121 of the Best Secrets for Getting Massive Amounts of Free PR, Marketing and Buzz

By Beth McRae Dougherty

121 of the Best Secrets for Getting Massive Amounts of Free PR, Marketing and Buzz is one giant chapter filled with 121, down-and-dirty, completely effective and usually free tips and ideas on how to build PR, marketing and buzz for your business and, therefore, ergo, make money. Having buzz means people are talking about you, whether at the local coffee shop or on Twitter. That brings them to your telephone and even more than likely, your website, where it’s your job to hook them and reel them in for the sale.

Since you spent your hard-earned money on this book, it is my job to tell you how to build the buzz for your business, event, non-profit, book or yourself. You can use the ideas in this book to build buzz for anything.

Anything on this list will come down to time or money for you. You can either do them yourself (time) or spend your financial resources to have someone else do them for you (money) - it’s your choice. Every idea on this list can be done by pretty much anyone. All ideas are free or low cost, unless otherwise noted.

So what are you waiting for? Find the ideas that spark your imagination and use them to build buzz for whatever you are trying to market and make big bucks!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beth McRae Dougherty
• Release date: Dec 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370919482

Beth McRae Dougherty

Beth McRae Dougherty oversees The McRae Agency with 20-plus years in the public relations, social media and marketing industries. She specializes in strategic planning; media, community and public relations; social media and online relations; and marketing in various industries, including retail, consumer products, commercial and residential real estate, technology, hospitality, sporting, entertainment and education. Beth has secured coverage in news outlets such as Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNN, Better Homes & Gardens, USA Today, The Today Show, Consumer Reports, U.S. News & World Report, Los Angeles Times, This Old House, Robb Report, CNET, Parenting Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Self Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, HGTV, CNBC, and virtually every conceivable local, regional and national, traditional and online, news organization. She operated an office in San Francisco during the technology boom and subsequently opened one in Scottsdale, Ariz., where she has worked with a variety of clients, including Google. Beth has received more than 45 awards for her public relations and marketing campaigns, including the Bank of America Enterprise Award. She was recognized in the Business Journal “Who’s Who in Business” special report and has served as a board member for numerous non-profit organizations over the years. Beth is a graduate of LEAD, a leadership-training program, and is a member of the Junior League, as well as a past board member. She has worked with the Children’s Services Bureau to help develop a marketing program to educate the public on child abuse. She was one of the chairs for the Super Bowl fundraiser for Children’s Hospital, “Super Ball,” and is a graduate of Valley Leadership, a Phoenix-based leadership-training program. She won the Community Megastar Award for excellence in community service. She has been named a 2011 Trendsetter for lifetime achievement in civic and charitable contributions. She is a former board member of the Arizona Humane Society and HomeBase Youth Services where she spearheaded its young professional group, HomeBase Ambassadors. She has chaired the Heard Museum’s Moondance gala, Phoenix Museum of History gala and American Cancer Society’s Jewel Ball. She and her family chaired the Symphony Black & White Gala, benefiting the Phoenix Symphony. She served on the American Heart Association’s board of directors and chaired its 50th Anniversary Phoenix Heart Ball. She helped found and co-chaired the Arizona Humane Society's signature annual of fundraiser, Compassion with Fashion. She was appointed to the Governor’s Commission to Prevent Violence Against Women and is a founder of Las Palomas, a women’s group that has raised over $1 million for women’s and children’s charities. She also chaired the 50th and 51st Anniversary galas for the American Cancer Society as well as helping found its first board of directors in Phoenix. She served on the board of Trends Charitable Fund, which raises funds and grants them to small local charities, and recently chaired its annual gala. She is chairing the Arizona Science Center's 2017 Galaxy Gala and Liberty Wildlife's 2018 Gala. She serves on the boards of American Cancer Society, Phoenix; Charter 100 (women's leadership group); and International Association of Business Communicators, Phoenix. Beth earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism, with an emphasis in public relations and advertising, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing from Texas Christian University where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Sigma Pi. She received an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Book preview

121 of the Best Secrets for Getting Massive Amounts of Free PR, Marketing and Buzz

How Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs can Use Tried and True Techniques from Companies such as Google, KB Home, Tiffany & Co., Starbucks, Red Bull, Sunny Delight, and IKEA to Make More Money

By Beth McRae Dougherty

What People Have Said About Beth McRae’s Work

Beth McRae and her PR team delivered unparalleled strategy, creativity, and, most importantly, results to WD-40 Company. Her nationwide campaign helped drive sales far beyond projections and even contributed to a large jump in our stock price. It is something our management and competitors continue to talk about to this day.

Lou Repaci, (Former) Marketing Manager, WD-40 Company

Beth McRae has been representing Solatube International since 1997. Showing her determination, professionalism and aptitude, she has learned Solatube’s product line and target market with remarkable efficiency and timeliness. Her aggressive pursuit in targeting various channels such as consumer media, general business material distribution trade media, commercial media and general business media have made the relationship work.

Robert E. Westfall Jr., President, Solatube International

It is with great pleasure that I can recommend Beth McRae to handle your public relations. Beth was hand-picked by me to oversee our strategic reposition in the marketplace of our company here in San Diego. She is knowledgeable, diligent and has excellent media contacts which have enabled CB Commercial to make significant strides in the area of public relations.

Bill Chillingworth, (Former) Managing Director, CB Commercial

As we began our launch, we knew public relations would be an important part of establishing our brand. We selected Beth McRae and her firm to lead PR because of her passion for our business strategy that has delivered quality TV, radio and print impressions in Phoenix and Tucson as well as making FruitSimple a leading brand at focused event activities. They help set and deliver client expectations with their communication expertise and passion for excellence.

Ed Klene, Marketing Manager, FruitSimple (a division of Sunny Delight)

The McRae Agency continuously brings to the table the creativity and performance that is needed to achieve our goals. Their responsiveness and desire for excellent client service demonstrates to me that they are more than just a vendor, but an extension of our marketing department.

Amber Turner, (Former) Marketing Director, KB Home

The McRae Agency is an integral part of my team that produces results that get noticed, not only by my superiors, but by the nation. As a growing S&P 500 company, we only work with the crème de la crème of marketing. Beth and her staff are responsive to my needs, efficient and bottom-line oriented. They are truly helping to take Nextel Communications to the next level in the business world. I heartily recommend them and encourage anyone to call me for a personal recommendation.

Luci Villanueva, (Former) Marketing Manager, Nextel Communications (now Sprint)

Beth, great news on the radio show. We just received a call from a million-dollar prospect that listened to the show over the weekend. A BIG thank you for putting this together. The financial advisors are really excited. All the hard work is paying off!

Mark Peterson, Co-Manager, Piper Jaffray, Scottsdale

The McRae Agency was hand-picked after a rigorous agency review process and we couldn’t be happier with our selection. It was important for us to choose a PR partner who ‘gets’ what Henry’s Farmers Market is all about, and we have found that with The McRae Agency team. As consumer PR specialists, they help us ‘move the needle’ through creative solutions that are on target with our overall company goals.

Leigh Needham, (Former) Regional Marketing Manager, Henry’s Farmers Market

121 Ways to Build Buzz and Make Big Bucks

How Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs can Use Tried and True Techniques from Companies such as Google, KB Home, Tiffany & Co., Starbucks, Red Bull, Sunny Delight, and IKEA to Make More Money

By Beth McRae

Copyright © 2016 by Beth McRae

Trends Publishing Corporation

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.

First Edition: 2012

Visit us online at www.trendspublishing.com

Table of Contents

Overview

1. Chase’s Calendar of Events

2. Panel of experts event

3. Journalist query emails

4. Add sizzle to mundane events

5. Create custom event

6. News releases

7. Event for no reason

8. Video testimonials

9. Publicity stunt

10. Team up with non-profit

11. Create videos for YouTube

12. Link articles to your site

13. Pitch the news media

14. Create a charitable organization

15. Get involved in a not-for-profit

16. Donate to a silent auction

17. Kids, puppies and kittens

18. Write and submit articles

19. Hold a contest

20. Use quotes

21. Social media - substance over quantity

22. Tie social media efforts together

23. Use humor

24. Attention-getting devices

25. Submit interesting photos to news media

26. Write a guest column

27. Start a blog

28. Post to other blogs, comment on articles

29. Start a charitable event

30. Email marketing

31. Create an online group

32. Record a video diary

33. Seminar series

34. Database of contacts

35. Teleseminars

36. Speaking opportunities

37. Be an expert for the news media

38. Handwritten thank you notes

39. Unusual things by mail

40. Opinion page of newspapers

41. Pitch stories related to national trends

42. Research/data in story pitches

43. Start a podcast

44. Internet radio or TV show

45. Partner with other people

46. Free wire services

47. Seminars on topics of interest

48. Leadership roles in not-for-profits

49. Industry trade groups and business organizations

50. Networking

51. Giving to others first

52. Tying in with the news

53. Using a moniker

54. Alma mater and hometown publications

55. Start a scholarship program

56. Sending food to the media

57. Asking for referrals

58. Press kits

59. Working your memberships

60. Online directories

61. Research and reapply

62. Subscribe to free newsletters

63. Free teleseminars and webinars

64. RSS feeds

65. High-value, low-dollar seminars

66. Make connections for others

67. Case studies

68. Tip sheets

69. White