The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #502 April 27, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityhound.mobi/
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. Create Link Bait

2. Nonprofits, Beware

3. Write a Book Quickly

4. Webinars & Teleseminars

5. Shortcuts for a Harpist

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Cartoon of the Week

8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

====================================
1. Create Link Bait
====================================

If you’re looking for an enticing headline for an article or blog
post that you want to go viral, here’s a handy, free tool that
can help you create link bait.

It’s http://www.linkbaitgenerator.com/. Just type in the subject
of your blog post, note whether it’s singular or plural, hit
“submit,” and it creates a headline. I typed in the word
“publicity” and it suggested these three headlines:

10 ballsy pranks involving publicity that failed miserably

9 crazy ways that publicity is infiltrating pop culture

6 ways Hollywood makes publicity look ridiculous in movies

Not every headline suggestion will work, but keep plugging in
words and you’ll find one that fits.

Compelling headlines are just a small part of generating
interest, and keeping it, at your blog. The blog should be set up
correctly, and include features and plug-ins that will engage
visitors and keep them coming back. Blogging expert Patsi Krakoff
explained how during the teleseminar “Time-saving Tips for Smart
Business Blogging.” It comes with 23 pages of handouts, including
101 ways to find content for your blog. Learn more at
http://budurl.com/blogcontentideas

==================================
2. Nonprofits, Beware
==================================

If a company calling itself GreatAmericaHD calls you with an
“offer” to be featured in a nationally broadcast PBS show
anchored by retired broadcaster Hugh Downs, know what you’re
getting.

Before you sign anything, read this post at The Consumerist blog,
including the New York Times article it links to:
http://snipurl.com/greatamericahd

The company, formerly known as Vision Media Television, charges
upwards of $20,000 in production costs for the show. And whether
the program has a chance of getting onto PBS is questionable. In
fact, the article above also links to a disclaimer that PBS has
on its website. It says it has no affiliation with Vision Media
television and more than 20 other production companies and
programs.

So what’s a publicity alternative to spending big bucks?
Publicist Lissa Warren shows you “How to Get Booked on the
Morning TV Talk Shows.” Learn more at
http://snipurl.com/morningtv

=====================================
3. Write a Book Quickly
=====================================

Don’t make the same mistake many authors make: Devoting three
years of your life writing a book.

If you’re writing a book or thinking of writing one, watch this
video in which Steve Harrison shares 7 tips on how to write a
book quickly: http://ow.ly/1DttE

=====================================
4. Webinars & Teleseminars
=====================================

Thursday, April 29:

–”How Non-Fiction Writers Can Use Social Media to Promote Their
Expertise, Find More Fans & Sell More Books,” 1 Eastern,
featuring Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound. Use the coupon code
“publicityhound” and save 40 percent on registration.
http://nonfictionwritersconference.com/

–”How to Thrive as an Author/Expert in any economy,” featuring
Steve Harrison, 2 or 7 p.m. Eastern. http://ow.ly/1DDCq

Tuesday, May 4:

–”Your Cash-Generating Crystal Ball: How to Use Simple Surveys
to Read Your Prospects’ and Customers’ Minds, Build Lists, Create
Products and Make Money,” featuring Jeanne Hurlbert, PhD, 2 p.m.
Eastern. http://bit.ly/brELc6

–”Words That Work in the Press, Politics & Public Relations,”
featuring word wizard Frank Lutz, sponsored by Bulldog Reporter.
http://ow.ly/1DtxK
Download the replay of “Discover the Secrets to Speaking in the
Recession-Proof College Market” with James Malinchak, or listen
at your computer. Includes 17 most in-demand topics.
http://www.callwithjames.com/call

======================================
5. Shortcuts for a Harpist
======================================

This week, seven Publicity Hounds have tips for Anne Roos of
South Lake Tahoe, CA, a harpist who’s looking for office
shortcuts to save time and her hands.

From Linda Williams:

“Try dividing your day into pods. Plan to work one hour on one of
your topics. Take a 15-minute break to walk, stretch, get a drink
of water and then, go to the next one-hour pod. Make sure you
have everything ready to do the work so you don’t spend your hour
organizing ’stuff.’

From Jason Saeler:

“Spend an hour a week blogging. Just sit down and post your
entries for the entire week. Post date your entries and change
the times so that each day of the week, a new entry is posted.
You’re not even there, but the search engines and your visitors
don’t know that!”

From Lisa Chaffey:

“Great to see you’re making use of a virtual assistant. Sounds
like you just need to learn some of the shortcuts on your
computer to make your life just that little bit easier. I have
some good ones on my blog here:
http://www.inapickle-va.com/articles/time-saving-computer-tips/
Hope you find them useful.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this question at http://ow.ly/1AN3i

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

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

Deborah Avens of Temple Hills, MD writes:

“Virtuous Enterprises, Inc. is a nonprofit devoted to
transforming lives of disadvantaged women and girls in the
Washington, D.C. area through training and development.

“Our programs include training in computer science, engineering
and computer information systems; a 16-week program for women who
want to become entrepreneurs; and a leadership development and
mentoring program for girls in foster care in Maryland.

“How can we promote these programs without a marketing budget?”

The Publicity Hound says:

With so many unemployed people, your question comes at the
perfect time, Deborah. Job training experts, marketing pros and
other creative Hounds read this newsletter, and they’ll post
their best ideas for you at http://ow.ly/1DHuq

=====================================
7. Hound Cartoon of the Week
=====================================

Ever talk to a dog, and it looks at you like you’re nuts? Thanks
to Suzanne Bates for this cartoon at her website that explains
why: http://snipurl.com/dogcartoon

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 & Mobile Site…
====================================

Consider retweeting:

Do you thank people for retweeting your content?
http://ow.ly/1DAdD

Facebook traffic nipping at Google’s heels
http://ow.ly/1Dtj0 Learn words for persuasive PR during May 4 teleseminar
http://ow.ly/1DtxK

9 ways authors can use text messages to sell books
http://ow.ly/1DtlH
(Mobile site)

——————————————

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 or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy.

================================================
Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
U.S.
Phone: 262-284-7451
Fax: 262-284-1737

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #501 April 20, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityhound.mobi/
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. Food Freebies Soothe Tax Bite

2. PublicityHound.mobi

3. How to Use Surveys

4. Teleseminars This Week

5. Promoting Online Parenting Classes

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blogs…

====================================
1. Food Freebies Soothe Tax Bite
====================================

Publicity Hounds can learn a thing or two from the restaurant
industry.

Offer free stuff on April 15.

Cinnabon, Maggie Moo’s and Dairy Queen handed out free samples on
tax filing day. Taco Del Mar offered free tacos. Starbucks gave
away free coffee.

McCormick & Schmick’s and P.F. Chang’s had food deals all day.
Whole Foods picked up the sales tax all day on grocery bills at
stores in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and
Georgia.

Publicity for the food freebies was EVERYWHERE.

I don’t know if any of the restaurants incorporated mobile
marketing into their campaigns, but this would have been the
perfect opportunity to send text messages to customers letting
them know how to soothe the tax bite.

Next year, make a note to yourself early in the year and think of
something fun you can give away on April 15. Then start promoting
it long before tax day arrives. The media love these local tie-
ins to filing taxes.

Upcoming holidays worth considering for freebies: Earth Day on
April 22 and Mother’s Day on May 9.

Don’t let these holidays sneak up on you! By creating a 12-month
media plan, you’ll have a systematic way to generate publicity,
be aware of long lead times for magazines, piggyback onto
breaking news so you get onto the TV news the same day you pitch,
and create more publicity online.

“How to Create a Media Plan,” one of my most popular courses,
walks you step-by-step through the entire process and even
includes handy, at-a-glance templates for keeping your 12 months
worth of ideas and publicity tasks well-organized. It comes with
more than 200 story ideas for every month of the year. Read more
about it at http://www.publicityhound.com/mediaplan.htm

==================================
2. PublicityHound.mobi
==================================

Have you seen my new mobile site at http://publicityhound.mobi/?
Here’s how I’m using it:

–To collect names and mobile phone numbers so I can text people
about special offers and news.

–To make it easier for journalists using mobile phones to learn
about me, without having to navigate my clunky PC site on a tiny
screen.

–To collect email addresses and grow the subscribers list for
this ezine.

–To make it easy for people on mobile phones to find links to my
blogs and social media profiles. More than half of all social
media activity takes place on mobile phones.

–To link to my mobile site from my Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn
and Google profiles.

–To offer testimonials from delighted clients and market my
mentor program, without making people read the entire sales page
on my PC site at
http://www.publicityhound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html
(Note: I have two openings in the program right now. Read that
page to see if you’re a good candidate.)

–There’s even a page with links to the best dog jokes and
videos.

Tonight, I’ll be attending the fourth of 10 classes in
StomperMobile, the mobile marketing course hosted by Stompernet.
We’ll learn how to use Twitter and Facebook to pull traffic to
our mobile sites.

Next week, we get a break, and then resume the following week.
Join today, and you’ll have an extra week to catch up, watch the
first of three webinars, and build your own site, before Lesson 5
on May 4.

As an affiliate, I can offer you a backstage pass where you can
register at $200 off the regular registration and spread payments
over six months. Learn more at
http://snipurl.com/mobilemarketingclass

How many of your competitors have mobile sites? Few, if any. Jump
onboard right now, and you’ll be light years ahead of them by the
time they finally “get it.”

=====================================
3. How to Use Surveys
=====================================

When I hired survey expert Jeanne Hurlbert to create my customer
profile survey last spring, I was hoping the results would give
me a few ideas for new products to create and services to offer.

Never, ever, did I think it would result in creating a spin-off
business to teach people how to incorporate social media into a
publicity campaign. Jeanne, it turns out, was the perfect
business partner. So we created My Social Media Solution, LLC,
and we both now have a new source of revenue.

Lots of businesses are hurting during this recession. The smart
ones that are still on their feet aren’t guessing about what to
offer people in their target markets. They’re asking them through
surveys. Then they’re using the survey data to:

–Add new product lines that customers are begging to buy.

–Increase click-through and conversion rates by as much as 45
percent.

–Get proof that lets them convert prospects and keep customers
buying over and over.

–Gather 100 testimonials at a time quickly, easily and
inexpensively.

–Generate publicity by letting journalists know how they’re
changing their businesses as a result of surveys.

–Find “pre-qualified” prospects who are ready to buy.

Jeanne, whose client roster includes the Tony Robbins Companies,
has teamed up with Mike Koenigs to present a series of free
videos that explain more about how to use surveys to not only
survive the recession, but thrive in it. You can access them at
http://snipurl.com/surveycustomers

=====================================
4. Teleseminars This Week
=====================================

Wednesday, April 21, 11 a.m. Eastern (90 minutes): “How To REALLY
Use Publicity as an Online Marketing Channel and ZIG When
Everybody Else Is ZAGGING!” Members of StomperNet, the Internet
marketing membership site, can join me as I bust publicity myths
and explain how to build relationships with journalists and
bloggers. Register at http://www.stompernet.com/

Thursday, April 22, at 2 and 7 p.m. (90 minutes): “Jack Canfield
Shares How To Get To Where You Want To Be As An Author/Speaker,”
2 and 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Jack, of the enormously famous
“Chicken Soup” books gives his best advice on how he and co-
creator Mark Victor Hansen kept going when “Chicken Soup” was
rejected by 144 publishers, what to do if you find yourself
reluctant to aggressively market, what to do if you need to make
money within 30 to 60 days, the two mindsets you need to create a
bestselling book, and how to find someone to sponsor your book.
I’m an affiliate. Register at
http://www.teleseminarwithjackcanfield.com/?10011

Download the replay of “Discover the Secrets to Speaking in the
Recession-Proof College Market” with James Malinchak, or listen
at your computer. Includes 17 most in-demand topics.
http://www.callwithjames.com/call

======================================
5. Promoting Online Parenting Classes
======================================

This week, eight Publicity Hounds have tips for Kathy Slattengren
of Kenmore, WA who is looking for the best way to promote her
online parenting classes.

From Katie Schwartz:

“Distribute fliers at sports centers for young children, and
through pediatricians and pediatric dentists.”

From Stephanie Trahd:

“It won’t be long before there?s another celebrity parenting
debacle in the news (think Britney Spears, Balloon Boy, etc.).
Have a press release and comment ready when this happens, and
then just plug in the name/event and send it out immediately.
Make yourself available as a parenting expert resource for media
covering the story.”

From Gail Sideman:

“Co-brand with businesses that attract the same demographic:
OB/GYNs, daycare centers, local baby stores, etc.

“There are so many people who say, ‘I wish there was an
instruction manual to raise children.’ Well, now they can
reference what you have to offer!”

The Publicity Hound says:

When you read all the responses to this week?s ?Help This Hound
question at http://tinyurl.com/parentingclasses make note of how
Kathy interacted with and thanked people who left comments. This
is a great social media lesson. Thanks, Kathy.

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

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

Anne Roos of South Lake Tahoe, CA, writes:

“I am really struggling with time management. I’m a professional
musician and a published author, working on two upcoming CDs,
live performances, and an upcoming book.”

“I am also very physically active, taking classes in the martial
arts. These activities all involve practice/rehearsal and being
offline to concentrate on my writing.”

“I have very limited time to spend on the Internet, and in fact,
as a harpist, I am trying to pace myself when typing at the
computer to save my hands. I already work with a wonderful
virtual assistant, Christine Buffaloe, and she can handle many
tasks for me, but it’s not enough. I know that she can’t do
everything for me. It’s not a question of whether I know what I
need to do or whether I am capable of doing them. It’s a question
of finding time to do what really needs to be done.”

“So, I need to know what I absolutely must do at the computer and
what I can forego. What’s a time waster and what is not? What are
the activities that are necessary (other than the obvious—
answering my emails, replying to direct messages on social
networks, etc.), and what is a waste of time? And how do I
streamline my time doing these things?”

“OK, the harpist is tired of typing.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Anne, I blogged last week on why cutting way back on email is one
of the very best ways to make more time. You can read it, and
retweet it, at http://ow.ly/1yAbv. Many of my other Hounds will
post great suggestions for you at my blog at http://ow.ly/1AN3i

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Meryl K. Evans, for this video of a dog
frolicking on a minor league ball field, and leaving behind a
little gift:
http://ow.ly/1Aytd 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:

Publicity op: Columnist needs ideas on ethnic minorities &
updating job skills
http://ow.ly/1AyAp

How to get a recommendation from someone who’s not on LinkedIn.
Step-by-step directions.
http://ow.ly/1AKEA

No time for social media, but lots of time to waste on email
http://ow.ly/1yAbv

—————————————

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 or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy.

================================================
Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #500 April 13, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityhound.mobi/
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. Celebrating 500: A New Look

2. And the Winner is…

3. Mobile Marketing: Panning for Gold

4. Teleseminars This Week

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

====================================
1. Celebrating #500 with a New Look
====================================

I couldn’t have done it without you.

If you submitted or answered a Help This Hound question, shared a
dog joke, passed along a helpful link or offered a publicity
success story, thank you.

You deserve a gourmet doggy treat wrapped in a big red bow.

You’ve kept me going for almost 10 years, producing a really fun
newsletter, and you’ve taught this old Hound lots of few tricks.

To celebrate, I’ve spiffed things up a bit, thanks to Bob Ricca,
my graphics designer at http://www.bobricca.com/. We hope you like
the new look.

Over the years, many readers have asked about the chance to
advertise, and the redesign presented a great opportunity. Call
262-284-7451 for details.

Onward to Issue 600.

==================================
2. And the Winner Is…
==================================

Congratulations to Gloria Beard, the marketing coordinator for
Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Irving, Texas.

She captured the most votes for the publicity success story she
shared about how my press release tips helped the hospice
generate publicity for a wish that was granted to a dying co-
worker last month.

Debra Looper, who worked in admissions at the hospice, wished for
a garden to be planted in front of her home. The hospice’s
“Faithful Wishes” program made it come true, and local TV
stations and newspapers picked up the story. Debra died two days
after the garden was completed.

“Your advice helped us attract TV news coverage, and prep for it
by reviewing our key messages and providing them to the reporter
who referred to them in the interview,” said Gloria, who wins a
$500 gift certificate for Publicity Hound products and services.

You can see one of the stories at
http://tinyurl.com/hospicewishes

Thanks to all who participated and voted.

=====================================
3. Mobile Marketing: Panning for Gold
=====================================

Before long, somebody will ask, “Where can I find your mobile
site?”

Don’t be forced to reply sheepishly, “I don’t have one yet.”

I don’t have a technical bone in my body. Yet my new mobile site
that I created myself went live this morning, and I feel like a
miner panning for gold in the 1800s. Mobile marketing is so new
that I’m way ahead of my competitors who don’t realize that the
mobile gold rush is about to explode. You can be, too.

Read about my new mobile site, the golden nuggets that await
those smart enough to hunt for them, and how you can get in on
the action, at http://tinyurl.com/mobilegoldrush

=====================================
4. Teleseminars This Week
=====================================

“Discover the Secrets to Speaking in the Recession-Proof College
Market”:
2 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 14, with James Malinchak.
Perfect for authors, speakers, experts and anyone who has one of
17 in-demand topics. I’m hosting this as an affiliate. Register
at http://www.callwithjames.com/

“How to Achieve A Lot More Success As An Author By Discovering
The Seven Things Rich Authors Know That Poor Authors Don’t”:
2 and 7 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, April 15. Sponsored by Steve
Harrison. I’m promoting it as an affiliate and recommend that if
you cannot attend, you recruit someone to listen and take notes.
Register at http://tinyurl.com/whatrichauthorsknow

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

Kathy Slattengren of Kenmore, WA writes:

“I have an online parenting class. It’s $99 for three months of
instruction, and parents can take the course at their own pace.
You can learn more about it at http://snipurl.com/parentingclass2

“For $139, students take the same course, starting April 19, and
get email reminders and a weekly conference call with me. You can
learn more about it at http://snipurl.com/parentingclass1

“The classes include issues like chores, how to set limits but
allow mistakes, controlling your temper, avoiding arguments,
creating consequences for bad behavior, and being a good mentor
and role model.

“What are some quick and creative ways I can market the course
and reach the right people-—parents who need help?”

The Publicity Hound says:

I know my Hounds, particularly those with frisky pups, will be
able to help you out by posting their best ideas to my blog at
http://tinyurl.com/parentingclasses

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

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

The problem with all those drug ads on TV is I always think I
have the disease. Yesterday, I was convinced I have heartworm.

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

Consider retweeting:
Prepare for the mobile gold rush with your new mobile site
http://ow.ly/1xXq6

In-flight magazine editors and readers love these 7 topics
http://ow.ly/1wOhg

Speakers, tweak your topic for the recession-proof college market
http://ow.ly/1wgCS

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 or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy.

================================================
Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #499 April 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
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

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

1. Facebook’s Royal Mess

2. Colleges Need Speakers on 17 Topics

3. In-flight Magaziness Pitching Tips

4. Vote for the Best Success Story

5. Promoting McAllen, Texas

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Video of the Week

8. And at My Blogs…

=========================================
1. Facebook’s Royal Mess
=========================================

Just when you think you understand Facebook Fan Pages, and you’re
starting to build your own Fan base, Facebook gums up the works:

–Within a few weeks, the bloggers are reporting, Facebook will
change the “Become A Fan” button on Fan Pages to read “Like,” and
it looks as though it may eventually do away with the entire
concept of “Fans,” though nobody knows what those Fans will then
be called. (“Likers?”)

–Adding to the confusion is the thumbs-up “Like” button that
already appears under every item in your news feed. If you like a
post, you can click on “Like.” As for Fan Pages, I think “Like”
sounds like a casual endorsement and “Fans” sounds like a group
of people who can’t wait to see what you have for them.

–Late last week, Facebook introduced its new “Community Pages”
which several bloggers were convinced was an April Fool’s Joke.
Unsuspecting Facebook users who intended to create a Fan Page
suddenly found themselves faced with another choice: they could
create a Community Page, designed to support topics and causes.
These pages can also be “unofficial” pages that support a
company, a brand, or a public figure. They’re different than the
“official” Fan Pages a company creates for itself.

–If you create a Community Page, and it eventually spikes in
popularity, Facebook can yank the administrative function from
you and hand it over to the Facebook community, thus turning it
into a public wiki. A wiki is a Website that allows users to add
and update content on a site, like Wikipedia, using their own Web
browser.

–Facebook never explained any of this on its blog–the logical
place you’d expect to see details of any major changes. Social
media bloggers got wind of it through confidential memos that
someone had leaked.

If your head feels like it’s ready to explode trying to
understand all this, you’re not alone. In comments at social
media blogs, Facebook users understandably are screaming about
the changes. Here’s one example: http://tinyurl.com/facebookmess

One comment I saw at a blog stated that the “Become a Fan” vs.
“Like” issue is only for paid ads on Facebook. Some people are
even speculating that Facebook might eventually start charging
companies to keep their own Fan Pages.

Stay tuned.

But don’t abandon Facebook just yet. There are still plenty of
ways you can use the site to build a following. Christine
Buffaloe explains how in the electronic transcript or audio
recording of “11 Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on Facebook,”
one of my most popular learning tools. Read more about it at
http://www.tinyurl.com/facebookwithchris

=========================================
2. Colleges Need Speakers on 17 Topics
=========================================

These are grim times for professional speakers. But they don’t
have to be, if you know how to tweak your topic for the college
market.

–A speaker who trains corporate executives on leadership can
take the fundamental points of the presentation and teach college
students how to be leaders, whether it’s within their
fraternities or sororities, student government or special-
interest groups on campus.

–An expert on corporate recruiting and retention can teach
college fraternities and sororities how to recruit and retain
members. Greeks, by the way, have their own budgets for hiring
speakers, yet another recession-proof pot of money.

–Speakers who specialize in motivating corporate audiences as
convention keynoters can take their message to college campuses,
where motivational speakers are in high demand.

–Diversity trainers who target corporate America can teach
college faculty, staff and students about diversity. At a four-
year college, a kid from the inner city and a farm kid from
Kansas can suddenly find themselves roommates, with all kinds of
potential problems.

Those four topics are among 17 categories of topics that are in
demand at colleges, universities, two-year colleges and tech
schools. James Malinchak, “King of the College Speaking
Circuit,” will review them all during a teleseminar at 2 p.m.
Eastern Time on Wednesday, April, 14.

His teleseminar will also include a look at how speaking at
colleges can generate fabulous publicity without you lifting a
finger, because the colleges do all the PR for you.

James says his sign-up page isn’t quite ready, so I’ll send you a
separate email tomorrow with details on how to register.

======================================
3. In-flight Magaziness Pitching Tips
======================================

Here are the three biggest mistakes people make when they try to
get their story into in-flight magazines:

–They treat all magazines the same. Different airlines serve
different geographic markets, and many of those markets have
different audiences with different needs.

–Authors send unsolicited copies of new books to every magazine
editor. This is a very expensive mistake because most in-flight
magazines don’t do book reviews. Those who do accept books prefer
business titles, and if you can get your book featured in just
one high-circulation magazine, you can be in front of several
million people in just one month.

–They fail to pitch freelancers, staff writers and local
correspondents who are often more accessible than busy editors.
Did you know that many of these people drop valuable clues at
their blogs about topics they love, and many of them can also be
found on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook?

My updated special report, “Fly High with Publicity in the In-
flight Magazines,” is the most comprehensive database of contact
information and pitching tips for in-flight magazines that you’ll
find anywhere. This update includes 56 magazines (I added four
more since I wrote about this last week). You’ll find dozens of
links to editors’ and writers’ blogs as well as profile pages at
the social media sites where you can connect with them.

Read more about the update and what you’ll find at
http://ow.ly/1t36W

======================================
4. Vote for the Best Success Story
======================================

Ten success stories that resulted from tips in this newsletter
are waiting for your vote.

They’re all at my blog at
http://snipurl.com/publicitysuccessstory

Read them and vote for your favorite at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PJQPLF2

I’ll announce the winner next week, when I publish edition Number
500 of this newsletter. The winner will receive $500 in
consulting services or products.

Also next week, the HTML version of this newsletter will have a
new, upbeat look.

======================================
5. Promoting McAllen, Texas
======================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have tips for Nancy S. Millar,
director of the convention and visitors bureau in McAllen, Texas
on how to promote McAllen, a Texas border town that’s feeling the
effects of the bad publicity stemming from violence in Mexico.

From Gayle Carson:

“My niece-in-law is an avid birding enthusiast. If you found a
list of birding enthusiasts (which I am sure there is), you could
develop a campaign just for them and get it out either by email,
a great postcard or a terrific sales letter. When someone is that
passionate about something, they will tell others, and the
destination will go viral.”

From Gail Sideman:

“Post a brief, open and honest letter from your city’s mayor
about the safety record in McAllen and what law enforcement is
doing to deter the Mexican violence from spilling over. I would
include comments from area residents about how they feel secure
in McAllen, and invite others to come enjoy the great things it
has to offer.”

From Pacharee Pantoomano:

“Who’s your target market? Has the Convention and Visitors Bureau
in McAllen, Texas decided whom you want to campaign to, i.e.
senior citizens, retirees, backpackers, student on spring breaks?
When you narrow that down, brainstorm with a team on the best
approach to market/PR to this group on a shoestring budget.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Those are all good ideas. I suggested that once Nancy starts
incorporating some of these ideas, she should pitch a story to
travel writers and bloggers, telling them what you’re doing, and
why.

If she can round up a few other sources from border towns who are
doing interesting things to offset the negative publicity, that
could make for an interesting story. Read all the responses to
this week’s “Help This Hound” question http://ow.ly/1ss8I

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

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

Kathy Slattengren of Kenmore, WA writes:

“I have an online parenting class. It’s $99 for three months of
instruction, and parents can take the course at their own pace.
You can learn more about it at http://snipurl.com/parentingclass2

“For $139, students take the same course, starting April 19, and
get email reminders and a weekly conference call with me. You can
learn about it at http://snipurl.com/parentingclass1

“The classes include issues like chores, how to set limits but
allow mistakes, controlling your temper, avoiding arguments,
creating consequences for bad behavior, and being a good mentor
and role model.

“What are some quick and creative ways I can market the course
and reach the right people-—parents who need help?”

The Publicity Hound says:

Many of my Hounds could use your help raising their pups. Others
will have great ideas for you, which they can post to my blog at
http://ow.ly/1vctJ

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

It’s almost beach season, and my VA, Christine Buffaloe, shares
this video of doggy beach bums getting an early start. It’s
precious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkPNa4DBFHI

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:

Free contact info, pitching tips for 9 TV producers
http://ow.ly/1v53k

Tips for updating your LinkedIn profile
http://ow.ly/1uIt4

Questions to ask press release writing services
http://ow.ly/1uY8a

Magazine turns typo in ad into a contest
http://ow.ly/1uY6W

———————————–

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