Many local news networks like to feature “good news” stories, and they are often about local businesses. Getting your business profiled IS possible! This sort of media coverage is priceless for a business, and can propel your business to new heights in a very short period of time. And even more amazing, it is FREE!
Here is an example of a Cleveland-based business, Penny Stones, which was featured in a weekly “What Works” segment on WKYC News:
Tammy Gentry is the founder of Penny Stones, and here is how she ended up with the interview on the local news:
“I saw my kids’ conversation skills improve as we played with Penny Stones. But it’s not very compelling to tell customers ‘Buy these – I know it will improve your kid’s conversation skills because it really helped mine!’ I met some wonderful school counselors at a conference and asked them if they would help me with a study. I ended up with 10 school counselors who participated (I compensated them with a free set of Slumber Party Penny Stones – talk about a win-win situation). They had group conversations without Penny Stones and then they introduced Penny Stones. They observed the kids’ conversation skills.
“The results were fantastic! All the counselors said they would recommend Penny Stones as a conversation tool to other counselors. And the kids became more comfortable talking in a group setting, improved their listening and sharing skills, etc. Here’s a link to the study: Playing with Penny Stones® Improves Kids’ Conversation Skills
“After we had the results from the study, Deborah Chaddock-Brown, of AllWrite Ink, helped me write my press release and sent it to local media. That’s how Penny Stones was picked up by WKYC. They liked the fact that they’re made in Cleveland by disabled workers. But the study got me in the door.”
I met with Tammy a few weeks ago. She is a very energetic lady, with interesting ideas and big plans for her business. In fact, she was recently invited to submit an application to a national network reality TV show that features businesses looking for capital. Talk about BIG plans!
If you dream small, the biggest you can ever get is limited by that dream… Tricky, right? Not really – DREAM BIG to GET BIG!
Here is the KEY Point: BIG is how YOU define it! Total sales, number of customer, profits, number of embroidery heads, number of employees, whatever makes you feel like you “made it!” Dream BIG – and then DO SOMETHING about making it happen – even if it seems unrealistic. Who knows where it can take you!?
