From my earliest work with disabled people I have been involved with and enjoyed PR and Marketing. For example, in order to raise funds for the computer rooms at the disabled people's centers, I had to get proficient at writing Press Releases and 'begging' letters to local companies. I also started writing articles about our work and submitting them to the national press and computer magazines. All of which were run. Plus I managed to get interviewed by BBC Radio 4's 'Does he take tea?', was invited to exhibit at various exhibitions for disabled people, and also helped write brochures for the Department of Trade and Industry and for Channel 4 TV.
   While I was working at Database Publications (which later became Europress) I had to liaise with all the major software and hardware companies to get review copies of their products. Later on I arranged promotions, competitions and reader offers with several large companies. I also sold a lot of magazine and cover disk space to various companies.
   When I became self-employed I really had to put my skills to use to get reviews of my own products in the computer press, of which I arranged several. I got WH Smiths Book Club to buy 10s of thousands of my products for their members. I arranged for a cut down version of one of my books to appear on the cover of PC Home Magazine and became known as a person writers would call for opinions on shareware, cover discs and computer viruses etc.
   My first project on the Internet was Cyberville Radio - the UK's (and, in fact the world's) first fully licensed Internet radio station. Even back in the mid '90s we had 30,000 visitors per day and consequently we had BBC2 TV come and do a program about us at the station. We were also asked to be a main attraction at a London Exhibition where we managed to persuade Uri Geller (the spoon bender) to attend our stand and bend passers by's keys etc. I also contacted Microsoft UK who worked very closely with us towards improving the technology and quality of our radio broadcasts and website.
   During my pub, restaurant and B&B years I was using my marketing and PR skills daily to get free coverage in the local press - a mainstay of my advertising. Or just to make sure we had a packed pub on Friday and Saturday nights. I would arrange charity events or think up firsts or special occasions that the papers or radio might be interested in.
   I was even more successful in the US where I had local TV attend events twice, and had local radio DJs often discussing our restaurant - and hardly a month went by without something about us in the local papers. I also was called on to help promote the City of Kingsville, and specifically it's Downtown, to a wider community and drum up more trade. I was pretty successful at this and was also one of two organisers for one year's July 4th celebrations (much to my amusement).