Streetwise Complete Publicity Plans – Sandra Bechwith; Adams Media Corporation (www.adamsmedia.com May 2003, ISBN 1580627714, 352 pages, $19.95 Reviewed by G.A. “Andy” Marken President Marken Communications Inc.
Andy@markencom.com
Looking for a gift for a friend who has just started his or her own business? Want to give recent PR graduates something they can use to avoid the mistakes of innocence during their first year in the real world?
Streetwise is a gift they can actually use.
Ms Bechwith covers the majority of the bases in a sound program without over promising how easy it is going to be do it right. The book is certainly crammed with examples the reader can use as guidelines in his or her own efforts. As the reader moves down the path of success or failure they can modify their efforts without looking totally naïve or too overbearing.
Streetwise does a good job of explaining how to put together a publicity program for companies and their products. The author minimizes the discussion of publicity strategy and focuses on the specific tactics that can lead to coverage, interest and hopefully sales on a modest budget. She quickly goes through the basics – press releases, pitch letters, press kits and op-ed pieces to help the reader understand how to use the press coverage tools.
Perhaps the best parts of the entire book aren’t the pages of detailed explanation but rather the sidebars (set out in blue) that give concrete examples of specific points. These short, to-the-point discussions include: getting radio publicity, an uncanny event idea, successful stunt, avoid this pitch letter mistake and hundreds of other opportunities and pitfalls do an excellent job of stimulating the readers’ own thinking.
Fortunately she doesn’t oversell the speed and power of your publicity efforts and how a single set of activities can reach all of your audiences.
If you’re just starting out your public relations career or as we said you want to give a friend a gift they can really use in their new business, Streetwise is a welcome addition to their library. But if you’re looking for the next “ah ha” guide to personal success in the industry the book probably won’t be of much assistance.
Streetwise Complete Publicity Plans - To learn more about this author, visit Andy Marken's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
|
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}
Begin your publicity campaign with a master plan. Long before you even put your site online, focus upon the key messages you want your prospects to know about your company, they online and offline publications where...
