The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week

Publicity Tips—Social Media Rx

January 27th, 2010 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #489 Jan. 27, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.PublicityArticles.net (Ezine Archives)

==========================================

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

===================================
In This Issue
===================================

1. Social Media Rx

2. Newspaper Map of the World

3. Let Bloggers Test Your Product

4. Getting Artwork onto TV/Movie Sets

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blogs…

======================================
1. Social Media Rx
======================================

At social media sites, act the same way you would at a backyard
barbecue.

When you arrive at a barbecue, you look around to get the lay of
the land, greet your hosts, and find out where to get a cold beer
and snacks.

If you don’t know most of the other guests, you watch and listen
for clues as to who might be the most approachable ones.

Do not:

–Walk up to the first stranger you see and shove your book into
his hand.

–Ask a woman you’ve never met if she’ll attend your telephone
seminar next week.

–Start handing out your business cards to everyone who walks by.

–Approach a small group of people and tell them they can sign up
for your ezine.

You’d never act like that at a party, would you? Yet, that
happens all the time at social media sites. Part of the reason is
that people don’t know what else to say. So they do the first
thing they can think of. They offer a free commercial.

Jeanne Hurlbert, my new business partner, and I created Social
Media Rx specifically for those lost souls who don’t know what
else to say. I introduced Jeanne to you a few weeks ago at my
blog at http://budurl.com/jeannehurlbert and told you we’d be
letting you know about Social Media Rx soon.

We’re finally ready. And we’re offering you a free webinar, chock
full of social media tips, specifically for people who haven’t
even dipped their toes into the social media waters yet, or for
those who are participating, but aren’t quite sure what they’re
doing or aren’t seeing a return on investment.

It will be at 3 p.m. Eastern Time (2 Central) on Wednesday, Feb.
3, and you’ll come away a heck of a lot smarter. We’ll also give
you a glimpse of Social Media Rx. It’s an assessment you can take
by answering a series of questions designed to show find out how
much you do or don’t know aobut social media. When you’re done,
within seconds, it delivers a customized report and your own
formula that explains exactly what you should be discussing at
social media sites, based on your job, hobbies, interests and
level of expertise. It’s already received rave reviews, and we
can hardly wait to show it to you.

Everyone who registers for the call will receive the free report
“3 Dangerous Social Media Problems & How to Solve Them.”

For instructions on how to sign up, go to
http://budurl.com/socialmediarxwebinar

======================================
2. Newspaper Map of the World
======================================

Thanks to Jill Cranford of Livermore, Colorado for tipping us off
to the incredibly helpful worldwide newspaper map that shows the
headlines in today’s newspapers in hundreds of countries.

Go to http://www.budurl.com/newspapermap and choose a continent,
country, state or city. Put your cursor on it and headlines from
today’s newspaper will pop up.

Double-click on the dot and the page gets larger. You might even
be able to read the entire story or the entire newspaper. This
site, maintained by Newseum.org, the interactive news museum in
Washington, D.C., changes daily with new editions of the papers.

===================================
3. Let Bloggers Test Your Product
===================================

I’ve written here about BloggerLinkUp.com, a neat website that’s
getting rave reviews from people who want to write guest blog
posts for other people’s blogs, and for bloggers looking for
guest writers.

Here’s another way to use the site. Offer your product to
bloggers for review.

Sometimes all it takes is just one terrific review by a blogger,
and word starts to spread all over the Internet. And that can
turn into sales.

I submitted information last week about my free ebook, “The Best
of the Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week of 2009″ and already
received queries from several bloggers who want to read it and
share it with their audiences.

Fill out the form at http://www.bloggerlinkup.com/review

Then share the link for my free ebook with your social media
friends, followers and fans:
http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips

====================================
4. Getting Artwork onto TV/Movie Sets
====================================

This week, two Publicity Hounds have tips for Consuelo Okdie from
Tampa Bay, Fla., an artist who wants tips for getting her artwork
onto TV and movie sets.

From Michael Carr:

“Research first. Most states and some larger cities around the
nation have online film production guides which list crew
members. You want to really focus on the Art Department–
particularly designers, set dressers, decorators as well as local
production companies and still photographers. These are the
decision makers who may determine the look of the production,
based on the input they receive from the director or, in the case
of production companies and still photographers, from the
client.”

From Marilynn Barber:

“At http://www.wardrobesupplies.com, under Backstage Stuff, are
source books for theatre and film, in particular, one called
Debbie?s Book. Google ’scenic design’ in Los Angeles. Be aware,
if you should get something placed, you need to sell it to them.
Never lend–it won?t come back the same.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Check out the teleseminar I did with Amy Bates Stumpf, who rubs
elbows with lots of the Hollywood insiders, and knows how to get
your consumer products onto the sets of TV and movie sets:
http://budurl.com/productplacementips

Read all the responses to this week?s “Help This Hound” question
at http://budurl.com/artworkontv

Send your own “Help this Hound” question to:
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound
and include your city and state or province.

===================================
5. Help This Hound
===================================

Jill Starishevsky of New York, NY writes:

“I am a prosecutor of child abuse and sex crimes in New York
City. I wrote a children?s book called My Body Belongs to Me to
teach children that if someone touches them inappropriately, they
should tell a parent or teacher right away.

“In a non-threatening, engaging manner, this guide establishes
boundaries and teaches kids that when it comes to their body,
there are some parts that are for ‘no one else to see’ and
empowers them to tell a parent or teacher if someone touches them
inappropriately.

“Most importantly, this narrative assures young ones that sexual
molestation is not their fault, and by speaking out, the child
will continue to grow big and strong. A ?Suggestions for the
Storyteller? section is also included to help lead a comfortable
discussion afterward.

“How can I promote this book in traditional and social media?”
The Publicity Hound says:

I checked the media room at Jill’s website at
http://www.mybodybelongstome.com/news/ and found more than 30
reviews from bloggers. Good for you, Jill. But there weren’t
nearly as many hits in traditional media. Hounds with ideas for
Jill can post them to my blog at http://budurl.com/touching

=================================
6. Hound Video of the Week
=================================

Here’s a silly YouTube video of Romeo the Pug playing piano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFAy84Pesb0

==================================
7. And at My Blogs…
==================================

Consider retweeting these blog posts:

Membership directories could include social media URLs
http://budurl.com/directories

9 freebies artists can offer to build an email list
http://budurl.com/artistfreebie

Misnamed online media rooms can confuse visitors
http://budurl.com/misnamedmediarooms

Publicity dilemma? Let Publicity Hound readers help–for free
http://budurl.com/helpthishound

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

Join my Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/publicitytips

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends,
clients and colleagues.

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

================================================

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

Tags: Art Marketing, Blogging, publicity for niche markets, Publicity Tips, social media

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Publicity Tips—Pitch Comics Artists

January 19th, 2010 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #488 Jan. 19, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.PublicityArticles.net (Ezine Archives)

==========================================

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

===================================
In This Issue
===================================

1. Pitch Comics Artists

2. 9 Places to Find Blog Content

3. Write a Book in a Weekend

4. Promoting a Religious Book

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs…

======================================
1. Pitch Comics Artists
======================================

The next time you need to generate publicity for a worthy cause
or issue, don’t forget the comics.

Yes, the comics. Comic strip artists might agree to make your
cause part of their storyline.

Thanks to Rebecca Morgan, publisher of the popular SpeakerNet
News ezine at http://www.speakernetnews.com/, for sharing the
fabulous tip to pitch comic strip artists as a way of getting
into newspapers large and small all over the world.

Last fall, with just one email pitch, she convinced Greg Evans,
creator of the strip Luann, to incorporate her campaign to
encourage people to give gently used books, instead of candy, for
trick-or-treaters. That brought about 6,000 visitors to her
website.

See the strip, read about how she did it and learn about a
website with links to hundreds of comics strips that might tie
into your cause or issue. Go to http://budurl.com/pitchcomics

======================================
2. 9 Places to Find Blog Content
======================================

If you’re blogging, or you want to start a blog but you’re afraid
you won’t have enough content, here are 9 places to look to find
more than enough topics to write about.

–In your email box. When someone asks you a question, answer it,
and then include the question and the answer in a blog post.

–In print newsletters and ezines for your industry.

–At other people’s blogs. (Comment on the post at your own blog,
and link to it.)

–In newspaper and magazine articles. Excerpt a few tips from an
article you’ve just read, with attribution, and comment on them.

–5 things they don’t teach you in __________ school.

–3 things I want to do in my business before I die.

–In your office. Write about the best (or worst) computer
equipment and other tools you use.

–On TV. If a show or character you saw ties into your topic,
write about it.

–Your goals for 2010.

Want 68 more sources for blog content? They’ll be on the handout
you’ll get when you register for my teleseminar on “Time-saving
Tips for Smart Business Blogging” at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on
Wednesday, Jan. 20, with Patsi Krakoff.

Only a few seats remain. Read more about it and register here:
http://budurl.com/blogcontentideas

===================================
3. Write a Book in a Weekend
===================================

If you want to be taken seriously as an expert in your topic or
industry, a book can give you credibility and put you heads above
your competitors.

The big mistake many authors make, however, is that they spend
years writing their books, then many more months editing and
proofreading them. Many non-fiction books can be written in a few
days.

Ann McIndoo, the former creative assistant to motivational
speaker Tony Robbins, has developed a system for writing the
first draft of a non-fiction book in just one weekend-?a fraction
of the time it takes most authors.

She has helped 268 authors write their books in just three days,
thanks to time-saving shortcuts.

Her system works best for authors who are writing non-fiction
books on topics they know well, particularly how-to, leadership,
business, self-help and autobiographies.

Ann will explain her system during a free telephone seminar with
Steve Harrison at 2 and 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Jan. 21,
at your choice of two times. If the times are inconvenient,
recruit someone to listen and take notes for you.

I’m an affiliate.

====================================
4. Promoting a Religious Book
====================================

This week, six Publicity Hounds have tips for Bonnie Stuempfig of
Waukesha, Wis., author of Heavenly Connections, a book of
inspirational religious stories. She wants ideas on how to sell
the book.

From Jeff Rothe:

“Why not target 10 of the largest churches in your city, and get
them to get a copy to be discussed for X weeks at a Bible study,
or even better, used by the service head if they teach a weekly
class.”

From Anne:

“If you are still thinking about selling it at churches, look
into their bulletins and see what kinds of church groups they
have that meet on a regular basis. You might be able to be a
guest speaker (and pitch your book at the end) for one of their
meetings.

“Another idea is to tie it in with a religious holiday (for
example: Ash Wednesday for Catholics). Offer a small discount to
those who purchase multiple copies.”

From Dale Hutchings:

“The first thing that comes to mind for me is for you to target
Christian book reading clubs. On the Internet, there are numerous
websites that where you can find listings of these groups. There
is even a site where they show you how to start a Christian book
club and how to join one.”

Read all the answers to this question at
http://budurl.com/religiousbook

Send your own “Help this Hound” question to:
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound
and include your city and state.

===================================
5. Help This Hound
===================================

Consuelo Okdie from Tampa Bay, Fla., writes:

“I’m hoping that you or one of your readers will be able to tell
me how to get my artwork used as set decoration for TV or films.

“My work is unique in medium and application as I am one of a
very few artists using polymer clay to create illustrations &
paintings. Any information you may be able to give me will be
greatly appreciated.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Hounds with ideas for Consuelo can post them to my blog at
http://budurl.com/artworkontv

Consuelo, you need to be willing to do the research necessary to
pitch set designers, costume coordinators, production
coordinators, prop masters and product placement decision-makers
for specific movies and TV shows. I hosted a teleseminar with Amy
Bates Stumpf two years ago on How to Get Your Consumer Product
onto the Sets of Movies and TV Shows. You can read more about it
at http://budurl.com/productplacement

=================================
6. Hound Joke of the Week
=================================

Wanda’s dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman. Since
she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman, “I’ll
leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill
on the counter, and I’ll mail you a check.”

“Oh, by the way, don’t worry about my dog, Spike. He won’t bother
you. But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk
to my parrot. I repeat. Do NOT talk to my parrot!”

When the repairman arrived at Wanda’s apartment the following
day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking dog he has ever
seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there on the
carpet watching the repairman go about his work. ? The parrot,
however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant
yelling, cursing and name calling. Finally the repairman
couldn’t contain himself any longer and yelled,

“Shut up, you stupid, ugly bird!”

To which the parrot replied, “Get him, Spike!”

Dog Jokes & Quotes Ebook: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs..

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.

==================================
7. And at My Blogs…
==================================

19+ story ideas to generate publicity, PR for your business
http://budurl.com/19publicityideas

Facebook makes it easy to reply to wall posts via email
http://budurl.com/facebookwallposts

9 ways nonprofits can use social media
http://budurl.com/nonprofitsocialmedia

Add comic strips to your PR campaign and pitch artists
http://budurl.com/pitchcomics

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

Join my Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/publicitytips

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends,
clients and colleagues.

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

================================================

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

Tags: Art Marketing, Blogging, Book Promotion, publicity for niche markets, Publicity Tips

Bookmark this site

Publicity Tips—The Missing Marketing Tool

January 12th, 2010 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #487 Jan. 12, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.PublicityArticles.net (Ezine Archives)

==========================================

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

===================================
In This Issue
===================================

1. The Missing Marketing Tool

2. Ban This Cliche

3. How to Attract PR Clients

4. Promoting a Book for Associations

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs…

======================================
1. The Missing Marketing Tool
======================================

At a small networking breakfast I attended last week, I met five
people who were either job-hunting or were there to talk about
their businesses.

They brought their resumes, engaging personalities, impressive
marketing materials and succinct elevator pitches and shared them
with our table of 10.

But all five were missing a critical marketing tool that could
have landed them a job or set them apart from their competitors.

Not one of them had a blog. For more than an hour, the
conversation centered on how each of them can reach their target
audiences.

By the end of the breakfast, I lost it.

“Everyone at this table should be blogging!” I yelled. With nine
pairs of eyes riveted on me, I explained:

–A blog establishes your credibility and expertise.

–It’s like a giant magnet that pulls in traffic.

–It can impress visitors and turn them into buyers.

–Many of your competitors are blogging.

–Unlike Twitter, you can use your blog to discuss topics in-
depth.

–You can engage visitors and carry on a conversation with them
in the comments section.

–A blog can give you a huge online presence, even if you can’t
afford a website.

–It can help you gain more traction than publicity in
traditional media because, unlike most media people, bloggers
love to link to each other. Get in front of just one influential
blogger and you can be all over the Internet within minutes.

Finally, they got it.

If you’re already blogging, good for you! If you aren’t, it’s not
too late to start.

Blogging expert Patsi Krakoff will be my guest during a
teleseminar on “Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging” at
4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Everyone who registers
will receive the MP3 recording and a handout that includes 77
ideas for finding blog content, and several simple formulas on
how to write blog posts quickly and easily.

======================================
2. Ban This Cliche
======================================

You can’t listen to a TV newscast without hearing somebody wrap
up their commentary with the tired phrase “at the end of the
day.”

Watch the talking heads shows on Sunday morning and you can’t
escape it. Even the sportscasters and meteorologists are using
it.

It’s showing up in blog posts, media pitches, press releases,
press kits, emails and how-to articles. Just for the heck of it,
I went to http://search.twitter.com and typed “at the end of the
day” into the search box. It’s even showing up in tweets!

When I critique articles and pitches for people in my mentor
program, I’m on the hunt for cliches and other mistakes that
dilute writing. If you need your own writing coach, find out if
you’re a good candidate for the program at
http://www.publicityhound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html

For smaller projects, I do telephone consulting at $300 an hour
and can help you brainstorm pitches, create a press kit, develop
a social media strategy, find joint venture partners, critique
your website and create an impressive presence online, one step
at a time. Email JStewart@PublicityHound.com with several times
you’re available.

===================================
3. How to Attract PR Clients
===================================

If you work in the PR industry and you’re fishing for new
clients, here’s a clever way to hook ‘em.

Choose a company that you’d love to have as a client. Then keep
your eyes open for coverage their competitors are receiving. When
you see a story written about a competitor, print it or clip it,
and send it along with a short note to one of the key decision-
makers at the company. The note can say something like, “Thought
you’d be interested in this.” Sign the note and include your
business card.

Do it again, then again. After you’ve sent two or three articles
to the same person, follow up with a phone call. I’m betting that
you’ll receive a return phone call, and maybe even a contract.

A Publicity Hound shared that tip during the teleseminar I hosted
titled “24 Ways to Attract Clients to Your PR Practice.” PR pro
Marcia Yudkin joined me in discussing 24 ways to bring more
business through the door. We’ve both used many of the ideas
ourselves, and we both have found two ideas that work
particularly well.

They can for you, too. Read more about what we discussed and
download the entire list of 24 ideas that you can be reading
within minutes while you’re waiting for the CD to arrive. It’s
also available as an electronic transcript. Read more about what
it includes at http://budurl.com/morePRclients

====================================
4. Promoting a Book for Associations
====================================

This week, four Publicity Hounds have tips for Linda Alexander of
Pitman, NJ, who wants advice on how to market a book. It helps
new members on association boards understand their new roles and
learn the skills and competencies they need to be a successful
board member.

From Leslie Sturgeon:

“Contact the American Society of Association Executives and try
to sell to the association itself for them to resell. Or check
out http://www.asaecenter.org and contact association management
companies and association executives directly.”

From Mary Callen:

“Send a sample copy, or sample pages by email if you’re on a
budget, to the executive director of every association you
mention. Work your way into newsletters for groups of association
managers with the free sample offer. If it’s truly a valuable
resource, they’ll jump at the chance to purchase and distribute a
book to each new member of their boards of directors. A few
copies to pass between newbies can be used and reused.”

From Mitch Carnell:

“Get leading community volunteers from several states or
nationally known volunteer leaders to write and publish reviews
in local and national publications. For example: the CEO of a
United Way, president of the Boy Scouts, chairman of a food bank.
Try for name and organization recognition. Some universities have
courses dealing with the not-for-profit world. I taught a
graduate course on the subject for many years. Contact the
professors.”

The Publicity Hound says:

How about pitching influential bloggers who write for nonprofits?
One of the best is Nancy Schwartz and her Getting Attention blog
at http://www.gettingattention.org/ See my article “Let Bloggers
Create Publicity for You” at http://budurl.com/49dw.

Read all the responses to this week?s “Help This Hound question”
at http://budurl.com/mentoringthestars

Send your own Help this Hound question to:
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound
and include your city and state or province.

===================================
5. Help This Hound
===================================

From Bonnie Stuempfig of Waukesha, WI:

“I wrote a book, Heavenly Connections, a soft-cover spiral-bound
book, and hoped to sell it mostly at my church and other area
churches, but there seems to be a ho-hum attitude despite the
fact that I’m already a published writer and the stories are
uplifting and entertaining.

“They include 24 God-based contributions from other church
members and me, along with a few poems and four pages of color
photos.

“My plan was to donate a good portion of the proceeds to the
church, but now I’m thinking it would be best to just bypass the
church and pitch it to bookstores and gift shops.

“I’m working on getting a website and am doing nothing with
social media. I should have done all this earlier but have put
more than two years into this book and wanted it printed by
Christmas. Now, I can concentrate on the marketing but don’t
know where to start.

“Thanks for any help your Hounds can give.?

The Publicity Hound says:

The most difficult part of your task will be to promote the book
without a website. Let’s see what ideas my Hounds have. Hounds,
you can share them at my blog at http://budurl.com/religiousbook

=================================
6. Hound Joke of the Week
=================================

“I know that dogs are pack animals, but it is difficult to
imagine a pack of standard poodles…and if there was such a
thing as a pack of standard poodles, where would they rove to?
Bloomingdale’s?

–Yvonne Clifford, American actress

==================================
7. And at My Blogs…
==================================

Starting this week, I’ll be including on this list blog posts
I’ve written at MySocialMediaSolution.com, the blog I share with
Jeanne Hurlbert, my new business partner. The second post below
is from that blog.

3 business blogging tips to save time–even if you hate writing
http://budurl.com/bizbloggingtips

30 PR experts you should follow on Twitter
http://budurl.com/twitterprexperts

Social media boosts book marketing guru’s Alexa rankings
http://budurl.com/kremeralexaranking

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

Join my Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/publicitytips

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends,
clients and colleagues.

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

================================================

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

Tags: Blogging, Book Promotion, PR, Public relations, publicity for niche markets, Publicity Tips, social media, social networking, Twitter

Bookmark this site

Publicity Tips—Facebook Redesign: Don’t Panic

January 6th, 2010 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #486 Jan. 6, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net/ (Ezine Archives)

==========================================

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
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===================================
In This Issue
===================================

1. Facebook Redesign: Don’t Panic

2. New Year’s Resolutions for Bloggers

3. Still No Gravatar?

4. A Dozen Ways to Use My Free Ebook

5. Promoting Absorbent Mats

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog…

======================================
1. Facebook Redesign: Don’t Panic
======================================

If you’re like me and you’re on Facebook, the words “Facebook
redesign” send you into panic mode.

It can take me weeks to navigate my way around a redesigned site.
Facebook is slowly rolling out another one this week. But the
good news is that the changes are minor:

–The search box is being moved from the right side of the
screen, further to the left.

–Facebook is cleaning up the categories on the left.

–Facebook–finally!–has removed the double link to your profile
at the top of the screen. Instead of seeing “Profile” and “(Your
Name)” at the top of the screen (the information is identical),
you’ll only see “Profile.”

–Login/logout have been combined into a single ?account? drop
down.

The changes haven’t shown up on my own profile yet, but I’ll be
watching for them.

Facebook also has a new, streamlined Help Center that should make
it easier for you to find solutions to problems. You can read
more about it at Facebook’s blog at http://budurl.com/hdhc

During the teleseminar I conducted several months ago with
Christine Buffaloe, my guest expert, on “11 Ways to Avoid Missed
Opportunities on Facebook,” we identified “Missed Opportunity
#10: Not using the Help Center.” The Help Center is located on
the bottom right side of your screen. Facebook is so big that
it’s impossible to instinctively know what to do, and the Help
Center can lead you in the right direction.

Learn more about the other 10 missed opportunities at
http://budurl.com/facebookwithchris

======================================
2. New Year’s Resolutions for Bloggers
======================================

Here are three New Year’s Resolutions I’ve made about blogging.
You might want to make them, too:

–Post more frequently. The more posts, the more traffic. It’s
that simple. I usually post at least three times a week. I’m
trying to increase that to five a week.

–One way to post more frequently is to write short items. I’ve
fallen into the habit of trying to make each post as thorough as
possible, but that eats up precious time. I can’t tell you how
many unfinished posts are sitting in my Drafts folder. Readers,
always pressed for time, appreciate short posts, too.

–Reply to people who comment at my blog. Finally, I’m seeing the
number of comments increasing. But I haven’t been very good about
replying to those comments. By not replying, I’m simply talking
“at” people instead of talking “with” them.

Carrying on a conversation at your blog is incredibly time-
consuming, but it’s well worth the investment. People will be
more inclined to comment if they see you’re paying attention. And
they’ll be motivated to return to the blog to see how you
responded to what they said.

Results of my customer profile survey earlier this year show many
Publicity Hounds are hungry for time-saving tips on how to blog.
So I asked Patsi Krakoff of The Blog Squad to join me for a
teleseminar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Jan. 20, called
“Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging.” (This teleseminar
was originally scheduled for Jan. 13.) Everyone who registers
receives a handout that includes 77 ways to find content for a
blog.

Make 2010 the year you finally commit to a blog and build in
efficiencies that will make the job go faster. Read more about
what you’ll learn and register at
http://budurl.com/smartbusinessblogs

=======================================
3. Still No Gravatar?
=======================================

Here’s another resolution for 2010, even if you don’t blog, but
you comment at other people’s blogs.

Make sure you have a gravatar, a universal image that follows you
from site to site and appears beside your name when you comment
or post on a blog. A gravatar helps identify your posts and
attaches a face to a name.

It takes just a few minutes to create one at
http://en.gravatar.com/

Jeanne Hurlbert and I recommend that if you’re using social media
for your business, you use a photo instead of an image that
resembles a cartoon character. We’d both prefer to see the face
of the person we’re talking to. And it’s easier to build a
relationship with a person who has a name and a face vs. somebody
who seems to be hiding behind a logo or a silly graphic. My
gravatar is the same photo that appears at the bottom of the HTML
version of this newsletter.

Jeanne is my new business partner, and I wrote about her last
week here and at my blog. If you missed it, check it out at
http://budurl.com/jeannehurlbert

In just a few weeks, we’ll be introducing you to Social Media Rx,
our new social media assessment that’s your 20-minute
prescription for cutting through the clutter, chatter and
confusion on social media sites.

===================================
4. A Dozen Ways to Use My Free Ebook
===================================

Have you claimed your copy of “The Best of The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week of 2009″ yet? It not, go to
http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips and consider using it one of
these 12 ways:

–Create a Facebook note, and excerpt a tip in its entirety. Use
the JPEG of the ebook cover along with the text, and you’ve got a
nice little item that your followers and fans will love.

–No time for a Note? Write about it and share the link above in
a Facebook status update.

–Write about it in a LinkedIn status update.

–Blog about the book, and include your own success story that
ties into one of the tips.

–Offer the ebook as a bonus along with other products and
services you’re selling.

–Give it to your clients and customers.

–Mention it at your weekly staff meetings.

–Add it to the Free Articles page at your website.

–Give it away to the winner of a contest you’re sponsoring.

–Offer it as a freebie to help you capture names and email
addresses at your website.

–Create a video that discusses the ebook and upload it to your
website or to YouTube.

–Include the link (http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips) in a book
you’re writing, or in handouts you’re using for a speaking
engagement.

What other ways are you using the ebook? Share them at my blog at
http://budurl.com/howtousemyebook

===================================
5. Promoting Absorbent Mats
===================================

This week, six Publicity Hounds have tips for Jeanne Krieg of
Savage, MN. Her company, DryMate, makes a line of absorbent and
washable mats for home, pets, autos, hunting, garage and
outdoors. She needs ideas on how to pitch this product to
journalists.

From Christel Hall:

“I would consider picking the top three publications in each area
to do a special, custom publicity promotion to. For example, the
garage auto mat could be promoted to the top two auto
care/accessories magazines and also to the national publication
for Porsche owners, or other exclusive car club members. At the
same time, the outdoor blanket/mat could be promoted to camping
and outdoor magazines.”

From Jay Groff:

“I am friends with the vice president of PIG mats, which has the
same concept but they are more industrial. Despite the fact that
they are somewhat of a competitor, I think some kind of a
relationship could be formed where they could promote your line
of more household mats and you could promote their heavy duty
industrial mats. I truly believe cooperation can be better than
competition.”

From Laurie Morrow:

“DryMate might try to tie in with a realty company–get them to
buy a large amount, and give them as gifts to purchasers of new
homes. This is a tough market to sell real estate in, and you
could develop a number of cross-promotional ads.”

The Publicity Hound says:

All three ideas involve joint venture partnerships. Internet
marketer Don Crowther says “there’s no such thing as competitors,
just joint venture partners who don’t know it yet.”

Read all the responses to this week?s “Help This Hound” question
http://budurl.com/washablemats

Send your own Help this Hound question to:
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound
and include your city and state or province.

=================================
6. Help This Hound
=================================

Linda Alexander of Pitman, NJ, writes:

“I work for an association management and publishing company, and
we have just published the book Mentoring the Stars: A Program
for Volunteer Board Leaders at
http://budurl.com/mentoringstarsbook

“The book is designed to help new board members on association
boards understand their new roles and learn the skills and
competencies they need to be a successful board member.
Leadership, decision making, teamwork, strategic planning,
effective meetings and mentoring are just some of the topics
covered.

“Mentoring the Stars is a great resource for association board
members in any industry?nursing, hospitals and health care,
education, banking, real estate, human resources, plus church
groups, community organizations and more. While it’s great to be
applicable to anyone, it’s also hard to promote to everyone!

“The book is available on our website and on Amazon. We have done
some traditional PR and will be trying some targeted advertising
on Facebook, Google and Yahoo. Can your readers offer any
suggestions for ways to promote Mentoring the Stars to members of
association boards??

The Publicity Hound says:

The first thing that comes to my mind is LinkedIn. Let’s see what
my Hounds have to say. Hounds with their own ideas, or ways to
piggyback onto my LinkedIn suggestion, can post them to my blog
at http://budurl.com/mentoringthestars

==================================
7. Hound Joke of the Week
==================================

Thanks to Mary Pacinda of New Carlisle, Ohio for this one:

Two fleas are coming out of the movie theater and it’s raining
very hard outside. One flea says to the other flea, “What are we
going to do? Should we walk or wait for a dog?”

Dog Jokes & Quotes Ebook: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs..

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.

===================================
8. And at My Blog…
===================================

12 ways to use my free ebook of publicity tips
http://budurl.com/howtousemyebook

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

Join my Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/publicitytips

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:
You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends,
clients and colleagues.

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:
The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

================================================

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

Tags: Blogging, Book Promotion, Facebook, how to get free publicity, publicity for niche markets, Publicity Tips

Bookmark this site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODurRfVv4

Publicity Tips—Meet My (Unlikely) Business Partner

December 30th, 2009 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #485 Dec. 30, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net/ (Ezine Archives)

==========================================

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

===================================
In This Issue
===================================

1. Meet My (Unlikely) Business Partner

2. Dumbest Excuses for Not Blogging

3. Media Leads

4. Regift My ‘Best of’ Ebook

5. Promoting a Web Design Company

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Video of the Week

8. And at My Blog…

======================================
1. Meet My (Unlikely) Business Partner
======================================

If you asked me to describe my ideal business partner, never in a
million years would I envision someone with a PhD in sociology.

Such degrees, I always believed, are expensive pieces of paper
printed by the diploma factories otherwise known as universities.
They seldom lead to “real world” jobs outside of academia.

I certainly wouldn’t want a Phi Beta Kappa tagging along with me.
Such a highfalutin academic would be horrified to hear that I
flunked five college courses and almost didn’t graduate because I
was three credits short of a diploma just six weeks before
graduation.

Meet Jeanne Hurlbert, a PhD sociologist at Louisiana State
University, a survey expert and Phi Beta Kappa, who was studying
social networks long before Facebook?s Mark Zuckerberg was born.
When I heard her on a teleseminar in January this year, I was
hooked less than 10 minutes into the call. I emailed the
teleseminar host immediately and gushed, “This woman is
brilliant! Where did you find her?”

She’s my new business partner. Continue reading more about her,
and what we’ve cooked up for you, at my blog at
http://budurl.com/jeannehurlbert

===================================
2. Dumbest Excuses for Not Blogging
===================================

If you aren’t blogging yet, or you’ve stopped blogging, you can’t
use these three excuses:

–It takes too much time.

–I don’t know what to say.

–Nobody comments at my blog.

Let’s address them one by one.

Of course it takes time. But if I had to choose just one social
media tool, I’d probably choose a blog. It positions you as an
expert in your field far better than noisy sites like Twitter and
Facebook can.

You don’t know what to say?

Finding content is one of the biggest complaints I hear from
Publicity Hounds. But once you know about shortcuts like creating
Google Alerts at http://www.Google.com/alerts and checking them
each day for topics you can write about, you’ll have more content
than you’ll ever need. That’s what I do.

Nobody’s commenting at your blog?

It could be because your content isn’t compelling. Or perhaps you
aren’t feeding your blog into sites like Twitter, Facebook and
LinkedIn, where thousands more people can share your information
with friends, followers and fans. Or maybe you aren’t ending your
posts with questions like “Am I wrong?” or “What’s your take?” or
“Share your best tip here and let’s see how long a list we can
create.”

Make 2010 the year you finally commit to a blog and build in
efficiencies that will make the job go faster. Read more about
what you’ll learn and register at
http://budurl.com/smartbusinessblogs

=======================================
3. Media Leads
=======================================

–Are you chronically late? Read on. Diana DeLonzor, author of
the book Never Be Late Again: 7 Cures for the Punctually
Challenged at http://www.neverbelateagain.com/, will be featured
on CBS News in the next few weeks. The producers have asked her
to help them find one or more people who are chronically late and
would agree to be interviewed and possibly followed around for a
day by a camera crew. The segment will likely be shot sometime in
the first few weeks of January. The ideal interview subject is a
woman in her 30s or 40s who must balance a job with kids, doctors
appointments, chauffer duties, etc. But anyone chronically late
can apply. If you?re not chronically late, don?t respond. Please,
no time management experts either. Email Diana at
delonzor1@yahoo.com.

–Mildred Culp, who writes the syndicated column Workwise, is
looking for a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker who can
comment on revenge in the workplace. After the holidays, you must
have a digitized action photo taken by a colleague, friend or
relative. Email Mildred at workwise@comcast.net
.
===================================
4. Regift My ‘Best of’ Ebook
===================================

If you’re looking for a New Year’s gift for your clients,
customers or friends, consider “The Best of the Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week of 2009,” my gift to you.

It includes the top 26 tips from this year’s newsletters, or tips
that generated the most response from readers. Several thousand
people already have downloaded it, and many are retweeting this
link and sharing it on Facebook and LinkedIn:
http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips

Also consider giving this ebook as a bonus along with any
promotions you’re planning.

===================================
5. Promoting a Web Design Company
===================================

This week, 16 Publicity Hounds have tips for Alissa Rothstein of
Alissa Rothstein Design Studio in Woodbridge, NJ. She’s a
graphic/web designer who says small businesses can’t afford her,
or don’t want to pay for her services, and she’s looking for
marketing ideas.

From Mary Jane Hurley Brant:

“I would begin by offering to present a talk to your Chamber of
Commerce, then branch out to other areas because your business
can be accomplished via the Internet. They are always looking for
interesting speakers and you won?t have to write a different talk
each time.”

From MaAnna Stephenson:

“One of the best ways to meet these clients is to get busy
posting on the social media sites on which you already have
accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter. And, it?s a great way to
meet other folks that offer complementary services to these
clients, like Joan here at Publicity Hound. There are thousands
of people who consult blog users. Perhaps, following and making
friends with these folks would lead to some cross-promotion and
possibly, joint ventures.”

From Phyllis K. Twombly:

“You may want to consider linking with another company or
business such as a local printer who recommends you. You might
have to design one or two sites at a special deal (or even, gasp,
free!) just to get your name out there. Make sure those sites
give your company credit for their design.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Response to this simple question was overwhelming, and it’s
gratifying to see so many creative ideas from you Hounds. Well
done! Many of the comments apply to other businesses, not just
web design. You can read all the responses to this question at
http://budurl.com/webdesignmarketing

Send your own “Help this Hound” question to
JStewart@PublicityHound.com
and include your city, state or province.

=================================
6. Help This Hound
=================================

Jeanne Krieg of Savage, Minnesota writes:

“DryMate at http://www.drymate.com/ is a manufacturer in Minnesota
with a line of absorbent and washable mats for home, pets, autos,
hunting, garage and outdoors. We even sell a mat that goes under
your Christmas tree stand to catch spills, dirt, etc.

“Since our product is made from a fabric with a bonded backing,
do we want to reach textile editors of publications? Or category-
specific editors? Or both? To whom do we send pitches and press
releases?

“And can your Hounds suggest ideas on how we can pitch our
product to either consumer or industry publications?”

The Publicity Hound says:

I see lots of possibilities for trade and consumer publications,
as well as numerous opportunities at the social media sites. How
about it, Hounds? Let’s help Jeanne pitch this one and hit it out
of the park. Post your best comments to my blog at
http://budurl.com/washablemats

==================================
7. Hound Video of the Week
==================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Tracey Bennett of Honolulu, Hawaii for
this or this great video of the surfing dog that raises money for
a quadriplegic surfer. Have you seen it?

Dog Jokes & Quotes Ebook: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs..

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.

===================================
8. And at My Blog…
===================================

Like my blog? Nominate it for Writer’s Digest award
http://budurl.com/websiteaward

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

Join my Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/publicitytips

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound
Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends,
clients and colleagues.

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.
Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

================================================

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

Tags: Blogging, Media Relations, publicity for niche markets, Publicity Tips

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http://budurl.com/doggieChristmaseve

Publicity Tips—My Gift to You

December 23rd, 2009 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #483 Dec. 22, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.PublicityArticles.net (Ezine Archives)

==========================================

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

===================================
In This Issue
===================================

1. My Gift to You

2. Quick, What’s Your Brand?

3. Another Media Leads Service

4. Promoting The Screaming Pillow

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

====================================
1. My Gift to You
====================================

It’s time for my annual Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s gift
to you.

“The Best of The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week of 2009″
includes the best 26 tips from this year’s newsletters, or tips
that generated the most response from readers.

Feel free to re-gift it to your own blog readers, newsletter
subscribers, clients, customers, Twitter followers, and Facebook
friends.
They don’t even need to opt-in. You can download the ebook at
http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips and pass along that link.

If you work at a company, share it with your PR department. If
you work for a nonprofit, show it to your staff and even your
board members.

More than half of the tips in this year’s book are about social
media. What does that tell you about how much self-promotion has
changed?

Tips include:

–How to create your own holiday, or your own day, week or month
of the year.

–10 dead or dying PR tactics. (Which ones are you still using?)

–How to find out if a journalist blogs and how to navigate the
blog to find all the juicy tidbits you need to customize your
pitch.

–What to do if you’re a blogger and you’re sued tomorrow.

–The lazy way to create fun video–even if you don’t have a
technical bone in your body.

–25 reasons to hate Facebook (but how to suck it up, jump in and
actually have fun).

–A big, bright flashy–and free–publicity tool, right in your
own community.

–9 attention-grabbing phrases to use at your blog and at Twitter
to generate comments and retweets.

–How to share your best foodie tips on Twitter without boring
your readers with “what I had for lunch” drivel.

–How to boost the Google page rank of your blog or website with
an investment of only 15 minutes a week.

–Where to find more than 30 sample social media policies, for
free.

–How to promote your local events on Twitter and draw crowds.

–5 great social media marketing ideas when the idea well is dry.

–The Number 1 press release writing mistake that will doom you
every time.

–9 ways to get retweeted on Twitter.
You can get the ebook here, save it to your hard drive and then,
share it on the social networking sites:
http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips

If you’d like to excerpt content from the ebook and then link to
it from your own blog or Facebook Fan page, let me know and I’ll
send you the ebook as a Word document so you can easily cut and
paste.

Thanks to all of you for being loyal readers and to many of you
for being active participants in this newsletter. Each week, I
receive dozens of emails from Hounds who share publicity success
stories, contrary viewpoints, helpful publicity tips, time-saving
tools and shortcuts and, of course, Hound jokes, quotes and
hysterical videos.

Thanks, too, for correcting me when I goof. I’m grateful that
you’re part of my community, and it’s because of you that I have
the best job in the world. Next week, I’ll introduce you to my
new business partner and tell you what we have cooking for 2010.

P.S. Re-gifting this ebook is entirely appropriate. Share this:
http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips

===================================
2. Quick, What’s Your Brand?
===================================

You’re interviewing for a job, and the hiring manager asks,
“What’s your brand?”

Quick, how would you answer that question?

Personal branding consultant William Arruda says you’d better
know because “What’s your brand?” will become as standard an
interview question as “Tell me about yourself.” If he’s right,
you can probably expect the question during media interviews and
even business networking events.

That’s one of 10 branding trends that Arruda predicts in the
Marketing Profs article “Personal Branding Predictions: Top 10
for 2010″ at http://budurl.com/2010predictions He says hiring
managers and executive recruiters expect serious professionals to
have a powerful online identity through Google searches and at
social media sites.

“In 2010, if you don’t show up in Google, you don’t exist,” says
Arruda.

That’s already true, to some extent, when journalists and
bloggers are searching for experts to interview. If they’re
looking for someone with your expertise and your name isn’t on
the first or second page of Google, you’ve missed an opportunity
for a media interview–and maybe even a new job.

Once you’ve decided on your brand, be sure to carry it throughout
your entire media plan for 2010. If you’re busy closing out the
year and you haven’t even started thinking about how to generate
publicity for next year, it isn’t too late. I can walk you step-
by-step through the entire process. See “How to Create a Media
Plan,” and take advantage of the one hour of telephone consulting
that comes with this package. Read more about it at
http://www.publicityhound.com/mediaplan.htm

====================================
3. Another Media Leads Service
====================================

Take advantage of every opportunity to subscribe to the media
leads services that pass along leads from real, live journalists
who are looking for specific types of sources for stories they’re
covering.

The newest service is Bill and Steve Harrison’s “Reporter
Connection” which will tell you about topics for which
journalists and producers are actively seeking experts to
interview. Subscribe and you’ll receive their email newsletter
containing listings of sources needed by top reporters,
producers, writers, editors, bloggers and other media, every
business day. Journalists can also submit queries.

They say their service is unlike other media leads services in
two important ways:

–First, all replies go through their system which means
journalists don’t need to publish their email addresses to would-
be sources.

–Their unique Media Reply Forms practically force experts to
answer up to six specific questions for the media. This is good
for both sides because it cuts way down on off-target replies and
means you won’t end up pestering media people. It also means
journalists will only hear from on-target experts.
You can subscribe at
http://www.ReporterConnection.com/JoinNow/?10011 Even though you
don’t pay for this service, the Harrisons pay me a commission if
you turn into a customer.

The easiest time to get publicity is when journalists have
already decided to cover a particular subject and they’re hungry
for sources.

If you’re a journalist, blogger or ezine editor and you need
sources, you can submit a query at
http://www.ReporterConnection.com/press

===================================
4. Promoting The Screaming Pillow
===================================

This week, six Publicity Hounds have tips for Gabrielle Yetter of
Marblehead, MA, on how to market The Screaming Pillow, a
decorative pillow that people can scream into when they’re
stressed and want to let off steam.

From Rekaya Gibson:

“Have a ‘Scream in Your Pillow Contest’ similar to the ‘Stella
Shouting Contest’ that’s held during the Tennessee Williams/New
Orleans Literary Festival in recognition of ‘Streetcar Named
Desire.’ There’s a great video on YouTube–-another great way to
promote your pillows after the contest.”

From Nancy Binzel Pierce:

“Your target market is anyone who has ever felt like screaming
into a pillow, or roughly 100 percent of the population. Pitch
this to Ellen, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.”

From Linda S. Williams:

“How about writing an ebook that would include a Screaming Pillow
for anyone who buys the book. The book could tell your story and
the therapeutic information behind the pillow. It might also
include other stories. Since you already have a website and use
Facebook, you’re ready to go.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
http://budurl.com/screamingpillow

Send your own Help this Hound question to:
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound
and include your city and state or province.

=================================
5. Help This Hound
=================================

Alissa Rothstein of Alissa Rothstein Design Studio in Woodbridge,
NJ, writes:

“I am a graphic/web designer, and I’m stuck when it comes to
marketing.

“I’ve tried email blasts to different industries, postcard
mailings, and am a member of the Chamber of Commerce which,
incidentally, had promised but never provided any leads.

“I am not really targeting small businesses because I find that
they can’t or don’t want to pay for designer services and I have
to fight the ‘I can do it myself’ mentality. Or, they think that
they can save money by hiring a cheap intern or a kid out of
college. While they can do graphics, web and e-marketing
activities themselves, they just can’t do it very well and it’s a
poor reflection on their company.

“Help! I need marketing and publicity ideas from your Hounds. I
have Facebook, MySpace and Twitter pages, although I’m not very
active.”

The Publicity Hound says:

You must position yourself as one of the foremost experts in your
field and hammer home that point again and again by sharing
useful, helpful advice for anyone who needs a website. Let’s see
if my Hounds can suggest other ideas. Hounds? Post your
suggestions to my blog at http://budurl.com/webdesignmarketing

==================================
6. Hound Video of the Week
==================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Christine Buffaloe of San Diego, CA, my
virtual assistant, for this heart-warming video of what dogs do
on Christmas Eve.

Dog Jokes & Quotes Ebook: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

Join my Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/publicitytips

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends,
clients and colleagues.

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

================================================

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

Tags: branding your business, Media Plan, pitching the media, publicity for niche markets, Publicity Tips

Bookmark this site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUtPKbMwnRo

Publicity Tips—Your Bio: A Sleeping Pill?

December 8th, 2009 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #481 Dec. 8, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net/ (Ezine Archives)

==========================================

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

===================================
In This Issue
===================================

1. Your Bio: A Sleeping Pill?

2. Journalists Who Twitter

3. Corporate Sponsors Want You

4. Promoting Booklets About Aging

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

====================================
1. Your Bio: A Sleeping Pill?
====================================

If your bio is anything like the bios written by most other
people, it’s more potent than a sleeping pill.

Boring bios usually include a big gray paragraph of schools
attended and academic degrees earned, a long list of awards, no
fun facts, and nothing that shows the writer’s personality.

These bios, void of anything remotely interesting, are bogging
down websites and online press kits and turning off potential
customers, clients and the media.

I came across photographer Terry Turrentine’s bio last week while
preparing my presentation on “Ezines, Blogs & Bios” for the
smARTist Telesummit 2010. I found her bio so intriguing that I
started to dissect it.

Terry photographed egrets for her book, Great Egret. Her bio
concentrates on only one theme: her relationship with birds.

She discusses learning how to shoot them when she was 10 years
old and a card-carrying member of the National Rifle Association.
She lovingly mentions the mallard wing her father gave to her,
which she tucked into her drawer with her other cherished
possessions. She later admits to feeling revulsion for having
killed birds.

Her bio gives readers an intimate glimpse into her life and what
shaped her love of birds. It’s void of the standard “where I
attended school” facts that can clutter a beautifully written
piece.

Take a look: http://terryturrentine.com/artist-bio.html

So what about her degrees earned, schools attended, awards won
and other minutiae that ruin bios? You can include them in your
standard resume, and link to it from your bio.

“Special Report #46: Tips for Rewriting Your Boring Bio,”
includes ideas for various ways to approach your rewrite,
examples of bios I love, and how to incorporate key events from
your childhood, just like Terry did. Only $10. Order at
http://budurl.com/boringbio

If you’re an artist whose marketing campaign needs a jolt,
there’s still time to register for the smARTist Telesummit 2010.
Go to http://budurl.com/smartistelesummit (I earn a commission
for selling seats to this event).

===================================
2. Journalists Who Twitter
===================================

Thanks to book marketing guru John Kremer’s excellent ezine,
“Book Marketing Tips of the Week,” at http://www.bookmarket.com/

He provides a list of where to find journalists who Twitter, and
it’s important because many journalists use these sites to find
experts to interview. “Follow those journalists that you want to
begin creating relationships with,” John says.

http://www.journalisttweets.com
Allows you to track what journalists are writing about you, your
book, or your subject. Includes email alerts. Also allows you to
locate journalists on Twitter by subject interest.

http://www.justtweetit.com/media/reporters-press
Features 156 reporters and editors.

http://www.mediaontwitter.com/
Features more than a thousand journalists by name, Twitter ID,
title/beat, media outlet and country.

http://www.muckrack.com/
Features journalists by beats (world, U.S., politics, business,
technology, sports, arts, etc.) and media company.
Add to those three of my favorites: Harry Hoover’s three lists of
media, U.S. journalists and Canadian journalists that Twitter at
http://listorious.com/MyCreativeTeam

If you’re twittering and not seeing a return on your investment
of time, check out “How to Use Twitter to Amass an Army of
Followers, Customers & Valuable Contacts–and Promote,” a two-
part teleseminar series I hosted with Twitter expert Warren
Whitlock, at http://budurl.com/WarrenonTwitter

====================================
3. Corporate Sponsors Want You
====================================

One of the best ways for corporations to market themselves is
through experts like Brendon Burchard and Jacqueline Whitmore and
maybe even you.

After a lot of trial and error, Brendon cracked the code and
developed a surprisingly easy way to get major companies like
Wachovia, Coke, Toyota and Sony Pictures to promote and sponsor
his books, publicity and speaking tours.

Jacqueline has had equally impressive success.

She’s the gift-giving expert for Sam’s Club, the gift buying
expert for Office Depot, and a national spokesperson for Sprint.
She also has partnered with Clarisonic skin care products and
Hologic, which sells imaging equipment for the health care
industry. In both cases, Brendon and Jacqueline found companies
that were a perfect fit with their area of expertise and have
received mountains of free publicity from national print and
broadcast media.

“When you’re aligned with a corporation, especially a Fortune 500
company or one that has a reputable name, you’re perceived as
more credible because that corporation has chosen you as its
spokesperson,” she said.

In fact, at the National Speakers Association convention last
year, Jacqueline heard Brendon speak about how to land corporate
sponsors and said he was one of the highest-rated speakers at the
event.

This year, Brendon will share his secrets during a free
teleseminar this Thursday, Dec. 10, with Steve Harrison. Discover
how you can use his methods to promote your own book, product or
business, just like Brendon and Jacqueline do, and get PR firms
to pay all your expenses.

The call will be presented twice?-at 2 and 7 p.m. Eastern. If you
can’t make it, please recruit someone to listen and take notes
for you. Register at
http://www.SponsorshipTrainingTeleseminar.com/?10011 (I earn a
commission for customers I send to Steve Harrison).

===================================
4. Promoting Booklets About Aging
===================================

This week, five Publicity Hounds have tips for Ted Fuller of
Lafayette, CA, on how to promote his two tips booklets for senior
citizens, “The Best Ideas Yet About Aging Successfully” and “Tips
for Writing a Great Memoir.”

From Berg:

“It shouldn’t be too expensive to send actual samples.”

From Mary Jane Hurley Brant:

“Allot a certain amount of your newly written booklets and make
like Santa and give them away for free. Also, start giving talks
with a ‘buy 2, get 2 free’ offer.”

From Carrollyn C. Cox:

“Many retired seniors have the time to spend on Facebook, Twitter
and especially LinkedIn. Build a Facebook page and promote via
other social media sites.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
at http://budurl.com/seniorsbooklets

=================================
5. Help This Hound
=================================

Gabrielle Yetter of Marblehead, MA, writes:

“I recently launched my new company and produce The Screaming
Pillow which is a pillow you scream into when you need to let off
steam.

“It came about after my sister and her baby were killed in a car
crash many years ago and my mother was counseled by a bereavement
therapist to scream into a pillow. The product is more of a
novelty item and I’m selling it through my website because it
isn’t cost-effective to sell retail.

“I have been doing a huge amount of online promotion and recently
had a nice article written about me in our local paper which
resulted in a decent number of sales.

“But I’m looking for creative ways to get the message out to
broader audiences. I’ve made contact with a few therapists who
love it and I have lots of ideas, but am somewhat limited since I
am a company of one.

“I’d love some ideas from your Hounds about how I might be able
to reach more targeted audiences and ways in which I may be able
to get press other than just in our local paper.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Gabrielle, your challenge is easier than you think because you
have a compelling story behind the product–something media love.
Hounds, post your best ideas to my blog at
http://budurl.com/screamingpillow

==================================
6. Hound Video of the Week
==================================

Dread trimming the tree this year? Get some inspiration from this
video, courtesy of Publicity Hound Kathleen Mahan of San Juan
Capistrano, CA. Watch how these clever four-legged Hounds trim
their own tree. One even climbs up on a ladder. If they can do
it, you can do it.

Dog Jokes & Quotes Ebook: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.

==================================
7. And at My Blog…
==================================

Offer 30-second spots featuring “how to” tips for local radio
http://budurl.com/radiospots

Giving free speeches? More places where you can speak
http://budurl.com/givefreespeeches

10 ways to get free publicity from the Tiger Woods mess
http://budurl.com/PRfromtigerwoods

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

Join my Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/publicitytips

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends,
clients and colleagues.

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

================================================

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

Tags: Publicity Tips, social networking, tips booklets, Twitter

Bookmark this site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjyUJGw7urk

Publicity Tips—What if Your Lawyer is Wrong?

December 1st, 2009 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #481 Dec. 1, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.PublicityArticles.net (Ezine Archives)

==========================================

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

===================================
In This Issue
===================================

1. What if Your Lawyer is Wrong?

2. Website Magnets: Pet Ecards

3. Pitching Ellen, Rachael & Cavuto

4. Promoting a Book About Christians

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

8. Correction

====================================
1. What if Your Lawyer is Wrong?
====================================

If you’re faced with a PR nightmare, don’t assume that your
lawyer’s advice will save you.

Just ask Tiger Woods, whose legal advice might well be
responsible for the public relations mess that’s been getting
even messier since last week’s car crash.

On TV talk shows and all over the Internet, media experts, crisis
counselors, PR pros and even attorneys are admonishing Woods for
flunking PR 101 since crashing his car into a fire hydrant, and
then a tree, outside the couple’s home Thanksgiving night.

They say he erred by:

–Holing up inside his home and refusing to talk to the police or
the public, making it look like he has something to hide and
fueling speculation about what happened.

–Waiting until Sunday to post a statement on his website, thus
letting anyone with an opinion take control of the story. PR pros
say that even though all the details aren’t necessary, he should
have given a more substantive response.

–Canceling an appearance at the Chevron World Challenge golf
tournament this weekend.

During an interview I did with crisis counselor Clarence Jones
several years ago, Jones said that attorneys, who usually tell
their clients not to comment, are concerned primarily about
winning in the court of law, not in the court of public opinion.
That’s why clients who have won in the court of law sometimes
emerge with their reputations in ruins. By that time, the PR
damage has been done.

Jones advises that if you find yourself in a PR crisis, weigh
your lawyer’s advice along with the advice of others such as a
good crisis counselor. Read more about what he discussed during
the teleseminar “In a Media Crisis, Your Lawyer Will be Wrong” at
http://budurl.com/yourlawyer

===================================
2. Website Magnets: Pet Ecards
===================================

When BL Ochman and her business partner, Caimin Jones, realized
their new company, Pawfun.com at http://www.pawfun.com, needed to
have more traffic before they could expect to make a profit
selling customized pet T-shirts, totes and other items, they
decided to change their business model.

They added the kind of social media tools they create to help
their corporate clients build traffic and sales–a free service
that lets anyone create free pet ecards. Take a look:
http://www.pawfun.com/send-ecard/

Upload your own pet photo to the site, and add pithy, funny or
endearing comments to the bubble that comes out of the pet’s
mouth. Then share the card with your social media friends,
followers and fans.

“In order for us to make money, we need a high volume of
traffic,” BL said. “We really needed to turn that site into a
social media lab for ourselves–something that does all the
things we tell our clients to do.”

The result?

“It’s really starting to work,” she said. “Traffic is doubling
every week, and there are hundreds of ecards featured in our
gallery.”

They’ve even landed two corporate sponsorships. The first is with
StacksandStacks.com, which sells organizing tools for humans and
pets. The other is with Simon & Schuster, publisher of the book
“Cowboy and Wills” about the Golden Retriever and the autistic
boy who loved him. Pawfun will give the books as contest prizes.

“We know that those are the kinds of sponsorship deals that are
possible,” BL said.

What free magnets are you offering at your own website? “Special
Report #51: 55 Free Things You Can Offer to Generate Publicity or
Capture People’s Email Addresses” give you dozens of ideas. Read
more about it at http://budurl.com/specialreport51

====================================
3. Pitching Ellen, Rachael & Cavuto
====================================

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that big, celebrity-driven TV
talk shows only want celebrities.

Even though “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” loves celebrities and A-
list interviews, Ellen loves human interest stories like child
inventors, variety acts, and social causes like Hurricane Katrina
or animal rights. But how would you know that unless you watch
the show every day?

Get free detailed profiles with key contacts and how-to-get-on
info for five top shows including ABC’s “20/20,” “The Ellen
DeGeneres Show,” “Rachael Ray,” “Book TV” and “The Neil Cavuto
Show” by going to http://www.AppearOnTopTVShows.com/?10011

The five profiles are drawn from “Harrison’s Guide to the Top
National Talk & Interviews TV Shows,” which is on sale through 6
p.m. Eastern this Friday, December 4. Subscribe now and you’ll
also get a 30-minute consultation with a former national TV
producer who’ll help you get on TV. (I get a commission if you
buy this directory.)

===================================
4. Promoting a Book About Christians
===================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have tips for Mitch Carnell of
Charleston, SC, who needs ideas on how to market his book,
Christian Civility in an Uncivil World.

From Gail Sideman:

“I would take some of the elements in this book and create story
angles and tips about why they apply to life in and outside
religious practices.

“Create a tips list with the top bits of advice in the book and
pitch them to media and as a column for consumers to use. This
would be a good way to begin to help people relate to the book in
general and not corner it into a religious how-to book.”

From Christine Buffaloe:

“The first thing would be to create a presence on Facebook. If
you don?t already have a profile, create one at
http://www.facebook.com/. It?s easy to do. Then join groups that
are within your niche and, from there, connect with the people in
those groups.

“Then, create a Facebook fan page. This is where you can really
promote your book. You can send updates and link to your blog.
The possibilities are endless.”

From The Publicity Hound:

“Mitch, how about trying to get booked on niche radio talk shows
that will reach your niche audience?

“Francine Silverman?s ebooks that offer contact info are a good
place to start. I blogged about these this morning at
http://budurl.com/talkradioinfo

“Under the self-help category, I see several possibilities on how
you can spin your topic to match those topics.”
Read all the responses to this week’s ?Help This Hound” question
http://budurl.com/gjzx

Send your own Help this Hound question to:
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound
and include your city and state.

=================================
5. Help This Hound
=================================

Ted Fuller of Lafayette, Calif., writes:

“Thanks to you and Paulette Ensign, the Tips Booklet Queen, I
have completed my first two booklets.

“The Best Ideas Yet About Aging Successfully is 16 pages, and
Tips for Writing a Great Memoir is 12 pages. Now comes the grind
of contacting book and gift store distributors, retirement home
companies, and other organizations serving seniors.

Any suggestions on how one gets these charming publications
publicized so the purchasing departments seek me out with their
orders??

The Publicity Hound says:

Mitch, I urge you to think far beyond nursing homes for your
target audience. Many of today’s senior citizens run marathons
and climb mountains. You don’t have a website, and that’s
compounding your problem. So I hope my Hounds make some
suggestions on how to also sell these booklets online. Hounds,
post your best ideas to my blog at
http://budurl.com/seniorsbooklets

==================================
6. Hound Video of the Week
==================================

Meet Cowboy and Wills. Cowboy is the Golden Retriever puppy that
brought joy and love to Wills Holloway, an autistic boy. They’re
the subject of the book “Cowboy & Wills,” by Monica Holloway.
This isn’t your typical book promo, and it made my day. Thanks to
BL Ochman of New York City (See Item #2 above), for sharing it.

Dog Jokes & Quotes Ebook: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.
http://www.publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/

==================================
7. And at My Blog…
==================================

Ebooks offer talk radio contact info for specific niches
http://budurl.com/talkradioinfo

==================================
8. Correction
==================================

In last week’s issue, I incorrectly identified Scott Martin of
Lake Mary, Fla., who runs DivorceDirection, a financial advisory
firm and who was quoted recently in the New York Times. I
apologize for the error.

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

Join my Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/publicitytips

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends,
clients and colleagues.

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

================================================

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

Tags: Book Promotion, how to get free publicity, Media Relations, pitching the media, Pitching to Reporters, publicity for niche markets

Bookmark this site

Publicity Tips—Stop Talking About Yourself

November 24th, 2009 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #480 Nov. 24, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net/ (Ezine Archives)

==========================================

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

===================================
In This Issue
===================================

1. Stop Talking About Yourself

2. Call Your Trade Associations

3. Oprah’s Farewell

4. For Artists Only

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Quote of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

====================================
1. Stop Talking About Yourself
====================================

If social media were a cocktail party, many of us would be
heading for home by 8:30.

That’s because everybody seems to be talking about themselves:

“I’m standing in line at Starbucks.”

“I’m starting my day with a hot bowl of oatmeal.”

“I just dropped my kids off at school. It’s pouring rain!”

Chris Brogan, who is arguably one of the top social media experts
in the world and whose blog has been ranked Number 1 by
Advertising Age magazine, says we should be spending 12 times as
much time talking about other people as we do about ourselves.

He spoke last week at the Web 2.0 Expo in New York City. A 10-
minute snippet of his presentation at
http://budurl.com/chrisbroganvideo may be one of the most
valuable videos you’ll watch all year. His tips:

–If you’re not spending time using http://www.Search.Twitter.com
or the search part of your social media application, you’re
missing one of the best opportunities that social media offers.
That’s because you can search for people who are talking about
specific topics. Following conversations is often more valuable
than following people.

–We should be listening far more than worrying about what to
say.

–When we share helpful tips and information from other people,
that makes us more valuable to the people who follow us. Eighty
percent of his Twitter posts are responses to things other people
have tweeted.

–No continual “barking” (his words, not mine) about your
products.

–The difference between an audience and a community is the way
you turn the chairs.

As you watch the video, notice the tweets that show up on the
screen behind him. Many of them are from audience members who are
tweeting about his presentation. They’re using the hashtag #w2e
in their tweets. That makes it easy for anyone searching for
information about the conference to find it at
http://www.search.twitter.com/

Read more about how to use hashtags for publicity at my blog at
http://budurl.com/usehashtags

===================================
2. Call Your Trade Associations
===================================

When New York Times columnist Ron Lieber wanted to end his recent
series of columns on money and divorce with advice from financial
advisors whose own marriages fell apart, he turned to the
Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts looking for experts.

The association contacted its members, including Publicity Hound
Scott Martin of Lake Mary, Fla, who runs DivorceDirection, a
financial advisory firm. Scott jumped at the chance to get into
the Times. He emailed the reporter, offered his expertise, and
was quoted in Saturday’s article at
http://budurl.com/moneyanddivorce

Don’t wait for your trade association or professional group to
contact you. Call or email them and let them know that if
journalists contact them looking for sources, you’ll be happy to
help. Your trade associations will welcome your call because they
won’t have to spend time searching for members who would agree to
be interviewed.

Scott, by the way, used my teaching tool “How to Create a Media
Plan” to build a relationship with the Times reporter. Scott is
also reviewing the more than 200 story ideas, from January to
December, that come with the step-by-step instructions, and
deciding which ones he’ll incorporate into his own media plan.
Read more about “How to Create a Media Plan” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/mediaplan.htm

====================================
3. Oprah’s Farewell
====================================

Many Publicity Hounds are devastated by the news that Oprah
Winfrey is ending her talk show in September 2011, but not nearly
as devastated as local affiliates, which share advertising
revenues with syndicated shows like “Oprah.”

Affiliates will be the big losers when Oprah says good-bye after
23 years so she can concentrate on creating the Oprah Winfrey
Network (OWN). It’s expected to launch January 2011 on cable and
will feature ?lifestyle?? programs shaped by Oprah. She isn’t
expected to have her own talk show.

That means that if you’ve been dying to get onto “Oprah,” you
still have almost two years to pitch her producers. Here are
three tips for getting onto the show:

–Pitch a topic that pushes Oprah’s hot buttons, like helping
children live better lives.

–Pitch an entire segment, not just yourself.

–Research her producers by reading their blogs at
http://budurl.com/oprahproducersblog

When I interviewed Susan Harrow, the foremost expert of “How to
Get Booked on Oprah,” Susan revealed Oprah’s other hot-button
topics and offered tips galore on how to get onto the show. Learn
more about what we discussed at http://budurl.com/bookedonoprah

===================================
4. For Artists Only
===================================

Most artists I know are incredibly creative, but they struggle to
sell their artwork when the economy is booming.

Today, when unemployment is still rising and there’s no end in
sight to the gloom and doom, artwork is one of the first things
consumers can do without.

If you’re a jeweler, potter, fabric artist, painter or
woodworker, join me in January for the smARTist Telesummit 2010,
hosted by art marketing expert Ariane Goodwin. I’ll present a
program on “Ezines, Bios & Blogs! The Top 3 Writing Problems That
Stop Artists Cold? and How to Solve Them.”

If you’re an artist who wants to turn an art passion into an art
business, or salvage an art business that has been ravaged by the
economy, don’t miss this one. It’s, by far, the very best
marketing training you’ll get anywhere.

The smARTist Telesummit 2010 launches today with the traditional
Early Bird Special. Save $50 by registering before Dec. 8.

Still not sure? Join Ariane, by phone, on Dec. 8 for the ?Virtual
Opening Reception Party,? a free teleseminar where the 11
speakers, including me, will whet your appetite with solid take-
away tips. Sign up for the reception party, or register for the
entire telesummit at http://budurl.com/smartistelesummit

=================================
5. Help This Hound
=================================

Mitch Carnell of Charleston, SC, writes:

“My book, Christian Civility in an Uncivil World, has just been
published and I need help promoting it. The other contributors
from different denominations are all much better known than I am.

“The publisher sells mostly online and relies on distributors to
get it into bookstores and on Amazon. The book is great for small
group discussions in churches and college classes. Each chapter
can stand alone. My chapter on ‘The Power of Words’ brings
everything together.

“Paul Raushenbush, associate dean of the Princeton University
Chapel, wrote a dynamic foreword. I am doing all of the normal
book publicity tasks but I need some breakthrough help. Can your
Hounds offer their best ideas on how to market the book?”
The Publicity Hound says:

Social media provides opportunities galore to target niche
audiences like a laser beam. How about it Hounds? How can Mitch
use traditional and social media to sell more books? Post your
best ideas to my blog at http://budurl.com/gjzx

==================================
6. Hound Quote of the Week
==================================

“You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give
you a look that says, ‘My God, you’re right! I never would’ve
thought of that!’” — Dave Barry

Dog Jokes & Quotes Ebook: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.
Http://www.publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/

==================================
7. And at My Blog…
==================================

13 ways to use royalty-free stock images in a PR campaign
http://budurl.com/stockimages

Bad news releases outed by journalists with blogs
http://budurl.com/badreleases

Speakers, publicize your speaking engagements these 9 ways
http://budurl.com/4w3z

————————————

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================================================

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

Tags: Book Promotion, hashtags, how to get on Oprah, Oprah, publicity for niche markets, Publicity Tips, social networking, trade associations, Twitter

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