RGA -- PR & Marketing Communications » Ideas

Custom publishing is hot

Rick Grant — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:29:27 +0000

Creating your own publication used to be prohibitively expensive for more companies. With today’s technology it is now very affordable to create your own company magazine. Check out what the Title/Appraisal Vendor Management Association is doing with their own quarterly newsletter. RGA puts this publication together using thought leadership from the organization’s members and its executive director, Jeff Schurman.

Open publication – Free publishing – More mortgage

Are you on Facebook

Rick Grant — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:32:19 +0000

Facebook is becoming an essential tool for corporate public relations even for those firms that sell to other businesses. Easy access to consumers who seem willing to share just about anything with their peers has sent waves of business marketing executives into the social media waters here, but we’ve found that it can be just as effective for B2B players.

Some of the nation’s largest brands are already investing heavily in Facebook fan pages and apps (games or other diversions that attract the attention of target market consumers), but the truth is that expenses for social media can be relatively low.

We’ll be sharing more information about how to capitalize on Facebook on our own fan page: facebook.com/rgapr. Check it out.

Image via CrunchBase

New Column on New Media Strategy

Rick Grant — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:45:16 +0000

Over the past couple of years, I’ve watched a number of companies in our industry move carefully into new media. Now, we have a few good industry bloggers and we’re beginning to see some corporate Facebook pages. All good. Starting is half the battle, but how do you keep it going?

That’s the general topic I hope to fully explore in my new column in Scotsman Guide. How can you keep that blog fresh and, above all, valuable your readers? I have some ideas on that and every month I’ll provide one to readers of that publication. The first one came out recently in the January issue.

While this column is primarily intended for front line loan originators, it can also be useful to anyone trying to get a handle on New Media strategy. Check out the column online or download the PDF version.

Working to get local press coverage

Rick Grant — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:45:30 +0000

Regardless of whether a national company gets new clients from a local market, an effort should be made to forge strong relationships with local journalists. This can make it easier to recruit qualified workers, qualify for local awards and attract reporters from larger markets as most press outlets have web presences that will contribute to higher search engine rankings for those they cover.

Local markets are less discriminating in the type of news they will cover. While many of the ideas that follow would not be appropriate for the national or trade press, a well written press release will often get picked up on the local level. We encourage all clients to consider this list in order to identify opportunities for local press releases.

When the company wins new business
When the firm receives an award or recognition
When you introduce a new product or service
When you celebrate an anniversary
When you announce a promotion
When the company takes part in a philanthropic event
Offering an article series for publication
When you issue a position statement on an important issue
When you have an expert that can speak on an important topic
When someone from the company makes a public appearance
When the company makes free information available
When an executive retires from the company
When you give an award to an employee or client
When someone from the firm is named to serve in a leadership position in a community

The same rules for good press release writing should be followed for releases sent to local reporters and the same care should be taken in relationship building with these media outlets.