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You worked hard to get a story on your business in a popular website or your local paper. Don't let your efforts ends there -- here are seven tips to help you maximize your online and offline publicity:

1) Reprint, Reprint, Reprint!

A favorable article on your company or products is marketing gold - it implies that the publication or website has given its endorsement. The best part is that you can enjoy the benefits of this "third party endorsement" long after the article has appeared.

If you want to re-print an article from an offline publication in its entirety, you must get permission from the publication. Most publications have special re-print departments to help you.The same rules apply for stories appearing on websites. To re- print, take a screenshot - make sure to include the logo of the media outlet.

If there is a particularly juicy section of the article that you'd like to highlight, make sure to use a "blow-up" quote to enlarge and separate it from the rest of the article.

2) Add it to Your Website

What better place to drumbeat your newly acquired media placement than your website. If you get a lot of publicity, set up a special area (for example, "As Seen In") to display your placements. For a great story, highlight it on your homepage. Susan Blair does a nice job of displaying her publicity successes
in her "Articles" section at http://www.blairenterprises.net

Note: if a publication displays your article on its website, make sure to link to it. Remember to check your link often - media websites constantly change. Better yet, take a screenshot of your article including the publication's logo, and place it permanently in your "As Seen In" area.

3) Stop the (Electronic) Presses - Mention Your Placement in Your Ezine

If your business has a regular ezine, by all means let your subscribers in on your publicity success. It's human nature to be attracted to a popular, successful business or a famous person. "Celebrity" status is very valuable in and of itself.

4) Email Existing or Potential Clients

Impress your existing or potential clients by tooting your own horn with an email alerting them that you've been published or seen on TV!

Use the power of PR to your advantage. Advertising is clearly understood as coming directly from the sponsoring business and, as a result, is usually taken with a grain of salt. An article initiated (or "placed") by publicity efforts is viewed as the product of the reporter who wrote it - an objective, third
party observer whose positive comments about your business will carry great weight. For more information on PR versus advertising, go to http://www.publicityinsider.com/questions.asp

5) Pitch it Again, Sam!

Take your story angle to a different publication or website - make sure to bend the angle to match the publication's editorial slant or specific reporter's column. DO NOT mention that the story appeared in another publication. Why let a reporter know your angle has already been reported? If it's newsworthy, the story will stand on its own. To learn how to make a story newsworthy, go to: http://www.publicityinsider.com/freesecret.asp

6) "Internal" PR

Place your article in a handsome frame and hang it in a visible area of your office's waiting area. The story adds legitimacy to your business and provides entertainment for your waiting customers. If you don't have a waiting area, put the article behind your desk facing your visitors or in your meeting room.

Make sure to distribute the story to your employees and suppliers to build loyalty and company pride.

7) Other Suggestions

* Sales Brochures, Direct Marketing Materials & Trade Show Handouts - Like advertising, claims in self-produced brochures & mailings are taken with a grain of salt. But, if a credible publication makes those same claims on your behalf, make sure it gets "front page" placement in your sales materials.

* Speech handout: - One way to keep your speech working for you long after the chairs are folded up is to distribute your article
with your business card and company information to all attendees.

* Business card: - Place an important quote from your article on your business card.

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About The Author:

Bill Stoller, the "Publicity Insider", has spent two decades as one of America's top publicists. Now, through his website, eZine and subscription newsletter, Free Publicity: The Newsletter for PR-Hungry Businesses http://www.PublicityInsider.com/freepub.asp he's sharing -- for the very first time -- his secrets of scoring big publicity. For free articles, killer publicity tips and much, much more, visit Bill's exclusive new site: http://www.PublicityInsider.com

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There can be zillions of reasons why your visitors return to your web site. One might be very interested in seeing your animated photo on your main page, but kidding aside I've gathered 12 elements that invites your visitors to repeat their visits.

1. High-Quality Content.

We have all read that "Content Is The Thing" according to Michael Dean of Kittyfeet.com. We have not set-up our website to just fill-it with endless links of your favorites but we're there to discuss what can we contribute to the web. Fill it with regularly-updated quality content and they'll return asking for more.

2. Ease Of Use.

We have all heard of "user-friendly" computers and softwares. Why not do the same to our web site. Provide a navigation bar that's easy (and fun) to use forgetting the fancy stuff.

3. Quick To Download.

Assume your web site is going to be viewed by the oldest browser, slowest modem and limited number of palettes.

4. Updated Frequently.

You have prepared high-quality content but the problem is you only update it once a year. Set a realistic goal first that at the least you'll bring new content to it once a month and then increase the frequency.

5. Rewards, Contest and Incentives.

Make sure your visitors enjoy a very "rewarding" visit to your site and expect him to return or just remind him to get his prize, reward or a mention of his name in your monthly newsletter. He'll sure return. Contest is one great idea. Email me on this one and I'll give you the free code.

6. Favorite Brands.

We all know zdnet.com is the site for free downloads, cnn.com for up-to-the-minute customizable news. Why not link to them? Do you know that zdnet.com offers link partnership? (I don't get money from this one, folks :-)) I know a site that just updates their visitors on what's happening to over 200 branded ezines and you know what visitors like it and return.

7. Cutting-edge Technology.

We can't all compete with this category but I'm sure there are lots of software out there to simplify the task. So grab one!

8. Games.

Online game sites are becoming famous nowadays. Visitors too need sometime to play online. Give what they need and they'll ask you for more.

9. Purchasing Capabilities.

Web surfers also shop around and they're looking for convenience on how to do it. Be the first one to do it for them. Add a shopping cart of some sort to your web site and it would be better if you can accept credit cards online.

10. Customizable Content.

Try to create a simple database (Excel of MS Access would do) and connect it on your web site. Every visitor will have its own content and experience. An example of this is planetit.com (tell them I referred you, just enough to receive thank you from them, yes, no money involved here either.)

11. Chat and BBS.

Message Board or interactive forums replaces BBS (bulletin board system) nowadays. Even I have one on my web site (just to make sure) and I'm amazed at the number of visitors from around the globe who post on it. Just make sure you get their email addie so you can reply.

12. Freebies, Jokes and Quotes.

I don't know about this but I've received return visits on this one. I even got a search engine for jokes on my site and people return just to read jokes. These same people who spent considerable amount of money reading jokes and quotes will soon ask for a price quote.

You know studies have shown that it takes 4 to 5 visits for a person before he sets his eyes on what you can offer. A simple element (but it's not included on the 12 elements I've mentioned) is just to place a text on your web site (bold letters, not caps) saying "Please bookmark this site" can go a long, long way.

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