The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week » social media

Publicity Tips—Tips for Your 2012 Media Plan

JStewart — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:00:06 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #575 Oct. 4, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Tips for Your 2012 Media Plan

2. Your Competitors’ Press Releases

3. How to Find Influential People

4. Don’t Use Facebook’s Links Box

5. Artists Need International Publicity

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Tips for Your 2012 Media Plan
=====================================

This is the time to start collecting editorial calendars so you
can begin creating your media plan for next year.

Contact the advertising department at each newspaper and magazine
where you want publicity and ask a sales rep to send you a
calendar or lead you to it at their website.

Editorial calendars list special sections and other topical
features being planned for specific publications. They tip you
off to sections where your story would be a good fit. Find out
who edits the section, write a pitch, and then deliver it. Using
editorial calendars will put you miles ahead of everyone else
who’s pitching.

Here are three more tips for creating a media plan:

–Less is more. You’re better off targeting fewer media outlets
and writing customized pitches for each, rather than delivering
the same one-size-fits-all pitch to dozens of media outlets, many
of which will have very different audiences.

–Use the social media sites to find journalists who cover your
topic. If you find a beat reporter on, say, Twitter, follow him.
Pay attention to topics he’s writing about. Retweet his content.
Start the conversation. And then pitch.

–Think of ways to repurpose your publicity, using multi-media.
If a local newspaper prints a story about your company’s new
product, don’t stop there. Create a video for YouTube. Post
photos to Flickr. Feature the product on Company Pages on
LinkedIn. Consider hosting a free webinar showing people how to
use the product, and offer replays of the video at your blog.

If you aren’t creating a strategy right now to generate publicity
in the next 12 months, in another month or two, it may be too
late. Long lead times for some media outlets, like national
magazines for instance, mean you need to be pitching stories six
months before the magazine goes to press.

But you don’t have to start creating a plan from scratch. Let me
help.

“How to Create a Media Plan” is a graduate-level course on how to
get worldwide attention for your product, service, cause or
issue, by creating and following a well-thought-out, month-by-
month strategic plan that also leaves room for publicity ideas
when there’s breaking news.
It’s available as electronic transcripts, CDs or MP3s. Read more
about how it will shorten your learning curve at
http://www.publicityhound.com/mediaplan.htm

=====================================
2. Your Competitors’ Press Releases
=====================================

Your media plan, mentioned above, has an important component:
online press releases.

You will write them primarily to reach consumers directly through
the search engines. For journalists, you’ll deliver those
customized pitches.

Just for the heck of it, go see what kinds of press releases your
competitors are writing. I’m a huge fan of ExpertClick: The
Online Yearbook of Experts, which lets you post up to 52 press
releases per year, with a subscription.

Go to http://www.ExpertClick.com/Referral/Publicity_Hound and
click “Site Map” in the menu bar. Now go to the “Experts” column
and click on “Find Experts.”

Scroll down to the long list of hundreds of topics. Click on your
topic and you’ll see a list of your competitors. You can now call
up their press releases and see what they’ve written. If you
don’t see your topic, use the search box.

One of the reasons I like ExpertClick, and am a compensated
affiliate, is because press releases rank well in the search
engines. You can also write them even when there’s no news.
Create a tips list, take a stand on a controversial topic, make a
prediction, issue a proclamation, or identify a trend you’re
seeing in your industry and write about it, and include a call to
action.

If you use the link above, you can take advantage of the $100
Publicity Hound discount.

======================================
3. How to Find Influential People
======================================

I recently discovered Appinions, a fascinating company that shows
you how to find and connect with influencers like journalists and
bloggers who are discussing topics in your area of expertise
right now.

Unlike sites, such as Klout, that measure only social media
influence, Appinions also tracks traditional media to round out a
true picture of influence.

Appinions claims to be the first service that matches influencers
to specific topics, based on opinions from news, blogs, tweets,
TV transcripts and social networks. Publicity Hounds can then
identify the most influential people who can move the needles of
influence, and pitch them.

After speaking with CEO Larry Levy, and watching him demonstrate
how the service works, I was so impressed that I asked him to
host a free webinar for you.

The ideal client for this service is a PR or marketing agency
that has multiple clients and does at least $5 million a year in
revenue.

If that’s you, join us for a free one-hour webinar at 3 p.m.
Eastern Time on Thursday, Oct. 13. After you sign up, email me
the topics where you need to find influencers. Levy has promised
to demonstrate his service, using as many topics as possible from
participants.

We have room for only 50 Publicity Hounds on the call. But if you
can’t attend live, you can watch the video replay. Register for
the webinar at
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/308195010

Full disclosure: I will earn a commission from all subscriptions
sold.

=====================================
4. Don’t use Facebook’s Link Box
=====================================

When you write a Facebook status update and want to link to an
article, Facebook gives you two options:

–Click on the “Link” box and type your link.

–Simply type the URL directly into your status update.

Lots of testers have done it both ways. They’ve found that, in
most cases, the second option encourages more people to click on
the link.

Mari Smith has lots more ideas on how to encourage people to Like
your page and click on your links. She was my guest during the
webinar on “33 Ways to Attract Facebook Fans, Provide Sterling
Content & Keep Them Coming Back for More.” No time to watch the
webinar replay? That’s OK. Use the handy checklist I compiled. It
includes all 33 tips. Follow one tip each day and watch the
number of “Likes” on your page skyrocket.

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

=====================================
5. Artists Need International Publicity
=====================================

Publicity Hound Kate Farrall of San Diego, CA, writes:

“I need to get national/international publicity for my two
muralist clients who are completing a five-story public art
installation this November for the City of Davis, just outside of
Sacramento. They have transformed a water tank into a 360-degree
kinetic art installation. You can see a short video that explains
the project at
http://lcmuralanddesign.com/watertank/shadow.html

“My pitches have done well, thanks to your great advice. So far,
I’ve gotten my clients a segment on our local PBS channel that
will run for a year and a half, along with a few other news and
print hits. The feedback on my pitches has been really good and
I’ve tailored each one.

“How do I create a hook for national publications, especially art
publications? Or even publications that are not so big but
located elsewhere? Local has been a good hook for us so far, but
that won’t work in the Midwest, New York or Europe. My clients
want to be recognized as professional artists and have a broader
name recognition so they can expand where they work and the types
of projects they do.

You can read a press release about the project at
http://lcmuralanddesign.com/press/pressrelease1.html

The Publicity Hound says:

My readers love questions like this because there are so many
publicity possibilities. One of the first things I’d do is go to
their Flickr and write captions and tags for each photo. OK,
Hounds, let’s hear your ideas. Post them at my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9512

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

Thanks to Elaine Grassbaugh of Columbus, Ohio for this hysterical
oldie-but-goodie video of the “Jack Russell Balloon Dog” on, I
assume, a Stupid Pet Trick segment on the “Tonight Show” with Jay
Leno.

http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/52494209

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

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

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

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

Celebrity publicists: Interviewer will promote your clients
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9494

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The
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Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Be Part of a Restaurant’s Name

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

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

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Be Part of a Restaurant’s Name

2. Social Media Today Needs Bloggers

3. Three Major Facebook Changes

4. 7 Ways to Land Big Media Appearances

5. YouTube Adds Editing Tools

6. Promoting a Family circle Article

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

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

File this one under “Clever Publicity Stunts.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learn more here:

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

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

New changes you need to know about:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Dan Janal:

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

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

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

From Alice Hohl:

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

From The Publicity Hound:

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

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

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

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

–Rodney Dangerfield

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

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

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

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

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

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

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—How to Follow Up a Pitch

JStewart — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:28:20 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #569 Aug. 23, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. How to Follow Up a Pitch

2. Reader’s Digest Wants Your Story

3. How Not to Walk Off the Set

4. Tips for Pitching Local TV News

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. How to Follow Up a Pitch
=====================================

In the old days, a decade ago, PR experts advised that after
pitching a journalist, you should follow up seven times before
you give up and move on.

No more.

Today, smart Publicity Hounds also spend their time doing things
they didn’t have to worry about back then: managing their
Facebook pages, bookmarking, tweeting, sharing industry news on
LinkedIn, blogging, and commenting at other people’s blogs. It’s
impractical and next to impossible to do all that and follow up a
pitch seven times.

When I presented last week’s webinar on “A Simple 5-Step Formula
for Delivering the Perfect Media Pitch & Hitting It Out of the
Park,” I recommended you follow up three or four times.

But when you do, don’t call and say, “Hi, I’m calling to follow
up on….”

It’s better to say, “I sent you information on…” and then offer
something else. That could be a photo opportunity, a graphic, an
additional source or two, or statistics for a sidebar. Sometimes
that extra little nugget will tip the scales in your favor and
encourage the journalist to say “yes.”

One Publicity Hound who attended the webinar already has gotten a
“yes” from two reporters, after using my 5-step formula. Learn
how to access the video replay, handouts and other materials at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/pitchingformula.htm

=====================================
2. Reader’s Digest Wants Your Story
=====================================

Can you write your autobiography in 150 words or less, and
include advice or a life lesson?

If so, you should enter “Your Life…The Reader’s Digest
Version,” a campaign on the magazine’s Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/ReadersDigest

Grand prize is $25,000 and lots of exposure. The winning entry
will be printed in the magazine (circulation 17 million).

Jane Lynch, of the TV hit show “Glee,” is spokesperson for the
campaign and submitted the first entry.

After you write yours, you can encourage your friends to vote for
it. The page is a little clunky, and you can’t see all the
entries. But you can search for them by name or topic.

Share a lesson, simple advice, funny moment, or a story about
your life. You can also upload a photo or video.

If you’d rather skip this and spend your time acquiring more
Facebook fans, use the helpful handout I compiled on “33 Ways to
Find Facebook Fans, Provide Sterling Content & Keep Them Coming
Back for More.” It comes with the video replay, MP3 and other
bonuses from the webinar I hosted with Mari Smith recently. she’s
the world’s Number 1 Facebook expert.

Read more about what you’ll be able to do at
http://www.publicityhound.com/facebookpages.htm

======================================
3. How Not to Walk Off the Set
======================================

Former U.S. Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell blew it big time
when she walked off the set of CNN last week while being
interviewed by Piers Morgan.

He asked her opinion on gay marriage. But she said she wanted to
talk instead about her new book. From there, things got really
ugly.

Here’s an entertaining video compiled by CNN reporter Jeanne Moos
on how not to walk off the set of an interview.

http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/19/in-wake-of-the-walk-
off-how-not-to-walk-out-of-an-interview/?hpt=pm_mid

=====================================
4. Tips for Pitching Local TV News
=====================================

The local TV newscast that typically pulls the biggest audience
is at 10 or 11 p.m. on Sunday.

I can’t remember where I heard that statistic, but it’s true in
my house. I never watch the local TV news during the week. But I
always watch it on Sunday night, mostly because I want to see the
weather forecast for the coming week.

Feature stories abound on Sunday night because there’s so little
hard news to report. If you’re pitching local TV, try to figure
out an angle that ties into the coming week. Can you tie into the
changing of the seasons? The weather? An upcoming holiday?

Are you the local angle to a national story that will be in the
news during that week? Is your company or nonprofit doing
something that week that’s newsworthy?

Shawne Duperon, a TV producer, knows all the inside tips on how
to catch the attention of local TV news producers. She shared
them all during the teleseminar “How to Get on the Local TV News
Tomorrow.” Read about what she discussed and how you can access
the audio replay or the downloadable transcript, at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/getinthenews.htm

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

This week, five Publicity Hounds responded to Dr. Karen Hoving’s
question about whether she should continue to use social media to
market her psychology practice in Aurora, Colo.

From Kevin Green:

“Trust. It’s important for your business. Blogs can be used to
show you know your stuff and are likable, which leads to trust.
Ask for newsletter sign-ups at your blog.”

From Mary Jane Hurley Brant:

“Write articles on topics that you’re an expert in, and then post
on Facebook, LinkedIn and everywhere you can think of. Articles
addressing important topics today drive traffic and it’s
different than a blog. Submitting our articles to credible sites
as Ezinearticles.com (to name one great place) is always helpful
especially when one becomes recognized as an expert.”

From Bruce Bair:

“Twitter is helpful for letting followers know your schedule and
to get them to come to your main site.

“Facebook is a place you can get a following. Be sure you have a
landing page there and that you have content only available
there. Create some video on the problems of prominent people in
the news: Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this “Help This Hound” question at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9172

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

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

You think dogs can’t spell? Watch this German Short-hair Pointer
listen intently for its owner to drop the clue that signifies
good times ahead. Bogie, my German Short-hair, tilts her head to
the side, just like this one does, when I’m talking to her. Too
cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m78V6ub4ao&feature=related

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

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

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

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

3 ways to customize a pitch to journalists and get a “yes!”
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9216

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—A Dirty Word When Pitching

JStewart — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:35:58 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #568 Aug. 16, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. A Dirty Word When Pitching

2. Offer Extras & Sweeten the Pitch

3. Attract More Facebook Fans

4. Wanted: Your Guest Blog Post

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Photos of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. A Dirty Word When Pitching
=====================================

The next time you pitch a story idea to a journalist, don’t use
the one word that will force the reporter to hit the delete key,
write you off as a jerk, and maybe even blackball you.

The word?

Publicity.

As in, “We’re hoping for a little publicity for our fund-raiser
to benefit cancer research.”

Journalists HATE that word. They don’t view their jobs as giving
people publicity. They cover news.

Bloggers might cut you a little slack, but don’t use the word
with them, either.

Your job as a Publicity Hound is to be as helpful as possible to
anyone you pitch and to send the message, “I’m here to help you,”
not “I’m here so you can help me.”

The list of pitching mistakes is longer than my dog’s 3-foot
leash. It includes sending the same one-size-fits-all pitch to
dozens of media outlets, putting all journalists’ email addresses
in the CC line of your email, misspelling their names, pitching
via Twitter when the journalist doesn’t want to be pitched there,
and obeying journalists when they tell you, “Do not follow up.”

What they really mean is, “Don’t follow up if you don’t have
anything of value to offer.”

So what can you offer that will make them pay attention?

Lots of things like photos and graphics, and even audio and
video. I’ll cover them all when I host the webinar “A Simple 5-
Part Formula for Delivering the Perfect Media Pitch and Hitting
it Out of the Park” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday,
Aug. 18. If the time is inconvenient, register anyway, because
you’ll receive the video replay and other materials within 72
hours.

You can use my formula as a cheat sheet every time you pitch. And
I’ll give you 27 story angles you can steal on days when the idea
well is dry.

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

=====================================
2. Offer Extras & Sweeten the Pitch
=====================================

One of the little extras you can offer journalists when you pitch
is a list of other sources they can call to round out their story
or their program.

That’s one of three strategies that a husband and wife used to
clinch a seven-minute segment on the “Today” show.

Steve Harrison interviewed them and found out they used two other
strategies to get the producers to say “yes.” He’s repeating a
teleseminar with producers who book guests on TV talk shows for
ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, at 2 and 7 p.m. Eastern Time today.
Register at http://www.tvpublicityteleseminar.com/?10011

I promote this teleseminar as a compensated affiliate, because an
appearance on a big TV talk show can propel authors, speakers,
experts and small business people to stardom. Producers pay
attention to who’s booking which experts, and it isn’t unusual
for you to receive multiple calls from other producers if you
make it onto just one show.

======================================
3. Attract More Facebook Fans
======================================

An excellent way to pull more people to your Facebook page is to
post on the walls of other Facebook pages if the target audiences
are similar to yours.

But don’t promote. Share helpful content their readers will find
interesting.

How do you find those page owners? Simple. By following the trail
of bread crumbs on Facebook.

Start with someone you already know who reaches the same audience
you do, perhaps somebody in your industry. Go to their Facebook
page and look along the left margin where it says “Likes.” Find
out what pages they have Liked. Click through to each one.

When you see a page that’s a good fit, click on “Like” at the
top. But don’t leave just yet. Look along the left side for a
list of pages that that page owner has Liked. Before you know it,
you’ll have another dozen or so pages that you’ve Liked, and that
means more pages where you can comment on their content and post
to their walls.

During this exercise, it’s a good idea to use a paper and pen and
keep track of whose site you started on and where you went from
there. Then, you can go back to your friend’s site and see what
other pages they have Liked.

That’s one of several dozen ideas I discussed with Mari Smith,
the world’s Number One Facebook expert, when I hosted a webinar
recently. We came up with “33 Ways to Attract Facebook Fans,
Provide Sterling Content & Keep Them Coming Back for More.”

If you missed it, you can still access the video replay, Mari’s
PowerPoint slides and a helpful handout of all 33 ideas so you
don’t have to take notes. Access it at
http://www.publicityhound.com/facebookpages.htm

=====================================
4. Wanted: Your Guest Blog Post
=====================================

Bloggers are trying to squeeze in a week or two of vacation
before the kids go back to school.

August is the ideal time to suggest a guest blog post to a
blogger whose audience needs to hear what you have to say.

That’s what I did last week and the blogger said “yes!” He also
mentioned that my timing was perfect because he’s going on
vacation next week. I’ll share the link here as soon as he
publishes it.

If your idea isn’t a perfect fit and the blogger declines, ask,
“What other bloggers do you know who might be interested in this
topic?”

I always welcome guest posts on topics that include how to use
traditional and social media, and not just when I’m going on
vacation. Pitch me, and explain why my audience would be
interested.
Send an email to JStewart@PublicityHound.com and put “Guest blog
post” in the subject line.

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

Dr. Karen Hoving of Aurora, Colo., writes:

“I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and specialize in two
areas: Bipolar Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“Here’s what I’m doing right now to market myself:

–A Facebook page.

–A website.

–Two blogs: The Couch Trip for general psychology and
“Shrinking” Chronic Illness.

–A monthly newsletter (with only 11 subscribers-–sigh).

–A Twitter account.

–A LinkedIn profile (but am not terribly active). I share
different information on each site.

“Here’s my question: Do shrinks get patients via social media
marketing? I am doing a lot and watching all of the videos you
and others send. But often, people are trying to sell something
online. I am trying to sell ME-—my services and education, and my
time.

“Can this be marketed on sites like Facebook and Twitter? If so,
how? Marketing for therapists is different than marketing for
someone selling widgets.”

“If social media won’t work for me—and I’m willing to be
patient-—I don’t want to waste a lot of time.”

The Publicity Hound says: Many other professionals face the same
frustrating dilemma, Karen. But I know they’ve found ways to use
Facebook and Twitter creatively. How about it, Hounds? What are
some things Karen can do to reach her target market and turn
social media friends and fans into paying clients? Post your best
ideas to my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=9172

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

======================================
6. Hound Videos of the Week
======================================

10 Adorable Corgi Videos on YouTube (I love the one of the Corgi
that wants to be vacuumed):

http://socialtimes.com/corgi-videos_b72360

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

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

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

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

Pitch Patch.com for a new series on the American Dream
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9181

Pitching journalists? How to avoid “spraying & praying”
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9148

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—The Most Powerful Twitter Strategy

JStewart — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:12:27 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #566 Aug. 2, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. The Most Powerful Twitter Strategy

2. It’s Fair Time; Start Pitching

3. Webinar on Webinars Replay Link

4. Correcting Corrections

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Photos of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

***********************************
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newspapers, television, radio and the Internet from Wisconsin
News Tracker.com.
http://www.wisconsinnewstracker.com

Want your ad here? Read how:
http://publicityhound.net/the-publicity-hounds-tips-of-the-week-
now-accepts-ads/
***********************************

=====================================
1. The Most Powerful Twitter Strategy
=====================================

Here’s the best way to attract thousands of raving fans on
Twitter if you’re using it primarily for business:

–Provide a steady stream of useful content that helps your
followers solve their problems. That includes links to other
people’s content such as articles and blog posts. Twitter is all
about your followers. It shouldn’t be all about you.

–Link to infographics, photos and videos that explain
complicated topics and offer how-to information.

–Humor your followers occasionally with pithy one-liners,
particularly those about your industry. I tweet about “Dumb
Headlines” like this one: “Stiff opposition expected to
casketless funeral plan.”

–Answer questions when people ask. Don’t tell them “It’s on Page
44 of my book.”

–Be one of the first in your industry to share breaking news.

–Keep promotion to an absolute minimum. Push your Twitter
followers to your blog, where you should also be sharing helpful
content, but where you can promote all you wish.

Use these guidelines, and your followers will retweet your
content. Their followers will retweet it too, and so on.

Don’t fret if you’re still not on Twitter, or if your tweets
aren’t gaining traction.

I’m hosting a webinar on “Twitter for Beginners: A Step-by-Step,
Can’t-Fail System for Experts and Influencers (and Those Who Want
to Be).” It’s at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Aug. 4.

This webinar is perfect for Publicity Hounds who manage their own
Twitter accounts and for PR people who are training clients on
how to manage theirs. Read about what you’ll be able to do after
the webinar:
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitterforbeginners.htm

=====================================
2. It’s Fair Time; Start Pitching
=====================================

This is the month for state and county fairs. The media love
story ideas like these:

–If you’re an expert on household budgets, invite a reporter to
accompany you and your family and see the fair on the cheap. What
food and entertainment can be had for next to nothing? Where can
people find coupons for the fair?

–At the Wisconsin State Fair, beer on a stick and butter on a
stick are among the new foods being featured this year.
Nutritionists and cookbook authors can pitch a story on “State
fair food that can kill you.” Suggest healthy options offered by
fair vendors.

–The merchants building is filled with businesses hawking car
polish, knives, cookware, mops and massage machines. If you have
a booth, pitch a story on what you’re doing differently this year
to try to get fair-goers to part with their credit cards. Free
samples? Contests? Free bottled water?

–Doctors, hospitals and clinics: Offer tips on how fair-goers
can survive the heat.

–Floral shop owners: Pitch a story on how to keep fresh-cut
flowers looking their best for a week, even in the heat. Lots of
gardeners are competing for blue ribbons. Even those who aren’t
going to the fair will love this story.

–Chiropractors: What midway rides are the most dangerous for the
spine and back?

What happens if you pitch, but no one responds? Should you follow
up? Of course. But do it the right way. Jill Lublin shows you
how. See “Failproof Ways to Follow Up After Sending a News
Release or a Story Pitch” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/failprooffollowup.htm

======================================
3. Webinar on Webinars Replay Link
======================================

Publicity Hounds’ tails were wagging during the webinar I hosted
last week with Daniel Hall on “Step-by-Step Insider Secrets To
Producing Highly-Profitable Webinars.”

Why? Because Daniel told us what webinar company to use. He gave
us specific instructions on exactly what to put on our PowerPoint
slides, word for word. And he showed us how to “close the deal”
at the end. If you want to use free webinars to sell a product or
service, don’t miss the replay:

http://www.realfastwebinars.com/joanwebinar.html

Even if your webinar participants don’t buy anything from you,
they’ll still love you for providing high content.

The replay link is live only until Sunday. Then it’s paid access
only.

Even if you don’t take up Daniel on his offer, which also ends
Sunday night, you’ll want to get your hands on this formula.

http://www.realfastwebinars.com/joanwebinar.html

I bought his product. Once I’ve studied all of it, I’ll be
inviting you to free webinars on a variety of publicity and
social media topics, and they’ll be very different than the ones
you are use to seeing.

=====================================
4. Correcting Corrections
=====================================

One of the mistakes that will send you to the dog house without
your dinner is contacting a media outlet or a blogger about bad
information you provided to them, asking for a correction, and
then screwing up the information in the correction.

So it looks like no dinner tonight for this Hound. In last week’s
newsletter, I wrote a correction for an item that appeared here
the week before about basketball star Dwyane Wade of the Miami
Heat. But in the correction, I misspelled his name. Another
alert Hound caught my error.

With my tail between my legs, I’m slinking off to my dog house.
And no treats for a week!

What’s that? You say you don’t ask for corrections? Big mistake!
Find out why by reading my article “How to Ask for a Correction”:

http://publicityhound.com/pics/free_publicity/Articles/ask_for_a_
correction.html

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

Publicity Hound Juliet Hartley of St. Petersburg, Fla., writes:

“I’ve been sending a lot of pitches to different magazines about
my chic handmade hair accessories at http://www.BowAllure.com,
but I just don’t hear anything back from them. It’s very
frustrating.

“I’m attaching a copy of a pitch I sent to a few magazines and
would love to hear your input. I’ve contacted a couple of
reputable publicists but I just cannot afford to pay for their
services at this moment.

“The magazines I’m trying to send pitches to are very hard to
reach, like Parents magazine or Pregnancy and Newborn magazine.
They don’t give you the email address of the editor.”

The Publicity Hound says: As soon as I read Juliet’s pitch, which
I’ve posted at my blog, I spotted a problem instantly. There are
others. Let’s see if you can find them, get Juliet back on track
and make some suggestions on how she can pitch a story about hair
accessories. Or should she?

Post your comments to my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9030

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Meryl K. Evans of Plano, Texas, for
this funny photo collection of dogs shaking off water:

http://www.petapixel.com/2011/07/28/portraits-of-dogs-as-they-
shake-off-water/

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

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

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

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

5 things they never tell Twitter newbies, but should
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9015

Muck Rack lists 140+ journalists on Google+
http://publicityhound.net/?p=9043

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Attract Rabid Facebook Fans

JStewart — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:33:57 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #560 June 21, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Attract Rabid Facebook Fans

2. Why Social Media Doesn’t Work

3. Dreaded Check-passing Photos

4. Land a Corporate Sponsor

5. Promote a Restaurant Reopening

6. Hound Quote of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch it here:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jacqueline has had equally impressive success.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Jenni Bowring:

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

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

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

From Everett:

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

From Shelley Hunter:

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

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

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Your 30-Second Bumper Sticker

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

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

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Your 30-Second Bumper Sticker

2. Work with Me One on One

3. YouTube Video Secrets

4. Fast Track for Authors, Speakers, Experts

5. Marketing Tips for a Moose Lodge

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s the best part.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How did they do it?

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

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

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

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

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

From Marcia Yudkin:

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

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

From Patty Newbold:

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

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

From Scott Anthony:

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

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips–Twice as Many Facebook Fans

JStewart — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:50:09 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #553 May 3, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Twice as Many Facebook Fans

2. Energize Your Boring Bio

3. Sample PR/Marketing Contracts

4. Your Sneaky LinkedIn Profile

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.facebook.com/publicityhound

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

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

Here are three examples of bios I like:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you missed the first webinar with him, it’s not too late to
start applying what he taught. Access the video replay and the
killer handouts for “Your LinkedIn Power Formula: How to Make
Killer Contacts, Pull Crowds to Events, be a Star in Your
Industry & Track Down Leads Like a Bloodhound” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/linkedinpowerformula.htm

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

Don Luepnitz of Norwalk, CA, writes:

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

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

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

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

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Speak in Sound Bites

JStewart — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:02:47 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #552 April 26, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Speak in Sound Bites

2. How to Publicize Major Publicity

3. Tips for Better Corporate Photos

4. Teleseminar for Authors Only

5. Don’t Automate Social Media

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Speak in Sound Bites
=====================================

One of the best sound bites I ever heard was from my friend, Eli
Davidson, who described how men and women communicate
differently:

“Men talk like they’re laying bricks, and women talk like we’re
tossing salad,” she said.

Here’s another sound bite from Eli, who describes what it was
like to be in deep debt:

“It felt like I was playing football in high heels and a dress,
against the credit card companies.”

And her description of the first business she started, making
decorative barrettes out of silk flowers and hair clips:

“I started a business with $17 and a glue gun.”

Those sound bites paint a picture, don’t they?

Eli used them to really dress up her interview when she appeared
on “Good Morning, America.”

You can use compelling sound bites, too, but they seldom just
roll off your tongue or pop into your head.

Media coach Susan Harrow is offering a teleseminar series on how
to use sound bites not only for publicity, but to close deals,
and get what you want. She’ll give you a taste of what the series
includes with a free teleseminar tomorrow, April 27. Sign up here
for “Your Signature Sound Bites: How to Convey The Right Messages
to Get What You Want”:
http://www.webmarketingmagic.com/app/?af=307515

======================================
2. How to Publicize Major Publicity
======================================

When Publicity Hounds get major publicity hits, the last thing
they should do is rest on their laurels and their back legs.

There’s more work to be done!

Publicist Michelle Tennant, one of the first graduates of The
Publicity Hound Mentor Program, scored a major story in the Wall
Street Journal last week for one of her clients. But that’s not
all. The Journal teased the story at the top of Page 1.

When Michelle emailed me the good news, I challenged her to write
a list of all the ways she’s going to publicize her publicity.
She’s already started. You can read her entire list at my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8279

Michelle, by the way, was the guest expert who joined me on the
webinar, “How to Tie Your Pitch to Breaking News and Make the
Media Interview YOU.” She explained the seven places she looks
for breaking news, and the three important elements that she
incorporates into every pitch. Read more about how to access the
video recording at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/breakingnews.htm

=====================================
3. Tips for Better Corporate Photos
=====================================

Too often, compelling photos are an afterthought.

You write an article for your company newsletter and then,
scramble to shoot a few pictures a day or two before deadline.

Or you pitch a story idea to the media. and when a reporter asks
for photos, you’re empty-handed.

Longtime photo instructor Phil Douglis, a former corporate
communications manager, has spent four decades teaching corporate
photography–and helping communicators understand the language of
pictures. Read his five tips on how to take better corporate
photos at http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/36045.aspx

My ebook, “How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity
Campaign,” shows amateur photographers, and even people who don’t
know how to use a camera, the quickest and most inexpensive ways
to take great photos or create pleasing graphics that will
enhance their publicity campaigns. After reading this book, you
will NEVER create a promotional campaign without making sure you
have images to complement the words you use.

Read more about what you’ll learn how to do at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicityphotos.htm

=====================================
4. Teleseminar for Authors Only
=====================================

Most non-fiction authors never begin to tap their financial
potential. That’s too bad because there are often some relatively
easy ways they can make a whole lot more money.

You’re invited to a free telephone seminar at which you’ll
discover proven tips for creating spin-off income streams based
on your book or expertise, how one non-fiction author created
over $720,000 a year of non-royalty income and seven other
surprisingly easy strategies for quickly making a quantum leap in
your income as an author/expert.

I promote these calls as a compensated affiliate, because I get
dozens of phone calls and emails each year from authors who are
frustrated that they can’t earn a living from writing books.
Sound familiar? If so, don’t miss this call.

======================================
5. Don’t Automate Social Media
======================================

Several years ago, when busy people were looking for ways to save
time with social media, they relied on programs like Ping.com to
automate their content.

Post a status update and Ping could push it out to Twitter,
Facebook, LinkedIn, and the other sites you see in the photo at
left, with just a click of the mouse.

At the time, it seemed like a good idea. But something started
to happen.

People who followed a particular expert on several social media
sites started to see the same content over and over again. It
became all too obvious that the expert was pushing out identical
content on multiple social media platforms.

If you’re automating your content, understand the risks, and what
can happen if you don’t offer fresh content to different
audiences:

http://publicityhound.net/?p=8294

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

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

“The noblest dog is the hot dog because it feeds the hand that
bites it.”

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

Monitor “(your brand) sucks” and do damage control
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8259

Stop automating social media content–More tips May 7
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8294

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

Publicity Tips—Journalists’ Trick Questions

JStewart — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:53:36 +0000

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #550 April 12, 2011
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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In This Issue
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1. Journalists’ Trick Questions

2. Cross-promote on Social Media

3. Don’t Upgrade on LinkedIn

4. For Non-fiction Authors Only

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Photos of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

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1. Journalists’ Trick Questions
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Let’s see how savvy you are when it comes to interviewing with
journalists.

Which of the following would you consider a trick question:

A. “What’s your annual revenue?”

B. “I know you feel uncomfortable commenting on that topic, but
how about telling me off the record?”

C. “What’s the worst business mistake you’ve ever made, and what
have you learned from it?”

Take a minute and actually write your answer on a piece of paper.
A, B or C, or any combination of the above?

As a former journalist, I’ve asked those three questions many
times.

Now, go to my blog to find out whether you’re correct:
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8208

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2. Cross-promote on Social Media
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Now that you’re on a variety of social media sites, do your
friends, followers and fans know where to find you on other
sites?

Let’s say that after searching online for information, they end
up on one of your YouTube videos. Do you have a YouTube channel
that explains where they can find you on LinkedIn and Facebook?

Linking to the channel is easy. But, too often, we forget to
link from it. On my YouTube channel, I include links to several
social media sites from the sub-head that says, “About Me”:
http://www.youtube.com/publicityhound

I’m also revisiting my Google profile and adding links to social
media sites, like Quora, that I’ve added in the last few months.

Those are only two of 13 ways I cross-promote on the social media
sites. Read about the other 11 at my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8176

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3. Don’t Upgrade on LinkedIn
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In some LinkedIn groups, members are discussing whether it’s
worth it to upgrade to the paid version of LinkedIn.

The concensus is that unless you’re a recruiter, or you’re using
the site for a very active job search, it isn’t worth it to pay.

LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth says LinkedIn has enough other
features, like the ability to ask for an introduction, that let
you do just about anything other than having direct access to
more people.

When he was my guest on a webinar last month, he demonstrated
several ways to use the Advanced Search feature to find sales
leads within minutes. And he explained what to do with those
leads once you have them.

Regardless of your industry, if you’re not using Advanced Search,
you’re leaving money on the table. Learn more about what Wayne
taught, and how you can access the video replay and all the
materials we covered during the webinar at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/linkedinpowerformula.htm

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4. For Non-fiction Authors Only
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Have you ever wondered why some authors make a fortune while so
many others with equally good books always seem to struggle
financially?

Would you like to make a whole lot more from your own non-fiction
book(s), without a lot of work or expense?

After working with 9,300+ authors over the last 20 years, Steve
Harrison knows that rich authors simply do seven key things
differently than poor authors.

Some are very famous bestsellers, like the creators of the
Chicken Soup for the Soul series and Rich Dad Poor Dad.

Others are happily not so famous but quietly raking in high six-
figure and even seven-figure annual incomes without ever being on
Oprah or hitting any bestseller list.

To learn what rich authors know that poor authors don’t, join
Steve for a free 75-minute telephone seminar this Thursday, April
14, at your choice of two times: 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. Eastern.

There’s no cost to participate in the call, except for your
normal long distance charges. I’m a compensated affiliate.
Register here:

http://www.freepublicity.com/richauthorsecrets/?10011

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5. Help This Hound
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Matthew Bivens of Gainesville, FL, writes:

“I work at a startup company called Fracture at
http://www.FractureMe.com, which gives people an innovative way
to print, mount and display their personal photographs. Send us a
photo and we’ll print it on a pane of shatter-proof glass.

“We’ve been in business a little over a year, and we’ve received
press from various news and media outlets (both local and
national), and our product has been pretty well received. For
example, a TechCrunch blog post back in October 2010 drove in
hundreds of orders in a matter of hours–a huge leap from the 10
to 20 orders per day we were seeing at the time.

“We’ve had other media coverage here and there, but we have yet
to see real sustained growth. All of our focus is currently on
sales and marketing, and we’d love any advice you or your readers
can give as to different cost-effective strategies a startup can
use to gain exposure and spread the word.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Hounds, keep this in mind for all your dog photos, too!

Take a minute and post your best marketing ideas for Matthew at
my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=8200

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6. Hound Photos of the Week
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Thanks to Publicity Hound Meryl K. Evans of Plano, Texas, for
tipping us off to this journal of 16 photos of authors and their
dogs. They were taken by Jill Krementz, who says these top dogs
“over the years have wagged their tails into my photographs…and
into my heart.”

http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/205235

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7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
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13 ways to cross-promote on social media sites
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8176

Beware of journalists’ trick questions during an interview
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8208

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http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound

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