The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #595 Feb. 28, 2012
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. A Really Impressive PR Pitch

2. How Pinterest Violates Copyright

3. LinkedIn’s New “Follow” Button

4. Authors: Meet Me in San Francisco

5. Write for My Blog

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site

=====================================
1. A Really Impressive PR Pitch
=====================================

Trust me when I tell you that a media list chock full of juicy
personal details about a journalist or blogger can be your ticket
to publicity.

BL Ochman agrees. She’s a social media expert and a prolific
blogger who writes about online promotions.

On Friday, she wrote about a pitch she received from Rob Toledo,
of Distilled Creative, calling her attention to a social media
campaign roadmap.

BL, who has seen her share of lame pitches, was bowled over by
the personal details about her that Rob, whom she doesn’t know,
included in his pitch. Impressed, she wrote a post titled “Dear
PR Peeps: please read this *really great* PR pitch! (And what he
was pitching).”

BL analyzed Rob’s pitch to show you exactly what made her pay
attention. The screenshot she used at her blog is a little
difficult to read, and she gave me permission to reproduce it at
my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=10470

Please, please, please read it. Study it. And use Rob’s
techniques the next time you pitch a blogger or journalist.

For more tips on how to do some good, old-fashioned sleuthing and
find personal details about the people who you will be pitching,
check out the webinar I hosted recently on “How to Create Your
Own Database of Valuable Media Contacts” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/mediadatabase.htm. It included the eight templates I use
for my own database because I want to save you time and not make
you start from scratch.

===================================
2. How Pinterest Violates Copyright
===================================

Thousands of people who use Pinterest, the social media site that
lets you “pin” images to a digital corkboard, are violating
copyright by pinning other people’s artwork, photographs,
trademarks, logos and more.

Many give the source credit, but some don’t.

Pinterest’s terms of use place the responsibility for following
copyright laws not on itself, but on its users. Pinterest also
gives itself the right to actually sell content that users place
on its site.

If you don’t want Pinterest members to violate copyright and
steal your work, and if you don’t want Pinterest to sell your
work, you can opt out by going to
http://pinterest.com/about/help/ and scrolling all the way to the
bottom to the category “Linking to your blog or website.” Click
on “What if I don’t want images from my site to be pinned?” and
you’ll see a snippet of code that you can add to the head of any
page on your site.

When a user tries to pin from your site, they will see this
message: “This site doesn’t allow pinning to Pinterest. Please
contact the owner with any questions.”

Here’s a very helpful blog post, with lots of links, where you
can read more about how people violate copyright on Pinterest:
http://greekgeek.hubpages.com/hub/Is-Pinterest-a-Haven-for-
Copyright-Violations

======================================
3. LinkedIn’s New “Follow” Button
======================================

Let people interested in your company stay connected to you on
LinkedIn by adding a “Follow Company” button to your website or
blog.

LinkedIn rolled it out yesterday and explains how to use it at
http://blog.linkedin.com/2012/02/27/linkedin-follow-button-for-
companies/.

To grab the code, click here:

https://developer.linkedin.com/plugins/follow-company

While you’re at it, give people an easy way to stay abreast of
new products and services you’re offering. Create Company Pages
on LinkedIn and fill them with lots of content. It’s the perfect
place to promote!

LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth shared all the little tricks on
how to use Company Pages when he was my guest on the webinar
“Your LinkedIn Power Formula Part 2: Advanced Strategies for
Writing a Killer Profile, Cashing in on Groups and Creating
Company Pages.” Read more about how to access the video replay at
http://www.publicityhound.com/linkedinpowerformulapart2.htm

======================================
4. Authors: Meet Me in San Francisco
======================================

If you’ll be at IBPA’s Publishing University in San Francisco on
March 9-10, attend at least one of three panels where I’m
presenting on Saturday:

–9 to 10:15: Advanced Techniques for Creating Websites/Blogs
That SELL

–1:45 to 3: Using Facebook and Twitter to Jump-Start Sales

–3:15 to 4:30: Getting Attention: Promoting Your Titles to
Bloggers and Online Communities

I’m back on the speaking circuit, sharing my publicity and social
media expertise. Email me at JStewart (at) PublicityHound.com if
you’d like to host The Publicity Hound at your event.

=====================================
5. Write for My Blog
=====================================

Get in front of PR people, publicists, authors, speakers,
experts, do-it-yourself Publicity Hounds and others who read my
blog by writing a guest post.

It will expose you to a new audience. And I’ll promote you like
crazy on the social media sites.

Read more about how to pitch me:
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6573

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

If you can stand two and a half minutes of cuteness, watch this
mama Husky love her baby, and watch the pup tell its mom in
puppy-speak, “I love you more.”

http://youtu.be/PkUVnYG27Vc

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

Great content for retweeting:

Expert on gossip? Top-tier reporter needs sources
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10535

Check your Pinterest influence score with PinClout
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10517

Pitch stories about employees in their 80s, 90s
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10496

Personal details in your pitch is your ticket to publicity
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10470

——————————————

Read my publicity tips on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

Join my Facebook Fan Pages:
http://www.facebook.com/publicityhound
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 at http://www.Publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

=======================================
Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #595 Feb. 21, 2012
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. Barking Up the Front Page

2. How Freelancers Can Help You

3. Publicity Tips for Local Events

4. Create Event Videos from Photos

5. Red-hot Pinterest

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site

=====================================
1. Barking Up the Front Page
=====================================

Michelle Tennant knows how much the media loathe press
conferences.

She heard me preach that repeatedly when she was in my mentor
program many years ago.

Today, she’s a successful publicist who has landed many of her
clients in top-tier media like the New York Times, the Wall
Street Journal and on “Good Morning, America.”

But she was especially tickled when her local newspaper, the
Hendersonville Times, featured a front-page story on Saturday
about the Blue Ridge Husky Rescue, an organization that saves
Huskies that are abandoned by their owners and often turn up in
animal shelters.

The Husky Rescue is close to Michelle’s heart. So are Huskies.
When she heard the group needed publicity, she steered them away
from a press conference to a media event.

Right there on the front page was a photo of Michelle on
rollerblades, being pulled around Jackson Park on a leash by
Smokey, a three-year-old Siberian Husky that found a new home
through the rescue group.

“Do you know how rrrrrough it is to score front page ink? [Dog
whine.] Rrrrrough,” wrote Michelle at her blog at
http://michelletennant.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/barking-up-the-
front-page/.

Remember that the next time you’re tempted to stage a boring
press conference.

Interested in joining my mentor program? Yesterday, I taught
people in the program how to use two helpful, easy-to-remember
formulas (not mine, somebody else’s) when writing press releases
and pitches. They work almost every time. If you want to join us,
read more about the program at
http://www.publicityhound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html or call me
at 262-284-7451 and let’s see if we’re a good fit.

=================================
2. How Freelancers Can Help You
=================================

Here are four reasons why freelance journalists can sometimes be
more valuable to your publicity campaign than journalists who
work full-time for one media outlet:

–Because they write for multiple outlets, they can interview you
multiple times for different stories they’re selling.

–You don’t have to pitch busy reporters or grumpy editors. They
do.

–Freelance journalists often blog. That means one more place
where they might give you publicity and a backlink to your
website.

–Freelancers know each other and attend the same conferences. If
they know you’re a good source, but they don’t need what you’re
offering, they might share your contact information with a
colleague who does.

If you have a media database, there’s certain information about
freelancers that should be included within it. That’s why I have
a separate template for freelancers. I shared it–along with
seven other templates for newspapers, magazines, TV shows, radio
shows, bloggers, newsletters and websites–when I hosted the
webinar “How to Create Your Own Database of Valuable Media
Contacts” on Thursday. It’s available as a PDF or Word document
so you can just cut and paste the information into your own
database.

If you missed the webinar, you can order the video replay and
access all the other materials here:
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/mediadatabase.htm

======================================
3. Publicity Tips for Local Events
======================================

The next time you do publicity for a local event, remember my 11
handy tips.

I’ve been compiling them since I volunteered to do publicity for
my garden club’s annual gardening seminar, which was held on
Saturday.

We got mountains of publicity, but I also made a few boo-boos. I
mistakenly assumed that the gardening newsletters in Wisconsin
had short lead times for calendar items. Was I wrong! One of them
works three months ahead, and I missed the deadline.

I was also disappointed to learn that the photos I took on
Saturday had no crowd shots.

On the plus side, a big feature story with several photos
appeared in our local weekly, and fliers distributed at the local
tech college resulted in seven attendees from that school.

Read all my tips at my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=10437

======================================
4. Create Event Videos from Photos
======================================

Here’s a fun way to create a post-event video and use it for PR
if you’re only shooting photos at your event.

Create an account at Animoto, a website that will let you gather
a collection of your best photos, type some text, arrange them
like you’d arrange letters on your wooden Scrabble letter holder,
choose your music, and–voila!–produce it. That’s what I did
after my garden club hosted our annual garden seminar on
Saturday.

We didn’t shoot video. But used the photos I took to create one.
It’s at our website at http://www.PortGardenClub.org

You can post your video on your website, and share it on the
social media sites and anywhere else you want to promote next
year’s event.

A free Animoto account will let you produce videos of no more
than 30 seconds. Paid accounts, for as little as $5 a month, let
you produce longer videos, but only for non-commercial use.

Go ahead. Play around with it and see how much fun it is (using
this affiliate link):

http://animoto.com/?ref=obcetdav

=====================================
5. Red-Hot Pinterest
=====================================

Users spend more time on Pinterest, the bulletin board social
media site, than they do on Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+
combined, according to a new study.

After I wrote about Pinterest here last week, my email inbox has
been clogged with messages telling me that people, mostly women,
are following me there.

Read more about the study here:
http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/usa-social-network-
use_b18798

Read the 10 reasons Pinterest booked 10 million visitors a month
so quickly:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2012/02/18/10-reasons-
pinterest-booked-10-million-visitors-a-month-so-fast/

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

Have you seen this one of the Dalmation riding a bike? OK, so the
bike has training wheels. But it’s still worth a look.

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

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

Great content for tweeting:

11 local publicity tips: Start early, pitch often
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10437

Dog Tweets:
Follow these PR rules if
you want to raise some real capital
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10414

——————————————-

Read my publicity tips on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

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 at http://www.Publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

=======================================
Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #594 Feb. 14, 2012
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. The Truth About Pricy Media Lists

2. Don’t Send Junk to TV Producers

3. Pinterest: The Shiny New Bauble

4. Patch Scales Back

5. Follow Up Your Pitches

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site

=====================================
1. The Truth About Pricy Media Lists
=====================================

Big media directories are like expensive security blankets.

Armed with contact information for thousands of newspapers,
magazines, TV shows, radio shows, bloggers and more, you know
that when you need it, it’s there.

Problem is, by the time you get around to using only a miniscule
number of the listings, many of them are out of date. Big PR
firms that serve dozens of clients can afford these expensive
databases. Most do-it-yourself Publicity Hounds, nonprofits and
small boutique firms cannot.

Help is on the way.

On Thursday, I’ll show you how to create your own directory of
media contacts and fill it with juicy nuggets that you’ll never
find in the big directories. If you register, you’ll receive
eight templates I use for newspapers, magazines, TV shows, radio
shows, freelancers, bloggers, websites, and print newsletters and
ezines.

Media relations is about building relationships. That means no
blast emails and no “spray and pray” pitches–a sin you’ll be
tempted to commit with thousands of email addresses at your
fingertips.

Join me at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Feb. 16, when I host
the webinar, “How to Build Your Own Database of Valuable Media
Contacts.” Whether you’re doing publicity for yourself or your PR
clients, you’ll learn about the types of information to include
in your database, shortcuts that will help find the best contacts
quickly, and the most important details to include in each entry.

Here’s the best part. The morning of the webinar, I’ll email you
a link where you can download my eight fill-in-the-blank
templates, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

Don’t miss this one. It’s going to fill up fast. Register at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/mediadatabase.htm

=================================
2. Don’t Send Junk to TV Producers
=================================

Here’s a small sampling of the junk that TV shows receive from
Publicity Hounds who want to get booked as guests:

Expensive press kits. Multiple copies of the author’s book (one
for everybody on the staff). Press clippings. CDs. DVDs.
Envelopes stuffed with brochures and other marketing materials.
Even gag gifts that the sender tries to tie into a clever pitch.

But the staff doesn’t have time to wade through it. So it ends up
in the trash.

If you want to get onto shows like “Rachael Ray,” “The Wendy
Williams Show” and “Live with Kelly,” don’t pester them with
things they don’t want.

Instead, find out what they DO want from you and what you must do
to make them say “yes.” Steve Harrison will interview producers
and bookers from those three shows, and others, during a 90-
minute webinar at 2 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16.

If you can’t attend, register anyway:
https://m164.infusionsoft.com/go/tvcall/A10011/

If you want to attend my webinar on media databases and Steve’s,
his afternoon session overlaps with mine. You have two options.
Attend his evening session so you don’t miss any of mine. Or,
attend his afternoon session and watch the video replay of mine.
He almost never records his webinars. I do. And anyone who
registers, but cannot attend, can access my replay and all the
handouts.

======================================
3. Pinterest: The New Shiny Bauble
======================================

Pinterest, the online social media corkboard, is the new kid in
the social media classroom and grabbing most of the attention.

It’s almost all visual–and so doggone beautiful.

Create an account at Pinterest.com. You can then start creating
boards where you can “pin” photos and videos around a common
theme that you find when browsing the Web, and write a short
description of each. I’ve started a board called “My Favorite
Products.” People who follow you can “repin” your board and share
it with others.

About three-fourths of the more than 3 million users are women,
perhaps because most of the topics fall into the lifestyle
category: parenting, home/family, bridal, baby, hobbies and
collectibles, food and fashion/cosmetics.

The big temptation is to turn your boards into giant commercials
for your products and services, but there are many better
options. This article at Copybloger explains “56 Ways to Market
Your Business on Pinterest”:

http://www.copyblogger.com/pinterest-marketing/

If you’re using Pinterest, join the conversation on my Facebook
page, tell me what you like or don’t like about it, and offer
your own tips:
https://www.facebook.com/publicityhound/posts/311749112207011

=====================================
4. Patch Scales Back
=====================================

If you’ve come to love Patch.com as I have, you’ll be
disappointed to hear reports that AOL is planning to drastically
reduce staff and change the editorial focus.

Jim Romensko reports that the site, which serves 22 states in the
U.S. and the District of Columbia, is planning to lay off from
one-half to all of its freelancers. He also says a Patch insider
told him they’re planning “easy, quick-hitting, cookie-cutter
copy.”

Read the sad news at
http://jimromenesko.com/2012/02/08/patch-to-reduce-staff-change-
editorial-focus/

Patch is one of the many websites where you can promote your
local events. Learn about 50 more sites here:
http://www.publicityhound.com/events.htm

======================================
5. Follow Up Your Pitches
======================================

When you hear journalists say, “Please don’t follow up,” what
they really mean is “Please don’t follow up and waste my time.”

Here’s how not to waste their time:

If you pitch and hear nothing within, say, a week or two, email
again and offer a little extra. If you pitched a story on how
parents can deal with cranky toddlers, offer a list of the “Top
10 Ways to Tame the Terrible Twos” to accompany the story.

That’s the fifth part of my formula on how to pitch. Learn about
the first four parts here:
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/pitchingformula.htm

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Elaine Grassbaugh of Columbus, Ohio for
this oldie-but-goodie video of two dogs eating, side by side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=
EVwlMVYqMu4&vq=medium#t=125

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

Great content for tweeting:

6 ways to overcome a writing setback
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10389

TV producers will share pitching tips Thursday
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10375

Sidestep expensive media directories:
Create your own
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10346

Dog Tweets:
7 crucial tactics for writing
a radically successful guest post
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10340

——————————————-

Read my publicity tips on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

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 at http://www.Publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

=======================================
Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #593 Feb. 7, 2012
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. Lessons from a Speech on Farts

2. Build Your Own Media List

3. Don’t Say This to Journalists

4. No Experience Necessary

5. Free Webinar for Authors

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site

=====================================
1. Lessons from a Speech on Farts
=====================================

You can read all the articles and books in the world about
writing a compelling speech.

But none comes close to what you can learn from sixth-grader
Sophie Paterson’s speech about farts.

I usually ignore funny emails, jokes and other trivia people send
to me, but the topic caught my attention and I couldn’t help but
read the newspaper clipping.

The speech competition, which sounds as though the local Rotary
Club in New Zealand sponsored it, featured Sophie in the front of
the room rattling off a Top 10 list of animals that fart the
most. Her younger brother stood nearby, holding up placards that
illustrated what she was explaining.

When I finished reading the article, I was struck by all the
lessons Publicity Hounds can learn from Sophie’s speech, which
won first place.

For example, when you’re writing an article, a blog post, or even
a pitch to journalists, use statistics. (Who knew that the
average person farts 14 times a day, expels a half liter of gas,
or that hydrogen sulphide is the compound that makes them stink?)

I found four other lessons from Sophie’s speech. Read them at my
blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=10293 and join the
conversation. What lessons did you learn from the speech?

=================================
2. Build Your Own Media List
=================================

You see those ads all the time from the big companies selling
elephant-size media databases.

“Which of those big expensive lists is the best one to use?” many
Publicity Hounds ask.

Unless you have a lot of PR clients, you don’t need an expensive
database. In fact, those big directories can actually slow your
publicity efforts because you’ll be tempted to send one-size-
fits-all pitches to several dozen outlets at the same time. And
we know how well that works.

I recommend you build your own list from scratch, using a wide
variety of resources, all free, that you can find online.

Yes, it’s a lot of work. But once you’ve created your list–and
done it correctly–it will include golden nuggets of information
that you’ll NEVER find in the big media directories.

That’s because the big directories often get their information by
asking busy journalists to complete a questionnaire. And what’s
on the questionnaire goes into the directory. Problem is, most
journalists never take the time to give thorough answers, and
they don’t include the kinds of valuable details that will really
help you.

Join me at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Feb. 16, when I host
the webinar, “How to Build Your Own Database of Valuable Media
Contacts.” Whether you’re doing publicity for yourself or your PR
clients, you’ll learn about the types of information to include
in your database, shortcuts that will help find the best contacts
quickly, and the most important details to include in each entry.

Here’s the best part. Everyone who registers gets a package of
eight templates, the same ones I use, so you don’t have to start
from scratch.

Don’t miss this one. It’s going to fill up fast. Register at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/mediadatabase.htm

======================================
3. Don’t Say This to Journalists
======================================

When I worked as a newspaper reporter, nothing was more annoying
than interviewing a source, only to have the source ask, after
I’d been taking notes for 20 minutes, “You’re not going to print
any of this, are you?”

That’s just one of dozens of things you should never say to a
journalist.

You can read them all at Quora at
http://www.quora.com/Cultural-Faux-Pas/What-are-some-faux-pas-
when-speaking-to-a-journalist

Quora is the giant website where anyone can ask a question about
any topic (even farts) and anyone can provide the answer.

I was among the 22 people who answered the question, “What are
some faux pas when speaking to a journalist?”

Here’s what I said Publicity Hounds should never do:

“Assume Chris is a woman, Terry is a man, Val is a woman and
Billie is a man. Don’t address a journalist as ‘Dear Mr. Smith’
unless you know for sure he’s a man.”

Also, I said using the word “publicity” in your pitch is
forbidden, as in “Can you give us some good publicity?”

Now that you know what NOT to say, learn WHAT to say. I’ve
explained it in my ebook, “How to be a Kick-butt Publicity
Hound,” a one-stop resource for anyone who’s promoting a product,
service, cause or issue. Read more about it at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity/publicityhound.htm

=====================================
4. No Experience Necessary
=====================================

The quickest path from knowledge to profit is simple. First,
find a system that works. Then take action.

I found a system that’s going to save you years of time and a ton
of money and heartache trying to get your info products to
market. It’s called Make, Market, Launch IT and it works fast.

Creators Pam Hendrickson and Mike Koenigs have a client, Karen
Waksman of San Francisco, who made, marketed and launched a
product in just two weeks–and generated $10k in sales with their
system.

Now Pam and Mike are going to promote her to over 200,000 people
for free.

If you’ve ever considered turning your ideas, advice or knowledge
into a product that you can sell, Make, Market, Launch IT is the
shortest path to profits. Watch this video to see what I mean:
http://makemarketlaunch.com/aff.php?af=1427774&video=4

It doesn’t matter whether you’re starting from scratch or how
much experience you have. Most of their Product Creation Heroes
started with none. Watch their step-by-step tips on how to
package your ideas, knowledge or advice into a product you can
sell, even if you have little or no budget.
http://makemarketlaunch.com/aff.php?af=1427774&video=4

======================================
5. Free Webinar for Authors
======================================

What’s the one thing you need most to get booked as a guest on
the big morning TV shows like the “Today” show?

If you said, “A big PR firm with inside contacts,” you’re wrong.

Even if you did hire a big firm that knew producers at the show,
you’d never get on the air without a compelling topic, and unless
the producers knew you’d make a great segment.

A former NBC producer who booked guests for “Today” and “Dateline
NBC” will explain what it takes to become a regular guest on
national TV and even get offered your own show (think Dr. Phil).

Steve Harrison will interview the producer and explain how to
brand yourself for the media in a way that celebrates your
uniqueness while also separating you from all the other experts
in your field.

You’ll learn about publicity superstars like Jennifer, who became
a regularly featured lifestyle expert on Fox News Channel and the
Early Show, and scored coverage in hundreds of print media
outlets including O the Oprah Magazine, Redbook, US Weekly,
Success and Entrepreneur.

Join Harrison and his other guests for the webinar, “How To
Become A Regular Guest On National TV And Other Secrets Of The
Publicity Superstars,” at 2 and 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday,
Feb. 9.

If you can’t attend because the times are inconvenient, sign up
anyway and find someone who can listen and take notes for you.
Register at https://m164.infusionsoft.com/go/NPS18CallOne/A10011/

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

Great content for tweeting:

Publicity lessons from a first-place speech on farts
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10293

Dog Tweets:
How entrepreneurs decide how to post on
LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10302

Looking for San Francisco biz or
nonprofit to host me March 8-9
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10281

——————————————-

Read my publicity tips on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

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 at http://www.Publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

=======================================
Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #592 Jan. 31, 2012
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. Valentine’s Day Story Ideas

2. See You in San Francisco

3. Follow Journalists on Facebok

4. Promoting Calendars for Vets

5. Media Lead

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site

=====================================
1. Valentine’s Day Story Ideas
=====================================

Nobody beats Publicity Hound Shawne Duperon when it comes to
pitching story ideas for Valentine’s Day.

These are particularly good if you want to get on your local TV
news:

–If you have Valentine’s-related fun products, send one to the
morning show anchor. “They may showcase it live on the set,” she
says.

–Relationship experts and psychologists: Any stats on the number
of people using website dating services? They’re staggering.

–What about tips on how to search for the love of your life on
one of those sites, so you don’t waste time?

–Give tips on how to write the perfect love profile.

–What about data on the state of marriage as an institution?
Ministers, are you seeing more or fewer couples renewing their
vows?

–How do birds (or any other animal) mate? What is their love
dance?

–And what about job trends for 2012 that are for hopeless
romantics?

Subscribe to Shawne’s free ezine at http://shawnetv.com/

Check out the teleseminar I hosted with Shawne on “116 ‘WOW!’
Story Ideas from January Through June at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/JanIdeas.htm

=================================
2. See You in San Francisco
=================================

If you’re attending the Independent Book Publishers Association’s
annual Publishing University March 9-10 in San Francisco, you can
see me present three times on Saturday. I’ll be on these panels:

–Advanced Techniques for Creating Websites/Blogs That SELL at 9
a.m.

–Using Facebook and Twitter to Jump-start Sales at 1:45 p.m.

–Getting Attention: Promoting Your Titles to Bloggers and Online
Communities at 3:15 p.m.

Register at http://thepublishinguniversity.com/

While I’m in San Francisco, I’d like to host a public workshop on
publicity or social media a day or two before the IBPA event. If
your company or nonprofit is interested in partnering with me, or
you want to book me for your next event, email
JStewart@PublicityHound.com and let’s talk.

I’m back on the speaking circuit!

======================================
3. Follow Journalists on Facebook
======================================

Thousands of journalists are flocking to Facebook’s “subscribe”
feature which means you can now see their scoops, stories and
squibs right in your Facebook news feed.

The VentureBeat blog has a good explanation of this:

“Before the subscribe button, Facebook supplied purely reciprocal
profiles. Meaning, if you wanted to follow someone’s updates, you
had to be a friends with them, and they, in turn, had to be
friends with you. Social networks like Twitter and Google+,
however, do not require a symmetrical relationship to add
someone’s updates to your stream of social consciousness. There
was little commitment involved, so people flocked to those sites
for news and quick information, while Facebook remained a source
of personal news.

“The subscribe button changed this, allowing people to see
analysis, links to posts and other content outside of their day-
to-day updates on friends’ activity.”

So far, more than 1,000 reporters, editors and freelancers are
using the subscribe button, including more than 90 people from
the Washington Post and more than 50 from The New York Times.

Read more about it at
http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/25/facebook-subscribe-button-3/

Then find out 33 ways you can attract fans to your Facebook page,
courtesy of Mari Smith who appeared on a webinar with me:
http://www.publicityhound.com/facebookpages.htm

=====================================
4. Promoting Calendars for Vets
=====================================

This week, seven Publicity Hounds have tips for Gina Elise of
Redlands, CA, founder of Pin-ups for Vets, which supports
hospitalized veterans and deployed service members. She needs
ideas on how to promote her group’s pin-up calendars.

From Sophie Wajsman:

“Perhaps she could organise an old-fashioned bathing beauty
competition where contestants are asked to dress in the style of
the 40s – bathers, shoes, hair and make-up. This event could be
used to launch the latest calendar, and major media outlets could
be invited to the event. It would provide an opportunity for
great black and white shots or even footage for TV.”

From Karen Zapp:

“There are hundreds of veteran groups on LinkedIn. But don’t
limit yourself to those centered on Iraq and Afghanistan. This is
because there are tens of thousands of vets willing to help those
serving now who didn’t happen to serve in these conflicts. Just
search for ‘veterans’ in LinkedIn Groups and you’ll get a long
list.

“Join some groups and post a clever discussion with a link to a
unique landing page with a photo and story of one veteran’s
response to receiving the calendar. Then, explain how donors can
help more vets with their donation.

“Hopefully you have a Facebook page and can do something similar.
You might consider running an ad on Facebook. They are rather
simple to create and you can control the budget similar to Google
Adwords.”

From Reece Franklin:

“I am very involved with many senior networking groups in
southern California, like Access to Seniors and Networking for
Seniors. Give me a shout and I will direct you to the presidents
and right people so you can begin to attend the free meetings,
meet the movers and shakers, and get them to know you and your
group. About 40 to 60 people attend each meeting. You don’t have
time to go to all, but after 13 years in the senior marketing
biz, I know which ones are good, and which are not.”

The Publicity Hound says:
My tail wags when I see responses like those! Read them all at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10243

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

======================================
5. Media Lead
======================================

A reporter at a national publication is exploring the phenomenon
of how smart people sometimes feel dumb in intimate social
settings and needs sources to interview.

Have you ever clammed up in a business meeting, at a cocktail or
dinner party, on jury duty, or at some other small social event—-
even though you know you’re as smart (or smarter) than anyone
else in the room? And is this a departure from your usual
personality?

If you have funny or interesting stories to tell about this
topic, please respond as soon as possible to aceb5@aol.com with
details of your anecdote and contact information. Anyone quoted
must be willing to use to use their name.

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Christine Buffaloe of Serenity Virtual
Assistant Services for this video of eight commercials that show
how the Subaru is “dog tested and approved.” Save this one for
when you’re having a really bad day. You’ll howl!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5wpWGnu3Ms

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

Doing business locally? Share your blog at Patch.com
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10262

Dog Tweets: Write clever headlines using this clever trick
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10254

——————————————-

Read my publicity tips on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

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 at http://www.Publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

=======================================
Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound