The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #522 Sept. 7, 2010
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. Link Surveys & Social Media

2. Create Your Own Cartoon

3. You Must be on Listorious

4. Promote Others on Shoutworthy

5. Magic Phrases for More Publicity

6. Hound Photos of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Link Surveys & Social Media
=====================================

One of the best ways to keep people interested on social media
sites–and talking about you to their friends, followers and
fans–is to ask them to complete a survey.

Ask their opinion on a controversial topic, or encourage them to
name a favorite company they love doing business with, or urge
them to give advice to someone who needs it.

You can create surveys for free, and within minutes, but you must
know the right way to ask questions. You can push your audience’s
hot buttons by choosing fun, divisive or newsworthy topics that
your followers will not only participate in, but promote to their
own followers. You can publicize the survey many ways and pull
traffic to your Facebook Fan Page, blog or website where
respondents take the survey.

You can then turn the survey results into your own breaking news
story, share results at the social media sites and pitch the
story to freelancers, beat reporters, industry publications and
bloggers.

My partner, Jeanne Hurlbert, who’s an expert in surveys and
social media, is the only one teaching how to do this in any
depth.

She’s hosting a teleseminar at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday,
Sept. 14, that will show you how to use surveys and link them to
your social media efforts. She’ll teach you new, proven
techniques for getting a return on investment from social media
and building a huge following. If you’ve been looking for ways to
create products that will sell, new ways to do affiliate
marketing, and more, you’ll get those tips, too. Listen to Jeanne
explain more about what she’ll be teaching you during the webinar
“Create Community, Conversions and Cash by Teaming Surveys and
Social Media”: http://mixiv.com/vp/87944/18826/

======================================
2. Create Your Own Cartoon
======================================

Want an unusual way to promote a book or anything else?

How about creating your own animated cartoon, and then uploading
it to video-sharing sites, or linking to it from an online press
release, or placing the video at your blog or website?

Michael Keller, author of “Life In A Week; Book Two – What Is
Spirituality?”, created his own cartoon at Xtranormal’s site at
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7020117 to tie into his book.

The site’s terms of service say that “you agree not to use the
site for any commercial use unless you purchase a commercial
account” and that all content is their property.

I didn’t have time to experiment with this, but it looks like
fun.

=====================================
3. You Must be on Listorious
=====================================

If journalists are searching for experts to interview on
Listorious at http://www.Listorious.com, and you aren’t there,
you could blow your chances for publicity.

Listorious is my favorite directory for finding experts on
Twitter, as well as Twitter lists.

It has the best Twitter people search on the web so you can find
anyone by topic, region or profession–powered by data from the
tens of thousands of list curators. Once you find the right
person, you can interview them by asking questions over
Listorious.

By answering some questions through Listorious rather than
directly on Twitter, your answers are organized, in depth, and
have archive value. It’s like a magazine interview.

I recommended four other Twitter directories and shared dozens of
tips during the recent webinar on “How to Use Twitter Lists &
Directories to Generate Publicity and Build Your Brand.” Order
the video, MP3 and the handouts which include step-by-step
instructions on how to create, use and promote your lists at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitterlists.htm

======================================
4. Promote Others on Shoutworthy
======================================

Give to get. That’s the mantra in social media.

Promote others, and others will promote you.

Shoutworthy at http://ShoutWorthy.com/ is a cool new tool you can
use to compliment, recommend and showcase vendors, clients,
bloggers and even journalists whose work you love. These posts
are easier to write than LinkedIn recommendations because you
must keep them to within 140 characters. (Keep recommending
people on LinkedIn, but use Shoutworthy when your time is at a
premium.)

On Shoutworthy, you type your message into a window, much like
you do on Twitter and then, specify if you want to also send it
to your Twitter account and auto-post it to the recipient?s wall
on Facebook.

======================================
5. Magic Phrases for More Publicity
======================================

When you’ve completed an interview with a journalist or blogger,
ask:

“May I contact you again in about three months if I have
something you’d be interested in? If so, is there a good time to
call?”

Most likely, the answer will be, “Of course” and you’ll know
exactly which times or days are most convenient for a call.

Then, when it’s time to pitch again, you can contact the
journalist or blogger and say, “You said it would be OK to call
if I had something else you’d be interested in.”

That lets them know you already have their permission, and
because you called when they told you to, it lets them know that
you respect their time.

Those two phrases are among the 10 I listed during the webinar I
hosted recently on “How to REALLY Use Publicity as an Online
Marketing Channel and ZIG When Everyone Else is ZAGGING.” You’ll
learn lots of smart strategies that will give you a huge edge on
your competitors, including how to research journalists and
bloggers before pitching them. Read more about what you’ll learn
at http://www.publicityhound.com/onlinepublicitytips.htm

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

This isn’t a joke, but it will make you smile. It’s a gallery of
15 photos of dogs, captured and edited on the iPhone, from
talented photographers all around the world:

http://mashable.com/2010/09/06/iphone-dog-photographs

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

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

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

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

Great fodder for retweeting:

23 ways to find media where you want publicity
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7002

——————————————-

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 #521 Sept. 1, 2010
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. Betting on the Bush Tax Cuts

2. Sales Leads from Your Blog

3. How to Get Onto Twitter Lists

4. Fun Ideas for a Pizza Shop

5. Authors, Last Call for Tips

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Betting on the Bush Tax Cuts
=====================================

When estate planner Jeff Scroggin of Roswell, Ga., knew his
fellow tax advisors were closely watching debate over repealing
the Bush tax cuts on Jan. 1, he decided to have a little fun with
a serious topic.

Jeff asked them to place their bets on what Congress will do
about extending the estate tax. He created 80 chances to win, at
$1 a chance. Some planners bet multiple times and placed more
than $1 on the line. The winner whose guess comes closest to what
will actually happen will take home $200.

Jeff advertised the pool to an email list of about 100 people,
mostly estate planners. He also extended invitations through the
National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. His email
list included Arden Dale, who writes for the Wall Street Journal
and who has interviewed Jeff for other stories. She wrote about
the wager for the Journal’s blog last week at
http://blogs.wsj.com/financial-adviser/2010/08/18/on-estate-tax-
all-bets-areon/ Since then, Jeff has gotten about five other
calls for interviews.

As for his own prediction, he says, “Anybody who thinks or says
they think they know what will happen next with the tax cuts is
either clairvoyant or deranged.”

Jeff, an attorney, says he knows the pool is illegal but that
it’s all in fun.

You can take his idea of betting on the outcome of an issue and
adopt it to almost any controversial topic in your own industry.
Even if no money changes hands, the winner can have bragging
rights. Your story could be perfect for trade publications, blogs
that cover your industry and, depending on the topic, even
consumer publications. You might even try pitching it to
reporters and hosts of network and cable TV news shows.

I devote an entire chapter to offbeat publicity ideas like this
one in my ebook, “How to be a Kick-butt Publicity Hound,” the
best all-around how-to guide for generating publicity using
traditional and social media. Learn more about the book and the
eight new chapters on social media at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity/publicityhound.htm

======================================
2. Sales Leads from Your Blog
======================================

If you’re using your blog to position yourself as a subject
matter expert, you’re only halfway there.

You can also use it to generate sales leads.

Dean Rieck, a direct marketing copywriter, explains how in a post
he wrote for Copyblogger.com at
http://www.copyblogger.com/generate-sales-leads/

No surprise that he advocates bringing people into your sales
funnel by first offering something for free like a White Paper,
ezine, video, or something of value that helps your audience
solve a particular problem. But he also offers great tips on how
to follow up on those leads.

I’m revamping my blog to make it more search-engine friendly and
add features I learned about when Patsi Krakoff was my guest
during a teleseminar I hosted earlier this year on “Time-saving
Tips for Smart Business Blogging.” If you’re new to blogging,
this is the perfect tool to get you started. If you’ve been
blogging for several years, it may be time to revamp your blog,
and this teleseminar will give you dozens of ideas. The MP3, CD
or electronic transcript each come with 27 pages of handouts that
include 101 ways to find content for your blog. Read more about
what else you’ll learn at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/businessblogging.htm

=====================================
3. How to Get Onto Twitter Lists
=====================================

The more Twitter lists you’re on, the more people are exposed to
you and your expertise, even if they don’t have a Twitter
account.

I’m on more than 660 lists, many devoted to PR, publicity and
social media, and that number is growing almost daily. Here are
four ways to get onto other people’s lists:

–Tweet helpful, relevant content frequently and forego the
“here’s what I’m doing today” tweets. Help people solve their
problems.

–Ask! Don’t be shy about suggesting that someone add you to a
list they’ve already created, or a new one devoted to a specific
topic.

–Write a blog post suggesting topics for lists that should
include you, and then tweet the post. See the blog post I wrote
this morning at http://publicityhound.net/?p=6984

–Add a reminder to your email signature, with a link to your
Twitter profile. Once people log into their Twitter account, they
can go to your Twitter page, click on the “Lists” button at the
top of your feed, and add you to one or more of their lists. Or
they can create a new one.

These tips were among dozens I shared during last week’s webinar
on “How to Use Twitter Lists & Directories to Generate Publicity
and Build Your Brand.” Order the video, MP3 and the handouts
which include step-by-step instructions on how to create, use and
promote your lists at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitterlists.htm

======================================
4. Fun Ideas for a Pizza Shop
======================================

This week, 16 Publicity Hounds have tips for Deborah Lott of
Giddings, Texas, who needs help marketing her pizza shop and
Italian restaurant between Austin and Houston.

From Stephanie Trahd:

“Start collecting email addresses. Entice diners to sign up by
giving them coupons, chef’s secrets and anything else they would
value. You’d be surprised how many people will come in toting
‘free soda with dinner’ coupons.”

From Gayle Carson:

“You can start a frequent dining program and when they have
ordered X many times or spent X number of dollars, they get a
pizza free. Or, you can have them join a club where they pay you
a certain amount every month and they get to eat pizza for free
that month. Another pizza store I know has a continuity program
and they never lack for business.”

From Diana:

“Name certain pizzas (or create sandwiches) for local town
celebs–mayor, high school principals, media anchors, newspaper
reporters, etc. and put them on your menu. Then let the celebs
know and invite them in to try it. People love to frequent
restaurants with items named in their honor.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this “Help This Hound” question at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6959 and then check out my own tips
that I shared with http://www.RestaurantReport.com when I was a
guest on their teleseminar called “Publicity Tips for
Restaurants, Chefs & Foodies” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/restaurants.htm

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

======================================
5. Authors, Last Call for Tips
======================================

You have 72 hours to download the webinar that I recorded with
publishing and marketing mentor John Eggen on how to ?Write a
Client-Attracting Book Fast That Makes $150,000 Even Before It?s
Published? (and more thereafter).

He explained exactly how many weeks you should spend writing,
editing, designing, printing and shipping your book. While some
authors exceed his 90-day window for producing a book, they still
complete the task in far less time than it takes many other
authors who labor for years over their books. Don’t make this an
exhausting task.

I recorded the call and you can listen to it, including the
killer question-and-answer session, at http://tinyurl.com/25blcta

There?s a valuable free gift (a $265.00 value) offered to
attendees during the interview, but it will only be honored until
Saturday, and then John is taking down the page. Get it now
before it’s gone at http://tinyurl.com/25blcta

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

This isn’t a joke, but I thought you’d like it. I found this in
an old issue of My Midwest, the inflight magazine of Midwest
Airlines, which has been bought by Frontier Airlines.

To make it easy for people to travel with their dogs, Loews
Hotels has introduced “learning vacations” for your favorite
pooch at three of its hotels.

At “The Hound of Music” at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville,
your dog can head into the recording studio with a voice coach
for a professional recording session where it will howl along
with a musician or bark to its favorite karaoke beat.

If you’re targeting your publicity at an upscale, well-educated
audience, in-flight magazines might be the perfect vehicle for
your story. “Fly High with Publicity in the In-flight Magazines”
saves you hours of research with pitching tips galore and contact
information for 56 inflight magazines. Read more about the report
at http://www.InflightMagazinePublicity.com

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

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

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

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

Great fodder for retweeting:

If you MUST stage a groundbreaking event, try this
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6968

5 ways to be included on other people’s Twitter lists
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6984

——————————————-

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 #516 Aug. 3, 2010
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. Create Twitter Lists

2. New Media Leads Service

3. Secrets of Publicity Superstars

4. Subject Lines That Scream “Open!”

5. How to Promote Wardrobe Workshops

6. Authors, Save the Date

7. Dog Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Create Twitter Lists
=====================================

If you’re active on Twitter, you’ve probably seen at least one
reference on your own profile page to Twitter lists.

They’re a powerful way to categorize Twitter users according to
their area of expertise, or the topics of their tweets and then,
once the list is created, let anyone see it. They save valuable
time because when you create a list, every tweet from every
person on that list feeds into that particular list. You don’t
have to drink from a firehose on Twitter to be able to find the
tweets from people who have a particular expertise.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that that’s the only way to use
Twitter lists. They’re powerful tools that can help you do
valuable research, track down experts in a particular niche, find
people in your target market, spy on your competitors, find
journalists who cover your industry, and so much more.

They’re also an excellent way to determine how other people
perceive your expertise and your brand. Here’s what I mean.

Go to your Twitter Home or Profile page and look under your photo
on the upper right side. You’ll see the number of people you’re
following, the number of people who are following you, and the
number of lists you’re on. Click on “Listed.”

Instantly, you can look down the list and see which Twitter users
have put you on one of their lists, and you can see the names of
their lists. For example, I’m on 644 Twitter lists. When I click
on “Listed,” a window opens and I can see that many of the lists
include the words “PR,” “publicity” and “social media.”

I can also see I’m on lists called “best-resources-4-authors,”
“inspiring-quotes” and “futuristic-entrepreneurs.”

If you aren’t on many lists, or you haven’t created your own
lists yet, that’s OK. I’m hosting a teleseminar at 3 p.m. Eastern
Time on Thursday, Aug. 26, called “How to Use Twitter Lists &
Directories?to Generate Publicity and Build Your Brand.” If the
time is inconvenient for you, sign up anyway because I’m
recording it. You’ll get a link where you can watch the streaming
video, or download the video. Read more about what you’ll be able
to do with Twitter lists and directories at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitterlists.htm

======================================
2. New Media Leads Service
======================================

There’s a new media leads service similar to HARO, PRLeads,
Reporter Connection and PitchRate.

It’s called NewsBasis. Darryl Siry, a freelance writer and
marketing executive, created it.

It’s similar to the four services mentioned above, because it
matches journalists with sources. You can also build a public
profile.

NewsBasis gives you the ability to upload articles to the site,
which can be found by journalists. There’s also a cool feature
that lets you embed your point of view into an article at the
site, and also point out inaccurate information.

Watch the short video that gives you an overview of the service
at http://newsbasis.com/#overview

=====================================
3. Secrets of Publicity Superstars
=====================================

In almost every field, there are people who seem to attract
publicity like magnets.

Journalists love them, and they appear regularly on radio and TV
shows.

They not only know how to get a ton of free coverage, but also
how to profit from the coverage in the form of increased sales,
name recognition, speaking engagements and more.

To discover how these “publicity superstars” do it and how you,
too, can use their strategies, join Steve Harrison this Thursday,
August 5, for a free webinar (or teleseminar if you prefer) at
http://www.freepublicity.com/superstars/?10011

It’s part of a series of free teleseminars he’s hosting to
promote the National Publicity Summit, Oct. 20-23 in New York
City, where 100 pre-qualified Publicity Hounds will be able to
meet dozens of journalists and broadcasters face-to-face and
deliver a pitch. I’m promoting the summit as an affiliate,
because I’ve received great feedback from people whose topics
were a perfect fit for the summit. If your topic is better suited
to trade publications, or niche publications, you won’t be
accepted.

Register for the teleseminar at
http://www.freepublicity.com/superstars/?10011 or apply to attend
the summit at http://www.nationalpublicitysummit.com/apply/?10011

=====================================
4. Subject Lines That Scream “Open!”
=====================================

Some subscribers missed receiving this item last week, because of
a dumb mistake I made. So here it is. If you already read it,
it’s worth a second read:

Here’s some really bad advice that the so-called PR experts
dispense: Your email pitches to journalists and bloggers should
be as short as possible. No more than three or four words.

Why is it bad advice? Because it forces people to make their
subject lines sound cute rather than informative.

Publicist Michelle Tennant, a master at booking her clients on
top-tier TV and radio shows, often uses as many words as
necessary in her subject lines so they scream, “Open me!”

And wow, do journalists ever open them!

During last week’s webinar on “How to Tie Your Pitch to Breaking
News and Make the Media Interview YOU,” Michelle dissected three
email pitches that scored publicity in major media outlets. All
three had the critical elements of an email pitch and made the
journalist’s job incredibly easy. You can adopt them for your own
use.

News is breaking all around you–and that’s the very best time to
pitch. I recorded the webinar and you can watch it at your
computer, or download it along with the MP3 file, the handouts
and Michelle’s sample email pitches. Read more about what she
taught at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/breakingnews.htm

======================================
5. How to Promote Wardrobe Workshops
======================================

This week, six Publicity Hounds have tips for Cathy Berger of
Roslyn, NY, who asked for quick, creative ways she can market
workshops that show women how to dress according to their body
type.

From Bob Shultz:

“Have you marketed your plan to area health clubs and fitness
centers that focus on women who want to look and feel better?
Also, weight loss centers such as Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers
may be interested.”

From Rekaya:

“Narrow your target audience. For example, for the ‘6 Steps for
Fashionably Fitting the Voluptuous Woman,’ create flyers and
distribute them to plus-sized stores in the area. Your current
target audience could work if you use social media. Try catching
their attention with buzzwords such as ‘Fashion Trends in the
Workplace,’ ‘What to Wear to an Interview with Your Body Type,’
and ‘Dressing for Less.’”

From Marcia Yudkin:

“You can get much better attendance if you narrow your topic.
Women who know they have an hourglass figure (for example) would
much rather pay to attend a workshop where they know all the
content pertains to them than to pay for and sit through a
workshop where only a percentage of the content pertains to
them.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
at
http://publicityhound.net/dress-better-workshops-for-women-need-
publicity-ideas/

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

=====================================
6. Authors, Save the Date
=====================================

If you’re writing a book or thinking of writing one, you won’t
want to miss my teleseminar on how to “Write a Client-Attracting
Book Fast that Makes Up to $150,000 Before It’s Published” at 8
p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

My guest, John Eggen, a publishing and marketing mentor, has an
impressive string of success stories from authors who made big
bucks from their books, attracted clients, and received
consulting assignments long before their books hit the
bookstores.

Sign-up information should be ready for you next week.

=====================================
7. Dog Quote of the Week
=====================================

“My dog, she looks at me sometimes with that look, and I think
maybe deep down inside she must know exactly how I feel. But then
maybe she just wants the food off my plate.” –Unknown

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

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

====================================
8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
====================================

Great retweets:

How to build a strong brand so competitors can’t define you
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6806

Guest post:
Everything you do online–good or bad–is publicity
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6789

7 ways blogging makes you and your employees smarter
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6776

Show website visitors how to find you at social media sites
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/?p=432

——————————————-

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 #514 July 20, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. A Poop-Free Zone

2. How to Follow Up

3. Five Social Media Tactics

4. Your Survey Questions Answered

5. Back-to-School Stories

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. A Poop-Free Zone
=====================================

When employees of an ad agency in Roanoke, Va., became annoyed
with local dog owners whose pets were pooping on the sidewalk
outside the agency’s offices, they fought back with a clever
publicity stunt.

The Becher Agency posted signs outside its building declaring the
area on Warehow Row a poop-free zone. They even created a special
Facebook Fan Page called “A Partnership for a Poop-Free
Workplace” at
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Partnership-for-a-Poop-Free-
Workplace/129321853770020?ref=ts

And they proved themselves true Publicity Hounds when they called
Dan Casey, Metro columnist for the Roanoke Times, to let him know
about the campaign. Brilliant!

Thanks to Publicity Hound Brett LaGue of Roanoke for tipping us
off to this one. You can read Dan’s column about it at
http://www.roanoke.com/columnists/casey/wb/253427

The next time you’re thinking about a publicity stunt, remember
this. And consider all the ways you can use a Facebook Fan Page.
See “11 Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on Facebook” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/how_to_use_facebook.htm

Note: We’ve updated the handouts for the third time since this
teleseminar was presented, to reflect all the new changes on
Facebook.

======================================
2. How to Follow Up
======================================

Five annoying things you should never do when following up with a
journalist or blogger who doesn’t reply to your pitch:

–Emailing and asking, “Did you get my email?”

–Calling and leaving a voicemail message reminding them that
they haven’t replied to your pitch.

–Emailing the same pitch with an obnoxious reminder in the
subject line that says something like “Second attempt to contact
you.”

–Any type of message that berates the recipient for not
replying.

–Stopping by the magazine or newspaper office unannounced and
asking the receptionist to call the reporter to the front desk to
meet you so you can pitch in person. (Yes, clods actually do
this.)

The best publicists know all kinds of sneaky ways to follow up
without making it look like they’re following up. Publicist
Michelle Tennant of Wasabi Publicity does this better than
anybody I know. She has a particularly clever strategy of
following up when news is breaking and she’s trying to place one
of her clients on a TV news or talk show to comment on the news
event.

Michelle will share that tip and others when she’s my guest on
“How to Tie Your Story Idea to Breaking News and Make the Media
Interview YOU,” a webinar at 3 p.m. Eastern Time tomorrow, July
21.

Your email pitches will be a lot easier if you follow Michelle’s
lead and pattern your pitches after hers. The handouts will
include two email pitches she used successfully to land her
clients fabulous publicity.

Get a taste of the type of tips she’ll be discussing, and
register for the session, at http://publicityhound.net/?p=6699

If the time is inconvenient, register anyway and you’ll get a
link where you can watch the video replay.

=====================================
3. Five Social Media Tactics
=====================================

If you missed my email yesterday, this is a reminder that today’s
free webinar with social media expert Don Crowther is at 3 p.m.
Eastern Time.

He’ll share 5 social media tactics that will help you make more
money than friends on social media sites. I promise your time
will be well spent.

Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/250760784

=====================================
4. Your Survey Questions Answered
=====================================

Taking a survey on a burning hot topic and reporting the results
is one of the best ways to generate publicity. The more
controversial, the better.

But if you don’t have the time to take a survey, the next best
thing is to piggyback onto one that’s already been taken, and
offer your commentary.

Really smart Publicity Hounds do both. My partner, Jeanne
Hurlbert, a survey expert, will answer all your questions about
surveys when she hosts a free Q&A coaching call from 3 to 4 p.m.
Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 21. Come with as many questions
as you can think of and Jeanne will get you off to a great start.

Register at http://mixiv.com/vp/47965/18826

======================================
5. Back-to-School Stories
======================================

This is the time to pitch back-to-school stories to bloggers,
newspapers, TV stations, and magazines with short lead times.

Tie your expertise to topics like drugs and binge drinking, how
to decorate dorms, eating on a budget, bullying, discipline in
the classroom, mobile phones and texting in class, preparing for
the job market, staying fit, and good study habits.

If you do PR for a school, college or university, you should be
in high gear right now, laying the groundwork for working with
local and national media throughout the new school year, from
lining up campus experts to educating your faculty and staff
about how the media game is played. See “Special Report #15:
Publicity Tips for Schools, Colleges and Universities” at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html

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

“I named my dog Stay so I can say ‘Come here, Stay. Come here,
Stay.” — Steven Wright

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

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

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

Consider retweeting:

Commenting at blogs? Mention your expertise
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6721

6 ways to tie your pitch to breaking news for PR, publicity
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6699

——————————————-

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 #512 July 6, 2010
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. Fast Company Wants Your Photo

2. Piggyback onto the Heat Wave

3. Start Your Online TV Show Quickly

4. Create a Memorable Tagline

5. Bad Advice on Press Releases

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

Fast Company magazine wants to include your photo in the
November 2010 issue, as part of a neat project it calls the
“2010 Most Influential People.”

This is a terrific chance to generate publicity from a magazine
with a circulation of more than 538,000, as well as knowing how
influential you really are.

Go here now to get a unique URL which you can then share with
your followers via email, at your website and blog, and on the
social media sites, but please be patient because their server is
getting huge amounts of traffic: http://fcinf.com/v/a3sr

It took me only a few minutes to sign up and upload my photo.

I’ll look for you in the November issue!

Go to http://fcinf.com/v/a3sr

P.S. You can track how your influence has grown and where you
stand at any time on the site.  You’ll also get a welcome message
from Fast Company telling you that your photo will be in the
November issue.

Today is expected to be one of the hottest days of the year in
the U.S., with temperatures expected to break 100 degrees along
the East Coast.

–If you’re sponsoring an outdoors event, are you providing
special “cooling centers” where guests can cool off?

–Call the meteorologists at your local TV stations, and local
reporters who are covering the weather, and let them know what
your company is doing to cope with the heat, from loosening
policies on workplace attire to handing out free bottled water.

–Vets, dog obedience schools and other businesses that sell
products or services for pets should pitch tips about keeping
pets safe in the heat. Should you walk your dog when it’s 100
degrees?

The media, by the way, HATE covering the weather. The more
helpful you can be, the greater your chance for publicity.

You’ll find dozens more ideas in “Special Report #37: How to Tie

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

Three reasons why video is such a powerful way to pull traffic to
your website:

–70 percent of web surfers watch video online

Using online video, such as creating your own online TV show, is
one of the very best ways to generate exposure for your book,
product, cause or issue. It can help you get high rankings in
Google and Yahoo for your keywords. You can also use video to
build an email list.

To discover how to get started marketing with video–without
being a techie–join Steve Harrison on Thursday, July 8, for a
free webinar (or teleseminar if you can’t be near a computer).

He will be interviewing Mike Koenigs, an online video expert.

You’ll learn the system Mike uses to get him and others ranked as
#1, #2 and #3 on Google and Yahoo for particular keyword phrases.

You’ll also learn how to start your own online TV show quickly.

Register at http://www.TrafficExplosionWebinar.com/?10011

How compelling is the tagline for your business or nonprofit?

If you need inspiration, check out the 2010 Tagline Contest for
Nonprofits, sponsored by Nancy Schwartz, an expert in nonprofit
marketing.

Nothing But Nets:
Send a net. Save a life.

Homeboy Industries:
Nothing Stops A Bullet Like A Job

NYC Theatre Spaces:
Where Actors Find Their Space

Read about more of my favorites, and how to enter your tagline,
at
http://publicityhound.net/need-a-great-tagline-learn-from-
nonprofits-taggies-contest/

So-called press release experts, bloggers and others who dispense
information on PR and publicity often give this very bad advice:

That’s how it was 20 years ago when we wrote releases primarily
for the media. But today, we can write press releases and upload
them to our websites and press release distribution sites to pull
traffic, and drive that traffic to a landing page.

Instead of asking, “Is it news?” before you write, you should be
asking, “What keywords or keyword phrases do people type into
Google when looking for the kinds of products and services I
sell?” Use up to three keywords or keyword phrases within the
release.

Read more about how to make your press releases traffic magnets
at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/keywords_in_press_releases.htm

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

Moderate comments at your blog using these 7 tips
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/moderate-comments-at-your-
blog-using-these-7-tips/

Need a clever tagline? Learn from nonprofits “Taggies” contest
http://publicityhound.net/need-a-great-tagline-learn-from-
nonprofits-taggies-contest/

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.

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #510 June 22, 2010
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/

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

ADV:
Why agonize when you can energize & italicize
your bio with ‘Bio Whisperer’ Nancy Juetten’s
expert help?
http://www.mainstreetmediasavvy.com/rent-a-brain

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

1. The Stealth Interview

2. Blog Effortlessly on Vacation

3. The Power of Guest Blogging

4. Sneak Your URL into Media Stories

5. Read In-flight Magazines Online

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

====================================
1. The Stealth Interview
====================================

You’re reading USA Today and you see yourself quoted in an
article.

Problem is, you never talked the reporter who wrote it, or any
other reporter for that newspaper. In fact, you never remember
anyone interviewing you on that topic.

Welcome to what blogger BJ Ochman calls The Stealth Interview. It
happens when a journalist, freelancer or blogger lifts quotes or
other material from you that they find online, and attribute it
to you. That material can include:

–A tweet.

–A status update on Facebook.

–Comments you made at someone else’s blog.

–A LinkedIn question you answered, or a discussion in which you
participated.

–Material from an email newsletter, yours or someone else’s,
that’s archived online.

–Quotes taken from a podcast you hosted, or one in which you
appeared as a guest expert.

–An email you sent to someone.

–Anything you’ve said in an online forum.

In her blog post on this topic at
http://www.whatsnextblog.com/archives/2010/05/the_stealth_intervi
ew_yet_another_reason_to_think_before_you_hit_submit.asp, BL
writes: “You will definitely be quoted out of context in a
Stealth Interview because there is no context. The interview
never happened. But you’re quoted nonetheless, and you did make
the statement. You just didn’t think you were saying it to a
reporter.”

It’s another reason, she says, to think before you hit “Submit.”

BL, a prolific blogger and social media expert, explains how she
juggles it all in the teleseminar I hosted on “How to do Social
Networking, Run a Business and Still Have a Life.”  Learn more
about you can juggle it all, too, at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/socialnetworking.htm

======================================
2. Blog Effortlessly on Vacation
======================================

If you’re planning a vacation this year, you don’t have to hustle
like a lot of other bloggers do and crank out lots of content for
your blog, and then schedule it to appear when you’re gone.

Do what I do. Recruit a guest blogger, or several, to write for
you.

You can also use guest bloggers when you’re knee-deep in a major
project that eats up all your time, on the long July 4 weekend,
during the last two weeks of the year when you’re busy with the
holidays, or when you’re just plain sick of writing for your own
blog. (C’mon, admit it. We all get that way sometimes.)

But where do find guest bloggers? How do you work with them to
make everything go smoothly? And what happens if they submit a
post that has material you object to?

How do you find guest bloggers and know if they’re any good
before you commit to publishing their content?  Why do some
bloggers reject duplicate content like last week?s leftovers, and
should you?  How much liberty can you take editing someone else?s
copy?  And what if you disagree vehemently with the opinions of a
guest-blogger?

I’ll give you those answers and show you how to let guest
bloggers do some of the heavy lifting for you, when I host a
webinar at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, June 30.  Join me
for “How to Find Valuable Guest Bloggers (and Be One Too!).”
Register at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/guestblogging.htm

If the time is inconvenient, sign up anyway.  You’ll get the link
afterward where you can watch the video.

=====================================
3. The Power of Guest Blogging
=====================================

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 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,” she said.

In fact, at the National Speakers Association convention a few
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 24, 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).

=====================================
4. Sneak Your URL into Media Stories
=====================================

When a reporter is interviewing you, on of the worst questions
you can ask is, “Can you please be sure to print my website
address in your article?”

You must give her a good reason to include it. Here are five
ways:

–Instead of identifying your company by its correct name, The
Widget Company, tell her it’s TheWidgetCompany.com.

–Offer a free download at your website.

–Offer a quiz or poll at your website.

–Offer a free cheat sheet on how to (fill in the blank).

–Share with her five tips on how to solve a problem that’s
related to the interview. Tell her that readers can find 15 more
tips on that topic in an article at your website, and give her
the URL.

I shared dozens more tips like that during the webinar “How to
REALLY Use Publicity as an Online Marketing Channel and ZIG When
Everyone Else is ZAGGING.” Regardless of what you’re selling,
you’ll trounce the competition when you start adopting killer
strategies that few other Publicity Hounds are using.  Read more
about it at http://www.PublicityHound.com/onlinepublicitytips.htm

======================================
5. Read In-flight Magazines Online
======================================

In the old days, if you wanted to read an in-flight magazine,
you’d have to pester a friend who was traveling by air to bring
the magazine with him and then snail-mail it to you.

No more.

Most in-flight magazines now have an online archives where you
can page through each edition. Not only that, but some of the
bigger magazines even let you sign up for a free subscription. As
soon as a new issue is published, the airline will email it to
you.

So what do you do if you’re reading it and you suddenly want to
pitch one of the writers or an editor? The magazines,
unfortunately, don’t tell you how to do that.

But I do. The 2010 update of “Fly High with Publicity in the In-
flight Magazines” includes contact information and pitching tips
for 56 magazines. We’ve even included something you won’t find in
any of the other media directories: links to the journalists’
blogs and social media profiles on Twitter, Facebook and
LinkedIn. We’ve even included links to the in-flight magazines’
Facebook fan pages.

The database includes a very cool interview with Orion Ray-Jones,
the editorial director for Ink Publishing, which publishes more
than 30 in-flight magazines in the database. You’ll get both the
MP3 download and the electronic transcript.

Read more about what you’ll know how to do when you read my new
report:
http://www.InflightMagazinePublicity.com

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

Thanks to Darlene Arden of Framingham, Massachusetts for this
one.

A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest town he
planned to visit on his vacation.  He wrote:

Dear Hotel,

I would very much like to bring my dog with me.  He is well-
groomed and very well-behaved.  Would you be willing to permit me
to keep him in my room with me at night?

An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who said, “I’ve
been operating this hotel for many years.  In all that time, I’ve
never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware or pictures
off the walls.  I’ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of
the night for being drunk and disorderly.  And I’ve never had a
dog run out on a hotel bill.  Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at
my hotel.  And, if your dog will vouch for you, you’re welcome to
stay here, too.”

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

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

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

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

Consider retweeting:

How to find journalists online and wow ‘em with your pitch
http://publicityhound.net/how-to-find-journalists-online-and-wow-
em-with-your-pitch/

Definitions of advertising, publicity, promotion and PR:
http://publicityhound.net/definitions-of-advertising-promotion-
publicity-and-pr/

——————————————-

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 #508 June 8, 2010
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 Catch CNN’s Attention

2. Add Facebook’s ‘Like’ Button

3. Still Not Done Writing Your Book?

4. Promoting a Course for Execs

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

====================================
1. How to Catch CNN’s Attention
====================================

If you’ve been pitching CNN and you’re getting nowhere, take
matters into your own hands.

Go to the network’s IReport page at http://www.ireport.com/ where
you’re invited to write your own story, be heard and shape what
CNN covers.

“One of the goals of CNN IReport is to expand the current
definition of news. Please share the stories you think are
newsworthy and participate in discussions you think are
interesting. CNN’s producers will check out the most compelling,
important and urgent stories, so we can verify the information
and add them to CNN’s coverage.”

The stories in this section are not edited, fact-checked or
screened before they post. Only ones marked “CNN IReport” have
been vetted by CNN.

But if you can pique the network’s interest here, where you KNOW
they’re paying attention, you might end up on the televised news.
Be sure to stop by the assignment desk at
http://www.ireport.com/community/assignment so you know exactly
what kinds of sources they’re seeking. Your IReport article
doesn’t have to tie into one of the assignments, but it helps to
know what they need.

If you’re content with being on the news in your own community,
increase your chances. Check out the teleseminar I hosted with TV
producer Shawne Duperon on “How to Get on the Local TV News
Tomorrow” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/getinthenews.htm

======================================
2. Add Facebook’s ‘Like’ Button
======================================

Make it easy for people to spread the word about your website,
blog articles and other online content.

Add Facebook’s “Like” button to those pages.

The button lets users share content with their friends on
Facebook with just one click. Since the content is hosted by
Facebook, the button can display personalized content whether or
not the user has logged into your site. For logged-in Facebook
users, the button is personalized to highlight friends who have
also “liked” the page.

If you aren’t tech-savvy, let your webmaster insert the button
for you by following instructions here:
http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/like

Then make sure you’re taking advantage of the power of Facebook.
See “11 Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on Facebook” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/how_to_use_facebook.htm

=====================================
3. Still Not Done Writing Your Book?
=====================================

Is it taking you longer to write your book than you ever
expected…a lot longer?

Is watching the whole thing come together like watching grass
grow?

If so, you’re invited to a free telephone seminar on Thursday,
June 10, with Ann McIndoo, who has developed a unique system for
writing a quality non-fiction book in 90 days! I’m a compensated
affiliate for this program.

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

=====================================
4. Promoting a Course for Execs
=====================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have tips for Anne Graham of
Vancouver, British Columbia who needs help launching a new
product,a toolkit for executives on how to survive and thrive
during the recession.

From Eric Gruber:

“Do article marketing. Target top websites and ezines. For
example, FastCompany.com (they have member blogs), CEO Refresher
and hundreds more.”

From Flo Selfman:

“Send the information to Karen E. Klein, a leading business
journalist who writes the InBox column every week in the Los
Angeles Times Business section.  Karen could use you and your
product to answer a reader’s question.  Reach her at
http://www.kareneklein.com/”

From The Publicity Hound:

Video, video and more video!

Create short videos of no more than two and a half minutes packed
with tips in a specific sub-category within your course or your
ebook.

Each video should include the landing page URL where people can
opt into the ebook.

The more videos you create, the more keywords, or tags, you can
use.  All those keywords and videos will be pulling in traffic
from the search engines.

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound question,
or join the discussion, at
http://publicityhound.net/consultant-needs-help-launching-new-
product-for-business-leaders/

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

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

Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. & Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D of Los Angeles,
Calif. write:

“We are family relationship experts who have developed an ebook,
‘Courage and Lessons Learned.’ It’s full of practical tips that
help you take the first steps toward a new goal–running a 5K,
starting your own business, reconnecting with an old friend. By
logging on to our blog at
http://www.nourishingrelationships.blogspot.com/, you can join the
email list and download a complimentary ebook, in PDF format.

“We’re looking for some creative ways to let bloggers and
organizations know about this free ebook. We already have an auto
responder on our blog and website at
http://www.hermentorcenter.com/  But a broader reach would help us
spread the word.”

The Publicity Hound says:

One of the first things you should do is get your blog off of
Blogspot’s server and onto another server where you have complete
control over it. I learned this the hard way. With no warning,
Blogspot denied me access to my ezine archives, and I never
learned why. Luckily, I backed up the archives and was able to
import almost all of it into a Wordpress blog at
http://www.publicityarticles.net/ where it’s now safe.

Hounds with other tips on how to promote your ebook can post them
to my regular blog at
http://publicityhound.net/family-relationship-experts-need-tips-
for-promoting-free-ebook/. What are some ways that Rosemary and
Phyllis can tie into breaking news events?

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

Dogs are better than kids. They eat less, don’t ask for money all
the time, are trained, usually come when called, never drive your
car, don’t hang out with drug-using friends, don’t smoke or
drink, don’t worry about whether they have the latest fashions,
don’t wear your clothes and don’t need a gazillion dollars for
college.

And if they get pregnant, you can sell the pups.
DOG JOKES & QUOTES EBOOK: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

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

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

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

Consider retweeting:

New to publicity? Here’s a free 6-part email course
http://publicityhound.net/new-to-publicity-heres-a-free-6-part-
email-course/

Think social media is a fad? I dare you to watch this video
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/think-social-media-is-a-fad-
i-dare-you-to-watch-this-video/

Online visibility: 13 ways to build a following
http://publicityhound.net/online-visibility-13-ways-to-build-a-
following/

2 ways to use controversy: At your blog and in a poll
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/2-ways-to-use-controversy-
at-your-blog-and-in-a-poll/

Need an expert? Look at one of the article directory sites
http://publicityhound.net/need-an-expert-look-at-one-of-the-
article-directory-sites/

——————————————-

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 #505 May 18, 2010
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. Why You Shouldn’t Quit Facebook

2. Questions the Media Love

3. How Survey Publicity Snowballs

4. Story Ideas for June

5. Hound Joke of the Week

6. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

====================================
1. Why You Shouldn’t Quit Facebook
====================================

A lot of angry Facebook users are abandoning the site and urging
their friends to bolt, too, because of its confusing privacy
policies.

You have to navigate through 50 settings with more than 170
options. By default, Facebook can share your profile information
with third-party sites, and if you don’t want that, you have to
opt out. Many users think that’s deceptive and that it should be
the other way around.

I won’t abandon Facebook, where I’ve managed to attract more than
5,000 friends and fans–at least not yet.

With enough pressure, Facebook might alter its policy and reach
some kind of compromise that won’t necessarily placate users, but
will at least encourage them to refrain from jumping ship.

Already, the marketplace is stepping in. ConnectInPrivate.com,
developer of a comprehensive suite of anonymous surfing and
Internet privacy tools, will soon announce the launch of its new
“Secure My Profile” application for Facebook.

Hang in there a little while longer and let’s see how this plays
out. In the meantime, check out this two-minute video that
explains how to adjust your privacy settings:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/13/facebook-privacy-
settings_n_575732.html

Now, use the site to its greatest advantage. See “11 Ways to
Avoid Missed Opportunities on Facebook” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/how_to_use_facebook.htm

====================================
2. Questions the Media Love
====================================

The next time a journalist interviews you, or a blogger is
interested in an idea you’re pitching, ask this question: “Do you
need other sources?”

They love that question. It shows you’re trying to make their job
easy and you don’t want to hog the media spotlight.  If you can
provide a name, email address and phone number for an expert or
source who you know would agree to be interviewed, you’ll
position yourself as helpful.

After 22 years working at newspapers, I can tell you that almost
NOBODY asks that.

Here’s another question that people almost never ask: “Are you
looking for photo ideas?”

Those two questions are among 10 magic phrases to use with the
media. I’ll explain all of them when I present the 90-minute
webinar, “How to REALLY Use Publicity as an Online Marketing
Channel and ZIG When Everyone Else is ZAGGING,” from 1:30 to 3
p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, May 19.

This session is perfect for beginner and intermediate self-
promoters. I presented it a few weeks ago to Stompernet, the
association of Internet marketers, to rave reviews.

Come with your questions and I’ll answer them all, either during
or after the call.

I’ll also explain the missing link–how to create relationships
with journalists and bloggers.  And I’ll share my favorite free
tools that help you know instantly which journalists need other
sources in addition to your expertise, and how to contact them.

The session will be recorded, and you can watch the video replay
after the call.

Register at http://www.PublicityHound.com/onlinepublicitytips.htm

=====================================
3. How Survey Publicity Snowballs
=====================================

Two weeks ago, I wrote about Brian Kluth, a former church pastor
who takes an annual “State of the Plate” survey that reports on
whether people are donating more or less money to their churches.

More than 160 media outlets covered the results of his most
recent survey.

Jeanne Hurlbert, my business partner who is an expert on surveys,
interviewed Brian. He explained how he got an initial story on
the front page of the Washington Times, how it snowballed from
there, the simple way he found names of religion editors, and how
he partnered with Christianity Today magazine.

This is great stuff for anybody who wants to use inexpensive
surveys to position themselves as experts, call attention to
emerging trends and build strong relationships with the media.

The best part is that Brian now has names and contact information
for 160 journalists and broadcasters who are interested in his
topic.

Jeanne is offering the free download of the half-hour interview
at http://mixiv.com/vp/47965/18826 How about sharing it with your
Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn friends?

======================================
4. Story Ideas for June
======================================

Here are five story ideas worth pitching during June:

–Speakers, authors and experts: Do you have advice for college
graduates? Offer tips on careers, finances and relationships.

–What about advice for newlyweds? Mortgage lenders, marriage
counselors and professional organizers, offer your best tips for
getting started on the right foot.

–Gardening is booming. How can people use small spaces to grow
veggies and save on grocery bills?

–What kind of summer clothing is unacceptable in the workplace?
Image consultants and HR experts, share your horror stories.

–Tell people how to save on summer travel. Share tips on saving
gasoline, buying cheap airline tickets and finding inexpensive
lodging.
Now, look ahead and start thinking about ideas you can pitch in
July and beyond. Shawne Duperon and I can help. We recorded the
teleseminar I hosted on “103 Sizzling Story Ideas from July
through December.” It includes a handout listing all of our
ideas, which we invite you to steal. Learn more at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/JulyIdeas.htm

=====================================
5. Hound Joke of the Week
=====================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Maria Antonia for pointing out this
excerpt from the book “Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and
Light” that explains how Hitchcock directed Sean Connery on the
set of Marnie:

“Every once in a while the director did venture minor
‘adjustments and suggestions’ (Connery’s words) in the rhythm of
scenes–which, according to one Connery biographer, largely
consisted of advising the actor to shut his mouth while listening
for his cues, and inserting ‘dog’s feet’ into his lengthier
speeches.

“Dog’s feet?” asked a mystified Connery.

“Pawses,” Hitchcock drawled.

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/

====================================
6. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
====================================

Consider retweeting:
Calculate the value of your Facebook Fan Page
http://publicityhound.net/calculate-the-value-of-your-facebook-
fan-page/

Fiction authors: Blog about these 19 topics
http://publicityhound.net/fiction-authors-blog-about-these-19-
topics/

9 ways chambers of commerce can use social media
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/9-ways-chambers-of-commerce-
can-use-social-media/

———————————————

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 #504 May 11, 2010
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. No More ‘Spray and Pray’

2. Why You Need a .info Website

3. 100 Retweet Targets

4. Associated Press Stylebook

5. Promoting an Ebook

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

====================================
1. No More ‘Spray and Pray’
====================================

When you have something to promote, do you spray the landscape
with press releases and then, pray that someone pays attention?

That’s what most people do because it’s easy.

But the “spray and pray” technique seldom works. When you send a
press release or pitch to a journalist or blogger, your goal
should be to make the recipient read it and say, “this is PERFECT
for my audience.”

That might mean writing different versions of the same press
release. It definitely means crafting customized pitches for all
your targeted media. And really smart Publicity Hounds take the
extra step of researching journalists and bloggers BEFORE they
pitch.

Time consuming? Yes.

Effective? Very.

I’ll share lots of smart strategies for researching journalists
and supercharging your online PR efforts when I present the 90-
minute webinar, “How to REALLY Use Publicity as an Online
Marketing Channel and ZIG When Everyone Else is ZAGGING,” from
1:30 to 3 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, May 19. This session is
perfect for beginner and intermediate self-promoters. I presented
it a few weeks ago to Stompernet, the association of Internet
marketers, to rave reviews. Come with your questions and I’ll
answer them all, either during or after the call.

I’ll also explain the missing link–how to create relationships
with journalists and bloggers–and share my favorite free tools
that help you save time. The session will be recorded, and you
can watch the video replay after the call.

Register at http://snipurl.com/onlinepublicitytips

====================================
2. Why You Need a .info Website
====================================

If you’re creating a mobile website with a .mobi extension, like
PublicityHound.mobi, don’t forget to create your .info site.

It’s impossible to know where people are when they’re looking for
your website. Are they in front of their computers or on their
mobile phones? If it’s the latter, you don’t want to force them
to navigate your clunky PC site on a teeny-tiny screen.

I send them to http://www.PublicityHound.info  When visitors
arrive, they can click on “My PC Site” at
http://www.PublicityHound.com or “My Mobile Site” at
http://www.PublicityHound.mobi

Use your .info URL at social media sites, where 60 percent of all
activities are conducted on mobile phones. Also print it on
signs, receipts, packaging, advertising, stationery and your
business cards.

=====================================
3. 100 Retweet Targets
=====================================

If you’re looking for great content to retweet, and you want
others to retweet your own content, check out this list of “100
Retweet Targets for Web Professionals,” courtesy of Website
Magazine: http://snipurl.com/100retweettargets

They did a little research and chose the top 10 Twitterers in 10
web-related categories, including PR (I’m on the list).

“This list is in no way scientific and it is not all based on the
account’s number of Twitter followers,” the magazine says. “In
some cases, the account’s willingness to retweet has been weighed
along with total followers. We cannot guarantee that each account
is an expert in the industry, or that they will follow you back–
some will, but some will not. However, even if they don’t follow
you, consider an occasional “@” tweet to get their attention.
Just make sure it’s a quality update that is relevant to their
interests.”

Follow me on twitter at @PublicityHound.

If you’re twittering and not seeing a return on your investment
of time, check out “How to Use Twitter to Amass an Army of
Followers, Customers & Valuable Contacts–-and Promote,” a two-
part teleseminar series I hosted with Twitter expert Warren
Whitlock, at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitter.htm

=====================================
4. Associated Press Stylebook
=====================================

When you’re writing an article, press release, material for your
online media room, your bio, or even a blog post, be sure to have
the Associated Press Stylebook close at hand.

The AP Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, a spiral-bound style
manual produced by the world’s leading news agency, is an
essential handbook for all writers, editors, students and public
relations specialists. It provides fundamental guidelines on
spelling, grammar, punctuation and usage, with special sections
on reporting, business and sports. The 2010 edition is expected
to be available in the next few weeks. Go to
http://www.apstylebook.com

Major style change: The new edition now says the correct style is
website, not Web site.

Let me critique all your articles, press releases, blog posts,
bios and materials in your online pressroom. When you join my
mentor program, I serve as your personal writing coach. See if
you’re a good candidate, and read what others have to say about
the program at
http://www.publicityhound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html

======================================
5. Promoting an Ebook
======================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have tips for Katie Schwartz of
Chattanooga, TN. She wants to know how to promote an ebook for
parents of students about to enter college. It’s called the
Portable Parent and includes advice the students need on life
skills such as time and money management.

From Doug Smith:

“The American School Counselor Association has about 20,000
members. You might promote your ebook through their bookstore or
contact some of their members to review it so that you can use
the comments as a testimonial.”

From Sue Rogers:

“Start with K-12 counselors and parents and get the students
prepared beforehand. Once they start college, there’s too much
other information they’re trying to retain, and trying to get
adjusted to the new surroundings is overwhelming.”

From The Publicity Hound:

I blogged about “26 ways to promote an ebook” at
http://publicityhound.net/promote-an-ebook-26-ways/

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
at
http://publicityhound.net/wanted-tips-to-publicize-ebook-for-
college-students/

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

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

An airline customer service agent got a call from a woman who
wanted to know if she could take her dog on board.

He told her the dog would be welcome, as long as she paid a $50
charge and provided her own kennel. He also explained that the
kennel needed to be large enough for the dog to stand up, sit
down, turn around and roll over.

“I’ll never be able to teach him all that by tomorrow,” she said,
and hung up.

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

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

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

Consider retweeting:

Syndicated columnists need sources; you can be one
http://publicityhound.net/syndicated-columnists-need-sources-you-
can-be-one/

————————————

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 #502 April 27, 2010
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. Create Link Bait

2. Nonprofits, Beware

3. Write a Book Quickly

4. Webinars & Teleseminars

5. Shortcuts for a Harpist

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Cartoon of the Week

8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

====================================
1. Create Link Bait
====================================

If you’re looking for an enticing headline for an article or blog
post that you want to go viral, here’s a handy, free tool that
can help you create link bait.

It’s http://www.linkbaitgenerator.com/. Just type in the subject
of your blog post, note whether it’s singular or plural, hit
“submit,” and it creates a headline. I typed in the word
“publicity” and it suggested these three headlines:

10 ballsy pranks involving publicity that failed miserably

9 crazy ways that publicity is infiltrating pop culture

6 ways Hollywood makes publicity look ridiculous in movies

Not every headline suggestion will work, but keep plugging in
words and you’ll find one that fits.

Compelling headlines are just a small part of generating
interest, and keeping it, at your blog. The blog should be set up
correctly, and include features and plug-ins that will engage
visitors and keep them coming back. Blogging expert Patsi Krakoff
explained how during the teleseminar “Time-saving Tips for Smart
Business Blogging.” It comes with 23 pages of handouts, including
101 ways to find content for your blog. Learn more at
http://budurl.com/blogcontentideas

==================================
2. Nonprofits, Beware
==================================

If a company calling itself GreatAmericaHD calls you with an
“offer” to be featured in a nationally broadcast PBS show
anchored by retired broadcaster Hugh Downs, know what you’re
getting.

Before you sign anything, read this post at The Consumerist blog,
including the New York Times article it links to:
http://snipurl.com/greatamericahd

The company, formerly known as Vision Media Television, charges
upwards of $20,000 in production costs for the show. And whether
the program has a chance of getting onto PBS is questionable. In
fact, the article above also links to a disclaimer that PBS has
on its website. It says it has no affiliation with Vision Media
television and more than 20 other production companies and
programs.

So what’s a publicity alternative to spending big bucks?
Publicist Lissa Warren shows you “How to Get Booked on the
Morning TV Talk Shows.” Learn more at
http://snipurl.com/morningtv

=====================================
3. Write a Book Quickly
=====================================

Don’t make the same mistake many authors make: Devoting three
years of your life writing a book.

If you’re writing a book or thinking of writing one, watch this
video in which Steve Harrison shares 7 tips on how to write a
book quickly: http://ow.ly/1DttE

=====================================
4. Webinars & Teleseminars
=====================================

Thursday, April 29:

–”How Non-Fiction Writers Can Use Social Media to Promote Their
Expertise, Find More Fans & Sell More Books,” 1 Eastern,
featuring Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound. Use the coupon code
“publicityhound” and save 40 percent on registration.
http://nonfictionwritersconference.com/

–”How to Thrive as an Author/Expert in any economy,” featuring
Steve Harrison, 2 or 7 p.m. Eastern. http://ow.ly/1DDCq

Tuesday, May 4:

–”Your Cash-Generating Crystal Ball: How to Use Simple Surveys
to Read Your Prospects’ and Customers’ Minds, Build Lists, Create
Products and Make Money,” featuring Jeanne Hurlbert, PhD, 2 p.m.
Eastern. http://bit.ly/brELc6

–”Words That Work in the Press, Politics & Public Relations,”
featuring word wizard Frank Lutz, sponsored by Bulldog Reporter.
http://ow.ly/1DtxK
Download the replay of “Discover the Secrets to Speaking in the
Recession-Proof College Market” with James Malinchak, or listen
at your computer. Includes 17 most in-demand topics.
http://www.callwithjames.com/call

======================================
5. Shortcuts for a Harpist
======================================

This week, seven Publicity Hounds have tips for Anne Roos of
South Lake Tahoe, CA, a harpist who’s looking for office
shortcuts to save time and her hands.

From Linda Williams:

“Try dividing your day into pods. Plan to work one hour on one of
your topics. Take a 15-minute break to walk, stretch, get a drink
of water and then, go to the next one-hour pod. Make sure you
have everything ready to do the work so you don’t spend your hour
organizing ’stuff.’

From Jason Saeler:

“Spend an hour a week blogging. Just sit down and post your
entries for the entire week. Post date your entries and change
the times so that each day of the week, a new entry is posted.
You’re not even there, but the search engines and your visitors
don’t know that!”

From Lisa Chaffey:

“Great to see you’re making use of a virtual assistant. Sounds
like you just need to learn some of the shortcuts on your
computer to make your life just that little bit easier. I have
some good ones on my blog here:
http://www.inapickle-va.com/articles/time-saving-computer-tips/
Hope you find them useful.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this question at http://ow.ly/1AN3i

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

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

Deborah Avens of Temple Hills, MD writes:

“Virtuous Enterprises, Inc. is a nonprofit devoted to
transforming lives of disadvantaged women and girls in the
Washington, D.C. area through training and development.

“Our programs include training in computer science, engineering
and computer information systems; a 16-week program for women who
want to become entrepreneurs; and a leadership development and
mentoring program for girls in foster care in Maryland.

“How can we promote these programs without a marketing budget?”

The Publicity Hound says:

With so many unemployed people, your question comes at the
perfect time, Deborah. Job training experts, marketing pros and
other creative Hounds read this newsletter, and they’ll post
their best ideas for you at http://ow.ly/1DHuq

=====================================
7. Hound Cartoon of the Week
=====================================

Ever talk to a dog, and it looks at you like you’re nuts? Thanks
to Suzanne Bates for this cartoon at her website that explains
why: http://snipurl.com/dogcartoon

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

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

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

====================================
8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
====================================

Consider retweeting:

Do you thank people for retweeting your content?
http://ow.ly/1DAdD

Facebook traffic nipping at Google’s heels
http://ow.ly/1Dtj0 Learn words for persuasive PR during May 4 teleseminar
http://ow.ly/1DtxK

9 ways authors can use text messages to sell books
http://ow.ly/1DtlH
(Mobile site)

——————————————

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Reprinted from “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,” an ezine
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================================================
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