On the PR Trail With `Road to Remember'

Five years ago, toward the end of my time as a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune, I wrote a feature on Marc DeLise, then a police sergeant with the Oak Brook Police who was raising awareness and money for Kids In Need and the Illinois Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Since then, Marc's retired from the force, but he's hardly the retiring type. He's now in the midst of walking 900 miles from Chicago to New York in a fundraiser dubbed Road to Remember. (That's him, above, during his law-enforcement career and below in Chicago, on the first day of his walk last week.)

The mission is to raise funds for children of police officers, firefighters and military personnel who perished in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

As it turns out, Marc is a longstanding member of Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Burr Ridge, where I have been the publicist since 2007 and where Marc prepared in anticipation of his cross-country walk.

So it was a pleasure--and a bit of deja vu--this past week to develop a news release in support of the Road to Remember cause, including a tie-in to Five Seasons.

You can see the release here at TribLocal and check out a photo gallery as well.

Want to track Marc's progress? Visit Facebook and type "Road To Remember" into the search box.

DivorceIllinois: Fiscal Guidance in Tough Times

Divorce is a prevalent fact of life. So, too, is financial fall-out from marital break-ups.

DivorceIllinois, a new client of Inside Edge PR, is working to minimize the latter even if it can't do anything about the former.

A professional association comprised of divorce financial specialists, DivorceIllinois was formed exactly 10 years ago, in June 2000.

The organization came about in response to individuals seeing clients who had been poorly served during the divorce process and had been thrust irrevocably into difficult straits.

Today, I began media outreach in the Chicago area with a news release on some findings from a recent survey of the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA).

You can read the piece, which includes insights from DivorceIllinois President Peggy Tracy (pictured, at left), at TribLocal.com: Survey: Recession Keeps More Struggling Marriages Together.

“Divorce has far-reaching implications—often more so than any other life event or decision,” Tracy says. “It’s crucial that people invest the time and resources to ensure their rights are protected and their financial future is looked after by a knowledgeable and ethical advocate.”

My Latest Guest Spot on `Smart Behaviors'

Last week, I was a pleased to be a guest on Joe Takash's Smart Behaviors Radio Show. You can listen to the broadcast online here.

I came on after the featured guest, Cheryl Cran, a little over 30 minutes into the program. Joe asked me to discuss the principles of PAVE, which I created about eight years ago and have provided the framework for some of my seminar work:

P Practice active silence--be a sincere audience
A Ask engaging questions--find out what makes people tick
V Value all people--everyone has a story to share
E Expand your comfort zone--you'll be amazed by what you learn

In April, I was also on Joe's outstanding program, which airs on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel. I wrote about my experience at that time.

Put Time on Your Side, Give Media Notice

If you are opening the doors to your new business on a Thursday, it's a good idea to spread word of it to the media by Wednesday.

Of course, by Wednesday, I mean the one that falls on the calendar at least four weeks before your Grand Opening. Such advance notice gives the media enough reaction time to pencil your enterprise into its coverage plans.

And depending on the specifics and scope of your business, allowing for even more breathing room (such as two months or more) could provide opportunity for multiple pieces of coverage that build your target market's anticipation of your product or service to a crescendo.

A recent case in point: outreach that I began last week on behalf of Tom & Eddie's, a new better-burger restaurant opening in August at The Shops on Butterfield at Yorktown Mall in Lombard.

Share the Spotlight, Spread Your Success

Last Thursday, I had the good fortune of attending Joe Takash's talk, "The Values that Drive Opportunity," at Via Bella in Countryside.

The event was part of raising more than $3,500 for a program of the Greater LaGrange YMCA. You can read more about the presentation here at Triblocal.com. (That's Joe in the photo, standing on the left, with LaGrange Business Association President Ryan Williamson.)

One of the outstanding elements of Joe's approach was how he repeatedly illustrated the success principles he talked about by turning the spotlight on members of the audience.

Like a quarterback who gives generous praise to the linemen who protect him, Joe provided a great reminder that life--and success we achieve in it--is very much a team sport.

When's the last time you cheered on someone else who has helped you get to wherever you are? Make it a habit, and chances are you'll go farther, faster--and have still more reason to express your gratitude.

Katy's Passion Apparent in `Heroic Kitchens'

What are you passionate about?

Kathleen Frantz of Oak Park is dedicated to serving those in need. And she's building an entire business model around it.

You can also check out this TribLocal photo gallery of "Heroic Kitchens."


Earlier today, Inside Edge PR posted this news release at TribLocal about "Heroic Kitchens with Katy Frantz" in which she is auditioning for a talk show on the Oprah Winfrey Network

Her proactive style is a reflection of the increasing avenues for entrepreneurially minded individuals to take PR into their own hands.

I call it the "Guttenberg Effect," in which anyone with a little training and a good dose of ambition can develop their own media outlets.

To view and consider voting for “Heroic Kitchens”—remember, you can vote early and vote often every day—click here.

Oak Park Firm Puts Blackhawk Spirit on Display

When it comes to rooting for the Chicago Blackhawks, some area fans wear their passions on their heads (hats) and others literally wear it on their sleeves (jerseys).

But for an Oak Park real estate firm, the zeal to urge on the Stanley Cup finalist recently showed up on their windows.

On Thursday, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Gloor Realty, 114 N. Oak Park Ave., began displaying on its office front space a variety of images of Chicago hockey players in action. The display also has repeated exhortations of “Go Hawks!”

Check out the full photo gallery at TribLocal.com.

Eric Brightfield, an Oak Park resident and owner of ImageFiction, performed the work for BHG/Gloor Realty, which has been an Inside Edge PR client since 2008.

“We’ll keep it up throughout the week, after the Blackhawks win the championship,” said Rich Gloor, BHG/Gloor Realty president.

Gloor’s confidence is shared by numerous citizens of Blackhawk Nation, as the club heads into Game 4 on Friday night holding a 2-1 series edge over the Philadelphia Flyers.

The last time the club won the Stanley Cup was 1961, or 15 years after BHG/Gloor Realty was founded.

Advertising Benefits From Timely Tie-Ins

Timeliness isn't only for stories--it's a key element in advertising, too.

With that in mind, I have been inserting information about upcoming events in print advertising for a client, McAdam Landscaping.

In the pages of Wednesday Journal, Inc. and Pioneer Press publications, early this month it was a Mother's Day special, last week it was a musical performance held at its Nursery & Garden Center and this week it's an incentive to become a Facebook Fan of the Forest Park firm (how's that for some ambitious alliteration).

Want to win a $25 gift certificate from the Nursery & Garden Center? You have until June 1st to get onto Facebook and then type "McAdam Landscaping" into the search box and become a fan.

Or you can simply go directly to the McAdam Landscaping page here.

More importantly, if you advertise in any forum, capitalize on every opportunity to make the content relevant and timely. It's a great way to engage your audience and move them to action, rather than to settle for making a simple one-way statement that is more prone to go absolutely nowhere.

Real Estate Investment Acquisitions: The Written Summary for Urban Land Institute

In the wake of a gridlocked transaction market these last couple of years, “thawing out” only begins to describe what’s most recently been happening in the real estate investment acquisition market.

That's the start of my summary of the April 29, 2010, meeting of the Urban Land Institute's Chicago District Council, whose members gathered at the Union League Club in Chicago.

To check out the rest of the write-up, click here.

N.Y. Times Gears Up to Monetize News Content

A little over a year ago, I shared some insights from former USA Today editor Ken Paulson about the future of journalism.

His remarks came at a New York Press Association conference where I was training reporters and editors.

Currently the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Newseum in Washington, D.C., Paulson emphasized that the sky was not falling on newspapers.

Perhaps not, but clouds are continually hovering. One key ingredient in the industry's future financial viability: finding a way to monetize news content on the Internet.

With that in mind, circle January 2011 on your calendar. That is when the New York Times will shift to an online-payment structure for visitors to their site, as Fast Company recently reported.

Highly Recommended: Joe Takash on June 10th

How do you turn a $25 investment into untold thousands of dollars of ongoing business?

You'll have a chance to do that on Thursday, June 10, by taking in what Joe Takash has to share on behalf of the LaGrange Business Association. (Click on the image to the left)

My declaration isn't theory, but is based on my own experience with Joe since first meeting him in 2001.

An author, speaker and business coach, Joe's wise counsel has helped me earn many thousands of dollars more in speaking, training and business-consulting fees than I would otherwise have received.

A few cases in point:

One time in 2002, as Joe was sitting across from me and guiding me on the art of negotiation, I received a phone call from a press association director. It was such ridiculously perfect timing....thanks to Joe, gesturing firmly across the desk from me, I stood my ground on a fee quote that I otherwise would have budged on. It meant an additional $500.

There have also been times when he's saved me from getting into bad business deals. In 2003, Joe was instrumental in helping me avoid a major headache, and drain on my time and resources. I had established a retainer fee with a company that wanted me to devote scores of hours on developing a curriculum that I would have shared with communications professionals all across the country.

After agreeing to the upfront payment, the firm hemmed, hawed and, ultimately, balked at paying the retainer. Joe let me know this was a red flag.

I confidently walked away from what was quickly proving to be a bad business relationship--though I wouldn't have known to do so without Joe's having been there, done that, and been willing to steer me clear of such dysfunction.

And of course there's no way I can measure his impact in so many "little" ways that have added up to a much stronger positioniong for me and Inside Edge PR in the marketplace.

This is particularly relevant to share now because Joe is making a rare public presentation on Thursday, June 10, at Via Bella, 5412 S. LaGrange Road in Countryside.

Usually, companies and organizations get Joe onto a planes and bring him in from faraway spots to get practical, bottom-line insights and high-energy, memorable inspiration.

So for those in the Chicago area, June 10th represents a prime opportunity in your backyard to learn from this remarkable speaker and business mind.

Blending what he has observed as smart behaviors that build business opportunities with the values that resonate with us personally, Joe's topic is "The Values that Drive Opportunity."

"My guarantee is that you will laugh, with me or at me," says Joe. "But there will be great energy, great people and a fun professional and social gathering."

Tickets are $25 apiece, or $20 if you bring a friend or buy a table of eight. That covers appetizers with networking from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Joe's presentation is from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. All proceeds benefit the YMCA Special Olympics program of the Greater LaGrange YMCA.

To purchase tickets, contact Zach Silver at Zach@SilverTechChicago.com or 708-724-4253.

And if you can't make it on June 10th, do the next best thing and get your hands on a copy of Joe's book, Results Through Relationships.

For more about Joe, see some prior Inside Edge PR blog posts right here.

`Tasty Dog Challenge' Gains Notice, Momentum

Four years ago, when I was doing community relations work for Boston Market's upscale (and short-lived) prototype attempt in River Forest, I helped organize a few fundraiser nights for area organizations, such as the Oak Park and River Forest High School Booster Club and the West Suburban Mothers of Multiples.

The events, in which a portion of the purchases were earmarked to each group, had some success.

I have a strong feeling, though, that those results will be a small fraction of the financial impact that goes toward the District 97 elementary school Parent Teacher Organizations (eight in all) that are taking part in the Tasty Dog Challenge.

An Inside Edge PR client, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gloor Realty, has poured in $300 to help up the ante for the fundraising nights.

The story has attracted strong interest at Triblocal.com. Check it out, if you'd like.

Even more importantly, strongly consider aligning your dining schedule so that it coincides with one of the PTO nights over the next three weeks.

A `Biggest Loser,' Five Seasons & HealthyWage

A "Biggest Loser" is heading to the Chicago area on Tuesday--it's Pete Thomas, who shed 185 pounds in 2005 on the popular NBC show, "The Biggest Loser." Ever since, Thomas has served as an inspiration to others seeking life transformation.

I am helping spread the word of Thomas' visit to Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Northbrook, an Inside Edge PR client, as part of "The Matchup," a national weight-loss competition that's the brainchild of Healthywage.com.

You can read about the initiative here at Triblocal.

Colleges' Spiraling Costs Are Out of Line

Mark my words: colleges are the next hallowed institution to get smacked off their undeservedly and ridiculously high pedestal.

Don't get me wrong--I think some aspects of college are absolutely fantastic: I learned much at my alma mater, Northwestern University. I really appreciate, and seek to support at every turn, my alumni network. I met my wife on a co-ed touch football field there.

But in this respect, colleges are simply bogus: their spiraling costs are out of whack with the rest of society, and have the feel of "status bumps"--jacking up the cost to simply look more valuable and prestigious without commensurate upticks in return on investment.

That's why I give a huge thumbs-up to Seth Godin's recent rant.

NAIOP Marks A New Writing Adventure

A new writing client of mine is NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. The acronym, by the way, rhymes with "skytop."

It's a fitting memory device, considering my first assignment, in March, was to write a summary of "A View from the Top: The Nation’s leading Real Estate CEOs Provide Insight Into The Industrial Market.”

A week ago, I covered a panel discussion of "Chicago Rail: Economic Development for the Region."

Much like my experience with the Chicago district of the Urban Land Institute, writing for NAIOP has been a most educational experience.

More than once, the remarks have sent me scurrying to the Internet to dig for more context. With my most recent write-up, I even included a bevy of links to aid others who may be inclined to do the same additional research.

To quote from the assocation's website, NAIOP is "the leading organization for developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial and mixed-use real estate."

Want to learn more? Click the link that appears with this post's first word.

McAdam Featured in Earth Day TV Segment

Last night, on the eve of Earth Day, Jackie Bange of Chicago's WGN Channel 9 filed a report with a refreshingly different take on environmental stewardship: not only honoring the stuff of the Earth, but also some individuals who are in need of a fresh start.

As part of her reporting, Bange came out to Forest Park-based McAdam Landscaping and its Nursery & Garden Center last week. For years, McAdam has hired graduates of the Green Corp program profiled in the piece.

In 1997, brothers Scott and Rob McAdam, along with two other partners, started WRD Environmental, Inc. The company provides consultation for native landscapes and currently oversees the Green Corp program of Chicago’s Department of Environment.

As the WGN report notes, the city of Chicago has partnered with WRD "to create a green jobs program for those who have a difficult time finding employment, many of which are ex-offenders."

Some elements of that visit are evident in the segment below, including interviews with Scott McAdam, the company president, and employees Anthony Harris and Rosa Montes.

Clearly, they are among a larger group of individuals, including some others interviewed on camera, that have played instrumental roles in this successful initiative. Kudos to the entire team for its collective willingness to do "the right thing," as Scott McAdam told Bange.

To learn more, you can read the summary here or or click on the video (graciously provided by WGN) below.

 

Ride IV Reasons: Guinness Bid Gets Under Way

On Sunday night, with the much-awaited start of Ride IV Reasons, Inside Edge PR entered the marathon PR phase of its effort in support of that Guinness World Record attempt.

George Hood, a 52-year-old Aurora, Ill. man, has already set the Guinness mark twice—only to have the record eclipsed shortly thereafter by other ultra-athletes. This time, George wants to stretch the record so far (over 12 ½ days to a staggering 300 hours) that it discourages anyone else from ever trying to top it.

The journey will play out in the space most recently occupied by Lazarus Furniture, in the Aurora Marketplace Shopping Center, at the northwest corner of Route 59 and 75th St. It is most certainly open to the public, so if you're anywhere close, be sure to swing by as there are a variety of activities under way. Details are at the Ride IV Reasons website.

You can also see George live via video webstream.

The fund-raising goal is $200,000. Beneficiaries will be the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, which provides support to Marines injured in Afghanistan and Iraq and their families; and a variety of programs through the United Way of Fox Valley, about an hour west of Chicago.

It's the third time I've done public relations as George has gone on a protracted spin and I encourage you to get involved as well in some way, through your time, a financial donation, or both. It's always gratifying to be part of something so much bigger than any one individual person.

More updates to follow. Meantime, you can see the countdown to the start right here.

My `Smart Behavior Strategies' Moment

Today, on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel, I had the honor of being a guest on Smart Behavior Strategies with Joe Takash.

Last week, Joe had Jeffrey Gitomer on as a guest and in the coming weeks he will be interviewing top business leaders like Brian Tracy, Tony Allesandra, Patrick Lencioni and several other best-selling authors.

Just a few minutes of listening to Joe (author of Results Through Relationships and owner of Victory Consulting) is enough to see how he's able to draw such immense talent: he is by turns hilarious, insightful, poignant, self-effacing and dynamic.

Above all, though, Joe delivers golden nuggets of practical wisdom borne of years in the business world.

So there I was this morning, smack dab in the middle of all those luminaries, for about a half-hour.

There was a reference to Starsky & Hutch, the "Guttenberg Effect" that I've coined, a pop math quiz that caught me only slightly off-guard, and discussion of the most common press release mistakes to avoid.

If you want to listen to our wide-ranging talk, through the wonders of modern technology, you can. It was entitled "Get Connected: Communication Secrets from a Media Insider."

A big "thank you" to Joe for inviting me on his show, and for allowing me to share some of my views with his listeners.

The Story Behind `Super Skateboarder Stopper'

A quarter-century ago, I was fooled--hook, line and sinker--by an April Fool's story in Sports Illustrated.

It was about "Sidd Finch," a newcomer to the baseball scene purported to be able to hurl the ball 168 mph, or roughy 68 mph faster than anybody else.

And I like pulling legs as much as anyone else--and much more than most.

So when I had a chance recently, at the invitation of Wednesday Journal managing editor Helen Karakoudas, to pull an April Fool's stunt involving my alter ego, Super Shopper Spotter, I quite literally leapt at it.

Of course, last week when the article appeared in the "Wednesday Jerbil," I doubt anyone believed for a moment that Triple S now stood for Super Skateboarder Stopper.

Just the same, it was fun. You can see the tale, "Superhero scouts new economic stimulus," here at the Wednesday Journal website.

You can also check out some of Super Shopper Spotter's other exploits here.

In Social Media, Basic Blunders Still Hurt

Being in the Social Media realm is no excuse for a slipshod presentation. If anything, given the SM universe's viral and omnipresent nature, it's all the more important to dot your i's and cross your t's.

In rendering judgment about your professionalism, people still look upon old-fashioned notions like proper grammar, correct spelling and otherwise efficient communication.

This came to mind today as I saw a Chicago-area company, over the last 2 1/2 days, had added one whopping fan on their Facebook Fan Page. Oh, and they are in the midst of a paid advertising push on Facebook.

In their information box, on the left side of the Fan Page, the company had this dubious trifecta: a misspelled street name in their address, a web site link that didn't hyperlink, and a sloppily noted phone number that lacked any hyphens, periods or anything that made it easy on the eye.

There's no telling what, if any, effect this slovenly style is having on their attempt to grow their fan base. But in full view of their existing fans, the miscues are a perpetual undermining of corporate credibility.

When's the last time you had a fresh, qualified set of eyes take a sharp look at the messages you are transmitting to the universe?