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

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“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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        In This Issue
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1. Stop Talking About Yourself

2. Call Your Trade Associations

3. Oprah’s Farewell

4. For Artists Only

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Quote of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

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

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

“I’m standing in line at Starbucks.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

–Pitch an entire segment, not just yourself.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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5. Help This Hound
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Mitch Carnell of Charleston, SC, writes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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7. And at My Blog…
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13 ways to use royalty-free stock images in a PR campaign
http://budurl.com/stockimages

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

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

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Reprinted from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,” an ezine
featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity.
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Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound