Have you picked out your Oscar's night outfit? I have.
You should. Have you thought about what you will say when
you accept your award? I have. You should. At least in
your mind, that wonderful playground for imagination - the
very place we are going to venture today for great publicity
ideas.

Razzle, dazzle, sparkle, and shine. Isn't this how we think
all those stars get to the Oscars in the first place? However,
it's less glitter, and more planning that creates the reality.
First comes the dream, then the work, then usually a host
of disappointments to test the resolve, then a series of
small successes, and then....publicity. It is a fairly predictable
road, but often as business people we forget to plan our
own personal Oscar's night.

We also miss the key ingredient - publicity. Marketing
is what gets you in front of your target market to make the
sale. Publicity is the spotlight that shines on you and solidifies
you with mass appeal as the popular expert in your field.
You drive marketing to your buyers. Publicity drives the
masses of buyers to you.

When your focus has been marketing it's a little tricky to
change your paradigm to publicity. However, the important
difference between marketing and publicity is your target
audience. You are no longer pitching to buyers of your product
or service, now your audience is the media. This means editors
and producers. These important people are looking for one
thing, the story. A unique story. Something inspirational,
motivational, newsworthy, or educational. Period. Nothing
else will do.

In order to be successful in the media you have to think
like a publicist and find your unique story. If you don't
have a story, it's time to create one. What is unique about
you or your business? Sometimes it's an attitude. Like the
employer that regularly asked her employees what they didn't
like about their jobs and then proceeded to shift responsibilities.
It may be an event, like a charitable event that raises
money for starving children but serves beans and rice at
the gala event to demonstrate how it feels to be poor. It
may be your wit, your way of thinking, what you care most
about, or how you integrate your values into your business.
Only, you can find it, but trust me, it's there.

Begin to explore your own unique angles and media curves
by keeping notes on your thoughts and attitudes. Scribble,
color, or paint it out - it really doesn't matter as long
as you begin to devote time to exploring your "story". Not
your ad, not your price, not your product, but your story.

Once you've angled into your own unique media offerings,
find the appropriate avenues to make your pitch. Take care
though, the media should always be treated with good will
and respect. Do not, I repeat, do not go for the hard sell.
This is not the time. If you must, save the hard sell for
marketing, or better yet, chuck it all together. Do not
wheedle, whine, or beg the media. Make your pitch, respect
their time, and their decision, then work toward building
long term relationships. In the end, you'll have the kind
of names in your pocket to begin dropping at parties, and
you will be a star! A star with the mind of a publicist.

See you at the Oscars!

About the Author

Anne Marie Baugh is a noted publicist that works with cyberstars. Owner of three firms, she offers a dazzling two-tier affiliate
program with special promotional benefit perks to those who
qualify. To learn more about joining the Write-Promotion
affiliate program send an email to AffiliateInfo@write-promotion.com
or visit today at: http://www.write-promotion.com