Publicity: Financial Planners That Get It Follow One Rule

Advice about business and life often gets around to one of those "80-20" rules. As in, "80% of your business will come from 20% of your customers or activities." Here's my twist on this for publicity and marketing:

Build no more than 20% of your publicity and marketing activities around yourself.

I know. Sounds crazy. "What else besides me would I showcase in my promotions?" a sane person might ask.

But hear me out. Think of all the advertising and marketing messages you're barraged with all day. Do you welcome them? Do you feel, right now, like hearing from one more person, one more time, about how great their product or service is?

Well, neither does anyone else.

So there's the problem with building your whole marketing or PR campaign around your credentials, or the superb service or product you offer. Sorry to break the news, but most folks just don't care.

So the question becomes, what do they care about? And what should you build 80% of your PR around?

Here's my simple to answer. You even knew it all along, because it applies to you too. Most people care most about one thing.

Themselves.

And that's why any financial planner should build 80% of their publicity around what the prospect cares about.

Here's what I mean: Your service helps people. You help them solve a problem, or enable them to delegate a task they'd rather avoid. Every day, you share and apply the highly specialized expertise and professional knowledge you've acquired over years.

So that's what your PR should be all about ? 80% of it, at least. Especially your media publicity. Because in the media, information rules. It's the fuel that drives our society's vast media machine.

The media love only one thing more than information, and that's people's problems. And didn't we just say that you're an expert on solving those, too?

The formula's simple: talk to your prospects--via the media--about their needs and the problems they face. Share the information and insights you have on these topics. If you do a lot of retirement planning, send information on the latest changes in IRAs. I you specialize in mutual funds, send them information about the newest and best places for people to put their money. If you do, the media will quote or interview you on the topic. Believe it or not, reporters can't live without articulate experts to interview. Approaching them, and offering your services, is not difficult. Instant-and free-publicity for you!

And finally, if and when you are compelled to mention yourself, do yourself a favor. Skip the adjectives and superlatives. All of them. Because media folks aren't impressed.

The remaining 20% of your PR? Go ahead and write some press releases about the awards you won, about the new office you opened, about your great skills. It can't hurt. But don't think for a minute the media will embrace it as big news.

So remember the 80-20 rule. Give the media and your prospects useful information they need, and let them reach their own informed decision that you're a good resource. I have seen countless professionals and businesses become media successes following this route. Share your expertise and wisdom. A little bit of it, you'll find, goes a long way.

Ned Steele works with people in professional services who want to build their practice and accelerate their growth. The president of Ned Steele's MediaImpact, he is the author of "102 Publicity Tips To Grow a Business or Practice." To learn more visit http://www.mediaimpact.biz, call 212-243-8383, or e-mail him at: http://www.mediaimpact.biz.

car service from Midway Burlington .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a malware app called SpyLend is posing as a financial tool, hitting 100,000-plus downloads.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Clone Robotics’ Protoclone mimics humans with 1,000 muscles – too human for comfort.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson urges you to use Apple’s App Privacy Report to see what your apps are really up to.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how to smoothly transfer your data from an old laptop to a new one using cloud storage or external drives.
Kurt the CyberGuy offers tips to safeguard your personal information as scammers become more sophisticated with scam texts and other methods.
WeRide's unmanned electric delivery van, the Robovan W5, has 194 cubic feet of cargo space and can carry payloads up to about 2,205 pounds
Kurt the CyberGuy recommends deleting 16 browser extensions immediately in response to a report saying more than 3.2 million web users were affected by a security breach.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
A robotics firm in China claims a robot has performed the world's first humanoid robot front flip, which is significantly more difficult than a backflip.
A digital ID may be even more secure than a physical ID. Storing your driver's license in your Apple Wallet is an ideal solution for commuters.
A cybersecurity firm has shed some light on just how common tax scams have become. Kurt the CyberGuy offers his advice for how to protect your refund.
Lifesize Plans offers immersive walk-throughs that allow customers the opportunity to tour a home's design before construction actually begins.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
A man invested $4 million in bitcoin and lost it all with a single click when he was targeted by a vishing scam, which uses phone calls to trick people.
Expandable's Touchdown is a designer trailer that promises a luxury off-grid living experience and unfolds into a home in about 15 minutes.
Major employee screening company data breach affects 3.3 million people. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explains what happened and gives five ways to protect your data.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals mind-blowing tech that gives you sunlight on demand.
New malware "FrigidStealer" targets Mac computers. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers four ways to stay safe from infostealer malware.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how lab-grown muscles power a biohybrid hand for scalable prosthetics and research.
Reports of task scams have significantly risen in the past four years, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Kurt the CyberGuy offers some red flags.
iPhones have a hidden folder that eats up storage without you knowing it. Kurt the CyberGuy offers some tricks to free up storage on your device.
A recent ransomeware attack targeted Zacks, an American investment firm, and a cybercriminal claimed to have stolen records for millions of customers.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Researchers unveiled a new soft prosthetic hand that combines the natural coordination patterns of our fingers with the decoding of motoneuron activity in the spinal column.
Accidentally deleting a text message on your iPhone or iPad is not a problem if you still need the message. Apple has a built-in way to recover it.

Public Relations Productivity

Should it be measured in "publicity by the pound," or... Read More

Gaining Free Publicity Through Press Releases

One of the greatest ways to promote your product or... Read More

How to Stay Composed During Contentious TV Interviews

NOTE: Brad Phillips was a Producer for CNN's The Capital... Read More

How Managers Hurt Their PR Results

Business, non-profit or association managers hurt their own public relations... Read More

PR Planning: Mapping Out Your Strategies, Tactics

With all due respect to all those stereotypical males out... Read More

Post Your Press Release Online ? For Free!!

Are you launching a new product or website? Announcing a... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners: Get Free Publicity by Choosing the Right Outlets

Sure, any publicity is good. But don't invest time and... Read More

Ready For A Business Recovery?

Who wants to face the challenges of a business recovery... Read More

Sending Samples With Your Press Release-- should you or shouldnt you? Heres a guide?

When you should send samples with your press release:1) When... Read More

Mastering the Media

What do Monica Lewinsky, Shoshanna Lowenstein, and even Richard Hatch... Read More

10 Secrets to Free Publicity

Public relations is popular because it is very cost-effective and... Read More

Building Community Support for Project Permitting, Construction, and Marketing

Redevelopment is replacing new construction throughout the Greater Boston area,... Read More

Publicity - The Right Media Person to Call for Free Publicity

You won't accomplish much if you call the gas company... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners--Appearing on TV? Tell the World!

It doesn't matter how cruel the reality programs get, there... Read More

Managers: Paying for PR-Lite?

As a business, non-profit or association manager, your public relations... Read More

Do You Have an Exclusive Market Segment?

You do if you're a business, non-profit or association manager... Read More

Its the Little Details that Can Make or Break a News Story

Have you ever heard of the saying, "One person's trash... Read More

Does the PR Blueprint Work?

Managers, please take a minute and read two sentences: People... Read More

Promoting Your Website Through a Press Release

Have you ever gotten one of those letters from your... Read More

Dont Expect to Bump Oprah From A Magazine Cover

"I want a pony, a tree house and the fastest... Read More

10 Tips for Tantalizing News Releases

Want to get radio interviews and coverage in print publications... Read More

Public Relations

The wind of changes...The digital world has changed the form... Read More

How to Work with Newspaper Photographers

The next time a newspaper photographer takes your photo, remember... Read More

How To Write A Press Release: The Seven Deadly Sins And How To Avoid Them

How to write a press release that generates free publicity... Read More

What to Do When the Reporter Calls: Five Tips for New (and not-so-new) Business Owners

New business owners often miss out on publicity opportunities because... Read More

Granger limo Chicago ..