The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week » Blogging

Publicity Tips—Valentine’s Day Story Ideas

JStewart — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:10:44 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #592 Jan. 31, 2012
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Valentine’s Day Story Ideas

2. See You in San Francisco

3. Follow Journalists on Facebok

4. Promoting Calendars for Vets

5. Media Lead

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I’m back on the speaking circuit!

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

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

The VentureBeat blog has a good explanation of this:

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Sophie Wajsman:

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

From Karen Zapp:

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

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

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

From Reece Franklin:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

======================================
7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
======================================

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

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

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Sick of Your Blog? Sell It

JStewart — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:03:32 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #590 Jan. 17, 2012
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Sick of Your Blog? Sell It

2. Know When Reporters Need You

3. Media Lead

4. Ideas for a Quirky Facebook Page

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site

=====================================
1. Sick of Your Blog? Sell It
=====================================

Maybe you’re weary from grinding out content for your blog
several times a week.

Or maybe you’re just tired of your topic.

If you’ve gotten some decent traffic, the time might be right to
sell your blog.

Who’d buy it? One of your competitors, perhaps.

But before smart buyers will part with their money, they’ll want
to know things like how much traffic it gets, sources of revenue,
the number of incoming links, its ranking on Technorati and
Alexa, the number of posts or articles, the number of comments,
sponsors and advertisers, publicity the blog has received, how
often you post, and how many people write for it.

Selling your blog is one of 27 ways you can make money from it,
and I explained them all during a webinar I hosted on Saturday.
But you can’t make REAL money unless you have significant traffic
and revenue.

Beginners who are already providing solid content can use many of
the tips I shared. Others are for more advanced bloggers who have
built a brand and a solid reputation.

Actually, I came up with a list of 31 ways to make money from
your blog, so you get the last four as a little bonus. If you
missed the live webinar, you can access the video and audio
replays and the PowerPoint slides I used. (If you participated,
you should have received my email with the link to the download
page.)

Participants asked more questions on this webinar than any other
I’ve hosted. Learn more about how to monetize your blog and also
get the inside scoop on my new program called “Blog with the Dog”
at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/publicity-
products/marketingtapes/howtomonetizeyourblog.htm

PR People: Coaching your clients on how to make money from their
blogs is a fabulous value-added service you can provide.

=================================
2. Know When Reporters Need You
=================================

The absolute easiest time to get publicity is when a journalist
or producer has already decided they’re doing a story on your
subject and are actively seeking people like you to interview.

But they don’t have time to track down the perfect source. So
they submit a lead, or query, to Reporter Connection, a service
that forwards all the leads to you, for free.

If a lead is a perfect fit, you contact the journalist or
broadcaster on your own, make a short pitch explaining why you’re
a good source, and hope they call. I’ve been interviewed myself
after responding to several Reporter Connection leads.

But there’s no guarantee. Still, publicists and do-it-yourself PR
types would be crazy not to subscribe to this free service. If
you have an assistant, let her cull through all the leads for
you. If she finds one that’s perfect for you, you respond.

Their service is completely free, though they have other
publicity-related products and services you can buy (and I may
get a commission if you do).

Go here now to get their free daily media leads:
https://m164.infusionsoft.com/go/RC/A10011/

======================================
3. Media Lead
======================================

Here are two media leads I received from the same reporter.

A columnist who writes about relationships for a top-tier media
outlet (you or your PR clients will want to get into this one)
wants to develop relationships with people who do research on
psychology or relationships, particularly psychologists or
academics.

“One of my frustrations in my column is that I don’t often hear
about the research early,” the columnist says.

Respond by sending an email to aceb5@aol.com.

This same journalist is looking for sources for an article on
nagging. Does your spouse or significant other nag you? Or do you
nag your S.O.? She’s exploring the topic (with humor) and looking
for people who have personal stories about how nagging has driven
them nuts–or how they have solved the problem. If you and your
S.O. are willing to be interviewed–using your names–please
email her as soon as possible, with details and contact info, at
aceb5@aol.com.

What do you do when it’s time to pitch other journalists? You
follow a formula I created. As a newspaper editor, I accepted and
rejected thousands of story ideas spanning a 22-year career, and
this is the Number One most effective way to pitch. Read more
about “A Simple 5-Part Formula for Delivering the Perfect Media
Pitch & Hitting it Out of the Park” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/pitchingformula.htm

=====================================
4. Ideas for Quirky Facebook Page
=====================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have tips for Diane Kline of
St. Louis, MO, co-author of QuirkOut! Crazy Things Women do to
Stay Sane, a blog and a weekly newspaper column in the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch. She is trying to increase her Facebook “likes” on
the page and wants to encourage women to post their QuirkOut!
moments there.

Publicity Hound Ileana Kane offered these ideas:

–Create a really cool contest for the “quirkiest” laugh-out-loud
QuirkOut! moment. To win the contest they have to “like” your
page.

–Have EVERY one you know twitter about the contest and send them
to your Facebook page.

–With all of the submissions, create a really cool “quirky” book
(or booklet) with some fun and delightful illustrations.

–Write a press release about your contest while educating them
on the new trend with women letting their “Quirkouts” out (it
must have a great psychological positive effect) and you will be
the TREND setters).

The Publicity Hound says:
Read all the responses at http://publicityhound.net/?p=10134

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

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

Chris Stephenson of Madrid, Spain, asks:

“I’d really like to use Flickr to host a competition. I’d ask
people to submit photos of a variety of airports, highways,
bridges and all types of buildings that the company I work for
has or is currently managing or constructing.

“Potentially, I could offer a prize of photo equipment to attract
interest. It’s unclear whether Flickr would perceive this as
commercial use because I don’t plan to sell anything, but rather,
generate community and interest in the company.

“I’m also looking for any other suggestions your Publicity Hounds
might offer on how to promote this.”

The Publicity Hound says:

I’m not familiar with Flickr’s Terms of Service, Chris, but I’ll
bet many Publicity Hounds are. Hounds, can you help clarify this?
Post your comment, and any other ideas for promotion, to my blog
at http://publicityhound.net/?p=10230

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

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Ann Dekorsi of Glendale, WI, for this
video of a dog that looks spellbound while a little boy eats a
sandwich nearby. Then watch what happens.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/dog-steals-sandwich-video.html

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

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

Http://www.publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/

======================================
7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
======================================

Relationships columnist needs tips on psychology research
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10224

Dog Tweets: 10 content marketing tips for 2012
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10214

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Make Your Blog Go “Ka-Ching”

JStewart — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:49:37 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #589 Jan. 10, 2012
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Make Your Blog Go “Ka-ching”

2. Host a Scavenger Hunt

3. No Corrections on Facebook

4. Do You Make This Typing Mistake?

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Quote of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site

=====================================
1. Make Your Blog Go “Ka-Ching”
=====================================

Make this the year you finally start treating your blog like a
business and not a hobby.

That’s what 54-year-old Jim Hopkins is doing. The former reporter
and editor for USA Today has been blogging about Gannett Co. for
several years. His snarky blog at
http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/, which is not affiliated with
his former employer, keeps journalists informed of layoffs,
budget cuts, ethics issues, and other news at Gannett.

Hopkins, who is unemployed, also does what most other bloggers
would never do. He asks his incredibly loyal readers–mostly
journalists or former journalists—for donations. They pay by
cash, check or PayPal.

Want to contribute regularly? Use PayPal’s recurring payments
option, Hopkins reminds readers on the front page of his blog
where they see the big yellow “Donate” button.

Last year, he made about $5,000 in donations from readers and
$11,000 from Google Adsense ads. He also has turned his appeal
for donations into a fun game, with periodic posts whenever he
gets another check in the mail. The posts even include little
photos of $20, $50 and $100 dollar bills and headlines like “A
sudden embarrassment of riches” (when one donor gave him $225
within two days) and “In an envelope with no address: $60.”

Nonprofits, are you listening? Steal this idea and run with it!

I’m sharing 26 more ideas on how to monetize your blog at a
webinar I’m hosting this week. And I’m doing something I’ve never
done before. I’m holding it at 11 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday
to gauge interest for weekend training sessions. If you can’t
attend, sign up anyway. You’ll get the video replay and other
goodies I’m offering as bonuses.

Read more about Hopkins’ blog at my own blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10130. Or go directly to the
Register here for registration page for Saturday’s session at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/howtomonetizeyourblog.htm

=====================================
2. Host a Scavenger Hunt
=====================================

Here’s a clever idea for pulling more fans to your Facebook page
or traffic to your website, courtesy of small business marketing
expert Janine Popick of VerticalResponse.

Host a scavenger hunt.

“Hide a badge on your blog or website and give your social media
audience hints for what they are trying to find. The first person
that sends you an email with a correct guess will be featured in
your next email newsletter. An even better idea would be to get
together with a few of your partners and each hide something on
your blog – the first person to get all of the items correct wins
a prize. This would help you get in front of a much larger
audience while still engaging your current one.”

She has four more ideas at http://ow.ly/8mNYQ

Like those?

Facebook expert Mari Smith has several dozen more, which she
shared in the webinar I hosted on “33 Ways to Attract Facebook
Fans, Provide Sterling Content & Keep Them Coming Back for More.”
Read more about how to access the handout and the video replay at
http://www.publicityhound.com/facebookpages.htm

======================================
3. No Corrections on Facebook
======================================

If you’re following a media outlet like a newspaper or magazine
on Facebook, and you see an error in the publication, don’t ask
for a correction on their Facebook page.

Send an email. Or better yet, call the reporter.

While looking at the Facebook page of a weekly newspaper in
Wisconsin this week, I saw a comment from someone who thought
that the reporter included incorrect information about someone in
a story. The man said a correction was needed and the reporter
should apologize to the source.

What happens if the reporter never sees the comment? Sometimes I
don’t see comments on my own Facebook page until days later.

Never rely on Facebook to communicate this important information.
And ALWAYS ask for corrections–not only so readers can see them
on the bottom of page 18, but also so the media outlet has a
permanent record of the error, and the correct information. I’ve
seen mistakes repeated two and three times because people didn’t
want to “bother” journalists or “make them mad” by asking for
corrections.

=====================================
4. Do You Make This Typing Mistake?
=====================================

This common typing mistake in email pitches, articles, blogs and
press releases sends the message “I’m out of it” and “I was born
in the Dark Ages.”

The mistake looks like this. Can you spot it? Look closer. See
it now?

At the end of a sentence, after the period, hit the space bar
only once, not twice, before typing the next sentence.

The double space rule went out with the typewriter. Read why at
http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/42683.aspx

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

Diane Kline of St. Louis, MO, writes:

“I am the co-author of QuirkOut! Crazy Things Women do to Stay
Sane. It’s a blog and weekly column, for women 20 through death,
in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper on Sundays—sort of a
Martha Stewart meets Tina Fey.

“We all have QuirkOut! moments. We just named them. They are
quirky behaviors that help women of all ages get through our busy
lives – such as taking three purses on an overnight trip or
keeping shoes in the oven when we run out of closet space.

“We’re trying to increase the number of Likes on our Facebook
page at http://www.Facebook.com/quirkout and encourage women to
submit their QuirkOut! moments to use on our blog. We
occasionally feature some of these items in our Post-Dispatch
column.

“We’re hoping your Publicity Hounds can offer some helpful tips
on how we can reach women by using both traditional and social
media.”

The Publicity Hound says:

You bet! Many of my Hounds already belong to active women’s
communities online and off. They’d love to share your column,
Facebook page and your call for QuirkOuts! OK, ladies, let’s see
who can come up with the best ideas for Diane. What have you done
at your own Facebook page to attract and engage readers? How have
you used traditional media? Post your answers to my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10134

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

====================================
6. Hound Quote 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

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

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

======================================
7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
======================================

Want (recurring) donations from blog readers? Just ask!
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10130

Top 10 creative writing blogs and more top tweets
http://publicityhound.net/?p=10105

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—52 Headline Hacks

JStewart — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:09 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #585 Dec. 13, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. 52 Headline Hacks

2. Heads-Up: Deadline Tonight

3. No-no’s for Nonprofit Publicity

4. Holiday Greetings for Journalists

5. 17 Freebies for Publicity

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. 52 Headline Hacks
=====================================

When it comes to writing headlines, pretend like you never heard
of the Seventh Commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.”

There’s nothing wrong with stealing other people’s headlines. I
do it all the time. So do magazine copywriters. You should too.

We’re stealing formula headlines–the type that force people to
pick up a magazine and head for the checkout counter. Formula
headlines usually have a few words or a phrase which can be
removed and substituted with another that will serve the purpose
of whatever you’re writing. Like this:

–How [Blank] Gamble with Your [Blank]. 7 Ways to Protect
Yourself

–10 Shortcuts for [Completing Tedious Process] in Record Time

–7 Things Your [Target Audience] Needs to Hear You Say

–How to be Smart in a World of Dumb [Group of People]

–What [World-Class Example] can Teach Us About [Blank]

Those five examples are from the free report “52 Headline Hacks–
A Cheat Sheet for Writing Blog Posts That Go Viral.”

Blogger Jon Morrow wrote it. Copyblogger, the popular writing and
blogging site, offered it this morning as its holiday gift to
readers. I want you to have it, too. Even if you don’t blog, you
can use the headlines for articles and press releases.

You don’t need to buy anything. You don’t need to give up your
email address. Just click here and save it to your hard drive:

http://headlinehacks.com/

My annual gift to you, “The Best of the Publicity Hound’s Tips of
the Week” ebook, will be ready for you next week. Share it on the
social media sites and re-gift it to friends and clients.

=====================================
2. Heads-Up: Deadline Tonight
=====================================

You only have until 11:59 p.m. tonight to answer several
questions at http://www.PublicityHoundSurvey.com.

You only have until 11:59 p.m. Friday to use the $25 coupon
that’s my way of thanking you.

What’s your Number One problem with publicity or social media?
And how can I help?

Publicity Hounds who already have answered those questions are
using their coupon and claiming special reports, CDs, transcripts
and ebooks they’ve been eyeing. They are also eligible to win one
of three $50 Amazon gift certificates. The first two winners are
Publicity Hounds Victor Brodt and Ernie Boxall.

I’m wrapping up the survey tonight and compiling the results
tomorrow. So don’t miss out. Go here now, answer a few questions,
grab your coupon code, and choose the training tools that will
help you most: http://www.PublicityHoundSurvey.com

The third $50 Amazon gift certificate winner will be chosen
tonight when the survey closes. Don’t miss out. Go to
http://www.PublicityHoundSurvey.com

======================================
3. No-no’s for Nonprofit Publicity
======================================

Your mailbox is probably overflowing with appeals from nonprofits
this time of year, when you’re feeling most generous.

Nonprofit marketing expert Sandy Rees says these two themes are
showing up repeatedly in direct mail pieces, press releases and
pitches to the media. And they’re a big turn-off:

–What your organization needs. Nobody cares that you’re short-
staffed. The public doesn’t give a hoot about your high utility
bills. And stop grumbling about a lack of volunteers.

–The bad economy. The constant “woe is us” mantra gets very old,
very quickly. And it won’t endear people to your cause. Forget
about the bar charts showing the big difference in donations at
this time last year compared to this year.

Instead, concentrate on the almost-guaranteed strategy that will
force donors to dig into their pockets for money, and compel
journalists to cover you.

Tell a compelling story of how your nonprofit has changed lives.
It might be a rags-to-riches story about one of your clients. Or
a hero-of-the-day profile of one of your volunteers who made a
big difference.

For more nonprofit publicity tips, including an easy formula for
profiling and finding your ideal donors, access the video replay
of a webinar I hosted a few months ago with Sandy, “Failproof
Publicity Tips for Cash-strapped Nonprofits to Raise Money,
Recruit Volunteers & Promote a Worthy Cause”:
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/nonprofitpublicity.htm

You can use your $25 coupon. (See Item #2 above.)

=====================================
4. Holiday Greetings for Journalists
=====================================

Skip the gifts and food trays.

If you want to say “thank you” to a favorite journalist or
blogger this year, send a holiday greeting card in the mail.
(Email seems too lazy and impersonal.)

This isn’t the time to pitch. But you CAN mention that you enjoy
working with them.

Return to them next month with a story idea, or an idea for a
guest blog post their readers will enjoy.

See “How to Pitch the Best Bloggers & Create a Publicity
Explosion” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/pitch_bloggers.htm

======================================
5. 17 Freebies for Publicity
======================================

If you’re a smart Publicity Hound, you know that the easiest sale
of all is a sale to someone who already knows, likes and trusts
you.

One of the best ways to create loyalty long before a customer
buys from you, or generate fabulous publicity for your business,
is to offer a valuable freebie that ties into your topic. A free
ebook, White Paper, quiz, special report or a calculator can be a
convenient way to enhance your expertise, position yourself as
the go-to expert in your field, and generate free publicity for
your business or nonprofit.

Journalists and bloggers love telling their readers about these
freebies. Readers love getting them, and they’re eager to share
the goodies with their friends and followers on the social media
sites.

When Distribion, Inc. invited me to write a guest post for The
Distributed Marketing Blog, I agreed. It’s a high-traffic blog
for marketers at big companies in regulated industries, and it
gives me exposure to an audience that might not know about me.

You can read the post here and share it at your own blog or on
the social media sites:
http://distributedmarketing.org/2011/12/12/17-fun-freebies-that-
build-thought-leadership-2/

Next week, I’m going to feature a guest post at my own blog from
Deb McAlister-Holland, director of marketing at Distribion,
explaining how she publicizes guest bloggers. It’s fascinating,
and I asked her to write about it. She sure taught this old dog
some new tricks! Stay tuned.

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

If you don’t like the thought of stuffing a puppy into a
cardboard gift box, don’t watch this video. But if you want to
see sheer happiness and yelps of joy from the new puppy owners,
check out this “Puppies for Christmas” video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDgh14043dA

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

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

======================================
7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
======================================

Piggyback PR onto Baldwin & celebrities behaving badly
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9867

Nominate a newspaper for a notable idea, achievement
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9884

Guest blog post:

17 Fun Freebies that Build Thought Leadership
http://distributedmarketing.org/2011/12/12/17-fun-freebies-that-
build-thought-leadership-2/

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Be Part of a Restaurant’s Name

JStewart — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:41:12 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #573 Sept. 20, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Be Part of a Restaurant’s Name

2. Social Media Today Needs Bloggers

3. Three Major Facebook Changes

4. 7 Ways to Land Big Media Appearances

5. YouTube Adds Editing Tools

6. Promoting a Family circle Article

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Be Part of a Restaurant’s Name
=====================================

File this one under “Clever Publicity Stunts.”

Starting Oct. 3 through the end of the month, Smith & Wollensky
steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan will remove the name “Smith” and
replace it with the surname of a devoted customer who agrees to
take a pledge of loyalty to the restaurant.

The new names will also appear on signs, awnings, matchbooks,
cocktail napkins and waiters’ jackets.

Just book a table, take a pledge at their website, and your name
might be one of several dozen drawn at random.

This sounds like an incredibly expensive promotion, and I’d be
curious to know if the return on investment is worth it.

Read more about the promotion on the restaurant’s website at
http://www.smithandwollenskynyc.com. Then read 51 ideas on how
restaurants, chefs and foodies can generate publicity. They’re on
the handout I created that accompanies the audio recording of a
teleseminar I recorded on “Publicity Tips for Restaurants, Chefs
& Foodies.”

Find out how to access it at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/restaurants.htm

=====================================
2. Social Media Today Needs Bloggers
=====================================

If you’re an expert in any aspect of social media, consider
submitting a guest blog post for Social Media Today.

SMT describes itself as “an independent, online community for
professionals in PR, marketing, advertising, or any other
discipline where a thorough understanding of social media is
mission-critical. Every day, we provide insight and host lively
debate about the tools, platforms, companies and personalities
that are revolutionizing the way we consume information.”

I’ve submitted a few posts at the site and found it a bit
difficult to navigate at first, but the exposure is valuable. I
recommend offering original content, not warmed-over posts from
your own blog.

Learn more here:

http://socialmediatoday.com/clifffigallo/358121/smts-september-
message-our-contributing-writers

======================================
3. Three Major Facebook Changes
======================================

New changes you need to know about:

–Until now, it hasn’t been easy to choose exactly what you see
in your News Feed. You also couldn’t hear directly from people
you’re interested in but don’t know personally–like journalists.
Facebook is adding a Subscribe button, making it easier for you
to do both. You’ll start seeing this button on your profile and
your friends’ profiles. Use it to choose what you see from people
in News Feed; hear from people, even if you’re not friends; and
let people hear from you, even if you’re not friends.

–Lists have existed for several years, but users have complained
that it’s time-consuming to organize lists for different parts of
their lives and keep them up to date. To make lists easier,
Facebook has made three improvements. Smart Lists create
themselves and stay up-to-date based on profile info your friends
have in common with you–like your work, school, family and city.

Close Friends and Acquaintances lists let you see your best
friends’ photos and posts in one place, and see less from people
you’re not as close to.

You can also add the right friends to your lists without a lot of
effort.

–You no longer need to accumulate 25 friends or fans before you
can claim a vanity URL. Until you got that many, you were stuck
with a long, ugly URL that no one could ever remember. Choose a
vanity URL and check its availability here:
https://www.facebook.com/username/

Now, use the checklist I created on how to attract fans to your
vanity URL. I compiled it when Mari Smith was my guest during the
recent webinar on “33 Ways to Attract Facebook Fans, Provide
Sterling Content & Keep Them Coming Back for More.” Follow one
tip each day, and watch the number of “Likes” on your page
skyrocket.

Read more about how to access the replay and the cheat sheet of
tips, part of the handouts, at
http://www.publicityhound.com/facebookpages.htm

Read what Facebook has to say about all the changes at
https://www.facebook.com/blog.php?post=10150280039742131

=========================================
4. 7 Ways to Land Big Media Appearances
=========================================

One of the big advantages to being booked on a major TV talk show
like the “Today” show, “Good Morning America,” “The View,” or
even for a news segment on the Fox News Channel, is that these
top media aren’t shy about stealing each other’s guests. Do a
terrific interview on the “Today” show, and “The View” might
call.

A single major national TV appearance can change your life
forever. But getting onto these shows isn’t easy.

Discover the breakthrough strategies others have used to be
featured on those big shows and in major print media like Time
magazine and USA Today. Steve Harrison is hosting a webcast at 4
and 8 p.m. Eastern Time today, Sept. 20. This is a free call, and
I’m promoting it as an affiliate.

Learn the 7 things you must know about what separates the run-of-
the-mill publicity seekers from those who get booked onto these
shows and appear in major publications. Register at
http://www.publicitytrainingclass.com/?10011

=====================================
5. YouTube Adds Editing Tools
=====================================

If you’re serious about creating talking head or PowerPoint
videos for YouTube, you’re probably using a video editing program
like Sony Vegas Movie Studio.

But if you’re in a hurry, you can now use several nifty editing
tools from YouTube that let you edit right in the browser.

Watch the video YouTube created that explains all the tools:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-n9p28Yh8w&feature=
player_embedded

When you’re done, learn all the inside secrets on how to use your
YouTube videos to pull traffic to your website or blog. Colin
Martin and Mark Bullock presented a free webinar a few months ago
on “YouTube Secrets: Getting Views, Subscribers and Branding Your
Business.” I took three pages of notes while recoding the
session. If you missed it, don’t worry. We recorded it. You can
access the replay at http://tinyurl.com/62ajq65

=====================================
6. Promoting a Family Circle Article
=====================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have tips for Carrie Steuer of
Chicago, IL, a bra consultant who wants to know how to piggyback
onto an article Family Circle magazine is writing about her this
month, and continue the great publicity.

From Dan Janal:

“Reporters love trend articles. What’s new in fashion? Colors,
styles, etc.? Is there a spin you can make with the news from
Fashion Week?

“Can you poll your customers on what they like or dislike? One of
my clients surveyed her readers and we wrote a press release
based on the results. You can read it at

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/halloween-costumes-five-
sexiest-halloween-costumes-as-voted-by-men-127822108.html

From Alice Hohl:

“One of the best things you can do is to be prepared for a rush
of people to your site after the article is published. Have
systems in place to handle a flood of inquiries. Create an online
form that captures emails.”

From The Publicity Hound:

“Publicity Hound Larry Jacobs asked a similar question when Golf
Digest magazine wrote about him. I listed as many ideas as I
could think of at my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=6944.
One of the most important things I suggested was to order as many
reprints as you can afford. You never know when they’ll come in
handy.”

Read all the responses to this “Help This Hound” question at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9401

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

“Some dog I got. We call him Egypt because in every room he
leaves a pyramid. His favorite bone is in my arm. Last night, he
went on the paper four times–three of those times I was reading
it.”

–Rodney Dangerfield

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

5 important tips for pitching journalists by phone
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9393

Peek inside the local TV news biz at TV Spy.com
http://ow.ly/6wS4c

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Lazy, Cop-out Photos

JStewart — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:30:12 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #572 Sept. 13, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Lazy, Cop-out Photos

2. Bad Guest Blogger Pitches

3. Your Book: A Premium Incentive

4. Promoting a Breast Cancer Auction

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Lazy, Cop-out Photos
=====================================

“We can’t think creatively. We’re lazy. And we don’t mind boring
you with this photo, which you’ve seen a thousand times before.”

That’s the message you send when you use these three types of
photos in a publicity campaign:

–The dreaded ribbon cutting, with the giant cardboard scissors.

–The ghastly check passing, with the oversized check that often
dwarfs the people on each end who are holding it.

–The uninspired groundbreaking, with eight guys in suits, ties
and hard hats, lined up side by side, each with a foot poised on
the shovel.

C’mon. You can do better than that.

Instead of a ribbon cutting, take a photo that shows how the
money is being spent. If it’s for the local food pantry, take a
photo of a volunteer stocking the shelves.

Dispense with the ribbon cutting. Instead, photograph the store’s
first customer making a purchase at the check-out counter.

Rather than a groundbreaking photo, create a helpful info-graphic
that explains various stages of the project, or a timeline for
completion.

Or hire a local artist to create an oil painting of the project.
Make inexpensive reprints available to the public. That’s a much
more interesting story.

That last idea comes from Dan Collins, the PR expert who was my
guest during the teleseminar on “Fun Alternatives to Boring
Groundbreakings, Ribbon Cuttings and Check Passings.” He has so
many creative suggestions for sidestepping boring photos that
you’ll swear off using the lazy ones forever. Read more about how
to access the transcript or audio replay at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/groundbreakings.htm

=====================================
2. Bad Guest Blogger Pitches
=====================================

This is starting to happen with annoying frequency.

Somebody emails me, offers to write a guest blog post and then
asks, “What would you like me to write about?”

I barely have time to figure out what topics I can write about.
The last thing I need is a guest blogger who I have to baby-sit.

Pitch a blogger the same way you’d pitch a journalist. Let them
know, without coming right out and saying it, that you’ve read
their blog. You know the kinds of topics their audience loves,
and you have an idea that’s a perfect fit. Also, explain your
area of expertise and why you’re the best person to write about
it.

Better yet, pitch two or three ideas. Include a link to your
blog, but do not tell the blogger to “visit my blog, take a look
around and let me know what you think.”

If you want exposure to my audience, make my job so easy that
publishing your post on my blog is a no-brainer.

When you submit the post, include one or two screenshots or
images. Write your own short author resource box. Link within the
post to other websites, when appropriate. And adhere to
Associated Press style. If you don’t have a stylebook, you can
buy one for less than $20 at http://ow.ly/6sXPb

Learn dozens more ideas on how to make a journalist’s or
blogger’s job easy by watching the video replay of a webinar I
hosted recently on “A Simple 5-Part Formula for Delivering the
Perfect Media Pitch and Hitting it Out of the Park.” You an
access it at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/pitchingformula.htm

======================================
3. Your Book: A Premium Incentive
======================================

Many big companies offer books as “premium incentives” to
encourage people to buy a particular product, much like your
favorite magazine might offer you a clock, T-shirt or other bonus
when you renew your subscription.

Some companies also buy books to give to their customers as
“thank you” gifts. Other firms buy books in quantity to train or
inspire their employees and buy 5,000, 10,000 or as many as
20,000 books from an author or publisher.

It’s not as hard as you might think to land these kinds of super-
lucrative deals–IF you know how the corporate market really
works.

Matthew Bennett, a self-published author who’s relatively unknown
to the general public, has sold more than 5 million books in
quantity to Fortune 500 corporations including Disney, Reebok,
NBC, Abbott Labs, Pfizer, US Healthplans, Subway and many others.

Want to learn how he does it and how you too can get started
selling your books by the truckload to big companies?

You’re invited to a free webinar (or telephone seminar) on
Thursday, Sept. 15, to hear Steve Harrison interview Matthew
about his methods and proven system for selling tons of books.
Register here:

http://www.authortrainingwebinar.com/?10011

Even though the call is free, I promote it as a compensated
affiliate, because too many authors spend far too much time and
effort selling single-copy books, and not enough on bulk sales.

Note: Steve has only 11 spots remaining for his National
Publicity Summit Oct. 12-15 in New York City, where you can
personally meet more than 100 producers and journalists who do
stories and shows for many of America’s biggest media outlets.
The price goes up after tomorrow, Sept. 14. Apply here:
http://www.nationalpublicitysummit2011.com/applyhere/?10011

=====================================
4. Promoting a Breast Cancer Auction
=====================================

This week, four Publicity Hounds have tips for Leticia Meireles
of San Diego, CA, on how to get more traffic to her online
auction that’s raising money for breast cancer research.

From Christel Hall:

“Leticia may get a big boost from social media. In fact, I just
tweeted for her cause:

“Birthday girl asks for friends/family to bid & buy to donate to
cancer cause, rather than give her b-day gifts:
http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/1878/auctions/2039.”

From Judith Bron:

“Every community has a hospital, hospice, health center or some
other health facility that works with breast cancer patients and
breast cancer survivors. Try contacting them and asking if you
can publicize your auction on their website, on their Facebook
page or other communications. If one of these organizations is
holding a dinner to raise funds for the cause, ask if you can
place flyers on tables at the event. Ask if you can put flyers at
health care facilities and in the cafeterias at local hospitals.”

From The Publicity Hound:

“Some big brands have donated items to your auction. Do they have
Facebook pages? If so, thank them publicly for the donation, tag
them, and link to the auction page. Same for all the local
businesses that have donated gift certificates and other items.
Their customers and fans might be very interested in bidding.”

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
at http://publicityhound.net/?p=9341

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

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

Carrie Steuer of Itasca, IL, writes:

“I am a ‘Bra Lady’—a direct seller for Essential Bodywear.

“This month, I’m being featured in Family Circle magazine. It’s
an article about me, being a wife and mom and managing my bra
business.

“I am considering writing a press release or something else, but
I don’t know how to do that, or what to say, or what else I
should be doing.

“Can your Hounds lead me in the right direction? My website is
http://www.MyEssentialBodywear.com/breastfriend.”

The Publicity Hound says:

I love the bra care advice at your website I’ll bet other
magazines, women’s newsletter editors and bloggers would too.
Create a simple “tips list” and start pitching. Let’s see what
other suggestions my Hounds can post to my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9401

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

Thanks to Christel Hall of Minden, NV, for this video of a dog
that just couldn’t make it as a service dog and became a SURFice
dog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?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/

======================================
7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
======================================

10 ways to be an indispensable media source
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9348

Need a 2-page website? You can be a beta tester
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9386

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Your 30-Second Bumper Sticker

JStewart — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:01:18 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #554 May 10, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Your 30-Second Bumper Sticker

2. Work with Me One on One

3. YouTube Video Secrets

4. Fast Track for Authors, Speakers, Experts

5. Marketing Tips for a Moose Lodge

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Your 30-Second Bumper Sticker
=====================================

If you’re on LinkedIn, many people only see what Wayne Brietbarth
calls “your 30-second bumper sticker.”

That includes your name, your photo and the 120 characters that
comprise your headline.

My headline is “#1 Publicity Expert on Google. President, The
Publicity Hound. Call me & ask how I can help you with PR.”

I thought that was pretty clever when I wrote it. But when I host
a webinar on May 19 and have Wayne back for 75 minutes of
LinkedIn training, I fear he’ll rip my headline to shreds because
it breaks one of his cardinal rules. It isn’t filled with the
types of keywords people would search for on LinkedIn if they
wanted someone with my expertise.

Your headline and profile are your most important aspects of
LinkedIn–the determining factors that help someone decide,
instantly, if they want to do business with you. If your profile
is vanilla and boring, readers will move onto someone else who’s
more interesting. But if it gives the reader a clear
understanding of exactly what you do, you could get the order.

The first webinar I hosted with Wayne, back in March, got rave
reviews.

Many participants asked for a follow-up session and more training
on three topics we didn’t have time to discuss in depth:
Profiles, Groups and Company Pages.

Groups are where you can meet people for the first time, dazzle
them with your expertise, and start relationships, even if they
aren’t connected to you. Company pages are like giant free
billboards for your products and services–a place where happy
customers can post rave reviews for everyone else to see.

This time, Wayne will address those topics in depth. He’ll
critique your LinkedIn headline if there’s time. And one lucky
person who registers will receive a free, private 20-minute
LinkedIn critique from Wayne after the call.

This webinar will sell out fast, so grab your seat now. Go here
to find out what else we’ll be discussing, and register today so
you don’t get closed out:
http://www.Publicityhound.com/linkedinpowerformulapart2.htm

======================================
2. Work with Me One on One
======================================

If you’re frustrated by the social media time suck, or confused
about how to get a journalist’s attention, help is on the way.

The new class of Publicity Hounds in my Mentor Program will begin
their training on Monday, May 16, with an emphasis on how to
dovetail traditional and social media for publicity. I’ll be
teaching how to write for the web, how to repurpose content in
multiple formats, and beginning and advanced strategies for
blogging, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, photo-sharing sites, and
niche social media sites.

Here’s the best part.

You’ll participate in training along with others in the program,
but you’ll have unlimited access to me so we can work together,
one on one, on exactly what you need. If you’re a beginner, we’ll
start at the beginning. If you’re more advanced, we’ll cover
material some of the others won’t understand.

I will also serve as your personal writing coach and review
anything you write: social media profiles, tweets, Facebook
status updates, press releases, pitches to journalists, and copy
in your press kit.

Because of numerous requests, I’ve decided to do something I’ve
never done before. I’ve set up a handy payment plan for you if
you can’t afford the 6-month or one-year registration fee up
front. You can now pay in four installments.

I invest heavily in my own Internet marketing, social media and
public relations training. I’m either working with my own coach
or mentor, or I’m taking advanced courses or attending seminars
so I can stay on top of what’s new. Plus, I always under-promise
and over-deliver. Just ask anyone who’s attended one of my
teleseminars or webinars, or used me as a mentor.

Read more about how we can work together, and don’t miss our
first mentor program teleseminar on Monday, May 16, when I
discuss how to create a strategy for Twitter:
http://www.PublicityHound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html

Confused about whether this program is right for you? Call me at
262-284-7451 and let’s see if we’re a good fit.

=====================================
3. YouTube Video Secrets
=====================================

Nothing beats video when it comes to capturing one of the top
slots on Google search results.

With just one video on YouTube, you can rank higher than one of
your competitors who has been online for years, but is relying on
nothing more than a few articles here and there to pull traffic.

Video can also be an integral part of a publicity campaign. Colin
Martin, who edits my videos, says most people do it backwards.

They create the video. When they’re ready to upload it to
YouTube, they hurriedly tag the video with whatever keywords pop
into their brains. They write descriptions carelessly, and create
titles haphazardly.

And then they wonder why the video isn’t pulling the kind of
traffic they had hoped.

Colin says you should do it the other way around. Research
keywords first, and then create the video. That’s one of his
YouTube secrets.

Colin, who also manages the video production for Tom Antion, my
Internet marketing mentor, will share many more YouTube secrets
when he joins Marc Bullard for a free webinar for Publicity
Hounds from 8 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 18.

Read more about what you’ll learn how to do after taking 60
minutes of free training with these video wizards during the
webinar “YouTube Super Secrets: Getting Views, Subscribers and
Branding Your Business” at http://tinyurl.com/62ajq65

============================================
4. Fast Track for Authors, Speakers, Experts
============================================

A job search expert was able to stand out from all the other job
experts and sell 10,000 books in three weeks.

The author of “Skinny Bitch” made her book a New York Times Best
Seller, with over 2 million copies in print.

One smart Publicity Hound wrote an enticing subject line that
forced a producer from the “Today” show to call.

Another Publicity Hound had a super story to pitch but no clue
about who to contact at his local TV stations. Within a matter of
hours, one of the local news crews was interviewing him.

How did they do it?

By being timely, acting quickly, and doing things that lots of
other Media Mutts aren’t doing.

Steve Harrison will discuss them all, and more, during a free
teleseminar on Thursday, May 12.

“Fast-Track Strategies for Becoming a Well-Known, Well-Paid
Author, Speaker or Expert In Your Field” will be offered at your
choice of 2 or 7 p.m. Eastern. I promote this as a compensated
affiliate, because I see so many authors, speakers and experts
doing it the hard way.

======================================
5. Marketing Tips for a Moose Lodge
======================================

This week, eight Publicity Hounds have tips for Don Luepnitz of
Norwalk, CA, on how his Moose Lodge can use traditional and
social media to attract more members and visitors. The lodge
website is at http://www.norwalkmoose.org/

From Marcia Yudkin:

“Let’s start with your signage, as shown in the photo. It’s
uninformative and uninviting.

“It doesn’t indicate what you offer and doesn’t convey the facts
that non-members are welcome and that kids are allowed. Talk to
your local sign shop for ideas on how to add those messages
inexpensively–for example, through colorful banners.”

From Patty Newbold:

“Have a web page about darts, so anyone searching for darts in
Norwalk or surrounding towns sees the page and can tell when the
public is welcome there for darts, what it costs to be able to
play there all the time, and whether there are any tournaments or
lessons for darts players.

“Do something similar for bingo, the kids’ room, the bar, the
dinners, the breakfasts–and be sure it’s clear on each page when
the public is welcome, what it costs to be a member, and where to
join. Add a page for charities and kids’ sports teams that want
the lodge’s help, too.

From Scott Anthony:

“My first idea was to cross-promote. As a sponsor of sports
teams, you probably treat the players to pizza or ice cream after
games. On occasion, why not ask the restaurant owner to
distribute flyers for your events in exchange for the business
you send his way (pick a busy restaurant).”

The Publicity Hound says:

These are all great suggestions. I offered lots more when I
hosted the webinar “60+ Places Offline to Promote Your Product,
Service, Cause, Issue or Event to Build the Buzz & Encourage
Others to Promote for You.” Learn more about all the publicity
tools that are right at your fingertips at
http://www.publicityhound.com/promoteoffline.htm

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
at http://publicityhound.net/?p=8351

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

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

Thanks to Dan Poynter of Santa Barbara, CA, for tipping us off to
this video of a talking dog. It racked up more than 12 million
views on YouTube:

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

======================================
7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
======================================

10 Magic Phrases Journalists and Bloggers LOVE
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8368

YouTube secrets push your video to top of search results
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8395

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

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

=======================================
Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound
P.O. Box 437
Port Washington, WI 53074-0437
U.S.A.
Phone: 262-284-7451

Publicity Tips—Betty Boop, Minnie Mouse & Me

JStewart — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:49:39 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #549 April 5, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Betty Boop, Minnie Mouse & Me

2. USA Today Adds Women Bloggers

3. How to Create a Facebook Link

4. Snazzy Graphics Package

5. Follow Me on Quora

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Betty Boop, Minnie Mouse & Me
=====================================

One of the questions a professional speaker and trainer never
wants to hear is, “What’s wrong with your voice?”

My friends in the Wisconsin chapter of the National Speakers
Association started asking that more than a decade ago.

Every time I spoke, on stage and off, they could hear me
straining, almost as though I was tightening my throat muscles.
I felt it, too, and tried everything I could to make the words
come out smooth, but to no avail.

The voice coaches were beside themselves.

“You talk lazy,” one coach kept chastising me. “Use your
diaphragm when you talk.” So I signed up for a series of voice
coaching lessons with her. They didn’t help either.

An ear, nose and throat specialist examined me and couldn’t find
anything wrong. She concluded it was a mild case of acid reflux,
even though I didn’t have any of the symptoms.

She referred me to a physical therapist for voice. That
coaching, which included a series of voice exercises three times
a day, didn’t work either.

After an army of voice coaches, physical therapists, plus a small
fortune spent on expensive throat spray, Throat Coat teabags,
CDs, tapes, books and other sources of information on how to
improve my voice, I gave up in frustration. Nothing worked.

Finally, I know what’s wrong with my voice. Read about my
diagnosis and what it means for you:

http://publicityhound.net/?p=8142

======================================
2. USA Today Adds Women Bloggers
======================================

USA TODAY has launched five new blogs by top women writers, now
appearing at http://YourLife.USAToday.com/index

Topics include:

–Family, friends and relationships

–What beauty really means.

–Why sleep is important to women’s health

–How to achieve work/life balance

–Skin care, weight, hair care, new products, tempting trends and
celeb news.

If you think your story is a good fit, don’t pitch the bloggers
until you know what you’re doing. Patsi Krakoff and Denise
Wakeman show you how to research bloggers, pitch a story they’ll
love and offer enticing extras that will make them say yes. They
were my guests during a teleseminar I hosted on “How to Pitch the
Best Bloggers & Create a Publicity Explosion” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/pitch_bloggers.htm

=====================================
3. How to Create a Facebook Link
=====================================

You’ve written a fabulous status update for your Facebook fan
page, and you want to share the link on other social media sites,
or in your newsletter.

But you don’t want to give people the URL to the fan page, and
then force people to hunt for the status update on the Wall. What
do you do?

You share the unique link for the status update, of course. But
Facebook doesn’t make it easy to find unless you know where to
look.

Simply click on the time stamp below the status update. It might
say something like “9 hours ago” or “Saturday at 8:52am.”

After you click, go to the browser window, and cut and paste the
link.

That’s an opportunity a lot of Facebook page administrators don’t
know about. Learn about a dozen others in the replay of the
webinar “12 More Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on the New &
Improved Facebook” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/facebook12ways.htm

=====================================
4. Snazzy Graphics Package
=====================================

If you’re like me, you rush over to one of the stock photo
services when you need a graphic for your website, blog, a press
kit, a sales page, or a Facebook Note.

But even at a buck or two each, you can burn through your credits
quickly.

I just discovered a really snazzy graphics package where can buy
a boatload of graphics for next to nothing. Read about it at my
blog, and see some of the samples, at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8096

======================================
5. Follow Me on Quora
======================================

This past week, I answered several questions on Quora.com,
including:

–How do you increase the number of Likes and comments on a
Facebook Fan Page?

–How do you tell if someone is an expert?

–How do you find funny video, pictures and articles online to
share at the social media sites?

Read my answers and follow me on Quora at
http://www.quora.com/Joan-Stewart-1

Quora is quickly becoming one of the premiere websites to find
experts who can answer questions on almost any topic.

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Kathleen Mahan of San Juan Capistrano,
Calif., for this funny video of two dogs sitting at a table and
eating food off plates, using silverware, and wiping their mouths
with napkins. It’s almost seven minutes long. If you don’t have
time to watch the whole thing, at least catch the first few
minutes. More than 2.2 million people have seen it on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVwlMVYqMu4&feature=
player_embedded#at=216

DOG JOKES & QUOTES EBOOK: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

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

Http://www.publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/

=====================================
7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
====================================

With apologies to Betty Boop, I’m finding my voice
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8142

Add visual pizzazz with this versatile graphics toolkit
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8096

——————————————-

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:

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Cool Tool for Local Publicity

JStewart — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:10:29 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #546 March 22, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Cool Tool for Local Publicity

2. Answer Your Damn Phone

3. A Facebook “Welcome” Page

4. Pitching Tips from Journalists

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Cool Tool for Local Publicity
=====================================

Here’s another hyper local website to add to your publicity
toolbox.

EveryBlock at http://www.EveryBlock.com is perfect for
publicizing local news in bigger cities and also finding other
local blogs and media outlets you might not know about.

MSNBC bought it in 2009 and unveiled the new version yesterday.
It operates in 16 cities mostly on the east and west coasts:
Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San
Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

EveryBlock offers news down to the block level and encourages
collaboration among neighbors. Enter any address in one of those
cities and you’ll see news articles, blog coverage, crime reports
and a wide variety of other local information, all updated
throughout the day. You can also submit your own news, which they
don’t edit.

You’ll find three main types of news:

–Civic information, including building permits, crimes,
restaurant inspections and more. In many cases, this information
is already on the Web but buried in hard-to-find government
databases. In other cases, the data hasn’t been posted online,
but EveryBlock gets it through government agencies.

–News articles and blog entries, including information from
major newspapers, community weeklies, TV and radio news stations,
local specialty publications and local blogs. If you find a
local blogger on that site who you didn’t know about, you can
start pitching that blogger when you have local news to share.

–Fun from across the Web, including local photos posted to the
Flickr photo-sharing site, user reviews of local businesses on
Yelp, and lost-and-found postings from Craigslist.

This site is perfect for news from clubs and civic groups,
schools, nonprofits, churches, political campaigns, neighborhood
groups, etc., because it offers customizable RSS feeds for every
block, zip code and neighborhood in each city it serves. Sign up
for a free account and you can receive email updates. Read the
FAQ page at http://www.everyblock.com/about/faq/

I’m adding EveryBlock to the long list I’ve already accumulated
and shared on the webinar “50+ Places Online to Promote Your Live
or Virtual Events to Reach Your Target Market & Pull Sell-out
Crowds.” Find out how to access the webinar replay at
http://www.publicityhound.com/events.htm

======================================
2. Answer Your Damn Phone
======================================

Obsessed with your tweets, clicks, likes, bookmarks, friends,
fans and apps?

None of them will do you any good if you don’t provide basic
customer service offline, like answering your damn phone.

Jay Baer hit a nerve when I read his blog post on how, in almost
every case, people experience our companies in the “real world”
first, and then decide whether (or how much) to interact with us
in the virtual world. Every smart Publicity Hound knows that
includes journalists.

For example, I had my journalist hat on this morning when writing
the item above about EveryBlock. I had two questions.

Luckily, I found the mobile phone number of an EveryBlock
employee at their website. I called, he answered the phone, I got
what I needed, and I was VERY impressed.

If a journalist were to call you right now, would she be kicked
into voicemail? If a customer orders from your website and your
shopping cart accidentally charges his credit card twice, is he
forced to fill out one of those annoying Help tickets before his
problem is resolved? Do you hide behind caller ID and never
answer unless you recognize the caller’s name?

Read what Jay Baer has to say about offline customer service,
including my comment at his blog, and then grade yourself:

http://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-media-strategy/why-
social-success-is-no-accident

And, yes, I answer my own phone.

=====================================
3. A Facebook “Welcome” Page
=====================================

Assuming you do answer your phone and take care of customers,
make sure they can follow you on the social media sites,
especially Facebook.

Turning friends into fans, and fans into customers, isn’t easy.
But there are all kinds of apps, tricks, tools and techniques you
can use to draw a huge following.

For example, did you know that a customized Welcome page converts
twice as many visitors to a company page into fans than if those
visitors were to simply land on the Wall? You can create a simple
landing page yourself, or you can pay a design firm to do it for
you like I am. I’ll share the results in a few weeks.

During last week’s webinar on “12 More Ways to Avoid Missed
Opportunities on the New & Improved Facebook,” we showed examples
of Welcome pages, and shared dozens of tactics you can use to
build up a huge following.

If you missed it, read more about what we discussed and access
the replay and the 14 pages of handouts, complete with screen
shots, here:
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/facebook12ways.htm

=====================================
4. Pitching Tips from Journalists
=====================================

What’s the one thing journalists and broadcasters are looking for
when they hear your pitch?

It depends on the journalist. But watch this video, and four of
them will share valuable pitching tips you can start using right
now:
http://www.nationalpublicitysummit.com/info/nps8media.html?10011

All four have been among the more than 100 journalists who have
attended the National Publicity Summit, where authors, speakers,
experts and PR people can meet them face to face and pitch. This
year’s summit is April 13-16, and only 19 of 100 seats are left.

Plus, the price goes up after tomorrow. If you want to attend,
apply here:

http://www.nationalpublicitysummit2011.com/apply/?10011

For the remaining 19 spots, Steve Harrison will consider all
applications submitted through Wednesday and give preference to
applications in the order submitted. I’m a compensated affiliate
for this event.

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

Heather John of Los Angeles, Calif., writes:

“I created and manage the Facebook business page for an online
store and I want to set something up on Facebook (maybe through
Events?) where we send out a mass Facebook message inviting
previous customers to like our new Facebook business page.
(There are about 30,000 people on file in our customer base,
though many may not have a Facebook profile.)

“The idea is that I would say something like, ‘Like’ [our
company] on Facebook and get a promotional code for 10% off.”
But, how can I set it up so that it sends the code automatically
to anyone who likes us (for a limited time)? Is there an app
that I can make for that or do I just have to respond directly to
each individual Like?”

The Publicity Hound says:

I’m getting more questions like this from Publicity Hounds who
want to know how to reward people for Liking their pages.

Wildfire is an online software application that lets you create
branded interactive campaigns like sweepstakes, contests, give-
aways, incentive-based surveys and to simultaneously publish them
in multiple social networks and on your website, but I haven’t
tried that yet.

I’m experimenting with Suggest This, the Facebook app at
http://facebook.com/suggestthis that lets you suggest to 20
friends at a time that they visit your page and Like it. But it
doesn’t reward them for doing so.

Please share your comments on how you actually reward visitors
for Liking your page, with coupons, discounts or other
incentives. And please include a link to your page. Post your
comments to my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=7974

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

Guilty!

That’s what the expression on this dog’s face says when his owner
asks if he stole the cat’s treats. The video is a little over two
minutes, and worth it. I howled. Thanks to my virtual assistant,
Christine Buffaloe, for sharing it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/foodplot#p/u/0/B8ISzf2pryI

DOG JOKES & QUOTES EBOOK: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

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

Http://www.publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/

=====================================
7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
====================================

How to read the Wall Street Journal, NY Times online for free
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8035

EveryBlock: Another uber-local site for community news
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8059

——————————————-

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:

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Steal This Headline

JStewart — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:33:34 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #542 Feb. 22, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Steal This Headline

2. Startling LinkedIn Statistic

3. No More Boring Tweets

4. Twitter One-liners

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Steal This Headline
=====================================

Don’t worry. I won’t sick the police dogs on you for stealing
headlines, tweaking them and using them on your own blog posts,
articles and content for the social media sites.

I steal them all the time. So do other journalists.

They’re called formula headlines and they’re all over the covers
of consumer magazines and on blogs. They often beg to be stolen,
like this one:

Authors, Publishers: 50 things under $50 to promote your book

I saw that headline on a blog published by author Lisa Peitsch.
Think of the ways you can tweak it to suit your needs. Some
examples:

–Eat at your desk? 5 things under $5 to keep your keyboard clean

–Moms: 10 things under $10 to occupy a cranky toddler

–Drivers: 20 things under $20 to store in your trunk for
emergencies

You get the idea. Make a list of formula headlines you like and
then tweak them when needed.

You’ll find formula headlines galore at Copyblogger, one of the
top blogs in the world for writing sterling copy. Scroll down and
see many of the formula headlines under the title “Popular
Articles” in the right margin: http://www.CopyBlogger.com

======================================
2. Startling LinkedIn Statistic
======================================

BNET Blogger Jim Edwards wrote about a surprising nugget of
information tucked inside the document that LinkedIn wrote for
its initial public offering recently:

Most of its 90 million registered users don’t visit the site on a
monthly basis, or hardly ever use it. In fact, Jim says, the
company can’t tell the difference between an inactive or deceased
member and an active user.

I blinked when I saw that. I read it again. Then I ventured an
easy guess as to why.

Most LinkedIn users simply don’t understand the power of making
connections, joining groups, answering questions, making and
receiving recommendations, promoting events, starting
discussions, and providing daily status updates. They aren’t
aware that they can ask their connections to introduce them to
powerful movers, shakers and other influential users who might
never take their phone calls or answer their emails.

Learning all that is time-consuming. And applying it can eat up
precious weeks and months.

Even if less than half of those who have accounts on LinkedIn use
the site monthly, that’s still more than 44 million people who
do. LinkedIn has turned into the go-to destination for companies
and nonprofits that are checking out job applicants, looking for
recommendations for vendors, and searching for experts who can
solve their problems.

I’ve heard one success story after another of LinkedIn users who
have used the site to sign book contracts with publishers, find
paid speaking engagements, and attract consulting clients.

Tom Beug, one of my fellow management consultants in The Summit
Group in Milwaukee, used LinkedIn to contact a former client and
say hi. Turns out the company needed an executive, and signed a
contract with Tom to conduct the search.

If you’re on LinkedIn but you’re confused about how to use the
site, don’t spent weeks or months learning.

Join LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth and me for a webinar on
March 3 on “Your LinkedIn Power Formula: How to Make Killer
Contacts, Pull Crowds to Events, be a Star in Your Industry &
Track Down Leads Like a Bloodhound.”

Inc. Magazine is so impressed with Wayne that the magazine has
invited him to speak at its Growco conference April 6-8 in Las
Vegas.

Learn more about the webinar, how to register, and what you’ll
find on the killer handouts, at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/linkedinpowerformula.htm

=====================================
3. No More Boring Tweets
=====================================

OK, so you’ve stopped tweeting about boring topics like when
you’ve logged onto your computer, what you ate for lunch, and
which coffee shop you’re tweeting from.

That’s a start. But how do you find compelling, interesting
content that fills the void and forces your followers to retweet
what you’ve written?

MediaBistro.com suggests these five tips for spicing up your
Twitter feed:

–Say something controversial.

–Sprinkle in some quotes.

–Add humor.

–Tweet breaking news.

–Join a hashtag conversation.

You can read the entire log post here:
http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/5-types-of-tweets-that-
will-get-you-retweeted_b3431

I’ve also started following more influential people who
generously share information like the type listed above. One very
easy way to find them is to visit the profiles of Twitterers I
admire, check out their lists, and then subscribe to the ones I
like.

If you’re not using Twitter lists, you’re missing out on a
powerful, timesaving tool that can also help you promote your
expertise.

I hosted a webinar recently on “How to Use Twitter Lists &
Directories to Generate Business & Build Your Brand.” The replay
is available at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitterlists.htm

=====================================
4. Twitter One-Liners
=====================================

If you like the tips you read here, but you aren’t following me
on Twitter, go to the dog house without your dinner because
you’re missing hundreds of helpful tips.

This morning, for example, I shared this link where you can find
41 terrific one-liners, perfect for Twitter. Many of my followers
are already retweeting it:
http://hubpages.com/hub/funny-one-liners-for-twitter

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

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

Michael Smith of Philadelphia writes:

“My brother is the chef/owner of Fletcher’s BBQ, a restaurant
that opened in September in a working middle-class neighborhood
in the Philadelphia suburbs.

“It offers take-out and delivery only. The motto, emblazoned on
T-shirts and the menus, is ‘Dig the Pig!’

“My brother already has landed a great story in the local paper,
and that drove some customers to the venue. Now we’re looking to
keep the momentum going. By the way, he provides 10 percent
discounts to the local VFW, policemen, firefighters and active
military, and also donates to local churches.

“In addition to ads and publicity in local papers, what are other
effective ways to spread the word? There are a lot of other
eateries in the neighborhood but not authentic BBQ food, so it’s
filling a niche.

“Any advice you and your Publicity Hounds can offer to promote a
new take-out only BBQ food venue? I’m sure there are some great
ideas out there among your readers.”

The Publicity Hound says:

There sure are, Michael. Help This Hound questions from
restaurant owners always seem to generate a lot of ideas. I love
the logo of the pig on the motorcycle and the “Dig the Pig”
motto. Hounds with ideas for Michael’s brother can post them to
my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=7866

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Sophie Wajsman of Melbourne, Australia
for this one:

If a fire hydrant has H2O inside, what does it have outside?
Answer…K9P

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

Need story ideas? Here are 6 to pitch in March
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7854

Why half of LinkedIn users aren’t active on the site
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7848

——————————————-

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:

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

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

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