Win $7000 publicity for ‘hidden jewel’ business

Does your business offer an ‘undiscovered’ visitor experience?

Run by PublicityShip, the ‘Hidden Jewel Awards’ are targetting small tourism businesses that offer ‘a fascinating, appealing or unusual visitor experience but remain relatively undiscovered’. PublicityShip, Australian owned and run, specialises in publicity for small businesses. They are not a full service public relations agency -and don’t plan being one.

A winner will be chosen from each state and territory in Australia, and there will be an overall national winner – all winners will receive prizes to help boost their business.

The $7,000 national prize, supplied by PublicityShip, consists of a 12-month publicity campaign plus a blog facility to boost the business’s online marketing strategy.

Each of the state/territory winners will receive a three-month publicity campaign valued at $1,700.

These packages have been chosen because media coverage and blogging are seen as two of the most effective ways for small operators to acquire new customers and build trust in their business.

Publicity, in the form of editorial write-ups and radio or TV coverage, carries a credibility that advertising can’t, while blogging brings visitors to the business’s website repeatedly. Both methods, says PublicityShip, rely on telling an authentic story – a great way to inspire trust.

The Judges
The panel of judges is drawn from across the tourism industry:

• Escorted holiday operator, AAT Kings, is known for supporting small, independent tourism businesses, and CEO, Les Cox, is apprently delighted to be involved with the Awards;
• National consumer travel magazine, Australian Traveller, also prides itself on supporting independent tourism businesses with editorial that doesn’t depend on advertising or hosted famils;
• Channel Nine’s Postcard series which seeks out new and hidden gems to bring to a wider audience, will provide the third judge.

The judging panel will be chaired by Jane Hammond Foster, former travel magazine editor and now manager of PublicityShip.

It’s relatively easy to enter
There are no business plans, portfolios or presentations to prepare.
Step 1: Register your interest and request detailed information
Step 2: Receive information, fill out your entry and send before the closing date (31 January 2007).

The detailed information will include between 50 and 150 words per section on the following:

1. Describe your business, including pricing and market segment
2. Explain what is special or unique about the experiences you offer visitors
3. Provide testimonials to support the quality of those experiences.

Sounds like a good way for PublicityShip to promote THEIR business!