10 New Social Media Relationships Rules – Dos and Don’ts

By Liz H. Kelly

What are the Dos and Don’ts for Social Media Sites when trying to build relationships? It’s getting pretty tricky when you start mixing business and pleasure online with your updates. You really have to think twice before posting on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin because they’re so different.

Based on my Dating Coaching and Social Media Marketing experience, here are 10 New Social Media Relationships Rules to guide you through the maze.

10 Social Media Relationship Building Rules

Relationship Building Dos

1. Be short, positive and informative in your posts on Facebook. Share helpful information to become a hero versus noise. If you want to promote a product, share it with tips or a joke versus a blaring announcement.

2. Invite conversations on Facebook and Twitter that people can relate too. No one wants to just read about you. Instead, ask people for opinions on movies, the latest news or sports teams that have mass appeal.

3. Keep Twitter posts even shorter (140 character limit) and share information with broad mass appeal because your posts will get picked up on Google. People would much rather read posts about the latest trends over your trip to the gym.

4. Build relationships with other experts in your field on Twitter by Re-tweeting their posts, list friends in your #FollowFriday tweets and thank tweeters for mentions regularly to build relationships on Twitter.

5. Tie Linkedin posts to your business goals versus vacations. Join discussion groups tied to your speciality to build career connections. You’re last place to look for dates should be LinkedIn!

Relationship Building Don’ts

6. Leave your ex baggage off Facebook. No one needs to know and it just makes you look bad. I advised one dating coaching client to take a Facebook time out until she got over the anger of a breakup.

7. To protect your privacy, don’t post your personal phone number or email on Facebook. You never know who might read it. Similar to what I recommend for internet daters, give an alternate email and business number instead of a home number.

8. Don’t post a relationship status on Facebook unless you are married. If you are dating, this is too much information And if you break up, it gets really awkward to change your status to say you are no longer in a relationship with “Tom.”

9. Because Twitter goes to the masses on Google posts, do not be as casual as you would on Facebook. The world just not need to know about your personal life online.

10. Because LinkedIn is for professional networking, do not post casual, personal updates. The first place recruiters go today is Linkedin so keep you profile and updates in the boardroom.

It’s like the wild wild west with everyone trying to figure out the best way to use social networking sites to build relationships. If you want more tips on social media, you can follow me on Twitter @lizhkelly or visit my PR and Marketing consulting site, Sunrise Road Media.

If you want to join the discussion on this topic, come to the Thurs, Jan 14, 2010 Social Media Club LA Event about how Dating and Relationships are merging with Social Media.

Happy Posting, Tweeting and Relationship Building Online!

Social Media Club LA Event: Dating & Relationships Panel

by Liz H. Kelly

We had a great time talking Dating and Relationships with a group of fun industry experts and me (Author of Great Life Great Love series, Dating Coach and PR/Social Media Marketing Consultant at the Social Media Club of Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan 14, 2010 from 7-10pm at 12th & Highland in Manhattan Beach, CA. Exactly one month before Valentine’s Day, we discussed internet dating trends and how social media is changing the love game online.

Panelists

Liz H. Kelly (@lizhkelly) is a Relationship Expert, Great Love Reporter for the Ultimate Movie Site and Author of Smart Man Hunting who puts a new spin on relationships with love lessons from Hollywood Movies and Happy Hearts in her Great Life, Great Love series (Http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com). In her second life, Liz is a PR and Social Media Marketing Consultant, Sunrise Road Media (http://www.sunriseroadmedia.com), who used to work for MySpace running their biggest advertising campaigns. You can follow her updates and dating tips on Twitter @lizhkelly

Linda Sherman (@lindasherman) is a Social Media Marketing Consultant with a solid background in corporate marketing and finance. She set up Coors Japan and was responsible for creating and executing a unique and successful marketing and sales strategy for ZIMA that is still sustained as a premium brand there today. Linda managed 500+ employees as CEO of Club Med Japan. Linda’s current clients include http://SingularCity.com where she is acting Community Manager. Linda’s company is http://couragegroup.com. Her blog is http://ItsDifferent4Girls.com.

Julie Spira (@juliespira)
Julie Spira is known world-wide as The Cyber-Dating Expert™ and is the author of “The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online.” She is the host of “Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Radio Show” and has been featured on FOX News, BBC, Men’s Health, KTLA, and the Los Angeles Business Journal for her expertise in online dating. Julie is the LA Dating Advice Columnist on Examiner.com and a contributor to The Huffington Post. She currently holds the position of Executive VP/Director of Social Media for Brandloft – a marketing and branding firm. Visit her at http://CyberDatingExpert.com and http://SocialMediaMore.com

Evan Marckatz (@evanmarckatz)
A combination of Dr. Drew and Adam Carolla, he has traveled cross-country with his powerful, laugh-out-loud observations on dating. Whether addressing a ballroom of singles at the Washington Hilton or running a series of seminars for JDate at Club Med, Evan shows that there’s no contradiction between education and entertainment.

Analis Flox (@avflox)
A.V. Flox is the editor of Sex and the 405, a sex news site, as well as a sex and relationships columnist for BlogHer, the leading women’s network on the web. A geek at heart, she got her start on the web in the 90s, and has been using it to her advantage in dating since. She has written several articles about using technology to connect with potential matches and swears by Twitter (How To Get Laid With Twitter for lalawag, How To Get Noticed By A Chick On Twitter for Manolith), but she’s also aware of how the web is changing our interactions (Online or Alienated? for BlogHer) and that constant connection and lifestreaming can also lead to complications in established relationships (The Disconnect In The Age of Ambient Awareness, and Go F*cking Blog About It on her blog). Digital has collided into analog–for better or worse. Let’s play.

Dating + Relationships Panel Questions

1. Why is January the biggest month for internet dating? What are the new trends for 2010?
2. How is social media changing the rules of dating? (exs as friends, people who you meet on Match.com checking out your FB profile, how to use Fan Pages for people who are not really friends)
3. What new types of humor and actions are happening with social media and relationships (ie proposals on twitter, marriage status changed on FB during wedding, wedding videos on youtube, etc)
4. How are social media sites now monetizing dating and relationship services?
5. How is mobile changing the way singles interact? Dating apps?
6. How can you build a community online for dating and relationships
7. What is the best way to manage your online personality and perceptions in your profile, photos and tweets? (personal branding, photos, messaging, tone, videos, etc)
8. What advice can you share for a first date for guys – and for girls?
9. What internet dating and social media conferences do you recommend?
10. Where do you see internet dating and social media going in 5 years?

Venue Info
12th & Highland, Manhattan Beach CA 90266
Contact: geoffabrown@gmail.com / 310.418.4347 for sponsorship or speaker requests.

Video Press Release - Hugo Movie Painting

by Liz H. Kelly

Pictures do say a thousand words - especially in a video press release about an art show and documentary film trailer opening. Sunrise Road Media put together these short videos that tell the story behind the Painter, Paintings and Film. Liz Kelly developed these 2 video press releases as part of the Traditional PR, Social Media PR and Marketing for this exciting Santa Monica artist project.

Come see Hugo Anderson’s really big painting and exhibit with Hollywood movie stars at the Hangar Galleries in Santa Monica, California, Oct 17-Nov 15, 2009 on Wed - Sat 12-6pm or by appointment.

1. Video Press Release - Hugo Movie Painting - Picture Postcard

2. Video Press Release - Hugo Movie Painting - Artist Interview

You can see Hugo Anderson’s biggest painting ever (8 feet x 16 feet), Napoleon and Josephine, the portraits and the documentary preview. The Napoleon and Josephine painting includes a cast of Hollywood movie characters that you will recognize, and this is just a cool exhibit that you don’t want to miss.

Hugo Movie Painting - Art Exhibit & Documentary Trailer
Oct 17 - Nov 15, 2009
Wed - Sat, 12-6pm
Hangar Galleries
Santa Monica Art Studios
3026 Airport Rd (near Santa Monica Airport)
Santa, Monica, CA

Movie Painting Cast
Napoleon - Brian Benben (Dream On)
Josephine - Madeline Stowe (Last of the Mohicans)
Director - Paul Haggis (Crash, best picture)
Producer - Alexander Singer (Star Trek Voyager and many other TV shows)
Queen Mother - Lynda Resnick

And if you want help with creating your Video Press Releases, Digital PR, Traditional PR, Marketing and/or Website please give us a call for a free initial consultation: 310-795-1485 or email info@sunriseroadmedia.com.

Video Blog Tips - Rich Woman Hawaii Examples

by Liz H. Kelly

Video blogs are an awesome way to promote events and products, build buzz and drive traffic to your website. We shot these two promo videos as part of the Integrated Marketing Campaign that Sunrise Road Media developed for a Rich Woman Hawaii Event in October 2009 with Kim Kiyosaki (Rich Woman Author and Real Estate Investor) on Oahu, Hawaii. A video speaks volumes. Below are 3 Video Blog Tips and 3 examples to help you put together a compelling video blog.

3 Video Blog Tips - Sunrise Road Media

1. Make Emotional Connections: The first video is a photo slideshow of Kim Kiyosaki in Hawaii with local music to build an emotional connection to the brand and event. All three videos also capture the key financial education topics Kim Kiyosaki will cover at the Rich Woman event to encourage people to sign up. These videos do not have the exact same content, but have consistent themes and personalized messages.

2. Add Personality to the Message: By adding personality and positive energy, your videos will be much better received. In the videos # 2 and # 3 below, you can see two different personalities. Both work.

3. Shoot at fun locations: The last video was filmed at the event location to show women around the globe the refreshing setting of the Ko’olua Golf Resort Ballrooms on the 18th Green. Find a fun setting for your video blog to increase video views.

Video 1 - Kim Kiyosaki in Hawaii - Rich Woman Event Photo Video - photo scrapbook video of Kim in Hawaii

Video 2 - Lee Ann Del Carpio, Rich Dad Hawaii co-founder and event host - personalized invitation

Video 3 - Liz Kelly, Integrated Marketing Campaign Director - filmed at the event location

Let us help you build a compelling video blog and viral marketing campaign by emailing info@sunriseroadmedia.com or calling us (310-795-1485) for a free initial consultation.
Aloha, Mahalo, and great to see so many great women from around the globe (China, New Zealand, Estonia, South Africa, Canada and the US) at this Rich Woman event, Bringing out the Rich Woman in You, on Oahu on October 9th.

(C) Liz H. Kelly, Sunrise Road Media - Smart Integrated Marketing, http://www.sunriseroadmedia.com, 2009

How to use Facebook for Social Media PR

By Liz H. Kelly

To help you set up a Facebook account and promote your products using Social Media PR, below are 10 tips from Sunrise Road Media. The old advertising models are dying, and digital media offers a unique opportunity to share what you like with friends. This quick guide is for anyone who is new to Facebook and Social Media PR.

These social media tips are based on our PR and Marketing experience managing Integrated Marketing Campaigns at MySpace for key account advertisers, building campaigns for consulting clients, and going to weekly digital media expert panels in Los Angeles. If you want help with developing your Digital Media PR Strategy and ways to measure success, call us (310-795-1485) or email info@sunriseroadmedia.com for a free initial consultation.

Facebook 101 Tips for Social Media PR

1. Sign up for a free Facebook Account
a. To get starterd, choose a username that represents Brand You
b. Set up a custom URL that is tied to Brand You (usually your name)
c. Click on Profile to create your Profile Page
d. Your posts will now appear in Internet search results unless you opt out under the Account Privacy Settings. If you’re promoting a product, this extra exposure can be good news ( you just need to avoid sharing TMI on Facebook).

2 Profile page = your personal profile
a. The Profile includes a paragraph, photos, links to your website and your groups
b. Click on the Photos tab to upload your profile photos and albums
c. Add a fun Profile Photo that represents Brand You
d. Once you start going to events or parties, take photos of friends, and then tag them so the photo appears on their Wall

3 Home page = newsfeed page
a. Click Home to see your friend’s posts plus your posts
b. This newsfeed page is where your social media posts will be seen

4. Friends page = where you can add and view your friends
a. Have fun connecting with business, highschool and old friends who you have not talked to in years!
b. While you might not talk to your Facebook friends everyday, they can be your greatest asset for Social Media PR
c. To add a friend
- Scroll down to “Search for People” and enter the names of Friends, and then add them (add a personal message to your friend request)
- Add “Recommended Friends” in the far right column that are posted based on your other friend connections
- Accept Friend Requests that you receive and write a note back
- Use the “Find Friends” option that sends an alert to everyone in your email address book that you have a Facebook account

5. Inbox page = your Facebook email
a. To send a private email to a friend, click on their name, and then under their photo, click on “Send Message”
b. You can also use email to send messages to a group of friends as a promotion.
c. In your emails, provide valuable information versus sounding like an ad. Avoid being a spammer on Facebook at all costs.

6. Write on someone’s Wall
a. If you write a note on someone’s Wall, it will appear in the public newsfeed and on your Facebook Profile Page
b. If you want to send someone congrats, happy birthday or share something that the world would be interested in knowing, write on their Wall.
c. If it is a more private message (example, What time do you want to meet tonight?), then send them a message through the email option.

7. Status Updates – Tell us “What’s on your mind?”
a. Enter an update, and click Share to post in the Home page newsfeed for all of your friends to read
b. Write updates that are 1-2 lines with valuable information versus sounding like an ad
- Great post example – Did you know 47% of women over 50 are single? Come find out how to take charge of your finances at this Rich Woman event.
- Bad post example – You should go to this Rich Woman event in Hawaii.

8. Posts with Attachments
a. Attachments can offer references, links and help draw attention to your post.
b. Under the Status Update box, you’ll see icons for different types of attachments to your update.
- Photos
- Video
- Link
- Event
c. Write your post (1-2 lines) plus attachment, then click “Share” to have it appear in the newsfeed

9. Add Comments to other people’s posts
a. By adding comments, you’re showing an interest in your friend’s posts, and then they are more likely to comment on your posts
b. Encourage your friends to add comments on your Social Media PR posts especially to show an interest and buzz for your topic

10. Social Media PR versus Personal Posts
a. Your friends are on Facebook to hear about your passions, hobbies and thoughts – and are not really that interested in your promotions
b. Avoid over-doing any type of posts or your friends will remove you from their newsfeed (3-10 posts total per day is good)
c. For Social Media PR, you probably only want to post 1-3 promotional post a day, depending on what is happening (if you are close to an event, you can post more).

If you’re interested in learning more about Social Media PR or hiring us to help you with your campaigns for Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Digg, StumbleUpon and others, call 310-795-1485 or email info@sunriseroadmedia.com for a free initial consultation. We can help you build a strategy, create success stories and help you measure the results!

Happy Social Media PR!

Top 10 Twitter Starter Tips

by Liz H. Kelly

Are you ready for some quick tips on Twitter? If you’ve been baffled by their new rules, you’re not alone. To help you join the party faster, below are my Top 10 Twitter Starter Tips from Sunrise Road Media that are based on translating complex bar conversations, networking lunch notes, articles and blogs. Based on these tips, you can also gain 100 followers per week on Twitter. In only 6 months, @lizhkelly has over 2,000 followers with very little effort following these tips. You can do it too.

When I checked my followers last night, most of them had 0 Tweets! And it’s no surprise because Twitter has created a new language. Good news…Twitter does not need to sound like Russian. As a Social Media PR guru who used to work for MySpace, these tips are designed to help you get started and see the value faster. Are you ready for the easy answers?

Top 10 Twitter Starter Tips

1. Twitter versus Facebook

While there are some similar features, Twitter is a better Marketing tool than Facebook overall. You’ll read more about how # topic threads and the @ sign below let you target messages to people who are more interested in your messages. In both cases, your posts will appear in Internet search results - unless you Opt Out under Account Settings.

2. Tweets are 140 characters

Your challenge with Twitter is to say something that matters and makes sense in 140 characters or less, which includes your links (which fortunately you can shorten using Twitter). It’s like a text message, and the rule is less is more.

3. @ sign creates a link to a user

The @ sign is a powerful tool on Twitter. Add it in front of other people’s username so your message can link to their Twitter page. For example, if you click on @lizhkelly, you’ll find my tweets history and bio. If you want to recognize someone for sharing a tip, place the @ in front of their username as a courtesy. (And if you Retweet someone’s post, it will automatically include their @username in the RT.)

4. Twitter Applications

There are a ton of Twitter applications to help you use Twitter better – ok, it’s a little scary that you need so many extras to use Twitter. The one that I recommend for beginners is Tweet Deck. This app will help you organize your tweets better on one screen.

5. Twitter on Mobile

If you want to add Twitter to your mobile, there are a ton of applications for that too. Search online and ask friends for recommendations. Here are two to get you started.

Blackberry – Twitterberry
iPhone - Tweetie

6. It’s all about Who You Follow

When I asked my Johns Hopkins alumni friend at lunch in Westwood, CA, what’s the secret about Twitter, he said, “it’s all about who you are following” – not necessarily who follows you. Follow people who can share valuable content that interests you. For example, I met a guy who just follows the news on Twitter. If you are an LA Lakers fan, you can follow them on Twitter too.

7. # sign creates a link to a Topic Thread

To find a discussion thread on any topic, go to Search, and place a # in front of your topic (example, #diet, #running). To join the discussion, just add # and the discussion name in your Tweet, and everyone in that thread will see your addition. Whether you’re into fly fishing or Shakespeare, there’s a Topic Thread that you can join on Twitter.

9. Become Known as an Expert

If you have your own business, book, or blog, you can easily promote your brand if you jump in the right topic thread. Are you into time management, cooking or fitness? Whatever your passion, you can find it on Twitter. Start posting tweets with valuable content (avoid sounding like an ad) in your # topic thread to become known as an expert.

9. Real-Time Feedback in Instant Focus Groups

If you’re testing a new product or want feedback on your idea, Twitter provides an instant focus group. Search on any topic (#sunvalley), and it works like magic. You’ll find an interested audience who can reply in real-time versus waiting for an email, survey or phone call back.

10. Marketing Goldmine of Data

If you are a Marketing guru, Twitter is a goldmine for your research. At any moment, you can do a Search and find real-time data regarding any topic. If you want to know what people think about the winner of American Idol, just search on this term, and the world will speak to you. While we still need more measurement tools, you can find a ton of valuable feedback on Twitter.
Let us know if these Twitter Starters are helpful. There a ton more tips out there, but these will get you on the right track fast. If you have any questions or want help building your Digital / Social Media PR Strategy, email info@sunriseroadmedia.com or find me on Twitter @lizhkelly.

Happy Tweeting!

And special thanks to my top Twitter translators:
@chrisaldrich, @edwardboches, @Ki2mylife, @briansolis, @lpollock

Rock Star Publicity Tips - Get 500 Media Hits

by Liz H. Kelly

Would you like to know the secrets to great PR? If you’re launching a new brand, book, product and/or service, these Rock Star Publicity Tips can help you build buzz around your brand. Below are my top 10 tips that helped me get over 500 media hits (TV, Print, Radio and web article postings) as an author and PR Consultant for clients. I shared these Sunrise Road Media tips at Mark Victor Hansen’s Mega Book Marketing conference in front of 700 people (ok, I had to wear sunglasses to do it).

When you develop your PR campaigns for TV, Radio and Print – and now Social Media PR, these advice tips can get you off to a great start! We’re also here to help if you prefer to hire a pro.

Rock Star Publicity Tips

1. Be a Rock Star in Your Home Town First
Go to your high school, college, and local papers to ask them to write a story about you first. My first TV interview was ABC News in Baltimore through a high school friend.

2. Get Rock Star Author Endorsements
Ask for endorsements from Rock Star Authors (I have 5 and each one took 2-3 months of follow-up so get started now). If you want a copy of my letter to John Gray PhD (Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus) as an example, just email, info@sunriseroadmedia.com.

3. Plan a Rock Star Radio Campaign
Did you know that there are 1800 radio guests a day in the US? The producers need you to fill the slots with great content, and we’ve been were fortunate to book over 150 radio interviews on the BBC, WOR, and many more. If you want some help, contact Sunrise Road Communications so we can create a great hook and get you more radio promotions.

4. Get Media Coaching - Call Roberta Gale
You can sell a ton of books using radio with the right messages. I HIGHLY recommend Roberta Gale for media training. She has 22 yr of experience in radio and will make you sound like a pro in a few hourly sessions. Roberta can coach you over the phone from anywhere, and it’s so worth the investment! Email Roberta to book an appointment at info@vanderslicemedia.com, and please tell her that Liz Kelly sent you.

5. Get Quoted as an Expert in Print - PRleads.com
You can get quoted as an expert in The Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, the Miami Herald, and more. Contact PRLeads.com for story leads, and tell Dan Janal that I sent you. Because reporters often write articles months in advance, start your print PR at least 3-5 months before your launch date, and contact us if you want help.

6. Send out Press Releases
You can send out your press releases to thousands of reporters using Prweb.com. You pay a minimum of $80.00, attach a photo and/or book cover, and watch it get republished all over the web. Write your own or hire us to develop awesome copy and a great hook.

7. Set up a PPC (Pay-per-Click) Campaign using Key Words
Set up your PPC campaign on Google and Yahoo using key words for publicity and sales. You can write the copy or hire Sunrise Road Communications to set up your campaign. As a result of our PPC campaigns, we’ve landed national interviews on FOX News, MSNBC and many more. It’s worth the time and money to invest in a PPC campaign!

8. Build Your Ambassadors with Branding
Branding is everything when it comes to PR and Marketing your products and services.
You can build buzz quickly through postcards, business cards with a photo and logos. You also want to hire a graphic artist to create a logo that represents your brand (Sunrise Road Media has designers who create logos.)

9. Make Friends Everywhere
It was friends who got me connected to friends for my columns, movie treatment, radio show planning, and article in USA Today. It’s a process, and you want to widen your circles everywhere. Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are also awesome ways to promote your products to friends. You can do it or hire us for Social Media PR because there is an art to this promotion.

10. Ask and Follow-up
The biggest secrets to great PR success are ask with a smile and follow-up! When you get rejected (which will happen), trying using my two favorite mantras to keep cool: 1. K.I.T. (Keep-it-Together) or 2. “Be patient and persistent, not desperate.”

If you’re about to launch or re-launch a book, product or service, contact us by calling 310-795-1485 or email, info@sunriseroadmedia.com to set up a free initial consultation and/or follow us on Twitter @lizhkelly.

We’re here to build more PR and Marketing success stories for your products and services!

What’s the Big Buzz about Widgets?

By Liz H. Kelly

If you surf the net today, you cannot escape widgets. They’re the little boxes that appear all over web pages, and they’re the hottest brand advertising tool online. A widget can be used to promote a new movie, provide the latest sports scores and/or ask you to do something (enter a contest, play a game). Based on the Digital LA panel on Widgets and Apps in Entertainment last night, it will be interesting to see where these advertising tools go from here.

Advertisers are watching what you do with widgets very closely. They want to know who clicked on their widget, who embeds it onto their page (viral marketing), who interacts with the content (ex. enters a contest) and where you clicked (on Yahoo, Facebook, MSN, etc). As TV and computers eventually merge onto box, you’ll start seeing more widgets and apps on your big flat screen. Direct TV is already working on their widget strategy.

Some of my east coast friends were asking me today on Facebook, what’s a widget? In case you’ve never worked for MySpace, a movie studio or a media agency, here are the big buzz words, their translations and a few entertainment widget examples:

Widget Buzz Words

Engaging content
= make it sound interesting, get creative, be unique, provide timely info (sports scores), offer a prize, offer a fun game, give them bragging rights

Relevant content
= make it interesting to your target audience, hit on a hot trend

Call to Action
= asks you to do something, enter a contest, write your favorite flirty line

Social listening
= find out where the fans go online, read the fan comments, comments are even more important than the number of impressions

Ghost blogging
= someone blogging to build buzz around a brand in disguise, part of seeding that builds buzz prior to a launch

Entertainment Widget Examples

The Digital LA panel also shared some fun examples of widgets that their teams built for entertainment promotions. You’ve probably seen some of these movie promotions.

Wally - Joystick Interactive got an interactive marketing award for an embedded wallpaper widget for this movie.

I Love You Beth Cooper- Earthbound Media Group created a widget with heavy Twitter integration as part of the advertising campaign.

Hangover - Clearspring did a content syndication for this movie widget to get the content on many social media platforms at once to promote this movie.

For a feature film, an agency will start brainstorming the widget content 3-9 months in advance. While some members of the panel advocate breaking the intellectual property rules, the brand’s Legal Department can hold things up in their approval process. It’s best to partner with the lawyers to find solutions.

Widgets are huge business for entertainment, social media and advertising agencies. Get ready for more widgets that sell things or include pre-roll ads from sponsors (aka “monetization”). While someone in tech might change their name, the advertising concepts will stay the same. What type of compelling content can you put in your advertising widget?

If you want help with your Social Media PR, you can contact us by calling 310-795-1485 or email, info@sunriseroadmedia.com to set up a free initial consultation and/or follow us on Twitter @lizhkelly.

Happy Promoting!

Press Release 101 Tips & Example

by Liz H. Kelly

The media is always looking for great content, and a press release is a great way to reach many reporters fast. If you include relevant and fun content, the viral marketing impact and media exposure can be huge. Below are the five main things that go into a great press release -plus an example release written by Sunrise Road Media.

PRESS RELEASE 101 - 5 MUST-HAVES:

1. Catchy and Timely Headline - The headline will determine if they read your release. Write something fun that a news anchor could used to entice viewers to watch your TV segment or read an article. If you were driving down the road, what would your billboard say?

2. Fun Summary with Key Points - The summary is like your elevator pitch. If you had 30 seconds to explain the story, what would you say? Your summary needs to be 2-3 sentences, and entice the producer to read more.

3. Body with Bullets - The press release body should tell the story in about 500 words. And since the media is always working on warp speed, bullets make it much easier to digest. Your bullets can also be the talking points for an interview or story, which is a huge help to reporters.

4. Bio and Contact - Your bio tells the reporter your background, and gives them contact info. The producers want to know what makes you the expert and your media experience.

5. Graphics and website link - Reporters are looking for graphics to include in their stories. If you attach your photo and logo to a press release, the media can include them in an article or TV segment more easily (and making their life easy is a key to your press release and PR success).

Below is an example of a press release that was sent out by Sunrise Road Communications that shows these five Press Release Must-Haves. If you want help with your press release and/or PR campaign, feel free to contact us by calling 310-795-1485 or email, info@sunriseroadmedia.com

PRESS RELEASE EXAMPLE

1. Headline
Great Love Reviews Launch with Hollywood Summer Movie Season

2. Summary
Just in time for June’s Summer Romance Movie Season kick-off, Relationship Expert and Author, Liz H. Kelly, announces new Great Love Reviews with love lessons from Hollywood, a new Great Life Great Love website, and featured reviews on the Ultimate Movie Site. From “I Love You Man” to the upcoming release of “My Life in Ruins,” Kelly shares love insights to help singles build a Great Life and attract Great Love.

3. Body
(PRWEB) June 2, 2009 — Get ready for Summer Love on and off screen with Relationship Expert and Author Liz Kelly’s new Great Love Reviews that share love lessons from Hollywood Movies. From “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” to “Marley and Me,” these movie reviews are helping singles attract and build great relationships. Using big screen examples, Kelly shares a light-hearted look from an entertainment insider on her new website, Great Life Great Love (http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com).

To reach a bigger audience, Kelly is contributing to Ultimate Movie Site, where her Reviewer Profile (http://www.ultimatemoviesite.com/members/profile/121/Liz-Kelly) includes a variety of films such as “Casablanca” (Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman), “Spread” (Ashton Kutcher) and “He’s Just Not That Into You” (Jennifer Aniston and Ben Affleck). Andrew Sachs, President of Ultimate Movie Site, says, “We are excited to work with Liz Kelly, whose reviews provide a unique perspective on movies and love.”

Along with her dating expertise, Kelly uses her Marketing and entertainment experience at Paramount Pictures and Fox Interactive Media/ MySpace to help singles bring out their best to attract Great Love. Kelly explains, “People can often see themselves in romantic movie relationships, and these reviews provide some comic relief and love lessons.” For a fun interview about summer romance films, here’s the new release schedule and Great Love insights that can be shared.

Bullets
New Summer Romance Releases & Great Love Insights

June 5 - “My Life in Ruins”: “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” screenwriter and star Nia Vardalos returns to her Greek roots to find her mojo. (Kelly’s Confidence Boosters can help you bring out your wild side.)

June 19 - “The Proposal”: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds give new meaning to the term “workplace romance” with marriage as a job requirement. (Kelly can share Office Romance tips)

July 24 - “The Ugly Truth”: Katherine Heigl is a romantically challenged morning show producer who gets love advice from shock jock (Gerard Butler) (Kelly has a Bachelor Survey that tells all.)

July 31 - “Adam”: Love is complicated in this Sundance discovery about a schoolteacher (Rose Byrne from FX’s “Damages”) who falls for Adam, her autistic neighbor (Hugh Dancy).
(Kelly cried when she saw this heart-warming film at Sundance in Park City).

August 7 - “When in Rome”: A cynical New Yorker (Kristen Bell) jets to Rome for her sister’s wedding and is pursued by seven suitors tossing a coin into a fountain that supposedly ensures marriage. (Kelly can share tips for how to attract Great Love in Rome.)

Along with writing Great Love Movie Reviews, Kelly provides Life Script Coaching to help singles build a Great Life and naturally attract Great Love. Her new ebook: “How to Attract Great Love” provides singles with 7 Steps for Building Your Love Power Package with movie examples and real life success stories. Kelly explains, “Never settle for a Bad Lover or Good Lover - go for Great Love!” Everyone can be a star in their own romantic movie called life. And thanks to Hollywood, the love lessons from the big screen are endless.

4. BIO:
Liz H. Kelly is a relationship expert, coach, entertainment executive and author of Smart Man Hunting who puts a new spin on relationships with love lessons from Hollywood Movies and Happy Hearts in her new Great Life, Great Love series. Her book and work have been featured in hundreds of interviews, including FOX News, CNN Pipeline, USA’s Before and After’noon Movie, Lifetime, USA TODAY, Glamour, The Chicago Tribune, ABCNews.com, BBC Radio’s WM Late Show, and has been regularly featured in Cosmopolitan magazine and Yahoo! Personals advice columns. For more info, visit, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com.

Contact:
310-795-1485
CA, available as a last minute guest

5. Graphics
To view this full release on PR Web, click on this headline to see the graphics attached
Great Love Reviews Launch with Hollywood Summer Movie Season

You can use different distribution systems for sending out your press release, along with having your PR team contact their list of reporters and producers. We’re happy to help you get your PR campaign up and running with great press releases and messages. Feel free to email us feel free to contact us by calling 310-795-1485 or email, info@sunriseroadmedia.com to set up a free initial call.

Happy Promoting!

Basic SEO Starter Tips

By Liz H. Kelly

Do you want some quick SEO tips for how to get your website listed higher in the search results? Whether it’s Google, Yahoo, MSN or other search engines, there are some basic things that you can do to start your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy.

The Social Media Club in Los Angeles hosted an awesome SEO and Social Media panel discussion last night with the experts (@tonyadam, @barbaraboser, @seanpercival and @jeff419). The group shared a ton of great information about SEO versus Social Media, how to load balance multiple sites, and measurement tools to check your results. You can go to the Social Media Club LA website for the more detailed notes. This blog will introduce you to SEO basics so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.

As an introduction, below are some of the panel’s high-level comments:

There is no secret sauce for SEO - it’s content, links, etc
SEO is more technical than social media.
It’s a myth that you need to be ranked #1
Google is always looking for new, fresh content
Just start doing stuff, try a lot and see what works

SEO Basics

1. Do a Keyword Analysis

The first thing that you need to do is a Keyword Analysis to determine which words and phrases are being searched online the most. Start by searching on your topic using Google’s or Yahoo’s tools, and then add the words that match your topic and target audience the best.

Google Keyword Tool
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

2. Add keywords to all content

Add your keywords to all content to get the best results from the search engines. Pick one or two keyword phrases per page to incorporate several times, and avoid over-doing it. Think about how you’re structuring your site and add keywords in a pyramid down approach (ex. add real estate in the title, and then mortgages in a sub-article).

3. Use great titles on the top of each page

Add keywords to a title, and make it clear and concise. A great internet title is usually 40-60 characters (including spaces). Use your most important keywords in the title. Try to be shocking and controversial to get more traffic.

4. Write valuable and relevant content

For the best SEO results, write interesting content about your topic that is at least 200-400 words per page. If you can tie your article to a current trend that’s in the news, it can make the story more relevant. Your articles should create at least two emotions when they read it (laugh, cry, scream).

5. Use great titles in your file names

Add keywords to your file names for all graphics. Instead of saying file23, use healthy_diet.jpg. The file titles will get picked up in Google images, which will provide more exposure and traffic to your website.

6. Use real text versus text embedded in images

By posting real text (especially towards the top of each page) versus an image with words as part of the graphic, the search engines will find your website faster. Avoid fancy flash pieces at the top of the page because they will not get picked up by the search engines. Google cannot crawl flash content.

7. Add Links that point Inside and Outside your website

The search engines value websites that include relevant links. Add inside links that direct the user to other pages within your site. More importantly, add links to relevant websites outside. For example, if you’re an expert on health, consider linking your website to healthy cookbook sites. Sponsor an educational or .gov event or donate to them because Google views them as a trusted site, which improves your SEO.

8. Submit your URL to these directories to register your site:

o www.google.com/addurl.html
o http://search.yahoo.com/info/submit.html
o http://search.msn.com/docs/submit.aspx
o www.dmoz.org

9. Add a sitemap

Add a sitemap to your site with links to all the pages to improve your SEO.

10. Ranking tools

Check your website on the ranking tools to track your SEO results. You can use rankchecker.com to find out:
- # of pages are indexed
- top keywords
- what pages have issues
- see which keywords are converting

Congratulations, you’re now ready to start your SEO strategy. If you implement these tips, you’ll be doing much more than most websites. While your better strategy is to hire an SEO Consultant who understands everything the panel shared last night, these basics are things you can do right away to improve your search placement results.

If you want more SEO help, email info@sunriseroadmedia.com or find me on Twitter @lizhkelly. We can help you SEO your website, and/or find an SEO PhD from the panel if you need one. Your website can be found much faster with a comprehensive SEO strategy, which will improve your ranking, sales, and brand awareness.

Special thanks to the SEO panel:
@tonyadam, @barbaraboser, @seanpercival and @jeff419 and the Social Media Club LA (http://www.socialmediaclub.la/)

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