How to Hire PR That Works

In her book, "Media Training 101: A Guide to Meeting the Press," author Sally Stewart provides some great tips on hiring quality public relations. Here are some questions she encourages you to ask...

Who is going to be working on My Account?
Be aware that senior consultants may be the ones to meet with you during the new business pitch but then may hand your project over to junior staff members who have little experience.

When you hire Lori Bittenbender as your PR freelancer, I can guarantee that I will be working on your account. I am a senior-level PR professional and I work daily in media relations. You will have the benefits of my 10 years of PR experience working on your account!

Do I really need a big firm?
If you have a small company, then a PR freelancer or a boutique firm can do excellent PR for you at about half the cost! Visit the services section on my website to see what I can provide your company.

How should you be billed for the work?
As Sally explains in her book, "it is most cost effective for the client to pay a monthly retainer which is arrived at by the agency estimating how many hours it will take them to do the work every month." I always provide my clients a very detailed report at the end of the month that explains all of my publicity services provided. Sometimes it can take me an hour to write each report!

How will I know it's working?
Sally explains it beautifully, "...you need to give your public relations plan time to work. Getting a story or putting out a press release always takes longer than you think it will. You need to be working on multiple stories at the same time to build up your pipeline of results. It takes media lists, phone calls and more phone calls and pitch letters to accomplish it." Sally says that at the end of three months, you should start to see results. I've always managed to get results for my clients within three months!

Lori Bittenbender Public Relations

I look forward to seeing how my creative publicity proposals will build your brand and credibility, as well as position you as an expert and influence your target audience.

Contact me at lori at lb public relations dot com.

You Know You're a WAHM

When it's OK to be interrupted from sending an email because there's something so exciting outside and we must look out the window!

The trash man has arrived!

I'd love to share your "You know you're a WAHM" story. Send me your name, company and story to lori at lbpublicrelations dot com for consideration.

Keep on pitching...

"There is a reporter for every story. It might not be the reporter or the publication that you would dream of enticing, but there will be reporter somewhere who is interested."

This is a quote from the book, "Media Training 101: A Guide to Meeting the Press" by Sally Stewart.

This quote is very inspirational for me as a publicist. As the book points out, even experienced story pitchers hear "no" frequently.

When I'm plowing through my media lists, studying and commenting on reporters' stories, I like to keep this quote in mind. It keeps me going until I find a reporter (or 2 or 3!) for my clients' stories.

"There is a reporter for every story...." Keep on pitching....

Lori Bittenbender Publicist/Public Relations Freelancer

I am a PR freelancer and welcome the opportunity to discuss your specific projects and assisting you with your communications efforts.

I specialize in media relations and public relations writing such as press releases, pitch letters, employee bios, blog articles, and newsletters.

My creative publicity proposals will build your brand and credibility, as well as position you as an expert and influence your target audience.

Visit my website to learn the benefits of hiring Lori Bittenbender, public relations freelancer.

You can also visit my website to learn more details about the public relations services I provide.

Courage Cards

I recently received a catalog from Courage Cards. Courage Cards is a nonprofit holiday greeting card company supporting the services of Courage Center. The fine art imprinted business holiday cards feature traditional holiday, city skylines, winter landscapes, whimsical and religious fine art cards.

Most of the artists who create the cards have disabilities.

Proceeds from the cards go to support the services of Courage Center – a nonprofit rehabilitation and resource center advancing the lives of people of all ages and abilities. Courage Center specializes in treating brain injury, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, autism and disabilities experienced since birth.

Many of the cards are quite beautiful. Your company usually sends holiday cards, why not order from Courage Cards and help advance the lives of people of all ages and abilities?

Media Hit!

A great week of media hits for my client, political commentator and author, Carol Platt Liebau.

She was in DC this past weekend for a speaking engagement so I pitched the DC TV and she was invited to be interviewed on the CW, 50. The "Weekend News with Chris Core" show.
Click here for the segment.

From an interview request from my subscription to Profnet:
Galveston Daily News, September 7, 2008
"Unwed teen mothers nothing new, but acceptance is"

Politcal commentary on KTLA, Los Angeles, September 3, 2008

Another Profnet media request:
OC Family Magazine, September, 2008Teen Years: sex and teenagers and shyness

Media Hit!

For my newest client, Carol Platt Liebau, who is an author and political analyst and commentator. She has been very busy lately blogging about the presidential campaign and the Democratic National Convention on both TownHall and the Huffington Post.

This past week, I've secured her two media hits:

• She provided convention and Obama commentary on The Michael Reagan show (Ronald Reagan's son!)
• She was interviewed about McCain's VP selection on The Voice (An on-line Christian magazine that advances Christian life and culture.) Click here to read the post.