AC Content: Who to Write About to Maximize Your Performance Bonus

Do you like the new performance bonus? Not sure? Haven't gotten any bonuses yet?

Follow these tips to increase your page views and up the amount of moolah in your paypal account.

1. Make contact with the many non-profit organizations in your area. All of them have PR people or one person who handles press releases. Get on their email/fax list. Go to a meeting. Check out the fundraisers for the Salvation Army or the Red Cross. Many have free lunches -- don't go to eat, but go to talk to people, keep your eyes open and your ears swiveling (not literally). Take notes. More importantly, take names and contact numbers.

2. While checking out the usual non-profits, look to ones unique to your area. Do you live near water? Is there a local conservation group? A protect the butterflies meeting? Town rehabilitation committee?

3. Still can't find organizations? Place a call to your local Chamber of Commerce. Most of them hold regular meetings. It may cost you $10-20 to attend, but you'll meeting with a host of movers and shakers in your area. Great source of ideas, contacts, and potential interviews.

4. Now contact your local and state politicians. The state politicians have special pr people who disseminate information to the public. Find out who they are and call them. Have them add you to their list. Faxing is most common (invest in a fax machine - they're worth it and can share a voice line); some of them also offer email notifications. This gets you in the loop. They'll send you current resolutions and laws that the politician is working on along with local appearances. Cultivate these carefully.

5. Go to town/city meetings. Yup. Get off your butt, dress up professionally (as in nice shirt, pants or skirt -- ditch the cutoffs and torn jeans), and go to the meetings. Or watch the ones that are televised. Make notes. Call to clarify any issues. Interview. Get quotes. Often one interview will give you the ideas/information for numerous articles.

Now how does this add to your page views? Sure it's great for ideas, but what about that bonus?