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Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the day-to-day nuances of securing press coverage for our clients, that we forget to step back and look at the bigger picture: ultimately, we are helping get important messages out on a wide-level.
 
This is top of mind for us because we just started working with dog rehabilitation expert Brandon Fouche. He is truly a miracle worker with aggressive dogs. His own pack is comprised of dogs who were all placed on “death row” for various aggression issues. I have also had the opportunity to have him personally work with my dog Cricket, and she now peacefully lives with two cats after having been deemed “too cat-aggressive to ever be safe near cats” by traditional dog trainers and behaviorists. If you’ve been following our newsletter for a while, you’ll know that Stacey and I are huge proponents and supporters of animal rescue. We are on a mission to get his name out there in a big way so that no dog owner will ever feel they need to put down or give up their dog because they have not been given the proper information. Visit www.brandonfouche.com for more information.
 
Take flight!

Reaching For Gold: Training For PR Glory
By Stacey Johnes and Regina Novickis

The world’s top elite athletes have gathered together to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Even the most-ambivalent sports fans can admire the athleticism, dedication and hard work that each athlete endures in order to make it to that level of competition.
 
Now, everyone knows that you do not just roll out of bed one morning, show up on the slopes, and suddenly become an Olympian. It requires training, practice and coaching.
 
This is true of many circumstances in life, and the same principles can be applied to your PR campaign. When clients come to us and say they want to be on Oprah, this is a worthwhile goal. An appearance on Oprah can skyrocket a business from a one-man-shop to a multi-million dollar level. In fact, there’s a special on CNBC called “The Oprah Effect,” which details this exact phenomenon. But the truth of the matter is, most businesses are not ready to be on Oprah, or even other national media outlets. They require training, practice and coaching.
 
When starting your PR campaign, keep your end goal in mind. That said, start with getting some media practice under your belt. If you’ve never done live television, it can be a very daunting task when the lights go on and you’re expected to deliver your messages in a 2-3 minute segment. In soundbites. With someone asking you questions that may or may not be related to the message you ultimately want to promote. Start with pitching print interviews, which are less intimidating, and can quickly get you up-to-speed on the techniques journalists use to get their story. Then graduate to radio, and then local TV. As you become more comfortable with dealing with the media, you will get closer and closer to "the gold.
 
And if you need support, check out our Jet Set Pick.

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Regina Novickis and Stacey Johnes have nearly 30 years of combined experience helping both emerging and global brands take off and enter the spotlight through public relations. They apply their creativity, strategies and proven know-how to help business owners and experts get their message out to the world. If you’re ready to get your company off the ground and soaring through the incredible power of public relations, get your free tips now at www.PRTakeoff.com.

Are you ready to make 2010 the year you finally let the world know about your company? Learn the same steps and secrets used by literally thousands of companies to get their businesses covered in the media and allow them to take flight like never before. Think this is out of reach? Think again! Everything - and we do mean everything - you need to get your public relations skyrocketing is in our PR FUEL KIT.

Our five-module PR FUEL KIT is like a crash course in getting attention for your company or product. That recognition is powerful, leading to new clients, more credibility and greater opportunities. And that is the power and impact of public relations!

Click below and learn step-by-step how to start generating media coverage for your company:

www.prtakeoff.com/prfuelkit

Regina Novickis

Regina Novickis is a seasoned public relations executive with more than twelve years of experience managing brand positioning, public relations and media relations efforts on behalf of consumer/entertainment clients. With extensive contacts at high-profile media outlets, she has secured coverage for clients in every genre of national press ranging from USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Time and Newsweek, to Self, Marie Claire, GQ and Maxim, to “Entertainment Tonight,” “The View” and NBC’s “Today” show.

From national product launches to increasing brand awareness, Novickis’ PR career has included work for some of the world’s most recognizable companies. These include brands such as Baskin-Robbins, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Disney Consumer Products, FOX, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, Fantastic Sams, L.A. Looks and ABSOLUT Vodka, to name a few.

Novickis holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California Los Angeles. She spent her junior year at the University of Venice in Italy.

Stacey Johnes

With more than 15 years of experience in consumer product marketing and public relations, Stacey Johnes has a long-standing history of executing dynamic client campaigns, garnering results that are expected and beyond. As a co-founder of Media Tonic Communications, she and her business partner have successfully directed their energies into helping develop vibrant, emerging companies, in addition to supporting world renowned companies such as FOX, Disney and Microsoft.

Johnes started her career in the music industry in Arizona working for a concert promoter. After moving to Los Angeles, she entered the fast-paced public relations agency world, working in the beauty industry on brands such as OPI and Jason Natural Cosmetics. She then branched out into consumer products and entertainment, supporting brands ranging from Sesame Street educational products, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment DVD releases, the BodyRev Fitness System, Nissan and the launch of the new 350Z, as well as the release of the original Xbox gaming console.

What sets Johnes apart is her understanding of the nature of the media and what constitutes a story that will be of interest to reporters. She keeps tabs on all facets of the media industry which, when combined with a keen understanding of her clients and their goals, allows her agency to produce spot-on ideas and pitch angles that consistently get attention.

In addition, having taken part in the execution of hundreds of events geared towards both media and consumers, Johnes is able to offer companies creative ideas that effectively put their products in front of their target audiences, which results in media coverage and product sales.

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