your PR blueprint starting with target audience
perception monitoring.

It’s really vital that your most important outside audiences
perceive your operations, products or services in a positive
light. So be certain that your PR staff buys this approach.
And be especially careful that they accept the reality that
perceptions almost always lead to behaviors that can help
or hurt your unit.

Emphasize for your team the plan for monitoring and
gathering perceptions by questioning members of your most
important outside audiences. Questions along these lines:
how much do you know about our organization? How much
do you know about our services or products and employees?
Have you had prior contact with us and were you pleased
with the interchange? Have you experienced problems with
our people or procedures?

Should your budget be able to accommodate professional
survey people to handle the perception monitoring phases
of your program, fine. If not, always remember that your
PR people are also in the perception and behavior
business and can pursue the same objective: identify
untruths, false assumptions, unfounded rumors,
inaccuracies, misconceptions and any other negative
perception that might translate into behaviors you won’t
find acceptable.

Time to establish your public relations goal, one that speaks
to problems that showed up during your key audience
perception monitoring. In all likelihood, it will call for
straightening out that dangerous misconception, or
correcting that gross inaccuracy, or doing something about
that ugly rumor.

Obviously, a PR goal needs a PR strategy that shows you
how to reach your new goal. You have three choices when
it comes to handling perception or opinion challenges:
create perception where there may be none, change the
perception, or reinforce it. As always, a bad strategy pick
will taste like vinaigrette on your toasted bagel, so be certain
the new strategy fits well with your new public relations
goal. For example, you don’t want to select “change” when
the facts dictate a “reinforce” strategy.

It’s just plain hard work persuading an audience to your way
of thinking, so your PR team must develop some very
effective language. Phrases that correct the original
aberation and, at the same time, are compelling, persuasive,
believable AND clear and factual. You have little choice
if you are to correct a perception by attracting opinion to
your point of view, leading to the desired behaviors.

Take the time to review your final draft message for impact and persuasiveness. Only then can you select the communications
tactics most likely to carry your words to the attention of your
target audience. Dozens are available, from speeches,
facility tours, emails and brochures to consumer briefings,
media interviews, newsletters, personal meetings and many
others. But be sure that the tactics you pick are known to
reach folks just like your audience members.

Strange but true that the credibility of a message can depend
on how it’s delivered. So, on the chance that may be true,
you might want to introduce your message to smaller groups
rather than using higher-profile tactics such as news releases
or talk show appearances.

Curiosity will prompt requests for a progress report which
will prompt you and your PR folks to consider returning to
the field for a second perception monitoring session with
members of your external audience. Using many of the same
questions used in the first benchmark session, you’ll now be
alert for signs that the bad news perception is being altered
in your direction.

You can always accelerate the effort if you feel the need to
move things along at a faster clip - try more communications
tactics and increased frequencies.

Just who is the manager who takes the high ground with quality
PR? Why, the business, non-profit or association manager
whose public relations effort delivers the kind of key external
stakeholder behavior change leading directly to achieving
his or her department, division or subsidiary objectives.

end

Please feel free to publish this article and resource box
in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website.
A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net.

Robert A. Kelly © 2005.

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks to business, non-profit and
association managers about using the fundamental premise of public
relations to achieve their operating objectives. He has been DPR,
Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR,
Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communi-
cations, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press
secretary, The White House. He holds a bachelor of science degree
from Columbia University, major in public relations.
mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net Visit:http://www.prcommentary.com

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©2004 Jeffrey Dobkin

Sixty dollars doesn’t go a long way in buying advertising space. But if
you spend it creatively, you can get over ten times that value in
newspaper or magazine lineage. And it’s easy if you know how. Here’s
how.

You’re familiar with press releases, right? A press release is a single
page of information about your product or service that is sent to a
magazine or a newspaper. If selected to be published, it’s printed as a
short story and appears as if the magazine or newspaper wrote it. There
is no charge for having your press release published by a magazine or
newspaper.

So stick around - find out how you can have your press release
published (and your chances are pretty good) even if you can’t write
worth a hockey puck.

There are certain criteria for having your press release published, no
matter who writes it. First, it can’t sound like an ad for your product or
service. Nope, no adjectives. If it sounds like an ad, it’ll be tossed out.
While most editors will make minor corrections so a press release will fit
their editorial style, few to none will rewrite your release just to get it in.
Editors get their choice of press releases every day, and the ones that
catch their eye for publishing are the ones closest to their exact needs -
requiring the least amount of editing and rewriting. Most editors know a
good thing when they see it.

Second, your press release must conform to the standard layout style of
press releases. This tells the editor that you know what you’re doing in
media relations and shows your everyday business practices follow suit.
So when your release is published, editors will be comfortable with the
knowledge their readers will get good literature and - if they order - a
good product. They can assume their readers will deal with a
professional company on a professional level. If your press release
lands on their desk with lots of typos and misspellings, it’ll land in the
trash next.

Correct layout style means a big header stating “Press Release” at the
top, followed by a contact name and phone number so editors can call
for more information. Next it needs a kill date after which the press
release shouldn’t run. If there is no kill date, state “No kill date” so it
doesn’t look like you forgot it. Also, don’t forget to include a 5″ x 7″
black-and-white photo for increased interest, better readership, and
more credibility.

The headline of your release is centered and in bold. Write your
headline with care; it’s this line that will make or break your release. If
it’s a great headline, people will read it and the rest of the release. If
it’s a poor headline, people will read it - and the other articles in the
magazine. It’s your choice. My recommendation? The Jeff Dobkin 100
to 1 rule: Write 100 headlines, then go back and pick your very best one.

The body of the release follows. Double space, allowing an editor to
easily make corrections between the lines. Leave room around the
margins, too. Make it look easy to read, even if it isn’t. Use short,
descriptive sentences without fluff or excess verbiage. Use a pyramid
style of writing - the most important parts in the first paragraph or two -
because editors know to cut from the bottom.

Terse, concise writing just like a reporter from a newspaper would write
works best. Holy smokes! Did I just say “just like a reporter from a
newspaper would write”? What an idea!

How’s this: suppose you aren’t a strong writer, or you’re too busy with
other activities to write your own release. What do you do? Call the
local newspaper and ask to speak with a reporter. Now, I don’t know
about your area, but newspaper reporters here in Philadelphia don’t
usually make all the money they’d like. When you get a reporter on the
phone, ask if they know of any reporters who’d like an additional easy
writing assignment and would consider writing a press release - for pay.
Chances are better than good that the same reporter you’re speaking
with will go for the chance at easy money. If not, they’ll recommend an
associate on staff.

Go over your product information with the reporter, and add enough of a
benefit summary so they can write a quality release. Ask them to
recommend several different angles and what they think their very best
pitch would be. Then ask what their hourly rate is (usually about $20/
hour). Your release should take about two to three hours of writing time,
if that - and should cost around $60.

Now for the best part. Your reporter can submit your release to the
editor for you. Think about it. The paper’s own reporter writes a press
release - in the newspaper’s exact style of writing - and then hands it to
the editor with his own personal recommendation. Nice package.

So without writing a stitch, you get the release written then handed over
to the editor on a silver platter by a trusted staff member. Your chances
of getting it published are… you guessed it. When it’s printed, you just
received $1,000 worth of advertising for $60. As promised.

###

Jeffrey Dobkin, www.dobkin.com author of the incredible 400-page marketing book, How To Market A Product for Under $500 ($29.95), He
is also a speaker, and a direct mail copywriter. To order books or speak
with Mr. Dobkin personally call 610/642-1000. Fax 610/642-6832.
Satisfaction Always Guaranteed.

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Savvy small business owners know the importance of saving money. There are definitely times when going cheap spells disaster (you’ve seen those Hefty commercials, haven’t you?); but this isn’t one of them. Welcome to the wonderful world of PR - public relations; or, as we like to call it, free advertising - an essential part of any effective marketing strategy.

Are you making effective use of this important strategy for reaching your target market, or do you shy away from PR because you feel it is:

Republishing Guidelines * You may republsih this article with
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mafoor@mafoor.com SMS: +94 777 763682

Can You Control Your Customer’s Mind?

Is it possible to control your customer’s ‘buying’ decision? Let
me start off with an example. Say many people selling bags in
one place and John wants a bag. John buys the bag with the most
attractive packaging.

What influenced his decision? The packaging. This bag had
something better. So in a different view, this bag influenced
the ‘buying decision’ of John. This is just a simple example to
get you familiar with the concept.

Almost all of the modern marketing campaigns are designed to be
effective from the customer’s point of view. They all try to
control the customer’s feelings. You must follow the trend or
you’ll be a loser.

Just brainstorm / think what can influence the decision to buy
‘your product’. You can come up with a lot. Call each of them a
strategy and jot them down in a paper. I will discuss 3 generic
strategies that can be used with any business and how to apply
them, so it will give you some idea as what to think of and how
to apply them.

1. Curiosity

2. Because / Reason Why

3. Greed

Curiosity

———–

What is it? Curiosity can be defined as “the desire to know the
unexplored” in simple terms. People want to know things that
many others don’t know. They like to discover the ’secrets’ that
only some people know. The desire to know is a compelling force
in marketing, so we have:

* Secrets of the Diet Industry Uncovered

* What Time Share Companies Don’t Want You To Know

* Msteries of A Youthful Appearance Revealed

* The Hidden Keys of Car Buying

People don’t want

* How to Diet Successfully or

* A Guide to Buying Cars

for example. First set of titles surely outshines the second set
of titles because the former takes advantage of curiosity. You
must design your advertising in a way that arouses curiosity.
Getting to see the powerful of curiosity? (When compared the two
sets above)

Because / Reason Why

—————————-

Telling people a valid reason for your action is another great
influencer in human behavior. People will trust you if you can
offer a reason for what you are doing. Say you offer a 50%
discount on your digital cameras for the last 10 days in this
month. People are too smart today and start to think it’s
probably because you want to get rid of your defective products
or because its 2 days before the expiry date (in case of food
items). Wouldn’t you and I think the same way when we see a
similar message?

Give them a true believable reason. For example, let’s say you
have a slow time of the year and you want to increase your
business during this period. Make a special, limited time offer.
Offer to throw in an extra free bonus or a special discount
simply because it’s your “slow time” and you need to pay your
staff anyway.

Don’t you think people will believe it? If you can give a solid
reason for a particular action, people will have no doubts about
what you say - there is simply very little room for doubt.

Greed

——-

People are greedy. I’m not talking about food but ‘greedy’ in a
marketing perspective. Everybody feels from “what’s in it for
me” syndrome. They really want to know how your product can
benefit them. Notice that, the “customer’s will buy benefits and
not products”. Confused? You’ll see what I mean in a minute.

Analyze the following list of benefits written about a digital
camera.

* Can store over 200 photos

* Supports every color you can see

* Manual included so you can start even if you have no previous
experience

This will certainly open the eyes of a person who has an idea of
bu’ying a camera one day. This is in complete contrast to the
following, where the ‘product’ is described.

* Has a memory of 6000k

* Supports 16-bit colors

* 60-page manual included

Customers don’t want a memory of 6000k, but they want to store
200 photos. Get it? You must clearly tell the customer how will
they benefit by bu’ying your produc’t. You can then describe the
prod’uct itself, when they are looking for more information.

To make this point clearer, understand that,

“Customer’s will bu’y benefits and ‘not’ the features.”

Okay.. Whats the difference between features and benefits?
Features describe the product itself - what it has. Benefits
describe the advantages a customer gets by bu’ying the product.
The first list above is a benefits list and the second is a
features list.

Benefits will drive customers to explore more information about
the product. This is when you should give them the features and
describe the product itself. To summarize, get customers into
looking for more info by telling them the benefits and then
describe the prod’uct. This will assure the best results.

I laid out just 3 powerful strategies here. There are many more
‘explored’ and ‘unexplored’ tactics, and hope you can discover a
few too. Please let me know if you do. I hope this information
was helpful to you and wish you good luck and success in your
future mark’eting efforts.

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Have you ever heard of the saying, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure?” Well, that statement is a true one, but never more so than in the realm of media relations where so many small-business owners find it so difficult to garner media coverage for themselves or their companies. Allow me to illustrate my point below in an actual incident that happened to one of my clients and the lessons we learned from this experience.

One day a new client approached me about getting media coverage for her company. She had tried writing and submitting press releases on her own but with little luck and decided that it was time to contact a media relations company. We made an appointment to meet and we discussed her business and brainstormed about ways in which to secure coverage in a creative and affordable way. During that meeting and subsequent other ones, I became very familiar with her business and learned why she was so successful. But it was in a casual conversation, which had little to do with her business, that I learned about the information that would allow me to secure news coverage for my new client.

This particular client is a visual arts designer and runs a very successful business in the Midwest, but her one true passion since childhood is gymnastics. She participated in the sport as a child. She still follows the sport on television and even incorporates the sport into the name of her company. I learned that she liked to have people take photographs of her performing handstands near historic structures, and that she had done this all around the country.

It was through that conversation that I learned that she even had a photo taken of her performing a handstand just outside of the World Trade Center several years ago. I asked her why she hadn’t shared this information with me earlier and she said, “It was such a little thing that I really didn’t think it was very important.”

In reality, it was that little-known fact that sealed the deal for local newspaper coverage. When I spoke with the reporter, I was able to strategically mention this “little” fact to the reporter and explain that I could supply the actual photo. It mattered less to the reporter that this client was a self-published author and ran a successful business. While all of that information was great, it was the World Trade Center photo that peaked the reporter’s interest. In the end, instead of receiving a small blurb in the newspaper, which was what we really expected, she in turn got a front-page story complete with her photo and references to both her business and her love for gymnastics. Plus, this was a very affordable decision because the client could never have afforded an advertisement the size of that article generated.

The point that I’m trying to make is this. Sometimes small-business owners need to depend on the services of communication companies in order to secure media coverage. But whether you are dealing with a big agency or a boutique agency or a freelancer, it’s always important to share every detail because sometimes it’s the little details, which can make or break a story.

About The Author

Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondave Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her at carolyn@motiontemps.com or by phone in the United States at 877.815.0167 or 011.331.4997.9059 in France.

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