I’m really excited to be presenting at my first ever Public Relations Society of America [PRSA] meeting.

Thanks to Diane Short for being such a professional and easy to work with program chair. If you’re in the Chicago area, I’d love to see you there! Here’s the program announcement.

January 12, 2010
PRSA Suburban Chicagoland
Social Media Releases: the “Swiss Army knife” of Public Relations

Barbara Rozgonyi will show you how to craft and pump up your press releases for maximum impact.

You’ve leave this program with the following:
# Search Engine Optmization: Find out how to attract more focused attention with keywords and links

# Socialization: Learn how to transition traditional releases into a shareable and multi-media social release format

# Distribution: Discover free and paid distribution services that help you target newsmakers, customers and communities

Presenter(s)
Barbara Rozgonyi, Founder, CoryWest Media, LLC
CoryWest Media, LLC, is a strategic social, public relations and marketing consultancy based in Chicago’s western suburbs. The creator of the Marketing Transformations Process and The Accelerated Marketing Plan, Barbara blends her experience as a storyteller, sales trainer, entrepreneur, marketing consultant and social media maven into lively, dynamic programs that get results for clients, live audiences and students. In August 2009, Ragan Communications tapped Barbara’s talent to develop “twitter 101” and “twitter and PR” programs for their Social Media Boot Camp.

Program details
Date: January 12, 2010
Time: Networking at 6:00 PM, Dinner at 6:30 PM, Program Follows
Location: Sheraton Suites, 121 Northwest Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Cost: $30.00 for PRSA members $40.00 for non-members $25.00 for PRSSA students

Registration Deadline: 12:00 PM January 11, 2010

Online PR Social Media Releases Program Registration

Have a question or need help with online social media releases? Let’s talk in the comment box or call me at 630.207.7530.

In this picture, I’m smiling at an authentic Chicago Italian beef joint with Marc Harty. We met for the first time a few years ago when I won a contest to be Marc’s guest at an Internet marketing seminar. We’re both Illinois grads, we both like Italian beef and we both have a passion for helping people get their news out and rank higher in the search engines.

When Marc asked me to review his new product: Online PR Made Easy, I downloaded the files with a critical eye. After all, I teach online public relations and my company provides these types of services for clients.

Online PR Made Easy Overview
Current Price: $97.00, set to increase, includes 25% lifetime PRWeb.com discount
Ratio of Value to Investment: High
Recommended for: beginners and anyone who wants to save research time – Marc’s done most of it for you, including running down specialty distribution services and ranking free or low-cost distribution resources.

Critical Review of Online PR Made Easy from an Experienced Perspective

What could Marc say that I didn’t know already? [Disclosure: Marc gave me a complimentary review copy, but did not require a review or payment. The links to the product in this post are all affiliate links. I will receive a commission if you buy this product using my affiliate URL. If you do, let me know and I'll send you a copy of my Ultimate PR Secrets interview with Marc Harty, a $49 value, for free.]

Pre-product: Marc went all the way to England to get video for the “London Chronicles” pre-launch blog promo portion of the product launch. While I don’t think a trip across the pond adds to the value of the product, it’s interesting to watch Marc on camera. He’s an engaging storyteller and if you haven’t been to England, you’ll enjoy the scenery. Plus, it shows the level of commitment and detail Marc puts into not only promoting, but producing and presenting, his products.

You won’t have to guess what you get when you order this one. Although Marc’s already upgraded the product since I reviewed the launch version, here are a few modules I liked that stand out:

Insta-Coaching Step by Step Online PR Video Tutorials Demonstrate How-to
Press Release Success
Newswire Selection
Press Release Distribution
Metrics & Tracking

Optimized Templates: The 20-Minute Press Release Fills in the Blanks
New Product Template
Event Template
Expert Authority Template

Ultimate Newswire Directory Sorts out Distribution Options
lntroduction
Directory Tour
Specialty Newswires
Specialty Newswire Tour
Geo Targeted Newswires
Geo Targeting Exercise
Social Media Newswires

Online PR Made Easy Process Maps Chart Out Checkpoint Systems
OPME process maps, or flowcharts, include:
1) Press Release Creation
2) Press Release Distribution
3) Press Release Metrics and Tracking
Clearly laid out, these flowcharts help with planning and tracking.

There are a few areas I would build on, but given that this is more of an introductory package that even more advanced users can learn from, I think it’s definitely worth $97.00 [price subject to increase]. Maybe you have the money, but do you have the time? Marc’s done such a thorough job with video, special reports and templates that you’ll want to study the course to make sure everything sinks in. The good news is once you own the course, you can keep studying. If you’re pressed for time or you’re not good at do-it-yourself communications projects, this may not be the product for you. But, if you’re willing to learn, you’ll get fill in the blank templates, video tutorials, insider tips and shortcuts that will save you more than $97.00 [price subject to increase].

My Online PR Made Easy Review on Marc’s Site . . .

When Marc Harty asked me to review his new product: Online PR Made Easy, I opened the files with a critical eye. After all, I teach online public relations and my company provides these types of services for clients. What else could I learn? Having learned some valuable tips when I interviewed Marc for Ultimate PR Secrets, I looked forward to finding out.

With detailed process maps, tutorials and templates, publicity seekers at all levels will find it easy to write and send optimized press releases. Considering that many companies often invest $200 on distribution alone, Online PR Made Easy is a well-priced investment in better online PR performance.

Check out Online PR Made Easy at http://budurl.com/easyonlinepr

Have a question about how online PR can dramatically improve your visibility and search results? Let’s talk in the comment box or call me at 630.207.7530.

Wired PR Works!
Barbara Rozgonyi

Rather than print out pages of handouts, I’m posting my Digital PR workshop materials here for the world to enjoy.

First, we’ll talk about how to become your own publicist using the PR P-R-I-M-E-R

Next, we’ll go over the Digital PR=Publicity Repositioned presentation.

Then, we’ll cover essential elements of online and social media press releases.

And, we’ll cover some real-life success stories. Have to join us in person to see those, but here are some videos to inspire and inform.

Disclosure: image provided by shutterstock.com

Have you tried do-it-yourself online PR? What lessons would you share?

Coming up on October 30 in Lombard, Illinois . . . here’s a press release about an event that’s expected to draw over 500 people and 50 exhibitors. Need a business to business social networking or social media marketing strategies speaker? We released new about the expo via PRWeb.

Social Media Talks Buzz Up Lombard Chamber Business EXPO

Lombard, Illinois October 16, 2009 — Successful businesses know that one of the best places to network is a chamber of commerce business EXPO. Even better? Add in presentations on how to build up social media buzz and then attend a networking reception. Thanks to the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, businesses can do all three at the 13th Annual Expo at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Illinois. Social Media keynote speaker Barbara Rozgony of CoryWest Media, LLC – online at http:wiredPRworks.com – a virtual PR, social media and marketing consultancy will present three 20-minute social networking presentations: Facebook: Your Business or Your Life; Twitter 101: How to Tweet: Not for Birds, But for Business; and LinkedIn: 5 Power Strategies to Stand Out and Be Sought Out.

The “Wired PR Works” presentation is being sponsored by Chamber Gold Member Premier Payment Systems provider of Merchant Card Services. For more information visit: http://lombardchamber.com or call 630.637.5040.

Yvonne Invergo, Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive director, says exhibitors represent a wide variety of business sectors including banking, finance, insurance, marketing, computer, healthcare, senior living, education, publications, recreation, government and more. A social networking reception, at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., follows the EXPO.

Sponsored by Premier Payment Systems, Barbara Rozgonyi’s social media keynote presentations will cover:

Facebook: Your Business or Your Life? | at noon
How to have it both ways and become friends with people you can do business with
Learn how to harmonize your business, life and branding into a unified, cohesive presence that compliments your business – and your life!

Twitter 101: How to Tweet: Not for Birds, but for Business | at 1:00 p.m.
How to fly into twitter and attract a flock of loyal followers and customers
Birds tweet, but should you? Find out if twitter is a time-waster or a tool worth turning on and powering up. Discover how to leverage twitter to attract prospects, connect with customers, personalize branding and respond to everyone, including the media.

LinkedIn: 5 Power Strategies to Stand Out and Be Sought Out | at 2:00 p.m.
Becoming an authority on LinkedIn is easier than you think. In this session, take a look at the top five strategies authorities use to get attention and claim their space on LinkedIn: profiles, recommendations, answers, company sites and networks.

About Premier Payment Systems, specializing in merchant accounts for credit card processing
Premier delivers a personalized hands-on approach to businesses that are looking for competitive merchant solutions. Managed by an expert team with a collective 50 plus years experience in the bankcard industry, Premier’s leadership’s extensive background in risk management, leadership and sales management drives the company’s service and its vision. Premier’s diverse client portfolio consists of thousands of businesses, some of whom process as little as $60,000 annually in credit card charges while others process in excess of $100 million annually. Headquartered in Chicago’s western suburbs, Premier’s client base includes internet, retail, wholesale, mail order, phone orders and home-based businesses. Partnerships and alliances with the most well respected financial institutions in the world include First Data, named by Inc as the #1 Fastest Growing Business in Financial Services Industry 2008. For more information, visit http://ppsbankcard.com.

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Disclosure: Thanks to Premier Payment Systems for sponsoring my presentation and the event promotions.

Does your website need refreshing?

Are you attracting all the traffic you want?

Does your intent match your results?

Every website needs a review now and then. In this article by Barbara Rozgonyi, you’ll discover 20 tactics you can use to revitalize your website.

Originally published in October 2007, this post suggests 20 ways to attract more targeted traffic by refreshing your site. I wrote it while I was updating my company’s site. Now that I’m considering consolidating this blog with that site, I’m rethinking what I wrote. What would you add? Do you agree with these suggestions?

Online PR Web Blog Redesign Checklist

1. Study your current results to find out where visitors come from and how they find you

2. Weed out pages that don’t draw traffic – why list them if they don’t work

3. Slim down to the basics of who, what, when, where and why and answer all of the important questions right away

4. Write for your reader, not yourself, to draw them in and warm them up

5. Print out the pages, then highlight all the references to we and us and circle all the references from the customer’s perspective that say you [Hint: you want mostly all circles and very few highlights]. Talk more about “you” than “we” or “us.”

6. Add an opt-in form to gather customer data with a box for name and email address and then communicate on a consistent

7. Set up each page to be a mini-site that promotes one thing and one thing only, but integrates seamlessly within the whole

8. Page titles: pick up on keywords and title every page differently; think of the title as a browser headline

9. File names: separate words with an underscore when you save and be sure to list every keyword or phrase that’s relevant to your reader

10. Navigation: be consistent with links to every major page in the site from the central navigation bar

11. Review: ask clients, friends and colleagues for their feedback from a variety of browsers – what looks good on Internet Explorer may be mushed on Mozilla

12. Audio/Video: consider recording either audio or video to upload onto your home page so that your prospects can get to know you right away

13. Testimonials: add comments from customers about their experience with you – let them tell your story – video and audio testimonials are the best

14. Ecommerce: position credit card and approved logos where the reader can find them easily to let them know they can make a secure purchase and not worry about credit card fraud

15. Privacy: link to your privacy policy to assure your readers that you value their privacy and will not share their customer information with anyone, ever

16. Photo: place a professional photo on your site to show your prospects that there is a real person who cares about doing business with them

17. Bio: write a personal bio that talks about how you serve your customers and include a few personal notes to give it personality

18. Contact: set up a contact form to give prospects a way to reach you without calling

19. Phone Number: listing your phone number, in addition to or in place of email, gives customers and prospects confidence that they can contact your right away if they need to

20. Redirect: buy URLs that relate to each mini-site within your main site and then redirect the domain to that site to brand the page and identify the service or product in more depth for your prospects and customers

21. and beyond . . . thanks for adding your suggestions in the comment box