February, 2010 Archive
February 25th, 2010 by JStewart in Publicity Tips
The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #493 Feb. 23, 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. Please Rob Me
2. Facebook Fan Page Benefits
3. Pitching Big TV Talk Shows
4. Promoting an Art Group
5. Help This Hound
6. Hound Joke of the Week
7. And at My Blogs…
======================================
1. Please Rob Me
======================================
On social media sites, do you broadcast when you’re leaving your
home or office?
Lots of people do. And every day, their avatars and “Here’s where
I am now” messages are showing up at PleaseRobMe.com, a site that
mocks them for announcing to the world that they aren’t at home
and actually makes it easier for burglars to rob them.
You put yourself at risk when you use Foursquare.com, a social
media site that makes it easy to “check in” with your friends, in
conjunction with blasting out those messages to your Twitter and
Facebook friends.
Find out how it works and what you can do keep yourself from
showing up at this nasty site. I wrote about it at my blog at
http://tinyurl.com/pleaserobmedotcom
======================================
2. Facebook Fan Page Benefits
======================================
Of all the email I receive about Facebook, no other topic results
in more confusion than Fan Pages.
Fan Pages have several huge advantages:
–Facebook limits you to 5,000 friends. But you can have an
unlimited number of Fans. Remember, your profile has friends.
Your Pages have Fans.
–Fan Pages are the only place on Facebook where you can actively
promote. If you’re caught promoting from the status update on
your profile page, Facebook can close your account.
–Fan Pages drive traffic because Google indexes them.
–Customers can interact with you, even if they do not have their
own profile pages on Facebook. They can leave testimonials, ask
questions about your products, offer suggestions for other
products and services, and give you valuable feedback that
doesn’t cost you a penny.
–You can communicate with your fans many different ways: through
articles, tips, videos and photos.
–Your Fans can recommend your Fan Pages to their friends.
Many Facebook users are even more confused now that Facebook has
redesigned its site. We just finished updating the 29 pages of
handouts for last year’s teleseminar on “11 Ways to Avoid Missed
Opportunities on Facebook,” and there’s a lot of helpful
information on how to create and use Fan pages. Anyone who
participated in the teleseminar, or bought the product will
receive the handouts by email tomorrow–for free. It’s my way of
saying thanks for doing business with me.
If you missed the teleseminar, you can still buy the product and
get the updated handouts at http://budurl.com/facebookwithchris
=====================================
3. Pitching Big TV Talk Shows
=====================================
Debbie Meyer probably spends a small fortune on TV commercials
that advertise the kitchen items she sells, including the Green
Bags that keep fruits and vegetables fresher longer in the
refrigerator.
Yet there she was last week on Fox & Friends, doing a segment
about her V-shaped cake cutter and her special kitchen rack that
organizes lids for pots and pans, and other kitchen implements.
Why did Fox & Friends invite her onto the show instead of making
her pay for an ad? Probably because it made for a terrific
segment.
Debbie is lively and animated. She brought lots of props and
demonstrated how they work. The segment had people, color and
motion, three essential elements for TV talk shows.
Learn the other “must have” ingredients for an enticing pitch
when Michelle Anton, a former guest booker for “Oprah,” joins
Steve Harrison for a teleseminar at 3 and 7 p.m. Eastern Time on
Thursday, Feb. 25. She’ll also reveal the most important question
you must be able to answer to land a TV appearance.
Register at http://www.tvpublicityteleseminar.com/?10011
If you can’t make it, don’t depend on a replay because these
sessions often aren’t recorded. Sign up anyway because Steve
always sends out bonus videos and interviews after the call (I’m
an affiliate).
P.S. You only have 9 more months to pitch the “Oprah” show as we
know it. Starting in September 2011, she’ll be devoting her time
to starting her own cable network. Who better than Michelle Anton
to show you how?
====================================
4. Promoting an Art Group
====================================
This week, four Publicity Hounds have tips for Gabrielle Javier-
Cerulli, of Rochester, New York. She needs ideas on how to get
the word out about Global Network of Expressive Arts Facilitators
and attract new members.
From Roxana:
“Just having a Facebook and Twitter profile is not enough. Are
you creating video content? If you are, do you have your own
YouTube or Vimeo channel? There are many coaches and facilitators
that have teleconferences all the time. Have you approached them
for the opportunity to partner or interviews?”
From Heather:
“I’m not sure if this would work, but what about trying to
partner with a life coach association or organization? Both lines
of work focus on individuals reaching for fulfillment, so perhaps
working together is a viable option.”
From Gayle Carson:
“Because these are heart- and soul-centered individuals, the cost
factor will come into play, especially on a monthly basis. You
will have to show a great deal of value for a palatable price for
them to join. Also be aware that your community will change. You
will add and lose approximately 20 percent of your members on a
monthly basis. Get a few champions and that will make a
difference.”
The Publicity Hound says:
Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
at http://tinyurl.com/artsfacilitators
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
===================================
Judith Bron of Spring Valley, N.Y. writes:
“It is no secret that anti-Semitism is at its highest pinnacle
since the end of World War II.
“Jews are the longest surviving civilization on the face of the
earth. I’d like to get onto the paid speaking circuit and speak
about this topic: ‘In spite of universal hatred, Jews survived.
Why?’
“My audiences would be Jewish youth and adult organizations and
non-Jewish organizations that are puzzled about the issue of
anti-Semitism. How do I start marketing myself as a paid speaker
on this topic??
The Publicity Hound says: Paid speaking engagements are very
difficult these days, even for professionals who have been on the
speaking circuit awhile. But let’s see what my Hounds have to
say. If you have suggestions for Judith, post them to my blog at
http://tinyurl.com/antisemitismspeaker
=================================
6. Hound Joke of the Week
=================================
Bumper sticker:
More Wag, Less Bark
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 Blogs…
==================================
Consider retweeting these blog posts:
3 of 4 LinkedIn invitations include this big mistake
http://ow.ly/1anNw
Why I don’t worry about people giving away ebooks I sell
http://ow.ly/18p2R
When you tweet, you might end up on PleaseRobMe.com
http://ow.ly/1apLN
What they’re saying about social Media Rx and our webinars
http://ow.ly/1aqk9
How to connect by phone with a LinkedIn connection
http://ow.ly/1aqmI
————————————
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
»
February 17th, 2010 by JStewart in Publicity Tips
The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #492 Feb. 16, 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. Four Benefits of a Google Profile
2. Video: Facebook Changes
3. New Media Leads Service
4. Promoting Book Videos
5. Help This Hound
6. Hound Joke of the Week
7. And at My Blogs…
======================================
1. Four Benefits of a Google Profile
======================================
Have you ever Googled your name, and then flinched when you saw
what showed up on the first page?
If so, you might be able to push what you didn’t like onto Page
2. That’s the first benefit of creating your Google profile at
http://tinyurl.com/createmyprofile
It’s sort of like a mini version of a Facebook profile page.
After you list your name, occupation and location, your profile
will appear in a box on the first page of Google’s search results
for your name. Next to the thumbnail information and your photo,
people can click a link to your full Google profile.
Three more benefits of creating your profile:
–It’s needed before you can start using Buzz, the hot new social
tool that Google introduced last week.
–You can link to your website, blog, Twitter and Facebook pages,
social bookmarking profiles, photo-sharing sites, and other
places where you want traffic.
–Your profile page can be your main home on the Web if you don’t
yet have a website.
After you’ve created it, here are five ways to share it:
–Add it to your IM status message.
–Link to it in your email signature.
–Note it in Google Reader.
–Post about it on Twitter.
–Share it on Facebook.
How you write your profile often determines whether someone wants
to learn more about you, or bail out. See “Can Your Social Media
Profile Pass the 10-Second Test?” at
http://tinyurl.com/socialmediaprofiles
======================================
2. Video: Facebook Changes
======================================
Last week, I wrote about Facebook’s redesigned home page and
heard from lots of readers who said they were still having
problems navigating it.
Thanks to Publicity Hound Christine Buffaloe, my virtual
assistant, for sharing this video tour of the redesign:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=484066065483
Do you have a VA yet? Knowing where to look and what questions to
ask these independent contractors will save you time. See “How to
Hire a Virtual Assistant to Help with Your Publicity Campaign” at
http://tinyurl.com/prassistants
=====================================
3. New Media Leads Service
=====================================
Here’s another free media leads service designed to give you
daily email updates, Monday through Friday, of queries by
journalists, broadcasters and bloggers who are looking for
specific types of sources to interview.
Reporter Connection, created by Bill and Steve Harrison, tells
you which journalists are looking for sources with your
expertise. You respond, and then you wait to see if the
journalist wants to interview you. You can sign up for the
service at http://ReporterConnection.com/JoinFree/?11577 (I’m an
affiliate).
Almost every week through March 20, they’ll choose one subscriber
and give away something cool like an Amazon Kindle, digital
camera or GPS.
Publicity Hound Steve Hines, of Marketing Resource Management,
said a query he saw in Reporter Connection resulted in almost a
dozen radio interviews about the Olympics.
“I had covered four Summer Games, one Winter Olympics and 15+
world championships in a variety of sports as a photojournalist,”
Steve said. “The stations were looking for comments on being a
part of the Games.”
You could be next.
====================================
4. Promoting Book Videos
====================================
This week, four Publicity Hounds have suggestions for Jenni
Bowring-McDonough of St. Paul, MN on how her husband, Tim, can
let authors and publishers know about the promotional book videos
(trailers) he creates.
From Meryl K. Evans:
“Go the extra mile and add captions or subtitles to your
trailers. You’ll make a lot of people happy, not just those who
rely on captions. So few videos are captioned so folks like me
mention those that are by word of mouth. The website
http://www.22frames.com/ lists all captioned videos or videos
without words, so submit your videos there to reach that
audience.”
From Martine Ehrenclou:
“Maybe you can connect with independent publishers through the
Independent Book Publishers Association (formerly PMA). They have
a monthly newsletter that goes out to all the publishers. You
could place an ad or write an article on the advantages of book
trailers for book promotion and list your name and website
address.”
From Alexis O’Neill:
“It seems that the real buyers of trailers today are authors,
since the houses claim they have no money. Find out from the
houses/agents what their upcoming lists will include and have
them pass your information along to their authors.”
The Publicity Hound says:
Tim should write a series of articles on how to create book
trailers, how to use the videos, and examples of success stories
from authors who have used them. See “How to Write How-to
Articles” at http://tinyurl.com/howtoarticles
===================================
5. Help This Hound
===================================
Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli, of Rochester, NY writes:
“I just launched the Global Network of Expressive Arts
Facilitators at http://www.expressiveartsfacilitators.com/ and
need to get the word out about it and attract new members on an
international scale.
“It’s a membership-based organization for facilitators, all non-
therapists, who use the creative process (painting, drumming,
singing, journal writing, collage-making) with their clients with
the intent of self-discovery, clarity, enjoyment and healing.
“Our mission is to build community for these heart- and soul-
centered facilitators, and also to publicize our members and what
they do by listing them on the online directory, highlighting
them in the Member of the Week, a BlogTalkRadio show and giving
them an opportunity to submit their articles on videos to the
website.
“We have Twitter and Facebook pages and a blog. I’d love to hear
other ideas of getting the word out to this global niche market.
Also, how do we go about finding speaking engagements to talk
about the network?”
The Publicity Hound says:
Gabrielle, your topic lends itself perfectly to video. Let’s see
what my Hounds suggest on ways you can use it, and any of their
other ideas. Hounds with suggestions for Gabrielle can post them
to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/artsfacilitators
=================================
6. Hound Joke of the Week
=================================
The front door was accidentally left open and our dog was gone.
After unsuccessfully whistling and calling, my husband got in the
car and went looking for him.
He drove around the neighborhood for some time with no luck.
Finally, he stopped beside a couple out for a walk and asked if
they had seen our dog.
“You mean the one following your car?” they asked.
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 Blogs…
==================================
Consider retweeting these blog posts:
Don’t be anonymous at social media sites: Use a gravatar
http://ow.ly/15RAq
Let people comment at your blog without logging in first
http://tinyurl.com/commentatblogs
Action Sports Hub magazine needs articles
http://tinyurl.com/actionsportshub
————————————
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
»
February 9th, 2010 by JStewart in Publicity Tips
The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #491 Feb. 9, 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. More Facebook Changes, Ugh
2. Radio Show Needs Guests
3. A Year’s Worth of Promotion Ideas
4. Corporate Sponsors & Social Media
5. Promoting a Day for Retirees
6. Help This Hound
7. Hound Commercial of the Week
8. And at My Blogs…
======================================
1. More Facebook Changes, Ugh
======================================
If you log into your Facebook page and it looks different, it’s
because Facebook is rolling out a new redesign of its home page,
yet again.
Here’s what’s new:
–Your “Home” and “Profile” links are on the top right.
–On the menu in the top left corner, near the search bar, you’ll
see red bubbles. When you click on them, drop-down menus will
show your new notifications. This is the place to look if you
want to see who wrote on your wall or tagged you.
–The “Highlights” column along the right side is gone.
–The left-hand bar has been expanded.
–You now have two views of the news feed: a summary view of the
most interesting activity that’s happened in the last day and a
real-time view that shows you what is happening right now.
You can read more about the changes, and read comments from those
who are mostly griping, at Facebook’s blog at
http://tinyurl.com/facebookgriping
As a special customer service, I’ll be sending revised handouts
to anyone who attended the teleseminar or bought the product “11
Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on Facebook.” If you haven’t
ordered yours yet, do it! You’ll get the new handouts in several
days or as soon as they’re ready. Read more about what you’ll
learn at http://budurl.com/facebookwithchris
======================================
2. Radio Show Needs Guests
======================================
Thanks to RadioGuestList.com for this media lead:
The “Cal and Bob Show,” on KBLF-AM in Northern California, is
looking for guests who have stories that don’t sound true, but
are. Topics range from “dumb” small-town criminals to the
(thousands of) stupid decisions made by politicians in D.C.
If you have a book or product to sell, you’re welcome to appear
as a guest, as long as your story is a good fit and you’re
willing to laugh about it. The show airs during the all-important
drive-time from 7 to 9 a.m. Pacific. Contact Paul Vietti,
producer, at 520-276-3641 or email dpvietti@gmail.com.
Sign up for more booking and podcasting leads, or submit leads
for your own show, at http://www.radioguestlist.com/
If you have a great story to tell but you need tips on how to be
the type of guest who’s invited back, see “How to Get onto Drive-
time Radio Shows” at http://tinyurl.com/drivetimeradio
===================================
3. A Year’s Worth of Promotion Ideas
===================================
Thanks to Publicity Hound Tim Morse of Norfolk, VA for sharing
this helpful website that gives 12 months worth of promotion
ideas by listing special days, weeks and months of the year:
http://www.adsources.com/IDEAS/Cal/index.htm
Use these to plan advertising campaigns. Or piggyback onto them
for free publicity. They’re very similar to Chase’s Calendar of
Events at http://www.chases.com/. The deadline for Chase’s, by the
way, is April 15.
===================================
4. Corporate Sponsors & Social Media
===================================
Here are teleseminars and webinars of interest this week:
–”How to Get Major Companies and Nonprofits to Sponsor the
Promotion of Your Book, Product or Service.” Steve Harrison
interviews Brendon Burchard about how to get big companies and
nonprofits to gladly sponsor your marketing, publicity and
promotional efforts. Brendon teaches simple methods that anyone
can use. This teleseminar, conducted in December, is being
brought back by popular demand. It’s free, but you must register
at http://www.sponsorshiptrainingteleseminar.com/?10011 (I’m an
affiliate).
–Social Media Rx. This is a private customer appreciation
webinar for anyone who has purchased “Social Media Rx: Your 20-
Minute Prescription for Cutting through the Clutter, Chatter &
Confusion of Social Media.” Come with your questions about how to
use your assessment report, checklists or bonuses, or anything
else dealing with social media. Jeanne Hurlbert, my partner, and
I will answer them. We’ll email your invitation today. Anyone can
see the replay of the webinar Jeanne and I hosted last week at
http://www.mysocialmediarx.com/subscribe/msms.htm
====================================
5. Promoting a Day for Retirees
====================================
This week, three Publicity Hounds have ideas on how Phyllis May
can promote “Refired Not Retired Day” on March 1.
From Reece Franklin:
“You should easily be able to find a list of senior centers. A
note to the center activity directors might work.
“Another way might be to get the addresses, send a postcard in a
color like goldenrod, and announce it on the card, with a message
asking, ‘What do you plan to do for Refire Not Retire Day?’
“While the people in assisted living are retired physically
(maybe) they are sure not retired mentally. You can create a
contest or, next year, ask people how they intend to refire
themselves. Just because the timeline is tight for March 1, does
not mean this cannot extend to the entire month.”
From The Publicity Hound:
“Tap into social networks that consist of retired people. Search
Facebook groups, Twibes.com (Twitter tribes) and Yahoo groups. Or
form your own group.
“Tell those people about your day and have them offer suggestions
on things they’d like to do-something that would be fun or help
their communities. It could be something as simple as doing
volunteer work on that day. Getting more people involved at the
ground level will give you lots of ideas to choose from.”
From J. Frizzera:
“I agree with Joan. If youre looking for a theme, remember that
March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. If you can
incorporate that idea, or anything else you like, it helps people
identify with what youre doing. Make it memorable and people will
pay attention.”
Read all the responses to this “Help This Hound” question at
http://tinyurl.com/ygrw3oa
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
===================================
Jenni Bowring-McDonough of St. Paul, MN writes:
“My husband, Tim McDonough, is a graphic artist who is now
producing book trailers (book promotion videos) at Standard Book
Videos at http://www.standardbookvideos.com/
“Because I work in publishing, I introduced him to our president
who hired Tim to design several trailers (book videos) for us.
Thats terrific, but Tim needs more exposure to attract more
clients. He advertised in the event catalog for a regional
publishers conference and he will be running an ad in ForeWord
Magazine’s national online newsletter later this month.
“We have reached out to other local publishers to introduce Tim’s
business. He’s on Twitter, and we will be building a Facebook
page soon. We have also reached out to other contacts via the
local Book Publishers Association, but thus far, to no avail.
“I even pitched Tim’s story of reinventing himself after 20 years
in broadcast news to several weeklies and dailies, but no one bit
on the idea. We have also begun branching out into web videos and
hope to expand into promotional/sales web videos for small
businesses. Thanks for any and all advice!
The Publicity Hound says:
Jenni, I love Tim’s videos! Authors, you’ll love them, too. Go
take a look. While you’re there, post your best ideas for Jenni
and Tim at my blog at http://tinyurl.com/bookvideos
=================================
7. Hound Commercial of the Week
=================================
Thanks to Publicity Hound Tracey Bennett of Honolulu, HI for the
link to the clever Doritos commercial shown during the Super
Bowl. I howled with laughter when I saw it:
http://vodpod.com/watch/3011187-doritos-underdog
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/
==================================
8. And at My Blogs…
==================================
Consider retweeting these blog posts:
Don’t let PR clients insert damaging info into press releases
http://tinyurl.com/pressreleasesinfo
Huffington: ‘Blogs more effective than press releases’
http://tinyurl.com/blogsmoreeffective
Find social media frustrating? You’re not alone
http://tinyurl.com/frustratingsocialmedia
Pittsburgh PR company + social media = A virtual intern
http://tinyurl.com/avirtualintern
————————————
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
»
February 3rd, 2010 by JStewart in Publicity Tips
The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #490 Feb. 2, 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. When Google Speaks, Listen
2. Five Blogging Must-Haves
3. LinkedIn Recommendations
4. For Authors & Publishers Only
5. A Book on Inappropriate Touching
6. Help This Hound
7. Hound Slide Show of the Week
8. And at My Blogs…
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1. When Google Speaks, Listen
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So you think social media is a big fat waste of time, huh?
What if I told you that Google, the granddaddy of search engines,
is now including links and posts from social media sites like
Twitter, Facebook and MySpace as soon as they appear online? If
you aren’t participating at social media sites, and your
competitors are, they could be elbowing their way onto the top of
the Google search list for your keywords, if they’re using those
same keywords and sharing links.
You can read about it here: http://ow.ly/12CLQ
As you’ll see from that article, it’s more important than ever
for Publicity Hounds to use social networking sites to spread
information via shared links. If you’ve been putting off
participating, that should change your mind.
Jeanne Hurlbert, my new business partner, and I created Social
Media Rx, a new product specifically for Publicity Hounds who are
petrified about getting involved in social media, or can’t figure
out what to say or how to act at these sites.
Tomorrow, Feb. 3, we’re offering you a free webinar, chock full
of social media tips, 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 (Noon Pacific), and we’re
sharing tons of social media tips and success stories. We’ll also
give you a glimpse of Social Media Rx, our new product. It’s an
assessment you can take by answering a series of questions
designed to show you how much you do or don’t know about social
media.
When you’re done, it delivers, within seconds, 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
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2. Five Blogging Must-Haves
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If you’re blogging, here are five things that blogging expert
Patsi Krakoff says you must have at your blog:
–An email subscription form so your followers get each new post
via email. (I’ve added this to my to-do list.)
–An “About” page.
–Something you can offer them for free. (Another to-do for me.)
–A “retweet this” button to make it easy for readers to share
your post on Twitter. I use Tweetmeme. You can check it out at my
blog at http://www.PublicityHound.net
–An analytics program so you can see how much traffic you’re
getting and where it’s coming from.
Patsi listed seven more “must haves,” and the one issue that many
people waste time obsessing over, when she was my guest during a
teleseminar on “Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging”
last month. The CD, MP3 replay and electronic transcript come
with 23 pages of handouts that include 101 ways to find content
for your blog, templates for writing a post quickly and easily,
and a list of 20 common mistakes you don’t want to make. Read
more about it and check out all the rave reviews at
http://tinyurl.com/businessblogger
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3. LinkedIn Recommendations
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If you aren’t regularly recommending people on LinkedIn, you’re
missing a chance to accumulate your own recommendations from
people who know, like and trust you.
That’s because every time you recommend someone, LinkedIn asks
that person if they’d like to return the favor.
Don’t just ask for recommendations. Offer them! It follows the
give-to-get rule that’s so important in the world of social
media.
See “How to Use LinkedIn to Promote Anything–Ethically &
Powerfully” at http://tinyurl.com/5zvzyd
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4. For Authors & Publishers Only
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Want to make your book a best-seller? You’re invited to a free
telseminar on Thursday, Feb., 4, at 2 and 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
Steve Harrison will interview Peggy McColl about the simple
blueprint she’s developed to quickly make many books instant
best-sellers at practically zero cost. This works for all types
of books: fiction, non-fiction, ebooks, novels, print on demand,
etc.
Interested? Register at
http://www.BestsellerBlueprintCall.com/?10011 (I’m an affiliate.)
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5. A Book on Inappropriate Touching
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This week, 10 Publicity Hounds have tips for Jill Starishevsky of
New York, NY, author of My Body Belongs to Me, a children’s book
on inappropriate touching. Jill needs ideas on how to promote it
to traditional and social media.
From Martine Ehrenclou:
“Submit your book to the Mom?s Choice Awards. That’s the book
awards competition that acknowledges the best books that benefit
families. They do a lot of promotion for their winners.”
From Eric Gruber:
“You should be writing top tips, how-to, top mistakes, and top
question-type articles, and then submit them to the top websites,
ezines and article directories that parents are going to every
day. For example: Iparenting.com, About.com, Child Parenting.”
From Christel Hall:
“Send a copy of your book to Dr. Laura, who has her own
syndicated radio show. Whether you agree with all of her advice
or not, she is a big children?s advocate and covers a new book at
least weekly on her radio program.”
The Publicity Hound says:
Create a Facebook Fan Page just for the book, and share the link
with mommy bloggers. See “11 Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities
on Facebook” at http://budurl.com/jfgw
Read all the responses to this week?s “Help This Hound” question
http://budurl.com/touching
Send your own Help this Hound question to:
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound
and include your city and state or province.
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6. Help This Hound
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Phyllis May of Key West, FL, writes:
“March 1 is my day in Chase?s Calendar of Events. It?s ?Refired
not Retired Day? and it?s also the title of my humorous book that
shows people how to make the most of life after retirement.
“Might your Publicity Hounds have ideas for things I can suggest
for people to do on March 1? Amazingly, because I have a Google
Alert, I know that there’s a restaurant in Australia that has it
on their calendar. I wrote and told them I thought I should be
there but they didn’t respond. Darn.
“One time I saw an assisted living facility promoting it but I
truly don’t know any BIG ideas. Can your creative readers help?”
The Publicity Hound says:
Hounds can create their own holidays like you did, or their own
days, weeks or months of the year, at http://www.Chases.com (the
deadline is April 15).
The hard part is figuring out how to promote it. But my Hounds
are, indeed, a creative bunch, and they’ll be glad to help by
posting their best ideas to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/ygrw3oa
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7. Hound Slide Show of the Week
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The popular exhibit “First Dogs: American Presidents and their
Pets,” at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., showcases some of the
top dogs that have lived at the White House. On display are
images of dogs belonging to 23 presidents, including the newest
addition: Bo, a gift to the Obamas from the late Sen. Edward M.
Kennedy.
Here’s a slide show that features six presidential pups: Barney,
Liberty, Bo, Him, Her and Checkers. Before you view the slide
show, can you guess which pups belong to which presidents?
http://www.newseum.org/exhibits_th/first_dogs/
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/
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8. And at My Blogs…
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Consider retweeting these blog posts:
6 ways to use the Newspaper Map of the World
http://tinyurl.com/yb4×7su
Shotgun Sports needs articles on trap, skeet, hunting
http://tinyurl.com/yjfb2r6
————————————
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================================================
Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound
»
