Standout With Cheryl Tan

Create a consistent stream of PR to grow your company with Dmitry Dragilev Consistent PR, which means a steady stream of free publicity, is so very valuable. Just ask Dmitry Dragilev, who used PR to grow a startup from zero to 40 million views per month. That company, Polar, was acquired by Google. Dmitry outlines what he did to create relationships with journalists, how he used the publicity to get more PR, and why he believes this skill is so important it cannot be ignored. What you'll learn in this episode: *What you can do to create a steady flow of media attention to your business *The myths many startups believe about publicity, and what to do instead *What is sustainable PR and why is it so important to strive for? *How a software engineer became a PR expert *How Dmitry used free publicity to grow a startup from zero attention to 40 million page views. That same company was later acquired by Google *The one trick he uses to make sure the pitch he sends is a realistic one *Why he calls his methods

How to change your story and find success with Mark Sephton Mark Sephton knows a little something about changes. He’s an author and personal mentor to entrepreneurs. You may recognize his name and his voice. I interviewed him in STANDOUT episode #9. He’s about to release his second book, entitled Plot Twist. A plot twist is an unexpected development. When watching a movie or reading a book, those plot twists are necessary to hold your attention. In real life, though, a plot twist is not always something pleasant. Listen to my chat with Mark, who talks about ways you can address the plot twists in your own life, and come out ahead. What you'll learn in this episode: *The steps Mark took to get invited on stages around the world and write for Entrepreneur *How to handle the curve balls that life throws at you *The key to telling a great story *The rule he follows when selling and buying *How to be a success on stage *Key advice for those who are going through plot twists in their life right now Links m

How to look and sound great on video with Cheryl Tan Today, we’re talking about visibility - specifically gaining visibility through video you create. You may have already heard about the power of video for your business. Everyone’s creating video, you hear. It converts like gangbusters, they say. But maybe you aren’t sure where to start. You’re not sure what you need to have in place before you hit record or go live. Take a listen to a Facebook Live I did recently inside the Get Media Smart Facebook community and learn my 10 best tips, plus one bonus tip, for looking and sounding great on video. What you'll learn in this episode: Click here for the 10 tips, plus one Bonus tip, on how to look and sound great on video. Links mentioned in this episode: If you want to learn how to get media attention for your business, consider the PR Pro community, an online training academy designed to teach you how to get the media attention you want and maximize your opportunities. Did you enjoy the show? Please sub

How to market your business when opportunity is knocking with Cheryl Tan Today, I wanted to address the second most-asked question I receive. The first one, by the way, is no surprise. It’s, “How do I get my story featured in the news?” I have articles, videos and resources here at cheryltanmedia.com where you can get answers to that and much more. Just go to cheryltanmedia.com/start. The second most-asked question isn't so much a question, but more of a situation, followed by a, “What do I do?” It’s this. “I have a book, an event, a new business I’m about to launch. Maybe I have received a big award, I just got a new client, I have to hire five people, I have taken on a partner. Big things are happening in my business and I don’t want to waste a marketing opportunity. What do I do?” And while the lack of new things happening in your business feels terrible, too much happening at once may feel just as bad. Today, I wanted to address that. How to maximize opportunity in your business. Put another way

Become a Twitter rockstar and reach influencers with Madalyn Sklar It’s scary to start something new, but a year ago, that’s exactly what Madalyn Sklar did. She was well known in the music industry, but then decided to do a pivot and use the social media skills she had developed to break into something even more competitive. Clearly, she is doing something right. She’s recently been named one of the 50 Must-Follow Women Entrepreneurs in 2017 in the Huffington Post. Get this. She didn’t go looking for the nod. The writers were likely following her on Twitter. Take a listen and you’ll learn how Madalyn has used social media, in particular Twitter, to expand her reach. She outlines exactly what WE need to do to master Twitter and make it work for our businesses. By the way, as a result of this chat, I re-did my Twitter bio and created a Twitter list for the guests I have had the pleasure of interviewing on STANDOUT. You can find me on Twitter @CherylTan. What you'll learn in this episode: *How Madalyn

How to create an audience of raving fans with Jennifer Briney Jennifer Briney saw the opportunity to make a difference through podcasting. She discusses bills passed by Congress on her podcast, Congressional Dish. It has been nominated for several awards. Her audience is a devoted one and now, her listeners financially support the show. But how do you move a listener from a fan to a financial supporter? Jen talks about that in-depth. And as you’ll hear, Jen is doing a lot of things right - from producing a show that her audience cares deeply about, to creating relationships with influencers on her very favorite social media platform, to being open to opportunities that lead to incredible exposure. What you'll learn in this episode: *How Jennifer turned her passion into a profitable venture *When she felt it was time to monetize the show *How she grew the show to tens of thousands of listeners *The #1 social media platform she recommends to connect with influencers, and how to use it properly *How to ge

What business owners can learn from nonprofits about creating media relationships with Teri Arnold This episode is a little different, and I really think you’ll learn a lot from it. I typically talk with entrepreneurs who take us through their media journey - how they’ve created relationships with influencers and gotten media attention in return. Today, I am introducing you to a dear friend who is not a business owner, but who has created some invaluable media relationships that benefit the nonprofit organization she works for. I’m thrilled to introduce you to Teri Arnold, the Director of Marketing Communications at the American Heart Association of Hampton Roads. I have also created a guide you can use right away. It’s called the “Perfect Press Release Template.” You can get that here. In her position, Teri works with entrepreneurs as well as the media just about every single day, and she’s going to tell us how creating strong relationships can help both sides accomplish their goals. What you will le

What to look for when hiring a PR expert with Julie Broad The idea of reaching out to a reporter with a media pitch is scary to some. Yes, I absolutely get it. It’s unknown. You have no idea whether your email, letter or phone call has been ignored, put aside for another day, or just deleted. But for others, the idea of networking - trying to create relationships in a crowd of dozens of strangers - that’s scary. That was how Julie Broad felt. Her solution was to figure out how to get featured in the media and on other people’s channels - and in the process learned what works and what doesn’t when trying to get mentioned in the media. I have created a guide you can use right away. It’s called the “Perfect Press Release Template.” Click here to get instant access. Julie is an author and speaker, and has been featured all over Canada, where she lives, for her work. For some of that press, she got some help. Julie has some valuable tips on how to hire a PR team, and what to look for in order to get the res

Capture media attention by serving your audience FIRST with Carrie Wilkerson Many people who have been able to grow large audiences tell me the reporters and producers call them. But wait, how do you get to that level? I know you will love my conversation with Carrie Wilkerson, an entrepreneur, speaker and author - who breaks down what she did in the very beginning, before she got featured on CNN or Fox News or Forbes. Remember, everybody starts with one follower. Those numbers grow as you work to build relationships with people. Carrie shares the strategy she uses to grow her following, how she was able to attract the attention of the media, and why her mission is the same now as it was when she began. What you'll learn in this episode: *The key steps Carrie took to build her following one person at a time (before social media!) *How she created content so that it appeared as if she was "everywhere" *The stroke of luck that got Carrie featured on CNN *The power of big-name media attention *How to get

How to write a book and receive noteworthy endorsements with Kristin Meekhof I had the chance to meet today’s guest during a conference near my home in Virginia Beach. We were both speaking and her story captured all of our hearts. Kristin Meekhof became a widow at the age of 33. She has spent the years since creating a supportive community for women just like her. She found a way to turn her grief into a gift...for others. Along the way, she has connected with names you probably know - Deepak Chopra, Katie Couric, Maria Shriver, just to name a few. These are relationships she initiated on social media - Twitter, in fact. She’ll talk about how she did that and how over time, these relationships developed into something incredible. What you'll learn in this episode: *Why Kristin decided to write a book *How she overcame the obstacle of not knowing anyone in the publishing industry *What she sent to The Huffington Post that changed her publishing journey *How her pitch to The Huffington Post goes agains

Want thousands of screaming fans? Learn from Louie La Vella In this episode, we’re talking about events. Live events, in particular, where people can hear your message while you’re on stage. How about an even more intimate setting where you’re at the front of a small room for a workshop? Live events can be powerful tools for creating relationships. But, the question is, how do you fill those events? How do you let people know about the event and what will move them to buy tickets and actually show up? For answers, I went to Louie La Vella, a marketing and branding consultant who is known in the music industry for packing venues with tens of thousands of people. What you'll learn in this episode: *How to market a big event *How marketing a big event has changed over the years *How to use paid advertisements (like Facebook ads) correctly when trying to create buzz for an event *How to create an experience audience members want to be a part of *How to study user behavior in marketing an event *How to set

Got great press? How to capitalize on the attention with Joe Apfelbaum What is one media mention worth to your business? How about from a really big name? Quite a bit, but you may need to put in a little bit of legwork before you start to see the returns. Entrepreneur Joe Apfelbaum explains all of this, by sharing his strategy for maximizing the media exposure he’s already gotten. You may have seen him on Fox Business, or read about him in the Wall Street Journal or Business Insider. Maybe you missed his appearances on TV live, or didn’t catch the stories when they first came out. Joe talks about the power of the promotion machine, and what you can do to capitalize on any media attention you receive. What you'll learn in this episode: *How Joe's company, digital marketing agency Ajax Union, niched down to find success *Questions to ask yourself if you want to wildly succeed in business *The most important thing you need to know to get publicity for your business *The step-by-step promotion machine Joe

How to create opportunities in a crowded industry with Eliot Wagonheim If you’re in a crowded industry, how do you stand out and attract more of the right clients? That’s what Maryland lawyer Eliot Wagonheim was struggling with seven years ago. His solution was to overhaul his marketing plan and business model. As a result, his business looks very different today. Today, Eliot has a regular column in a regional business magazine, Smart CEO, he is a contributor to The Huffington Post, he has a podcast, and oh, yes, he’s a busy lawyer, too. In this episode, Eliot will discuss how this shift in marketing has had a dramatic impact on his business. What you'll learn in this episode: *The step-by-step process Eliot took to find out where to spend his marketing time *The one question to ask when figuring out your market *How he used his best clients as the base for his future marketing and business plans *How he got a regular column in Smart CEO Magazine and how he became a contributor with The Huffington Po

Grow a 7-figure business through PR with Josh Elledge This interview with entrepreneur Josh Elledge is a case study on how to market your business through the media. He’s like me, a former journalist. I had the pleasure of meeting him in person at Podcast Movement in Chicago in July. He has successfully grown his business by turning himself into a valuable resource for journalists around the country. Hear the steps he took to launch an idea and turn it into a 7-figure machine, using, for the most part, great PR. What you'll learn in this episode: *How Josh used his personal story to start getting media attention for his new business *Why the idea of "getting discovered" is a myth *Where to begin if you're trying to get good pr for your company *How to build a relationship with a journalist *How he became a regular contributor for the Fox affiliate in his city *Why it is so important you don't sell anything directly when talking with journalists *The media opportunity that made him realize he would neve

How PJ Jonas uses media attention to grow an online business PJ Jonas is a mother of 8 children. She homeschools them, she’s an entrepreneur, and she studied engineering in school. In fact, that’s when I met her, while we were both at the University of Virginia. I was an English major, by the way. Today, she, her husband, Jim, and her 8 children are working hard to grow the family business, Goat Milk Stuff. And PJ tells me, the media has been instrumental in the growth of the company. Maybe you’ve seen the family’s story on The Today Show or Fox News. Maybe you’ve seen her products featured in Oprah Magazine. Listen to how she got the attention of the media and what she’s done to leverage it to grow Goat Milk Stuff. I apologize for a bit of an echo when I talk, but no problems when PJ speaks. PJ has a lot to share and I didn’t want to delay releasing this episode. Enjoy! What you'll learn in this episode: *How PJ Jonas came up with the business idea, how she tested it, and when she realized it was a

Welcome to STANDOUT episode #28. I’m your host Cheryl Tan with CherylTanMedia.com, and I’m so honored you have been part of my podcasting journey so far. Since the beginning of 2016, I have been telling the stories of entrepreneurs, 27 of them to be exact - sharing their steps to success, asking them about their challenges and how they overcame them. Check out the previous shows. I’ve had the chance to talk with some incredible entrepreneurs, like April Spring (episode #4), Dennis Brown (episode #8), and Duane Thompson (episode #3) ... and two dozen others who have created opportunities for themselves and for others through their drive, passion, and tenacity. There are stories of success, failure, and some lessons learned for all of us in business. We’ll still hear those stories. That won’t change. What is going to change is a shift in focus for the show itself. The stories are now going to revolve around how these entrepreneurs got attention for their growing businesses - specifically media attention.

Take your business to the next level with Jefferson Lilly Looking for the perfect business opportunity? Be prepared to do your homework to make sure it is indeed the right fit. Jefferson Lilly easily spent hundreds of hours researching his investment in mobile home parks. It’s a real estate market that’s not often talked about, not when you consider single family homes, apartment buildings, and commercial complexes are also part of the conversation. But Jefferson decided to take the leap, with some incredible results. You’ll hear how he started investing while he had a successful day job, and how he really scaled up after finding a business partner. Park Street Partners now owns 13 mobile home parks in the Midwest. If you’re trying to figure out how to grow your company bigger and better, and what you need to have in place for a business partnership to succeed, take a listen to our conversation. What you'll learn in this episode: *Why investing in a little-known real estate market had its appeal *Why

Simple strategies to attract new customers with Doberman Dan It seems as if business success these days is tied directly to how well you master internet marketing, Facebook ads, and SEO. But, there was a time before hi-tech. Doberman Dan is going to share some old-school marketing techniques that are working incredibly well right this very minute - without an internet connection. We touch on a lot of topics in this STANDOUT episode - from overcoming business failure, to direct response, to the one important habit he carries out every single day. What you'll learn in this episode: *How Amway awakened entrepreneurship in him *After a series of failed business ventures, how direct response marketing turned things around *How he used direct response in a mail-order business *Why Doberman Dan is betting on offline media to create success for companies *How a powerful call to action can create a relationship with customers *Industries that are well-suited for direct response - even though they might not real

Write books, expand your reach & attract new clients with Diane Gardner It’s certainly not easy to start over. Just ask Diane Gardner, an accountant who has had to do it more than once. After the most recent reinvention, she realized she needed to make some big changes to her business model or her business just wouldn’t survive. She knew she needed to expand her reach, and attract customers who were not only in her zip code, an area that has only 6000 residents. That meant going way outside her comfort zone. If you are an introvert, or feel as if marketing isn’t for you, this interview will help you see the power of what I like to call education marketing, and how sharing your knowledge can be a game changer for your business. Diane lays her plan out for the STANDOUT audience, and how she has used marketing strategies to grow her business and bottom line. What you'll learn in this episode: *Why Diane decided to embrace new marketing techniques and why it was critical for the growth of her company *Ho

The reason why your podcast isn't making money with Jonathan Rivera Entrepreneurs I meet have several traits in common. The main thing that unites them is the ability to look at failures, not so much as failures, but as opportunities to learn. You’ll hear that in my interview with Jonathan Rivera. You will learn about his many ups and downs in school, in work, and in business. But you’ll also hear about his lessons learned, about the power of listening, and why it pays to cultivate relationships with potential customers. We are talking specifically about podcasting in this episode, so if you are thinking about stepping into this world and how you might make money from these efforts, this show is for you. What you will learn in this episode: *How Jonathan used direct response marketing to create a successful real estate rental business *How he uses email to create lucrative relationships with potential customers *How Jonathan created a stream of income to pay for the expenses of a podcast before the