Black History Month Featuring Social Media SuperStars on Pam Perry Facebook Page

There are a lot of Blacks in Technology. I wanted to spotlight to everyone during Black History Month that they are doing it big too!
It's really hard to narrow done to just 28 Social Media Superstars - but I tried.

Check out the folks on my Facebook Page and comment and share.
You'd be so proud of these Black History Makers, World Changers.
Hear the podcast interviews I did with them too.  So you can see why I selected them to be
the Social Media Superstars in 2011.  

They all have Social Media Swagger!

Gotta be BIG. Hear my Favorite Song below too.
It's by Mary Mary (Something Bigger)


See www.PamPerryPRCoach.com too and join www.ChocolatePagesNetwork.com!

The Gatekeepers Are Gone (Social Media Is...) Social Media SWAG

What’s your PLATFORM? 

Find your “book hook.” Get some SWAGGER! 

Pam Perry, PR Coach & Social Media Strategist

Get your message “out there!” But what do you want to say? Are you an expert? An evangelist?  Do you want to position yourself as a “brain” or a “creative” – or do you have endorsements that will speak volumes for you? Whoever endorses you will “pin point” how you will be perceived/branded in the market. Make sure your message that you communicate makes the media say “wow” and not yawn. Examine yourself and find your unique selling position. Why is your book worthy of media attention?

Talk to everyone you know, network, get a marketing mindset!  Find places to start, get bookings to teach/speak and work your way up. Make your initial mistakes locally, and build a devoted following close to home. Take speaking, voice or acting lessons, or hire a media or PR coach. Join the local Toastmasters or the National Speakers Association. You’ll get practice speaking in front of people, feedback and contacts for places to speak. Video yourself; critique yourself; and practice a lot.   You want to shine for the media and make your “followers” proud.

pamperry's videos on Dailymotion

SEO + Publicity + Social Media = ?

The Swag of Social Media

Got Swag?

Pam Perry, PR Coach & social media strategist

You’ve heard the term swag lately. Someone may say, “I like your swag” or “He’s got swag!” And although you may not find this popular term in Merriam-Webster’s version of the dictionary, it is used worldwide by teens, recording artists, TV critics and most importantly for your sake… social media marketing! 

I know, I know. Before you tell me how you don’t know how to tweet and have no desire to tweet, twit, or Facebook, for that matter, let me let you in on a secret. Social media can be your business’ ticket to success. Don’t believe me? I’ll prove it to you.

Swag (or swagger) is a term used to describe someone’s style, personality, the way they carry themselves, and their level of confidence. It’s a person’s walk, their talk. It’s their attitude, but in a good way! We’ve all got some level of swag… well, some more than others.

I'm working on my book, THE SWAG OF SOCIAL MEDIA, where I challenge you to ‘get your swag on’ and make social media work for YOU and your BRAND!

Check out my Tweets via the cool hash tag #socialmediaswag - which are leading up to the book (due out in June) at http://twapperkeeper.com/hashtag/socialmediaswag




Hey, if YOU got Social Media Swag, post up a TWEET and hashtag it with "#socialmediaswag" at the end your tweet. 

Any time you have a cool video, quote, blog post or cinchcast, or whatever is SWAG  - TWEET IT and I'll include your examples in the book!  (Remember to put the #socialmediaswag at the end of the tweet so we can archive it!)

SEO + Publicity + Social Media = ?

How to get PR – The Down and Dirty, Nitty Gritty Way

Getting media coverage is everyone's dream. But not everyone gets it. I have placed clients over the years on major TV shows like the Today show to radio shows like Steve Harvey and gotten ink in magazines like Jet, Ebony and Oprah magazine.  But the process to getting little media and getting major hits - is the same.  You start small - and you'll finish BIG if you work it right. Never despise small beginnings.  You should continually market and brand yourself. That is a given.

 To get media attention though, follow these steps: 

1. Put together your own media list. This is media of what you have researched and know what your target market is reading, listening, watching. YOU match your target market to the media audience. SIMPLE? But 90% of folks trying to get air time or ink NEVER DO THIS!!! Ugggh!

2. You then have to study that media; you have to become a student of that media so that you know exactly what that media wants and know their deadlines! Please. Learn their lead times and deadlines!  And never shot gun the media and send out a blind copy email to every media contact out there.  Tailor your pitch to fit the media. Actually know what it is that media person wants. Tune into what THEY are about not what YOU are all about.

3. Write a pitch letter based on what the media wants and what you have to offer in that regard.  The pitch letter is the silver bullet that is directly targeted at them.  It is telling them why your particular story should be considered for coverage.  And why you are the expert on whatever they’re looking for.  And so the pitch letter is something that gives them the comfort level. It inspires them to read your press release (that you included in an online press kit via link or have pasted it in the message box below the pitch letter in the email) BUT never send it as an attachment – unless asked! They hate attachments from people they don’t know.

4. The Press Release. This is a critical piece but really it’s just a backgrounder. The pitch letter should have gotten their attention – the release is just to verify you know what you’re talking about. But make sure it very, very simple. Don’t try to sound so deep that you come off sounding like a bore. It's a simple formula:  Who, What, When, Where and Why (and sometimes HOW). Here's a tip: subscribe to Press Distribution sites like PRWeb or Christian PR Group and become familiar with press release copy.  Learn good from bad press release writing.

I have examples of pitch letters and media releases here.  And you can always subscribe to our email list to read the releases we send out in our Chocolate Pages ezine.

5. In the last paragraph of the pitch letter, you need to keep it short. The last paragraph talks about “I hope you will consider a review or feature story in this uplifting new book, please don’t hesitate to contact me for further information about the author or Rhythms of Grace which will be released in September”. GIVE ALL the contact info!! Cell, email, twitter, everything! Don't make them hunt you down once they decide to get feature you! 

6. Give them facts. Especially if you’re an author, give the ISBN number, tell them it’s paperback or hardcover, give them the cost of the book, the publisher  and give them the page count.  People are in such a hurry so we want to make things as idiot-proof as possible so they won’t have to keep calling you back on “how much is it?  What is it…?”  Make in turn-key and simple.  The easier you make it for the media, the more likely they’ll cover your stuff. Bottom line.

 More info on 10 Items to Include in Your Press Kit.


SEO + Publicity + Social Media = ?

See www.PamPerryPRCoach.com too and join www.ChocolatePagesNetwork.com!