Look @ Me! How to Get Noticed in 2009

More and more we are hearing the term“online press room,” or “online media room.” These are buzz phrases that you should become well-accustomed to if you are going to further develop your professional practice in 2009.

Psychologists are quickly making it in to the world of media, whether it be through online web talks, news outlets needing expert guidance, or community forums. By having a solid online press room, you are establishing a name for yourself and making it easy for journalists to quickly find out who you are and how you can help them.

Here are some quick and dirty tips for making the most of your online press room:

1) Diversify your media- make sure you have multiple forms of media on your page. This should include video clips, online seminars, radio recordings, and photographs (professional head shots). Unfortunately, the media is a place where looks count, and you want to put your best foot forward when presenting yourself and your practice. Journalists want to get a clear picture that you are “camera-ready,” without having to sift through a multitude of websites.

2) Pay a little extra to grab the spotlight. If a site offers a spot on their site with more exposure, it is always worth it to pay a little extra. Oftentimes, journalists are not going to spend their time going to the 33^rd page to find you. At FreudTV, clients are given the option of being in the spotlight for only $10 extra dollars a month. Over a year’s time, this only amounts to $120 and can pay for itself with one media spot.

3) 3..2..1..ACTION! You have approximately three seconds to grab the user’s attention. This means that you need to make your online press room pop, and pop quickly. This can be done by developing an interesting headline or creating a “point of difference,”a.k.a P.O.D. (see below).

4) Your P.O.D. is the characteristic(s) that sets you apart from everyone else. Are you skilled in two unique areas of study? Are you coined the Happiness Diva? Anything that can set you apart, immediately gives you a hefty advantage over the competition.

5) How can I help you? Focus on how you can help your target market. If your specialty is anxiety related illness, then really focus on your work in this area. How can your previous experience apply to future programming? If you are a jack of many trades, really be creative about all the areas that you specialize in. Remember, some journalists may think these areas are called something different (i.e. “Multiple personality disorder” vs. “dissociative identity disorder”), so be broad and inclusive.

6) Make it easy for them to find you. Make sure your contact information is displayed prominently at the front. This may seem like a no brainer, but so many times, a professional may only have a link to their website. Many journalists will not take the time to sift through multiple links to find an email address.

7) Be active! The more presence you can develop through multiple venues on the internet, the more buzz you will generate. This can be through blogging, holding webinars, twittering, or posting your articles on your online press room. At FreudTV, users are able to both hold and attend webinars, as well as post multiple articles that appear on the homepage. These articles are then found by search engines, generating even more traffic to your online press room.

Dr. Colleen Long is the owner of FreudTV and Aesthetic Genetics. Her book is title Happiness in B.A.L.A.N.C.E and can be found on her professional site. She is a professional coach and has helped many entrepreneurs build their businesses with her techniques. Her most recent work has been featured on About.com as well as The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.