The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #515 July 27, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Five Killer Social Media Strategies

2. How to Get on Top TV Shows

3. Book Bloggers

4. Subject Lines That Scream “Open!”

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Five Killer Social Media Strategies
=====================================

If you’ve been following the series of free videos that Don
Crowther has been sharing this past week, you’re already adopting
some of his killer strategies on how to make more money than
friends on the social media sites.

If you missed any of the videos, you can still access them here:
https://btconsulting.infusionsoft.com/go/reverse/JoanStewart

Even if you don’t watch them all, I don’t want you to miss the
replay of a special webinar that Don did last week for Jeanne
Hurlbert, my business partner, and me. It’s at
http://www.mysocialmediarx.com/downloads/media/donc/ In it, Don
explains his strategies on exactly how often you should be
posting on sites like Twitter and Facebook, and the exact types
of content you should be sharing to make money, not just friends.

For example, if it’s more sales you want from these sites, stop
tweeting about what you had for lunch, what’s new in your pet’s
life, or the latest sob story about your aches and pains. Don
lays it out in step-by-step detail and shows you exactly how to
come across as trusting, competent, confident and helpful so
people will be practically begging to buy from you.

I also learned about a clever strategy that Don uses on LinkedIn.
He encourages other people to answer a question but it makes HIM,
not THEM, look like the expert.

He shared free Google tools that will make your social media
tasks so much easier and help you determine exactly which links
are bringing in leads and sales.

All of this free content is to promote his Social Profit Formula
product. To encourage you to buy it from me (I earn a
commission), I’m adding this bonus: $500 worth of my products or
consulting.

That’s in addition to bonuses he’s offering. They include:

–”How to Make a Living as a Social Media Consultant” (this is
the hottest job market and he explains in detail how to make a
living even with no previous Social Media knowledge. It includes
guidelines on how to price your services.

–”How to be a Super Affiliate using Social Media.” It’s a
complete step-by-step module that gives every detail on keeping
customers while sending them offer after offer that convert to
sales.

Bottom line: Don has a $5,000 guarantee he is offering if you
implement everything he teaches and still don’t recoup the cost
of the course.

Watch the webinar he did last week, and then decide if you’re
ready to take the next step:
http://www.mysocialmediarx.com/downloads/media/donc/

======================================
2. How to Get on Top TV Shows
======================================

Most people who dream of being on “Oprah” and other major TV talk
shows have no business being there.

Either their topic isn’t a good fit for the show, or they can’t
articulate a convincing pitch in 15 seconds or less. Yet they
continue to flood the producers with lousy pitches that label
them as pests.

On Thursday, July 29, Steve Harrison will host a teleseminar on
the three biggest tips you need to know to get onto major TV
shows. You’ll learn what NOT to send to producers, what NOT to
pitch to guest bookers, and mistakes you should never make, or
they’ll blackball you forever.

Then you’ll learn about the 3 big secrets for doing it the right
way. Read more about what you’ll learn and register for the call
at one of two times–2 or 7 Eastern Time
http://www.tvpublicityteleseminar.com/?10011

If you can’t make the call, recruit somebody to take notes for
you. (I’m a compensated affiliate.)

=====================================
3. Book Bloggers
=====================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Regina Lundgren of Kennewick, Wash.,
for tipping us off to this long list of book bloggers that she
found in the Publisher’s Weekly ezine:
http://bookbloggerconvention.com/attendees/

Some of them discuss books. Many write book reviews.

The timing couldn’t be better, as more newspapers and magazines
are eliminating book review sections.

Check them out if you need to promote a book. And then add
bloggers to your list of targeted media. See “How to Create a
Media Plan” at http://www.publicityhound.com/mediaplan.htm

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

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 pitches. Read more about what she taught at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/breakingnews.htm

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

Cathy Berger of Roslyn, New York, writes:

I keep having to cancel events because I don’t have enough paid
registrations.

I have a live, hands-on “dress better” fashion company full of
classes. Most are $36 for 90 minutes of instruction, and
attendees can take individual courses whenever they are held, but
they must be physically near to New York City or Long
Island/Nassau County. You can learn more about it at
http://www.fashionsociete.com/

The “What’s Your Body Type? Now Dress For It” class, for
example, includes:

–Topics such as an analysis of your present style

–A real measurement of key body areas

–A professional determination of your true body type

–Techniques to create the illusion of a slimmer (or custom) look

–Slides showing ways to dress for it and how to create a
wardrobe for it

–How to use items already in your closet to pull your new look
off.

What are some quick and creative ways I can market the event
calendar and reach the right people—women who want or need to
look and dress their best?

The Publicity Hound says: Cathy, I encourage you to use social
media and Internet marketing to help solve people’s problems and
pull them to your live events, and also to create products for
women who don’t live in the New York area. Don Crowther’s
excellent series of social media videos at
https://btconsulting.infusionsoft.com/go/reverse/JoanStewart that
I referred to in the lead item will show you how to do that.

Hounds with other ideas for Cathy can comment at my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6727

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

“The dog is a yes-animal. Very popular with people who can’t
afford a yes man.” — Robertson Davies, Canadian author

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 write a guest post for my publicity blog
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6573

Get the monkey off your back using VAs, subcontractors
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6758

——————————————-

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 #507 June 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. BP’s Fake Twitter Account

2. Publicize Your Social Media Successes

3. Cosmo’s Racy Headlines

4. Promoting Novelty Soaps

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

====================================
1. BP’s Fake Twitter Account
====================================

Here’s a tweet posted this morning from the Twitter account known
as @BPGlobalPR:

“Best part of the BP Memorial Day Picnic? The custom made oily
dunk tank! So far we’ve dunked 4 ducks, a dolphin, 2 otters and
@bpTerry!”

That’s just one of a steady stream of sarcastic tweets at a fake
BP PR account on Twitter that, as of this morning, has attracted
more than 97,000 followers at http://Twitter.com/BPGlobalPR

It’s also one more episode in the PR nightmare tied to the Gulf
oil spill.

What I find most bizarre is that Twitter hasn’t removed it and a
BP spokesperson says people have a right to lash out against the
company there.

Should BP fight to encourage Twitter to remove the fake account?
Go to my blog to see what I think, and then tell me if you think
I’m wrong. Go to
http://publicityhound.net/should-bp-pressure-twitter-to-remove-
the-fake-feed/

======================================
2. Publicize Your Social Media Successes
======================================

If you’re participating in social media and you’re seeing a
return on investment, use your success stories to generate
publicity.

Kim Duke, aka The Sales Diva, got a $7,000 keynote as a result of
Twitter.

Blogger Patsi Krakoff was surprised when a $600 project came her
way simply because somebody retweeted one of her tweets.

Freelance writer Angie Mangino got a $900 freelance writing
project only two weeks after she joined LinkedIn and signed up
for a group devoted to writers, publishers and authors. That’s
where she found the query from a publishing company that needed a
freelancer for a fast turn-around project.

Pitch success stories like these to your local TV stations,
newspapers, trade publications, industry newsletters and
bloggers. Turn them into items for your own newsletter, blog and
podcast.

If you’re not seeing social media ROI, you’re a great candidate
for the Social Media Fast-track Program that my business partner,
Jeanne Hurlbert, PhD and I will be teaching. Read about what
you’ll be able to do by the time you’re done with the program:
http://www.MySocialMediaRx.com/fast-track.htm

=====================================
3. Cosmo’s Racy Headlines
=====================================

Admit it.

You read the covers of those racy magazines when you’re waiting
in line at the supermarket check-out.

I do.

But not because I’m interested in the articles. I’m looking for
enticing headlines I can steal. When I see a headline I love,
I’ll remove one or two words in Cosmo’s headline and substitute
one or two of my own.

The very best magazine for this little exercise is, without a
doubt, Cosmopolitan, which you can find at
http://www.magazines.com/ Let’s say you’re a financial planner.
Here’s how you can steal a Cosmo headline and turn it into your
own.

Their headline: “Hot, healthy women share: The best thing I ever
did for my body”

Your headline: “Smart, savvy financial advisors share: The best
thing you can do to save for retirement”

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

=====================================
4. Promoting Novelty Soaps
=====================================

This week, seven Publicity Hounds have tips for Cindy Tollen of
El Paso, Texas. She has created an array of novelty soaps that
resemble pies and pastry, and she needs advice on how to market
them on a limited budget.

From Laura Rolands:

“I think you could reach a large number of customers through
Twitter. The key is to build relationships first on Twitter, and
your followers will help you build sales. I recommend following
@TimeOutMom and @MomBizCoach. I would also recommend
participating in a weekly Twitter chat called #gno.”

From Karen Rosenzweig:

“You could have a lot of fun, and gain a ton of visibility, with
a Twitter contest. You create a short tweet asking people to
follow you AND retweet the message to be entered for a chance to
win one of your products. Let them know that everyone who follows
you by 6 p.m. that day will be entered in a drawing for one free
product. Then when you draw the winner, you can tweet that too,
getting additional visibility.  And if it goes well, repeat that
once a week or so, until you have a robust group of followers.
It’s a fun product and you’ll have a great time getting the word
out!”

From Sharon Z:

“Seems like a natural cross-marketing opportunity with event
planners (think bridal and baby showers), women’s organizations
and florists. The fact that these items are so unique and
reasonably priced makes them a great giveaway item.”

The Publicity Hound says:

I can picture your lemon meringue pie soaps as favors at a
national convention of bakers.

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
at
http://publicityhound.net/creator-of-novelty-soaps-needs-social-
media-marketing-advice/

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

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

Anne Graham of Vancouver, British Columbia writes:

“I’ve developed a great toolkit for business leaders, with 33
specific techniques they can use to lead their firms out of the
recession. It’s called ‘Recession Proof and Recovery Ready: The
91 Day Business Tune-up Toolkit.’

“It’s a 314-page physical product, stuffed full of every
instruction, checklist, etc. that they’ll need to understand and
implement each of the 33 ideas. It’s designed to be implemented
by a small team, so the product is actually a set of 10 binders
(one for each team member), plus a DVD virtual seminar.

“I’m about to do a launch with a wonderful Online Launch Manager
handling my tweets, blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, SEO, article
marketing, the whole nine yards. But I’d love to hear some
creative ideas from fellow Hounds on how THEY would reach an
audience of motivated business leaders in their city or town. I
have a compelling free ebook called Powerful Pricing Strategies:
10 High Impact, Low Risk Ways to Increase Prices…Even During
the Recession, Even Before the Recovery, at
http://www.recessionproofandrecoveryready.com/. It’s available to
hounds and those motivated business leaders I’m looking for. All
I need now is a stampede of traffic!

“Can your Hounds help?”

The Publicity Hound says:

The topic of how to raise prices during a recession is fabulous.
Let’s put my Hounds to work figuring out how to leverage it. If
you have a great idea for Anne, post it to my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/consultant-needs-help-launching-new-
product-for-business-leaders/

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

“Scratch a dog and you’ll find a permanent job.”  – Franklin P.
Jones

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:

Should BP pressure Twitter to remove the fake feed?
http://publicityhound.net/should-bp-pressure-twitter-to-remove-
the-fake-feed/

How a guest blogger pitched me and made me say “yes”
http://publicityhound.net/how-a-guest-blogger-pitched-me-and-
made-me-say-yes/

————————————

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 #506 May 26, 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. Your Press Release on Steroids

2. Newbies: Free Social Media Webinar

3. Use Blog Sub-heads

4. Advertise in This Ezine

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

====================================
1. Your Press Release on Steroids
====================================

In the old days, sending a press release was always a crap shoot.

You wrote it, sent it, or distributed it through one of the
online press release distribution services, and then you waited.

You never knew who might pick it up and reprint it.

Today, if you distribute it through PR Newswire, you are
virtually guaranteed that the release will show up on more than
50 influential, high-traffic websites including Forbes.com,
Hoover.com, Reuters.com, and dozens of sites for local business
journals.

The big payoff isn’t that people will necessarily see the
releases. It’s that all those inbound links from all those
influential sites means that Google will view your own site as
more authoritative. The more inbound links to your site from
high-traffic site, the higher the page rank Google grants to your
own website.

That’s referred to as “Google juice.”

When my friend Dan Janal told me about his little experiment
recently using one of his own press releases, I couldn’t believe
it. But it works, and he wrote a special report about it. Give
him your name and email address and he’ll give you the report.

Go to http://www.prleadsplus.com/publicityhoundpr/ If you are
buying distribution from a major press release distribution
service, you might want to check out Dan’s pricing. He buys in
bulk so he might be able to offer the same quality service with
better prices.

======================================
2. Newbies: Free Social Media Webinar
======================================

Too embarrassed to admit you still don’t understand social media?

Or frustrated that you’ve been tinkering with Twitter and
Facebook for several months and don’t know what all the fuss is
about? If so, you’re not alone.

Jeanne Hurlbert, my business partner and co-creator of Social
Media Rx, our social media assessment tool, hear from people
almost every day who complain that they can’t get any traction on
these sites, or they don’t know where to begin. (See the Help
This Hound question below.)

If you have social media questions, join us for a free webinar at
2 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 27. We’re devoting the
entire session to a Q&A. If we can’t get to your questions during
the call, we’ll answer them personally by email afterward.
Promise.

Register here:
http://www.siteproweb.com/mysocialmediasolution-q-a-webinar

Facebook Update: Last week, I explained why I’m not joining other
Facebook users who are bailing out of the site because of its
goofy privacy policy. Over the weekend, Facebook CEO Mark
Zuckerberg admitted the company has made mistakes and said he’ll
announce a new privacy policy this week. Stay tuned.

=====================================
3. Use Blog Sub-heads
=====================================

When you write a long blog post, do you break it up with sub-
heads so readers can quickly scan the post, darting from sub-head
to sub-head to find what they’re looking for?

BL Ochman does. Here’s a perfect example of how she made a post
on the Facebook privacy policy mess I mentioned above very easy
to read by using nine sub-heads:
http://tinyurl.com/blogsubheads

They break up the gray. They state her opinion. They flag readers
to what’s coming next.

BL is a prolific blogger, frequent Twitterer and she does it all
while juggling a full-time PR job. She was my guest during the
teleseminar “How to do Social Networking, Run a Business & Still
Have a Life.” Learn more about it at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/socialnetworking.htm

=====================================
4. Advertise in This Ezine
=====================================

I’ve been publishing a free weekly ezine for almost 10 years and
never accepted ads because they always seemed more appropriate
for HTML newsletters.

But when I offered you the option of an HTML format several weeks
ago, Publicity Hounds started asking if they could buy ads.

If you offer a product or service for people who self-promote, or
for the PR community, go to my blog and read more about how to
get your message in front of my readers:
http://publicityhound.net/the-publicity-hounds-tips-of-the-week-
now-accepts-ads/

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

Cindy Tollen of El Paso, Texas writes:

“I am a one woman shop at http://www.sudznbubbles.com/ and I sell
custom and novelty glycerin soap products, bath salts, body
butter and lip balm—some of it around a food theme. You can buy
a soap that looks like a piece of luscious peach pie, a cupcake
or a cherry tart, for example.

“I need tips on how to market my products with a limited budget
and little time. I sold my products in stores until the recession
hit, now I sell mostly online or at trade shows. I need to know
the best tool for marketing.

“I have a Facebook Fan Page but few fans. I blog, but can’t
remember the last time I wrote something. I’m on Twitter but I
don’t know what to tweet about.

“Can your Hounds offer some smart marketing tips, tools or
strategies that will help translate into sales? My target market
is upscale women over 30.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Cindy, you have such a fun product that I can hardly wait to see
all the clever ideas my Hounds post to my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/creator-of-novelty-soaps-needs-social-
media-marketing-advice/

In the meantime, take advantage of the free webinar I’m hosting
on Thursday with my business partner, Jeanne Hurlbert. We’ll
answer all your questions about social media, including what to
talk about, and how to drive lots of women in your target
audience to your Facebook Fan Page.

Register here:
http://www.siteproweb.com/mysocialmediasolution-q-a-webinar

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

Thanks to Christine Buffaloe, my virtual assistant from Serenity
Virtual Assistant Services, for this video of “Breakfast at
Ginger’s.” Watch as Ginger, a lab, peels a banana:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaAVZ2yXDBo

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:

Oprah looks for the next big TV star–Is it you?
http://publicityhound.net/oprah-looks-for-the-next-big-tv-star-
is-it-you/

How freelancers can use Twitter to find journalists, sources
http://publicityhound.net/how-freelancers-can-use-twitter-to-
find-journalists-sources

‘The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week’ now accepts ads
http://publicityhound.net/the-publicity-hounds-tips-of-the-week-
now-accepts-ads/

———————————————-

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

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

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

———————————————–
Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #504 May 11, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. No More ‘Spray and Pray’

2. Why You Need a .info Website

3. 100 Retweet Targets

4. Associated Press Stylebook

5. Promoting an Ebook

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

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

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

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

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

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

Time consuming? Yes.

Effective? Very.

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

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

Register at http://snipurl.com/onlinepublicitytips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Follow me on twitter at @PublicityHound.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Doug Smith:

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

From Sue Rogers:

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

From The Publicity Hound:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consider retweeting:

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

————————————

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

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

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

————————————-
Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

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

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. How to Follow Up

2. Predict Top Trends of 2010

3. Gary V’s 5 Commandments

4. How to Promote a Floral Shop

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

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

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

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

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

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

–Additional sources for the story.

–Graphics or photos.

–A sidebar, like a quiz.

–A Top 10 list (see Item 2 below).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From C.M. Mayo:

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

From Debra Arrato:

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

From Linda Swisher:

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

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

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

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

Mary Ann Puckett from Oklahoma City, OK writes:

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

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

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

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

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

————————————

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

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

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

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #476 Nov. 3, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/(Blog)
http://www.PublicityArticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Undo the New Facebook Change

2. Linking from Press Releases

3. Trunk or Treat & Thanksgiving

4. How an Artist Can Defend a Lawsuit

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

====================================
1. Undo the New Facebook Change
====================================

Facebook users are still howling about recent changes to the
homepage. If you’re one of them, there’s a quick fix to change it
back to the way it used to be.

Ten days ago, with no warning, Facebook eliminated with the
Twitter-like feed of every real-time status update. Now, instead
of displaying everything from all your friends, Facebook uses a
secret algorithm to display only the posts and status updates
that are generating a lot of comments and responses. So you never
know what you’re missing.

If you hate the change, here’s a three-step process to revert
back to the old feed:

–Log into Facebook. On your homepage, on the top of the left
column, you’ll see “News Feed.” Go to the bottom of that column
and click on “More.”

–Find the “Status Updates.” Click and drag it to the very top of
that column.

–Click “Status Updates” to load that view. Now, Facebook will
deliver your feeds just like it did before.

The News Feed option is still on the left. If you click on it,
you’ll see the new view. And if you decide later that reading
your Facebook feed is like drinking from a firehose, you can
always revert back to the smaller feed.

Whatever you choose, make sure you’re getting the most return on
investment for all the time you spend at this site. See “11 Ways
to Avoid Missed Opportunities on Facebook” at
http://budurl.com/uqp3

========================================
2. Linking from Press Releases
========================================

Follow these three important rules when you’re linking to your
website or blog from a press release:

–Link to the exact page that dovetails with the “call to action”
within your release. If you want people to buy a specific
product, for example, send them to that product page. Too many
press release writers simply send readers to the homepage, where
they’re left searching for what you’re writing about. Confused
readers bail out.

–Write the entire URL with the “http://…., preferably near the
end of the boilerplate or “about us” section. If somebody finds
your release online and cuts and pastes the content into their
own blog or website but they forget to link your anchor text,
readers won’t be able to find your website.

–Use anchor text that includes one of your keyword phrases and
turn it into a link. How many? About one for every 100 words in
your press release.

Transcripts and audio from my Oct. 21 teleseminar on “How to Use
Keywords, the ‘Magic Magnets’ That Pull Journalists and Consumers
to Your Press Releases” have been delivered to everyone who
ordered them. The illustrated handouts include a simple six-point
checklist for anyone doing keyword research, the two best keyword
research tools, links to three videos that show you how to do
keyword research, the three best free press release distribution
services, and a sample press release that’s been optimized for
the search engines.

Grab ‘em now at http://budurl.com/pressreleasekeywords

========================================
3. Trunk or Treat & Thanksgiving
========================================

Get a head start pitching stories for Thanksgiving this month,
and for Halloween next year.

These ideas are courtesy of publicist Michelle Tennant of Wasabi
Publicity, whose “blogger butt” I wrote about last week.  They’re
almost guaranteed to bring the TV cameras to your school or
company.

Just before Halloween, host a “trunk or treat” event in your
parking lot for parents and kids. Everyone dresses up. Parents
open the trunks of their cars, decorate the insides with a
Halloween theme, and give treats to the kids who make their way
from car to car.

For Thanksgiving this year, Michelle suggests you round up a
bunch of kids, dress them as Pilgrims, and give them a big basket
of fresh vegetables and a box of toothpicks. Let them make
“Pilgrim people” out of the veggies, and ask them to explain why
the Pilgrim people are thankful.

TV stations that are scrounging for ideas during Thanksgiving
week will love this one–great for schools, chambers of commerce,
brick-and-mortar businesses, churches, libraries, day care
centers and even home schoolers.

You’ll find 22 ideas for October, 23 more for November and 10
more for December on the handouts that accompany the CD, “103
Sizzling Story Ideas from July through December.” These ideas are
yours to steal. Read more about them at http://budurl.com/guu5

=======================================
4. How an Artist Can Defend a Lawsuit
=======================================

This week, nine Publicity Hounds have tips for John T. Unger of
Mancelona, MI, whose fire bowls, original art which he’s been
making since 2005, have been copied by a manufacturer. He wanted
ideas on how can he use traditional and social media to raise
awareness and money for his legal costs.
From Cheryl Pickett:

“Establish a Facebook fan page with full explanation and invite
people to follow what’s going on. Those kinds of things seem to
get passed around pretty regularly. Keep everyone informed on the
blog as to what’s going on and also invite them to the other
things you do as well.”
From Bonnie Boots:

“John should email The Crafts Report, which covers business for
the professional crafter. Their contact page is here:
http://www.craftsreport.com/contact-us.html

“He should also contact the American Craft Council at
http://www.craftcouncil.org/ Click on “The Council” at the bottom
and then “Staff” on the left. You’ll find the email addresses for
the senior editor, managing editor and assistant editor.  Email
one of them (I’d try the assistant editor first) and ask them to
suggest the names of any writers they know that might be
interested in this story.”
From Brisbane, Australia:

“Stories like this are just asking to be linked to and tweeted
about. I think you will be far more successful promoting the
injustice rather than an actual fund raising event. Also, try
contacting the stores selling their products. I’m sure they would
much rather be selling your legitimate products.”
The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound” question
at http://budurl.com/firebowl You have one week left to submit
your own idea in the comments section at my blog. The Hound who
submits the best entry wins a beautiful shovel mask, valued at
$59. The winner will be announced here next week.

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

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

Cheryl Muskus of Oak Creek, WI, writes:

“I’m the owner of The CarmelRose, a floral shop, and I’m looking
for ways to generate publicity in a very competitive market.

“Even though our industry is hurt to a large extent when
obituaries state ‘in lieu of flowers, the family suggests
donations to…,’ we’re trying to form relationships with local
funeral homes so they can refer us to families that are buying
flowers for the funeral. I’d also like to target the local
corporate market, because revenues from local businesses that
need floral arrangements can be significant.

“What ideas do your Hounds have for events I can sponsor at the
shop or elsewhere, story ideas I can pitch to the local media,
press releases I can write, photos I can offer the local media,
opportunities for getting onto local TV, and joint venture
partnerships I can form with other businesses?

“Also, suggestions for using social media would be appreciated.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Local businesses like yours, Cheryl, can benefit just as much
from online publicity as bigger companies, so you’re smart to
work that into the mix. Let’s see what ideas my Hounds can offer
at my blog at http://budurl.com/dcye

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

It’s NBA season, so here’s a cute video of a dog joining the
competition. I may have already shown you this, but it’s worth a
second look:

http://www.funnydogsite.com/videos/basketball.htm

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

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

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

Learn how to pronounce names of radio/TV broadcasters,
journalists
http://budurl.com/l358

————————————

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI. 53074
USA

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #474 Oct. 20, 2009
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.PublicityArticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Experts Research; Amateurs Guess

2. Estee Lauder’s Makeover Promotion

3. Balloon Boy Hoax

4. How to Penetrate Pittsburgh TV

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog…

====================================
1. Experts Research; Amateurs Guess
====================================

One of the biggest mistakes I made early in my career cost me
dearly.

I assumed that people who wanted information on how to write
press releases were typing “news releases” into the search
engines. So I used the phrase “news releases” in my articles, at
my website and in the titles of products I created on that topic.

Then one day, an Internet marketer told me that people were
typing “press releases” into the search engines seven times more
often than they were typing “news releases.”

Seven times more! My heart sank. I could have had seven times
more traffic.

He was an expert because he had done his keyword research. I was
an amateur because I simply guessed.

If you sell telephones, do you know if people are typing
“telephones,” “phones” or “phone systems” into the search
engines?

If you’re a management consultant who teaches leadership skills,
do you know how many people search for “leadership skills” vs.
“lead more effectively” vs. “management coaching”?

The only way to know is to do your research, an important step
that nine out of 10 press release writers skip. The one in 10 who
do the research can know within a minute or two the answers to
the three questions above. If they take a few additional steps in
their research, they can also learn which keywords are the most
competitive. Using two or three keywords that don’t have as much
competition can still help your press releases and articles rank
on Page 1 on Google.

Press release expert Janet Thaeler has created three videos that
show you in step-by-step detail how to use two keyword research
tools that make you a whole lot smarter than the people who don’t
want to bother with this. The links are in handouts that I’m
emailing later this afternoon to everyone who has signed up for
tomorrow’s teleseminar on “How to Use Keywords: The ‘Magic
Magnets’ That Pull Consumers & Journalists to Your Press
Releases.”

The handouts also include a checklist you can refer to every time
you start writing a press release.

Read more about what you’ll learn on tomorrow’s call, and
register at http://tinyurl.com/yeygbqb

========================================
2. Estee Lauder’s Makeover Promotion
========================================

I love Estee Lauder’s recent promotion that offers free makeovers
and photo shoots at its cosmetics counters so women can use them
for their online social media profiles.

The promotion, which started Oct. 16 at Bloomingdale’s department
stores in New York, will extend to Macy’s, Saks and other
Bloomingdale’s stores in Southern California, Miami and Chicago.

After a free makeover, Estee Lauder will shoot your photo which
you can then use as the avatar at sites like Facebook, LinkedIn
and Match.com. The company’s logo is in the background and, if it
isn’t erased with Photoshop, can live on the social media sites
forever.

You can read about the promotion in an AdAge article at
http://adage.com/article?article_id=139524 and see the great
before-and-after photos of Kunur Patel, an Ad Age reporter who
took advantage of the makeover and then wrote about it at
http://adage.com/article?article_id=139749

If you aren’t getting journalists and bloggers involved in your
promotions, you’re missing a great opportunity. See “Special
Report #42: Tips for Letting Reporters Experience Your Story, Not
Just Write About It.” You’ll learn how to create memorable
experiences for the media and entice them to cover your product
or service. Only $10. Order at http://tinyurl.com/invitereporters

========================================
3. Balloon Boy Hoax
========================================

So much for publicity stunts gone bad.

Law enforcement officials say that if Richard Keene is charged
with perpetrating the hoax, it probably won’t be until next week.
That means there’s plenty of time to piggyback off this story and
get some good publicity for yourself. The most obvious angle is
the way the parents recruited their children to be part of the
hoax.

–Mommy and daddy bloggers, what are your readers saying about
what happened? Share your comments with other bloggers and the
media.

–Child development experts, what do stunts like this teach
children about right and wrong and common sense? What’s the long-
term damage?

–PR experts, what should the Keenes have done when their 6-year-
old son vomited on the set of the “Today” show? I found it
unsettling that they barely skipped a beat and continued the
interview, as if nothing unusual had happened.

Authors, speakers and experts, if your topic ties into this
bizarre story, pitch it.

=======================================
4. How to Penetrate Pittsburgh TV
=======================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have tips for John and Bobbi
Robinson of Vanderbilt, PA on how to pitch local TV stations for
their non-profit organization that makes wishes come true for
people with severe illnesses.
From Gail Sideman:

“With a family?s permission, invite one of these television
reporters to accompany Unity to an event with a local recipient.
Suggest that reporters talk to the family, someone from your
organization and a physician about how these outings and trips
help them forget about their health challenges and simply focus
on a good time.”
From Bonnie Harris:

“TV stations are more willing to run footage they take
themselves. Extend individual invitations to members of your TV
stations to accompany you on these outings. If you get no takers,
ask just one of their team to go along, perhaps the weather
person. A good reporter will also want to talk to participants
about what the program means to them.”
From The Publicity Hound:

Try pitching the morning news/feature shows in Pittsburgh,
including the weekend shows. They’re often easier to get onto
than the weekday news, where you’re facing more competition from
hard news stories. If you’re granting a wish that ties into
Thanksgiving, like sending someone to see their relatives on
Turkey Day, pitch that a few days before Thanksgiving. Likewise
with Christmas.”
Read all the responses to this week?s ?Help This Hound” question,
or add your own, at http://budurl.com/5krx

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

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

Ivy Mendoza of Manila, Philippines writes:

“My small PR firm just got an account that needs a lot of
exposure in the lifestyle sections. The previous PR person had
been sacked due to some anomalies which she was supposed to have
committed while conniving with the client?s marketing department.

“To neutralize the situation, the marketing people have gradually
been replaced, the marketing manager was asked to resign, and the
contract of the old PR consultant was no longer renewed.

“The problem is that the previous PR person has already started
badmouthing the client to editors whom she is very close to. One
particular editor of a very highly circulated newspaper has
already declared that our client?s press releases will not see
print in her section anymore. They liked the old PR person and
they believed everything that person said about the client.

“The client (not us, the PR firm) wants us to start on a clean
slate, so they made an effort to appease this particular editor
by setting up a meeting. But the editor flat out refused to meet
with them and directly said that she cannot help the client
anymore as far as press releases are concerned.

“What should we do? Her paper and her section are very important
for our client because of its target readership and circulation.
I advised the client to let the editor ?thaw? first and just use
other sections of the same newspaper (Business, Entertainment,
etc.) in the meantime. Would you have other tips for me as far as
?power tripping? media is concerned?
The Publicity Hound says:

Ouch! There’s more than one way around this problem, however.
Let’s see what my media-savvy Hounds would do. If you have ideas
on how Icy can deal with this problem and generate publicity for
her client, post them to my blog at
http://tinyurl.com/editorsaysno

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Barry Lebow of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
for this one:

A dog went to a telegram office, took out a blank form and wrote:
“Woof.  Woof.  Woof.  Woof.  Woof.  Woof.  Woof.  Woof.  Woof.”

The clerk examined the paper and politely told the dog: “There
are only nine words here. You could send another ‘Woof’ for the
same price.”

The dog replied, “But that would make no sense at all.”
Dog Jokes & Quotes Ebook: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

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

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

How to thrive as an author, speaker, expert in any economy
http://tinyurl.com/thriveasanauthor
————————————

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

Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
USA
Phone: 262-284-7451 (Central) Fax: 262-284-1737