In my many discussions with small business owners and entrepreneurs, I often hear "time management" being mentioned as a pressure point. Most entrepreneurs wear many hats and take on multiple roles in their businesses, making it hard to juggle all the daily activities.

Unfortunately, since many small business owners don't consider marketing as a core business activity (what a shame), it's often the task that gets set aside when time is crunched.

There are several elements factored into a quote from a PR firm. There is also the fact that no two quotes will be the same because every individual seeking out a public relations firm needs something a little different. The PR firm provides a number of different services that benefits each and every business that seeks out what they have to offer. However, the quote is based either upon what kind of budget the business has to work with or what they are hoping to achieve with their public relations.

The scramble for this fall's book promotion is about to get underway.

Whether you're a new author, new publisher, or just someone who's been in this business a long time, you probably understand the reality here.

With nearly 300,000 books published every year, it takes real know-how and promotional intensity to make sure your book stands out from all the other new books being released.

Talk radio interviews are one of the bases of a writing homerun. In fact, they're custom-made for non-fiction authors who want quick, affordable national exposure for their titles.

Let's face it, where else can you:

* Kick-off a coast-to-coast publicity campaign in less than three weeks?

* Create promotional "buzz" for your book at the grass-roots level?

* Reach America's greatest urban markets - Boston to LA - from the comfort and convenience of your own home?

* And, talk directly to fans and fans-to-be?

Publishers and best-selling authors understand all this.

More and more these days' people are worried about the environment. You will find that many more companies are now launching public relations campaigns in order to show their customers and the rest of the potential customer market that somehow they are changing their ways and going green. This is a great move for companies to show that there is more to worry about than just the bottom line.

There is no disputing the power of a well-written, newsworthy press release. In fact, it is one of the single best things you can do for your business.

Newspapers, magazines, radio and television news programs are filled with stories about businesses and organizations every day. What you may not realize is that those stories are often the result of a press release.

If you are struggling to get the media interested in your press release, you are not alone. Many people believe that you write a release, send it over to the producer at a radio station and wait for the avalanche of phone calls. Then, when you get no response, you call up the station who promptly tells you that they never read it!

If you want your radio press releases to grab the attention of producers.

With media relations, remember that journalists have to be accountable to their editors and to their readers. For journalists, the most important thing they're trying to accomplish is to put out a newsworthy story. Does that mean you can get a fair chance at getting your own story across?

Many are misinformed about the press. In fact, many people believe that the media is in fact out to get them and that you have to be careful of what you say.

Most people seem to believe they can write a press release, mail or email it to a radio or television station, and sit back and wait for the avalanche of phone calls. But as time passes and no producers are beating down the door, they make a few phone calls only to discover that no one even read the release.

The following are components of radio and TV press releases that will make your show idea come to life for producers and hosts, and also position you ahead of the pack.

Many a savvy salesman has lost a sale because he failed to know his customer. You may have infinite product knowledge, a slick sales pitch, and a phenomenal product - but, if you don't know who needs your product and why they need it - you'll be about as effective as a death row pardon at two minutes past midnight.

So, how do you gain a better knowledge of your customer?

Keep a pulse on the market.

This week I received a press release to inform me that the company sending the release had changed email service providers. Are you kidding me? Is this really news?

Did you hear that? It was the sound of that release hitting my circular file. No doubt it will suffer a similar fate at many, if not all of its other intended destinations.

It is frustrating to think that there are actually companies shelling out their hard-earned money to pay for such drivel.