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The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter
Feature Article - Generate Free Press for Your Business by Helping Your Community
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Guest Article - Sleepover Party Crafts
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Are you looking for a unique way to catch the attention of potential customers? Have you had a hard time getting the attention of the media and don’t know where else to turn? Look no further, the answer has been right in front of you the entire time. Give back to your community.
FIRST STEP – FIND A CAUSE
You and your business have interests that can be converted in a great community service experience. Once you are matched with the right project, you will encounter a rewarding experience that you will always remember. You also have to consider what could possibly become a great news story. A good story converts into more business for you. More clients aren’t everything, but it could very well be an excellent bonus.
A good example:
Shoppe at Darling (http://www.darlingbabyshoes.com/), an affordable baby shoes store, was interested in the benefits of donating to the local Pediatric Hospital that was opening across the road from their new store. They decided to start a Paint-a-Mural project (http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/ ) with Artists Helping Children. Children visiting their store can paint a mural while they are waiting for shoes. After completed, they donate to a local children’s hospital. They get the benefit of:
1. Clients visiting their store because the clients enjoy painting the mural
2. Possibly more return clients because of the extra enjoyment of the activity
3. Clients will admire the store’s values
4. Positive FREE media coverage every time they finish a mural and donate it to the local children’s hospital
5. A free mural for the children’s hospital
It is all good as far as I can see. The Paint-a-Mural project is good for camps, clubs, companies, shelters, pretty much any organization. Maybe this activity isn’t for your company, look for an activity that you can call your own.
HOW DO I GET THE MEDIA TO COVER OUR STORY?
In order to get press coverage you will need to send out a press release. If you are like most small business owners, you probably haven’t even attempted to write a press release before. That’s okay, everyone has to start somewhere. As long as you have a good story, you shouldn’t have a problem. Here are some articles on how to write a press release: http://www.allfreelance.com/pr.html and below find out about online services to help you distribute your press release.
Distribute your Press Release for Free
PRWeb - http://www.prweb.com/ Press Box - http://www.pressbox.co.uk/ Biz Europe - http://www.bizeurope.com/pressrelease.htm Local Business - http://www.bizeurope.com/pressrelease.htm Free Press Release - http://www.free-press-release.com/ Click2Newsites - http://www.click2newsites.com/
Distribute your Press Release (Not Free)
Press Blaster - http://www.pressblaster.net/ PR Newswire - http://www.prnewswire.com/ Send2Press - http://www.send2press.com/ Advanced PR – http://www.advanced-pr.com eWorld Wire - http://www.eworldwire.com/ M2 Presswire - http://m2.com/m2/m2web.nsf/homepage?openform Press Release Network - http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com/ eMail Wire - http://www.emailwire.com/cgi-bin/news/db.cgi
Good Luck!
Rachel Goldstein is Founder of ArtistsHelpingChildren.org - A non-profit charity dedicated to bringing comfort to children in hospitals, clinics, and shelters by brightening their environment with murals, artwork, toys, and art supplies.
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Sleepovers are always so much fun because you get to see all of your friends at once. You get to stay up late and play games. But sometimes sleepover parties are a time for kids to cause mischief – and they do so because they are simply given a little too much free time. Here are some fun crafts that are great for sleepover parties that involve the fun of working as a group, but also creating something special that you get to take home. The kids will have fun making the projects but also will have fun knowing they have made a special memento. My niece has a message & doodle pillowcase that is now five years old that she absolutely treasures – and she’s not a “crafter”. You may also spark a bit of creativity in someone that night by offering a craft project – you never know!
Message & Doodle Pillowcases
You will need:
Pillowcases – any color
Permanent markers
Cardboard
Give each child a pillowcase and a piece of cardboard. On each pillowcase they will write their name and a special message to that person. This craft works best if the children begin by writing their own names on their pillowcases, then you can help keep track of whose pillowcases are whose. Have the children write their names all in the same place – such as in the right corner.
Also have some pads of paper handy because some children may want to practice drawing their message or a special doodle that they like to draw, to be sure they get it right. It may also be a good idea to purchase several extra pillowcases in case someone does make a large drawing error, because with permanent markers there is no way to erase your mistakes.
While drawing their name or a message on the pillowcase, have the child place the cardboard in the pillowcase to keep the message from coming through on the other side. You can also use a bunch of sheets of paper; at least five sheets of paper should work. Have each child work on a flat surface like a table, hardwood floor or even the seat part of a chair.
Permanent markers now come in a rainbow of colors – no longer are we stuck with just red, black, blue and green. You can write your message in permanent marker in pink, orange, purple, silver, gold, light green, lavender, deep purple – pretty much any color. Be sure to use permanent markers because the design will remain on the pillowcase through repeated launderings.
Once every child has drawn a message on the pillowcases they are done. The children can then use the pillowcases at the sleepover party they are attending, and they can also take them home.
Design & Doodle Nightshirts
This is a great craft to do in the beginning of the sleepover party. Make sure to do these at least three hours before the children will actually wear them, so that they have ample time to dry. (Hanging them in a warm and dry room will speed this process up also).
For this project you will need:
Large white or colored t-shirts
Fabric paint
Fabric stamps
Permanent markers
Cardboard
This project the children will have their name in large letters on the front with a stamped design and then autographs and messages from their friends on the back. You may also want to put on the top of the back of the shirt the date and the occasion “Jamie’s 10th birthday party July 11th”.
Give each child a t-shirt and some permanent markers. Have them write their name on the front of their shirt – in a special and fancy way. This will also help to keep track of whose shirt is whose. Then have each child write a message and a doodle to each other on all of the shirts. Put cardboard between the shirt so that the message does not seep through.
Once the children have completed the back, it is time to stamp a design on the front. Put fabric paint out on large paper plates and give each child a fabric stamp. Designs that circle the name are probably best.
After the shirts are completed, lay them to dry flat or hang them as long as the fabric paint does not drip.
Sleepovers are always so much fun. These projects may lead you to create others, or may inspire other projects for your children to enjoy.
Abigail Beal © 2004 Abigail Beal a.k.a. “the Gift-wrap Goddess” teaches gift wrap in suburban New York. She is the author of 2 ezines: GiftWrapGoddessWraps and CreativeCraftsTeachers. To subscribe: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CreativeCraftsTeachers/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GiftWrapGoddessWraps/ contact: creativecraftsteachers@yahoo.com
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