Media Writing Tips 101

I was thinking about the conference the other day when I came across a poorly composed press release. You see, writing separates the stringers from the professionals. No matter how many connections you have, if you can't write- you will fail. Period!

This said, I wanted to share the top 3 writing mistakes YOU need to avoid. If you don't, your peers will look at you like a stringer and you will not obtain any respect within the media relations field.

1. "At the end of the day" - Do not ever use this. You should be able to write your point without having to point it out. If you have to write a "look at me" tag, the rest of your writing is fluff and journalists will hate it and laugh at it.

2. "I know you're busy" - If you're using this in a pitch or a sales letter, slap yourself on the wrist. Everyone is busy. Writing this phrase just wastes more of the reader's time and it sounds corny. Avoid using this phrase at all costs.

3. "In this day in age" - Ok, first- we all assume that you are writing about the present. If not, why are you writing at all. The goal is to be media savvy and relevant. This phrase is ad copy and doesn't have a place in the PR world.

I hope this info. helps you become a better writer and understand what separates the true professional from the wannabe.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

Don't Forget... I'm Speaking in #NYC

Is Your Website Protected?

I want to talk about a report recently on Forbes.com related to Cyber Security. The report stated "the DHS has its own set of cyber vulnerabilities." Yes, according to a full report by the Inspector General, the Department of Homeland Security suffers from cyber security issues. So, if the DHS is exposed enough to cyber criminal activity, how do you protect your own agency or business?

Here's a list from the DHS' own website noting how to protect yourself from a cyber attack. http://www.dhs.gov/how-do-i/protect-myself-cyber-attacks However, there is no 100% bullet-proof vest for your computer system to wear- as the DHS itself will admit.

I decided to expand upon a few of these topics. For example, one tip is to NEVER click on links sent in random emails. Well, this is pretty obvious. However, you don't have to receive random emails in the first place. You can set up personal and professional accounts to not accept emails sent from people other than those on an approved list.

You should be more concerned with malware than emailed links, too. Accrding to the DHS, "Destructive malware has the capability to target a large scope of systems, and can potentially execute across multiple systems throughout a network. As a result, it is important for an organization to assess their environment for atypical channels for potential malware delivery and/or propagation throughout their systems. Systems to assess include:

Enterprise Applications – particularly those which have the capability to directly interface with and impact multiple hosts and endpoints. Common examples include
Patch Management Systems,
Asset Management Systems,
Remote Assistance software (typically utilized by the corporate Help Desk),
Anti-Virus,
Systems assigned to system and network administrative personnel,
Centralized Backup Servers, and
Centralized File Shares."

My company, IME, can help you take a comprehensive look at your current cyber setup and possible issues. We can help rectify many issues, too. Will you be 100% safe and secure? No- that's impossible. Even the DHS has private waves of computing that are hackable. However, you will be more prepared to prevent and respond to cyber security attacks and threats.

Until Monday,
Twyla

Can You Be Persuasive?

Part of owning a business, or being in sales, is knowing how to close a deal and be persuasive. Not too many people are masters of this art. You can pitch your product or services all day long, but if you can’t convince people to part with their money- your business will fail!

If you want to become better at selling your products or your services, you have to look to improve upon your convincing skills. I did my research and have developed 3 easy steps to becoming more persuasive. The first step is an easy one. Shut up! That’s right, stop talking. Many people sell themselves out of a sale because they keep talking. Instead, talk about how your product or services solves a problem for the potential client and then zip your mouth. If they’re interested, they will ask the questions and come to a conclusion quickly. If you keep talking, you complicate this process.

You also want to share both positives and negatives. If you promote your products or services as fail-proof, your client will not sign up with you. You want to WOW the audience and promote your product but you don’t want to stretch the truth or over promise. So, briefly touch on the negatives associated with your products and services and then move on. Again, shut up about the negatives after you have covered them.

Finally, slow down. If you talk fast, you have to learn to work on slowing down. Most people distrust a fast talker. This is a proven fact. People buy from people who speak using a regular pace and tone. Talking too fast, swearing, using a high-pitch voice, saying “yes” to everything- these are all red flags for people. If you use these tactics, you will not persuade a single person.

I hope these tips help you improve your sales. If they do, please share your story with me on Facebook or Twitter.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

Email; You Sent What?!

The problem with today’s 24/7 social media culture is our innate need to respond to emails all of the time and no matter what time of the day it is. Thus, it become second nature to ignore double checking response tone and facts. We are so focused on responding right away that we often fail to ensure we are properly responding.

I had to think about the email issue as I started to write today’s blog. You see, I’ve always been big on not responding to emails ASAP and having designated times to check emails. So, if you want to make sure you are sending proper emails then follow my four tips below!

1. Wait at least an hour to respond to any angry or upset email. Don’t respond right away. When you do respond, make sure you save it as a draft before hitting “send” and wait two more hours. Next, read the email out loud before hitting “send” to ensure you are still remaining professional, not overly aggressive, in the email.

2. Never write an email using slang or terms of endearment. First, they are liable statements and second, these types of emails will make you sound unprofessional.

3. Never disclose company secrets in an email or speak poorly of your boss or co-workers in an email. Remember, this sounds obvious but it happens daily. Stay positive or don’t say anything at all via email. It can come back and bite you in the unmentionable!

4. Keep it under 300 words. If your email is going to be longer than 300 words then it is time for a face-to-face coffee meeting (or full blown meeting) with the intended recipient.

Remember, it is easy to send an email and receive an email. However, it is trickier to respond properly to an email without having any regrets or making yourself look foolish.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

Dr. Twyla Garrett Speaking At The United Nations in New York City on July 16th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul. 15, 2014 - MANHATTAN, N.Y. -- Twyla Garrett has spoken at renowned events, including The White House, across the country for the past five years. As a two-time author, serial entrepreneur and owner of the homeland security company IME, Garrett is scheduled to speak on the topic of innovation this Wednesday, July 16th, in New York.

“I can’t wait to participate at the New York Impact event. The early bird tickets are already sold-out. I know I can offer attendees a lot of great insight on innovation. I encourage a collaborative process. I want people to interact at this event and follow me on Twitter for an after-event Q&A session,” said Garrett.

The IMPACT Summer Academy for Emerging Global Leaders will take place at the Church Center of the United Nations in New York (777 United Nations Plaza 2nd Floor) on Wednesday, July 16th. The event starts at 9am and runs until 6:30 pm. Tickets start at $35 dollars and range up to $115 dollars. Tickets can be purchased online using any major credit card or PayPal. For more information, or to purchase tickets, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/impact-summer-academy-for-em...

Twyla Garrett will be speaking between 10am and 11:30 and is co-hosting the discussion with Dr. John P. Fernandez, Ph.D. President, ARMC Global; Author, Leading in a Diverse and Conflicted World and 9 other books on Race, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion in corporate and business setting. Other speakers include Ambassador Edita Hrda, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the UN, Dr. Meredith L. Sadin, Ph.D. Princeton University, and more.

Members of the media are invited to request an interview with Twyla Garrett prior to, during or after the IMPACT at The United Nations event by contacting her media manager.

About: Twyla Garrett, CBM, CHS III is an extraordinary serial entrepreneur, corporate speaker, and compelling author who has been personally invited to speak at The White House on the issues of creating jobs, economic growth, and the controversial fiscal cliff of 2012. Garrett is known for her notable (sometimes 100% self-funded) business deals as much as she is for providing excellent opportunities to individuals facing immense challenges.

Ms. Garrett is an executive consultant to federal, state and local emergency management and homeland security programs nationwide. Her operational experience dates from response operations in 2003 and has continued for 10 years in direct or indirect support as a consultant to government.

MEDIA MANAGER: Helene Vece of HireAProWriter.com

Manhattan Office: (917) 410-7938

244 Madison Ave, Suite 2550. New York, NY 10016

Are You Exceptional?

I recently read an article on being exceptional in business. The article went on to say that if you are not exceptional (in their eyes), your business is bound to fail. I disagree with such a bold statement because 1) who defines exceptional and 2) there is something to be said for hard work.

I did, however, agree with some of the traits needed to navigate one’s business past the first year (which is the hardest thing to do these days). Here are the three exceptional traits needed to survive your first year of business.

1. Politics are to be avoided. Don’t get involved in scratching one’s back to get what you need out of a business deal. This may pay off now but it will ricochet later on. Plus, some things can be considered unethical. So, don’t get involved in politics and remain neutral.

2. Think and think some more. While you do have to be a do’er when running your own business, it is just as important to think things through and consider all scenarios before taking any action. Business owners who dive in blindly to certain opportunities will find the water shallow and have no depth with their investment.

3. Good business owners don’t sustain the standard, they reinvent it on the daily. Instead of considering certain rules or procedures or expectations as the standard, exceptional business owners will figure out a way to make things better or more competitive and then move in that direction. They have no loyalty to rules of the past because they are always looking forward.

So, hard work counts but these three steps will help carry your hard work a long way.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

The Successful Business Day!

I receive many questions on the subject of what people should be doing. While this is a broad question, I thought about it and came up with some consistent steps for daily success.

First, start with breakfast. Don’t skip it. Breakfast is not a Starbucks and a pastry, either. You want oatmeal and a protein and then coffee. Breakfast gives you fuel and focus needed to hectic days. This sounds simple, but many busy business people skip it.

Second, have the courage to say no. You do not have to accept each and every meeting and invite that comes your way. Same goes for clients. So, make sure you put priority on the meetings, clients, etc. that you say ‘yes’ to and respectfully decline opportunities that will impede your focus and schedule.

Third, and last, clear your desk at the end of the day. Sounds odd, right? It’s not. If you clean up your office space at the end of the day- the you of tomorrow will thank you. Walking into an office that is neat and clean and not cluttered is a psychological cue for success, not defeat. Even if this mean stacking files and paper neatly, do it! Ten minutes of cleaning your office each day will set yourself up for double the productivity on the following day.

Try these tips out and get back to me on your results.

Until next time,
Twyla Garrett

Rejected? Why It’s A Good Thing.

We can’t evolve as people or business owners if we aren’t growing. In fact, it is impossible to grow if mistakes aren’t made and failure doesn’t happen. So, how do you learn from rejection, failure and mistakes? I’m glad you asked!

The Who, Ben Stiller, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan … these are all people who were told they didn’t possess talent. They faced rejection in their lives. They made millions. Rejection is a daily habit in business. People will hate your price point, your product ideas, they may not like you as a person – regardless, you will hear ‘no’ ten times to Sunday. The key is to not let it distract you from moving forward. Most businesses don’t make it within the first five years. Several entertainers have 10-15 years of rejection behind them before they make it. Don’t quit your dream because you took rejection personally.

Rejection is also a good thing because it forces you to be better and learn from your weakness. If someone says ‘no’ don’t run away with your pride bruised. Instead, buy the person a cup of coffee or send an eCard via Starbucks and ask for their input as to why they said no. Sometimes you have no control over the reason, other times you can correct something about yourself. Think of rejection as an opportunity for perfection.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

The Biggest Tech Trends!

Are you in the tech business? Maybe looking to become more tech savvy? Well, good thing you are here today. I'm listing my biggest tech trend predictions for business during 2013. Don't see your favorite trend on this list? Share it with me! Leave a comment of find me on Twitter!

1.Online workforce. Yes, hiring an online workforce and setting up a "virtual" office saves money in many ways, but it also promotes happier employees. You can hire an entire new team of professionals, each located in their home offices across the country or globe. Or, you can take your current workforce and let them work from home. Get rid of the office overhead and internal employee fights or potential sexual harassment issues by setting up an online workforce!

2. Grow your online business. Yes, don't rely on customer-to-business traditional sales anymore. More and more people are buying online without ever speaking to a customer service rep or a sales person from a company. Make your products or services easy to navigate so the purchase power stays with the online consumer.

3. Cut back on your IT department. Yes, I said it. Even in a virtual business playing field, today's culture means more people are computer Savvy and there are more independent contractors willing to charge less to come out and fix (properly) your computer issues. So, you will not be needing that "on call" IT department any longer.

4. The cloud.... Yes, I do love the cloud. Why? Any business owner knows what a necessity it is. The cloud is powerful and comes with services and new security systems emerging to support mobile, transitory, and an flexible workforce. Maybe you are keeping the office but now there is a blizzard. Employees are forced to stay home because streets are closed. The cloud allows your workforce to adapt to working from home on the days it may be required. Cut down on loss of work or employees from calling in sick because they are "contagious." Get the most bang for your employing buck by using the cloud!

5. The end of Facebook. We all see it coming so I am calling it. Companies spent the last few years going bonkers over a tight Facebook presence. The truth is Twitter is growing and Facebook is failing. Twitter allows people to be engaged and get direct answers and concerns immediately resolved. So, focus more on Twitter this year.