January 2012 Volume 4 Issue 42

Hi Friends & Colleagues,

Happy Friday! For those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area, a couple of our clients have events coming up you won’t want to miss. Today’s e-newsletter also shares tips & tricks about e-newsletters and media pitching, and includes details about two celebrity gifting opportunities. Keep reading for the full scoop!

Cheers,
Erika Taylor Montgomery
Three Girls CEO & Chief Publicist

CLIENT CHITCHAT

Are you going to be in the San Francisco Bay Area within the next month or two? Here are two upcoming client events you won’t want to miss out on:

The Snarky Musical Adventure, Becoming Britney! How does a pop sensation wind up bald and trapped in her own musical? And can musicals save her soul??? Find out when “Becoming Britney” opens at The Retro Dome in February 2012. A caustic (but loving) PG-rated fable that chronicles the rise, the dip, and the salvation of a foolhardy celebrity phenom, “Becoming Britney” features eleven original songs that pay homage to multiple musical theatre genres including shows like “Annie” and “Rent”, movie musicals like “The Little Mermaid” and “Little Shop of Horrors”, and composers like Rodgers and Hammerstein among others. Find out more and get tickets at www.theretrodome.com.

Bay Area Business and Franchise Conference – Registration Enters You to Win a Kindle! Do You Dream of Owning YOUR Own Business? Meet executives from award winning franchises experiencing nationwide growth and learn about 2011 Franchise Growth Areas and Trends, Retirement alternatives, Latest developments in franchise financing, Franchises with an initial investment from $80K-$150K and more! Franchisors will share information covering growth trends, what sets them apart, details on their history of success, experience requirements and why their owner’s are thriving. Find out more and register at franchise2012.eventbrite.com.

Click here for more information about our clients!

THREE GIRLS GOSSIP

We’ve got two exciting celebrity opportunities coming up: Earth Day in Hollywood and Mother’s Day in Hollywood!

Put your product directly in the hands of A-list celebrities! Three Girls’ celebrity partner is creating special gift boxes in honor of Earth Day and Mother’s Day for stars like Tom Hanks, Ellen Degeneres, P!nk, Amy Adams, and more.

Our celebrity partner will use their direct access to top talent and their reputation for pampering the world’s biggest trendsetters to introduce fabulous, unique and useful products to these celebs and their families. Celebrity product placement is a tried and true method of differentiating your product from the masses.

What’s the deadline to participate? March 30, 2012 for Earth Day and April 20, 2012 for Mother’s Day.

How many samples? 30 (25 for celebrities & 5 press samples) for each promotion.

How much is it? $2,250 each or $4,000 for both.

How can I find out more? Email us at info@threegirlsmedia.com.

COOL CONNECTIONS

Do you need some identity design and branding work done? Check out Shimmin Design! They cre­ate, expand, evolve, and strengthen the iden­ti­ties of small and medium-sized busi­nesses. Whether you’re just launch­ing your com­pany or new prod­uct, or you’ve been in busi­ness for years and need to take your company’s iden­tity to the next level, they can help. Check them out at melissashimmin.com.

TIPS & TRICKS

How to Write a Professional, Effective Pitch: It’s All in the Details! Six Tips for Success – Everyone is vying for attention, to have his business noticed, to have her product be the focus of an editorial review or TV spot. Do you ever wonder how these lucky people make it happen? It takes work to grab the attention of media professionals. One great way to achieve this is to create a professional, well-crafted “pitch.” In a previous blog, we drafted an overview of the pitch. In this installment, you’ll learn the fine details to further help you gain a media professional’s attention. “Pitch” is simply the Public Relations (PR) industry’s term for a customized letter-sent via email, never snail mail anymore- to journalists, in an effort to persuade them to cover your story. Read more on our blog.

6 Tips for Using E-Newsletters as a Powerful Marketing Tool – Promoting your business requires a multi-pronged approach through a variety of avenues like social media, websites, blogging, coupons, and in-person networking, just to name a few. Another powerful marketing tool are email newsletters. In one marketing newsletter, which your target audience can see right inside an email, you can disseminate lots of information, tastefully and invitingly laid out. Read more on our blog.

Three Girls specializes in working with small and emerging companies to help increase their brand awareness and name recognition. Our affordable campaigns are a fraction of the cost of a one-time ad in a national magazine. Three Girls also has a unique Al La Carte PR Services Menu and also provides comprehensive PR Campaigns for mobile apps.

How can Three Girls help spread the news about your company? Email today for a FREE consultation. We’re happy to answer your questions.

Cheers,

Erika Taylor Montgomery, CEO – Chief Publicist
Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc.

Email: erikamontgomery@threegirlsmedia.com
Phone: 408-871-0377
Fax: 866-875-7847
Web: www.threegirlsmedia.com

January 2012 Volume 4 Issue 41

Hi Friends & Colleagues,

I hope your new year is off to a good start so far! We’ve had a lot going on at Three Girls, from new clients and events to new awards and recognitions. Keep reading for the full scoop!

I also wanted to mention that today’s tips & tricks include how to market like a pro in 2012 and what to look for in a publicist or public relations (PR) agency. Are you still trying to figure out your PR and marketing plans for 2012? Contact me today for a complimentary 30-minute consultation!

Cheers,
Erika Taylor Montgomery
Three Girls CEO & Chief Publicist

CLIENT CHITCHAT

New Clients! We’re excited to introduce the newest Three Girls clients:

• FIDEX by Animage is a diagnostic imaging system for veterinary practices and research laboratories. Find out more at animage.com.
• David White & Associates offers planning services for individuals, small business owners and Fortune 500 company executives. Find out more at www.dwassociates.com.
• Loans by Irene – Granite Financial has transacted thousands of purchase and refinance loans, each and every one handled with care and quality. Find out more at loansbyirene.com.
• OAC Services delivers premier consulting services with the highest level of expertise and the widest range of flexibility. Find out more at oacsi.com.
• Social Sex is the world’s largest dating network in which adults can hook up with like-minded singles and couples. Find out more at socialsex.com.
• Tote Notes™ is an easy way to record and organize personal notes for your most important phone calls. Find out more at tote-notes.com.
• The YWCA of Silicon Valley empowers women, children, and their families, and to eliminate racism, hatred, and prejudice. Find out more at www.ywca-sv.org.

Please Vote! Will you vote for Hotel Valencia Santana Row in Travel + Leisure’s 2012 World’s Best Awards survey? Your help is greatly appreciated! Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/wSyeKs.

Click here for more information about our clients!

THREE GIRLS GOSSIP

New Three Girls Awards! We’re excited to share the latest accomplishments around Three Girls: A week and a half ago we received notification that we were selected for the 2011 Best of Business Award by the SBCA Community! Read more about it on our blog.

Then, this week, we received word that Erika has been named a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year in the national Stiletto Woman in Business Awards! The awards ceremony is in Atlanta in March. In the meantime, you can find more about it here.

COOL CONNECTIONS

Protect Your Business! A lot of people spend time re-evaluating during this time of year. Are you interested in pursuing new insurance options?

Be sure to talk to Mike Quintal of State Farm. Located in San Jose, Calif., he can help you protect your business and plan a roadmap for your financial future. Find out more at QuintalInsurance.com.

TIPS & TRICKS

7 Tips: What to Look For in a Publicist or Public Relations Agency – The best publicist or public relations agency for you is the one that is not only aligned with your business goals, but has experience in executing a marketing strategy that is a fit for you and your business. A very good public relations agency will not only align with your desired outcomes, but will have creative ideas to help you design an approach that is right for your business and your budget. In short, you need a visionary partner who will keep your best interests in mind, while helping you achieve your goals. Read more on our blog.

New Year Marketing: 9-Step Plan to Market Like a Pro – The New Year is fast upon us, and it is not too late to organize your thoughts and create an action plan for marketing your business for success in 2012! A new year brings new beginnings, a chance to clean house, refresh dreams and put all your efforts into focus. Because time is precious to everyone, we want you to make every minute you spend promoting your business pay off! It’s a great time to plan for success. Read more on our blog.

Three Girls specializes in working with small and emerging companies to help increase their brand awareness and name recognition. Our affordable campaigns are a fraction of the cost of a one-time ad in a national magazine. Three Girls also has a unique Al La Carte PR Services Menu and also provides comprehensive PR Campaigns for mobile apps.

How can Three Girls help spread the news about your company? Email today for a FREE consultation. We’re happy to answer your questions.

Cheers,

Erika Taylor Montgomery, CEO – Chief Publicist
Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc.

Email: erikamontgomery@threegirlsmedia.com
Phone: 408-871-0377
Fax: 866-875-7847
Web: www.threegirlsmedia.com

The way you treat clients directly affects how successful your business will be.

We’ve said it before: Being nice can set you apart. I was recently reminded of this again thanks to one of our client’s blog posts. Tony Quintong of Securieon posted an article on his site about one rule to live by in business: Treat others as you would want to be treated. The whole idea is that no matter who you’re working with, the way you interact with them can play a big role in how successful you are in your business.

Here’s some of what Tony wrote:

Here’s the essence of this observation: It’s a Glengarry Glen Ross world of pushy real estate salesmanship. We live in a plethora of readily accessible information. There is no need for the capital required of the Procter & Gamble’s or Mattel toy companies of the world. Market research of what a client is likely to buy – and why – is a few keyboard taps away, yet how many sales people really do their homework? Here is a simple Sales 101 Training approach to catching a prospect’s attention:

• Do the homework on the person and their company
• Develop a solution statement based on their needs – not on your unfounded opinion
• Provide an insightful view on their industry/company challenges
• Follow up with a compelling point of interest to them

If you want the potential customer to be receptive, treat them as you would want to be treated. If you don’t agree or have not considered their point of view, its ok with me; however I would seriously consider another profession.

Have you taken the time to actually do the homework, listen to your customers and find a compelling point of interest to them? Not only can this help you make the sale, but it can help you develop a marketing strategy to actually reach your target audiences effectively!

Photo Credit: JodiWomack

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Even if you have a never-ending to do list, there are ways to take care of yourself while running a small business at the same time.

Small business owners are busy. Most feel like they have to put 110% into their company to keep from falling behind, and as a result they push their wellbeing to the back burner. Even if you have a never-ending to do list, there are ways to take care of yourself while running a small business at the same time.

Three Girls client Rozenhart Family Chiropractic offers a lot of fabulous healthy living tips on their blog and Facebook page small business owners can utilize. Here are a few highlights from their blog:

At-Work Sitting Tips
Sitting all day isn’t good for your body. What can you do to help?

Here are at-work sitting tips you can incorporate into your workday:

1. 50/10 Rule. Don’t sit for more than 50 minutes. Set a timer and take ten when it rings.
2. Take your lunch break. Get up and go somewhere – even if you bring your food from home.
3. Hold meetings on the move. Meet clients on a hiking trail or outdoors.
4. Put a lumbar pillow in your chair.
5. Stand up and surf. Raise your work station or monitor so you can use your computer while standing.

Read 5 more at-work sitting tips here.

Tips To Create Your Best Workstation!

A common question we hear is “What is the best chair for me at work?”  The reality is that there isn’t a chair that will prevent the damage done to our bodies from being sedentary.  No one chair fits everyone and we should only be sitting an hour (maximum!) before we take a break!  Here are tips you can use to make sure you are not hurting yourself at work.

1. Support your arms.  Use a chair with adjustable armrests.  If this is not possible, move your keyboard into your lap so your arms can rest comfortably in your lap on the keyboard.
2. Make sure your monitor is at eye level. Have a co -worker/spouse look at you from the side and confirm that you are not looking down at your monitor.  This will cause undue stress and strain on your neck.
3. Make sure to drop your shoulders when you are sitting and remember to breathe!  When stress hits, our shoulders become earrings and we  breathe very shallowly.  To reduce the effects of stress on our bodies, we need to be mindful of our breathing at all times.

Read additional tips here.

Excessive Sitting Costs America Billions!
It’s not your work that’s killing you. It’s the sitting. Millions of people working from their home and offices spend way too much time in their chairs. A habit that can lead to more than just a numb bum!

Too much sitting sets you up for a host of physical problems including poor circulation, chronic back and nerve pain, depression, osteoporosis, swollen spinal disks, fatigue and many other health problems. Women should be especially alerted as they are more likely than men to hold jobs requiring them to sit the majority of the time.

You can stand strong against workplace “bummers” with these Health Savers:

1. Be a swinger: Stand with hands on your hips and legs slightly more than shoulder width apart. Rotate hips clockwise in a full range of motion ten times. Reverse it. Second, stand next to your desk. Put all your weight on the right leg and gently swing the left leg in front of and behind you 10X. Repeat with other leg.
2. Don’t Be a Crooked Sitter or Sloucher
3. Invest in an ergonomic chair
4. Go To The Gym- But Stay Off the Stationary Bike

Read more Health Savers here.

Keep an eye out for additional tips & tricks you can incorporate into your busy workday at www.rozenhartchiro.com.

Photo Credit: Pink Sherbet Photography

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Honored at the NSF/NSB 2010 Awards Dinner were (from left to right) Nalini Nadkarni, NSB Public Service Awardee; Rachel Sheinbein, president, the Expanding Your Horizons Network (EYH), NSB Public Service Awardee; NSB Chairman Steven Beering; NSF Director Arden L. Bement; EYH Executive Director Stacey Roberts-Ohr; Subhash Khot, NSF Waterman Awardee. Credit: Sandy Schaeffer for NSF

Three Girls client and nonprofit dedicated to encouraging young women to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers, the EYH Network puts hands-on, interactive conferences together across the country and internationally throughout the year.

President Obama recently called for “a renewed commitment to education in mathematics and science.” The EYH Network knows it’s critical work, as women constitute 45% of the workforce in the U.S., but hold just 12% of science and engineering jobs in business and industry.*

Pictured (from left to right) Teri Perl, EYH Network Past President; Carol Langbort, EYH Network Immediate Past President;  Cherrill Spencer, Board member; Stacey Roberts-Ohr, EYH Network Executive Director; Lenore Blum, EYH Network founder; Rachel Sheinbein, EYH Network President and Aileen DeSoto, EYH Network, Secretary

The EYH Network has served over 775,000 middle and high school girls since their inception in 1974, and has been led by over 5,000 women mathematicians, scientists and engineers.

More about the EYH Network is in this video, and the following release.

Expanding Your Horizons Network Receives 2010 National Science Board Award
EYH Network Recognized for Decades of Service to Young Women in Middle and High School

The Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) Network was recently named recipient of the prestigious 2010 National Science Board (NSB) Public Service Award as an organization that has made significant contributions and impact in public understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The award ceremony took place at the U.S. State Department in Washington D.C. on May 4, 2010.

“We are excited to honor The Expanding Your Horizons Network with the NSB Public Service Award in recognition of its decades-long commitment to the early development of interest in mathematics and science among young girls,” said Dr. Steven Beering, NSB Chairman. “We are thoroughly impressed with The Network’s impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of young women, having grown from a small grassroots activity to a nationwide organization.”

The NSB Public Service Award honors individuals and groups that have made substantial contributions to increasing public understanding of science and engineering in the United States. These contributions may be from a wide variety of areas including mass media, education and/or training programs, entertainment, and non-profit and for-profit corporations.

“The Expanding Your Horizons Network is honored to receive such a prestigious award from the National Science Board,” said Stacey Roberts-Ohr, Executive Director of EYH. “It’s wonderful to be recognized for the extensive work we do on behalf of young women and to be included in such an esteemed group of prior winners. It’s rewarding to know that we have helped hundreds of thousands of young women explore STEM careers. We are grateful to our partners who coordinate EYH conferences both in the United States and globally, and sincerely thank all of our terrific workshop leaders and volunteers.”

Past group recipients of the NSB Public Service Award include: Bayer Corporation’s Making Science Make Sense® program; Numb3rs, the CBS television drama series; Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; and NOVA, the PBS television series.

The EYH Network received the NSB Public Service Award at the National Science Board Annual Awards Dinner at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC on May 4, 2010.  Three additional award recipients will also be honored that evening:  Bruce Alberts of the University of California, San Francisco, with the Vannevar Bush Award; Nalini Nadkarni of The Evergreen State College with the individual NSB Public Service Award; and Subhash Khot of New York University with the Alan T. Waterman Award.

About Expanding Your Horizons
The Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging young women to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics careers. The EYH Network coordinates over 86 hands-on math and science conferences in 33 states, as well as Thailand, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Brussels and Geneva each year. These conferences nurture middle and high school girls’ interest in science and math courses, encouraging them to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Since 1976, 775,000 young women have participated in EYH conferences.  Participants are now professional women scientists working in chemical and civil engineering at places like the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,  Network Appliances and Elan Pharmaceuticals. www.ExpandingYourHorizons.org.

About the National Science Board
The NSB is the 25-member policymaking body for the National Science Foundation and advisory body to the President and Congress on science and engineering issues. Drawn primarily from universities and industry, and representing a variety of science and engineering disciplines and geographic areas, NSB members are selected for their eminence in research, education, or public service, and records of distinguished service. The NSB has 24 members that serve six-year terms. The 25th member is the NSF Director, an ex officio member of the NSB.  More information is available at: www.nsf.gov/nsb.

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*National Council for Research on Women, Balancing The Equation: Where are Women & Girls in Science, Engineering & Technology? 2001

Los Angeles

Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 7pm: Understanding the MANimal Species: Which MANimal are YOU dating, why are you attracted to him, and why is he attracted to YOU?

Local women can join Dignity Dating Expert, Marni Battista, MA.Ed., CPC as she reveals secrets of the MANimal Species. Created to help find long-term love, escape from the fear that it’s “too late,” and take back control of a romantic rut, this workshop will help her determine which MANimal in the Dating With Dignity “MANimal Species” she is dating, why she is attracted to him, and why he is attracted to her.

Joining Marni throughout the workshop will be an All-Star Panel of MANelists, featuring attractive, successful, and relationship-minded men ages 30-60, including Mat Boggs, author of “Project Everlasting,” and the mastermind behind the nationally acclaimed seminar, “6 1/2 Secrets to Cracking the Mancode.”

Location: Blank Spaces, 5405 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (Parking available behind the building, or free street parking after 7PM)

Tickets are the following prices:
$25 per person
2 for $45 (Two ticket combo – Bring a friend!)
3 for $70 (Triple ticket combo)

For More Info: Visit datingwithdignity.com/events or call 609-694-5855.

San Francisco Bay Area

May 7th, 8th and 9th at 7pm: Mamma Mia Sing-Along

A master-of-ceremonies will introduce the interactive elements of the movie by directing the audience participation of gestures and expressions that tie into the film. All of this entertaining audience involvement adds to the fun of Mamma Mia.

Plus: a Sing-Along Fun Pack is complimentary with every ticket, and includes a variety of goodies to enhance the participation experience.

Location: The Retro Dome – located at 1694 Saratoga Ave in San Jose, Calif. 95129 (at the corner of Saratoga Avenue and Prospect Road).

For More Info: Visit www.TheRetroDome.com.

Saturday and Sunday, May 8th and 9th, May 15th and 16th between 11am and 5pm: Silicon Valley Open Studios

During the first three weekends in May, over 300 Silicon Valley artists invite members of the community to experience a wide variety of different artistic media in their studios for free! With the help of Silicon Valley Open Studios, local families can appreciate the art around them and parents can expose their children to fine art in a casual atmosphere. Families and art enthusiasts alike are even given the opportunity to talk to the artist directly about their work and techniques in a one-on-one setting. Participating artists work in a variety of fields, from paintings and sculpture, to ceramics, glass-making and more!

Locations: Visit www.svos.org for artist studio locations.

Portland

Wednesday, May 12 at 7pm: How to Increase Your Attraction Factor

Dignity Dating Expert Marni Battista, MA.Ed., CPC will guide women through the dating jungle as only she can: with help from a panel of six attractive, successful, and relationship-minded men.

This engaging and fun women-only workshop with Marni Battista will:

• Cover why unconscious beliefs, thoughts and fears impact the way men perceive women.
• Provide MUST-HAVE strategies to broadcast messages alpha-males are attracted to–messages like, “confident,” “independent,” and “feminine.”
• Reveal practical tips and proven-effective scripts to successfully navigate the dating jungle.
• Demystify the chemistry of the male mind, and how men interpret and react to everything women say and do.
• Host a Q & A session with Dating With Dignity Man Panel of six attractive, relationship-minded men ages 28-50.

Location/Cost: River Park Center at 205 SE Spokane – Suite 300, Portland, OR 97202. Tickets are $25.

For More Info: Visit datingwithdignity.com/events.