The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #537 Dec. 28, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. 7 Ways to Improve Your Blog

2. My Facebook Page is Missing

3. Workplace Columnist Needs Sources

4. Do You Tweet? Be on Twellow

5. How to Thank Your Clients

6. Hound Photos of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. 7 Ways to Improve Your Blog
=====================================

What would you rather do?

Go to a cocktail party and spend the entire evening bragging to
everyone in the room about how great you are?

Or miss the cocktail party, but hear later that everyone there
was talking about you, and gushing about your competence,
expertise and wit?

That’s one way to illustrate the power of inbound links to your
blog. You can’t control them. But when you get them, the search
engines reward you. The more inbound links your blog receives
from authoritative websites and blogs, the more important you’ll
look in the eyes of Google.

Even though you can’t control who says what about you, you can do
seven things to increase the likelihood of obtaining high-quality
incoming links. Copywriter Jim Lodico explained them all in the
blog post he wrote for the Social Media Examiner blog at
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/7-ways-to-improve-your-blog-
seo-with-inbound-links/#more-7068

One of them is something you’ve heard me harping about
repeatedly. Write and distribute online press releases. Not so
the media find them, call you and write about you. That rately
happens.

Of far greater value is that–and this is important–you can
control the inbound links to your blog or website from that press
release.

“The key is to link from the body text of the press release to
pages deep within your site such as a related blog post (deep
linking),” Jim explains.

For example, let’s say I wrote a blog post about how to write
headlines for how-to articles. I can write a press release
offering tips on how Publicity Hounds can write various formula
headlines to accompany their own articles. Within my press
release, the phrase “how to write headlines for articles” would
link directly to the blog post where readers can learn more about
the topic. I’d distribute the release through PRWeb.

The search engines see that “how to write headlines for
articles,” a phrase at an authoritative site like PRWeb, links to
my blog post. My blog gets credit for that backlink. And the more
backlinks I can attract, the more important my blog becomes in
Google’s eyes, and the higher the post ranks when someone types
“how to write headlines for articles” into Google.

But you can’t throw keyword phrases here and there. And you can’t
stuff keywords into the release. Press release expert Janet
Thaeler explained exactly how to use and position your keywords
when she was my guest during the teleseminar on “Keywords, the
Magic Magnets that Pull Consumers and Journalists to Your Press
Releases.” We recorded it, and it includes 11 pages of
illustrated handouts, links to three videos Janet has created
that show you how to do keyword research, an easy 8-step
checklist you can refer to every time you write a press release,
and a good example of a press release that was optimized for the
search engines, with keywords highlighted in yellow so you knkow
exactly how to do it.

Read more about how to access the teleseminar recording and the
handouts at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/keywords_in_press_releases.htm

======================================
2. My Facebook Page is Missing
======================================

Talk about frustrating!

For the past few months, I’ve had no activity at my Facebook Fan
Page at http://www.Facebook.com/publicity tips despite the fact
that I’ve been posting videos, notes, tips and photos.

If you click on that link or paste it into your browser window,
you’ll end up in your own account. Yet the page comes up in the
search results if you search for “publicity” pages. So I know
Facebook hasn’t yanked the page.

I’ve filled out Facebook’s “bug report” form twice but have heard
nothing.

Does anyone have any bright ideas about how to solve this
problem? Publicity Hound DeeNice Rhodes suggested going to
LinkedIn and connecting with someone from Facebook, then asking a
Facebook employee to help me. That’s what she did when she had a
problem with Facebook, and someone helped her immediately.

Email me at JStewart@PublicityHound.com or, better yet, comment
at my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=7601 so that others who
experience this same problem know what to do.

On LinkedIn, are you connected with a Facebook employee who might
be able to help me, and would you be willing to make the
introduction?

=====================================
3. Workplace Columnist Needs Sources
=====================================

Dr. Mildred Culp, who writes the WorkWise syndicated column,
needs sources to discuss how they overcame (or are overcoming)
excessive electronic connection at work by connecting face-to-
face with others. Include your city and state, and telephone
number.

Publicists, you can promote your clients and their employees.
WorkWise is featured in dozens of daily newspapers, from The
Miami Herald to San Diego Union-Tribune. It uncovers emerging
trends in the workplace. Email her at Workwise@comcast.net

=====================================
4. Do You Tweet? Be on Twellow
=====================================

Looking for people in a certain niche on Twitter, but confused
about how to find them?

Twellow.com to the rescue. It’s like the Twitter Yellow Pages,
with hundreds of categories and some really obscure niches. I
spent much of the day there today looking for people who one of
my corporate consulting clients can follow.

Twellow grabs publicly available messages from Twitter. It
analyzes and categorizes the writer into several hundred
categories at Twellow.com, which helps you narrow your search
into specific niches where you can find who you are looking for.

While you’re there, check to see if you’re registered. If not,
get onto Twellow pronto! If you’re already on Twellow, you can
be listed in 10 categories, delete categories that have been
assigned to you, or add those that aren’t. Read the FAQs at
http://www.twellow.com/about.php

My other favorite way to find people on Twitter is by using
Twitter lists. Lists can help you spy on your competitors, save
hours of research time, and find large groups of experts in the
same niche. You can also use Twitter lists to find joint venture
partners and journalists who cover your industry.

If you want a crash course in lists, check out the webinar I
hosted on “How to Use Twitter Lists & Directories to Generate
Publicity and Build Your Brand” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitterlists.htm

======================================
5. How to Thank Your Clients
======================================

Say Happy New Year and thank your client with my free ebook
packed with 25 tips on how to use traditional and social media to
promote their product, service, cause or issue.

Download “The Best of The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week of
2010″ at http://Ez.com/bestof2010

And then encourage your clients to subscribe to this newsletter.
You read it. Shouldn’t they?

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Meryl K. Evans of Plano, Texas for
these photos of the 10 Weirdest Dog Toys. My favorite is the red
lips!

http://www.oddee.com/item_97297.aspx

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

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

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

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

CEOs: Unusual hobbies, collections? Forbes wants you
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7562

Help! No one can see my Facebook Fan Page
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7525

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #521 Sept. 1, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Betting on the Bush Tax Cuts

2. Sales Leads from Your Blog

3. How to Get Onto Twitter Lists

4. Fun Ideas for a Pizza Shop

5. Authors, Last Call for Tips

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can also use it to generate sales leads.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Stephanie Trahd:

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

From Gayle Carson:

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

From Diana:

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

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great fodder for retweeting:

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

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

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #519 Aug. 24, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. My New Twitter Strategy

2. Why Can’t They Find You on Twitter?

3. Replay of Teleseminar for Authors

4. Important Deadline Today

5. Let’s Ban Groundbreaking Events

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. My New Twitter Strategy
=====================================

If you’re like me, and you’re on Twitter, you love to share
helpful articles and blog posts you see elsewhere, and retweet
other people’s content.

Most of my tweets lead my followers to interesting and compelling
information written by other experts. Sure, I link to my own blog
posts and articles, but it’s a heck of a lot easier to just
scroll through my Google Reader and share somebody else’s
content, without thinking too hard, instead of writing my own.

When I read a blog post last week written by Mark Faggiano at the
Mashable blog, it dawned on me that I’m not doing a good enough
job positioning myself as a subject matter expert.

What’s missing, I concluded, is a steady stream of my own advice,
original thought and opinions about publicity and PR topics. If
you aren’t providing those, Mark says, you aren’t a subject
matter expert on Twitter. You’re simply a news channel.

Mark adds that subject matter experts should also avoid writing
status updates such as what they’re doing or where they’re going.
He even says that no status updates are OK.

Read his entire post at
http://socialmediatoday.com/markfaggiano/163726/three-keys-being-
subject-matter-expert-twitter and then decide if you need to
change your Twitter strategy, too.

======================================
2. Why Can’t They Find You on Twitter?
======================================

If someone needs a person with your expertise, they can go to
http://www.Search.Twitter.com and search by keyword phrase, name,
location or topic.

But what if that’s not where they’re looking?

Instead, they’re at one of the dozens of Twitter directories. If
you’re not listed in those directories, they won’t be able to
find you. But they might find several of your competitors there,
start following them, and become rabid fans. And you’re left in
the cold.

Learn about the most important Twitter directories where you must
have a presence, and dozens of other tips on how to use Twitter
lists and directories to save hours of time, form relationships
with journalists, become that subject matter expert I mentioned
above, and create and solidify your brand.

My webinar at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26, will include step-by-
step directions and advice on how to create a powerful strategy
for using lists. Many Publicity Hounds are confused about this
topic and I’m swamped with questions. If you can’t attend live,
you’ll get the link to the video replay and the MP3, plus
handouts and a free report on “How to Use Twitter for Business to
Network, Promote, Sell, Recruit & Profit.”

If you missed the five tips I sent you last week, you can read
them at my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/5-ways-to-use-twitter-lists-for-pr-
publicity/ or go directly to the webinar registration page at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitterlists.htm

=====================================
3. Replay of Teleseminar for Authors
=====================================

Publishing and marketing mentor John Eggen hit it out of the park
during the teleseminar I hosted last week on how to “Write a
Client-Attracting Book Fast That Makes $150,000 Even Before It’s
Published” (and more thereafter).

Participants loved the timeline he gave on exactly how many weeks
you should spend writing, editing, designing, printing and
shipping your book. While some authors exceed his 90-day window
for producing a book, they still complete the task in far less
time than it takes many other authors who labor for years over
their books. Those unfortunate authors turn the process into a
grueling, exhausting exercise that eats up precious time and
exceeds their budget, often by thousands of dollars.

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

There’s a valuable free gift (a $265.00 value) offered to
attendees during the interview, but it will only be honored for a
few more days. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

Claim your teleseminar recording at http://tinyurl.com/25blcta

======================================
4. Important Deadline Today
======================================

Today is the last day to take advantage of the early-bird
discount to attend the National Publicity Summit in New York
City, Oct. 20-23.

Only 24 of 100 slots are still open, and the price goes up by at
least $200 for anyone who applies after today.

When you attend the summit, you’ll personally meet over 100 top
journalists/producers who do stories and shows for major media
like: ABC’s The View, CNN, Fox News, Today Show, Woman’s Day,
MSNBC, 48 Hours, Live With Regis & Kelly, Fox & Friends, ABC’s
20/20, USA Weekend, Dateline NBC, Health, Entrepreneur, Family
Circle and many more top outlets. I’m a compensated affiliate and
I promote the summit because of the many great results I’ve heard
and seen from Publicity Hounds who have attended.

Apply at http://www.nationalpublicitysummit.com/apply/?10011

======================================
5. Let’s Ban Groundbreaking Events
======================================

This week, four Publicity Hounds have tips for Lois Kirkpatrick
of Fairfax, Va., who works for a large county government, and
needs alternatives for ground-breaking events.

From Jay Hamilton-Roth:

“Why not create a time capsule at the event? Have people bring
photos, newspaper clippings, drawings, etc. to bury. This could
involve kids and adults, with the bonus of a contest for the best
or smallest or heaviest time capsule submissions.”

From Karen Zapp:

“Get a Flip video camera and record a video as the contractor
begins the site prep work. Ideally, they’re excavating with heavy
equipment. Then have someone engaging in the foreground sharing
key pieces of information about the project.”

From Gail Sideman:

“Hold events that give back to the community when you announce
the opening/reopening of a government venue. For a library,
organize a book drive for those who cannot afford new books or
are challenged for transportation to the library. Some of those
books may also go to the shelter during its opening.

“Regarding the shelter, hold a drive for baby items, such as
diapers, bottles and the like so that the new facility may be
well stocked.”

The Publicity Hound says:

Read all the responses to this “Help This Hound” question at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6913 and then check out “Fun
Alternatives to Boring Ground-breakings, Ribbon-cuttings and
Check-passings” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/groundbreakings.htm

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

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

Deborah Lott of Giddings, Texas, writes:

?My husband and I opened a casual pizza and Italian restaurant in
the small Texas town of Giddings, population 5,000, on Hwy. 290,
a major highway between Austin and Houston.

?We have been open for only six months and are having a hard time
getting local residents to dine here. Money is tight so
advertising has been minimal.

?We are open to any and all ideas to help us keep our doors open.
The first three months we were open, we were doing great, but
this summer has been a hardship.?

The Publicity Hound says:

Deborah, you’re not the only restaurant owner who’s hurting.
That’s why tips from my Hounds are more important than ever. Post
them at my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=6959

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

Thanks to Twitter follower @NathanBryce for this one:

A dog gave birth on the side of the road and was cited
for…littering.

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

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

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

Great fodder for retweeting:

How to turn a Golf Digest article into more publicity
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6944

5 ways to use Twitter lists for PR, publicity
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6929

How to link your Twitter and Facebook accounts
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/?p=438

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #516 Aug. 3, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Create Twitter Lists

2. New Media Leads Service

3. Secrets of Publicity Superstars

4. Subject Lines That Scream “Open!”

5. How to Promote Wardrobe Workshops

6. Authors, Save the Date

7. Dog Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And wow, do journalists ever open them!

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

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

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

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

From Bob Shultz:

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

From Rekaya:

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

From Marcia Yudkin:

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

The Publicity Hound says:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great retweets:

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

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

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

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

——————————————-

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

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

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

——————————————–

Permission to Reprint:

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

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

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

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

Privacy Statement:

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

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