Jill Scott Talks Baby, Balance, and Branding

‘Operation Village’ helps singer handle motherhood with success

Jill Scott share tips on balancing motherhood and career.

As you move and groove in life and embark on motherhood in your 30s, the balancing act of family, career and maintaining your personal brand can become a daunting task.

How does one renew and re-define oneself post mommyhood-- at age 37-- and still maintain top status in the entertainment industry? By being authentic and forgiving for not being perfect.

Jill Scott, our favorite homegirl, multiplatinum, Grammy award-winning singer, poet, author, actress-- and now mommy--shares how she balances and enjoys life’s golden moments. “Being a mom is better than I thought because of the way I love it and experience how much my son loves me. I wouldn’t trade it, however, its work and exhausting.” Click here to read the rest of this candid article on Black Enterprise.

How To Score A-List PR On A Shoestring Budget

By: Karen Taylor Bass, The PR Expert

Find success with do-it-yourself marketing

So, how do A-list celebrities and corporations secure that ultimate public relations campaign that has them on everyone’s lips?

First, let’s talk about what public relations entails: fostering public goodwill and creating a favorable opinion for a product, person, or thing. Basically, it attracts consumer attention to a product and is generally a well planned campaign. Public relations is not about creating a one-shot hype campaign, planning a special event, and hosting a party for the media. That’s called publicity.

Lisa Price of the popular and multimillion-selling natural haircare company Carol’s Daughter certainly secures A-list PR now, however, that was not always the case. So what did she do?

She created both short-term and long-term plans, hired top-notch professionals – strategic marketing and brand expert Steve Stoute, along with celebrity endorsers including Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and Mary J. Blige -- to promote her brand and business.

Most burgeoning stars and business owners hire a publicist, which can range from $2,500 to $10,000 a month. It is possible to do it yourself, and as the PR expert, I’m going to show you how.

These strategies will not only get you started; they will empower you to win and standout from the competition:

Click here to read tips and learn more: http://www.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2010/05/20/score-a-list-public-relations-on-a-shoestring-budget/

Let me know what strategies you have implemented to grow your brand.

Brand Sidibe: Confident and Consistent

Follow her example by using bold authenticity to stand out in the marketplace

Gabourey Sidibe is using brand consistency to make the most of her big break.

This game of life requires you to be confident and consistent. If you say you are the best—then bring it. Show your successful projects, letters of recommendations, and praises from your (former) employers and colleagues.

The competition to secure an opportunity can be challenging—entrepreneurs must deliver a consistent and confident brand each time. Branding—as mentioned in earlier posts is—a consistent feeling, image and experience desired from a product conveyed to the general public. Basically, you the entrepreneur are the brand.

Enter brand Gabourey Sidibe, the NAACP Image Award recipient and Academy Award nominee. She is the unlikely next big star, her debut role as Claireece “Precious” Jones in Precious: Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire, she has been working consistently in Hollywood. Brand Sidibe has allowed her personality to take center stage and foment demand simply by being herself.

We get it that Sidibe isn’t the “standard beauty” that Hollywood seems to crave, and she isn’t being raved about as much as uber-waif and fellow Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan, but Brand Sidibe is a one-woman show oozing with determination, talent, and girl next-door appeal. Her brand is unconventional, confident, consistent, powerful, authentic and well liked. What could have been easily 15-minutes of fame, is still a precious moment developing for the star.

As entrepreneurs and women we must learn from Brand Sidibe to love the skin we are in to attract the big break. How many of us miss the mark because we don’t believe in our gifts? Is it because we are busy worrying about the competition, or is because we lack confidence as it relates to our talent? All you need to succeed is within you.

When shock jock Howard Stern made his crass comment, “…Everyone’s pretending she’s a part of show business and she’s never going to be in another movie. She should have gotten the Best Actress award because she’s never going to have another shot.” Sidibe made Stern eat his words when she recently hosted Saturday Night Live, and announced that she’ll have a recurring role on Showtime’s new comedy “The Big C,” along with the upcoming film “Yelling to the Sky” and co-hosting "The View" next month. Not bad for an actress who had never acted before.

Start your campaign of brand confidence and consistency today. Trusting that you have what it takes to win; showcase your character and knowledge to standout; deliver to your client what you pitch; and display the confidence to make it happen. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Define yourself and love the skin you are in by your standards (warts and all).
2. Do your research as it relates to the marketplace. What can you bring differently to the job/contract?
3. Show up to win, it’s all an attitude and mind-set
4. Have fun and enjoy each moment of life.

What are your strategies for winning? Let me know your thoughts.

Karen Taylor Bass, The PR Expert, provides entrepreneurs, corporations, and mompreneurs with essential branding, marketing, and public relations coaching; www.karentaylorbass.com and www.taylormademediapr.com. Follow Karen's tips and Caviar & Chitlins moments at Twitter, twitter.com/prexpert.

Social Media: The New Currency

Social Media: The New Currency



Why women must be more aggressive about using networks to create business opportunities

Perry: "If we don't master social media now, we'll be left behind."

Social media is the new economy and game changer for getting your message out in cyberspace and beyond. If you have fresh ideas and the desire to try something new—get ready to grow your brand and be discovered.

You can amplify your message and grow your brand instantly by using popular networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Ning, YouTube, and Animoto to name a few.

With social media you don’t have to wait for a client or the media to discover your talent, service or goods—you can create platforms by engaging your friends, family and acquaintances by providing exceptional and creative content and messages via website, blog, Internet radio, and promotional videos all for an opportunity cost of free or close to nothing.

African American women are using social media to influence brand loyalty and to increase popularity, however, many are not using social media to increase bottom-line as it relates to business.

According to Pam Perry, head of Ministry Marketing Solutions, “African American women think social media is a fad and for young kids, and don’t realize people are making money with social media. Social media is a marketing tool and the quickest way to network and increase exposure for a brand. For social media to work you must target people that know and trust you.”

To read more of my article on Black Enterprise.com click here: http://www.blackenterprise.com/small-business/2010/04/09/social-media-the-new-currency/

Karen Taylor Bass & TaylorMade Media LLC
Press Release For Immediate Release
TaylorMade Media Salutes Our Expert,
Karen Taylor Bass


Valley Stream, New York - April 6, 2010 -

Moguldom Media Group (http://www.moguldom.com/) will honor Karen Taylor Bass, The PR Expert, on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 in the category of Media.


CONFIRMED HONOREES:

Business

* Randal Pinkett, businessman and entrepreneur of "The Apprentice" fame

Personal Finance

* Ryan Mack, popular personal finance expert and frequent commentator on CNN's business segments

Entrepreneurship

* Miko and Titi Branch, founders/CEOs of the well-known "Miss Jessie's" hair line

Media

* Michaela Angela Davis, critic, writer, and former editor-in-chief of Honey Magazine
* Karen Taylor Bass, CEO/President of TaylorMade Media and a national leader in public relations and empowerment

Politics

* Derrick Ashong, a political voice whose YouTube fame earned him his current show on Oprah's Sirius network
* Farai Chideya, award-winning author, journalist, and commentator on politics and media for NPR programs including The Takeaway



Karen Taylor Bass, The PR Expert

Presents

"Meet The Media"

Special Guest: Kendra Lee, Executive Editor, Heart & Soul



Wednesday, April 21, 2010

*Tele-Seminar (You Can Call In From Any Place & Ask Any Question)


You will learn why Heart & Soul is thriving in the marketplace as other Black magazines struggle

Learn how to get featured in the magazine if your subject matter is about being healthy, wealthy & wise

The tele-seminar is 60 minutes, and you will masterfully learn the following:


How To Pitch To Heart & Soul
AND
*Get your story heard

*How to listen to your "voice"
*Be a freelance contributor

*Increase an add a stream of income
*What type of stories do well for the magazine
*How should a query be sent
*What tools (bio, media kit, summary sheet) are needed to send someone an email of interest
*How to partner with Heart & Soul and put your business on front street

*Learn their editorial calendar for 2010 and see how you can shape-shift a story

*What should your press kit (electronic) contain for pitching to a magazine
ETC...

*Ask the editor questions so you can be informed and prepared


ONLY $49.99 (Priceless Value)

Are You Ready To
"Meet The Media?"
Register Today!!!! http://meethemediaheartandsoul1.eventbrite.com
About Karen Taylor Bass, The PR Expert

Karen Taylor Bass, The PR Expert, provides entrepreneurs, corporations, and mompreneurs with essential branding, marketing, and public relations coaching; www.karentaylorbass.com and www.taylormademediapr.com. Follow Karen's tips and Caviar & Chitlins moments at http://twitter.com/prexpert.

Jumpstarting Your Brand After Mommy-hood

Greetings!

How are you?

If you are beginning to feel like things are not coming together --- don't give up, you are close. How do I know? Been there done that.

Although you can't see it, your blessings are about to be revealed. Ask yourself this -- why is it easier to believe in others and not yourself? Do something different this week and brand your confidence by talking about your accomplishments and desires with everyone you meet. Aren't you worth it?

Karen Taylor Bass, The PR Expert, Guest Contributor to Black Enterprise, #1 Magazine For Entrepreneurs, Investments & Careers

After two years of being persistent, I am a weekly contributor the BlackEnterprise.com.
I am pleased to cover issues as it relates to women, public relations, branding, re-invention and mommy-hood. Remember, never take no for an answer when you have something edifying to offer. Continue to push yourself and your brand. This is favor season.

To date I have written five postings and would love for you to read them all, comment, share and follow me on BlackEnterprise.com.

I look forward to covering you all once I get past the 90 day mark.




Here is last week's post on Jumpstarting Your Brand After Mommy-hood:
Jumpstarting Your Personal Brand After Mommy-hood

R&B Singer Monica shares her tips that keep her 'Standing' strong as she re-invents her career

Mommy-hood is no easy feat; regardless of age your mind, body, spirit and career will never be the same. The moment you meet your healthy and beautiful bundle of joy, your priorities will shift and you will change. But after the maternity leave has ended, how do you re-invent your personal brand to incorporate your new status when its time to go back to work?

At 43, with two kids (including a toddler), and in the midst of a re-invention, I have recently upgraded from sweatpants to fitted jeans, and the process to become the "brand" new mommy has not been easy. I had a thought: do all mommies-including celebrities-struggle to re-define their personal brand? The answer is a resounding yes.

Recently I spoke with Grammy Award winning artist Monica, about re-defining her brand after a brief hiatus from the music industry. Sure, she has "fame," a TV show, and a new album coming out, but at the end of the day, she shares the same concerns as I do about re-invention and re-entering the workforce after becoming a parent.

"The best sage wisdom someone told me about re-invention is to focus on the positive, what makes you special and different, and realize that just because you put yourself first, doesn't mean your kids are not your first concern," said the single mother of two pre-schoolers. Re-invention is not about the superficial but the qualities that make you feel centered as a person, says Monica.

After taking time off to have her children, Monica is back with a vengeance. She has a reality show on BET that chronicles her re-invention as she finds balance being a single parent, dealing with high blood pressure, recording a new album, building a business, and struggling to carve out moments to be still. Her fifth album, "Still Standing," is scheduled for release on March 23. She chose the name as a testament of strength to all of us finding our way back home to self. click here for more http://www.blackenterprise.com/careers/2010/03/18/jumpstarting-your-personal-brand-after-mommy-hood/

Check out a past blog:
http://www.blackenterprise.com/small-business/2010/02/19/is-your-brand-bold-beautiful-determined/



Am I on the right track with the subject matters? Your feedback is critical because you inspire me everyday.

Expect To Win In 2010!

Let's Stay Connected
Karen Taylor Bass, The PR Expert, provides entrepreneurs, corporations, and mom-preneurs with essential branding, marketing, and public relations coaching; www.karentaylorbass.com and www.taylormademediapr.com. Follow Karen's tips and Caviar & Chitlins moments at Twitter, twitter.com/prexpert.

I know its been a moment since I wrote to you. This has been my season of harvest with bountiful blessings.

How are you? I just celebrated my 43rd birthday and it was truly fabulous. My commitment to self is to celebrate each month as if it was by birthday. Why not? Life is about celebrating and the best gift is life.

I am now blogging for Black Enterprise-- the leading African American magazine for Investments, Careers & Small Business. Let's just say I am completely stoked.

When you get a hot minute and enjoying your coffee, take a minute to read my blogs on the site, spread the word, and post a comment. I had the honor to interview Terrie Williams, PR Guru this week.




http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/2010/03/11/pr-guru-re-invents-with-a-purpose/


I have a couple of FREE workshops In New York, RSVP and let's party.

1) Harlem Business Alliance - 4 Weeks To Take Your Business to A-List Status with Public Relations
RSVP@ 212-665-7010; visit www.hbany.org for dates and details.

2) March 20th - Spend An Afternoon With The Experts. http://saturdaywith2experts.eventbrite.com

IS YOUR BRAND BOLD, BEAUTIFUL & DETERMINED?
Spend a Brand-Changing Saturday with Two Experts

Karen Taylor Bass – The PR Expert, Co-Founder, "As Powerful As You Want To Be” PR Boot Camp Author, Speaker & Blogger for Black Enterprise

Anthony Quiñones – The Repackaging Expert, CEO & Chief Creative Officer,

Q Ball Media, LLC, Author, Repackaging Is Everything


Date/Time:

Saturday, March 20, 2010 / 10AM-2:30PM

Location:
Harlem State Office Building, 163 West 125th St., Suite 8A, New York City

Topics To Be Discussed:

* What branding/repackaging is and what it is NOT;

* How to use branding/public relations/repackaging to establish yourself as the leader of your world;

* Ways to make friends, influence people and get business WITHOUT hype and deception;

* How to use unexpected life experiences and "reinvent"

* How to effectively use branding/public relations/repackaging in

your job search;

* How to get a good return on your media investment;

* … AND MORE!!

Who Should Attend:

* Authors;

* Speakers;

* Coaches;

* Brand managers;

* Entrepreneurs;

* Radio hosts;

* Thought leaders;
* Students;

RSVP at http://saturdaywith2experts.eventbrite.com
Admission is FREE. Seating is limited.
For more information, call 516.285.4999 or 646.246.5846