Archive for the ‘News’ Category

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Happiness in a Bag?

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

A client asked me to put something together for a novel and fun way to sort out … well, everything, really — life, work, man trouble, money worries, confidence crises … pretty much most things can be dealt with. And the best part, it’s totally painless. Here is the press release I wrote, which is being picked up by the media as I type:

***[Possible Feature/Human Interest Story and/or Reader Giveaway]***

How a Shambolic Bag of Junk Can Provide the Catalyst to Lasting Change

You might think that your new Prada is THE stylish accessory of the moment, but to Debbie Percy — the UK’s ONLY official handbag therapist — it says a lot more about you than you think. And its contents can give clues as to how to change your life for the better…

[21st April 2009, Surrey, England, UK –––] QUESTION: What everyday item has the potential to reveal unmet and unarticulated needs? 

ANSWER: A handbag (or even a manbag, if that floats your boat). Which is why life coach and corporate human-resources specialist and the UK’s ONLY official handbag therapist Debbie Percy launched Handbag Therapy – a unique and fun way to sort out your life. 

“Until now, ‘handbag therapy’ has been associated with women who get a kind of emotional release from buying the latest Chanel, Prada or Louis Vuitton. But today it’s more about providing practical insights and answers,” says Debbie who uses her credentials to take a look at the contents of a handbag, manbag, purse or even backpack to see what it reveals about the owner, and then provide a personal and confidential ‘handbag analysis’. No long-winded therapy sessions. No probing questions. Just a quick and pain-free way to make positive changes. 

“It’s about helping people improve their lives or simply get more out of it … and at £9.99 (approximately $14, Euros 11) it’s much cheaper than traditional therapy,” she laughs. “And a lot more fun!” 

The informal analysis can also take the form of a party piece. Gather a group of gals (or guys) together and Debbie will provide face-to-face handbag readings. These can be either private or carried out in the open for the more brave of heart. 

Launched alongside her existing coaching business, Handbag Therapy has recently been featured on BBC Radio 2 and Radio Leeds and is available as an online service at HandbagTherapy.com (www.handbagtherapy.com). 

A video showing live readings is available on YouTube and at the Handbag Therapy website, as is an interview with BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans. 

“Her assessments are remarkably accurate, and provide valuable insight into how our behaviours affect every aspect of our lives,” says says Roni Williams, of The Roni Report. 

“A reference to the past, a comment on the present and a glimpse into the future!” says Chris Evans. 

[322 words] 

For more quotes and information, or to arrange an interview or shoot with Debbie Percy, call 01189 076186/0771 325 2104 or email debbie [at] handbagtherapy.com   

About Debbie Percy
Debbie Percy has pursued a corporate career in human resources for 21 years working with global businesses across different sectors, in the UK and abroad. From 1997 to 2002 she lived in the USA where she developed her skills as a top-level coach, and many of her interests including Metaphysics and Neuro Linguistic Programming. 

Debbie now runs Handbag Therapy and her own coaching company called Acamar Coaching Limited, and she specializes in working with people who are serious about changing their life or simply getting more out of it. During the last six years, she has developed a unique method for introducing clients to personal change and life coaching.  

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How to Get People to Buy From You in a Tough Economy

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

The lead article in the latest issue of MediaMinister’s Communiqué for Success offers plenty of ways to prospect more effectively — whether you are ready to mix it with the champions’ league of business, or simply want to have a leg up on the competition.

To read the full article and gain *hidden links* to recent CfS newsletter editions, you’ll have to become a subscriber. (That’s a good thing, by the way, or so CfS readers tell me!) As well as being FREE, you’ll receive a business-building report and audio CD that can dramatically improve sales simply for signing up and trying it out.

Subscribe here.

Recent CfS newsletter issues cover:
  • Create a Buzz for Your Business With Twitter
  • Can the X Factor Help Your Business?
  • My Five (Business) Mistakes from 2008 — and How You Can Profit From Them
  • Be a Client Magnet
  • Recession-Proof Your Business
  • Stand Apart from ‘Me-Too’ Competitors
  • Stop! Don’t Post that Letter!
  • Common Mistakes that Can Kill Business
  • How to Bolster Trust on Your Website
  • Just How Believable Are You?
  • …and much, much more that you really can’t afford to miss out on if you are serious about making it in business.

Subscribe here.

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Posted in Sales & Selling, Small Business, News, Marketing, Get Clients Now, Copywriting | No Comments »

Now is NOT the Time to Stop Emailing

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

The return on investment (ROI) from email has always surpassed other channels. And, despite the best efforts of saboteurs such as spammers, it seems set to do so for the foreseeable future, according to a new report from the Direct Marketing Association (DMA).

Email’s ROI in 2008 was $45.06 (currently £31.94) for every dollar spent on it, according to the DMA’s annual ”Power of Direct” economic impact study. This compares to $48.34 in 2007, and a projected $43.52 in 2009.

Yet despite these encouraging figures, a new survey by Emailvision reveals that far too many email marketers continue to make simple — and costly mistakes.

“In today’s economy, return on investment has never been more important as marketing spend is now analysed and questioned by senior stakeholders,” said Nick Gold, UK managing director at Emailvision, an email marketing software-on-demand provider.  

“Companies can’t afford to be making such simple mistakes and missing potential sales. The fundamental aims of any campaign should be high deliverability, targeted mailing, maximum click-through rates and basic personalisation — don’t let the email be the reason customers go elsewhere.”

What’s more, as competition for the all-important inbox increases more quickly than consumer spending, email relevance and targeting is more important than ever before. So be sure to offer your email recipients products and information they would be interested to hear about. And be selective with your email timings. Don’t just send straight promotional messages every other day. Rather, cut back on the mail-out frequency and give your readers a little bit extra — news they can use, tips and tricks, etc.

In short, get to know and then delight your subscriber list for the best ROI. For now is an ideal time to improve your overall email marketing strategy.

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Posted in Sales & Selling, Small Business, Online Advertising, News, Get Clients Now, Marketing, Copywriting | 3 Comments »

Reach a Wider Audience With Less Effort (Twitter Revisited)

Friday, February 20th, 2009

[Originally published in Communiqué for Success!)

When I first heard of Twitter — the micro-blogging platform that currently seems to be taking the online world by storm — I thought it was a bit, well, silly. Let’s face it; I didn’t have the time to ‘follow’ people who revel in the idea of broadcasting the fact that they’d just poked a pencil in their eye, or what they’d just had to eat. And I certainly didn’t have the interest in such drivel.

Now, of course, I know better. I have spent the past few months merrily tweeting away with fellow Twitters and I’m having a ball. Suddenly, I ‘get it’.

And it’s not all about the latest penchant for breakfast. Twitter provides a wonderful opportunity for sole traders, entrepreneurs and businesses of all kinds to promote their cause. For F.R.E.E.

It’s a deceptively simple idea and tool, allowing for some weird and wonderful applications, but for the sake of this article, let’s look at the business side of things…

So What Exactly is This Twitter Lark? 

Essentially, Twitter is a Web 2.0 communication tool for friends, family and co-workers. You update your contacts or ‘followers’ by answering one seemingly simple question: “What are you doing?”

You publish your status (or any tidbit of information) via the web or your mobile phone. But the best part, perhaps, is that you have to be concise: each message or ‘tweet’ can only be up to 140 characters in length. Because tweets are so short, twittering takes far less time than that which you would have to invest in many other social networking services.

Twitter is extremely viral: Your tweets can be exposed to all the followers of your follower, and in turn their followers, and so on. All these people can choose to follow you.

While it can be fun to chat with friends, Twitter really comes into its own as a business promotional tool. Scores of business people are becoming addicted to it on a daily basis. And plenty more companies are about to dip in their toe (beak?!)…

twitter_follow-me_orange_feet.png 

THE Must-Use Marketing Tool? 

A lot of people are using Twitter to expand their marketing reach. Think about it: The very foundation of making sales for your business comes down to one thing. Well, two, actually: relationships and trust. People buy from people they know, like and trust. And the beauty of Twitter is that it allows you to build relationships and, ultimately, trust. By posting your thoughts, news and other tidbits on a regular basis, your followers will start feel as if they know you better, can trust you more and generally feel much more comfortable about potentially working with you.

What’s more, if you have thousands of connections and you decide to post a promotional link, then your offer will be exposed to thousands of people — and possibly many more. 

A Driving Source of Traffic 

I’ve been running some interesting tests and I’m already seeing some great traffic results — FAR better than the likes that Facebook or any other Web 2.0 tool sends my way.

For instance, two days ago Twitter sent me a whopping 32% of my website traffic. That’s almost one third of my entire days’ traffic. I admit that was a bumper day, with me tweeting away in addict mode. On an average day, though, I can get as much as 20% of my traffic from Twitter.

Little wonder then that businesses and nonprofits large and small continue to experiment with dozens upon dozens of ways to gain from Twitter.

Here are just a few more ways to make the most of Twitter for your business:

  •  An online inter-office memo system. Within a company setting, employees could have a Twitter account with the option to have their messages protected. This means only approved followers will be able to send and receive messages.

  •  Keep-in-touch system. Twitter can be used as a way for people who are working together on a project to stay in touch with one another, regardless of where they are.

  •  Online reputation management… Tracking what people are saying about you, your product or your company, can easily monitor problems with customer service. This in turn gives you the opportunity to respond to any problem areas within minutes, if need be.

  •  Equally, Twitter can be used to respond to media coverage — whether good or bad.

  •  News alert! If you or your company needs to quickly announce some breaking news, then what better way to sent it out as a tweet?

  •  Equally, you can send out updates on your blog or website. 

  •  Google Up. Because the search engines also index your tweets, you should soon notice that they are showing up in search results. Very useful if you focus on using your prime keywords and phrases.

  •  Competition time. Want to promote your new book, movie or service? Simply hold a contest to give away a fr.eebie among your followers. This is also a great way to conduct some f.ree market research, as you can seek feedback on whatever it is you are promoting.

    • Give and Take 

    So now that you have some idea of what Twitter can do for you, how about spending the next few minutes setting up an account? You can get started right now - or follow me, if you already use it — by going to:

    http://twitter.com/TraceyDooley

    But … and it’s a big but … in order to truly leverage Twitter - whether for business or personal use - you mustn’t abuse it. As with any social media site it should be a give-and-take relationship. That means refraining from posting little more but blatant ads for personal gain.

    You should instead aim to keep the interest of your followers. One way of doing this is to post links to useful or interesting online resources and news. And if someone you are following posts something helpful, then forward that on (called ‘re-tweeting’) to show that you appreciate the tweet and that you are re-directing the quality content to others.

    Further Reading

    >> Twitter: Flash in the Pan or Here to Stay?

    >> 21 Ways to Market Your Business on Twitter

    >> Twitter Power: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time

    >> Twitter Means Business: How Microblogging Can Help or Hurt Your Company

    — Please share your experiences of Twitter, and it would be great if you have any tips for newbies. The comment box is eagerly awaiting your thoughts…  ;-)  

    twitter_follow-me_orange_feet.png 

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    Posted in Writing, Website marketing, Publicity, Sales & Selling, Web Copy & Web Content, Small Business, PR & Media Relations, PR & Media Relations, Promotion, Online Advertising, Copywriting, Branding, blogging, Creativity, Get Clients Now, News, Marketing, Advertising | 2 Comments »

    Valentine’s Day Sale

    Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

    Happy V DayI was thinking of some special way to show my clients, CfS subscribers and blog readers much I appreciate you. Of course, chocolates and flowers may well do it — but those don’t last very long (at least, the choccies wouldn’t round here!). So here’s what I came up with…

    http://snipurl.com/val-sale

    It’s a Valentine’s gift that could significantly impact your profits and bottom line. (OK, so it is hardly romantic, but your bank manager will surely love you!)

    It’s a four-day sale of some of my most popular products — they all go on sale from 12 February until 16 February, inclusive. This is the first year I’ve done this, so I’m going all-out with a whopping 50% discount.

    Click here to find out more:

    http://snipurl.com/val-sale

    Please keep in mind, though, that the offer is only valid until end of play on the 16th. After that, everything returns to its full price.

    Helping you enjoy a bigger, better, more passionate business!

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    Posted in Writing, Website marketing, Publicity, Sales & Selling, Web Copy & Web Content, Small Business, PR & Media Relations, PR & Media Relations, Promotion, Online Advertising, Copywriting, Branding, blogging, Correct English Usage, Creativity, News, Marketing, Get Clients Now, Advertising | No Comments »

    One Recession-Busting Slot Available

    Thursday, January 29th, 2009

    *SCHEDULE UPDATE ALERT*

    I have ONE slot available in February for either:

    So, if you have a last-minute project that you need help with — and you want bankable RESULTS — simply contact me for a quick no-obligation quote or click on any of the links above and follow the instructions to secure your slot.

    Any leads, shoot them my way. (See my affiliate scheme for remuneration details!)

    Thanks!

    ~Tracey :)

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    Posted in News, Get Clients Now | No Comments »

    Trumpet Call, Please!

    Monday, January 26th, 2009

    I’m a bit on the shy side. Really, I am. Especially when it comes to promoting my OWN business using the spoken or written word (funny how I have no problem publicising other people and their business).

    It also appears that I’m a bit dim. Oh, yes, indeedy: I’ve been missing a very clever trick with regards to self-promotion. You see, other writers not only use testimonials on their websites, they also publish all that lovely feedback on their blogs, Facebook sites, Twitter patch or other Web 2.0 arena.

    Oh, I’m a little behind in my own website updating, too: I often receive kind emails from clients and business partners, where they thank me for my copy/work/help. But I don’t always have the luxury of time to pop them up on my main website. (When is time on your side?!) 

    To help make up for this craziness, here’s a rather nice email extract I received from John of EEC in response to my very first draft of the leaflet copy I recently did for them:     

    “Many thanks for getting our work to us so quickly…   

    “We are pleased with the wording you have put together for this project — it is just what we’re looking for.” 

    Ah, how lovely. It certainly helped brighten an otherwise depressingly dull day.

    Expect to see further shameless plugs at a blog near you soon…

    (And if you happen to have anything nice to say, please don’t hold back!) 

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    10 Business Resolutions That Actually Work

    Thursday, January 8th, 2009

    The lead article in the latest issue of MediaMinister’s Communiqué for Success offers plenty of ways to kick off a profitable (even record-breaking) 2009 — whether you’re just starting out (and want to avoid costly mistakes) or are already doing well (and need to accomplish more by doing less).

    To read the full article and gain *hidden links* to recent CfS newsletter editions, you’ll have to become a subscriber. (That’s a good thing, by the way, or so CfS readers tell me!) As well as being FREE, you’ll receive a business-building report and audio CD that can dramatically improve sales simply for signing up and trying it out.

    Subscribe here.

    Recent CfS newsletter issues cover:

    • Be Profitable in a Slow Economy
    • Why People Don’t Buy
    • Can the X Factor Help Your Business?
    • Be a Client Magnet
    • Recession-Proof Your Business
    • Stand Apart from ‘Me-Too’ Competitors
    • Stop! Don’t Post that Letter!
    • Common Mistakes that Can Kill Business
    • How to Bolster Trust on Your Website
    • Just How Believable Are You?
    • …and much, much more that you really can’t afford to miss out on if you are serious about making it in business.

    Subscribe here.  

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    Posted in Promotion, Small Business, News, Marketing, Creativity, Get Clients Now, Branding | No Comments »

    Happy Holidays, Office Hours & a Bit of Fun

    Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

    Just to let you know that MediaMinister is ‘offline’ now for the festive season. I will re-open for business on 6 January 2009 (wow, that feels weird just writing that — how time flies!).

    In the meantime, I invite you to visit http://www.iconnicholson.com/holiday (no sales pitch, just pure fun).

    Finally, I would like to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes to all my blog readers for a happy, peaceful, and healthy holiday season. And may 2009 prove to be the very best year of your business and personal life.

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    Digg This :: Email This :: Add to del.icio.us   

     

    Posted in News | 1 Comment »

    Give a Little Business Cheer This Season…

    Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

    Now that the holiday season is in full swing, your purse (or wallet) is almost certainly feeling a little bit lighter, what with all the festivities and shopping…

    So, to help you out and give your purse/wallet some holiday relief — as well as to THANK YOU for all your business and support throughout 2008 — I have an early holiday gift for my newsletter and blog readers:

    Save 20-50% on every digital download, from now until 19th December 2008…

    While many game-boards last just for Christmas and this year’s toys are next year’s throwaways, the residual on a learning system or one of my products will last a lifetime. 

    So why not treat yourself or an entrepreneurial friend to the perfect business-boosting gift?

     The way it works is simple. Buy one PDF digital download (including all my ebooks and TeleMasterClass transcripts) and get a 20% discount. Buy two and get a 35% discount. Buy three or more and get a whopping 50% off the price. 

    But here’s the catch:

    You need to place your order by 5pm (GMT, 8am Pacific, 9am Mountain, 10am Central, 11am Eastern) on Friday, 19th December 2008 to take advantage of this opportunity…

    So if you’ve thought about buying one of these informative, easy-to-follow-and-implement guides before, now is your chance! Start here (But do NOT order from there! You need to email the code “HOLIDAYS 08″ along with your choice of products and preferred method of payment to me first.)

    BONUS #1: But that’s not all! For every order over £100, I’m going to include *complimentary*email support and mentoring (limited to four email consults per order) to help you get the most out of your new business assets.

    What better time to re-commit yourself to making your dreams of taking your business to the next level a reality than now, with the New Year just around the corner?

    I recommend: 

  • The Fast-Track to More Profitable Advertising £8.50
    A ton of useful information in one handy checklist to getting more bang for your advertising buck. 

  • Powerhouse Publicity - How to Profit from the Media & Get F.R.E.E. PR £50
    Gain press coverage and leverage media relations in such an easy way that it translates into more clients and revenue.

  • Stop Working With Deadbeats! Attract IDEAL Clients & Knock Out the Competition Instead £10
    An ideal client profile is one of those secrets that solopreneurs and small businesses can learn from the corporate world for greater business success. This is THE essential ‘better-business’ cheat sheet.
  •  Using Online Marketing to Your Advantage £50
    Whether you are just starting out, or want to learn new tricks, this will give you the insider tricks to lucratively market online.
  • Website Copywriting Secrets that Convert Web Readers into BUYERS £50
    Lots of useful techniques, tips and new insights that you can put to use straight away to get your site working FOR you, for a change.

    • You can see the full list here:

    http://www.mediaminister.co.uk/products.htm(

    But don’t order from there! You need to email the code “HOLIDAYS 08″ along with your choice of products and preferred method of payment to me to take advantage of this time-sensitive discount.)

    And, meanwhile, from me to you … have a safe and wonderfully happy holiday season. 

    With lashings of seasonal joy!

    ~Tracey

    PS Here’s just a taste of what others are saying about my immediate-access, digital downloads:

    “I’d like to say what a refreshing change from all the hype out there it is. I found it to be very well written and accessible, with an easy to follow plan. I’ve already applied what I’ve learnt and its already transforming my business.”
    – Aaron Beads, Homeopath

    “Wow! There was a LOT to take in, but all of it is extremely practical. You have a way with words. And you have probably saved me weeks, if not years, of expensive and frustrating learning. Thanks so much!”
    – Andrea White

    “Great value! I was delighted with the quality of information you provided - I am hoping it will help me bring in more clients.”
    – Alex Greer, Just Too Busy 

    “I’d absolutely recommend you get this great resource.”
    – Julie Begbie, www.keepstakes.co.uk      

    “Among the best! It exceeded my expectations!”
    –     Heidi Tran, www.blackbug.net

     

    Posted in Sales & Selling, Writing, Website marketing, Web Copy & Web Content, PR & Media Relations, Small Business, PR & Media Relations, Publicity, Promotion, Creativity, Copywriting, Advertising, Get Clients Now, Marketing, Online Advertising, News, Uncategorized | No Comments »

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