Vol. III, Issue 3: 8 January 2008
Editor & Publisher: Tracey Dooley

HAPPY NEW YEAR! As always, thank you for being a CfS subscriber. (You are receiving this newsletter because you requested it.) Please help us grow together and forward this issue to any friends, peers and associates you think would benefit. Thanks!

In this month's success-packed edition:

1. Publisher's Preamble
2. SURVEY: Your Input Needed
3. ANNOUNCEMENT: Business Success in Only 30 Days?!
4. FEATURE ARTICLE: Your Roadmap to a Better Year Ahead
5. About the Word Doctor
6. TIP: Five Tips For Better Online Marketing
7. READER Q&A: What is the Difference Between PR & Marketing?
8. SUBSCRIBER COMPETITION: WIN a Website Critique
9. RESOURCE: Ta-Da! Tidy Desk, Tidy Mind
10. Join My Affiliate Scheme
11. Business-building Marketplace

Welcome to 2008. (Goodness, that feels weird typing that – it seemed only yesterday that I was writing 1998. Tempus fugit!) Many wishes from me to you for a prosperous and healthy year ahead.

Well, the past year had its ups and downs (breaking my back, for one – ouch), but it was on the whole very rewarding.

I was blessed with wonderful clients. (OK, this didn’t come as easily as I’d anticipated: After struggling to attract highly motivated clients, I finally learned to weed out the ones that just end up draining my time and energy.) I launched a series of popular products that are helping my customers accomplish what they set out to do. I managed to raise ample money for my favourite charities (thanks to you, too, for buying my services and products). I sponsored a wonderfully inspiring child courtesy of ActionAid, as well as a lovable donkey courtesy of El Refugio del Burrito in Spain. I got back in the saddle after a lengthy convalescence. We moved into a wonderful new house with a ‘secret’ garden. We enjoyed many a hearty evening among friends and family, and much more. It's always a good thing to sit back and count your blessings every now and then, especially as one year rolls into another. Which brings us to our main article for this week…

Out With the Old, In With the New Business

Instead of the article I had planned (which I am now postponing till next month), I’m going to talk about New Year's resolutions this issue. Rather, how to make 2008 your best year for business yet!

I must admit that I’m finding it hard to get into my usual perky ‘let’s do business’ mode so far this year. I’m just feeling a little…er…well, lazy. And that’s the problem when it comes to all those crucial elements of running a business. You know what I mean. The advertising. The marketing. The PR. These things are just too easy to put off. Or things can get in the way of good intentions. It all boils down to some serious self-discipline. And a little bit of encouragement.

So, this month’s newsletter concentrates upon getting started on the right track in 2008, and keeping that momentum going throughout the year to help you do business.

BTW, my main resolution for this year is to streamline and simplify my life – including the production of CfS so I can spend more time creating useful content and resources for you.

Have You Received Your Gift From Me Yet?

There are just under six more days left for you to choose a gift from the resources here. It's entirely free. No catches. Simply follow the easy instructions, and the gift of yor choice is yours.

Hey, I Want to Hear From You

Whether you have a story idea, would like to contribute an article or just give me an earful, I look forward to hearing from you.

Here’s to a great 2008!

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One of my goals for CfS this year is to continue to make it what YOU want. So please take just one minute of your time to answer these short questions, and send your feedback to me as soon as you can. Your input will be greatly appreciated, and will allow me to spend more time creating useful content and resources for you. What would you like me to write about MORE in 2008? What would you like me to write about LESS in 2008? How often would you like to receive CfS? Would you like to see more or less content in each issue? What specifically can I do to help you be more successful in 2008? Anything else you would like to add?

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These days we are all fatigued by empty promise after empty promise, too much hype, and not enough delivery. Which makes it a fact that getting any message through the clutter to your buyers, prospects and targets is getting increasingly tough.

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Copywriting tips, tactics and secrets for improving all areas of your advertising and marketing.

Conversion strategies that sell like crazy, easily doubling or tripling your sales.

Simplified power publicity approaches to generate major interest in you and your business.

And a lot more that I'm not ready to reveal yet.

At the moment, my thinking is that the information to be revealed would very much suit a 30-day email programme with full support from yours truly. However, I am open to your thoughts on this. For instance, you might prefer a workshop-based system, or another form of delivery. If so, I would LOVE to hear from you.

Get in touch via the online contact form, or send your thoughts:

Until then, please look out for the special announcements as it all unfolds…

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When it comes to the new year we are so full of hope and good intentions. The problem is most ‘New Year’ resolutions are nothing more than vague promises to do better this year. They tend to fall by the wayside before the year has got into full motion.

So here's my advice: If you want to do something new in your career or your business, move it from your backburner ‘one day son’ list, and instead put it at the top of your ‘things I MUST do right now’ list. And then place this list somewhere prominent where you can’t fail but notice it at least every working day.

The reason for this is two fold:

1. If you don’t commit to paper and write down your New Year's resolutions – or goals for the coming year – you will never make them a priority. And so they will never materialise.
2. By placing the list where it can be seen and read each day, you’ll set the wheels in motion that are necessary for driving you forward to accomplish each goal.

Get More Done with Less Effort

Ever since I have committed myself in this way to my hopes and plans for the coming year, I get more done. Last year, I accomplished approximately 75% of what I set out to do – and I only suffered a major setback when I broke my back.

There’s no reason why you can’t do it, too. Achieve more, I mean, not break your back.

Keys to a Better Year Ahead

1. If you haven't done so already, take a few minutes right now to write down your most important business goals for the coming year.

Don’t write a tome. Simply list 2-5 specific goals. And, while you're at it, I hope you resolve to make a good work/life balance a top priority.

2. Next, take each goal or ‘resolution’ and break them down into smaller objectives.

So, if one of your plans for 2008 is to get mentioned in the press, you might break it down into 10 or more objectives that look something like this: “Objective 3: Gather contact details for editors of computing titles by 30 March 2008.”

Make sure you set a reasonable date for completion of each objective.

3. Now break each objective into smaller, dated tasks.

Let’s say there are 100 magazines, ezines and newsletters that focus on computer technologies. You might break it down this way:

Week 1, 1-7 March: Visit library and collate editorial contact details from relevant directories.

Week 2, 8-15 March: Phone 50 (10 titles per day) to confirm contact details.

Week 3, 16-23 March: Phone remainder.

Week 4, 24-30 March: Transfer revised data into contact management database.

Continue along the same lines for all goals and objectives.

By being as specific as possible and writing it all down, you will create your own foolproof, step-by-step roadmap to reach your destination.

And don’t forget to reward yourself for each major mission you accomplish. A walk in the park. A latte. Some chocolate... Anything that makes you feel good, and which will motivate you to reach all your other goals.

By Tracey "Word Doctor" Dooley, Creative Consultant | PR Guru | Marketing Diva.

(C) 2008 T Dooley, All Rights Reserved

Want to use this article (or any tip in this newsletter) on your website, blog, a message board or in an ezine? Not a problem! But please give credit where it's due. You MUST include the following:

Tracey "Word Doctor" Dooley of MediaMinister (www.mediaminister.co.uk) is an experienced copywriter, editor and marketer. She has spent almost 14 years crafting compelling copy that successfully sells, informs, educates or entertains. =====>To sign up for her freebie business-building tips, marketing and publicity pointers, visit www.mediaminister.co.uk.

***Need to be accountable to someone, or need help with your marketing goals? My mentoring programme can help you start off – and keep – on the right track.

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		Tracey "Word Doctor" Dooley is an experienced copywriter and PR/marketing & editorial consultant. She has spent almost 14 years crafting compelling communications copy that successfully sells, informs or entertains. She can remove the hassle of writing, editing and producing all your marketing communications – including general business writing, blog writing/producing, web content, customer retention and sales letters, postcard campaigns, direct mail packages, brochures, ads, PR materials and more. She can ghostwrite your blog or business articles, too. Because she partners with preferred suppliers, including designers, printers and artists, she can offer pretty much any ‘turnkey’ solution. Just let her know a little about yourself (include things such as who you are, which company you own/work for, the size of your company,
your industry, and so on), which service you require, the type of copy you’re interested in (ad copy, direct mail copy, etc), and she’ll get right back to you. Alternatively, email her your full brief and any supporting documentation.

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1. Add a blog to your website, or at least link to your blog.

2. Make sure your website is up to date, and relevant to your audience.

3. Create an email campaign that links back to your website.

4. Provide useful free content.

5. Add an ezine or blog sign-up box on your home page.

Got an event, tip or resource you'd like to share? Email it to me and I'll include it in a future issue of Communiqué for Success!

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Question: "Part of my problem is I think that I don’t understand what the difference is between PR and marketing! Can you help?”

–– Anonymous

Answer: Worry not, for many people are not even aware that there is a difference between marketing and PR! While PR – also known as public relations – has recently grown in stature within the ‘marketing’ promotional mix, it is most usually associated with relationships. Whereas marketing is about selling.

With marketing, your goal is to get some kind of action from your readership. You might send a letter asking people to send off for a free sample. You might send a postcard with a tear-off section that people can complete and return to you for a catalogue or voucher. And so on.

PR includes image building and management, unpaid media placements, and publicity, making use of press releases, media kits, press conferences, and such.

In this sense, public relations is a facet of marketing that is focused on promoting beneficial relationships with identified audiences (‘publics’).

First, PR is all about relationships, mainly building them. We could be talking about a relationship between a chief executive offer and his employees. Or a relationship between two existing businesses. Maybe it is an organisation’s relationship to its investors. Whatever the case, PR seeks to create and then maintain positive relationships with its many publics.

Marketing, on the other hand, is concerned with the market (doh!). It is driven by consumers’ wants and needs.

So you could say that the first big difference between PR and marketing is the agenda of each discipline.

Secondly, PR creates a two-way communication between itself and its publics.

OK, all very well. But what if you need a plan of action, or at least an idea of where to spend your PR/marketing money? Marketing should not be regarded as an expense, but rather as a financial investment – new customers are a return on that investment.

It is really a question of balance. At every stage of your business development, you need to assess how much to allocate to your marketing budget. It is not just a question of what you can afford. Rather, it is more a question of what you have to spend in order to expose your business to your target market. Becoming aware of the different media options, as well as non-media options, such as word-of-mouth, is the first stage.

Need More Help Being a News Source the Media Will Love?

Powerhouse Publicity (how to profit from the media and get FREE publicity) shares the insider secrets of how to come up with newsworthy ideas for press releases, how to build your own personalised media list, and catch the attention of busy reporters who are sniffing out stories about new trends, products, brands and more: http://tinyurl.com/2ybj89

Got a burning question you want answered? Email it to me and I'll include it in a future issue of Communiqué for Success!

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		So customers aren’t exactly beating down your virtual door. Find out why your website is turning them off – and sending them on to your competitors... For your chance to win a Copy Critique Consultation™ worth £120 for your home page, simply email me your answer to the following question, along with your name and home-page URL: When did I first publish Communiqué for Success? The closing date is 7 February 2008. To find out more about my Copy Critique Consultation™ service, point your mouse here: • http://www.mediaminister.co.uk/consult.htm
Competition Rules No purchase is necessary. To enter, register for ‘CfS’ on www.mediaminister.co.uk if you are not already a subscriber. Only one entry per person.  This competition is open to all residents of the UK and Eire except employees of MediaMinister and their families or anyone else connected with this competition. The prize is as stated in the competition details. No cash alternative will be offered. The winner will be selected at random, and the judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. All entries must be received by 3pm (BST) on Friday 7 February 2008. The winner will be notified by email within one month of the closing date. If the winner has not confirmed receipt of the notification email within two weeks, or is ineligible to receive the prize, another winner will be selected. No responsibility will be accepted for ineligible, incomplete or damaged entries (which may be disqualified), nor for entries that fail to arrive by the closing date. The winner agrees to the use of his or her name for publicity purposes, if required. It is a condition of entry that all entrants agree to be bound by these rules. The details of the winner may be requested by email to:

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If your desk is anything like mine, you’ll have LOTS of bits of paper with scribbled notes. And don’t even get me started on ‘Post-Its’ and the newly 'decorated' wall!

Well, I’ve recently discovered Ta-Da.

This simple and incredibly handy Web-based software essentially serves as a caretaker for all my lists. Everything is kept in one place, and your lists are presented via a web browser.

You can change the importance of any given task, add an idea as it occurs to an appropriate list, check off tasks, and more.

Best of all, it's free.

• http://www.tadalist.com

Got an event, tip or resource you'd like to share? Email it to me and I'll include it in a future issue of Communiqué for Success!

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To find out more just go to ==> www.mediaminister.co.uk/affiliate.htm

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TRACEY DOOLEY’S SERVICES

Yes, in fact I DO more than write articles and publish newsletters. : )

Ask me to write for your blog, emails, marketing communications, newsletters, or website:
http://www.mediaminister.co.uk/services.htm

Hire me as your business copywriting or marketing coach:
http://www.business-marketing-advice.mediaminister.co.uk

Ask me for a second opinion on your marketing-communications materials: http://www.mediaminister.co.uk/consult.htm

Disclaimer: Neither Tracey Dooley nor MediaMinister endorses the accuracy or reliability of any of any third-party advertisements in this e-newsletter. Rest assured, advertisers are carefully selected and sometimes personally known, which can only be a good thing for you! However, I simply can’t (and don’t) investigate the legitimacy, validity or legality of any item advertised. It therefore always makes sense to check each one out using your own diligence.

Feel free to FORWARD COMMUNIQUÉ FOR SUCCESS! in its entirety to anyone you think will find it useful. When doing do please add a note explaining why you're sending it to them, else they might think I've sent it to them without permission – thanks.

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