News:

The Marketing Coach was featured in the latest edition of the Business Mums Network Magazine. Want to know how and why the company came into being, then read more .

Tickets are now on sale for the Family Business Australia Family Expo at the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra. Visit www.fbafamilyexpo.com.au for more information.

Tool: A great tool for finding out what stories journalists are working on

How much easier would media relations be if you actually knew what stories journalists were working on? Well thanks to Peter Shankman's website www.helpareporter.com this is possible. Peter Shankman found that he was often asked by journalist friends for a source for a quote or story. This led him to start a list on Facebook listing journalists who were looking for experts or sources for stories they were working on. The list outgrew Facebook and now resides at www.helpareporter.com.

By subscribing to the list you receive up to three emails daily, each with anywhere from 15-30 queries per email. The list is entirely free, but you have to be sure you know your stuff before contacting a reporter. The requests range from being a guest on a radio show to answering questions about "going green" for a retail chain store blog.

Tip: Great site for keeping you abreast of trends

It's a good idea to keep an eye on trends in your market and www.trendwatching.com relies on a global network of 8,000 spotters to keep you informed about changes in the marketplace. Each month they produce a new report - its well worth the read.

Technique: Make sure your PR campaign includes the new influentials

With the rise of social media like forums, blogs etc. traditional media is now only half the story. It's no longer appropriate to just write a media release and send it to your local TV, radio and newspaper. You should also find out who the influential bloggers are in your industry. This is where word of mouth marketing starts. You're in luck as most bloggers don't want to hear from a PR person. Blogging is all about authenticity, not paid spin. You're the perfect person to invite an influential blogger to an early preview of your latest product or engage in discussion about the cool stuff you're doing.