The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #560 June 21, 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. Attract Rabid Facebook Fans

2. Why Social Media Doesn’t Work

3. Dreaded Check-passing Photos

4. Land a Corporate Sponsor

5. Promote a Restaurant Reopening

6. Hound Quote of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Attract Rabid Facebook Fans
=====================================

Mari Smith’s Facebook page has become the go-to place for people
who have questions about Facebook.

On any given day, dozens of people post questions–some of them
no-brainers and some of them so perplexing that even Mari doesn’t
know the answer. But she always finds out and shares the
information with her readers.

She also encourages her more than 43,000 fans to share their best
tips–and share they do.

I learned, for instance, that if you tag someone on Facebook with
his or her first and last name, you can simply remove the last
name after it’s already highlighted in blue, and the status
update will still show up on that person’s page. Removing the
last name makes the message more personal. Very cool!

Mari is arguably the world’s Number 1 Facebook expert. She’s
smart, funny, helpful, and I love listening to her “wee” Scottish
accent.

That’s why I was thrilled when she accepted the invitation to be
my guest expert on a webinar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday,
June 28. Choosing the topic was easy. The Number One question
people ask me is, “How do I get more people to Like my page?”

She’ll explain more than a dozen ways (knowing Mari, it will be
closer to two dozen) to attract Facebook fans, provide sterling
content, and keep them coming back for more (just like the
celebrities do).

I took the big batch of question you’ve been asking the last few
months and forwarded them to her so she’ll be ready with the
responses.

One particularly knotty topic is contests. Mari wrote last week
that most people violate Facebook’s Terms of Service when they
sponsor contests. I almost did, too, until I read what she wrote.
Break the rules, and Facebook can close down your account,
pronto.

She’ll cover how to sponsor contests in detail, and address other
frequently asked questions. I’ve also asked her to explain how
you and I can encourage people to post questions on our pages so
we can imitate her, and be the go-to sources for up-to-the-minute
news in our industry.

Join us at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, June 29. Register at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/facebookpages.htm.

=====================================
2. Why Social Media Doesn’t Work
=====================================

Don Crowther, the Top Gun of social media whose SMARTS course has
been my guiding light for last two years, just posted a free, new
video called “Social Media Doesn’t Work.”

Watch it here and then, correct what you’re doing wrong:

https://btconsulting.infusionsoft.com/go/spf2/a342/

Don readily admits that for most people social media doesn’t
work. And the reason is simple: It’s because of a costly mistake
that most social media marketers are making right now, a mistake
that will doom your social media efforts to failure.

The good news is, Don shows you the deceptively simple, but
highly effective secrets that can turn it all around, and sell
more books or products, get more consulting assignments and paid
speaking engagements, or just plain make more money with social
media.

You’ll also get a downloadable worksheet that shows you in just 5
minutes precisely how well you’re doing with social media. You’ll
quickly discover whether you’re wasting your time, or are on your
way to making serious money.

Last thing: You can watch the video on your iPhone, iPad or
iTouch without any hassles or delays.

Watch it here:

https://btconsulting.infusionsoft.com/go/spf2/a342/

=====================================
3. Dreaded Check-passing Photos
=====================================

When I presented a workshop on Saturday at the international
convention of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, I asked
all Publicity Hounds in the audience to stand, raise their right
paws, and repeat after me:

“I solemnly swear to never assign, take or appear in photos of
checkpassings, ribboncuttings and groundbreakings.”

Everybody had a good laugh, especially when I projected onto the
big screen one photo after another of those incredibly boring
ribbon-cutting ceremonies with the giant cardboard scissors, and
a second set of photos of checkpassings, with the oversized
cardboard checks that dwarfed the people standing on each side of
them.

“Enough, already,” I told them. “You can do better than that.”

One audience member said her club donated money for exercise
equipment to a local hospital. Rather than assigning the photo
we’ve all seen a million times, the dreaded checkpassing, club
members waited until the exercise equipment was delivered.
Dressed in workout clothes, they hopped aboard the equipment and
walked, ran, rowed, pulled and sweated their way to a great photo
that appeared in the local newspaper.

PR guy Dan Collins gives dozens more ideas on how to steer clear
of trite photos. He was my guest during the teleseminar “Fun
Alternatives to Boring Groundbreakings, Ribboncuttings and
Checkpassings.” It’s available as a CD or electronic transcript
you can download right now.

Read more about what it includes at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/groundbreakings.htm

======================================
4. Land a Corporate Sponsor
======================================

One of the best ways for corporations to market themselves is
through experts like Brendon Burchard and Jacqueline Whitmore.
And maybe even you.

After a lot of trial and error, Brendon cracked the code and
developed a surprisingly easy way to get major companies like
Wachovia, Coke, Toyota and Sony Pictures to promote and sponsor
his books, publicity and speaking tours.

Jacqueline has had equally impressive success.

She’s been the gift-giving expert for Sam’s Club, the gift-buying
expert for Office Depot, and a national spokesperson for Sprint.
She also has partnered with Clarisonic skin care products and
Hologic, which sells imaging equipment for the health care
industry.

In both cases, Brendon and Jacqueline found companies that were a
perfect fit with their area of expertise and have received
mountains of free publicity from national print and broadcast
media.

“When you’re aligned with a corporation, especially a Fortune 500
company, or one that has a reputable name, you’re perceived as
more credible because that corporation has chosen you as its
spokesperson,” Jacqueline says.

In fact, at the National Speakers Association convention several
years ago, Jacqueline heard Brendon speak about how to land
corporate sponsors and said he was one of the highest-rated
speakers at the event.

This year, Brendon will share his secrets during a free
teleseminar this Thursday, June 23, with Steve Harrison. Discover
how you can use his methods to promote your own book, product or
business, just like Brendon and Jacqueline do, and get PR firms
to pay all your expenses.

The call will be presented twice–-at 2 and 7 p.m. Eastern. If
you can’t make it, please recruit someone to listen and take
notes for you. Register at
http://www.SponsorshipTrainingTeleseminar.com/?10011 (I’m a
compensated affiliate for Steve Harrison).

=====================================
5. Promote a Restaurant Reopening
=====================================

This week, seven Publicity Hounds have tips for Timothy Nishimoto
of Portland, Ore., owner of Vino Paradiso Wine Bar & Bistro, who
is looking for suggestion on changing the name of the restaurant.
He wants to know how to coordinate PR–drip it out little by
little or announce it all at once?

From Jenni Bowring:

“Courting the local food writers/bloggers is key to creating
advance buzz. Invite them-–when you, the food, and your chef are
ready–-to an advance, food-writers-only tasting.

“Close the restaurant for an evening (if possible) to make it
even more exclusive, or hold a kitchen dinner for them if closing
would be a hardship. Invite them to screen the new menu and taste
the food with carefully chosen wine pairings (perhaps the new
menu could include a wine pairing suggestion for each entrée).

“Each tabletop should have something in the center with the
message about the re-naming.”

From Everett:

“Here is my reaction to your current name (Vino Paradiso: A
friendly wine bar and bistro). Using ‘vino’ and ‘wine’ is a
redundancy, but not a felony. It would indeed be nice if you
could eliminate the repetition. ‘Bistro’ is actually a French
word, although perhaps not everyone knows that. Using a French
word might detract from your desire to communicate the new
Italian menu…You might even consider ‘Vino Paradiso
Restaurant.’ It says it all.”

From Shelley Hunter:

“There is a very popular and long-standing burger joint in Davis,
Calif., that was called Murder Burger. I think the name was
originally about butchering the beef. For obvious reasons, they
also decided to change the name. They, too, held a contest.

“I remember the contest because my brother-in-law (in college at
the time) and all his buddies were thinking of names to win free
food. I think the winner got a burger a week for a year, or
something like that. The name was changed to Redrum Burger,
which is brilliant if you’ve seen The Shining and is perfect for
this college town. I chuckle every time I see the sign and always
remember the contest.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this “Help This Hound” question
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8690

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

======================================
6. Hound Quote of the Week
======================================

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

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

Facebook, inflight mag titles added to inventory closeout
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8752

Do you buy ads? Offer a testimonial for free publicity
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8714

——————————————-

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:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #559 June 14, 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. Install Google’s +1 Button

2. Inventory Closeout

3. Facebook & Twitter Training

4. Write Your Book in 90 Days

5. Help This Hound, Again

6. Hound Photos of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Install Google’s +1 Button
=====================================

When Google, the King of Search, gives Publicity Hounds an easy
way to let our websites and blogs stand out, we need to embrace
it with all four paws.

The newest tool is the +1 button, shorthand for “this is pretty
cool” or “you should check this out.”

It’s already popping up on websites and blogs, including my blog
at http://www.PublicityHound.net.

Here’s how it works.

When you install the code that makes the button visible on your
own site, people who like your content can click on it and tell
Google and others that they’re recommending it. It’s Google’s
equivalent of Facebook’s Like button.

But here’s the really powerful part. When you recommend somebody
else’s content, your photo shows up when that person’s website is
listed in Google’s search results. Your photo will show up only
if you already have a Google Profile.

Do these four things today:

–If you don’t have a Google Profile, create one at
https://Profiles.Google.com

–Read more about the Google +1 button. The FAQs are at
http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=
1140194. You can find a video and a helpful tutorial from
Francisco Rosales at the SocialMouths blog at
http://socialmouths.com/blog/2011/06/02/the-google-plus-1-button/

–Install the button at your website and blog. Or save yourself
the headache and have your webmaster do it for you.

–Start recommending content you see elsewhere by clicking on the
+1 button.

It’s too early to tell how successful the button will be, but
because this is from Google, you still ought to try it.

=====================================
2. Inventory Closeout
=====================================

I’m removing 20 products from my invbentory, and this is your
chance to grab ‘em before they’re gone.

They include CDs, electronic transcripts and tips booklets. CD
and transcripts, regularly $39.95, are only $5 each, plus
shipping. Tips booklets, regularly $5 each, are $1.35, and
include shipping.

Even though many of the products are out of date, all of them
include valuable publicity tips. You’d be crazy not to at least
look at the list of titles:
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-
products/inventorycloseout.htm

When the CDs are gone, they’re gone, and we aren’t reordering.

=====================================
3. Facebook & Twitter Training
=====================================

You responded to last week’s call for training topics and by an
overwhelming majority, Publicity Hounds want how-to tips on
Facebook and Twitter.

Mari Smith, the world’s Number One expert on Facebook, will be my
guest expert during a webinar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on
Wednesday, June 29, on how to pull fans to your Faceboook Page,
convince them to interact, and keep them coming back for more.

“How do I get more Facebook fans?” was your Number One question,
and there’s nobody better than Mari to teach you. You can start
registering next week.

Many Publicity Hounds still aren’t on Twitter. If you are, you
may not know how to use it to build influence, attract a targeted
group of followers, and sell more products and services.

I’ll be hosting a webinar for beginning and intermediate Twitter
users in early July.

If you have nagging questions about Facebook or Twitter, even if
you’re not sure if you’ll attend the webinar, email me at
JStewart@PublicityHound.com and I’ll add it to the training.

======================================
4. Write a Book in 90 Days
======================================

Many of my friends have written books the hard way, so I’ve heard
one sob story after another about how long it takes.

One author I know spent four years writing her book, and another
frustrating year rewriting, proofreading and doing all the other
little things associated with finally getting it onto the shelves
in bookstores.

If this sounds like you, or if you want to write a book and avoid
these hassles, help is on the way.

You’re invited to a free webinar or telephone seminar on
Thursday, June 16, with host Steve Harrison who will interview
Ann McIndoo. Ann has developed a unique system for writing a
quality non-fiction book in 90 days.

I’m promoting this call as a compensated affiliate because far
too many authors spend far too much time producing books that, in
many cases, don’t even sell. Ann’s system works best for authors
who have written non-fiction books, particularly how-to,
leadership, business, self-help, autobiography, etc. It doesn’t
work very well for children’s books, novels or poetry.

Discover the speed writing system she’s used to help 268 authors
get their books done quickly. Register at
http://www.freeauthortraining.com/call/?10011

=====================================
5. Help This Hound, Again
=====================================

I love it when you help other Hounds with their publicity and
marketing dilemmas.

But my tail really wags when the Hound asking for help uses one
of your ideas.

That’s what Timothy Nishimoto did when, several months ago, he
asked for help on how to emphasize food at this wine bar in
Portland, Oregon.

Publicity Hound Michael LaRocca suggested Tim change the name of
the restaurant, and Tim likes the idea. He wants to sponsor a
contest asking people to help name the restaurant.

But he’s confused about how to create the buzz in the community
while also coordinating PR. I’ve published his entire question at
my blog, and we’re hoping you can help.

Post your best ideas and helpful advice in the comments section
at http://publicityhound.net/?p=8690

======================================
6. Hound Photos of the Week
======================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Meryl K. Evans of Plano, Texas, for
these photos of the weirdest dog breeds ever:

http://www.oddee.com/item_97779.aspx

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

Publicists: Trade PR skills for Internet marketing training
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8623

Install Google’s +1 button at your website and blog
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8655

——————————————-

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:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #558 June 7, 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. Weinergate’s 5 PR Lessons

2. Facebook Best Practices Guide

3. Duck Makes Home at Home Depot

4. Your Biggest Publicity Problem?

5. Inventory Closeout Next Week

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Weinergate’s 5 PR Lessons
=====================================

What a week for learning about crisis communications.

Here are five important lessons that Rep. Anthony Weiner taught
Publicity Hounds. You’ve heard them all before:

–Don’t lie. Weiner thought he could fib his way through the
crisis. But at almost every media interview, he got himself
tangled up in his own lies and kept changing his story.

–Don’t criticize the messenger. He called a reporter a “jackass”
for asking a logical question, and that showed he was combative.

–Prepare talking points and stick to them. Weiner agreed to
numerous media interviews but kept digging a deeper hole because
he wasn’t prepared.

–When dumping bad news, tell it all, tell it first and tell it
fast. The drip-drip-drip of bad news throughout last week helped
this story grow long legs.

–Take responsibility. Weiner claims “responsibility for my
actions” but adamantly says he won’t resign. Expect politicians
from both parties to pile on throughout the week and keep this
story at the top of the news. A resignation would end the media
frenzy.

Learn more about how to respond in a crisis. Crisis counselor
Jonathan Bernstein was my guest during a teleseminar on “How to
Keep the Media Wolves at Bay” and explained how to deal with a
variety of issues, from tape-recorded interviews to hostile
reporters. Read more about what you’ll learn at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/media_wolves_atbay.htm

=====================================
2. Facebook Best Practices Guide
=====================================

Still puzzled about how to make Facebook work for you?

Check out the free Facebook Best Practices Guide from Facebook-
Studio.com. They did a super job of presenting their tips in an
easy-to-understand format.

All their tips fall into one of five categories of guiding
principles:

–Build a strategy that’s social by design.

–Create an authentic brand voice.

–Make it interactive.

–Nurture your relationships.

–Keep learning.

I found incredibly helpful tips on how to use Facebook ads, apps,
widgets, social plugins and more. Claim your copy here:
http://www.facebook-
studio.com/fbassets/media/856/FacebookBestPracticeGuide.pdf

Used in combination with the webinar I offered on “12 More Ways
to Avoid Missed Opportunities with Facebook,” you’ll have more
than enough ideas on how to make Facebook work for you. Read more
about what Christine Buffaloe taught during the webinar at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/facebook12ways.htm

=====================================
3. Duck Makes Home at Home Depot
=====================================

Home Depot in Bangor, Maine, generated fabulous publicity on CNN
recently with a feel-good story about a mallard duck that built a
nest and laid its seven eggs in the garden aisle.

The story had three key elements that TV cameras love: people,
color and motion.

And two more things: a sales associate named Brenda Hatch (great
last name) who made for a fun interview, and the fact that the
duck has returned for the second year to make its nest in the
same place.

Watch:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2011/06/02/me.home.depot.duck
.wvii?hpt=hp_t2

TV producer Shawne Duperon says it’s often easy to call a TV
station and get onto the news the same day. Read more about the
TV pitching tips she shared during the teleseminar I hosted with
her:
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/getinthenews.htm

======================================
4. Your Biggest Publicity Problem?
======================================

I had a second set of botox injections into my vocal chords, last
week, to remove the straining in my voice caused by spasmodic
dysphonia (you can read about it at my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8142).

So far, I’ve noticed only a slightly higher pitch to my voice,
and I’m thrilled! The after-effects should disappear within a
week.

That means I can start planning more webinars on topics that will
help you with publicity, PR and social media.

But I don’t want to guess about topics you need. I want you to
tell me.

What’s your Number One publicity problem that keeps you up at 3
a.m.? What PR training do you need? Is there a certain expert who
I should invite as a guest?

Click here and suggest a topic:

Mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?=SuggestedWebinar

=====================================
5. Inventory Closeout Next Week
=====================================

I’m still clearing out my inventory, and finding more CD and
transcript titles to add to my inventory clearance.

It will be ready next week. Promise.

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

Thanks to Elaine Grassbaugh of Columbus, Ohio, for this video of
Bizkit, the sleep-walking dog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2BgjH_CtIA

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

Lulu.com: You get what you pay for, says Book Shepherd
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8586

Nonprofits: Patch.com offers volunteers, free ad space
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8571

——————————————-

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:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #556 May 24, 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. Biggest Mistake on Facebook Profiles

2. Patch Wants More of Your Content

3. Sneaky YouTube Trick

4. Advantages of Nook Books

5. Why They Can’t Find Me on LinkedIn

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Biggest Mistake on Facebook Profiles
=====================================

If you’re on Facebook, I’ll bet you’re making this mistake.

On your Profile, at the top, under your name, where it lists the
company where you now work, I’m betting it links to a generic
Community Page and not a Company Page, also referred to as a Fan
Page.

When Facebook changed your profile to the new design a few months
ago, it automatically hyperlinked your employer field to an auto-
generated Community Page.

Facebook expert Mari Smith says that’s the Number One mistake on
Facebook profiles. You can read her entire post at
http://www.marismith.com/mistake-personal-facebook-profile-
employer-link/

It will take you less than a minute to fix it. Here’s Mari’s
quick fix:

–Click Edit Profile. Go to the Education and Work section.

–Begin typing the name of your Fan Page in the Employer field.

–If you see your Fan Page in the dropdown menu, select it.

–Then fill out the remaining fields (Position, City/Town,
Description and Time Period). If you also add in any Business
partners/Colleagues, this will show on their profile, too, under
the Employer section.

–Click Add Job. You can also add Project(s) to any position and
add Business partners/Colleagues. Again, this shows on their
Employer section.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, refer to her blog post above
for another quick workaround. If you fix it and it still doesn’t
show up correctly, it may take several days.

Mari’s solution bypasses a missed opportunity on Facebook.

Christine Buffaloe, my virtual assistant, has identified 12 more.
We reviewed them all during the webinar “12 More Ways to Avoid
Missed Opportunities on the New & Improved Facebook.” Learn how
to use your photos at the top to promote your products and
services, tag others so your message appears on their walls, and
the two pieces of advice we offered during our Facebook webinar
several years ago that worked back then, but can actually hurt
your efforts today.

Read more about what you’ll learn at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/facebook12ways.htm

=====================================
2. Patch Wants More of Your Content
=====================================

If you need local publicity, and you live in one of 19 states or
the District of Columbia, Patch.com is almost begging for your
pitch.

A memo from Patch editor-in-chief Brian Farnham to all his
editors outlines a plan to increase traffic by increasing article
production.

Patch covers California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island
Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

It loves news about new businesses, community events, local
government news, crime news, items for the events calendar,
columns from local residents and government officials, news tips,
and the all-important and often overlooked photos and videos.

This is the perfect time to pitch Patch for another reason. AOL
Inc., which owns Patch, is launching 33 sites in New Hampshire,
Iowa and South Carolina, key states that play an early role in
the U.S. presidential election.

Here are six tips on how to pitch Patch:
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8512

======================================
3. Sneaky YouTube Trick
======================================

Don’t you hate it when at the bottom of each of your YouTube
videos, YouTube offers viewers several “related videos” and gives
them a chance to click off of your video and onto somebody
else’s?

Here’s a really sneaky way to make sure all of those “related”
videos are yours.

When you tag your videos, assign to each video a tag that’s a
nonsensical word you’ve made up. For example, I just created
swiffmantel. It isn’t a word. But if I include that tag on every
one of my videos, chances are excellent that when someone is
watching one of my videos at YouTube, they will see all “related
videos” that are mine.

I learned that trick last week when Colin Martin and Marc Bullard
presented a free webinar on “YouTube Secrets: Getting Views,
Subscribers and Branding Your Business.” I took three pages of
notes and concluded that my YouTube channel is definitely NOT
ready for prime time. I have a lot of work to do, and I’ll be
sharing many of my new videos with you in the weeks ahead.

The payoff can be huge. Google, which owns YouTube, often
delivers YouTube videos at the top of a list of search results.
And Colin and Marc shared another cool trick on how to make sure
that when your video ends, another one begins automatically,
without the viewer having to touch the keyboard.

If you were one of the Publicity Hounds who signed up for the
free webinar but couldn’t get onto the line, we apologize. You
were shut out because we ran out of room.

But don’t worry. We recorded it. You can access the replay of
“YouTube Super Secrets: Getting Views, Subscribers and Branding
Your Business” at http://tinyurl.com/62ajq65

=====================================
4. Advantages of Nook Books
=====================================

On the Barnes & Noble blog, a fan of the Nook, the Barnes & Noble
eReader, listed five advantages to reading Nook books:

–My Nookbooks don’t slide under the seats in the car,
disappearing for weeks while accruing late fees.

–My Nookbooks don’t smell or have other people’s food spills
stuck on the pages.

–My Nookbooks can be accessed anytime–no holds, no waiting.

–Nookbooks all weigh the same.

–Buying Nookbooks saves gas money and time.

If you’re an author, isn’t it time your books were available for
the Nook? Daniel Hall, who showed Publicity Hounds how to turn
their ebooks into material for the Kindle late last year, is back
with step-by-step instructions on how to make your ebook ready
for the Nook.

I’m hosting a free webinar with him at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on
Thursday, May 26. Set aside at least 90 minutes. He sometimes
goes way over the time limit because he answers every question
that participants ask. Register here:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/833100745

You’ll also learn how to:

–Use your “Nook” books as lead generators for your business.

–Earn set-it-and-forget-it recurring revenue by building profit
centers into each of your ebooks.

–Get readily available content to publish so you don’t have to
spend time and energy writing it yourself.

–Build your credibility within your market…whatever that
market is.

This training is free. The content is solid gold.

Register here:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/833100745

============================================
5. Why They Can’t Find Me on LinkedIn
============================================

In-between improving my videos, and producing more of them, I
need to set aside a huge chunk of time to rewrite my LinkedIn
profile.

During last week’s webinar on advanced LinkedIn strategies, Wayne
Breitbarth used me as an example of what happens when you don’t
write your profile correctly. Mine appears way down on the search
results for keywords like “publicity” and “public relations.”

He explained exactly what I needed to do. And when I’m done with
my profile, I need to start building my Company Pages to promote
my many products and services.

I also need to start returning some of the recommendations people
are kind enough to write for me.

What? Return a recommendation? Why would anybody do that? We want
recommendations, don’t we?

Yes, we do. But we want the right kinds of recommendations–only
those that include keywords and keyword phrases that people use
when searching for people with our expertise.

What’s wrong with your LinkedIn profile? Have you searched for
yourself recently under all the keywords you want associated with
your business? If people want to recommend one of your products
or services on LinkedIn, will they find it on your Company Pages?

I had no clue how much I was doing wrong. You might not either.
Read more about what Wayne discussed on last week’s webinar on
“”Your LinkedIn Power Formula Part 2: Advanced Strategies for
Writing a Killer Profile, Cashing in on Groups and Creating
Company Pages” and access the replay at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/linkedinpowerformulapart2.htm

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

Check out this illustration that shows Fun Facts Your Dog Never
Told You. And read my comment about why so many dogs are obese:
http://holykaw.alltop.com/woof-woof-fun-facts-your-dog-never-
told-you-i

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

Need local publicity? 6 tips for pitching Patch.com
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8512

12 ways to say “thanks” to a blogger or journalist
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8495

Where to See The Publicity Hound:

June 18 in Milwaukee, WI: General Federation of Women’s Clubs,
120th Annual International Convention: Lunch and Learn from 12:45
to 2:45.”How to Use Traditional & Social Media to Promote Your
Club & Attract Members.”

——————————————-

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:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #555 May 17, 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 Company’s Giant Billboard

2. Help with YouTube Videos

3. Your Book Should be on the Nook

4. Come, Sit, Stay–And Ask Questions

5. Where to See The Publicity Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Your Company’s Giant Billboard
=====================================

Cardinal Rule #1 in the world of social media: Don’t promote.

Except, that is, if you’re on LinkedIn.

The world’s largest business networking site has an often
overlooked feature that serves as a giant billboard for your
business, where you can spotlight all the products and services
you can’t promote elsewhere.

It’s called Company Pages.

They’re a company’s profile of record on LinkedIn, and a powerful
way to speak to millions of professionals through word-of-mouth
recommendations and trusted testimonials.

For LinkedIn members, Company Pages are a great way to research
companies you’re interested in, follow them to stay updated, see
what kinds of people work there, and even review the products and
services you use.

For companies, Company Pages give you a chance to show the human
side of your company, feature the people behind your brand,
highlight how members use your products, and bring your brand to
life.

You can post product photos, descriptions and links to product
pages at your websites. You can post targeted job ads,
recruitment videos and more.

Here’s the best part. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you pay
nothing for this giant billboard.

LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth will show you some really
creative ways to use Company Pages when he’s my guest during a
webinar Thursday on “Your LinkedIn Power Formula Part 2: Advanced
Strategies for Writing a Killer Profile, Cashing in on Groups and
Creating Company Pages.”

One lucky person who registers will receive a free, private 20-
minute LinkedIn consultation with Wayne after the call. He can
critique your LinkedIn profile, give you ideas for your own
Company pages, and offer suggestions on the best ways for you to
use LinkedIn Groups.

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. Help with YouTube Videos
======================================

When I blogged last week about why you should create short videos
and upload them to YouTube, I forgot about a very obvious
advantage.

In addition to all the traffic the video will pull from YouTube,
bloggers and website owners can embed the video at their own
websites.

How cool is that? Audiences you never knew existed can be
watching your videos right now, and then clicking on the link at
the end of the video to go to your website.

This happened to me last week. When I blogged about YouTube
videos at http://publicityhound.net/?p=8395, blogger Ramiro
Rodriguez commented:

“Hi Joan, I found your web site through one of your videos. I was
doing research on how to write a press release. After my
research, I decided to make a blog post out of it and I embedded
your video into the post along with two others.”

You can see his post here:
http://how-to-internet-marketing-articles-
vi.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-write-press-release-video.html

That video, by the way, which was one of my first and not the
greatest quality, has gotten more than 2,190 views. And it’s
largely responsible for the more than 6,000 people who have
signed up for my free email course on how to write and distribute
press releases at http://www.89PressReleaseTips.com

But Colin Martin, who edits my newer videos, says I’ve been doing
lots of things wrong on YouTube. So I invited him and Marc
Bullard to show me–and you–how to do it right, during a free
webinar tomorrow night, May 18, from 8 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time.

Join us for “YouTube Super Secrets: Getting Views, Subscribers
and Branding Your Business” at http://tinyurl.com/62ajq65

=====================================
3. Your Book Should be on the Nook
=====================================

The Barnes & Noble “Nook” eReader is starting to take the ebook
world by storm. B&N announced recently that its percentage of the
ebook marketplace has increased to 25 percent this year.

“Big deal,” you say?

It is a big deal when you consider that the ebook market is
projected to increase to $2.7 billion by 2013. That’s billion,
with a “B.”

It’s time to take all that content at your blog, or in your
brain, and turn it into an ebook for the Nook. Daniel Hall, who
showed Publicity Hounds how to turn their ebooks into material
for the Kindle late last year, is back with step-by-step
instructions on how to make your ebook ready for the Nook.

I’m hosting a free webinar with him at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on
Thursday, May 26. Set aside at least 90 minutes. He sometimes
goes way over the time limit because he answers every question
that participants ask. Register here:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/833100745

You’ll also learn how to:

–Use your “Nook” books as lead generators for your business.

–Earn set-it-and-forget-it recurring revenue by building profit
centers into each of your ebooks.

–Get readily available content to publish so you don’t have to
spend time and energy writing it yourself.

–Build your credibility within your market…whatever that
market is.

This training is free. The content is solid gold.

Register here:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/833100745

============================================
4. Come, Sit, Stay–And Ask Questions
============================================

Have a question about the best way to promote your business?

Confused about the latest and greatest social media tool that
everyone’s talking about?

Looking for a story idea to pitch to your local TV station?

Every Thursday is “Come, Sit, Stay Day” on my Facebook page at
http://www.Facebook.com/PublicityHound

I’ll be answering all your questions, sharing resources and
helping you work through whatever promotion problems are bugging
you.

But if you read this newsletter, you don’t have to wait until
Thursday. Go over there now, Like the page, and let me know what
you need. I’m here to help:
http://www.Facebook.com/PublicityHound

If you don’t have a question, but there’s a topic or two you’d
like to read more about in this ezine, tell me on my Facebook
page.

======================================
5. Where to See The Publicity Hound
======================================

June 18 in Milwaukee, WI:
General Federation of Women’s Clubs, 120th Annual International
Convention: Lunch and Learn from 12:45 to 2:45.”How to Use
Traditional & Social Media to Promote Your Club & Attract
Members.”

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

I love this bumper sticker:

Wag More. Bark Less.

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

Can you spot the 5 mistakes in this guest blogger’s pitch?
Find them all and win $100 coupon
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8407

25 business blogging tips from a 10-year-old
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8464

3 tips for rewriting your LinkedIn profile & headline
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8434

——————————————-

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:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #553 May 3, 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. Twice as Many Facebook Fans

2. Energize Your Boring Bio

3. Sample PR/Marketing Contracts

4. Your Sneaky LinkedIn Profile

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Twice as Many Facebook Fans
=====================================

Convince twice the number of people who land on your Facebook
page to click the “Like” button. Create a Welcome page.

Research shows that Welcome pages convert twice as many visitors
into fans compared to pages where visitors land on the Wall.

I hired CustomFanPageDesigns.com to create a Welcome page. I also
did something else I should have done long ago.

I created a new Facebook page to reflect “The Publicity Hound”
brand. The old page, called “Publicity and public relations tips,
ideas and strategies,” doesn’t include my brand because I was
going after keywords, instead. I realized my mistake too late.
Facebook doesn’t let you change the name of a page.

Now, I’m trying to convince my more than 3,200 fans to Like my
new page. I want you to, too. And here’s what I’m offering.

I posted a really helpful tip this morning about a creative item
you can add to your online media room or press kit. It will
encourage journalists and bloggers to write about you. It will
give them lots of fodder and fun facts for articles and blog
posts. PR people, your clients will LOVE this idea. Like my new
page, look for the photo of chef Emeril Lagasse, read all about
it, and leave a comment:

http://www.facebook.com/publicityhound

======================================
2. Energize Your Boring Bio
======================================

When you’re adding the cool item I mentioned above to your
publicity materials, how about sprucing up the boring bio in your
press kit, the much shorter author resource box at the end of
your articles and guest blog posts, and even your Twitter bio?

Here are three examples of bios I like:

At the end of a guest blog written by Allison Boyer:

“When Allison’s not blogging for the BlogWorld blog (say that
three times fast), she runs After Graduation, a career advice and
motivation site.”

Pia Mara Finkell’s bio on Twitter (notice all the keywords):

“Work and play in wine and food, but randomly become obsessed
with beer, bourbon, pie, dogs, the Yanks, running, lacrosse and
anything that makes me laugh.”

Paragraph at the end of the bio for Gabe Benveniste, founder of
SonicLiving, a concert tracking tool and social network:

“Gabe competed in the 2003 World Beard and Mustache Championship,
where his prodigious chops propelled him to sixth place (out of
six) in the first-ever sideburn contest. His work has been
featured in Playboy, MTV and Wired.”

You’ll find lots more examples in my “Special Report #46: Tips
for Rewriting Your Boring Bio,” a steal at only $10:
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-
products/reports.html#SpecialReport46

=====================================
3. Sample PR/Marketing Contracts
=====================================

If you’re setting up shop as a PR or marketing consultant, and
you’ve got your first client, one of the most perplexing problems
is obtaining sample contracts, or writing a contract from
scratch.

But what if you don’t have the start-up money to consult with a
lawyer? Problem solved.

Kellye Crane, of Solor PR Pro, and Jenny Schmitt of Cloudspark,
wrote the free, 30-page ebook called Get It In Writing, The
Communication Consultant’s Guide to Contracts. They’re not even
asking for your email address.

This is the most comprehensive free book I’ve seen on this topic,
and consultants who work in any area of communications will save
themselves weeks of research. The authors advise that you
eventually talk to an attorney when using a contract, but if
you’re short on cash, this book will at least get you started.

I also recommend this ebook for anyone who needs a publicist or
PR agency, and wants to see what sample contracts look like. Find
out how to access the book in the post at my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8326

=====================================
4. Your Sneaky LinkedIn Profile
=====================================

Certain LinkedIn “gurus” have been teaching a sneaky little trick
on how to capture first-place listings on LinkedIn when somebody
is searching for a business person with your expertise.

They tell you to stuff keywords and keyword phrases into your
profile, to the point where it’s obnoxious.

When LinkedIn finally wakes up and realizes what’s happening, it
might slap down the offenders in the rankings, much like Google
does when it finds people trying to game the system. Or it might
simply disable the account. If you have one of these sneaky
profiles, don’t let this happen to you.

Even worse, these profiles look disingenuous and unethical.
LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth says visitors who read your
keyword-stuffed profile will know in an instant what you’re
trying to do and they might wonder, “If this person is trying to
trick LinkedIn, who else are they trying to trick?”

Publicity Hounds flooded Wayne and me with compliments after the
webinar I hosted with him in March. They asked me to bring him
back for another webinar on how-to tips for LinkedIn profiles,
Groups and advanced search.

Mark your calendars for 3 to 4:15 Eastern Time on Thursday, May
19, and register for the webinar when you get this newsletter
next week. If you can’t attend live, you can download the video
replay.

what else do you want Wayne to teach about LinkedIn. Hit “reply”
and tell me what else we should include.

If you missed the first webinar with him, it’s not too late to
start applying what he taught. Access the video replay and the
killer handouts for “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” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/linkedinpowerformula.htm

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

Don Luepnitz of Norwalk, CA, writes:

“I am with the Norwalk, CA, Moose Lodge, and we can sure use some
help getting the word out and trying to get new people to come
down and or join.

“We offer dinners, breakfast, bingo, darts, full bar, a kids
room, and have fundraisers for ourselves and other charities. We
also sponsor kids’ sports teams, and we have a Facebook Fan Page
at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Norwalk-CA-Moose-Family-
Center-1739/219549031389577

“How can we use traditional and social media to attract more
members and visitors?”

The website is at http://www.norwalkmoose.org

The Publicity Hound says:

Put a Facebook button that leads to your fan page on your
website. Also, start submitting items about your events to
Patch.com, the uber-local website. There’s a Patch for
Cerritos/Artesia and that might be close enough to you for them
to accept your news items. Also see “12 More Ways to Avoid Missed
Opportunities with the New & Improved Facebook” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/facebook12ways.htm

Hounds, what ideas do you have for Don? Post them to my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8351

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

Here’s a silly YouTube video of Romeo the Pug playing piano:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFAy84Pesb0

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

Sample PR contracts included in free ebook
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8326

——————————————-

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:

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

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.

Read more about the blogs here:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Headlines/usa-todays-your-life-
debuts-women-bloggers-64713-.aspx

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:

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #547 March 29, 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. News Powerhouse You’re Not Pitching

2. Increase Your Klout Score

3. 109 Ways to be Irresistible

4. Meet Me at Author U May 6-7

5. Rewarding Facebook Fans

6. Hound Photos of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. News Powerhouse You’re Not Pitching
=====================================

Quick. Find your media hit list–the list of media you have
pitched recently either for your own story idea or for a PR
client.

Now, scan the list. I’ll bet you a bag of dog treats that the
Associated Press isn’t on the list.

PR people frequently forget that news powerhouse. Yet the AP was
ranked first in terms of how often their reporting is cited on
Google News and Google Blogs, according to a chart compiled by
Nate Silver, a New York Times blogger who loves analyzing
statistics.

I found the chart eye-opening from a PR perspective, and many
times, I’ve reminded Publicity Hounds that they should remember
to pitch the AP if they have significant news stories or photos
to share. While the AP gets most of its content from its own
member newspapers, it likes a scoop as much as other news
outlets.

So how, exactly, do you pitch the AP? You’ll find some valuable
tips in a video the AP produced for Publicity Hounds. It’s at my
blog, along with the chart showing influential media:
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8084

Don’t forget to follow up after you pitch!

Jill Lublin, who interviewed dozens of journalists on exactly how
they want you to follow up, explained their tips when she was the
guest expert during a teleseminar I hosted on “Fail-proof Ways to
Follow Up After Sending a News Release or a Story Pitch.” Learn
more about what we discussed and how to access the recording or
transcript at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/failprooffollowup.htm

======================================
2. Boost Your Klout Score
======================================

A few weeks ago, I told you that if you’re curious about how much
online influence you have vs. your competitors, it will take you
just a few minutes to compare at Klout.com.

Once you know your score, how can you improve it? By following
these three tips in a Klout blog post at
http://klout.com/blog/2011/03/3-tips-for-increasing-your-klout-
score/

–Create content worth sharing on Twitter and Facebook, the two
sites Klout currently uses to measure influence.

–Start discussions on those sites. Don’t just push out content.

–Register for a free account on Klout.

I also noticed that Klout says it will be adding other social
media networks regularly, but it doesn’t say which ones.

I’m betting it will eventually add LinkedIn, the world’s largest
business networking site, and Quora, a continually improving
collection of questions and answers created, edited and organized
by everyone who uses it.

But half the people who have LinkedIn accounts aren’t active on
the site. Amazing, especially considering that the advanced
search function is where all the gold is buried. Watch this
three-minute video, in which LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth
demonstrates how to use advanced search to find CEOs and company
presidents:

http://www.youtube.com/publicityhound#p/a/u/1/Sik1pu5deaU

That clip is an excerpt from the webinar I hosted 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.” Find out what else Wayne taught and how you can
access the webinar replay:
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/linkedinpowerformula.htm

=====================================
3. 109 Ways to be Irresistible
=====================================

Print this list of “109 Ways to Make Your Business Irresistible
to the Media” at http://www.copyblogger.com/irresistible-pr/

Patrick Garmoe, a former journalist, really nails it.

I love #62: Frame your story as a local example of a national or
international issue currently in the news. If Congress is
debating health care, and your clinic has developed a unique
program for handling people without insurance, you’ve got a
pitch.

That’s called piggybacking off breaking news. And nobody does it
better than publicist Michelle Tennant, who got one of her
clients on “Larry King Live” the same day she and the client
signed a PR contract!

Michelle was my guest during the webinar on “How to Tie Your
Pitch to Breaking News and Make the Media Interview YOU.” Find
out what she taught Publicity Hounds to do, and how you can
access the webinar replay, at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/breakingnews.htm

=====================================
4. Meet Me at Author U May 6-7
=====================================

Authors, don’t miss this one.

I’ll be presenting a program on how to use traditional and social
media to sell books, on Saturday, May 7, at Author U in Colorado.

I don’t travel much anymore, so this is a rare opportunity to see
me live.

Judith Briles, a book coach and sponsor of the event, has created
an all-star line-up of speakers. Register today before all the
seats are taken.

http://authoru.org/author-u-annual-extravaganza-may-6-7-2011.html

======================================
5. Rewarding Facebook Fans
======================================

This week, two Publicity Hounds responded to Heather John’s
request for ideas on how to reward people for becoming fans on
her company’s Facebook fan page. I’m including only social media
expert BL Ochman’s comment because she says rewarding fans is
against Facebook’s terms of service:

“Besides being against Facebook?s policies for fan pages,
rewarding people for liking your page is a bogus way of earning
numbers of people who are not likely to come back and engage with
your brand beyond the reward. Yecch, blecch.

“If you have good content, and great products or services, people
will like you for real. Yes, you need to drive traffic to your
fan page, but that?s not the same as rewarding people for liking
you.”

The Publicity Hound says:

I guess that settles it. BL is right. Provide great content. And
interact with your fans!

Did you know that Facebook actually has a formula that determines
whether your status update goes into the news feed of your
friends and fans? I explained exactly what it is, and how you can
push more of your content into the feed, when I hosted the
webinar, “12 More Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on the New &
Improved Facebook,” with Christine Buffaloe. Read about what we
taught, access the replay and 14 pages of handouts, and check out
the rave reviews from Hounds who attended, at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/facebook12ways.htm

======================================
6. Hound Photos of the Week
======================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Lisa Fahoury of West Orange, NJ, for
these funny photos of basset hounds wiggling, jiggling, smiling
and having a blast while running:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/basset-hounds-running

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…
====================================

AP: The news powerhouse you probably aren’t pitching
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8084

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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:

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #545 March 15, 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. How to Make Facebook Easier

2. 31 Definitions of PR

3. LinkedIn: Perpetual Leads Machine

4. Use Sizzling Statistics

5. Free Twitter Bird Icons

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. How to Make Facebook Easier
=====================================

If you’re like me, you want to throw your coffee cup through the
computer monitor when you can’t figure out how to do something on
Facebook.

Why do more than 200 million people use that site, then, if it’s
so darn complicated?

Several reasons:

–Many kids, who grew up with computers and practically live on
Facebook, are patient enough to figure out all the nuances.

–Many users have Facebook accounts, but they aren’t really
active on the site because it’s too confusing. So that 200
million figure is a bit deceiving.

–Business owners, like me, use Facebook primarily for business
because we know a lot of people in our target markets are there.
We also understand the value of creating fan pages and using a
powerful “welcome” page that encourages visitors to give us their
email addresses.

That’s worth putting up with all the aggravating changes that
Facebook makes every six months or so.

The most recent batch of changes, introduced last month, offers
opportunities galore for businesses, nonprofits and government
agencies to solidify their brand.

But some of the changes are more important than others. And
trying to understand all of them at the same time can make you
crazy.

My virtual assistant, Christine Buffaloe, who manages Facebook
accounts for many of her clients, is joining me this afternoon
for a webinar on “12 More Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on
the New & Improved Facebook.” It’s at 4 p.m. Eastern Time and we
have a few seats left.

We’ll explain only what we think you need to know so you aren’t
overwhelmed, and we’ll tell you about the two things you should
no longer be doing with Facebook.

You may have heard lots of people buzzing about another new
Facebook feature. But we aren’t using it, and we’ll explain why.

You’ll learn about a new tool we discovered that will help you
find other people’s fan pages where you can post helpful content
to their walls, talk directly to their thousands of fans, and get
a link back to your own fan page–without spamming.

Register here, even if the time is inconvenient for you, because
I’m recording it, and I’ll send you the replay link and all the
handouts:

http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/facebook12ways.htm

======================================
2. 31 Definitions of PR
======================================

Here’s one of my favorite explanations of the difference between
public relations, marketing, promotion and advertising:

“If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying
‘Circus Coming to the Fairgrounds Saturday,’ that’s advertising.
If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk it into
town, that’s promotion. If the elephant walks through the
mayor’s flowerbed, that’s publicity. And if you get the mayor to
laugh about it, that’s public relations.”

Now that you know what public relations is, how do PR people
explain what they do?

You’ll find 31 definitions of PR at Heidi Cohen’s blog at
http://heidicohen.com/public-relations-definition/

Fascinating reading.

=====================================
3. LinkedIn: Perpetual Leads Machine
=====================================

Few social media sites will keep working for you 24/7, even when
you’re asleep.

But LinkedIn will. Let’s say you’re looking for journalists who
live within a 100-mile radius of Chicago.

You plug in the details of what you’re looking for and click.
After you review the results, you can save your search.

Here’s the best part: You can tell LinkedIn to send you an email
weekly or monthly to notify you if a new journalist who meets
your search criteria has been found in your network (including
Levels 1, 2 and 3 and Groups.) You can keep up to three searches
in a free account.

It’s a perpetual leads generator. LinkedIn expert Wayne
Breitbarth recommends getting on the phone as soon as you see
that someone new has become part of your network. Set up a
meeting. It could be a home run.

Read more about what Wayne taught recently during my webinar,
“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.”

I recorded the webinar and you can download the video replay, the
MP3 and all the handouts at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/linkedinpowerformula.htm

=====================================
4. Use Sizzling Statistics
=====================================

The next time you write a press release or a pitch, think of a
clever way you can introduce sizzling statistics to really
attract attention.

Brad Phillips uses them all the time. He publishes the Mr. Media
Training Blog, which offers daily media and presentation training
tips. And he wrote a super guest blog post for me with five
examples of how to make boring numbers come alive.

For example, percentages, he says, are a drag on your copy.

“Instead of proclaiming that your plant’s new energy efficient
manufacturing equipment will cut your company’s carbon footprint
by 35 percent, tell your audience what that means. Does your new
efficiency mean that you will save 20,000 barrels of oil this
year? Say so!”

Read the other four tips and leave a comment about how you used
statistics. Go to http://publicityhound.net/?p=7994

======================================
5. Free Twitter Bird Icons
======================================

Looking for some attractive Twitter icons to place at your blog
or website or use on your marketing materials?

You can download an entire set of six incredibly cute birds, some
with their “Follow Me” and “Tweet About Us” signs. Kudos to Gopal
Raju of Convax Solutions for offering these under Creative
Commons, which means you can freely use them for your private and
commercial projects, including software, online service,
templates and themes.

Smart Publicity Hounds can also use them in online media rooms
and press kits.

Grab ‘em now at
http://www.productivedreams.com/free-twitter-bird-icon-set/

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

A police dog responds to an ad for work with the FBI.

“Well,” says the personnel director, “you’ll have to meet some
strict requirements. First, you must type at least 60 words per
minute.”

Sitting down at the computer, the dog types 80 words per minute.

“Also,” says the director, “you must pass a physical and complete
the obstacle course.”

This perfect dog specimen finishes the course in record time.

“There’s one last requirement,” the director continues. “You must
be bilingual.”

With confidence, the dog looks up at him and says, “Meow!”

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 Promote Events on Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8006

Why statistics can be your greatest PR ally–or enemy
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7994

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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