The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #495 March 9, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net/ (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

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

1. The Next Big Thing: Mobile

2. Time-saving Blogging Tips

3. Social Media Cheat Sheet

4. Marketing a Lifestyle for Boomers

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs…

======================================
1. The Next Big Thing: Mobile
======================================

Ten years ago, the hot new thing was building an email list.

Seven years ago, it was blogs and video.

Last year, it was Twitter.

This year, it’s mobile marketing. In 2010, our planet already has
more mobile phones than it does TV sets, cars, credit cards or
computers.

New generations of mobile devices are being unleashed not every
few months, but every few WEEKS. Hundreds of millions of
consumers worldwide are glued to their iPhones, Blackberries or
other mobile devices. To put it bluntly, they are waiting for
YOU.

That means more new technology to learn. But the opportunities to
reach your ideal customers, whether they’re standing in line at
Starbucks or lying in bed, is huge–only if you do it right and
don’t believe the two biggest misconceptions about mobile
marketing:

–It’s just like Internet marketing, but on a much smaller
screen.

–Sending a string of text messages is just like sending a series
of autoresponder messages.

If you’re confused about how to tap into this opportunity, let
StomperNet help. I’m their affiliate and they’re letting me share
these two goodies with you:

–A free webinar at 8 Eastern tonight featuring Dan Hollings, the
creator of StomperMobile and the guy who did the Internet
marketing behind the phenomenon “The Secret.” Sign up for the
webinar at
https://stompernet.infusionsoft.com/go/SMW1/SN332 If you can’t
make it, sign up anyway in case they record it. Or recruit
somebody to watch and take notes for you.

–A free series of three video lessons that will help you get
started the right way:
https://stompernet.infusionsoft.com/go/SM1/SN332

I’ll be on the webinar tonight. See you there.

======================================
2. Time-saving Blogging Tips
======================================

The biggest excuse people use to explain why they aren’t
blogging, or why they don’t comment at other people’s blogs, is
“I don’t have time.”

Here’s a tip that that lets you do both at the same time.

Create a Google Alert at http://www.Google.com/alerts for a
keyword or keyword phrase. When you check your alerts and you
find a blog post that screams out for your expert commentary,
tell yourself: “What I’m going to write here will be the basis of
a post at my own blog.”

Write the comment. Save it to your clipboard. Then take it over
to your blog where you can expound on it a little more. Then,
link back to the blog where you commented. That’s exactly what I
did over the weekend when I saw law firm marketing expert Kevin
O’Keefe’s blog post about press releases.

The topic was perfect for me. I wrote a lengthy comment, brought
it back to my own blog and elaborated, linking back to Kevin’s
blog. You can read my post “Why a press release and not just a
blog post?” at http://ow.ly/1pVlma

This little trick also works when you’re answering questions on
LinkedIn.

The 27 pages of handouts that I offered during the teleseminar
“Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging,” with Patsi
Krakoff in January, are as helpful for veteran bloggers as they
are for newbies. They include 101 places to find content for your
blog, the first 7 steps before creating your blog, how to write
better and faster, and 20 mistakes smart professionals make with
blogs.

The handouts accompany the electronic transcript, CD or MP3
recording. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/businessblogger

=====================================
3. Social Media Cheat Sheet
=====================================

You’ll love Drew McLellan’s handy, color-coded Social Media Cheat
Sheet that will help you understand how to leverage major social
media sites: http://ow.ly/1g8CO

Notice how well Digg, the popular bookmarking site, fares on this
chart. It’s a valuable tool for brand exposure, generating
traffic to your site, and search engine optimization.
If you’re not using Digg, now is the time to start. Colin Martin
explains how during the teleseminar on “How to do Social
Bookmarking to Promote Your Expertise, Attract Followers & Pull
Massive Amounts of Traffic.” The CD, MP3 and electronic
transcript include a series of four videos in which Colin
demonstrates how to create your accounts at bookmarking sites,
how to bookmark content, how to make friends and join groups, and
everyday uses for this powerful marketing tool.

Read more about what you’ll learn at http://tinyurl.com/ybzam7u

======================================
4. Marketing a Lifestyle for Boomers
======================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have tips for Patti Chavet of
Frisco, Texas who wants to brand herself as an expert in active
adult lifestyles for Baby Boomers who live in Texas.

From Camille Torres:

“To position yourself as an expert, I suggest starting with a
blog. Offer information that helps your target audience, finding
the intersection between their informational needs/wants and your
expertise. Mixing it up a bit and having a video blog posting
every now and then might be a good idea. It would help people
identify with you and connect with you better, and the videos can
also be posted on YouTube and other video-sharing sites for extra
exposure. Tweet and Facebook your blog postings, along with other
info that will appeal to your audience.”

From Eric Gruber:

“You should be writing articles and submitting them on top
websites and ezines that your targeted audience (Baby Boomers
looking to retire) goes to every day for solutions you provide. I
know you’re looking for a local area, but article marketing works
for you, too.”

From Reece Franklin:

“Target the Boomers: While there are usually several networking
organizations within a large community that target the senior
market, there aren’t many that target Boomers. I suggest you
either find one or two that do hit the Boomers, or start your
own. Put together a list of the top 30 companies that might
target Boomers, and can influence them to use you. Then invite
these folks to your first networking meeting. Networking really
works if you’re the founder, or the key speaker.”

Read all the responses to this week’s ?Help This Hound” question
http://ow.ly/1die7

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

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

Susan Murphy of Pleasant Ridge, MI writes:

“I’m looking for some interesting avenues in which to promote our
client, an environmental scientist who specializes in toxic mold
education, detection and remediation.

“Connie Morbach, M.S. CHMM CIE, is a respected national authority
on indoor air quality (IAQ) who has performed over 10,000
residential/commercial air tests and environmental evaluations.

“Since 1994, her team has witnessed the illnesses and devastation
caused by many ill-equipped and unscrupulous IAQ/Mold
‘professionals’ in their industry, and they continue to help so
many who have suffered from these injustices. She has just
started a blog at http://cleanlinest.wordpress.com/ and is
tweeting to share her knowledge as well.

“Connie has been featured on a half dozen indoor air quality
investigative segments for NBC’s “Today” show (”Why your gym may
be making you sick” and “Watch out for hidden germs in
supermarkets”), as well as “Rachael Ray” and “Extreme Makeover
Home Edition.” But she hasn’t worked with a PR firm since then.
She’s looking to get the word out again about her expertise, and
I’m hoping your loyal Hounds can suggest some thoughtful ideas.

The Publicity Hound says:

What a great topic! The “your (fill in the blank) is making you
sick” theme can be used dozens of ways. Let’s see what my Hounds
have to say. If you have a great idea for Susan, post it to my
blog at http://ow.ly/1g9z9

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

“Dogs have no money. Isn’t that amazing? They’re broke their
entire lives. But they get through. You know why dogs have no
money? No pockets.”

–Jerry Seinfeld

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

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.

http://www.publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/

==================================
7. And at My Blogs…
==================================

Consider retweeting these blog posts:

Job-hunters, publicity seekers: Wake up your boring bios
http://ow.ly/1frh9

Why a press release and not just a blog post?
http://ow.ly/1pVlma

Your dog can soon have its own Twitter account
http://ow.ly/1g48j

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #490 Feb. 2, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.PublicityArticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

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

1. When Google Speaks, Listen

2. Five Blogging Must-Haves

3. LinkedIn Recommendations

4. For Authors & Publishers Only

5. A Book on Inappropriate Touching

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Slide Show of the Week

8. And at My Blogs…

======================================
1. When Google Speaks, Listen
======================================

So you think social media is a big fat waste of time, huh?

What if I told you that Google, the granddaddy of search engines,
is now including links and posts from social media sites like
Twitter, Facebook and MySpace as soon as they appear online? If
you aren’t participating at social media sites, and your
competitors are, they could be elbowing their way onto the top of
the Google search list for your keywords, if they’re using those
same keywords and sharing links.

You can read about it here: http://ow.ly/12CLQ

As you’ll see from that article, it’s more important than ever
for Publicity Hounds to use social networking sites to spread
information via shared links. If you’ve been putting off
participating, that should change your mind.

Jeanne Hurlbert, my new business partner, and I created Social
Media Rx, a new product specifically for Publicity Hounds who are
petrified about getting involved in social media, or can’t figure
out what to say or how to act at these sites.

Tomorrow, Feb. 3, we’re offering you a free webinar, chock full
of social media tips, for people who haven’t even dipped their
toes into the social media waters yet, or for those who are
participating, but aren’t quite sure what they’re doing or aren’t
seeing a return on investment.

It will be at 3 p.m. Eastern Time (Noon Pacific), and we’re
sharing tons of social media tips and success stories. We’ll also
give you a glimpse of Social Media Rx, our new product. It’s an
assessment you can take by answering a series of questions
designed to show you how much you do or don’t know about social
media.

When you’re done, it delivers, within seconds, a customized
report and your own formula that explains exactly what you should
be discussing at social media sites, based on your job, hobbies,
interests and level of expertise. It’s already received rave
reviews, and we can hardly wait to show it to you.

Everyone who registers for the call will receive the free report
“3 Dangerous Social Media Problems & How to Solve Them.”

For instructions on how to sign up, go to
http://budurl.com/socialmediarxwebinar

======================================
2. Five Blogging Must-Haves
======================================

If you’re blogging, here are five things that blogging expert
Patsi Krakoff says you must have at your blog:

–An email subscription form so your followers get each new post
via email. (I’ve added this to my to-do list.)

–An “About” page.

–Something you can offer them for free. (Another to-do for me.)

–A “retweet this” button to make it easy for readers to share
your post on Twitter. I use Tweetmeme. You can check it out at my
blog at http://www.PublicityHound.net

–An analytics program so you can see how much traffic you’re
getting and where it’s coming from.
Patsi listed seven more “must haves,” and the one issue that many
people waste time obsessing over, when she was my guest during a
teleseminar on “Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging”
last month. The CD, MP3 replay and electronic transcript come
with 23 pages of handouts that include 101 ways to find content
for your blog, templates for writing a post quickly and easily,
and a list of 20 common mistakes you don’t want to make. Read
more about it and check out all the rave reviews at
http://tinyurl.com/businessblogger

===================================
3. LinkedIn Recommendations
===================================

If you aren’t regularly recommending people on LinkedIn, you’re
missing a chance to accumulate your own recommendations from
people who know, like and trust you.

That’s because every time you recommend someone, LinkedIn asks
that person if they’d like to return the favor.

Don’t just ask for recommendations. Offer them! It follows the
give-to-get rule that’s so important in the world of social
media.

See “How to Use LinkedIn to Promote Anything–Ethically &
Powerfully” at http://tinyurl.com/5zvzyd

===================================
4. For Authors & Publishers Only
===================================

Want to make your book a best-seller? You’re invited to a free
telseminar on Thursday, Feb., 4, at 2 and 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Steve Harrison will interview Peggy McColl about the simple
blueprint she’s developed to quickly make many books instant
best-sellers at practically zero cost. This works for all types
of books: fiction, non-fiction, ebooks, novels, print on demand,
etc.

Interested? Register at
http://www.BestsellerBlueprintCall.com/?10011 (I’m an affiliate.)

====================================
5. A Book on Inappropriate Touching
====================================

This week, 10 Publicity Hounds have tips for Jill Starishevsky of
New York, NY, author of My Body Belongs to Me, a children’s book
on inappropriate touching. Jill needs ideas on how to promote it
to traditional and social media.

From Martine Ehrenclou:

“Submit your book to the Mom?s Choice Awards. That’s the book
awards competition that acknowledges the best books that benefit
families. They do a lot of promotion for their winners.”

From Eric Gruber:

“You should be writing top tips, how-to, top mistakes, and top
question-type articles, and then submit them to the top websites,
ezines and article directories that parents are going to every
day. For example: Iparenting.com, About.com, Child Parenting.”

From Christel Hall:

“Send a copy of your book to Dr. Laura, who has her own
syndicated radio show. Whether you agree with all of her advice
or not, she is a big children?s advocate and covers a new book at
least weekly on her radio program.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Create a Facebook Fan Page just for the book, and share the link
with mommy bloggers. See “11 Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities
on Facebook” at http://budurl.com/jfgw

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

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

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

Phyllis May of Key West, FL, writes:

“March 1 is my day in Chase?s Calendar of Events. It?s ?Refired
not Retired Day? and it?s also the title of my humorous book that
shows people how to make the most of life after retirement.

“Might your Publicity Hounds have ideas for things I can suggest
for people to do on March 1? Amazingly, because I have a Google
Alert, I know that there’s a restaurant in Australia that has it
on their calendar. I wrote and told them I thought I should be
there but they didn’t respond. Darn.

“One time I saw an assisted living facility promoting it but I
truly don’t know any BIG ideas. Can your creative readers help?”

The Publicity Hound says:

Hounds can create their own holidays like you did, or their own
days, weeks or months of the year, at http://www.Chases.com (the
deadline is April 15).

The hard part is figuring out how to promote it. But my Hounds
are, indeed, a creative bunch, and they’ll be glad to help by
posting their best ideas to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/ygrw3oa

=================================
7. Hound Slide Show of the Week
=================================

The popular exhibit “First Dogs: American Presidents and their
Pets,” at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., showcases some of the
top dogs that have lived at the White House. On display are
images of dogs belonging to 23 presidents, including the newest
addition: Bo, a gift to the Obamas from the late Sen. Edward M.
Kennedy.

Here’s a slide show that features six presidential pups: Barney,
Liberty, Bo, Him, Her and Checkers. Before you view the slide
show, can you guess which pups belong to which presidents?

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

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

==================================
8. And at My Blogs…
==================================

Consider retweeting these blog posts:
6 ways to use the Newspaper Map of the World
http://tinyurl.com/yb4×7su

Shotgun Sports needs articles on trap, skeet, hunting
http://tinyurl.com/yjfb2r6

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound
Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.
Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #489 Jan. 27, 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. Social Media Rx

2. Newspaper Map of the World

3. Let Bloggers Test Your Product

4. Getting Artwork onto TV/Movie Sets

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blogs…

======================================
1. Social Media Rx
======================================

At social media sites, act the same way you would at a backyard
barbecue.

When you arrive at a barbecue, you look around to get the lay of
the land, greet your hosts, and find out where to get a cold beer
and snacks.

If you don’t know most of the other guests, you watch and listen
for clues as to who might be the most approachable ones.

Do not:

–Walk up to the first stranger you see and shove your book into
his hand.

–Ask a woman you’ve never met if she’ll attend your telephone
seminar next week.

–Start handing out your business cards to everyone who walks by.

–Approach a small group of people and tell them they can sign up
for your ezine.

You’d never act like that at a party, would you? Yet, that
happens all the time at social media sites. Part of the reason is
that people don’t know what else to say. So they do the first
thing they can think of. They offer a free commercial.

Jeanne Hurlbert, my new business partner, and I created Social
Media Rx specifically for those lost souls who don’t know what
else to say. I introduced Jeanne to you a few weeks ago at my
blog at http://budurl.com/jeannehurlbert and told you we’d be
letting you know about Social Media Rx soon.

We’re finally ready. And we’re offering you a free webinar, chock
full of social media tips, specifically for people who haven’t
even dipped their toes into the social media waters yet, or for
those who are participating, but aren’t quite sure what they’re
doing or aren’t seeing a return on investment.

It will be at 3 p.m. Eastern Time (2 Central) on Wednesday, Feb.
3, and you’ll come away a heck of a lot smarter. We’ll also give
you a glimpse of Social Media Rx. It’s an assessment you can take
by answering a series of questions designed to show find out how
much you do or don’t know aobut social media. When you’re done,
within seconds, it delivers a customized report and your own
formula that explains exactly what you should be discussing at
social media sites, based on your job, hobbies, interests and
level of expertise. It’s already received rave reviews, and we
can hardly wait to show it to you.

Everyone who registers for the call will receive the free report
“3 Dangerous Social Media Problems & How to Solve Them.”

For instructions on how to sign up, go to
http://budurl.com/socialmediarxwebinar

======================================
2. Newspaper Map of the World
======================================

Thanks to Jill Cranford of Livermore, Colorado for tipping us off
to the incredibly helpful worldwide newspaper map that shows the
headlines in today’s newspapers in hundreds of countries.

Go to http://www.budurl.com/newspapermap and choose a continent,
country, state or city. Put your cursor on it and headlines from
today’s newspaper will pop up.

Double-click on the dot and the page gets larger. You might even
be able to read the entire story or the entire newspaper.  This
site, maintained by Newseum.org, the interactive news museum in
Washington, D.C., changes daily with new editions of the papers.

===================================
3. Let Bloggers Test Your Product
===================================

I’ve written here about BloggerLinkUp.com, a neat website that’s
getting rave reviews from people who want to write guest blog
posts for other people’s blogs, and for bloggers looking for
guest writers.

Here’s another way to use the site. Offer your product to
bloggers for review.

Sometimes all it takes is just one terrific review by a blogger,
and word starts to spread all over the Internet. And that can
turn into sales.

I submitted information last week about my free ebook, “The Best
of the Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week of 2009″ and already
received queries from several bloggers who want to read it and
share it with their audiences.

Fill out the form at http://www.bloggerlinkup.com/review

Then share the link for my free ebook with your social media
friends, followers and fans:
http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips

====================================
4. Getting Artwork onto TV/Movie Sets
====================================

This week, two Publicity Hounds have tips for Consuelo Okdie from
Tampa Bay, Fla., an artist who wants tips for getting her artwork
onto TV and movie sets.

From Michael Carr:

“Research first. Most states and some larger cities around the
nation have online film production guides which list crew
members. You want to really focus on the Art Department–
particularly designers, set dressers, decorators as well as local
production companies and still photographers. These are the
decision makers who may determine the look of the production,
based on the input they receive from the director or, in the case
of production companies and still photographers, from the
client.”

From Marilynn Barber:

“At http://www.wardrobesupplies.com, under Backstage Stuff, are
source books for theatre and film, in particular, one called
Debbie?s Book.  Google ’scenic design’ in Los Angeles. Be aware,
if you should get something placed, you need to sell it to them.
Never lend–it won?t come back the same.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Check out the teleseminar I did with Amy Bates Stumpf, who rubs
elbows with lots of the Hollywood insiders, and knows how to get
your consumer products onto the sets of TV and movie sets:
http://budurl.com/productplacementips

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

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

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

Jill Starishevsky of New York, NY writes:

“I am a prosecutor of child abuse and sex crimes in New York
City. I wrote a children?s book called My Body Belongs to Me to
teach children that if someone touches them inappropriately, they
should tell a parent or teacher right away.

“In a non-threatening, engaging manner, this guide establishes
boundaries and teaches kids that when it comes to their body,
there are some parts that are for ‘no one else to see’ and
empowers them to tell a parent or teacher if someone touches them
inappropriately.

“Most importantly, this narrative assures young ones that sexual
molestation is not their fault, and by speaking out, the child
will continue to grow big and strong. A ?Suggestions for the
Storyteller? section is also included to help lead a comfortable
discussion afterward.

“How can I promote this book in traditional and social media?”
The Publicity Hound says:

I checked the media room at Jill’s website at
http://www.mybodybelongstome.com/news/ and found more than 30
reviews from bloggers. Good for you, Jill. But there weren’t
nearly as many hits in traditional media. Hounds with ideas for
Jill can post them to my blog at http://budurl.com/touching

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

Here’s a silly YouTube video of Romeo the Pug playing piano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFAy84Pesb0

==================================
7. And at My Blogs…
==================================

Consider retweeting these blog posts:

Membership directories could include social media URLs
http://budurl.com/directories

9 freebies artists can offer to build an email list
http://budurl.com/artistfreebie

Misnamed online media rooms can confuse visitors
http://budurl.com/misnamedmediarooms

Publicity dilemma? Let Publicity Hound readers help–for free
http://budurl.com/helpthishound

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #488 Jan. 19, 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. Pitch Comics Artists

2. 9 Places to Find Blog Content

3. Write a Book in a Weekend

4. Promoting a Religious Book

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs…

======================================
1. Pitch Comics Artists
======================================

The next time you need to generate publicity for a worthy cause
or issue, don’t forget the comics.

Yes, the comics. Comic strip artists might agree to make your
cause part of their storyline.

Thanks to Rebecca Morgan, publisher of the popular SpeakerNet
News ezine at http://www.speakernetnews.com/, for sharing the
fabulous tip to pitch comic strip artists as a way of getting
into newspapers large and small all over the world.

Last fall, with just one email pitch, she convinced Greg Evans,
creator of the strip Luann, to incorporate her campaign to
encourage people to give gently used books, instead of candy, for
trick-or-treaters. That brought about 6,000 visitors to her
website.

See the strip, read about how she did it and learn about a
website with links to hundreds of comics strips that might tie
into your cause or issue. Go to http://budurl.com/pitchcomics

======================================
2. 9 Places to Find Blog Content
======================================

If you’re blogging, or you want to start a blog but you’re afraid
you won’t have enough content, here are 9 places to look to find
more than enough topics to write about.

–In your email box. When someone asks you a question, answer it,
and then include the question and the answer in a blog post.

–In print newsletters and ezines for your industry.

–At other people’s blogs. (Comment on the post at your own blog,
and link to it.)

–In newspaper and magazine articles. Excerpt a few tips from an
article you’ve just read, with attribution, and comment on them.

–5 things they don’t teach you in __________ school.

–3 things I want to do in my business before I die.

–In your office. Write about the best (or worst) computer
equipment and other tools you use.

–On TV. If a show or character you saw ties into your topic,
write about it.

–Your goals for 2010.

Want 68 more sources for blog content? They’ll be on the handout
you’ll get when you register for my teleseminar on “Time-saving
Tips for Smart Business Blogging” at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on
Wednesday, Jan. 20, with Patsi Krakoff.

Only a few seats remain. Read more about it and register here:
http://budurl.com/blogcontentideas

===================================
3. Write a Book in a Weekend
===================================

If you want to be taken seriously as an expert in your topic or
industry, a book can give you credibility and put you heads above
your competitors.

The big mistake many authors make, however, is that they spend
years writing their books, then many more months editing and
proofreading them. Many non-fiction books can be written in a few
days.

Ann McIndoo, the former creative assistant to motivational
speaker Tony Robbins, has developed a system for writing the
first draft of a non-fiction book in just one weekend-?a fraction
of the time it takes most authors.

She has helped 268 authors write their books in just three days,
thanks to time-saving shortcuts.

Her system works best for authors who are writing non-fiction
books on topics they know well, particularly how-to, leadership,
business, self-help and autobiographies.

Ann will explain her system during a free telephone seminar with
Steve Harrison at 2 and 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Jan. 21,
at your choice of two times. If the times are inconvenient,
recruit someone to listen and take notes for you.

Register at http://www.WriteYourBookInAWeekend.com/call/?10011

I’m an affiliate.

====================================
4. Promoting a Religious Book
====================================

This week, six Publicity Hounds have tips for Bonnie Stuempfig of
Waukesha, Wis., author of Heavenly Connections, a book of
inspirational religious stories. She wants ideas on how to sell
the book.

From Jeff Rothe:

“Why not target 10 of the largest churches in your city, and get
them to get a copy to be discussed for X weeks at a Bible study,
or even better, used by the service head if they teach a weekly
class.”

From Anne:

“If you are still thinking about selling it at churches, look
into their bulletins and see what kinds of church groups they
have that meet on a regular basis. You might be able to be a
guest speaker (and pitch your book at the end) for one of their
meetings.

“Another idea is to tie it in with a religious holiday (for
example: Ash Wednesday for Catholics). Offer a small discount to
those who purchase multiple copies.”

From Dale Hutchings:

“The first thing that comes to mind for me is for you to target
Christian book reading clubs. On the Internet, there are numerous
websites that where you can find listings of these groups. There
is even a site where they show you how to start a Christian book
club and how to join one.”

Read all the answers to this question at
http://budurl.com/religiousbook

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

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

Consuelo Okdie from Tampa Bay, Fla., writes:

“I’m hoping that you or one of your readers will be able to tell
me how to get my artwork used as set decoration for TV or films.

“My work is unique in medium and application as I am one of a
very few artists using polymer clay to create illustrations &
paintings. Any information you may be able to give me will be
greatly appreciated.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Hounds with ideas for Consuelo can post them to my blog at
http://budurl.com/artworkontv

Consuelo, you need to be willing to do the research necessary to
pitch set designers, costume coordinators, production
coordinators, prop masters and product placement decision-makers
for specific movies and TV shows. I hosted a teleseminar with Amy
Bates Stumpf two years ago on How to Get Your Consumer Product
onto the Sets of Movies and TV Shows. You can read more about it
at http://budurl.com/productplacement

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

Wanda’s dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman. Since
she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman, “I’ll
leave the key under the mat.  Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill
on the counter, and I’ll mail you a check.”

“Oh, by the way, don’t worry about my dog, Spike. He won’t bother
you. But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk
to my parrot. I repeat. Do NOT talk to my parrot!”

When the repairman arrived at Wanda’s apartment the following
day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking dog he has ever
seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there on the
carpet watching the repairman go about his work.  ?  The parrot,
however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant
yelling, cursing and name calling.  Finally the repairman
couldn’t contain himself any longer and yelled,

“Shut up, you stupid, ugly bird!”

To which the parrot replied, “Get him, Spike!”

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

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.

http://www.publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/

==================================
7. And at My Blogs…
==================================

19+ story ideas to generate publicity, PR for your business
http://budurl.com/19publicityideas

Facebook makes it easy to reply to wall posts via email
http://budurl.com/facebookwallposts

9 ways nonprofits can use social media
http://budurl.com/nonprofitsocialmedia

Add comic strips to your PR campaign and pitch artists
http://budurl.com/pitchcomics

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #487 Jan. 12, 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. The Missing Marketing Tool

2. Ban This Cliche

3. How to Attract PR Clients

4. Promoting a Book for Associations

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs…

======================================
1. The Missing Marketing Tool
======================================

At a small networking breakfast I attended last week, I met five
people who were either job-hunting or were there to talk about
their businesses.

They brought their resumes, engaging personalities, impressive
marketing materials and succinct elevator pitches and shared them
with our table of 10.

But all five were missing a critical marketing tool that could
have landed them a job or set them apart from their competitors.

Not one of them had a blog. For more than an hour, the
conversation centered on how each of them can reach their target
audiences.

By the end of the breakfast, I lost it.

“Everyone at this table should be blogging!” I yelled. With nine
pairs of eyes riveted on me, I explained:

–A blog establishes your credibility and expertise.

–It’s like a giant magnet that pulls in traffic.

–It can impress visitors and turn them into buyers.

–Many of your competitors are blogging.

–Unlike Twitter, you can use your blog to discuss topics in-
depth.

–You can engage visitors and carry on a conversation with them
in the comments section.

–A blog can give you a huge online presence, even if you can’t
afford a website.

–It can help you gain more traction than publicity in
traditional media because, unlike most media people, bloggers
love to link to each other. Get in front of just one influential
blogger and you can be all over the Internet within minutes.

Finally, they got it.

If you’re already blogging, good for you! If you aren’t, it’s not
too late to start.

Blogging expert Patsi Krakoff will be my guest during a
teleseminar on “Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging” at
4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Everyone who registers
will receive the MP3 recording and a handout that includes 77
ideas for finding blog content, and several simple formulas on
how to write blog posts quickly and easily.

Register at http://budurl.com/smartbusinessblogs and then start a
list of questions for Patsi.

======================================
2. Ban This Cliche
======================================

You can’t listen to a TV newscast without hearing somebody wrap
up their commentary with the tired phrase “at the end of the
day.”

Watch the talking heads shows on Sunday morning and you can’t
escape it. Even the sportscasters and meteorologists are using
it.

It’s showing up in blog posts, media pitches, press releases,
press kits, emails and how-to articles. Just for the heck of it,
I went to http://search.twitter.com and typed “at the end of the
day” into the search box. It’s even showing up in tweets!

When I critique articles and pitches for people in my mentor
program, I’m on the hunt for cliches and other mistakes that
dilute writing. If you need your own writing coach, find out if
you’re a good candidate for the program at
http://www.publicityhound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html

For smaller projects, I do telephone consulting at $300 an hour
and can help you brainstorm pitches, create a press kit, develop
a social media strategy, find joint venture partners, critique
your website and create an impressive presence online, one step
at a time. Email JStewart@PublicityHound.com with several times
you’re available.

===================================
3. How to Attract PR Clients
===================================

If you work in the PR industry and you’re fishing for new
clients, here’s a clever way to hook ‘em.

Choose a company that you’d love to have as a client. Then keep
your eyes open for coverage their competitors are receiving. When
you see a story written about a competitor, print it or clip it,
and send it along with a short note to one of the key decision-
makers at the company. The note can say something like, “Thought
you’d be interested in this.” Sign the note and include your
business card.

Do it again, then again. After you’ve sent two or three articles
to the same person, follow up with a phone call. I’m betting that
you’ll receive a return phone call, and maybe even a contract.

A Publicity Hound shared that tip during the teleseminar I hosted
titled “24 Ways to Attract Clients to Your PR Practice.” PR pro
Marcia Yudkin joined me in discussing 24 ways to bring more
business through the door. We’ve both used many of the ideas
ourselves, and we both have found two ideas that work
particularly well.

They can for you, too. Read more about what we discussed and
download the entire list of 24 ideas that you can be reading
within minutes while you’re waiting for the CD to arrive. It’s
also available as an electronic transcript. Read more about what
it includes at http://budurl.com/morePRclients

====================================
4. Promoting a Book for Associations
====================================

This week, four Publicity Hounds have tips for Linda Alexander of
Pitman, NJ, who wants advice on how to market a book. It helps
new members on association boards understand their new roles and
learn the skills and competencies they need to be a successful
board member.

From Leslie Sturgeon:

“Contact the American Society of Association Executives and try
to sell to the association itself for them to resell. Or check
out http://www.asaecenter.org and contact association management
companies and association executives directly.”

From Mary Callen:

“Send a sample copy, or sample pages by email if you’re on a
budget, to the executive director of every association you
mention. Work your way into newsletters for groups of association
managers with the free sample offer. If it’s truly a valuable
resource, they’ll jump at the chance to purchase and distribute a
book to each new member of their boards of directors. A few
copies to pass between newbies can be used and reused.”

From Mitch Carnell:

“Get leading community volunteers from several states or
nationally known volunteer leaders to write and publish reviews
in local and national publications. For example: the CEO of a
United Way, president of the Boy Scouts, chairman of a food bank.
Try for name and organization recognition. Some universities have
courses dealing with the not-for-profit world. I taught a
graduate course on the subject for many years. Contact the
professors.”

The Publicity Hound says:

How about pitching influential bloggers who write for nonprofits?
One of the best is Nancy Schwartz and her Getting Attention blog
at http://www.gettingattention.org/ See my article “Let Bloggers
Create Publicity for You” at http://budurl.com/49dw.

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

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

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

From Bonnie Stuempfig of Waukesha, WI:

“I wrote a book, Heavenly Connections, a soft-cover spiral-bound
book, and hoped to sell it mostly at my church and other area
churches, but there seems to be a ho-hum attitude despite the
fact that I’m already a published writer and the stories are
uplifting and entertaining.

“They include 24 God-based contributions from other church
members and me, along with a few poems and four pages of color
photos.

“My plan was to donate a good portion of the proceeds to the
church, but now I’m thinking it would be best to just bypass the
church and pitch it to bookstores and gift shops.

“I’m working on getting a website and am doing nothing with
social media. I should have done all this earlier but have put
more than two years into this book and wanted it printed by
Christmas. Now, I can concentrate on the marketing but don’t
know where to start.

“Thanks for any help your Hounds can give.?

The Publicity Hound says:

The most difficult part of your task will be to promote the book
without a website. Let’s see what ideas my Hounds have. Hounds,
you can share them at my blog at http://budurl.com/religiousbook

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

“I know that dogs are pack animals, but it is difficult to
imagine a pack of standard poodles…and if there was such a
thing as a pack of standard poodles, where would they rove to?
Bloomingdale’s?

–Yvonne Clifford, American actress

==================================
7. And at My Blogs…
==================================

Starting this week, I’ll be including on this list blog posts
I’ve written at MySocialMediaSolution.com, the blog I share with
Jeanne Hurlbert, my new business partner. The second post below
is from that blog.

3 business blogging tips to save time–even if you hate writing
http://budurl.com/bizbloggingtips

30 PR experts you should follow on Twitter
http://budurl.com/twitterprexperts

Social media boosts book marketing guru’s Alexa rankings
http://budurl.com/kremeralexaranking

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #486 Jan. 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 Redesign: Don’t Panic

2. New Year’s Resolutions for Bloggers

3. Still No Gravatar?

4. A Dozen Ways to Use My Free Ebook

5. Promoting Absorbent Mats

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog…

======================================
1. Facebook Redesign: Don’t Panic
======================================

If you’re like me and you’re on Facebook, the words “Facebook
redesign” send you into panic mode.

It can take me weeks to navigate my way around a redesigned site.
Facebook is slowly rolling out another one this week. But the
good news is that the changes are minor:

–The search box is being moved from the right side of the
screen, further to the left.

–Facebook is cleaning up the categories on the left.

–Facebook–finally!–has removed the double link to your profile
at the top of the screen. Instead of seeing “Profile” and “(Your
Name)” at the top of the screen (the information is identical),
you’ll only see “Profile.”

–Login/logout have been combined into a single ?account? drop
down.

The changes haven’t shown up on my own profile yet, but I’ll be
watching for them.

Facebook also has a new, streamlined Help Center that should make
it easier for you to find solutions to problems. You can read
more about it at Facebook’s blog at http://budurl.com/hdhc

During the teleseminar I conducted several months ago with
Christine Buffaloe, my guest expert, on “11 Ways to Avoid Missed
Opportunities on Facebook,” we identified “Missed Opportunity
#10: Not using the Help Center.” The Help Center is located on
the bottom right side of your screen. Facebook is so big that
it’s impossible to instinctively know what to do, and the Help
Center can lead you in the right direction.

Learn more about the other 10 missed opportunities at
http://budurl.com/facebookwithchris

======================================
2. New Year’s Resolutions for Bloggers
======================================

Here are three New Year’s Resolutions I’ve made about blogging.
You might want to make them, too:

–Post more frequently. The more posts, the more traffic. It’s
that simple. I usually post at least three times a week. I’m
trying to increase that to five a week.

–One way to post more frequently is to write short items. I’ve
fallen into the habit of trying to make each post as thorough as
possible, but that eats up precious time. I can’t tell you how
many unfinished posts are sitting in my Drafts folder. Readers,
always pressed for time, appreciate short posts, too.

–Reply to people who comment at my blog. Finally, I’m seeing the
number of comments increasing. But I haven’t been very good about
replying to those comments. By not replying, I’m simply talking
“at” people instead of talking “with” them.

Carrying on a conversation at your blog is incredibly time-
consuming, but it’s well worth the investment. People will be
more inclined to comment if they see you’re paying attention. And
they’ll be motivated to return to the blog to see how you
responded to what they said.

Results of my customer profile survey earlier this year show many
Publicity Hounds are hungry for time-saving tips on how to blog.
So I asked Patsi Krakoff of The Blog Squad to join me for a
teleseminar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Jan. 20, called
“Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging.” (This teleseminar
was originally scheduled for Jan. 13.) Everyone who registers
receives a handout that includes 77 ways to find content for a
blog.

Make 2010 the year you finally commit to a blog and build in
efficiencies that will make the job go faster. Read more about
what you’ll learn and register at
http://budurl.com/smartbusinessblogs

=======================================
3. Still No Gravatar?
=======================================

Here’s another resolution for 2010, even if you don’t blog, but
you comment at other people’s blogs.

Make sure you have a gravatar, a universal image that follows you
from site to site and appears beside your name when you comment
or post on a blog. A gravatar helps identify your posts and
attaches a face to a name.

It takes just a few minutes to create one at
http://en.gravatar.com/

Jeanne Hurlbert and I recommend that if you’re using social media
for your business, you use a photo instead of an image that
resembles a cartoon character. We’d both prefer to see the face
of the person we’re talking to. And it’s easier to build a
relationship with a person who has a name and a face vs. somebody
who seems to be hiding behind a logo or a silly graphic.  My
gravatar is the same photo that appears at the bottom of the HTML
version of this newsletter.

Jeanne is my new business partner, and I wrote about her last
week here and at my blog. If you missed it, check it out at
http://budurl.com/jeannehurlbert

In just a few weeks, we’ll be introducing you to Social Media Rx,
our new social media assessment that’s your 20-minute
prescription for cutting through the clutter, chatter and
confusion on social media sites.

===================================
4. A Dozen Ways to Use My Free Ebook
===================================

Have you claimed your copy of “The Best of The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week of 2009″ yet? It not, go to
http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips and consider using it one of
these 12 ways:

–Create a Facebook note, and excerpt a tip in its entirety. Use
the JPEG of the ebook cover along with the text, and you’ve got a
nice little item that your followers and fans will love.

–No time for a Note? Write about it and share the link above in
a Facebook status update.

–Write about it in a LinkedIn status update.

–Blog about the book, and include your own success story that
ties into one of the tips.

–Offer the ebook as a bonus along with other products and
services you’re selling.

–Give it to your clients and customers.

–Mention it at your weekly staff meetings.

–Add it to the Free Articles page at your website.

–Give it away to the winner of a contest you’re sponsoring.

–Offer it as a freebie to help you capture names and email
addresses at your website.

–Create a video that discusses the ebook and upload it to your
website or to YouTube.

–Include the link (http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips) in a book
you’re writing, or in handouts you’re using for a speaking
engagement.

What other ways are you using the ebook? Share them at my blog at
http://budurl.com/howtousemyebook

===================================
5. Promoting Absorbent Mats
===================================

This week, six Publicity Hounds have tips for Jeanne Krieg of
Savage, MN. Her company, DryMate, makes a line of absorbent and
washable mats for home, pets, autos, hunting, garage and
outdoors. She needs ideas on how to pitch this product to
journalists.

From Christel Hall:

“I would consider picking the top three publications in each area
to do a special, custom publicity promotion to. For example, the
garage auto mat could be promoted to the top two auto
care/accessories magazines and also to the national publication
for Porsche owners, or other exclusive car club members. At the
same time, the outdoor blanket/mat could be promoted to camping
and outdoor magazines.”

From Jay Groff:

“I am friends with the vice president of PIG mats, which has the
same concept but they are more industrial. Despite the fact that
they are somewhat of a competitor, I think some kind of a
relationship could be formed where they could promote your line
of more household mats and you could promote their heavy duty
industrial mats. I truly believe cooperation can be better than
competition.”

From Laurie Morrow:

“DryMate might try to tie in with a realty company–get them to
buy a large amount, and give them as gifts to purchasers of new
homes. This is a tough market to sell real estate in, and you
could develop a number of cross-promotional ads.”

The Publicity Hound says:

All three ideas involve joint venture partnerships. Internet
marketer Don Crowther says “there’s no such thing as competitors,
just joint venture partners who don’t know it yet.”

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

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

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

Linda Alexander of Pitman, NJ, writes:

“I work for an association management and publishing company, and
we have just published the book Mentoring the Stars: A Program
for Volunteer Board Leaders at
http://budurl.com/mentoringstarsbook

“The book is designed to help new board members on association
boards understand their new roles and learn the skills and
competencies they need to be a successful board member.
Leadership, decision making, teamwork, strategic planning,
effective meetings and mentoring are just some of the topics
covered.

“Mentoring the Stars is a great resource for association board
members in any industry?nursing, hospitals and health care,
education, banking, real estate, human resources, plus church
groups, community organizations and more. While it’s great to be
applicable to anyone, it’s also hard to promote to everyone!

“The book is available on our website and on Amazon. We have done
some traditional PR and will be trying some targeted advertising
on Facebook, Google and Yahoo. Can your readers offer any
suggestions for ways to promote Mentoring the Stars to members of
association boards??

The Publicity Hound says:

The first thing that comes to my mind is LinkedIn. Let’s see what
my Hounds have to say. Hounds with their own ideas, or ways to
piggyback onto my LinkedIn suggestion, can post them to my blog
at http://budurl.com/mentoringthestars

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

Thanks to Mary Pacinda of New Carlisle, Ohio for this one:

Two fleas are coming out of the movie theater and it’s raining
very hard outside. One flea says to the other flea, “What are we
going to do? Should we walk or wait for a dog?”

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 Blog…
===================================

12 ways to use my free ebook of publicity tips
http://budurl.com/howtousemyebook

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:
You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:
The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #485 Dec. 30, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net/ (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

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

1. Meet My (Unlikely) Business Partner

2. Dumbest Excuses for Not Blogging

3. Media Leads

4. Regift My ‘Best of’ Ebook

5. Promoting a Web Design Company

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Video of the Week

8. And at My Blog…

======================================
1. Meet My (Unlikely) Business Partner
======================================

If you asked me to describe my ideal business partner, never in a
million years would I envision someone with a PhD in sociology.

Such degrees, I always believed, are expensive pieces of paper
printed by the diploma factories otherwise known as universities.
They seldom lead to “real world” jobs outside of academia.

I certainly wouldn’t want a Phi Beta Kappa tagging along with me.
Such a highfalutin academic would be horrified to hear that I
flunked five college courses and almost didn’t graduate because I
was three credits short of a diploma just six weeks before
graduation.

Meet Jeanne Hurlbert, a PhD sociologist at Louisiana State
University, a survey expert and Phi Beta Kappa, who was studying
social networks long before Facebook?s Mark Zuckerberg was born.
When I heard her on a teleseminar in January this year, I was
hooked less than 10 minutes into the call. I emailed the
teleseminar host immediately and gushed, “This woman is
brilliant! Where did you find her?”

She’s my new business partner. Continue reading more about her,
and what we’ve cooked up for you, at my blog at
http://budurl.com/jeannehurlbert

===================================
2. Dumbest Excuses for Not Blogging
===================================

If you aren’t blogging yet, or you’ve stopped blogging, you can’t
use these three excuses:

–It takes too much time.

–I don’t know what to say.

–Nobody comments at my blog.

Let’s address them one by one.

Of course it takes time. But if I had to choose just one social
media tool, I’d probably choose a blog. It positions you as an
expert in your field far better than noisy sites like Twitter and
Facebook can.

You don’t know what to say?

Finding content is one of the biggest complaints I hear from
Publicity Hounds. But once you know about shortcuts like creating
Google Alerts at http://www.Google.com/alerts and checking them
each day for topics you can write about, you’ll have more content
than you’ll ever need. That’s what I do.

Nobody’s commenting at your blog?

It could be because your content isn’t compelling. Or perhaps you
aren’t feeding your blog into sites like Twitter, Facebook and
LinkedIn, where thousands more people can share your information
with friends, followers and fans. Or maybe you aren’t ending your
posts with questions like “Am I wrong?” or “What’s your take?” or
“Share your best tip here and let’s see how long a list we can
create.”

Results of my customer profile survey earlier this year show many
Publicity Hounds are hungry for time-saving tips on how to blog.
So I asked Patsi Krakoff of The Blog Squad to join me for a
teleseminar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Jan. 13, called
“Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging.”

Make 2010 the year you finally commit to a blog and build in
efficiencies that will make the job go faster. Read more about
what you’ll learn and register at
http://budurl.com/smartbusinessblogs

=======================================
3. Media Leads
=======================================

–Are you chronically late? Read on. Diana DeLonzor, author of
the book Never Be Late Again: 7 Cures for the Punctually
Challenged at http://www.neverbelateagain.com/, will be featured
on CBS News in the next few weeks. The producers have asked her
to help them find one or more people who are chronically late and
would agree to be interviewed and possibly followed around for a
day by a camera crew. The segment will likely be shot sometime in
the first few weeks of January. The ideal interview subject is a
woman in her 30s or 40s who must balance a job with kids, doctors
appointments, chauffer duties, etc. But anyone chronically late
can apply. If you?re not chronically late, don?t respond. Please,
no time management experts either. Email Diana at
delonzor1@yahoo.com.

–Mildred Culp, who writes the syndicated column Workwise, is
looking for a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker who can
comment on revenge in the workplace. After the holidays, you must
have a digitized action photo taken by a colleague, friend or
relative. Email Mildred at workwise@comcast.net
.
===================================
4. Regift My ‘Best of’ Ebook
===================================

If you’re looking for a New Year’s gift for your clients,
customers or friends, consider “The Best of the Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week of 2009,” my gift to you.

It includes the top 26 tips from this year’s newsletters, or tips
that generated the most response from readers. Several thousand
people already have downloaded it, and many are retweeting this
link and sharing it on Facebook and LinkedIn:
http://tinyurl.com/bestof2009tips

Also consider giving this ebook as a bonus along with any
promotions you’re planning.

===================================
5. Promoting a Web Design Company
===================================

This week, 16 Publicity Hounds have tips for Alissa Rothstein of
Alissa Rothstein Design Studio in Woodbridge, NJ. She’s a
graphic/web designer who says small businesses can’t afford her,
or don’t want to pay for her services, and she’s looking for
marketing ideas.

From Mary Jane Hurley Brant:

“I would begin by offering to present a talk to your Chamber of
Commerce, then branch out to other areas because your business
can be accomplished via the Internet. They are always looking for
interesting speakers and you won?t have to write a different talk
each time.”

From MaAnna Stephenson:

“One of the best ways to meet these clients is to get busy
posting on the social media sites on which you already have
accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter. And, it?s a great way to
meet other folks that offer complementary services to these
clients, like Joan here at Publicity Hound. There are thousands
of people who consult blog users. Perhaps, following and making
friends with these folks would lead to some cross-promotion and
possibly, joint ventures.”

From Phyllis K. Twombly:

“You may want to consider linking with another company or
business such as a local printer who recommends you. You might
have to design one or two sites at a special deal (or even, gasp,
free!) just to get your name out there. Make sure those sites
give your company credit for their design.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Response to this simple question was overwhelming, and it’s
gratifying to see so many creative ideas from you Hounds. Well
done! Many of the comments apply to other businesses, not just
web design. You can read all the responses to this question at
http://budurl.com/webdesignmarketing

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

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

Jeanne Krieg of Savage, Minnesota writes:

“DryMate at http://www.drymate.com/ is a manufacturer in Minnesota
with a line of absorbent and washable mats for home, pets, autos,
hunting, garage and outdoors. We even sell a mat that goes under
your Christmas tree stand to catch spills, dirt, etc.

“Since our product is made from a fabric with a bonded backing,
do we want to reach textile editors of publications? Or category-
specific editors? Or both? To whom do we send pitches and press
releases?

“And can your Hounds suggest ideas on how we can pitch our
product to either consumer or industry publications?”

The Publicity Hound says:

I see lots of possibilities for trade and consumer publications,
as well as numerous opportunities at the social media sites. How
about it, Hounds? Let’s help Jeanne pitch this one and hit it out
of the park. Post your best comments to my blog at
http://budurl.com/washablemats

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Tracey Bennett of Honolulu, Hawaii for
this or this great video of the surfing dog that raises money for
a quadriplegic surfer. Have you seen it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODurRfVv4

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 Blog…
===================================

Like my blog? Nominate it for Writer’s Digest award
http://budurl.com/websiteaward

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound
Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include
the following paragraph:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.
Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy. Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #479 Nov. 17, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.PublicityArticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

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

1. How to Promote Your Experts

2. Pay Attention to Media Websites

3. Oprah/Palin Outtakes

4. How to Promote a Book on Autism

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Videos of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

–Insert the video links into press releases.

–Post the videos in your online press room.

–Use them at your blog.

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

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

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

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

From Linda Kotzian:

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

From Eric Gruber:

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

From Margaret Vos:

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

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

–How to find compelling content

–Shortcuts and time-saving tools

–Commenting at other blogs

–The best blog directories where you should submit your blog

–How to pull traffic to your blog

–Using photos and images

–How to pitch a guest blog post to someone else

–How to find guest bloggers

–Feeding your blog posts into social media sites

–Writing compelling headlines

–Or any topics I haven’t mentioned here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

==================================
7. And at My Blog…
==================================

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

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

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter.  But please include
the following paragraph:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy.  Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #478 Nov. 11, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityHound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net/ (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

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

1. How to Follow Up

2. Predict Top Trends of 2010

3. Gary V’s 5 Commandments

4. How to Promote a Floral Shop

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

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

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

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

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

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

–Additional sources for the story.

–Graphics or photos.

–A sidebar, like a quiz.

–A Top 10 list (see Item 2 below).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From C.M. Mayo:

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

From Debra Arrato:

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

From Linda Swisher:

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

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

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

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

Mary Ann Puckett from Oklahoma City, OK writes:

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

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

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

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

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

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

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

==================================
7. And at My Blog…
==================================

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

————————————

Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/PublicityHound

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

Connect with me on LinkedIn (and tell me how we know each other):
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

Permission to Reprint:

You may reprint any items from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week” in your print or electronic newsletter.  But please include
the following paragraph:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you
told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-
spam policy.  Read my privacy policy at
http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #475 Oct. 27, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.PublicityArticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

Receive this ezine direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityarticles.net/feed/rss/

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

1. Got Blogger Butt?

2. Rub Elbows with Editors

3. Tips from ‘Mars/Venus’ Author

4. How to Deal with Media Bias

5. Help This Hound; Win a Shovel Mask

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

====================================
1. Got Blogger Butt?
====================================

Thanks to those three little words, Publicity Hound Michelle
Tennant landed an interview with FOX News later today on the
topic of how women can stay healthy while in front of their
computers 14 hours a day.

When Michelle’s doctor ordered her to take off 50 pounds by
August of next year, she bought a treadmill. Her woodworker
husband made her a handy treadmill desk, a removable desk
attachment that lets her work on her laptop while working out.

Michelle, a publicist, blogged about it at
http://budurl.com/bloggerbutt and then pitched the story to FOX.
A producer called her, and she’ll use a webcam and Skype for the
interview later tonight. FOX is taping segments now for November
sweeps and loves any kind of angle that will appeal to the
masses.

You can do what she did. You can come up with a clever angle for
even the most routine story. Here are four tips from Michelle on
how to find a clever angle:

–Use alliteration in your pitch. “Blogger butt” turns the pitch
into a sound bite that’s irresistible to broadcasters.

–Magazine covers offer ideas galore for angles. “Women should
get out of their comfort zone and read the cover of a men’s
magazine, and men should read the cover of a women’s magazine,”
she says. Look for headlines you can steal. By substituting just
a few words, you’ve got an angle. Example from Cosmopolitan
magazine: 26 gutsy ways to make a fresh start. Your headline: 8
gutsy ways to make your office a fun place to work.

–Tie into breaking or seasonal news. “In this case, I tied my
breaking news into women in the workforce and weight gain in the
digital age.”

–Look for problem/solution angles that appeal to the masses. The
best angles tie into topics like saving money, staying young,
looking and feeling better, and being more successful.

Watch the video she produced about blogger butt at
http://storytellertothemedia.com/

Michelle, a graduate of The Publicity Hound Mentor program, has a
long track record of getting her clients into top-tier media. She
explained how she does it, and shared inside secrets on how she
connects with journalists, when I interviewed for my series of
lessons on “How to Create a Media Plan.” Learn more about it at
http://www.publicityhound.com/mediaplan.htm

========================================
2. Rub Elbows with Editors
========================================

Telephones and email aren’t the only ways to contact editors.
Here are three great ways to meet journalists face-to-face:

–At events sponsored by your local press club. Many press clubs
allow people who work outside the media to join. It’s a chance to
meet editors in a relaxed setting.

–At events sponsored by local business journals and magazines.
Business Journals generate a huge chunk of their revenue from
corporate sponsors at events such as power breakfasts, the 40
Under 40 awards ceremony, and the Book of Lists party. Pay
attention to what events they’re sponsoring and attend. Don’t
pitch at these events. Concentrate on building the relationship.

–By hanging out near the media room at trade shows. If you’re
attending a trade show as a participant, speaker or vendor, there
are lots of things you can do before, during and after the event
to make valuable media connections. Example: When you meet a
journalist at a trade show, invite him for coffee.

“Trade Show PR: How to Rise Above the Noise Level,” a recording
of an interview I did with PR expert Dan Janal, offers dozens of
tactics and strategies you can use long before trade shows begin,
and long after they’re over, to build valuable relationships with
the media. Learn more about the CD at
http://budurl.com/tradeshowpr

========================================
3. Tips from ‘Mars/Venus’ Author
========================================

John Gray says one of the biggest mistakes an author can make is
not understanding how to survive financially while writing and
promoting a book.

I know what he means. I’ve worked with clients who have taken
sabbaticals from their businesses or their corporate jobs to
write their books, only to reluctantly take out a second mortgage
just to pay the bills until their books hit the bookstores.

A second mistake, he says, is that they relied on the book for
revenue.

During a short interview with Steve Harrison, Gray discusses the
rocky road he traveled as a self-published author, long before
his ‘Mars/Venus’ success, and how anyone who is writing a book or
wants to write one can learn from his experiences.

You’ll also hear the one thing he did to come up with a memorable
title for his book on relationships. I’ve never heard this tip
mentioned anywhere. It worked. “Men Are From Mars, Women Are from
Venus” went on to sell 30 million copies and spent seven years on
the New York Times Best Seller List.

Listen to the interview, including what he learned about
appearing on Oprah, at http://budurl.com/menarefrommars

=======================================
4. How to Deal with Media Bias
=======================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have tips for Ivy Mendoza of
Manila, Philippines on how to deal with a local newspaper editor
who refuses to print press releases about her client.
From Nancy Binzel Pierce:

“I suggest finding a neutral third party who is friendly with
both sides. Explain the situation to her (or him) and ask her to
help you re-establish a relationship.”
From Gin:

“Write a press release around the subject of forgiveness and bad
work ethics, then invite feedback from the public, adding
information about other available business services. The feedback
may indirectly reflect and change the opinion of the editor.”
From the Publicity Hound:

Forget about the Lifestyles editor. Call her direct supervisor
and explain what happened. If you don?t like that answer, keep
working your way up the ladder to the publisher. Everybody works
for somebody.

I’m also willing to guess that far more people read Craigslist in
the Philippines than that newspaper. See “How to Use Craigslist
as a Global Publicity Tool” at
http://budurl.com/howtousecraigslist

Read all the responses to this week?s ?Help This Hound question
http://tinyurl.com/editorsaysno

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

=====================================
5. Help This Hound; Win a Shovel Mask
=====================================

John T. Unger of Mancelona, MI writes:

“My original art, including my fire bowls, which I’ve been making
since 2005, has been copied by a manufacturer.

“He is now suing me in federal court to overturn my existing
copyrights and continue making knockoffs. I have a strong case, a
great lawyer and believe that if I can continue to defend myself,
the case will be resolved in my favor.

“I did not initiate this lawsuit, but am defending my art, my
creative rights, my reputation and my livelihood. I’ve already
spent over $50,000 out of pocket in defense of my original
designs. Seeking a judicial ruling in federal court will cost
more than most artists or small businesses can afford, but
attempts at settlement have been unsuccessful. I am holding a
fundraising sale of my artwork to finance a defense in court.

“What ideas do your hounds have for raising awareness of the
story, its broader implications for other creative professionals
and raising funds to see that the laws which protect copyright
are not weakened for other artists?”
The Publicity Hound says:

John called me to ask for my help with this problem, and I told
him my Publicity Hounds will come through with some great
suggestions on how he can defend he lawsuit without going broke.
What can he do in traditional and social media to spread the word
and muster support? Post your best ideas to my blog at
http://budurl.com/firebowl

The Publicity Hound who suggests the best idea will win a
beautiful shovel mask, made by John. The winner will be announced
here in two weeks. Check by blog post for photos of the shovel
mask and the fire bowl.

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

It’s almost Halloween and you can’t forget about your dog. Here
are several clever ideas for dog costumes.
http://ow.ly/wKW7

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…
==================================

PR/social media book perfect for wanna-be publicists
http://ow.ly/wKRL

Want a Bulldog award? Teleconference explains how to win
http://ow.ly/wtww

Avoid press release buzzwords; use press release keywords
http://ow.ly/wtvO

————————————

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
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
USA
Phone: 262-284-7451 (Central) Fax: 262-284-1737