Thursday, October 22, 2009

Be Prepared to Fail

My most recent article published in this month's "The Director" talks about many of the PR events I have successfully utilized for the funeral firms I worked for.

But I have a confession to make...

Not all of my PR events were successes.

I had some pretty lame duds.

The amazing thing was and is that there is no correlation between what I thought was going to be successful and the actual success of the event.

In fact, the success of some REALLY took me by surprise. A couple of ideas that I fully expected to fall flat were the biggest hits.

Don't be afraid to launch a few duds. Remember as a kid when you'd light a bottle rocket and instead of screaming into the sky it just kind of fizzled its way up and

BLAM!!

The report caught you off guard. Because you knew it would be a dud.

The same has happen when you shot one that took off with a roar and then

PPFFFFTTT. Nothing. A pathetic leaky tire sound.

Success with PR events come from unexpected sources and places.

But don't expect any one in particular to be a sure thing.

The public is fickle. And growing more so every day.

Aye, here's the rub.

Don't let your fear of a dud stop you from trying.

Experiment. Be creative. Be tasteful AND bold.

Be prepared to fail, but relish that feeling when the runt of your PR litter brings it on like the biggest, meanest dog in the junkyard.

You'll surprise everyone.

Especially yourself.

Cheers, good and gentle reader!

Dan Heaman, CFSP

Sunday, October 18, 2009

A quick reminder...

A couple of years ago, on this here very blog, I made a suggestion for you to get some easy PR.

It's still good today...you've got a couple of weeks...

Call your local constabulary and speak with the public affairs/community relations officer.

Partner up with them and create a Halloween Safety spot in your town/neighborhood.

Pepper your local media outlets with news releases...

Put notices on local bulletin boards (supermarkets, etc.)

Buy some good candy and dress up your spot with whatever decor you choose.

Let the coppers bring the DARE police car, or McGruff the Crime Dog, or ???

And have a great Halloween!

Hauntingly yours,

Dan Heaman, CFSP

Saturday, October 17, 2009

A little cheese to go with the whine?

Jeffrey Gitomer has taught me a lot...

I own at least 6 of his books, and I subscribe to his weekly Sales Caffeine newsletter...

His philosophy is summed up in this simple phrase:

"You can't be a winner if you're a whiner, weiner."

Thank you, Mr. Gitomer.

You see, there are many in our field that prefer to whine.

Whining is easy. It let's them off the hook. It allows them to remove themselves from accountability.

Point the finger at someone else, it's THEIR fault...

Isn't it?

Is it? Really?

The economy...a competitor...lazy, no good staff...discounters...direct cremation...Jessica Mitford...the media...

Really? Is it their fault?

Or have you gone soft? Have you lost your edge? Are you not willing to invest yourself 100% in your business anymore?

Are you too old to eat, sleep and breathe the business?

What is it?

What is keeping you from action?

What is keeping you from success?

If you aren't living the dream, the person whose fault it is can be located in your bathroom mirror.

Remember "No Fear" back in the 90's?

A lot of cool sayings (on clothes I couldn't afford at the time)like:

"Winners do what the losers didn't"

Anyone seen the "Living By It" video by Harley-Davidson? Hunt it up on the Net if you can...it talks about things like this, with a Harley slant of course.

Winners do. What losers don't.

Winners just do.

They take action. They make choices.

Losers look for excuses. Scapegoats. They cling to any scrap of support for their inaction. "I don't have the money" is one of their favorite hymns.

Losers don't do a lot of things.

Losers sure don't win.

Are you a winner?

Are you a loser?

You have a choice to make. Which side of the tracks do you want to be on?

I have given you 8 options on my website http://danielheaman.com to help you back to the right side of the tracks. For as little as a C-note.

Welcome back.

To your success,

Dan Heaman, CFSP

PS - Be the first in your market to develop the Ultimate Preneed Sales Letter...dialing for dollars is for rookies.

Your friend and customer Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Older-Adult don't trust folks on the phone much anymore, unless your name is Ron Popeil, Dr. Phil or Billy Graham.

The invention of the "No Call List" should have been the first clue.

The Ultimate Preneed Sales Letter...order yours before you-know-who does!

D

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Whew! A long vacation even for me!

Greetings and salutations friends!

That is, if there are any still out there!

I've been focusing on my PAYING writing gigs since the spring...copywriting and articles out the wazoo. (including being asked to be the ONLY English-speaking contributor to an international funeral director's publication!)

How 'bout them apples, huh?

It is good to be back. As you have come to expect from me, I have continued to further my skills, push the envelope, expand my horizons...

Here's what I have been pondering lately...

What is the difference between Disney and Six Flags?

One is thriving...the other struggles.

One satisfies...the other tries.

Why is it that people don't seem to mind ponying up $100 dollars a day for one, but gripe and moan about the other charging less than half that?

Most importantly, what do we learn from this?

How can you translate the magic of Disney and incorporate it into funeral service?

I have some ideas.

You probably should, too.

Disney sure does...do you want to compete with them?

Let's talk about this, shall we?

In the meantime, talk a cyberstroll over to my re-launched website at

http://danielheaman.com.

I've put the old Guerrilla Director website to pasture...but the spirit endures!

The seasons have turned, the time of year that always stirs my soul.

The season of harvest, time to reap what you've sown this year.

If the harvest is on the skimpy side, maybe you and I should talk.

Fertile minds working together can't hardly lose!

It's good to be back, kids!

As always, toasting your success!

Dan Heaman, CFSP
The director formerly known as the guerrilla

PS - I've got a couple of good articles in the October trade magazines out now...The Director and Funeral Business Advisor. Check 'em out~