Robin Van Auken: Historical & Editorial Consultant

Your company needs to put its best foot forward, and often a public relations makeover can do just that. This handy checklist can help you determine whether your company is a good candidate for such a makeover.

Your company has never developed a detailed PR plan, either on its own or with a PR firm.

You have a PR plan, but it hasn't been through an annual checkup and reevaluation in more than a year.

Your company hasn't sent out a news release within the past three months.

You don't have a media list updated within the past six months that includes titles and addresses, and specifies how those on the list want to receive their news.

You don't have a specific PR plan for your company's online presence.

Your competitors receive more news coverage than you do. You don't have an online media kit.

Your marketing and advertising plan doesn't include a detailed section on public relations.

Your customers don't agree about what your company stands for.

You haven't written an article for the trade press in your industry.

If you agree that at least three of these statements apply to your company, you probably should think about a PR makeover sooner rather than later. If more than five of them apply to you, you need to start today.

My company, The Omnibus, specializes in communication and has excellent relationships with print, radio and television media. In addition, we design and maintain websites, develop multimedia presentations, print and electronic newsletters, and e-books. E-mail: robinvanauken@gmail.com.

Need to communicate with the masses but don't know how? We can help put you in touch with newspapers, radio, television and online media.

Full press kit created on one CD (Press release, biography, color and b/w photos, a five-minute digital video and MP3 and audio files) $400

One-time press release of upcoming event (sent via e-mail to media and your preferred mailing list) $50

Biography (print and electronic for your reference and e-mail) $75

Art scan, photo restoration/retouching $10 per item

Logo creation or artwork $50 per hour

Basic Web site Design: $300*
Up to 5 Web pages
Max 1,000 words of text per page
Mouseovers, if desired
Buttons, icons, bullets
Up to 10 graphics per page (you supply, or use royalty-free art library)
Minor image editing, cropping, sizing, if needed
Free scanning of your artwork, if needed
Up to 20 links per page
Help with initial server setup (if it's a new site)
1 month free Webmaster support
Search Engine submission

* Domain name registration and hosting is not included

Standard Web site Design: $450*
Up to 10 web pages
Max 1,000 words of text per page
Mouseovers, if desired
Buttons, icons, bullets
Up to 20 graphics per page (you supply, or use royalty-free art library)
Minor image editing, cropping, sizing if needed
Free scanning of your artwork, if needed
Up to 20 links per page
2 user input forms
Shopping cart (Paypal, up to 20 items)
Help with initial server setup (if it's a new site)
2 month free Webmaster support
Search Engine submission

* Domain name registration and hosting is not included

Advanced Web site Design: $600*
Up to 20 web pages
Max 1,500 words of text per page
Mouseovers, if desired
Buttons, icons, bullets
Up to 20 graphics per page (you supply, or use royalty-free art library)
Minor image editing, cropping, sizing if needed
Free scanning of your artwork, if needed
Up to 20 links per page
4 ser input forms

Shopping cart (Paypal, up to 40 items)
Help with initial server setup (if it's a new site)
2 month free Webmaster support
Search Engine submission

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Prices are based on the client providing website content in computer files with standard formats. Creation of original text, images, multimedia, etc. must be quoted separately. Directories with many links quoted separately. Sites with many images quoted separately.