*Promoting BPD: ideas*

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/22/01 10:38:06 PM Central Standard Time, PsyProf5 writes:

> -

>

> To you and all concerned - then I say we do whatever we can to push and

> promote the public awareness.

>

> Can you imagine how many more out there, who were not as lucky to click on

> BPDCENTRAL, are going thru outright hell and not knowing WHAT is happening,

> and feeling it is all their fault? Just look at this list it is amazing and

> mind boggling.

> And just look at what BPDCentral and SWOE can do....imagine how many more

> can get answers if it is reached out to people.

> Shoot just that page alone " Are You In A Relationship With A BPD Partner. "

>

> I don't know about posters, but - promotions. Educational materials.

> Whatever it may be. I will do whatever I can do to help the cause of

> increasing public awareness.......Just let me know. My life was practically

> saved because of this. Least I can do is do the same for others in the same

> situation.

>

> C.C.

>

I have many ideas about how people could help. I am extremely busy now and

will come up with more later, but here are a few:

1. I have 18 years of experience in PR and marketing. is writing

pamphlets and could promote on a clinical level, because we have a crisis in

the lack of adequate training in therapists. The less list monitoring we

have to do, the more time we can publicize BPD and the more products I can

come up with to spread the word and to help members (like the custody tape).

So the more people read and adhere to the guidelines, the less time we need

to monitor the list for flames and whatnot and the more time we have to

promote BPD.

2. Just talk about it to your friends, neighbors, relatives, etc., Word of

mouth is the most important tool we have.

3. There is a media kit on www.BPDCentral.com. The trick to getting publicity

for this is coming up with the right angle for the right publication. People

don't want to read about disorders they never heard of as much as they want

to read stories about people. For example, CNN did something on a comedian

whose BP nearly derailed his career. If you are willing to speak out about

how this has affected YOU, please do so--there are so many who can't .

Think of the types of stories you see in the paper and on TV and radio. Go

ahead and approach anyone in your home town, nationally--YOU HAVE THE FORCE.

The media kit has info on how reporters can get a review copy from the

publisher.

4. Give a copy of SWOE to someone.....when you buy it from me

(BPDCentral@... or 1-) it helps support this site.

5. I mentioned earlier that I have 18 years of experience in PR ad marketing.

Well, you have to have a budget when you want to do promotion, for postage,

letters, media mailing lists, phone calls, etc. For several years, I have not

had an outside job and worked full time on this, taking what I've earned from

the book or booklet (about $15,000 a year) to plow back into promoting BPD.

There have been several people who have made this possible by donating funds

($1,000 for custody tape, $2500 for the BPDCentral Web Design). It also

allows me to pay a token amount...when you consider a therapist costs

100 bucks an hour and all the time he spends, I think it's a great deal!

But I don't need such large gift...we have 1500-1700 subscribers (some people

subbed to more than one list so I don't know how many actual individuals). If

each person only paid $1 per MONTH for each list that they're on--$12 a

YEAR--we would have enough to do a whole LOT. If each person paid $2 a month

per list they're on, I could actually earn more of a living and not have to

find and outside job--because and if when I do I am going to have a lot less

time.

Now, I know that for some people--especially those in the middle of a

divorce--need every cent. To those people, and to anyone to whom this would

be a burden, it's NOT necessary. But for those whom $1 per month would not be

a burden, it would open up a world of possibilities. I haven't had time to do

all that I'm doing plus get non profit status, for the site and lists, but an

atty in-kind donation could make that happen.

The other money option is sponsorships of BPDCentral. I just went to a

sponsorship meeting yesterday and there are plenty of companies that might

buy a banner ad on the site, for example (as long as it doesn't compromise

integrity).

And if a person doesn't have money but has time, there are all sorts of

things I could suggest.

Well, that's off the top of my head.

Randi Kreger

List owner, Welcome To Oz Lists

Coauthor, Stop Walking on Eggshells

Love and Loathing, Hope for Parents

www.BPDCentral.com