So youve decided that getting your name out there is going to be one of your major goals for the New Year. But how do you do that on a limited budget?

Thats where publicity comes in. And you can do it. It just takes time and a plan. Here are the seven basic steps to creating a plan:

1) Decide who your target market(s) is. There may be more than one, but your target market is not everyone. A good way to find out is look at who currently buys your product or service and create a profile of them.

2)Write down three strategies you will use for each market. They can include:
Speaking/workshops
Press releases
Articles
Ezines or print newsletter
Letters to the editor
Postcards
Networking events
Blogging
Podcasting

3) Set a measurable goal for each strategy. How many speaking engagements do you want each quarter? How many releases will you send out each month?

4)Write down several topics or themes. Create at least one for every goal you set.

5) Learn how to do each of the strategies by researching. There are hundreds of articles and tips on each PR strategy on the web. All will help you implement your plan better.

6) Schedule time each week to work on your goals and strategies. Research shows that a small business needs to spend about 20% of its time marketing. And if youre a new business its more like 50%.

7) Evaluate every 3 months to see how youre doing. You may find that some strategies arent working well, and others are really paying off. This way you can discard what ineffective and change your focus, if you need to.

Businesses that want a leg up on their competition need to focus on boosting their public relations efforts. This keeps them from going under when the economy is weak, and gets them ahead of their competitors when sales start picking up. With a New Year approaching, now is the perfect time to get a fresh start on your PR planning.

Shannon Cherry

As a woman entrepreneur myself with many successful years in the business of marketing and public relations, I know how hard it is to find cost-effective, results-oriented communications that work. After a career as a newspaper and television reporter, I used my skills to become a high-demand marketer and publicist for more than 15 years.

Today, I use my talent and knowledge to turn people?s ideas into clear, concise, compelling stories ? the kind that stands above the rest and gets noticed.

I?ve worked with big clients, including Minolta Corporation, Alaska Airlines and the US Department of Justice, who have spent millions of dollars to get an expert?s ideas for their marketing and publicity.

But you and I know entrepreneurs & small businesses just don't have that kind of money.

So let me share a little secret with you: You don?t have to spend millions to develop effective marketing that works ? and it doesn?t need to be complex.

I created Be Heard Solutions & Cherry Communications to help business owners and entrepreneurs like you to find your voice, tell your story and be heard ? and without a million dollar price tag!

When you work with me, I?ll share easy strategies that will get you heard in the news and by potential clients and customers. Tactics that will help you generate free advertising, promotion and publicity for any product, service, website, book ? or even yourself! And I don't just teach these techniques, I use them all the time for my clients (including other professional marketing gurus!) and for myself ? so I know they?re the most effective strategies available.

You can join so many other business owners who are building successful companies by harnessing the same marketing techniques as the major corporations ? without the same price tag ? by tapping into Be Heard Solutions.

So are you ready to rise above the marketing din and be heard? No matter what your size, I know you will find a solution that?s best suited to your unique situation ? one that will help you have the successful business you?re dreaming about.