When was the last time someone told YOU to work your ass off?

Posted on May 2, 2013 by admin

Work your ass off – It’s a phrase we see again and again in the fitness industry – we probably take it for granted. It’s definitely become a cliche, but like so many cliche’s it is true.

And it’s pretty much the same for those of us running a business – In a minute I’m going to share how THREE of my clients kicked ASS and blew their competition out of the water by playing the long game.

If you put the work in – it is amazing how it pays off in the long run.

After all anything worth having is worth waiting for right? No-one wants a quick fix.

Work your ass off!!

We use it all the time at our bootcamps, fitness sessions or in the gym.

“You’ve got to work your ass off if you want results.”

“Get that ass to the grass with those squats.”

“Use it or lose it.”

And of course “no pain, no gain.”

I could go on but I don’t need to.

We know that online programme isn’t gonna write itself, the accounts don’t do themselves, tonight’s workout doesn’t miraculously appear.

In fact, when we are working on a BIG project it can take weeks, even months before it finally pays off.

It’s the same in media.

It takes a while to build up momentum.

You can’t get fame and fortune overnight, unless you win the lottery and then blow the lot!

First you have to build up your local profile.

Then you start building your national profile.

Until eventually the media start calling YOU.

This week at BIG ME UP MEDIA we have had an AMAZING week with several BIG PROJECTS ALL FINALLY PAYING OFF.

I have been working for many months now with three great Fit Pro’s on varying projects and they have all paid off BIG styly.

The first is Fitness Guru and Creator of Kick Start Fat Loss Rachel Holmes.

I managed to get her a piece in Shortlist about Breakfast being the Most Important Meal of the Day. Her company got a massive plug and she has had LOADS of response about it. Shortlist is read by HALF A MILLION MEN which is more than ALL THE MEN’S FITNESS MAGS TOGETHER.

Who knows where it will lead but we will certainly be leveraging the publicity and getting even more off the back of it. You can learn how to do this too.

Now another of my clients is Pre and Post Natal Expert Claire Mockridge. Ages ago we came up with the idea of focusing on the Royal Pregnancy and decided to send Kate Middleton some of Claire’s products including her DVD.

We also pitched the idea that Claire could write monthly column about the pregnancy for her local paper which they jumped at. She gives tip to other mums to be on how to have a safe and enjoyable pregnancy and what kind of exercise they should and shouldn’t be doing.

Well this week was Claire’s birthday and she got the perfect present. A THANK YOU LETTER from the palace.

Claire is appearing in quite a few publications now and has also been approached this week to supply some quotes for a national magazine after they found her on Google.

And finally,

Katie Bulmer Cooke has been working with me for a while now and I’m hoping she might spare five minutes at my Big Me Up Live event to tell the audience all about her experience.

But basically when Katie first came to me she wanted to go straight on TV – the hardest of all the media to crack.

I explained that we needed to build her profile locally first and get her some publicity with her local paper and radio station.

Eventually, I explained she will get a reputation and rank higher up the Google ratings the more publications she appears in and the nationals will start contacting her. It took a while.

SHE WORKED HER ASS OFF but eventually it did pay off. You can check out what she has to say about it here.

Click here to see Katie

So just like you tell your clients success does not come overnight you have to work at it but if you do the results are SO worth it!!!!

Coming up:

Big Me Up Live – Limited seats available for this live workshop in Nottingham and tickets are only on sale until Wed May 15th http://bigmeuplive.co.uk

My next coaching course starts Monday May 6th (although we’ll actually start on the Tuesday as it’s a Bank Holiday. There are only two spaces left on this now http://www.yvonneradleymedia.com/coaching-products/

My Prestige Pack is FULLY BOOKED http://www.yvonneradleymedia.com/prestige-pack/ but you can go on the waiting list by emailing me yvonneradley@bigmeupmedia.com

You can also join me on my Facebook business page for loads of free advice https://www.facebook.com/YvonneRadleyMedia?ref=hl

Getting in the media is a race

Posted on April 2, 2013 by admin

Getting in the media is easy – if you know what you are doing.

Half the battle is knowing when to get in touch and who to get in touch with and of course, not pitching your new classes or your new gym but wrapping up what you actually do in a story that will help to raise your profile.

There’s one event this month that you should definitely be “riding the back of” – more on that in a sec.

There’s actually quite a lot going on nationally this month with Depression Awareness Week (15-21st April)

Wallace and Gromit’s Big Breakfast from April 22nd

And World Health Day this Sunday on the 7th.

You could tap into all of those events to raise the profile of your business. Organise a W&G breakfast to raise money and invite your local press to the event, send them a press release.

Or you could write a blog about Depression Week send it out to your list so your clients can see that you are switched on and know what you are talking about. You could even offer a series of special classes around meditation or clean eating or working out outdoors to help raise your profile.

Listen to your local radio on World Health Day (marks the founding of world health organisation WHO) to see if they are discussing it and call in with your opinion. 5 Live and Radio 4 as well as local BBC stations are more likely to be talking about it. Plus keep an eye on Twitter and respond too.

So what’s the ONE EVENT you should be riding the back of publicity wise this month?

It’s the London Marathon.

Ring up your local radio station and offer to go in and give expert advice to runners from your area on what to eat before race day, how to pace themselves, what to eat on the day, how to recover afterwards etc etc

You could become a regular guest for the next couple of weeks as people gear up for the big day on the 21st. Even some of the DJ’s up and down the country will be racing and you could go in and help them.

Plus, if you have PT clients or people at your fitness classes or camps that are doing it why not send a press release to your local paper and tell everyone how you’ve been training them.

A lot of people raise money for local charities as well so there will be some heart-warming stories to tell, maybe you are already working closely with a local charity and if not, put it in your diary for next year. Get a team entered and think of the publicity you could gain by taking part and raising money for good causes.

If you do have a great story or any of your members are dressing up to do it then it’s worth telling your local TV station too, maybe they could come out and film you training ahead of the race and give you a local plug.

A lot of local and regional press will be looking to get an angle on this massive fitness story so the sooner you get in the more chance you have of being featured.

And of course, don’t forget social media. If you are running it or have clients running it you should be all over Facebook and Twitter on the day with status updates, pictures and video footage.

Have a great race everyone and if you’re not in it this year make plans for next year.

How to get in your local paper in April

Posted on March 27, 2013 by admin

What if you could see into the future?

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could see into the future and know instantly what health stories are going to be in the press next month?

You could see if any of them were relevant to you and even plan some events around them to attract new customers and maybe get a report featured in your local newspaper.

In a minute I’m going to tell you about a couple coming up……

But first, I was at IFS this weekend, backstage rather than front stage.

It was great because I got to meet some of my customers face to face and also loads of people who follow my blog. It was lovely to know that the stuff I ramble on about is actually being used and instructors up and down the country are getting publicity now where they weren’t getting any before.

Here’s me and Katie Bulmer Cooke – she has rocketed with her publicity now – she writes for her daily paper, she’s the health expert on several radio stations in the North East and she’s been featured in national magazines, in fact she doesn’t even have to contact them, THEY CALL HER.

But the one area people still struggle in is knowing what to write about.

In my Big Me Up Coaching Group I give my clients a forward planner every month and I’ve just posted Aprils.

It’s a list of all the stories coming up the next month that are likely to hit the headlines, like health reports and conferences. These are great for reacting to and getting yourself on radio as the local go-to fitness expert.

In fact last month my client Mike Bach got on Radio 4 and Suez Wray spoke to Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 using tips I had taught them, I love this!

Your customers will think you are very switched on reacting so quickly to breaking news and many will be thrilled to hear you on your local BBC station.

Also there are nice little charity events which local papers love and it’s a chance to get out into the community and raise some money.

And then there are awareness weeks, which are always great to comment on or organize an event around it to gain some publicity.

So today, I thought I would give you a peek into the future and share a couple of ideas in here with you guys.

Monday 15 April 2013 – Sunday 21 April 2013
Depression Awareness Week
Nationwide
Focuses on reducing the stigma attached to depression.
BLOG/ CLIENTS/ DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THIS ISSUE IN YOUR BUSINESS
PRESS RELEASE IN THE WEEK BEFORE TALKING ABOUT HOW EXERCISE HELPS – TRAINING OUTDOORS – GOOGLE SOME STATS

Monday 22 April 2013 – Sunday 28 April 2013
Wallace & Gromit’s Big Breakfast
Nationwide
Fundraiser from the Wallace and Gromit Foundation encouraging people to raise money for children’s hospices by hosting breakfast parties.
PRESS RELEASE TO LOCAL PAPER AND DO SOME FUNDRAISING WITH YOUR GUYS

Monday 15 April 2013 top story
Random DNA testing of beef products – first results published
Nationwide
Publication of the first results stemming from the Europe-wide three-month programme of random DNA testing of beef products. Launched in response to the contaminated meat scandal in which products purporting to be beef contained horse meat.
GET READY TO REACT

If you would like to get your hands on the full list and join me in my group to get yourself into your local paper regularly then my next coaching course starts straight after Easter on April 2nd and you can sign up by clicking the link http://www.yvonneradleymedia.com/coaching-products/

I Took A Peek At Her Bra

Posted on March 3, 2013 by admin

Strange headline eh? In a minute I’ll explain what it means.

Now you’re probably thinking it’s just one of those cheap headlines
to grab your attention and get you to keep reading.

Trust me, it’s not, it involves an Ex Prime Minister’s son, a Marks
and Sparks female employee, a sex scandal,The Sun newspaper, me and
a garden fence.

But first let me say THANK YOU for reading my blog on a regular basis.

Now you’ve got these tips and ninja secrets don’t just file them away, using them is a bit like
waving a magic wand, it works.

You’ve probably tried for ages to get publicity, sending in press
releases when you remember, crossing your fingers and hoping for
the best.

Then your phone rings…..

and it’s the paper ringing…..

they’ve seen your press release and would like to do something on
it…..

but it’s NOT the news department…..

it’s the sales rep and they have a ADVERT available and if you take
it right now they can do you a great deal.

Familiar story? Yep. Rule Number One - NEVER pay for advertising.

There are ways around this, ninja tricks I can teach you. It’s all
about seeing an opportunity and going for it.

Pitching the right idea to editors, knowing what their readers
want to read about, getting the news reporters begging you to
cover your story because it’s so EPIC.

A story like the one I mentioned earlier.

The Prime Minister at the time was John Major and his son James had
been a naughty boy with a married woman while he was on work
experience at Marks and Spencer in Leicester.

I was working for Raymond’s Press Agency at the time and that meant
I was the runner for all the national guys who would come up to the
Midlands for a big story like this.

The top reporters from The Sun, Daily Mirror, Mail, Daily Star, I
think Today was still going at the time as well.

The woman in question had legged it to hide from the press and we
had the job of staking out her house in case she came home. Luckily
for us she lived opposite the pub so that’s where we set up camp.

The national guys were anxious to get the story and we needed
detail.

She obviously wasn’t talking so we talked to her neighbours, the
guys in the pub, local villagers.

Her house was a nice little terraced cottage and the village was
quiet.

Then the guy at The Sun noticed she’d left her washing out. Hanging
on the line was a vast array of underwear. Information that could
give the tabloids the juicy tidbits they needed for their story.

Vital stats, especially a bra size can fill out a story nicely. So
as the back gate was locked, I was given a leg up and hoisted over
the back fence to take a peek at her bra!!!

Seeing an opportunity and taking it can lead to great results and
a great story.

How many great stories have you already missed out on this year? Did you offer an expert opinion to your local media when the horse meat scandal broke? Loads of my guys got heaps of coverage with that and didn’t pay a penny.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21034942

What about children being given gastric bands, did you get on the radio with that one? My guy Mike Bach did, in fact he was on 5Live.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/5live/

And what about the UK being labelled the fattest country in the UK? Tell me you got some free publicity using that story….

To make an impact you’ve got to go that extra mile, isn’t that what you already tell the guys in your sessions?

PS: This starts tomorrow – You might want to check it out http://bigmeupmedia.co.uk

I was staking out a murderer and it felt good

Posted on February 27, 2013 by admin

One of my media clients told me this week that he always felt like he was on the brink of something BIG…. about to achieve what he set out to achieve.

And I know what he means…..

In a minute I’m going to tell you how you can push yourself to your limits and achieve some staggering stuff that up until now you’ve only dreamt about OR it’s SO extreme it’s never even entered your head.

But first let me explain that crazy headline. Did I really stake out a murderer? Did it really feel good?

I really did, and it got the adrenaline pumping and it was good looking back on it but terrifying at the time.

It was when I was working as a senior court reporter for Raymond’s Press Agency. An elderly couple had been hammered to death in their bathroom in a tiny little village in Leicestershire.

Their bodies were then buried in a local beauty spot and it took the police ages to find them.

Suspect number one was their son who’d told everyone they’d gone away. But their friends were worried and called the police.

Eventually, the evidence started to mount and he was arrested and taken to the local police station for questioning.

Now they can only question people for so long and then they either have to charge them or let them go.

My job was to sit outside the police station and wait for him in case he was released. My instructions? To follow him. Exciting? Kind of, I wanted the story.

I liked to push myself and be the best journalist I could be.

I was also looking for a different angle to everyone else.

Always going over the edge, into the brink…

…..just like my client who feels he’s on the verge of something massive. He’s been with me for a couple of months now and has been plugging away slowly but surely.

He’s started getting publicity now.

It takes time to lay the foundations, make the contacts, build up your list, just like your fitness classes.

But he has his own radio show coming up, he’s been interviewed by Top Sante, and submitted a magazine article to a national magazine, he’s also got his own weekly column in his local paper.

Pretty soon he is going to be EVERYWHERE and all his hard graft will have paid off.

People in his town will definitely know who he is and what he does because they see him everywhere they turn.

And not only in the local press, he’s also popping up in their magazines they buy so he must be good.

Imagine that, training with someone in your town who gets in magazines like Zest and Top Sante, imagine what that can do for your credibility and ultimately your bank balance.

Plus of course he splashes it all over his Facebook and Twitter account so everyone can see it.

I push my clients out of their comfort zones all the time. “I never heard anything back Yvonne after I sent the press release in,” they tell me.

“Did you ring them,” I ask. This strikes terror in most people. It is scary to pick up the phone and call a newsroom, it is scary to write a press release and basically brag about yourself, it’s even scarier to send that in and then follow it up.

But only by putting yourself out there are you going to achieve the things you dream about – a double page feature in a national magazine…. Famous in the real world and not just on Facebook, the next TV Presenter on the latest Fitness show.

It’s what I do with my stories all the time – I push myself to get the best story possible which is why I found myself sitting in a freezing car, dying to go to the loo and watching the police station entrance for a murder suspect to leave.

So back to the stake out….. do you want to know if he was released?

He was charged with double murder…..

remanded in custody….

….so phew, I didn’t have to follow him.

I sat behind him in court the next day though and through the whole court case …. right to the end when he was sentenced to life in prison.

Coming Up Soon….

My so far untitled Live Workshop in Nottingham May 2013

Next Media Coaching Course March 4th

These People Don’t Wanna Know About Red Nose Day

Posted on February 20, 2013 by admin

Around this time of year newsrooms get very busy…

Mother’s Day is looming….. No Smoking Day…… Easter….. and of course Red Nose Day on March 15th.

But there is ONE BIG MISTAKE everyone makes when it comes to Red Nose Day and I’m gonna stop you making it this year.

The general public (that includes you lot who are trying to push your fitness businesses) ring in with all kinds of events they are planning from coffee mornings to Bake-Offs to sponsored walks to marathons to dressing up at school…. Trust me the list is endless and quite BORING.

To have any chance of getting in the paper or on your local radio station you need to come up with a GREAT IDEA, something NO-ONE ELSE IS DOING.

If you want to get the TV involved as well you must think in terms of PICTURES – what you are planning has to be EPIC. It’s not enough to hold a charity boot camp, it’s not even enough to hold a charity boot camp in fancy dress or wearing red noses – it would need to be BIGGER than that – THINK IN TERMS OF PICTURES and what’s cool at the minute.

You could get your camps to link up with others across the UK and raise a massive stash of cash (they love linking up with other towns on TV)

You could perform the Gangnam style dance.

You could get celebrities to join in with your bootcamp or class.

You get the picture now?

If you are contacting your local radio station why not come up with a brilliant challenge for the presenters so you get mentioned all day long (one of my guys has come up with a genius plan for this and i’ll let you know if it comes off).

Whatever you are doing, do it now and get it organised.

Just one thing before I sign off – whatever you do DON’T RING COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS with your ideas.

When I worked at Leicester Sound we used to have people ringing in for weeks telling us about all their events they had planned and we had to tell them to jog on.

Red Nose Day is a BBC event and commercial stations won’t touch it.

Go straight to your local beeb and let them know what you are up to, they’d love to come out and cover it especially if it’s exciting and will make great radio or TV.

Revealed: How to get your press releases opened

Posted on February 17, 2013 by admin

If you’ve ever written a brilliant press release and then sent it out via email to a local journalist what do you put in the subject line?

Maybe you put PRESS RELEASE?

Maybe you put the same headline you used in your Press Release?

Maybe you put the name of your company?

Maybe you even left it blank?

[LOUD SCREAM!!!!!!!}

Never ever put Press Release in the subject line or any of the above for that matter.

Half the battle to getting your press releases published is getting them opened in the first place.

At the end of the day journalists are in the business they are in because they are nosey so questions will WIN THROUGH EVERY TIME.

Here are my Favourite Top 10

GOOD SUBJECT LINES TO GET YOUR PRESS RELEASES OPEN

1: Are you coming?

2: Why is everyone talking about [add in your business name]?

3: Did you know about this?

4: Wow!

5: Really?

6: Not sure if I should be showing you this?

7: Just for you

8: I had to tell you

9: Don’t tell anyone else

10: I can’t believe this!

Mum’s the Word

Posted on February 10, 2013 by admin

If you are thinking of getting some press and publicity around Valentine’s Day I’ve got some news for you “you’re already too late.”

Half the success of getting your stories published is your forward planning and getting those press releases in nice and early.

You’d be amazed how many people send great stories in to local newspapers, radio stations and magazines but they are never used because they have missed the deadlines.

Magazines work WAY in advance – around 3 months – so you should be pitching your summertime stories around now!

On a local level though you should be pitching your Mother’s Day Stories now in February, even though it doesn’t come around until March 10th. Advertising departments will already be getting clients on board for feature ads, your local beauticians, restaurants, hairdressers, spa days, you’ve all seen the double page spreads on how to treat your mum.

But the editorial department will also be on the lookout for great stories about mums that will tie in nicely with the issue.

They love a good story about mums, just look at the amount of competitions out there to find the best mum.

Even celebrities get in on the act like Katie Price and Stacey Solomons scooping Mum Of The Year titles.

Your clients probably have some great stories to tell.

Is there one who couldn’t get pregnant but then lost loads of weight under your guidance and went on to have twins?

How about the mum who lost 40lbs in time for her 40th?

Maybe you are a mum yourself and set up your own business and became a mumpreneur?

These are the types of stories that editors love and it’s a great way of getting your business some free publicity and raising your own profile while you are at it!

If you do write about your clients you will need THEIR PERMISSION before submitting anything.

So what are you waiting for? Get writing your press releases and while you’re at it, start thinking about those summertime stories for the magazine market.

If you would like my press release template and guide just email me yvonneradley@bigmeupmedia.com and I’ll send it out to you.

Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Sending Out A Press Release

Posted on August 2, 2012 by admin

Here is a list of the most common mistakes people make when sending out a press release. In August I am launching my media start-up kit for fit pros teaching them how it should be done. Big Me Up is coming soon.

1: They save their best information to the last paragraph.

2: Their story is NOT newsworthy or it’s an event that has already happened.

3: They repeat the same information over and over again.

4: They include pictures and logos which just bounce the email back or worse clog up the journalist’s in-tray.

5: They never follow up with a phone call to the newsroom.

6: They forget to include the date, time and place of event.

7: They put a name and phone number of the person to contact but then they go away for a week. (This happens a lot and drives journalists crazy)

8: They ramble on for pages.

9. They use jargon that the journalist, let alone the reader, will not understand.

10. And finally, they send their press release in just after the journalist’s deadline.

How can you get your story printed?

Posted on June 28, 2012 by admin

For fit pros it can be difficult coming up with new things to write about for your press release every week and often you can feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall as you just seem to get ignored week after week.

This week I am going to give you the inside edge to get into your local paper. I used to work for my local paper as a journalist so I know the kind of things they’re looking for and more importantly the kinds of stories they are NOT looking for, so you can stop bashing your head against that brick wall.

First let’s tackle the things they won’t publish. They won’t publish your new class timetable they would rather you take out an advert. They won’t publish the fact that one of your clients has dropped a dress size; again it’s just promoting your services for free. They won’t publish an article about a new awesome class you’re running, again they will tell you to take out an advert.

However, there are ways you could get all 3 of these articles published with a little help. You need to make your stories newsworthy, give them an angle, and think like an editor. What would make your new class timetable newsworthy? What kind of angle could you put on it? Well you could invite your local rugby club down for some taster sessions, pictures of fit men doing Zumba and Pilates will go down a storm – or you could attempt a world record and try and do as many classes as you can in 24 hours, local papers love this kind of thing. Try and think in pictures – what pictures would look good.

How do we get the woman who’s dropped a dress size into the paper – unless she has an amazing story to tell (like it helped to save her life, or she managed to conceive after trying for ages) then it’s going to be hard. But what if you add up all the weight lost by your clients over the last year – or the last 10 years depending on how long you’ve been teaching? What if that added up to 10 double deckers or an ocean liner? Now you’ve got a story with an angle and some great pictures to go with the article.

You have a new class running – how can you get some publicity? Admittedly it’s not the greatest news story in the world so how can we turn it into the greatest news story in the world? What if the class was totally created by you – it was the new Zumba! You would have to big yourself up in your press release and get quotes from your clients who claim it’s better than Zumba, get them to tweet and Facebook about it to all their friends and tag the local paper of course, tweet a video of your class to a celebrity like Cheryl Cole and tell the paper you’ve sent it to her, if she tweets you back – you’re in, no problem at all! And if she doesn’t – tweet another celebrity until you get one who does. Local papers love a chance to put a celebrity on the front cover, so you see you could even make front page news with that one.

Five other quick ways of getting in the paper are

1: Hold a charity event or appear at a charity event

2: Call up with a comment on a national health story

3: Enter a team into a major event like Race for Life

4: Invite a reporter down to your classes for a month for free so they can write a feature piece about your classes

5: Get a local celebrity to come to your classes

And here’s another insider tip for you – local papers go to bed on a Wednesday, meaning the content is given a final proof read and it gets sent to the printers. So Tuesday is quite a good day to contact your local newsroom as they are looking for things to fill the paper and they might have a big hole on page 11. If you can provide them with a story – quotes and pictures, imagine how happy they would be.