When you meet a new business prospect or a potential client who shows interest in your business/services, how do you react? Are you able to effectively give that prospect more information without overwhelming him/her with a sales-y lecture? After giving your simple elevator speech, let your website do the talking.

“Make sure your website is attention-getting, informational, and in line with your brand standards,” said Chelsea Janke, Social Media Administrator. “You shouldn’t have to click more than three times from your homepage to find desired information. Use your website as a snapshot or representation of your business and what it has to offer, while making sure that it is also user-friendly for your clients and prospects.”

What’s your elevator speech? No, it’s not actually about elevators. What I’m asking is if you were to sum up what you do or what your business is all about in just one to two sentences (roughly the time you share with another person on an elevator), what is your key message? It might not be easy to summarize, but it’s great to be prepared for those short encounters with other people – who might be prospective clients.

Having trouble formulating your key-message speech? Here’s a tip: don’t try to include every single aspect of what makes your business great – that would be far too in-depth and excessive for an elevator speech. Instead, try to include two or three of your most important goals, maybe part of your mission statement, or just a couple of your strengths that make your business unique and successful. Whatever it is, keep it simple.

If you’re a business owner thinking that you know exactly what your key message is, can you say the same for every member of your team/company? Remember that every employee is a reflection of the company as a whole, and clients often formulate their opinions of a company based on one experience or interaction with an employee of that company. Make sure each member of your team correctly and effectively represents your business and its solidified message.

photo credit: Debs (ò‿ó)♪

Did you know that Facebook’s privacy policy is longer than the US Constitution? (not including amendments)
“It really poses the question, ‘Do you have your own social media policy in place?’” said Chelsea Janke, Social Media Administrator at C.E.L. “If not, are you prepared to deal with the repercussions?”

C.E.L.’s Kari Logan recently returned from traveling in Delaware and Virginia with CNN International News reporter Natalie Allen and photojournalist Rich Rumppe. The crew shot video and conducted interviews with two successful Nexstar® Network member businesses for a special program entitled, Top Shops – A Nexstar Network Report.
The program with run at Nexstar’s upcoming Super Meeting in Austin Texas. Logan secured Natalie Allen to host the show. “The video segments will be produced in news story format,” said Logan.
“They will share the secrets of these successful companies.”

Kari Logan, Co-owner & Media Relations Specialist at C.E.L., is headed to Denver, Colorado to attend the Applewood Peer Group Meeting on behalf of Nexstar® Network. Logan will write an article on the event for Contractor Magazine, a leading trade publication for plumbing, heating and cooling home service contractors.

Nexstar conducts peer group meetings so members have the opportunity to see and learn from the best-run companies. Meetings are hosted by members who open their business, their books and their secrets to fellow members; owners and managers of independent plumbing, HVAC and electrical contracting companies. It’s three days of intense mentoring and participants walk away with tangible strategies that have led to documented success. Peer Group meetings set the standard and raise the bar for other professionals to live and work by.

“I’m looking forward to capturing the essence of this event within the pages of Contractor,” said Logan. “It’s always inspiring to visit the shops of successful Nexstar members with a strong commitment to mentoring and learning from other members through Nexstar’s incredible peer connections.”

How far would you go to show your loyalty to your favorite brands? Many consumers will recommend brands to friends, wear clothing with obvious logos, or even put bumper stickers of logos on their cars. But is there any greater sign of brand loyalty than the willingness to have a logo permanently tattooed onto your skin? That’s commitment that speaks loudly for your company.

According to a Star Tribune article from last month titled “The new branding: company tattoos” by Kristin Tillotson, numerous staff members of Anytime Fitness have gotten the company’s purple logo of a running person tattooed on their skin. Not only is that strong brand loyalty, but it also shows the extreme devotion that Anytime Fitness employees have to their company.

So what do you think: Is there a brand logo that you would have tattooed on your skin? How about the company you work for? Or is this branding going too far?

To read the full Star Tribune article, click here.

CEL’s PR Out Loud is about getting useful information out to the public about public relations, media relations, branding, graphic design and everything else that has to do with our industry. It is a go to spot for information, tips and links to helpful sites for all aspects of a small business.

We have multiple people blogging based on their specialities in the industry.

Cindy Leines

A forward thinker and creative leader with the ability to see the big picture and pull all the pieces together. Cindy has over 20 years in this industry and specializes in branding, strategic planning and running a business.

Kari Logan

With over 25 years working in television and securing print, broadcast and electronic media stories for local and national companies her background shows her specialty. She is a great writer, producer, media expert and creative guru.

Stacy Slygh

Over a decade of creative design and event work on a local and national level, and the ability to manage any project, is only the beginning of this fast interpreter’s strengths. She has a eye for design and a flair unlike any other.

Chelsea Janke

In addition to welcoming guests at the front desk and greeting callers on the phone, Chelsea keeps the C.E.L. office and staff organized while managing clients. Her computer proficiency is a great asset to the team and to clients and her ability to multi-task is exceptional! Chelsea is resourceful and has an innate problem solving ability, so she keeps daily operations and projects running smoothly. She provides graphic design support services under the guidance of colleague Stacy Slygh and manages the Social Media Incubator™.

Carol Scheer

Out of our satellite office in St. Louis, Carol has more than 20 years in the newsroom from copy writing to executive news producer in major markets across the country. Her innate ability to uncover and tell the whole story in a compelling fashion is her forte.

C.E.L. can show you how to get positive press!

As fall approaches, the media starts setting their sites on new angles on old, but stable stories that they always cover at this time of year. Back to school, change in season and temperatures are a couple examples of old news becoming new again. Now is a good time to see if you have a news hook that can bring the media to your door. If you can’t tie into fall, start planning for the rest of this year and into 2010. You most likely have a story to share and remember; the best news angles are not always obvious. Dig below the surface to find what merits special attention and then prepare to “pitch” your story to the press. Do your homework. Research the best target reporter, define your key messages and present them in a clear and concise way. Email is the best way to make your first connection and then follow up with a phone call. Then, brush up your interviewing skills.

A mirror is a good way to reflect on your abilities!

For more detailed information, check out the article I wrote for the August issue of HVACR Business magazine.

~ Kari Logan

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Spreading the News

The 2009 Uptown Art Fair is around the corner and we are pressing forward to spread the word.  This year’s commemorative print is set to be released to the public this Friday.  As many of you know, last year we had both the commemorative print and 35W bridge collapse print.  This year we are once again showing our “artitude” as we unroll the theme of A Fusion of Art, Flavor and Flair with a print that captures just that.  For more information or to get a first glance  of the new commemorative print this Friday morning, check out Facebook, go the Uptown Art Fair’s new blog or look at their website.

When the economy is bad and money is tight, the natural tendency is for businesses to pull back where they “think they can.” Believe me, I’ve done it myself. Marketing tends to be conceived as one of those areas, but the reality is that now more than ever, you need to keep your business front-of-mind with current and potential customers.

Your competition may thin out under the stress of the market downturn and their customers will need to seek out an alternative. Plus, when cash is at a minimum, customers will buy based on trust and dependability, so now is the time to keep in touch…..keep marketing.