Seeking Feedback, Please Respond

[shayla2004]

Hi, all! I have a very new idea for my marketing/public relations firm and I would love your feedback. Read below.

Public Relations Representation Service
Many entrepreneurs and start-ups are working alone or with 2-3 other people. Therefore, they don't hire public relations firm. However, with my new service, you can get representation without appearing like a small company.

For a monthly rate or per press release, you can list my firm as the contact on your press releases. My firm will document the calls you receive and send the information to your company every day via email. For example, the information could include:

Name of Person: Mary Joseph
Name of Company: ABC Retailers
Phone Number: 999-999-9999
Inquiry: Interested in conducting an interview with your company

The benefits for the entrepreneur include not appearing "small" to other companies and not worrying with the initial hassle of phone calls from your press release.

What are your thoughts? Would you purchase this service? How much would you pay?

Thanks,
Shayla
BuzzWorthy Public Relations

[BusinessAdviser]

So you're not doing any PR work? You're just an in-person voicemail service? I'm just trying to understand what services you provide exactly.

[shayla2004]

So you're not doing any Page Ranking work? You're just an in-person voicemail service? I'm just trying to understand what services you provide exactly.

It's more like a messaging service for companies. We will be able to screen calls and provide you with only the serious inquiries regarding your business.

Any other questions?

Shayla

[BusinessAdviser]

Do you mind if I poke a bit more? I don't want to raise any difficult questions if you'd be insulted or feel attacked by me doing so.

[shayla2004]

Do you mind if I poke a bit more? I don't want to raise any difficult questions if you'd be insulted or feel attacked by me doing so.

No, feel free to PM me.

Shayla

[pboychuk]

No, feel free to PM me.

Shayla

Aww shucks, I wanted to see the poking

[BusinessAdviser]

Well, I just meant to help others here, as well as myself, get an idea of what service you are offering.

[shayla2004]

Well, I just meant to help others here, as well as myself, get an idea of what service you are offering.

Okay. I don't mind

[BusinessAdviser]

How are you able to screen calls and determine which are important and which aren't?

What services do you provide other than answering the phone, taking the name, number, and message, and passing it on to the business owner?

Other than screening calls to determine which are important (assuming you have a way to do so), what do you offer a business that is of greater value than the difference in cost between hiring you and having a voicemailbox?

[shayla2004]

How are you able to screen calls and determine which are important and which aren't?

What services do you provide other than answering the phone, taking the name, number, and message, and passing it on to the business owner?

Other than screening calls to determine which are important (assuming you have a way to do so), what do you offer a business that is of greater value than the difference in cost between hiring you and having a voicemailbox?

The main purpose is to provide representation. It looks unprofessional for people to contact you if you're talking about yourself in your own press release. Having a public relations handling your calls, gives people a sense of security and professionalism in your business.

You will be surprised how many people contact businesses with unrelated material. We will provide clients with all contacts and messages; however, we will mark them based on priority level.

Please check out the post on BuzzWorthy Public Relations.
Shayla

[CDRamming]

An article from your website talks about all of your work and accomplishments in terms of college scholarships. Why don't you offer the same PR type re-writes for admission essays to get into college. You can also conduct scholarship searches and set up the meetings for your clients. Parents are willing to pay to get their kids scholarships and into top schools. You have credibility in this area already making your services easier to market. Also finding clients will be much easier than a PR firm, high schools are very willing to place posters for college scholarship tutoring and you could advertise on HS Facebook. I think this would be a better venture and utilize time more efficiently than being an answering service for start-ups. Maybe not. I had friends in high school whose parents spent $500-$5000 in services like I listed above to get into top schools and receive scholarships. Just a thought.

[shayla2004]

An article from your website talks about all of your work and accomplishments in terms of college scholarships. Why don't you offer the same Page Ranking type re-writes for admission essays to get into college. You can also conduct scholarship searches and set up the meetings for your clients. Parents are willing to pay to get their kids scholarships and into top schools. You have credibility in this area already making your services easier to market. Also finding clients will be much easier than a Page Ranking firm, high schools are very willing to place posters for college scholarship tutoring and you could advertise on HS Facebook. I think this would be a better venture and utilize time more efficiently than being an answering service for start-ups. Maybe not. I had friends in high school whose parents spent $500-$5000 in services like I listed above to get into top schools and receive scholarships. Just a thought.

Thanks for your advice. However, I am venturing in a new field. I am receiving a degree in marketing this May. Plus, all of the articles you seen...I self-promoted myself into those magazines. I have public relations and marketing experience as well. In addition, those services you mentioned I am turning that into my non-profit work (I'm starting a foundation). Lastly, if you can pay someone $500-$5000 for those type of services, you really should consider using that money for your child's education. Don't you think?

Shayla

[CDRamming]

I think so, but my friends father is an executive at Anheuser Busch. He paid someone of that sort $3500 plus $1500 for an expense account and to get his son into Villanova. The high school he attended was $25,000/year, and Villanova $50,000/year. So $5000 for a much better shot at a top college is worth it to them.

[BusinessAdviser]

I think so, but my friends father is an executive at Anheuser Busch. He paid someone of that sort $3500 plus $1500 for an expense account and to get his son into Villanova. The high school he attended was $25,000/year, and Villanova $50,000/year. So $5000 for a much better shot at a top college is worth it to them.

Or $5,000 is just a drop in the bucket to them. Either way you slice it though, there is definitely a market for it.

[jasaunders]

This market is saturated, there are dozens of websites that provide assistance for kids to get scholarships. A couple really good ones too. I still don't understand the value added in the answering service though.