Creating Press Releases

Have you done any press releases? I never did until this past 2 weeks and a friend of mine got me started and it is mind boggling but it is fun and fast.

I have done 3 press releases now and for some reason I am surprised by the hits I got. Why I don't know but it just surprised me I guess that anyone would be interested in what I am doing.

If you would like to take a look at them I will leave the web links to them at the end of this post.

Why would we want to use a Press Release? Doing press releases has always been the standard method of communicating any newsworthy announcement to the media. This amounts to free publicity.

Large companies have always used press releases as one of the most effective forms of their marketing methods. So why shouldn't we.

This form of marketing can help to launch your new products, or in my case as a non-profit we can announce fund-raising events and activities, and entertainment companies use press releases to promote the release of everything from games, books, music, and films. So I would say we need to follow what the big boys do, right?

What I am understanding is if the large companies know about this maybe we should follow suit and learn from them, if they get publicity why shouldn't we? Isn't that the best publicity?

Here are the links to the press releases I wrote

Renita Challenges You to Step Up to the Plate
Financial Peace University Come to Harvard
Renita Farrall Guest Speaker at Center City Chamber of Commerce Luncheon

I now challenge you to go out and try a press release for your business.

Have fun writing,

Renita Farrall

Oh No, I have 2 Imperfect Granddaughters

This weekend we made a trip to Southwestern Iowa, Imogene for short, the home of the Imogene Hub, my sister-in-laws newspaper. If you want an enjoyable paper to read this is the one. Imogene is a small town near Shenandoah, Iowa. I think all that is there are a tavern, the local grain elevator and the big Catholic Church and maybe a few residences.

My brother and sister-in-law live on a beautiful little farm with a few cattle and horses near Imogene. For the last 5 years or so they have been brave about inviting Neil’s extended family to the farm for a day of food and getting caught up on family news as well as horseback riding. A few years ago when this all started the old timers, my brothers and sisters and me all had to refresh our memories of riding horses in our younger days. But this year I noticed only one of us, besides my brother who owned the horses, even got near one.

I was able to ride around with my sister-in-law in her golf-cart. I tore the lisfranc ligament in my right foot this summer; I am on the mend with it and on crutches yet. Veronica gave me a ride in the golf-cart to see what the grandkids and others were doing. That was great together time and we were able to catch up on what was going on in each other’s lives.

Every one had a good time and came home very tired.

Well, I thought everyone had a good time, but as I was writing up the article to put in the local newspaper for the entire world to read I had to call one sister to find out what her son’s address was that was there so I would have the town correct (heaven forbid if I would get that wrong). We was visiting about the weekend and how much fun it was when she dropped the bombshell, I have 2 imperfect granddaughters. Oh, my goodness. I would never have dreamt that in a minute.

To be kind to my sister she was much kinder then that, but I need to have you read this post, right?

Anyway what happened is these 2 nine year olds HOGGED the horses they were riding. They thought they owned them. They would not get off of them and let anyone else ride them. It just happened that one of the horses was the lead horse and whatever that horse did the others did. So if it went to the barn because the person controlling the steering didn’t know how to steer, then the rest of the horses followed much to the dismay of 2 teenage cousins who couldn’t be in control.

This made me think of our lives. Isn’t that what happens in real life. If we aren’t in control of our destiny we complain to someone (our mother in this case) who can’t do anything but tell the next person (the grandmother in this case) who can’t do anything but chose to relay the message onto the fathers or the man in charge of the horses (my brother) who by next year will have forgotten the whole thing.

What is the right thing to do? Should the teenagers have complained immediately to the next in line (fathers) or gone up the line to the person in charge of the horses (my brother)?

What happens in your case? Do you keep your mouth shut until you get home and expound to the person there or do you go directly to the person in charge that could resolve the problem immediately? Most of the time we do the keep quiet thing and then blow up at home and hope the people that messed up know we are upset and then we let it fester and nothing gets done until it is to late and everyone is mad at each other.

It is interesting to see how we all do the same unless we are taught differently. It doesn’t matter if it has to do with horses and kids or business and adults it is all the same.

Just a little something to think about. Have a great day and start to develop your Legacy .

Renita Farrall

Moving Forward

Is it the Law of Attraction or what? I hope so, I don’t know about all of that, but what I do know is that right after I posted my blogspot post for Christmas Cards for our soldiers I received a phone call.

I have been kind of draggin’ for the last few months not seeming to get anything accomplished (I felt) and this last week it was like I really need to do something, I need to get something moving and now today seems to be the day.

I read and listen and watch trying to figure this Internet thing out and nothing seems to make any difference, but when I give it up and tell myself I need to start moving forward even if it is just one small step then things start to open up.

So what happened today? Well I had been challenged to get something on my blog and send out an email to my list, because of the calls and emails I have received about doing the Christmas Cards and deciding this would be a perfect time with a sort of lag in the calendar for people to get an early start on making their cards, I received a call from the Central City Chamber of Commerce asking me to speak at their luncheon.

I had been to their craft fair a year ago and Nancy, who was in charge, was so impressed with what I was doing that she wanted the Chamber to invite me to one of their luncheons! What perfect timing! This will be good to get their juices flowing with ideas and how they can help.

Oh, now I need to decide what to write and what to say. I am not the best at either so my friend Connie says to come from the heart so I think that is what I will do.

Check out our website http://www.make2tell2.com

Have a Glorious Day,

Renita Farrall

TV Spot Spurs Action from Viewer

It has been a long time since you have heard from me and many things have happened since the last writing. But the thing I want to share with you today is that with kids back in school and everyone back at work, there maybe some extra time for you do something worthwhile now.

What am I talking about? Well, it is the middle of September and it won’t be long before the holidays show up on our doorstep. So, while you have a few days yet I thought it would be a good time to get this email out and let you know that this would be a great time for you to start making those Christmas Cards for our soldiers. I have already had a few emails and phone calls asking if I was still doing this and the neat part was a woman called me, because she was getting together with about 4 other ladies in her small town and they were trying to think of a reason to make cards.

Lois remembered seeing me on the local TV news station. She wrote my name and information down (smart lady). Lois decided this would be a great project to do. She called to get the details and she even knows of a soldier that she can get me her name and information so we can send the cards to. Did I say Lois told me maybe 4 times in our conversation how she loves to make cards.

Can you do something like that? Do you have some neighbors or friends that would welcome the idea of getting together for a time of getting reacquainted and doing a good turn at the same time?

Another organization emailed me and asked me to come visit them when they work on their project in Oct. They have done several projects for me in the past and I would love to see them and have some faces to put to the names. Also enjoying a cup of coffee and friendly chat is always fun.

So see what you can do. Get together or do your own and send them to me at :

Make 2 Tell 2
991 Road 325
Harvard, NE 68944

Also, round up some soldiers names and addresses and how many is in their troop. I always need names. Be sure and let the family members know that we will take special care of those names and not give them out.

Have a fun day,

Renita Farrall
Executive Director
That's It, I'm Going to Grandma's!
http://www.make2tell2.com

　

Share Your Experience

Have you ever thought about volunteering?

Have you done any volunteering?

How did it feel?

Was it worth the time?

Please share with us your experience and thoughts in the comment box.

My latest experience with volunteering has been with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. I was blown away when I received a letter and certificate from Governor Dave Heineman and the NDCS Director Robert P. Houston, for supporting the TSCI Self-Betterment Club.

I have been going down to Tecumseh, NE to the state correctional facility to visit the men in the Toastmasters Club and found myself being a volunteer. The blessings that have come from doing this small act are to many to mention. I have learned to love these men that I thought could never be loved and learned that they are as human as the rest of us. They all have feelings and hurts just like us and they appreciate being honored, they want to do good and grow just like we do. They have made mistakes and now are paying the price and some of them are willing to learn and make corrections in their ways so that they can give back when they get out.

To answer my questions:

Have you ever thought about volunteering?
Yes. As far as I knew I was doing it for That's It, I'm Going to Grandma's! but it has been a real blessing to the men and myself. How it backfires is totally amazing.

Have you done any volunteering?
I never thought I did until I recieved the letter and certificate yesterday, but as I think back I have done a lot of it at church by being on boards, helping with meals, going on a mission trip to Russia, helping at school when my kids were in school, working at Vacation Bible School now with my grandkids etc. It can go on forever I am thinking.

How did it feel?
I always seem to enjoy it. I grow and learn new things that I can do. With the prison thing I have never felt so good, even thinking about it now puts a smile on my face and a bounce in my step.

Was it worth the time? Yes, even though with all the other stuff I think I need to do at the time, I can see the growth in myself as well as what I was able to do for the other people involved at the time.

Some volunteering can be as simple as making a card for the soldiers overseas. That time is coming real fast to get Thank You cards send to them by the 4th of July. So get out your paper and crayons and make those cards and send them to me at:
Make 2 Tell 2
991 Road 325
Harvard, NE 68944

Feel free to click on Make 2 Tell 2 to learn more about how you can help send cards to the soldiers overseas.

We look forward to hearing about your experiences.

Many Blessings,

Renita Farrall

Focus! Direct! Ask!

As I look back over 2008 there was much growth and changes in my life.  January was the beginning of starting to move "That's It, I'm Going to Grandma's!" along.  We started with getting some Valentine Cards made and delivered to the area Nursing Homes.  Then we extended that to Thank you cards for our Soldiers.  Now I am also working with reading to the young children that come to the Library.  We also provide one morning a month for the adults to come in and share what they are reading.

All of this has been a real growing process for me. I am not one that likes to be out in the lime light.   I would be happy just sitting at home doing something that no one can see.  My growth has really expanded but I have a long ways to go.

Focus is one of the points I need to work on. I notice things seem to get in the way of what I should be doing. So sometimes I need to switch on my windshield wiper and clean the lens so that I can get refocused. When I do this my vision becomes clearer so then I can see more clearly as to the direction I am going.

Direction is another area to work on.  I get my compass out and find that most of the time I am headed in the wrong direction, so then I have to do a lot of back tracking to make up for lost time. By keeping my one eye on the compass I can make the right corrections.  Different situations create constantly changing. Constantly checking the compass will help me to know if I am heading in the right direction.

Ask! I need to work on asking for assistance when I am in doubt.  That will help to clear my perception and refresh it.  As I grow I find that it is easier to keep going back to the same old worn out path as I took before.  Now it is dawning on me that again I need to get out the windshield washer and clean my lens again to be able to go in a more current direction to fulfill my mission.

Life is always changing, evolving and growing.

Renita Farrall

Goals for 2009

Sorry guys and gals, I have taken a long siesta. Why?  I don't know, other then I just got overwhelmed with other things going on. No excuses.  Just me.

For my New Years Resolutions or I am calling them my goals for 2009 I want to change some things. So for the last couple of weeks I have been thinking what it is I want to accomplish for 2009. 2009 represents to me the year of increasing my income of improving myself as a business person and to do what I am going to have to become more proficient in keeping my focus and not letting myself getting sidetracked.  I seem to have a tendency to doing that.

I just read an email from Marna Goldstein Thail about goals and I thought they were great so I would like to share them with you. She is a weigh loss coach so the examples relate to that. Whaever your goals are -- make them to fit your situations as I have done for myself.

1. "Focus on what you want. Many people focus on what they don't want. "They don't want fat thighs" - they might say. Say instead "I want thin toned thighs that I am excited to show off."
Renita's Goal- I have a $500/month increase in my income. I am excited to pay off an existing bill.

2. "Write your goals as though they already exist. Write out your goals as if you have already achieved them. Start out by saying, "On March 31st, I'm so happy and grateful now that I am wearing a size 8." Goals that say "I hope" or "I will" or "I want" will keep you hoping, willing, and wanting for the future. You want your goals to be magnetic. "

Renita's Goal- On March 31st, I'm so happy and grateful now that I am writing one blog post each day and an email to my Aweber account each week.

3. "Only set three to five goals. If you set more than five goals, you may be overwhelming yourself. Have a few body goals, a financial goal, a spiritual goal, or whatever area you want
to focus on. Too many goals = distraction.

4. Set goals in a three month time frame. If today is December 31st, set your goal achievement day for three months from now, March 31st. I can work on anything for 12 weeks, but once it becomes 6-12 months, it's just too long and you most likely you will lose focus.

5. Ignite your senses. Take a moment every few days to read at least one goal that really inspires you. Then take one minute and feel this goal as if it has already occurred. Then go further - walk the walk, talk the talk, and BE the person who has accomplished this goal. Your whole physiology will change. If I'm walking around like I'm a size 8 when I'm a size 22, you better believe I'm going to see an immediate shift. The key is to just keep it up."

My Goals are:
1. I have a $500/month increase in my income. I am excited to pay off an existing bill.

2. On March 31st, I'm so happy and grateful now that I am writing one blog post each day and adding one email to my Aweber account each week.

3. On March 31st, I'm so happy and grateful now that I am seeing an increase in children coming to the Library.

4. On March 31st, I'm so happy and grateful now that I am making money online because I was one of Jeff Wellman, Dixie Brown and Paul Counts winners for their free Rapid Cash Marketing coaching.

5. I have received the city building in Harvard for That's It, I'm Going to Grandma's! I am so excited about this because that means to me that the city feels I have something important to offer our community and it gives me exposure to the citizens in Harvard and surrounding area.

I wish you a Happy New Year and much success in 2009.

Renita Farrall