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 #513 July 13, 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. Make Friends or Make Money?

2. Tie Your Pitch to Breaking News

3. Last Chance to Get Onto for “Oprah”

4. Fatal Email Marketing Mistakes

5. Goodwill’s Donations Calculator

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Make Friends or Make Money?
=====================================

If you’re participating in social media, and you’re not seeing a
return on your investment, it could be because you’re more
concerned about making friends than making money.

People who are seeing huge ROI know their goals. They know what
they want to sell and to whom.

They know the problems and concerns of their target markets. They
know how to promote their expertise. And they spend the majority
of their time writing about those topics at their blogs and other
social media sites.

My friend Don Crowther said too many people are more concerned
about making friends. They participate in idle chitchat that gets
them nowhere. And they make numerous other mistakes at sites like
Facebook and Twitter.

Don has created a series of free videos and a free worksheet that
will help you understand why your social media efforts might not
be working out as well for you as you had hoped.

Take a look:
https://btconsulting.infusionsoft.com/go/social/JoanStewart

Read the more than 170 comments from people who watched the
video. Many of them admitted that the light bulb finally went on.
Will yours?

======================================
2. Pitch Yourself During Breaking News
======================================

When news is breaking and you’re the local angle to a national
story, or you can comment on the hot topic of the day, you can be
sure that TV producers, daily and weekly newspaper reporters and
bloggers will practically be begging to talk to you.

But too many Media Mutts don’t bother picking up the phone or
emailing. They think the media are too busy. Or they don’t know
what to say.

Let’s stop this nonsense. This is the very best time to pitch!

Crackerjack publicist Michelle Tennant, who got one of her
clients booked on “Dr. Phil” the very day the client signed the
PR contract, will show you how it’s done. Michelle, a graduate of
The Publicity Hound Mentor Program, uses very simple email
subject lines, includes three important elements in every pitch,
and moves mountains to make her clients accessible to reporters.

She’ll be my guest during the webinar “How to Tie Your Pitch to
Breaking News and Make the Media Interview YOU” at 3 p.m. Eastern
Time on Wednesday, July 21. She’ll share 7 places to look for
news and she’ll tell you about a free media resource website she
uses, thus saving her thousands of dollars on media directories.
Everyone who registers will receive handouts so you can read the
email pitches she sent to the media–the ones that got her
clients phenomenal publicity.

Register for the webinar at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/breakingnews.htm
even if the time is inconvenient, because you’ll get a link where
you can watch the video afterward.

=====================================
3. Last Chance to Get Onto “Oprah”
=====================================

Faith, fidelity and food are continuing hot topics with Oprah.

Managing our inner life: Our thoughts, feelings and beliefs
fascinate her audience.

Fidelity: How we are true, or untrue, to our lover/partner/self
is a consistent pressing issue.

Food: So much of family, friends and fun centers around food.
Delicious, healthy, beautifully presented food gets the
producer’s attention.

So says Susan Harrow, author of the recently updated “Ultimate
Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah.” I’m promoting it as an
affiliate, because you don’t have much time left. Oprah’s show
concludes in September 2011 and the producers are already booking
guests far in advance. There will be a last-minute rush of
pitches. Learn how you can beat the crowd and make Oprah’s
producers snap to attention. Go to
http://www.webmarketingmagic.com/app/?af=307515

=====================================
4. Fatal Email Marketing Mistakes
=====================================

If you use email to market, here’s a mistake that can get your
business closed down–fast: Buying or renting email lists.

Many people on those lists have not given you permission to email
them, and they might complain to your Internet service provider
or email management company that you’re spamming. That can close
down the Internet part of your business, pronto. Besides, you
have no guarantee that the email addresses are current.

You can also get into trouble if you automatically add people
like me to your newsletter list, thinking that if you sign up for
my newsletter, I’ll be willing to sign up for yours.
Wrong.

You don’t have to use those tactics to build a list. Instead, you
should be doing 7 other things to direct people to your website
or blog. Millionaire entrepreneur Ali Brown uses them all, and
she’ll be sharing them during a free teleseminar at 7 p.m.
Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 14.

You can register at http://bit.ly/9xLbo9

Learn how to create a slow and steady flow of prospects as well
as fast gushes of list growth (and why you need both). And listen
for Ali’s tips on 3 new list-building methods you should try.
They replace 3 others that are out of date.

======================================
5. Goodwill’s Donations Calculator
======================================

Goodwill uses a really clever calculator at its website at
http://donate.goodwill.org/ to show you exactly how many hours of
career training time you can give a worthy recipient by donating
certain types of household items.

For example, a donated coat, a bike and three CDs can give
someone 48 minutes of career counseling.

A calculator is one of dozens of enticing ways you can pull
people to your website. Learn the others in “Special Report #51:
55 Free Things You Can Offer to Generate Publicity or Capture
People’s Email Addresses” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-
products/reports.html#SpecialReport51

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

Thanks to Dan Poynter, the self-publishing guru from Santa
Barbara, California, for sharing these great photos of “upside
down dogs.” They made me laugh:

http://upsidedowndogs.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…
====================================

Consider retweeting:

American Way magazine searching for Road Warriors
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6673

Why holding a press conference can backfire
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6657

Moderate comments at your blog using these 7 tips
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/?p=418

Connect with journalists through media leads service
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/?p=420

3 email marketing mistakes that can kill your business
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6645

——————————————-

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 #511 June 29, 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. Booze + the Media = Trouble

2. July Story Ideas

3. Special Event? Target Walkers

4. Involve Reporters

5. Comment at Blogs

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

====================================
1. Booze + the Media = Trouble
====================================

Loose lips sink ships. Generals, too.

One of Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s worst mistakes was one I didn’t
see mentioned much this past week: allowing an investigative
reporter from Rolling Stone to interview him–over drinks.

Media-savvy Publicity Hounds know that booze and reporters are a
lethal mix, and most wouldn’t think twice about letting a
reporter interview them when alcohol is flowing, because it removes
your inhibitions and triggers the urge to blab.

But how many people drink in social settings, with reporters
present?

Have you attended after-work networking events where wine is
served and reporters are mingling? What about awards banquets where
mediarepresentatives are seated at your table? At a convention, have
you ever gone out for a nightcap with a group of business associates
that included people from the media?

See “7 places to stay off the sauce if reporters are present” at
my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/7-places-to-stay-off-the-sauce-if-
reporters-are-present/

======================================
2. July Story Ideas
======================================

–Tie your story idea to an “independence” theme, even if it has
nothing to do with the Fourth. Examples: Independence from
cigarette smoke in restaurants, messy desks, bratty teen-agers,
computer problems or arguments with your spouse. Add great
visuals, and you have a ready-made story for TV.

–Do companies relax dress codes during the summer? What’s
appropriate and what isn’t?

–If your products or services teach people how to save money,
pitch penny-pinching tips related to cars, clothing, vacations,
toys, groceries and gasoline.

–Gardening is booming. Pitch anything related to growing
veggies, garden art, garden supplies, or children who garden.

–Tie your pitch to the words “cool, sizzling, heat wave” or
“heating up,” even if it has nothing to do with summer.

Excerpted from “103 Sizzling Story Ideas from July through
December,” with TV producer Shawne Duperon. Read more about the
other ideas we have that you can steal at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/JulyIdeas.htm

=====================================
3. Special Event? Target Walkers
=====================================

When my garden club sponsored its annual garden walk last summer,
somebody came up with the bright idea of placing signs on a
public walking trail that was near one of the gardens on the tour.

Sure enough, people who had seen the signs walked over, bought
tickets and toured the gardens.

If you’re sponsoring a special event this year, attract walk-in
traffic. Place signs near bike paths and in dog parks, on public
bulletin boards that can be seen by mall walkers, and along the
route where a neighborhood is holding a giant rummage sale.

Ask local banks to advertise your event on their marquees.

Don’t forget good old Craigslist, which probably gets more
eyeballs than the event calendar in your local newspaper. See “How to Use
Craigslist as a Global Publicity Tool” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/craigslist.htm

=====================================
4. Involve Reporters
=====================================

If you’re an event sponsor, let the media participate in your
story, not just report on it.

Having a cardboard boat race to raise money for your service
club? Invite a reporter along to help paddle, and ask her to write
about her experience. These stories are always so much better than when
the reporter simply watches from the sidelines.

See “Special Report #42: Tips for Letting Reporters Experience
Your Story, Not Just Write About It” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html

======================================
5. Comment at Blogs
======================================

If you don’t have a blog yet, the very least you should be doing
to promote your expertise is commenting at other blogs.

You get a backlink to your website, you can wow readers with your
expertise, and your comment just might encourage the blogger to
ask you to write a guest post.

To find out which blogs feature topics in your area of expertise,
create a Google Alert at http://www.Google.com/alerts. Every day,
review your alerts, scan the blog posts within it, and comment if
appropriate.

Commenting is also a great way to attract the blogger’s attention
before you pitch him with your idea. See “How to Pitch the Best
Bloggers and Create a Publicity Explosion” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/pitch_bloggers.htm

Note: The teleseminar on guest blogging, scheduled for Wednesday,
June 30, has been postponed for later in the summer.

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

Thanks to Christine Buffaloe, my assistant, of San Diego, Calif.,
for this great video of a Doggie Freestyle act on a “Britain’s
Got Talent” segment. It starts slowly, but stick with it. Simon is
awestruck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0jNC_w1tSw

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 answer a media leads query and prompt a reporter to call
http://publicityhound.net/how-to-answer-a-media-leads-query-
prompt-a-reporter-to-call/

7 places to stay off the sauce if reporters are present
http://publicityhound.net/7-places-to-stay-off-the-sauce-if-
reporters-are-present/

Bad advice from Copyblogger on time spent blogging
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/bad-advice-from-copyblogger-
on-time-spent-blogging/

——————————————-

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 #503 May 4, 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. 5 Facebook Security Dangers

2. Press Release & Pitching Problems

3. State of the Plate Survey

4. Webinars & Teleseminars

5. Promoting Job Training

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

====================================
1. 5 Facebook Security Dangers
====================================

If you’re on Facebook, LinkedIn or MySpace, Consumer Reports says
you’re putting your security in danger if you do these 5 things:

–List your correct birthday.

–Use a weak password.

–Overlook the control you have in your privacy settings.

–Post a child’s name in a caption.

–Mention being away from home. I’m astonished at how many people
do this, and about the popularity of FourSquare.com, the hot new
site where you can “check in” with your followers and advertise
where you are at any second of the day. Connect FourSquare with
your Twitter account, and you could end up on the site
PleaseRobMe.com.

Read about two other social media dangers at the L.A. Times blog
at http://ow.ly/1GSty

And then once you’re safety is assured, follow Christine
Buffaloe’s tips on 11 Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on
Facebook at http://budurl.com/facebookwithchris

====================================
2. Press Release & Pitching Problems
====================================

When other pubicity mutts are zigging, Publicity Hounds should be
zagging.

what’s zigging?

–Sending press releases and hoping they will result in major
stories. Too few mutts understand what press releaases can and
cannot do. They’re great if you want the search engines to find
you and reach consumers directly. But they seldom generate major
publicity.

–Pitching blindly, without taking the time to research
journalists and bloggers. Letting them know who you are BEFORE
you pitch says, “I care about the topics you cover, and I can
help you.” that’s o much better than delivering a pitch out of
left field that says, “I don’t know who you are or what you
cover, but I’m contacting you anyway.”

I’ll be hosting a webinar called “How to REALLY Use Publicity as
an Online Marketing Channel and ZIG When Everyone Else is
ZAGGING.” It will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Wednsday, May 19,
and you can start registering next week. You don’t need to be in
front of a computer to participate. The session will be recorded
so you can watch it later.

=====================================
3. State of the Plate Survey
=====================================

Here’s a rare exception of when a press release results in a huge
story.

The headline on the release reads, “Economy Hits Churches at
Unprecedented Rate.” The release goes on to say that almost 40
percent of churches across the United States saw a decline in
church giving and offerings last year, according to a survey.

It was taken by Brian Kluth and Christianity Today International.
Kluth is a former church pastor and best-selling author who now
works as “Generosity Minister at Large” at the First Evangelical
Free Church of Colorado Springs. Two large colorful graphs within
the press release show the survey results at a glance, and
include regional statistics that the media can devour.

More than 150 media outlets covered the story. You can see the
press release, the survey results and the array of dozens of
media logos on Brian’s website at
http://www.stateoftheplate.info/

All that, from just one survey.

My business partner, Jeanne Hurlbert, is presenting a free
webinar at 2 p.m. Eastern Time today on how surveys can uncover
information about your customers, your market and other aspects
of your business that you could never imagine. You’ll learn how
to use surveys to guide you in creating products and services,
and spot trends within your industry that can result in fabulous
publicity. Register for the webinar at
http://snipurl.com/surveycustomers

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

Tuesday, May 4:

–”Words That Work in the Press, Politics & Public Relations,”
featuring word wizard Frank Lutz, sponsored by Bulldog Reporter.
1 p.m. Eastern Time. Register at http://ow.ly/1DtxK

–“How To Get A Whole Lot More Media Publicity And Exposure And
Make A Name For Yourself As An Expert In Your Field,” sponsored
by Steve Harrison, at 2 and 7 p.m. Eastern. Register at
http://www.YourQuantumLeap.com/PreviewCallFour/?11577

–”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://snipurl.com/surveycustomers

======================================
5. Promoting Job Training
======================================

This week, eight Publicity Hounds have tips for Deborah Avens of
Temple Hills, MD, on how to market job training programs for
disadvantaged girls and women.

From Doug Smith:

“Networking with some of the organizations serving the D.C. area
may be helpful. There is a group out of Oakton, VA, called Women
Entrepreneurs, Inc. Also, the National Association of Women
Business Owners is based there in DC. I am sure the DC and
Maryland Better Business Bureau and Chambers of Commerce would
assist in getting the word out.”

From Eric Barton:

“With no budget, social media would be great and free. Articles,
blogs, press releases and YouTube videos all generate leads and
customers/clients.”

From Margaret Vos:

“Contact the Junior League. I think they would LOVE to help.
Other non-profits can be just what you’re looking for!”

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

Katie Schwartz Chattanooga, TN, asks:

“What are some ways to reach education reporters, or parents of
students about to enter college?

“I have written an ebook called Portable Parent at
http://www.portableparent.com/contents.htm for parents and
college students, with advice the students need on life skills
such as time and money management, as well as much more. Parents
download it, add their input and upload it to the students’
computers so the advice is ready when they are. Instant info,
with a parent’s input, 24/7. How can I publicize this?”

The Publicity Hound says:

Back-to-school sections, which magazines and newspapers print in
late summer, are ideal places to publicize your book. Google
“back to school section” and see if you can find contact
information for editors. Start pitching magazines right now.
Pitch newspapers in mid-summer. Don’t forget bloggers who write
about parenting issues. See “How to Pitch the Best Bloggers and
Create a Publicity Explosion” at
http://snipurl.com/pitchbestbloggers

Hounds with other ideas can post them to my blog at
http://snipurl.com/collegestudentebook

=====================================
7. Hound Quote of the Week
=====================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Michael Acklam for this one:

“We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we
can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best
deal man has ever made.”

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 by coping these headlines and links into
Twitter:

Do you say ‘I love you’ to your pet? Guess how many owners do?
http://snipurl.com/petownersurvey

Speakers: 7 ways to use text messages to wow audiences
http://ow.ly/1GPgg

———————————————

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.

================================================
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 #496 March 16, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net/ (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. How Topsy Can Help Your Blog

2. Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Out of Luck

3. What Publicity Superstars Know

4. When Your Links Won’t Open in Gmail

5. Marketing an Expert on Mold

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blogs…

=======================================
1. How Topsy Can Help Your Blog
======================================

When you see scads of people tweeting about your competitors and
their great blog posts, do you ever just sit there and wonder,
“How do they manage to attract so much attention?”

Stop wondering.

Head over to Topsy at http://www.topsy.com/. You can use this
search engine to do some competitive intelligence, and find out
fairly quickly exactly which of your competitors’ topics are
causing the buzz. Then, start writing about those topics
yourself, or pitching them to the media, so you can capitalize on
the market insights your competitors have identified or stumbled
onto.

There are several other ways to use this site:

When you search for something on Topsy, such as “health care
bill,” Topsy finds snippets of conversations on Twitter that
match what you’re looking for. It returns to you a list of things
people link on for that search term.

Topsy ranks its results based on how well they match your search
terms and–here’s the important part–the influence of the people
talking about them. Topsy has pages for every person it listens
to, and it lists the things each person has been talking about.

My friend, social media marketing expert Don Crowther, wrote a
great blog post about 5 ways to use Topsy to help your blog at
http://tinyurl.com/howtousetopsy

Use his tips and then, check out what Patsi Krakoff has to say
about “Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging.” She covers
all the basics for beginning bloggers and shares lots of tips for
advanced bloggers, including 101 places to find content for your
blog. Read more about it at http://tinyurl.com/businessblogger

=========================================
2. Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Out of Luck
=========================================

When you send an email to your list of customers or contacts, it
isn’t unusual to learn that only 12 percent of the people who
receive it open it. Only 12 percent!

Compare that to the whopping 95 percent open rate that’s easy to
achieve when you send a text message to people’s mobile phones
telling them about a new product or service, or giving them a tip
that will solve a problem or make their lives easier.

Starting with a single blog post, a retail store in California
generated online publicity and made $20,000 in a mere three hours
last year by using a combination of a compelling offer, text
messages, email and social media. It didn’t pay a penny for
print, radio or Internet ads.

Here’s the kicker. The people who stood in a line that snaked
around the store even before the doors opened weren’t allowed in
unless they showed proof of the text message they received. All
others were turned away.

If you know how to incorporate mobile messaging into your
marketing campaign, and you’re in front of your prospects on
their mobile phones, your competitors who don’t have the first
clue how to do what you’re doing will be out of sight, out of
mind, and out of luck.

Download the quick case study of the success story above,
courtesy of StomperNet, and see the replay of last week’s webinar
from Dan Hollings, the guy who created the mobile marketing
campaign for “The Secret.”

http://tinyurl.com/out-of-luck

========================================
3. What Publicity Superstars Know
========================================

Jen Groover launched her career making Butler Handbags that
organize women’s essentials in little compartments inside each
purse, much like the utensils compartment inside your dishwasher.

In February and March this year, her media appearances include
stints on MSNBC’s “Your Business,” FOX Business’s “Happy Hour,”
the “Good Morning Colorado” radio show and ABC News. She appeared
on FOX Business’s “Your Questions Your Money,” “Washington
Business Tonight” on News Channel 8 in D.C., and Better TV.

Jen became a regularly featured lifestyle expert on the Fox News
Channel and the Early Show as well as scoring coverage in
hundreds of print media outlets including O the Oprah Magazine,
Redbook, US Weekly, Success and Entrepreneur, and then, used that
coverage to catapult her business to sales of over $10 million a
year.

One reason she landed so many media appearances is that she’s
able to tell a compelling story of how she refused to listen to
her friends, relatives and industry experts who pooh-poohed her
idea for a well-organized handbag.

But she does far more than just tell stories. On Thursday, you’ll
hear about the secrets that she and other media superstars know
about, like how to become a sought-after news source and guest on
radio and TV talk shows, even with no fancy credentials or
academic degrees.

The free 90-minute webinar titled “Discover the Secrets of the
Publicity Superstars,” hosted by Steve Harrison (I’m an
affiliate), will be broadcast at 2 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, March
18. If the times are inconvenient, recruit somebody to listen and
take notes for you. Register at
http://www.freepublicity.com/superstars/?10011

=====================================
4. When Your Links Won’t Open in Gmail
=====================================

If you’re sending emails to the media, bloggers and others who
use Gmail, but few people are responding, or they’re complaining
that the links won’t open, it’s because of a change Google made
recently.

For a URL to be a live link in Gmail, it cannot have a capital
letter after “http://” without using “www.”

That means links like http://PublicityHound.com aren’t live. But
http://publicityhound.com/ is.

Read more about it, and watch the video that explains it all, at
Alex Mandossian’s blog at http://ow.ly/1lq20

Now that you know how to configure your links, learn how to send
great email or telephone pitches. Raleigh Pinskey shows you “How
to Create the Perfect 30-Second Pitch.” She is the MASTER of
pitches, and she shares her secrets. Learn more at
http://tinyurl.com/30secondpitch.

======================================
5. Marketing an Expert on Mold
======================================

This week, 10 Publicity Hounds have tips for Susan Murphy of
Pleasant Ridge, MI on how to promote her client, Connie Morbach,
an expert on mold.

From Julie Gabrielli:

“Join the U.S. Green Building Council and get active in your
local chapter. They usually have ongoing monthly programs, so you
could do a session on mold. They also have a huge, yearly
conference (15,000 to 20,000 people), and you could submit a
proposal as a speaker.”

From Doreen Overstreet:

“Not sure who your target audience is, but I bet the National
Apartment Association’s publication (and others like it) would be
interested in using her as a resource or running any of her
articles. Many in the industry are interested in learning more
about this subject–and preventing it.”

From Don Power:

“Your client could talk about how to safely remove small amounts
of mold encountered in the upcoming spring cleaning ritual.
Millions of people do this every spring and it is almost
guaranteed you will encounter some mold (but not enough to call
in a professional removal company). Therefore, there is a real
need to know how to remove small amounts of mold safely and your
client could address that!”

The Publicity Hound says:

Connie should refer to herself everywhere as a “mold expert.”
This should appear on the title bar of the home page of her
website, in her bio, in press releases, in the mini-bios she
writes at the social media sites–everywhere she has info about
her background. And she should buy a profile in “Expertclick: The
Online Yearbook of Experts” at
http://www.Expertclick.com/Referral/PublicityHound (I’m an
affiliate).

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
http://ow.ly/1g9z9

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

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

This week’s question is from me:

Almost every Tuesday, without fail, during the last decade, my
readers and I have been sharing our best tips in this newsletter.

If it’s Tuesday, and it’s Christmas, the ezine arrives via email
on Christmas Day, and the other 51 Tuesdays of the year.

In just a few weeks, on April 16, I’ll publish Edition Number
500,and I’m looking for a clever promotion or contest that will
engage current readers, create a buzz on the social media sites,
and attract new subscribers.

Because I’m knee-deep in three other projects, I’m not even sure
I’ll have time to pull this off.  But I’d be crazy not to ask my
Hounds for help.

What can I do to promote the newsletter, pull in new readers,
attract attention for the archived issues at
http://www.publicityarticles.net/, encourage people to submit
questions for Help this Hound, and make this a really fun
celebration?

Submit your best ideas to my blog at http://ow.ly/1mX4z and
retweet if you’re so inclined.

And then send your “Help this Hound” question to me at
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound.
I have only one left, and I’ll include it here next week.

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

In an upscale pet-supply store, a customer wanted to buy a red
sweater for her dog.  The clerk suggested that she bring her dog
in for a proper fit.

“I can’t do that!” The owner said. “The sweater is a surprise!”

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

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

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

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

Consider retweeting these blog posts:

How engaging is your blog? 17 metrics to measure
http://ow.ly/1hbuK

Pros & cons of using Facebook, Twitter geo-location features
http://ow.ly/1hizB

How to generate publicity from Pi Day
http://ow.ly/1lrRS

————————————

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

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