Archive for September 2009
There’s a new website that helps kids get the cool new gear they want, without putting a dent in mom’s budget. Kidzola.com is an online classifieds site that helps you buy and sell everything for children. The site has been described as the best of eBay, Craigslist, and consignment shops all rolled into a one-stop shop created just for kids!
Kidzola.com is a smart, savvy and timely idea- all the makings for a successful PR client! Orca has had the pleasure of representing Kidzola for two consecutive campaigns and the media is buzzing about this new go-to resource!Kidzolahas been featured nationally on Better TV, Cookie.com, Parent Dish Magazine, and ImNotObsessed.com. Several local outlets have also featured the site including The Denver Post, Boston Herald, ABC and CBS in Philadelphia, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and ABC in Columbus, Ohio.
Families across the country love this service- it’s easy, free, and fun. Founders Heather Straka and Lisa Szymczyk have created a way for families to help each other save money during this down economy. Their innovative idea didn’t stop there. Kidzola also offers a unique business opportunity. If sellers don’t have time to take photos of their merchandise and post them online, a Kidzola.com consultant will do the work for them. They will pick up the items, take pictures, post them, complete the sale and write a check to the seller for 60 percent of the profits. When it’s all finished, they keep a 35 percent commission. It’s the ultimate side-gig to earn extra money. Consultants are popping up everywhere- as are the loyal fans of Kidzola!
So what exactly is a Frecklebox? It’s the latest buzz and result of pure ‘dadpreneur’ genius! Santa Clara, California dads Mark Sarpa and Scott Feldman are fathers of five collectively and creators of the must-have, customized literacy promoting products. This dynamic duo stays current on the latest trends and what today’s parents, children and educators are looking for!
The company’s first product, the “My Name is” book, is the top seller. Thanks to innovative image personalization technology, this popular book has also become a valuable keepsake. In this picturesque story, nature pens your child’s name on every page: in leaves, snow, clouds, flowers, even ladybugs, the list goes on and on.
“Our mission is to educate and entertain,” says Scott Feldman. “We feel kids are much more engaged and excited about reading and learning when the story is all about them.”
Since then, parents and kids can’t get enough of Frecklebox. Since its launch in April 2008, this savvy line has expanded to include custom activity books, story books, placemats, folders, notebooks, journals, stickers and the newest, hottest selling item - personalized lunch boxes with chalk board insert for fun notes from mom and dad. From toddlers to tweens, there are dozens of options to choose from that all have one thing in common - a priceless reaction to the customized gift.
“There’s nothing more rewarding than a customer telling me…”My daughter learned to spell her name in one day.” Or “My Name Is… is the only book my son wants to read”, states Feldman. “We wish we could post all the wonderful comments about our products to the customer testimonials page, but there’s just too many to keep up,” he adds.
Even NBC Today Show host Hoda Kotb was happily surprised when she discovered her unique name on the pages of her princess book live on the air.
“Oh my gosh, your name is actually on every page!” Kotb said during an August 31 segment. “Princess Hoda lives in a castle. It’s cute!”
The newest addition to the Frecklebox family is a soon-to-be-released adoption book parents can personalize for the special, chosen member of their family. Also, a spelling bee book for enhancing the learning letter process in a fun and unique way! For Mark and Scott, the Frecklebox frenzy has just begun.
“Frecklebox is constantly striving to come up with new products that will educate and entertain. We’re very excited about the future and looking at more ways to make our products available to everyone,” Feldman declares.
For those curious about the origins of the name, the catchy phrase was decided through a fun office contest (Jeff, the pre-press manager won) and the rest is history!
Radio is a great way to get the word out about your product, story, business etc… You have an attentive audience that is tuning into their favorite station and host for a reason. With that being said, don’t try to sell anything during your interview. I will say it again, don’t try to sell anything. Be yourself, come off personable, connect with the host and have fun. The audience knows that you have a product or service that you are trying to generate business for, so why waste valuable air time discussing this point? Here are a couple easy steps to having the best radio interview you have ever had.
Is the interview going to be live or taped? Is it going to be done via the phone or in-studio? While the majority of them are done via land line phone, don’t assume anything. Is the producer or host calling you, or are you calling into the studio? Are you in the same time zone as the show? If not, you need to make a note of the interview time based on where you are. Nothing is more frustrating for a show; especially if the interview is live, than to have a no-show for an interview. The host will find a way to cover, but they will not be happy, and it is hard to say if they will allow you to re-schedule the interview. Things in life do come up and sometimes interview dates and times have to be changed. Make sure that you have a good working number and a backup number to the studio incase something does come up. The length of an interview will vary from show to show, so don’t judge the quality of interview based on the length and make sure that you set aside enough time in your schedule.
Prior to the interview, do a little research about the show, the hosts and their normal interview style. Is it going to be a lighthearted morning show, a hard hitting business interview, etc… know who your audience is and craft your message for them. Next write down your key message points, on paper or index cards, this way if you get lost or a little nervous you have the information in front of you. During the interview keep in mind that you are the expert! They booked you for the interview and they think their listeners will want to hear what you have to say, so put all your doubts aside. Use the host’s names throughout the interview, and compliment them when a good question is asked, this will help build rapport with the audience. When referring to your product or service, focus on key points that the listener will be interested in hearing about, such as ways this will help them save money, save time, make life easier etc… avoid data dumping lots of information and statistics.
Make sure that you provide the audience with a website where they can get some additional information. If the host specifically asks how much you charge, answer straight forward and honestly, however, if they don’t bring it up I would recommend that you don’t either. If you start talking about money then it shifts the mind of the listener into you trying to sell them something. The listeners that are interested will be more than happy to visit your site and find additional information. With that being said, make sure that information and fees on your website are easily accessible. Nothing is more annoying than being interested in a company, taking time out of my busy day to visit their website and not being able to find how much they charge.
Lastly, keep an eye on the clock throughout the interview and know how much time you have left. It can be very frustrating when you run out of time and you were unable to share important and interesting information that you were saving for the end. When the interview has come to a conclusion, thank the host for having you on, take a deep breath and do your victory dance.
Interview Tip Sheet
Important information you need to know about the interview:
• Is the interview live or taped?
• Is the interview in-studio or via phone?
• Length of the interview
• Time zone of the show/interview
• Type of show
Important things for the interview:
• Write down your key discussion points
• Remember you are the expert
• Address the hosts by name
• Compliment them on good questions, “That is a great question”
• Don’t try to sell anything, keep the interview fun and informative
• Keep an eye on the clock and know how much time you have
• Don’t forget to give out your website
