The economy has nothing to do with how much money you can make….

You do!

Even though we’re in a recession people are still spending money! Things are also looking up in Detroit since Chrysler announced that they would be hiring 1100 people in July.

The best way to connect with the people spending money is by being out and about…but you can’t get exposure in Detroit or Atlanta from Texas can you? Unless you are online but the best way to make money again, is by being out and about at events. Traveling is expensive and not worth your time financially…

Now you can make promoting your product or service at events all over the U.S profitable!

Business Support by Mittie a PR Firm serving entertainers nationwide is currently seeking corporate sponsors for upcoming events such as:

Book Release Parties

Book Signings

Album Release Parties

Concerts/Tours

Music Videos

Stage Plays

Weekly Open Mic Poetry @ The Russell Bazaar in Detroit

Special events and fundraisers

Fashion Shows

Corporate Meetings and Events

Our major client, CEO of Hustle University Hotep, is taking the nation by storm with his proven success strategies, and has been recognized by Congress and won numerous awards for his revolutionary work. Additionally, he has been featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Atlanta Post, Detroit News, The Washington Post, The Atlanta Voice, XXL, Grip Magazine, The Progress Report, The Champion, RollingOut Magazine, GoodNews Magazine, PBS, Comcast Cable and many other print, TV and Radio stations. Sponsorship monies will be used to plan and promote events hosted by BSM and their company as well as many other notable clients. Packages are available for all budget types and contracts last six months. Corporate sponsorship funds cover event related expenses, marketing and promotion, corporate travel, and booking fees for entertainment. Various packages are available and all include:

Samples and/or flyers in gift bags at events every month
Inclusion on all promotional materials (online and print)
Company logo on event banners and displays
Inclusion in press releases as a sponsor sent to major media outlets all over the country!

For more information please visit http://businesssupportbymittie.net/CorporateSponsors.aspx

Hustle University Launches New Retail Store In The Heart Of Downtown Atlanta

May 20, 2010, ATLANTA, GA,: Hustle University, the nation’s first-ever virtual college for progressive, independent-minded entrepreneurs has once again expanded its reach. The grand opening of the “Hustle University Store” at the Underground Downtown Atlanta shopping center will offer the Hustle University book series by Hotep including “Ladies Are Hustlers Too”, as well as DVDs, T-shirts, and more to its’ new and growing loyal customer base.

Hustle University was founded by educator, entrepreneur, and music mogul Hotep, who also conducts Hustle University workshops and presentations throughout the country with the book series as his guide. The unique and creative company boasts working with nationally-recognized schools and organizations such as the NAACP, Urban League, Black Leadership Conference, Illinois Public Schools, Atlanta Public Library System, Morehouse College, Fulton County Juvenile Court and many more.

Taking the nation by storm with his proven success strategies, Hotep has been recognized by Congress and won numerous awards for his revolutionary work. Additionally, he has been featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Washington Post, The Atlanta Voice, XXL, Grip Magazine, The Progress Report, The Champion, RollingOut Magazine, GoodNews Magazine, PBS, Comcast Cable and many other print, TV and Radio stations

The grand opening event will take place on Memorial Day, May 31, 2010 at one of the largest tourist attractions in the city, Underground Atlanta located at 50 Upper Alabama St. in the heart of downtown Atlanta. Members of the media interested in attending please contact Business Support by Mittie, Public Relations Firm.

Introducing Jah X El…..

What happens when a man with a passionate understanding of women and a love for poetry shares his words with the world? “Jah’isms: Inspirational Poems for Women” is born! Released in November 2009, “Jah’isms are the thoughts of a man from a woman’s point of view, penned poetically… A man who understands and sympathizes with the plight of women concerning relationships and the nuances of life… A man who, with his poems, attempts to encourage, uplift, and empower women… ”

As a powerful force in the Detroit poetry community, Jah X El is the host of the weekly BSM Books @ The Russell Bazaar Presents Open Mic Poetry in the motor city as well as Jah X El And Ms. Alice Present…”Neo Soul Saturday Nights“ held every Saturday night at The Sweet Epiphany. He also frequents and performs at several poetry venues throughout the week.

The book, very popular among young women, touches on issues that are common among all women regardless of race, age, or socioeconomic background. Domestic violence, unhealthly relationships and marriages, and the trials that women experience are all touched on with sensitivity, love, and intelligence by a poet with an rare sense of understanding.

For more information or to purchase the book, please Become a Fan of Jah X El on Facebook!

Ladies Are Hustler’s Too!

Apr 16, 2010 – Atlanta, Georgia — Renowned author and urban philosopher Hotep has done it again! Riding high on the heels of his contemporary classic book, “The Hustler’s 10 Commandments”, he is set to release the latest edition to his self-empowerment series. This time, he’s targeted female entrepreneurs in what is sure to be another much talked about book ever-so exquisitely entitled, “Ladies Are Hustlers Too.”

Hotep has always been a champion for the empowerment of women. He’s made it known that he gets his own “hustle” (work ethic) from his mother. During any given speech, Hotep can be heard giving credit to his wife for being his most valuable business partner. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the “One Man Brand” would come out with a book and initiative like this right on time for Women’s History Month.

About the title Hotep says, “The phrase Ladies Are Hustlers Too came about in 2006 while I was on tour with my first book. At various book signings, certain women would ask, Is this a book for men only? Almost immediately, I would respond, No! Ladies are hustlers too! I eventually wrote the book to pay homage to my mother, wife and every other woman that has helped me along my journey as an entrepreneur.”

Besides being a successful speaker, author and entrepreneur, Hotep is a 13-year veteran educator in Georgia’s Public School System. He begins his 2010 Ladies Are Hustlers Too Tour on March 29th in Atlanta, GA and has another appearance in Detroit, MI the following week. For times and locations visit www.hustleuniversity.org Hotep is available for booking new dates and interviews.

Hustle University (Hustle U) is an institution of higher learning for today’s Independent Minded Entrepreneur. The mission of Hustle University is to promote entrepreneurialism and leadership through personal development, empowerment and the teachings of proven success strategies. For more information please visit www.hustleuniversity.org  

Ladies Are Hustlers Too is a special amendment to the Hustler’s Empowerment Trilogy, author Hotep adds a super-charged dose of estrogen to his classic “Hustler’s 10 Commandments” to create the definitive urban entrepreneur’s manual for success….STRICTLY FOR THE LADIES! In this book you will read the lessons of notable female figures like Madame CJ Walker, Oprah Winfrey, Coretta Scott King, Queen Latifah, Michele Obama and many future history-making women movers and shakers from all walks of life. www.ladiesarehustlerstoo.com

For more information, press and bookings only:
Business Support by Mittie
1-800-518-9846 Ext 1
Email: publicrelations@businesssupportbymittie.net
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Hustle University (Hustle U) is an institution of higher learning for today’s Independent Minded Entrepreneur. The mission of Hustle University is to promote entrepreneurialism and leadership through personal development, empowerment and the teachings of proven success strategies. For more information please visit www.hustleuniversity.org

Seeking Fashion Designers For Upcoming Runway Shows!

Our company is currently seeking urban fashion designers for an upcoming tour. Cities include NYC, ATL, Chicago, L.A, and Detroit. Your designs must be trendy, up to date and just overall amazing, only looking for the best of the best. Also seeking rappers and singers to perform at the shows.

Requirements:

Must be willing to hire a publicist. If you want to be part of our show we require that you begin bulding you name with the media. We can refer you to a PR firm with rates as low as $300.00 per month.
Must have designs for Fall, Winter 2010, and Spring and Summer 2011 already available
Must be able to mass produce (buyers will attend our shows.)
Must have an appealing, professional, and fully functional website to display your fashions.
No formal training required, but previous experience with runway shows is a plus.
Models can be provided if needed.

The first show will be in Detroit in July and will continue throughout the year in several cities. Please reply with a link to your website (Myspace okay) to mittiestephens@gmail.com or call 1-800-518-9846 Ext 1

Corporate Sponsorships Available

Business Support by Mittie a PR Firm serving entertainers nationwide is currently seeking corporate sponsors for upcoming events such as:

Book Release Parties, Book Signings , Album Release Parties , Weekly Open Mic Poetry @ The Russell Bazaar in Detroit , Special events and fundraisers

Packages are available for all budget types and contracts last six months. Corporate sponsorship funds cover event related expenses, marketing and promotion and booking fees for entertainment. Various packages are available and all include flyers in gift bags, inclusion on all promotional materials (online and print), company logo on event banners and displays as well as inclusion in press releases as a sponsor. All package prices are paid monthly.  For a sponsorship packet with pricing information, please click here

BSM Books @ The Russell Bazaar Presents Open Mic Poetry

The first show was AMAZING!!! The second show was INCREDIBLE!!! The third and fourth show were AWESOME!!! ALL 4 were EXTREMELY successful because of the diversity of the performing artists!!!

So PLEASE come back out and support this marvelous event…

The participation and expressed thoughts of YOU ALL, poets, singers, rappers, authors, and of course, the support of the general public in attendance is making this a VERY popular attraction…

ENOUGH SO that a positive news article was placed in the Detroit Free Press!!!

THANK YOU!!!

The focus is having a comfortable platform for poets/performers to express* themselves and be heard by a wide range of people OUTSIDE of the poetry community/circle/family, so I encourage ALL poets, singers, and rappers to come out and perform and support at the VERY low cost of FREE!!!

So again, please join us this upcoming Saturday afternoon, May 15th, 2010, from 4pm – 7pm, as we continue the Open Mic Poetry series at the Russell Bazaar!!!

If you have ANY questions please contact Mittie Stephens @ 1-800-518-9846 or Jah X-El @ 313-808-8167

*(This IS a platform for CLEAN poetry/raps/songs since there ARE children in attendance or the surrounding area at times… Thank you for your cooperation in regards to this request)

PR Tips For Authors….

Tip # 1

Create your brand image

Brand image is a symbolic construct created within the minds of people and consists of all the information and expectations associated with a product or service. What does that mean for you? That means your website, your business cards, press kit, and book trailer should all be memorable to consumers. What I see the most, is authors not using the email address that is associated with your website. That’s what it’s for and it does help. Avoid marketing the services of Yahoo!, Gmail, and Hotmail by using yourname@yourwebsite.com and market your business.

Having a professional press kit is also very important when branding your business because it will answer commonly asked questions about you, your work, and previous engagements.  Media outlets will want to know what is the genre and synopsis of your book?  What is your background and where have you appeared before?. Being able to get these questions answered without tying up your day is imperative, and will keep your stress level down as well. It should also match the book cover colors, and your website,  but never over do it. Try to keep the layout as simple as possible.

Tip #2

Edit, Edit, Edit!

Do not be afraid to invest in an editor, please. The biggest problem that I have noticed is consumers are complaining that they buy a book with a great cover, a wonderful concept, but it is edited so poorly that it is annoying to read. What does this have to do with marketing? Everything!

I heard an author say once that “Once my book is sold, it’s a done deal. Why do I care if they didn’t like the editing, I’ve already made my money” That’s crazy! If you don’t care what people think AND you plan on never writing another book in life that’s fine, do what you want but the best customers are return customers. If you write another book and the editing is horrible in the first one, chances are no one will buy your second book or refer you to friends. Not to mention it’s embarrassing and the literary world talks.

Tip #3

Hire an assistant

I know it sounds like I’m just trying to plug my business, but it does look good to have someone making calls on your behalf. I set up a book signing for a client recently and at first the owner was hesitate about setting a date because,  “We get so many books and inquiries and most people aren’t serious.”  My reply was  “ Well, my client is serious, he hired me to represent him” That’s it. That’s all I said and she set up the date immediately. She asked me to come in and take care of the details, but she loves to work with authors who have a team, because they seem more serious. Of course I already knew that and that’s why I said it. If you can’t afford to hire someone, ask your mother, cousin, sister of friend with a professional phone voice to do the calling. You’ll book more events faster and with less hassle.

Welcome to BSM!

What is PR?

Entrepreneur.com defines Public Relations as “Using the news or business press to carry positive stories about your company or your products; cultivating a good relationship with local press representatives” PR is often confused with advertising/marketing however, public relations has a longer lasting effect. For example a promotional ad on a website could expire or their website could be shut down. A newspaper article that highlights your new product or service would reach a larger audience, and the story would be archived for years to come. Publicists are also often confused with mangers or promoters. The primary responsibility of your publicist can be broad, however the ultimate goal is to gain the attention of local and national media outlets.

There are several directions a publicist could take towards that goal.
o Event Planning: Planning an event to launch a new product, or located relevant events for you to attend that may have members of the press present.
o Assistance obtaining product placement or corporate sponsorships.
o Writing Press Releases and distributing them to the press.
o Organizing book tours speaking engagements, or special appearances.
o Booking radio and television interviews and/or book club tours.
o Social Network Marketing

During these tough economic times, most entertainers without an exclusive contract with a record label, publishing company, or modeling agency have a limited expense budget for PR services. There is nothing wrong with doing your own PR until you can afford it. Just remember the following tips:

Start your PR work 6-8 months before you launch your product, company, or release your book or album. You need time to build a website, learn how to write a press release (if you are unsure how), develop your target audience, and research the best ways to reach that audience.

Don’t neglect your website; If you are turned off by an unprofessional and busy website, your visitors will be too. Try to keep it as simple as possible, without omitting important information. The one thing customers hate is a confusing website with links that do not explain where they lead to, or a website that does not give enough or confusing information.

Don’t be afraid to invest: This is a BIGGIE! Even if you do not have the funding to pay a professional publist, there will be some investment required. 

Get a toll-free number. I recommend Ring Central becaue it is very inexpensive and prevents you from giving out your cell phone number, although your calls can be routed to it. It is also more professional when leaving message for media contacts or other business related activities, especially if you travel often.

 

Hire a website designer. It may seem easy to do yourself but the quality will not be the same if you have never designed a website. Remember this will be the first point of contact you have with potential customers. Designers are available for as low as $99.00 if you can find the right special. Look around, they are out there.

Email Blasts: This is a great investment if you do not have your own network and contact lists. If you have already written your press release, you can find companies to distribute it through their network from $25.00 to $100.00.

Create a fanpage or group on Facebook, and Myspace. This will allow you to send out messages to subscribers regarding your upcoming events, product launches or other important company news.

Get out and network! Be open–minded when invited to an event on Facebook or anywhere else! If it pertains to your industry, socializing at these events is crucial. Also have business cards available and follow-up after the event via telephone or email. Building relationships is key.