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

————————————

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:

Reprinted from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,” an ezine
featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity.
Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email
the handy cheat sheet “89 Reasons to Send a Press Release.”

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #479 Nov. 17, 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. How to Promote Your Experts

2. Pay Attention to Media Websites

3. Oprah/Palin Outtakes

4. How to Promote a Book on Autism

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Videos of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

====================================
1. How to Promote Your Experts
====================================

If you’re an expert in your industry, or you have a team of
experts, let the world know.

During yesterday’s teleseminar for members of The Publicity Hound
Mentor Program, I shared 14 ways to promote your experts. Here
are four of them:

–Create an Experts Directory. If you have many experts, list
them by category, in alphabetical order, and include all contact
information. Make sure your experts have given you permission to
include their names. If they’re at all shy about talking to
reporters or bloggers, pay for media training or don’t include
them. Send hard-copy directories to targeted media, and make the
directory available at your website, in your media room.

–Include one page at your website for each expert. Make sure the
title bar includes a keyword phrase that will help the media find
your expert quickly through the search engines. Example:
“Employee recruitment and retention expert.”

–During a big breaking news event that ties into an expert’s
topic, call or email your media contacts and offer your expert
for background, commentary and story ideas that tie into the
breaking news.

–Give your experts prominent exposure in online experts
directories.
Each year, I subscribe to Expertclick: The Online Yearbook of
Experts. PRWeek calls this the “Dating Service of PR” because it
connects experts and journalists. I’ve been a member for years,
and my Press Room Page has helped me capture the top two or three
positions on Google for the phrase “publicity expert.”

The deadline is Friday, Nov. 20, for their 25th Anniversary 2010
Yearbook of Experts. See the full brochure at
https://www.ExpertClick.com/Discount/Publicity-Hound and take
advantage of their special for Publicity Hounds. They’ll shave
$100 off your subscription. Or call 202-333-5000. They answer
their phones live and have great customer service.

===================================
2. Pay Attention to Media Websites
===================================

Before you pitch journalists or broadcasters, know all your
options by visiting their websites.

I wanted to pitch a story idea to the news department at Fox 6, a
Milwaukee TV station, recently and visited their site to see what
I could find. I learned they now accept news tips and pitches at
the site during their 1:45 p.m. news meeting each day.

They broadcast video of the meeting. And even though you can’t
hear the audio, you can pitch your story idea right at the
website. That’s exactly what I did.

The producer who was reading the pitches on his laptop while
attending the meeting responded immediately and said he loved my
idea. But he thought it was more appropriate for the station’s
early-morning news/feature program. I pitched that program, and
the host responded the next day and booked a segment with my
client for next month. Is that cool or what?

These websites often include other valuable nuggets. You might
find bios of the on-air reporters and anchors. You can upload
photos and videos at many newspaper, TV and radio websites. You
can submit items for their event calendars. You can also find
mini profiles of all their local programs. Many media outlets
also include links where you can follow them on Facebook and
Twitter.

Now that you know how to find them and pitch them, start building
relationships with them. “Special Report #49: 17 Ways to Build
Valuable Relationships with Media People” shows you how. Only
$10. Order at http://budurl.com/lzge

===================================
3. Oprah/Palin Outtakes
===================================

Oprah’s taped interview with Sarah Palin, which was broadcast
yesterday, attracted so many viewers who love her or hate her
that Oprah’s smart producers did something that we can do.

They posted five outtakes from the interview at Oprah’s website
under the headline “What You Didn’t See.” Take a look:
http://budurl.com/oprahandsarah

If you’re shooting video for whatever reason, and you have some
great outtakes, here are six ideas for using them:

–Edit them into separate videos and upload them to your YouTube
channel and to other video-sharing sites so they pull in traffic
from the search engines. Use different keywords for each video so
you pull the maximum amount of traffic possible.

–Insert the video links into press releases.

–Post the videos in your online press room.

–Use them at your blog.

–Include the links in articles you write for the article
directory sites.

–Share them with your social media friends, fans and followers.
Videographer John Easton of Charlotte, N.C. knows creative, easy
ways to use video to generate publicity and sales leads, even if
you only do business locally. I interviewed him about “9 Clever
Ways to Use Video to Become a Publicity Darling in Your Industry
or Community.” Learn more at http://budurl.com/sttl

===================================
4. How to Promote a Book on Autism
===================================

This week, six Publicity Hounds have tips for Mary Ann Puckett
from Oklahoma City, OK, author of a self-published book, “Take
Him Home and Love Him: A Story of Autism and How to Cope with
It.” She needs tips for promoting the book to parents and
caregivers.

From Linda Kotzian:

“Contact Care Trak at http://www.caretrak.com/news.htm  They sell
tracking devices for those afflicted by Alzheimer?s and autism.
They might share their mailing list with you, or even promote
your book as part of their service.”

From Eric Gruber:

“You should be writing articles and submitting them to the top
parenting and health websites, blogs, ezines and article
directories–as well as focusing on those sites that deal with
autism specifically. For example, you should target
http://autism.about.com/ ”

From Margaret Vos:

“Perhaps your high school, college, or university would LOVE to
hear about your accomplishment. Not just a ‘local girl does good’
story, but one that can help other parents too–and targeted to
an educational field but with a different angle. You could
include special needs schools that have newsletters for parents.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Mary Ann, you need to reach out to two huge segments of bloggers:
mommy bloggers and home-schoolers. Go to Google and search for
?top 20 mommy bloggers? and see what you find.  Also, ?top 20
home-school bloggers.?

Make sure you visit their blogs and post a comment or two before
you pitch. And, of course, make sure the blog is a good fit with
the book.

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

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

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

I’m out of questions (send questions!) so this week’s is from me:
Publicity Hounds who responded to my Customer Profile Survey in
the spring said blogging was one of the top three topics they
wanted to know more about.

I’m planning one or more paid teleseminars on blogging for
business soon, and I want to make sure I’m teaching things you
need to know.

If you’re interested in this topic, let me know which sub-topics
interest you:

–How to find compelling content

–Shortcuts and time-saving tools

–Commenting at other blogs

–The best blog directories where you should submit your blog

–How to pull traffic to your blog

–Using photos and images

–How to pitch a guest blog post to someone else

–How to find guest bloggers

–Feeding your blog posts into social media sites

–Writing compelling headlines

–Or any topics I haven’t mentioned here.

Also, please let me know if you consider yourself a beginning,
intermediate or advanced blogger.
Mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com and put “Blogging” in the
subject line.

==================================
6. Hound Videos of the Week
==================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Jacqueline Simonds of Reno, NV for
these three videos that show sheer joy, yelps of delight and lots
of tail-wagging as these four-legged hounds welcome home their
owners from Iran and Afghanistan. (This’ll cheer you up if you’re
having a really bad day.)

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/40324

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…
==================================

Oprah’s producers blog & drop clues about what they like
http://budurl.com/oprahproducersblog

8 ways public speaking produces multiple revenue streams
http://budurl.com/malinchakspeaking

————————————

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:

Reprinted from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,” an ezine
featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity.
Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email
the handy cheat sheet “89 Reasons to Send a Press Release.”

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #478 Nov. 11, 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. How to Follow Up

2. Predict Top Trends of 2010

3. Gary V’s 5 Commandments

4. How to Promote a Floral Shop

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

====================================
1. How to Follow Up
====================================

When you pitch a story idea to a journalist or blogger and hear
nothing, what do you do? Figure they’re not interested and move
on?

If so, it could be a missed opportunity. I’ve heard of cases in
which journalists won’t cover a story until a year or two after
someone pitched it.

If you’re following up with a phone call, don’t just call and ask
“are you covering the story?” That makes you sound desperate.

Instead, have a reason to follow up. Here are five things to
offer when you call:

–Additional sources for the story.

–Graphics or photos.

–A sidebar, like a quiz.

–A Top 10 list (see Item 2 below).

–A video that a newspaper reporter can refer to in a story, or
that any media outlet can post at its website.

You can also score points by asking this question: “Is there
anything else you need or any other way I can help?”
Chicago publicist Rickey Gold used the tips she learned during
the teleseminar on “Fail-proof Ways to Follow Up After Sending a
News Release or a Story Idea” and landed a product review for her
client in a magazine eight months after her original pitch. Read
more about the tips she followed at
 http://budurl.com/7zsx

===================================
2. Predict Top Trends of 2010
===================================

Any Publicity Hound in any industry can do this. Predict the top
trends for next year.

Every year, about this time, media everywhere are on the lookout
for predictions about what the new year will bring. Ditto for
bloggers. I found a great example at the RunningRestaurants.com
website last week where a chef/owner offered his top predictions
for restaurant trends next year. Take a look:
http://budurl.com/elqx

These make great tip lists, blog posts, guest blog posts, notes
for your Facebook fan page and even videos. You can send these
lists to multiple media outlets.

If you work at a company, you can ask five or six experts to
predict one top trend for next year and combine them all into one
list. Provide head shots of your experts.

“Special Report #16: How to Write Tip Sheets That Catch the
Media’s Attention” offers dozens of other ideas and suggestions
on how to use tip sheets, one of the most powerful tools in your
publicity toolkit. Read more at http://budurl.com/6j5h

===================================
3. Gary V’s 5 Commandments
===================================

The friend that listens is better than the friend that talks.

So says Gary Vaynerchuk, aka Gary V, one of the hottest stars in
the social media world. The thirtysomething son of Russian
immigrants hosts weekday podcasts about wine at
TV.WineLibrary.com.

His brash style and unpretentious approach to wine appreciation
have attracted an average 40,000 viewers to each podcast, more
than 85,000 followers on Twitter, and more than $60 million a
year in sales at the Wine Library, the New Jersey wine store he
co-owns with his father.

Here are Gary V’s 5 commandments for social media, as listed in
the Wall Street Journal:

–Treat it like a cocktail party. Don’t pitch as soon as you meet
someone.

–Don’t draw lines in the sand and call sites like Twitter
“stupid” just because you don’t know how to use them.

–Humanize yourself and your brand with personal information, but
only 2 percent of the time.

–Understand the authenticity and the incredible power of social
media sites and the voices of consumers to make or break
companies.

–Interacting with potential clients and becoming part of the
community is a real job. Listen before you talk.

Read the entire interview with him at http://budurl.com/lmru
Learn more about the teleseminar I hosted with blogger and social
media consultant BL Ochman on “How to do Social Networking, Run a
Business & Still Have a Life” at http://budurl.com/wmv2

===================================
4. How to Promote a Floral Shop
===================================

This week, 13 Publicity Hounds have tips for Cheryl Muskus of Oak
Creek, WI, owner of The CarmelRose, a floral shop. She needs
ideas for events and other pitches she can use with the local
media to promote her shop.

From C.M. Mayo:

“One of the things that has always really perplexed me is that
when I order flowers over the phone, I never know what the
delivered arrangement actually looks like. So if you would offer
to send your customers a .jpg photo via email of their
bouquet-?the actual one that just went out the door to Aunt
Bess?-I would think that would be a big plus. And then, you’d
have their emails for future promotional offers, a big plus for
you.”

From Debra Arrato:

“Start branding your business. How about a new tag line like,
‘CarmelRose ? we SEND what?s in your heart.’ Use the tagline on
everything. Join your local Chamber of Commerce and then join a
leads group within the Chamber. It?s worth every penny. The leads
groups usually meet once a week or twice a month and they only
allow one person in each industry/business.”

From Linda Swisher:

“Partnerships for weddings/proms: bridal and tux shops,
photographers, limo companies, reception venues, bakeries,
salons/spas, gift shops, caterers, wedding planners, stationers.
Partnerships for funerals: funeral homes, cemeteries, funeral
luncheon venues.

“Partnerships for decor or entertaining: interior designers,
local furniture stores, adult classes through park districts or
colleges, real estate stagers, model home builders, gift basket
shops, bakeries or specialty/imported food shops.”

The Publicity Hound says:

This question generated fabulous responses from my Hounds. Read
them all at http://budurl.com/s64s

Artist John Unger also received many wonderful responses to his
“Help This Hound” question two weeks ago on how to defend a
lawsuit filed against him by someone who is copying his artwork
and selling it. He chose the comment by former journalist Bonnie
Boots as the best one, and he’ll thank her with a beautiful
shovel mask, which he has created. Bonnie suggested that John
pitch his story to specific craft magazines. You can read all the
comments at http://budurl.com/4eeu

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

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

Mary Ann Puckett from Oklahoma City, OK writes:

“I am the author of a self-published book, ‘Take Him Home and
Love Him/A Story of Autism and How to Cope with It’, which is
currently on eBay and Amazon.com. I published the book in 2005
and have received orders from around the world.

“It is a narrative of my son Stephen’s life from birth to age 23.
He is now 28 years old and has made great progress due to
therapies and medical interventions I share in the book.

“Autism is now the Number One childhood disability, and diagnosis
of this disorder is increasing rapidly. I am looking for ways to
get my information to parents and caregivers. The book is
endorsed by medical doctors, the Department of Human Services and
has received 100 percent positive responses from buyers on eBay.

“Can your Hounds help me promote my book to parents and
caregivers who need it?”

The Publicity Hound says:

Using social media sites, there are dozens of ways to find people
in niche audiences, like parents of autistic children. Let’s see
if my Hounds can help you find them, and spread the word about
your book online and offline. Hounds, post your best comments to
my blog at http://budurl.com/tvxv

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

In order to keep a true perspective of your importance, you
should have a dog that will worship you and a cat that will
ignore you.

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…
==================================

Learn how to teach, sell and create products with teleseminars
http://budurl.com/gph7

————————————

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:

Reprinted from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,” an ezine
featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity.
Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email
the handy cheat sheet “89 Reasons to Send a Press Release.”

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

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #476 Nov. 3, 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
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===================================
        In This Issue
===================================

1. Undo the New Facebook Change

2. Linking from Press Releases

3. Trunk or Treat & Thanksgiving

4. How an Artist Can Defend a Lawsuit

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

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1. Undo the New Facebook Change
====================================

Facebook users are still howling about recent changes to the
homepage. If you’re one of them, there’s a quick fix to change it
back to the way it used to be.

Ten days ago, with no warning, Facebook eliminated with the
Twitter-like feed of every real-time status update. Now, instead
of displaying everything from all your friends, Facebook uses a
secret algorithm to display only the posts and status updates
that are generating a lot of comments and responses. So you never
know what you’re missing.

If you hate the change, here’s a three-step process to revert
back to the old feed:

–Log into Facebook. On your homepage, on the top of the left
column, you’ll see “News Feed.” Go to the bottom of that column
and click on “More.”

–Find the “Status Updates.” Click and drag it to the very top of
that column.

–Click “Status Updates” to load that view. Now, Facebook will
deliver your feeds just like it did before.

The News Feed option is still on the left. If you click on it,
you’ll see the new view. And if you decide later that reading
your Facebook feed is like drinking from a firehose, you can
always revert back to the smaller feed.

Whatever you choose, make sure you’re getting the most return on
investment for all the time you spend at this site. See “11 Ways
to Avoid Missed Opportunities on Facebook” at
http://budurl.com/uqp3

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2. Linking from Press Releases
========================================

Follow these three important rules when you’re linking to your
website or blog from a press release:

–Link to the exact page that dovetails with the “call to action”
within your release. If you want people to buy a specific
product, for example, send them to that product page. Too many
press release writers simply send readers to the homepage, where
they’re left searching for what you’re writing about. Confused
readers bail out.

–Write the entire URL with the “http://…., preferably near the
end of the boilerplate or “about us” section. If somebody finds
your release online and cuts and pastes the content into their
own blog or website but they forget to link your anchor text,
readers won’t be able to find your website.

–Use anchor text that includes one of your keyword phrases and
turn it into a link. How many? About one for every 100 words in
your press release.

Transcripts and audio from my Oct. 21 teleseminar on “How to Use
Keywords, the ‘Magic Magnets’ That Pull Journalists and Consumers
to Your Press Releases” have been delivered to everyone who
ordered them. The illustrated handouts include a simple six-point
checklist for anyone doing keyword research, the two best keyword
research tools, links to three videos that show you how to do
keyword research, the three best free press release distribution
services, and a sample press release that’s been optimized for
the search engines.

Grab ‘em now at http://budurl.com/pressreleasekeywords

========================================
3. Trunk or Treat & Thanksgiving
========================================

Get a head start pitching stories for Thanksgiving this month,
and for Halloween next year.

These ideas are courtesy of publicist Michelle Tennant of Wasabi
Publicity, whose “blogger butt” I wrote about last week.  They’re
almost guaranteed to bring the TV cameras to your school or
company.

Just before Halloween, host a “trunk or treat” event in your
parking lot for parents and kids. Everyone dresses up. Parents
open the trunks of their cars, decorate the insides with a
Halloween theme, and give treats to the kids who make their way
from car to car.

For Thanksgiving this year, Michelle suggests you round up a
bunch of kids, dress them as Pilgrims, and give them a big basket
of fresh vegetables and a box of toothpicks. Let them make
“Pilgrim people” out of the veggies, and ask them to explain why
the Pilgrim people are thankful.

TV stations that are scrounging for ideas during Thanksgiving
week will love this one–great for schools, chambers of commerce,
brick-and-mortar businesses, churches, libraries, day care
centers and even home schoolers.

You’ll find 22 ideas for October, 23 more for November and 10
more for December on the handouts that accompany the CD, “103
Sizzling Story Ideas from July through December.” These ideas are
yours to steal. Read more about them at http://budurl.com/guu5

=======================================
4. How an Artist Can Defend a Lawsuit
=======================================

This week, nine Publicity Hounds have tips for John T. Unger of
Mancelona, MI, whose fire bowls, original art which he’s been
making since 2005, have been copied by a manufacturer. He wanted
ideas on how can he use traditional and social media to raise
awareness and money for his legal costs.
From Cheryl Pickett:

“Establish a Facebook fan page with full explanation and invite
people to follow what’s going on. Those kinds of things seem to
get passed around pretty regularly. Keep everyone informed on the
blog as to what’s going on and also invite them to the other
things you do as well.”
From Bonnie Boots:

“John should email The Crafts Report, which covers business for
the professional crafter. Their contact page is here:
http://www.craftsreport.com/contact-us.html

“He should also contact the American Craft Council at
http://www.craftcouncil.org/ Click on “The Council” at the bottom
and then “Staff” on the left. You’ll find the email addresses for
the senior editor, managing editor and assistant editor.  Email
one of them (I’d try the assistant editor first) and ask them to
suggest the names of any writers they know that might be
interested in this story.”
From Brisbane, Australia:

“Stories like this are just asking to be linked to and tweeted
about. I think you will be far more successful promoting the
injustice rather than an actual fund raising event. Also, try
contacting the stores selling their products. I’m sure they would
much rather be selling your legitimate products.”
The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
at http://budurl.com/firebowl You have one week left to submit
your own idea in the comments section at my blog. The Hound who
submits the best entry wins a beautiful shovel mask, valued at
$59. The winner will be announced here next week.

Email your own Help this Hound question to
mailto:Jstewart@PublicityHound.com
and include your city, state and province.

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

Cheryl Muskus of Oak Creek, WI, writes:

“I’m the owner of The CarmelRose, a floral shop, and I’m looking
for ways to generate publicity in a very competitive market.

“Even though our industry is hurt to a large extent when
obituaries state ‘in lieu of flowers, the family suggests
donations to…,’ we’re trying to form relationships with local
funeral homes so they can refer us to families that are buying
flowers for the funeral. I’d also like to target the local
corporate market, because revenues from local businesses that
need floral arrangements can be significant.

“What ideas do your Hounds have for events I can sponsor at the
shop or elsewhere, story ideas I can pitch to the local media,
press releases I can write, photos I can offer the local media,
opportunities for getting onto local TV, and joint venture
partnerships I can form with other businesses?

“Also, suggestions for using social media would be appreciated.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Local businesses like yours, Cheryl, can benefit just as much
from online publicity as bigger companies, so you’re smart to
work that into the mix. Let’s see what ideas my Hounds can offer
at my blog at http://budurl.com/dcye

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

It’s NBA season, so here’s a cute video of a dog joining the
competition. I may have already shown you this, but it’s worth a
second look:

http://www.funnydogsite.com/videos/basketball.htm

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…
==================================

Learn how to pronounce names of radio/TV broadcasters,
journalists
http://budurl.com/l358

————————————

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You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
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Reprinted from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,” an ezine
featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity.
Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email
the handy cheat sheet “89 Reasons to Send a Press Release.”

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
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI. 53074
USA