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PublicityTips—TV Interview Emergencies

July 19th, 2011 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #564 July 19, 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. TV Interview Emergencies

2. Why So Many Tweets?

3. Piggyback onto Twitter

4. NYT Writers on Quora

5. Help People Share Your Content

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. TV Interview Emergencies
=====================================

It’s 7 a.m., and you’re scheduled to be at the local TV station
for a talk show interview in three hours.

You pull your favorite silk suit from the closet, remove it from
the dry cleaning bag and put on the slacks.

Horrors! They’ve shrunk.

Now what?

If you were prepared, and you’d tried on the outfit yesterday,
you wouldn’t be in this predicament.

But don’t feel bad. I had my own emergency last week shortly
before I was to appear on a live webcast in San Diego, hosted by
Don Crowther, the creator of the Social Profit Formula 2.0 social
media course I took and highly recommend.

Just before I was to leave for the recording studio, I noticed my
tube of liquid lipstick cracked, or the top came loose. And I had
to deal with a gooey mess that stained my fingers bright pink and
caused unnecessary delays and frayed nerves.

That made me think about other emergencies that pop up before and
during TV interviews, like freeway accidents that back up traffic
and make you late for your appearance. Or questions from the
interviewer that you don’t know how to answer. Or a hair stylist
who cancels your appointment the morning of the interview because
she’s ill.

Read my blog post, and be prepared:

http://publicityhound.net/?p=8866

=====================================
2. Why So Many Tweets?
=====================================

Don Crowther, who hosted the webcast I mentioned above,
recommends that Publicity Hounds who use Twitter to promote their
expertise send up to 20 tweets per day.

Why so many? Doesn’t that brand you as a pest?

Not if you’re sharing terrific content. During last night’s
coaching call for people who have registered for his Social
Profit Formula course, he explained that when people log into
their Twitter accounts, they see the most recent tweets at the
top of their feed. Those are the tweets that catch people’s
attention first.

If yours is among them, and readers click on a link you’ve
shared, they might end up at your website or blog or a helpful
article you’ve written that will position you as an expert. Or
they’ll click on a link to someone else’s content-rich article,
and you’ll look like a hero.

Last week, during the launch of Don’s Social Profit Formula 2.0
course, lots of people missed out because they were on vacation
or had to wait for payday, or whatever.

Don has reopened registration for the course (which I’m taking).
I love the coaching calls because I can ask questions. And his
constantly updated material keeps me abreast of the many social
media changes on sites like Facebook and YouTube. I share only a
few tidbits from his course here.

Is the entire course right for you? Only if you want to be far
ahead of your peers and equipped with time-saving tools and smart
strategies that will make you money, not just friends and
followers. Find out how:

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

His next coaching call is Monday, July 25. I hope you can join
us.

======================================
3. Piggyback onto Twitter
======================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of The
Frugal Book Promoter, who tipped me off to this clever way that
KFC piggybacked off a tweet to create great publicity.

KFC paid attention to one of Wade Dwyane’s tweets asking if
anyone was hiring after the NBA lockout.

Dwyane, who plays for the Miami Heat basketball team, used to
work for KFC, so they offered him his old job back. If he’d lead
a team filling KFC buckets fast (instead of NBA baskets), they’d
donate $250,000 to charity.

Here’s the link to read more:

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2011-07-11/kfc-offers-
dwyane-wade-a-job-during-lockout?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-
n%7Cdl10%7Csec1_lnk3%7C218968.

If you don’t have $250,000 to spend on a similar campaign, that’s
OK.

“You just need to keep your marketing bonnet on so that when the
opportunity arises, you will be there,” Carolyn says.

To subscribe to her excellent ezine, Sharing with Writers, send a
SUBSCRIBE message to HoJoNews@aol.com.

=====================================
4. NYT Writers on Quora
=====================================

Three writers for The New York Times will be on Quora today, and
the next two Tuesdays, answering questions related to their new
books. They are:

–Financial writer Diana Henriques

–Business columnist Gretchen Morgenson

–Deputy national editor Adam Bryant

If you’re a smarT Publicity Hound who wants to get in front of
them, you won’t be pitching. Instead, you’ll be asking questions
related to the writers’ expertise. And you’ll be paying attention
to the answers, which might provide fodder for weaving into your
next pitch.

Publicity Tips—33 Ways to Attract Facebook Fans

July 7th, 2011 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #562 July 5, 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. 33 Ways to Attract Facebook Fans

2. The Best Times to Tweet

3. Summer Story Ideas

4. Trigger Thousands of YouTube Views

5. Pitch “If You’re Going…” Tips

6. Hound Quote of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. 33 Ways to Attract Facebook Fans
=====================================

Have you used Facebook’s new Question feature yet?

If not, it’s time to start. Facebook expert Mari Smith says that
asking a question is powerful for these three reasons:

–Facebook gives a question significant weight when deciding
whether to show that content in somebody else’s news feed. You
want your content to show up in as many people’s news feeds as
possible.

–Questions engage your fans.

–Questions are also a handy way for you to find out what
problems and issues your fans are most concerned about, so you
can provide the answers and help them. Ask them what their Number
One question is about a certain topic. When you see all the
answers, you can then create a special report or White Paper. You
can host a free or paid teleseminar or webinar to answer the
questions. Or you can write a series of blog posts.

Asking questions was just one of 33 tips Mari shared during the
webinar I hosted with her on Wednesday.

After the 90-minute call, I reviewed the entire video replay and
compiled a handout listing all 33 ideas. I also created a list of
all websites she referred to during the call so you don’t have to
worry about taking good notes.

I’m using the list of 33 ideas as a checklist, and I’m
implementing all the tips one by one.

The handout, Mari’s slides, the MP3 audio and the video are
available for purchase here:

http://www.publicityhound.com/facebookpages.htm

=====================================
2. The Best Times to Tweet
=====================================

The best time to tweet is around noon and 5 p.m. EST.

The best days to tweet are midweek or on the weekends.

The best time to post on Facebook is noon and 7 p.m. EST.

Sharing one post every two days will garner the most likes on
Facebook.

The Eastern and Central time zones represent almost 80 percent of
the U.S. population, so keep that in mind when timing your posts
on the social media sites. If you live on the West Coast, either
get up earlier, or use a program like HootSuite or Tweetdeck to
schedule your tweets to go out early the following day.

Those are five interesting statistics in a clever infographic
from KISSmetrics, using data from social media expert Dan
Zarrella.

Ragan’s PR Daily offers the entire infographic here:

http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/8728.aspx

I get so many basic Twitter questions that I’ll be sponsoring a
webinar on Twitter for Beginners in a few weeks. Registration
details next week.

=====================================
3. Summer Story Ideas
=====================================

Here are six summer story ideas that journalists will love:

–The 5 most dangerous picnic foods. Chefs and caterers, invite
TV cameras into your kitchen to shoot you making one of the
culprits: potato salad.

–Is your company relaxing its dress code because of hot weather?
If so, what’s acceptable and what isn’t? And what about all those
tattoos that are suddenly in full view, now that the clothing is
skimpier?

–It isn’t too late to start pitching back-to-school stories.
Many newspapers publish special sections in August, and they
assign these stories early. What’s new at your school, college or
university?

–Higher gasoline prices mean many families aren’t traveling as
far as they once did for their summer vacation. What is your
resort or tourist attraction doing to encourage them to spend
money closer to home?

–With the construction industry still in a slump, many smaller
construction companies are settling for smaller “handy man”
projects in their own communities. If you’re one of the
construction people taking smaller jobs, let the media know.
Great visuals!

–5 ways to avoid the emergency room. Summer means hospital
emergency rooms fill up quickly with people suffering from heat
stroke, bug bites and ear infections brought on by swimming. Your
hospital or clinic can offer tips on how to know when you can
treat common ailments at home, and when to come to the emergency
room.

TV producer Shawne Duperon teamed up with me to present the
teleseminar “103 Sizzling Story Ideas from July through
December.” It includes a handout with all the ideas that we
invite you to steal. Great for when you’re short on ideas. Read
more about what we discussed at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/JulyIdeas.htm

======================================
4. Trigger Thousands of YouTube Views
======================================

Two minutes.

That’s all it takes to dramatically boost your social media
traffic and sales.

Sound unbelievable? I thought so too, until I saw this video:
https://btconsulting.infusionsoft.com/go/vid4/a342/

Don Crowther, one of my social media teachers, has done it again.
This time, he’s pulled back the curtain on how to generate
thousands of likes and tweets that share your content, gets
dozens of websites to share your content, and pushes your site to
the first page of Google and Bing, with just a few minutes
effort.

I’ll never look at social media the same again.

This video shows you a unique strategy that will trigger
thousands of YouTube video views by only slightly changing what
you’re already doing.

Get the YouTube Explosion Strategy now:
https://btconsulting.infusionsoft.com/go/vid4/a342/

In 8 simple steps, you’ll be able to turn a trickle of traffic
into a wave you can ride all the way to the bank.

Getting hundreds of hits to your blog posts or videos within
hours, and thousands within a day, is easier and faster with this
strategy than you would’ve ever dreamed possible.

Watch the YouTube Explosion Strategy here:
https://btconsulting.infusionsoft.com/go/vid4/a342/

=====================================
5. Pitch “If You’re Going…” Tips
=====================================

If you’re sponsoring an event this summer, and you’ve already
submitted it to all the online and offline event calendars,
here’s how to create one more publicity hit.

Submit a list of “If You’re Going…” tips.

For example, sponsors of outdoor festivals and other events such
as garden walks, concerts, bike races, parades and neighborhood
block parties can compile a list of helpful tips that people need
to know if attending your event:

–Do they need to bring their own bottled water?

–Will they find road construction delays? If so, can you suggest
a detour?

–Are children and dogs welcome?

–Should they bring their own repellant, lawn chairs or
flashlights?

–Are grills permitted?

You get the idea. You can also submit a map that helps people
locate your event. If you have photos from past years, include
those with your pitch.

Did you know there are more than 50 places online where you can
promote your special events? I listed them all, and gave lots of
tips on how to use them to generate publicity, when I hosted the
webinar, “50+ Places Online to Promote Your Live or Virtual
Events to Reach Your Target Market & Pull Sell-out Crowds.”

Stop relying only on the same old websites to promote your
events. Use my list of high-traffic sites to promote, and smaller
niche sites where you’ll find your ideal attendees, and you can
sell more tickets, fill more seats and pack ‘em in.

You can access the video replay, the handouts, the PowerPoint
slides and the audio here:

http://www.publicityhound.com/events.htm

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

This isn’t a joke, but it made me laugh.

Thanks to Publicity Hound Nancy Juetten for sharing on Facebook
this incredible story of how all dog owners in an apartment
complex in New Hampshire must now submit a sample of their dogs’
DNA, taken by rubbing a cotton swab around inside the animal’s
mouth, so the complex can identify dog owners who don’t clean up
after their pets:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/us/02dogs.html?_r=1

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

Review of e-readers: WSJ likes the Nook (Is your ebook ready?)
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8814

The Top 13 self-defeating practices on LinkedIn
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8793

——————————————-

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—Install Google’s +1 Button

June 20th, 2011 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #559 June 14, 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. Install Google’s +1 Button

2. Inventory Closeout

3. Facebook & Twitter Training

4. Write Your Book in 90 Days

5. Help This Hound, Again

6. Hound Photos of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Install Google’s +1 Button
=====================================

When Google, the King of Search, gives Publicity Hounds an easy
way to let our websites and blogs stand out, we need to embrace
it with all four paws.

The newest tool is the +1 button, shorthand for “this is pretty
cool” or “you should check this out.”

It’s already popping up on websites and blogs, including my blog
at http://www.PublicityHound.net.

Here’s how it works.

When you install the code that makes the button visible on your
own site, people who like your content can click on it and tell
Google and others that they’re recommending it. It’s Google’s
equivalent of Facebook’s Like button.

But here’s the really powerful part. When you recommend somebody
else’s content, your photo shows up when that person’s website is
listed in Google’s search results. Your photo will show up only
if you already have a Google Profile.

Do these four things today:

–If you don’t have a Google Profile, create one at
https://Profiles.Google.com

–Read more about the Google +1 button. The FAQs are at
http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=
1140194. You can find a video and a helpful tutorial from
Francisco Rosales at the SocialMouths blog at
http://socialmouths.com/blog/2011/06/02/the-google-plus-1-button/

–Install the button at your website and blog. Or save yourself
the headache and have your webmaster do it for you.

–Start recommending content you see elsewhere by clicking on the
+1 button.

It’s too early to tell how successful the button will be, but
because this is from Google, you still ought to try it.

=====================================
2. Inventory Closeout
=====================================

I’m removing 20 products from my invbentory, and this is your
chance to grab ‘em before they’re gone.

They include CDs, electronic transcripts and tips booklets. CD
and transcripts, regularly $39.95, are only $5 each, plus
shipping. Tips booklets, regularly $5 each, are $1.35, and
include shipping.

Even though many of the products are out of date, all of them
include valuable publicity tips. You’d be crazy not to at least
look at the list of titles:
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-
products/inventorycloseout.htm

When the CDs are gone, they’re gone, and we aren’t reordering.

=====================================
3. Facebook & Twitter Training
=====================================

You responded to last week’s call for training topics and by an
overwhelming majority, Publicity Hounds want how-to tips on
Facebook and Twitter.

Mari Smith, the world’s Number One expert on Facebook, will be my
guest expert during a webinar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on
Wednesday, June 29, on how to pull fans to your Faceboook Page,
convince them to interact, and keep them coming back for more.

“How do I get more Facebook fans?” was your Number One question,
and there’s nobody better than Mari to teach you. You can start
registering next week.

Many Publicity Hounds still aren’t on Twitter. If you are, you
may not know how to use it to build influence, attract a targeted
group of followers, and sell more products and services.

I’ll be hosting a webinar for beginning and intermediate Twitter
users in early July.

If you have nagging questions about Facebook or Twitter, even if
you’re not sure if you’ll attend the webinar, email me at
JStewart@PublicityHound.com and I’ll add it to the training.

======================================
4. Write a Book in 90 Days
======================================

Many of my friends have written books the hard way, so I’ve heard
one sob story after another about how long it takes.

One author I know spent four years writing her book, and another
frustrating year rewriting, proofreading and doing all the other
little things associated with finally getting it onto the shelves
in bookstores.

If this sounds like you, or if you want to write a book and avoid
these hassles, help is on the way.

You’re invited to a free webinar or telephone seminar on
Thursday, June 16, with host Steve Harrison who will interview
Ann McIndoo. Ann has developed a unique system for writing a
quality non-fiction book in 90 days.

I’m promoting this call as a compensated affiliate because far
too many authors spend far too much time producing books that, in
many cases, don’t even sell. Ann’s system works best for authors
who have written non-fiction books, particularly how-to,
leadership, business, self-help, autobiography, etc. It doesn’t
work very well for children’s books, novels or poetry.

Discover the speed writing system she’s used to help 268 authors
get their books done quickly. Register at
http://www.freeauthortraining.com/call/?10011

=====================================
5. Help This Hound, Again
=====================================

I love it when you help other Hounds with their publicity and
marketing dilemmas.

But my tail really wags when the Hound asking for help uses one
of your ideas.

That’s what Timothy Nishimoto did when, several months ago, he
asked for help on how to emphasize food at this wine bar in
Portland, Oregon.

Publicity Hound Michael LaRocca suggested Tim change the name of
the restaurant, and Tim likes the idea. He wants to sponsor a
contest asking people to help name the restaurant.

But he’s confused about how to create the buzz in the community
while also coordinating PR. I’ve published his entire question at
my blog, and we’re hoping you can help.

Post your best ideas and helpful advice in the comments section
at http://publicityhound.net/?p=8690

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Meryl K. Evans of Plano, Texas, for
these photos of the weirdest dog breeds ever:

http://www.oddee.com/item_97779.aspx

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

Publicists: Trade PR skills for Internet marketing training
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8623

Install Google’s +1 button at your website and blog
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8655

——————————————-

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 Make Facebook Easier

March 21st, 2011 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #545 March 15, 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 Make Facebook Easier

2. 31 Definitions of PR

3. LinkedIn: Perpetual Leads Machine

4. Use Sizzling Statistics

5. Free Twitter Bird Icons

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. How to Make Facebook Easier
=====================================

If you’re like me, you want to throw your coffee cup through the
computer monitor when you can’t figure out how to do something on
Facebook.

Why do more than 200 million people use that site, then, if it’s
so darn complicated?

Several reasons:

–Many kids, who grew up with computers and practically live on
Facebook, are patient enough to figure out all the nuances.

–Many users have Facebook accounts, but they aren’t really
active on the site because it’s too confusing. So that 200
million figure is a bit deceiving.

–Business owners, like me, use Facebook primarily for business
because we know a lot of people in our target markets are there.
We also understand the value of creating fan pages and using a
powerful “welcome” page that encourages visitors to give us their
email addresses.

That’s worth putting up with all the aggravating changes that
Facebook makes every six months or so.

The most recent batch of changes, introduced last month, offers
opportunities galore for businesses, nonprofits and government
agencies to solidify their brand.

But some of the changes are more important than others. And
trying to understand all of them at the same time can make you
crazy.

My virtual assistant, Christine Buffaloe, who manages Facebook
accounts for many of her clients, is joining me this afternoon
for a webinar on “12 More Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on
the New & Improved Facebook.” It’s at 4 p.m. Eastern Time and we
have a few seats left.

We’ll explain only what we think you need to know so you aren’t
overwhelmed, and we’ll tell you about the two things you should
no longer be doing with Facebook.

You may have heard lots of people buzzing about another new
Facebook feature. But we aren’t using it, and we’ll explain why.

You’ll learn about a new tool we discovered that will help you
find other people’s fan pages where you can post helpful content
to their walls, talk directly to their thousands of fans, and get
a link back to your own fan page–without spamming.

Register here, even if the time is inconvenient for you, because
I’m recording it, and I’ll send you the replay link and all the
handouts:

http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/facebook12ways.htm

======================================
2. 31 Definitions of PR
======================================

Here’s one of my favorite explanations of the difference between
public relations, marketing, promotion and advertising:

“If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying
‘Circus Coming to the Fairgrounds Saturday,’ that’s advertising.
If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk it into
town, that’s promotion. If the elephant walks through the
mayor’s flowerbed, that’s publicity. And if you get the mayor to
laugh about it, that’s public relations.”

Now that you know what public relations is, how do PR people
explain what they do?

You’ll find 31 definitions of PR at Heidi Cohen’s blog at
http://heidicohen.com/public-relations-definition/

Fascinating reading.

=====================================
3. LinkedIn: Perpetual Leads Machine
=====================================

Few social media sites will keep working for you 24/7, even when
you’re asleep.

But LinkedIn will. Let’s say you’re looking for journalists who
live within a 100-mile radius of Chicago.

You plug in the details of what you’re looking for and click.
After you review the results, you can save your search.

Here’s the best part: You can tell LinkedIn to send you an email
weekly or monthly to notify you if a new journalist who meets
your search criteria has been found in your network (including
Levels 1, 2 and 3 and Groups.) You can keep up to three searches
in a free account.

It’s a perpetual leads generator. LinkedIn expert Wayne
Breitbarth recommends getting on the phone as soon as you see
that someone new has become part of your network. Set up a
meeting. It could be a home run.

Read more about what Wayne taught recently during my webinar,
“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.”

I recorded the webinar and you can download the video replay, the
MP3 and all the handouts at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/linkedinpowerformula.htm

=====================================
4. Use Sizzling Statistics
=====================================

The next time you write a press release or a pitch, think of a
clever way you can introduce sizzling statistics to really
attract attention.

Brad Phillips uses them all the time. He publishes the Mr. Media
Training Blog, which offers daily media and presentation training
tips. And he wrote a super guest blog post for me with five
examples of how to make boring numbers come alive.

For example, percentages, he says, are a drag on your copy.

“Instead of proclaiming that your plant’s new energy efficient
manufacturing equipment will cut your company’s carbon footprint
by 35 percent, tell your audience what that means. Does your new
efficiency mean that you will save 20,000 barrels of oil this
year? Say so!”

Read the other four tips and leave a comment about how you used
statistics. Go to http://publicityhound.net/?p=7994

======================================
5. Free Twitter Bird Icons
======================================

Looking for some attractive Twitter icons to place at your blog
or website or use on your marketing materials?

You can download an entire set of six incredibly cute birds, some
with their “Follow Me” and “Tweet About Us” signs. Kudos to Gopal
Raju of Convax Solutions for offering these under Creative
Commons, which means you can freely use them for your private and
commercial projects, including software, online service,
templates and themes.

Smart Publicity Hounds can also use them in online media rooms
and press kits.

Grab ‘em now at
http://www.productivedreams.com/free-twitter-bird-icon-set/

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

A police dog responds to an ad for work with the FBI.

“Well,” says the personnel director, “you’ll have to meet some
strict requirements. First, you must type at least 60 words per
minute.”

Sitting down at the computer, the dog types 80 words per minute.

“Also,” says the director, “you must pass a physical and complete
the obstacle course.”

This perfect dog specimen finishes the course in record time.

“There’s one last requirement,” the director continues. “You must
be bilingual.”

With confidence, the dog looks up at him and says, “Meow!”

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…
====================================

How to Promote Events on Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8006

Why statistics can be your greatest PR ally–or enemy
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7994

——————————————-

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
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
U.S.
Phone: 262-284-7451
Fax: 262-284-1737

Publicity Tips—Don’t Fight Facebook

March 9th, 2011 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #545 March 8, 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. Don’t Fight Facebook

2. LinkedIn Sleuthing

3. Wanted: Milk Mustache Stars

4. Publicity Hound Charlie Sheen

5. What’s Your Klout Score?

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Don’t Fight Facebook
=====================================

Just when I start feeling comfortable with the latest round of
changes to Facebook, along comes another series of new features
that throw me into a tailspin.

For example, I voluntarily converted to the new format rather
than waiting until later this month when everyone will be forced
to convert. But that places an ugly photo ribbon right at the top
of my fan page.

That’s prime real estate, darn it!

Most of the photo ribbons I’ve seen on other people’s pages
include a series of five unrelated photos that show fan page
owners posing with people they’ve met at events. The photos are
usually poorly cropped, too dark, or so small that people looking
at the page can’t identify who’s in the photo.

Nor do they care.

But I’ve figured out a way to manipulate that photo ribbon so I
use it to promote my business and bring visitors to my website,
blog, Twitter profile and even product pages–without being
obnoxious.

You can check it out by going to
http://www.Facebook.com/publicitytips

While you’re there, click on the Like button at the top of the
page. Then click on each of the five photos and see what happens.

Knowing how to use the photo ribbon to help your visitors and to
promote–and understanding what you can do with all the other new
Facebook features–will give you incredible power that you never
knew you had.

Three years ago, when I hosted the webinar “11 Ways to Avoid
Missed Opportunities on Facebook,” Christine Buffaloe, my virtual
assistant, walked participants through Facebook and demonstrated
how to use the site to attract friends and fans, join the
conversation, find your target audience and make people love you.

But that was three years ago. So much has changed on Facebook
that some of the strategies we recommended back then can actually
waste hours of your precious time due to the numerous changes on
Facebook.

I’ve fielded so many questions about Facebook’s new look and
navigation that Chris and I are hosting a webinar at 4 p.m.
Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 15. It’s called “12 More Ways to
Avoid Missed Opportunities on the New & Improved Facebook.”

If you participated three years ago, or you’re confused by any
aspect of Facebook, you owe it to yourself to take this crash
course to learn about the new tools and how to use them to
promote your expertise.

We’re even going to be sharing a cool new tool I discovered that
will help you find other people’s fan pages where you can post
helpful content to their walls, talk directly to their thousands
of fans, and get a link back to your own fan page–without
spamming.

Register here, even if the time is inconvenient for you because
I’m recording it, and I’ll send you the replay link and all the
handouts:

http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/facebook12ways.htm

======================================
2. LinkedIn Sleuthing
======================================

Last week, I explained how LinkedIn’s Advanced Search Feature
serves as your own Lt. Columbo and helps you track down important
people with whom you want to connect.

But here’s the best part.

Advanced Search can deliver to you a long list of purchasing
managers, event planners, journalists, bloggers, publishers, or
other business people in almost any industry who you’d like to
meet–within just a few seconds.

Let’s say you need only names of people with a certain job title,
in a certain state, and within a 50-mile radius of a certain zip
code. Lt. Columbo can deliver that, too.

Once you see the list of results, then what do you do? One answer
is to choose someone from that list who’s a second- or third-
level connection, and then look for people who are connected to
you and to them. Ask the mutual connection to introduce you.

But what if you have no mutual connections? And what if the list
includes someone identified only by first name and last initial?
Then what do you do?

Wayne Breitbarth, who was the expert guest last week on my
webinar, “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,” shared a sneaky little trick
that can let you penetrate even big companies and go directly to
the decision-maker you need even if you aren’t connected to them
yet on LinkedIn.

I recorded the webinar and you get download the video replay, the
MP3 and all the handouts at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/linkedinpowerformula.htm

=====================================
3. Wanted: Milk Mustache Stars
=====================================

If you know a wholesome teen-age girl who would be the perfect
spokesperson to promote milk, tell her that she could one of the
next stars of the “got milk?” ads–complete with the signature
milk mustache.

Seventeen magazine is looking for nine teen-agers for its
campaign.

Joining these kinds of contests, by the way, is great training
for publicity puppies who might want to become full-fledged
Publicity Hounds when they grow up.

Send your publicity pups to my blog to learn more about this:
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7956

=====================================
4. Publicity Hound Charlie Sheen
=====================================

Ideas for piggybacking your story idea onto the Charlie Sheen
drama:

–Parenting experts, how would you advise the parents of the two
goddesses living with Charlie? Should mom or dad try to talk some
sense into their daughters, or is it beyond too late? (I often
ask myself, where are these girls’ mothers?)

–Addiction experts, what’s your advice to alcoholics or drug
addicts who might think they “aren’t as bad as Charlie”?

–Teachers, how are impressionable kids responding to the
publicity stunts? And what are you telling them?

–Write an article on “5 Things Charlie Sheen Can Teach You About
(fill in the blank)”

Can’t think of an idea that ties into Charlie? How about stealing
an idea from “116 WOW Story Ideas from January through June” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/JanIdeas.htm

======================================
5. What’s Your Klout Score?
======================================

Klout is quickly becoming one of the most popular tools for
measuring your influence online and in social media circles.

Go to http://www.Klout.com. Type your Twitter handle into the
box and hit “View.”

Now, go through the same process for your competitors and see how
your score compares to theirs.

Your score will fluctuate a little from one day to the next, so
return periodically and check it.

Today, my score is 60 and I’m working like crazy to improve it.

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

This video, about three and a half minutes, has had more than 2
million views on YouTube. It features an exercise instructor who
looks like a poodle and her obedient students–a pack of poodles
that look like the exercise instructor.

Is this an optical illusion? How do think they made this look so
lifelike? It starts slow, but stay with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdX_OBUeHb4

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…
====================================

Girls, you could be the next Milk Mustache star
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7956

Publicity Hounds are still posting dozens of comments to my piece
on whether to accept a journalist’s invitation for an email
interview:
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7900

——————————————-

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
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
U.S.
Phone: 262-284-7451
Fax: 262-284-1737

Publicity Tips—Steal This Headline

February 23rd, 2011 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #542 Feb. 22, 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. Steal This Headline

2. Startling LinkedIn Statistic

3. No More Boring Tweets

4. Twitter One-liners

5. Help This Hound

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Steal This Headline
=====================================

Don’t worry. I won’t sick the police dogs on you for stealing
headlines, tweaking them and using them on your own blog posts,
articles and content for the social media sites.

I steal them all the time. So do other journalists.

They’re called formula headlines and they’re all over the covers
of consumer magazines and on blogs. They often beg to be stolen,
like this one:

Authors, Publishers: 50 things under $50 to promote your book

I saw that headline on a blog published by author Lisa Peitsch.
Think of the ways you can tweak it to suit your needs. Some
examples:

–Eat at your desk? 5 things under $5 to keep your keyboard clean

–Moms: 10 things under $10 to occupy a cranky toddler

–Drivers: 20 things under $20 to store in your trunk for
emergencies

You get the idea. Make a list of formula headlines you like and
then tweak them when needed.

You’ll find formula headlines galore at Copyblogger, one of the
top blogs in the world for writing sterling copy. Scroll down and
see many of the formula headlines under the title “Popular
Articles” in the right margin: http://www.CopyBlogger.com

======================================
2. Startling LinkedIn Statistic
======================================

BNET Blogger Jim Edwards wrote about a surprising nugget of
information tucked inside the document that LinkedIn wrote for
its initial public offering recently:

Most of its 90 million registered users don’t visit the site on a
monthly basis, or hardly ever use it. In fact, Jim says, the
company can’t tell the difference between an inactive or deceased
member and an active user.

I blinked when I saw that. I read it again. Then I ventured an
easy guess as to why.

Most LinkedIn users simply don’t understand the power of making
connections, joining groups, answering questions, making and
receiving recommendations, promoting events, starting
discussions, and providing daily status updates. They aren’t
aware that they can ask their connections to introduce them to
powerful movers, shakers and other influential users who might
never take their phone calls or answer their emails.

Learning all that is time-consuming. And applying it can eat up
precious weeks and months.

Even if less than half of those who have accounts on LinkedIn use
the site monthly, that’s still more than 44 million people who
do. LinkedIn has turned into the go-to destination for companies
and nonprofits that are checking out job applicants, looking for
recommendations for vendors, and searching for experts who can
solve their problems.

I’ve heard one success story after another of LinkedIn users who
have used the site to sign book contracts with publishers, find
paid speaking engagements, and attract consulting clients.

Tom Beug, one of my fellow management consultants in The Summit
Group in Milwaukee, used LinkedIn to contact a former client and
say hi. Turns out the company needed an executive, and signed a
contract with Tom to conduct the search.

If you’re on LinkedIn but you’re confused about how to use the
site, don’t spent weeks or months learning.

Join LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth and me for a webinar on
March 3 on “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.”

Inc. Magazine is so impressed with Wayne that the magazine has
invited him to speak at its Growco conference April 6-8 in Las
Vegas.

Learn more about the webinar, how to register, and what you’ll
find on the killer handouts, at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/linkedinpowerformula.htm

=====================================
3. No More Boring Tweets
=====================================

OK, so you’ve stopped tweeting about boring topics like when
you’ve logged onto your computer, what you ate for lunch, and
which coffee shop you’re tweeting from.

That’s a start. But how do you find compelling, interesting
content that fills the void and forces your followers to retweet
what you’ve written?

MediaBistro.com suggests these five tips for spicing up your
Twitter feed:

–Say something controversial.

–Sprinkle in some quotes.

–Add humor.

–Tweet breaking news.

–Join a hashtag conversation.

You can read the entire log post here:
http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/5-types-of-tweets-that-
will-get-you-retweeted_b3431

I’ve also started following more influential people who
generously share information like the type listed above. One very
easy way to find them is to visit the profiles of Twitterers I
admire, check out their lists, and then subscribe to the ones I
like.

If you’re not using Twitter lists, you’re missing out on a
powerful, timesaving tool that can also help you promote your
expertise.

I hosted a webinar recently on “How to Use Twitter Lists &
Directories to Generate Business & Build Your Brand.” The replay
is available at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitterlists.htm

=====================================
4. Twitter One-Liners
=====================================

If you like the tips you read here, but you aren’t following me
on Twitter, go to the dog house without your dinner because
you’re missing hundreds of helpful tips.

This morning, for example, I shared this link where you can find
41 terrific one-liners, perfect for Twitter. Many of my followers
are already retweeting it:
http://hubpages.com/hub/funny-one-liners-for-twitter

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

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

Michael Smith of Philadelphia writes:

“My brother is the chef/owner of Fletcher’s BBQ, a restaurant
that opened in September in a working middle-class neighborhood
in the Philadelphia suburbs.

“It offers take-out and delivery only. The motto, emblazoned on
T-shirts and the menus, is ‘Dig the Pig!’

“My brother already has landed a great story in the local paper,
and that drove some customers to the venue. Now we’re looking to
keep the momentum going. By the way, he provides 10 percent
discounts to the local VFW, policemen, firefighters and active
military, and also donates to local churches.

“In addition to ads and publicity in local papers, what are other
effective ways to spread the word? There are a lot of other
eateries in the neighborhood but not authentic BBQ food, so it’s
filling a niche.

“Any advice you and your Publicity Hounds can offer to promote a
new take-out only BBQ food venue? I’m sure there are some great
ideas out there among your readers.”

The Publicity Hound says:

There sure are, Michael. Help This Hound questions from
restaurant owners always seem to generate a lot of ideas. I love
the logo of the pig on the motorcycle and the “Dig the Pig”
motto. Hounds with ideas for Michael’s brother can post them to
my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=7866

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

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

If a fire hydrant has H2O inside, what does it have outside?
Answer…K9P

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…
====================================

Need story ideas? Here are 6 to pitch in March
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7854

Why half of LinkedIn users aren’t active on the site
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7848

——————————————-

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
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
U.S.
Phone: 262-284-7451
Fax: 262-284-1737

Publicity Tips—Promote Your Expertise on Quora

January 19th, 2011 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #539 Jan. 18, 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. Promote Your Expertise on Quora

2. My Facebook Fan Page is Back!

3. Raise Your Klout Score

4. Heads Up for Event Publicity

5. Top 10 Social Media Blogs

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Promote Your Expertise on Quora
=====================================

The more places online where you can convince people you’re an
expert, the more attention you’ll receive and the more traffic
you can pull to your website and blog.

Add Quora at http://www.Quora.com to the list of online Q&A sites
where you can really flaunt your expertise.

It’s a cross between LinkedIn’s Q&A feature and Wikipedia. As
soon as I created my Quora account last week, my email inbox was
inundated with messages saying people are following me on Quora.
That says something about the popularity of the site.

Quora is a continually improving collection of questions and
answers created, edited and organized by everyone who uses it.
Quora wants each question page to become the best possible
resource for someone who wants to know about the question.

There are many reasons you should at least start experimenting
with this site. It’s quickly gaining considerable traffic,
traciton and attention. It’s used by journalists and boggers as a
research tool. If they’re looking for an expert on your topic,
and they like your answer to a certain questions, they might use
you as a source. I give four more reasons to use Quoara and you
can read them at my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=7658

======================================
2. My Facebook Fan Page is Back!
======================================

I’ve been tweeting about my Facebook Fan Page, which disappeared
a few months ago, along with my more than 2,500 fans.

Dave Kerpen of http://www.Likeable.com, who doesn’t know me, read
about my dilemma when somebody retweeted me. He emailed me, asked
me to make him administrator of my Fan Page, and within a few
hours, he solved the problem and brought the page back to life.

How did he do it?

I’m not sure yet. But I’m interviewing him tomorrow and hoping to
write an article about what you can if this happens to you. Do a
Google search for “Facebook Fan Page disappeared” and you’ll see
a long list of frustrated, angry people, many of whom still
haven’t found their pages.

If you have a tip you’d like to contribute to my article, email
me at JStewart@PublicityHound.com. And then check out Dave’s blog
at http://www.likeable.com/blog/

Many people are still arguing the merits of spending time on
social media and not seeing a return on their investment. My
story is one of the best reasons why I actively participate in,
and teach, social media.

If you aren’t a fan yet, c’mon over to
http://www.Facebook.com/publicitytips and ask me any question
about publicity, promotion or social media.

=====================================
3. Raise Your Klout Score
=====================================

When I checked out Dave Kerpen’s blog, mentioned in item #2
above, I was fascinated by the post “All About Klout! 5 Ways to
Raise your Klout Score” at
http://www.likeable.com/2011/01/all-about-klout-5-ways-to-raise-
your-klout-score/

Klout is quickly becoming the industry standard for measuring
your influence on social media sites. Go to http://www.Klout.com
and type your Twitter handle. Within seconds, Klout will return
your influence score. You can see on a small illustration which
of four areas you need improvement.

You can also use Klout to check the influence of your
competitors.

One of my goals for this year is to raise my Klout score of 51.
The tips at the Likeable.com blog are even better than the tips
Klout gives at its own blog.

The Likeable blog post, by the way, received some of its tips
from folks on Quora.

=====================================
4. Heads-Up for Event Publicity
=====================================

When planning your next event, nail down all the details early
enough to generate maximum publicity, particularly in magazines
with long lead times.

If your event is at the end of the month, you’ll need even more
time for publicity.

That’s what I discovered when doing publicity for my garden
club’s day-long gardening seminar, planned for Feb. 26. We didn’t
finish the registration page at our website until the end of
December which seemed like enough time–a full two months before
the event. But to get the event listed in several local
magazines, the page should have been completed by Dec. 1, the
deadline for inclusion in the Feb. issue.

Luckily, we’re still able to rely on lots of online calendar
directories, where we’ve posted the event.

You can, too.

I explained them all, including the Top 10, during the webinar on
“50+ Places Online to Promote Your Live or Virtual Events to
Reach Your Target Market & Pull Sell-out Crowds.” The handt cheat
sheet that accompanies the video replay lists the several dozen
places, and it will save you valuable time when doing publicity
for your next event. But it at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/events.htm

======================================
5. Top 10 Social Media Blogs
======================================

Thanks to Social Media Examiner for this list of the Top 10
Social Media Blogs:

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/top-10-social-media-blogs-
of-2011/

I’m adding them to my RSS Reader, so I’ll have plenty of helpful
content to share and learn from. I’m also adding them to the
Twitter lists I’ve created for “blogs on blogging” and “social
media experts.”

Are you creating Twitter lists? If not, you’re missing out on a
powerful way to stay organized and find compelling content to
share quickly.

My webinar on “How to Use Twitter Lists & Directories to Generate
Publicity and Build Your Brand” also explains how to get onto
other people’s Twitter lists which also helps with your Klout
score. You can buy the replay at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitterlists.htm

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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Ann Dekorsi of Glendale, Wisconsin, my
proofreader, for this video of a dog that looks spellbound while
a little boy eats a sandwich nearby. Then watch what happens.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/dog-steals-sandwich-video.html

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…
====================================

Pitch unusual angles, like witches, on how to sell a home
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7621

6 reasons to use Quora to promote yourexpertise
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7658

——————————————-

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
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
U.S.
Phone: 262-284-7451
Fax: 262-284-1737

Publicity Tips—Twellow: The Twitter Power Tool

January 19th, 2011 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #538 Jan. 11, 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. Twellow: The Twitter Power Tool

2. Your Top Twitter Followers

3. Scrawny Budgets for Book Publicity

4. Update Your Bios

5. My Faceboook Fan Page Mess

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Twellow: The Twitter Power Tool
=====================================

(No newsletter last week because of technical glitches. (Enjoy
this one.)

Since I wrote about Twellow, the Twitter Yellow Pages, two weeks
ago, I’ve had more time to look around at the site.

And I’ve discovered six ways to use this Twitter power tool. You
can:

–Place yourself in up to 10 topical categories. I had no trouble
coming up with 10. You won’t either.

–Create an Extended Bio with up to 2,000 characters so you can
better explain what you do. What a great feature!

–Include valuable links, with anchor text, in your Extended Bio.
Send people to your website, blog or social media profiles.

–Use Twellowhood, the giant map of the world, to find Twitterers
in any city.

–Use Twellow’s Advanced Search function to find other types of
Twitterers very quickly.

–Use Twellow stickers on your website or blog.

I explained all of the above at my blog, and once you see the
screenshots of what I’ve done with my Twellow profile, I think
you’ll be convinced that you belong here, too. Take a look:
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7621

======================================
2. Your Top Twitter Followers
======================================

“My Top Followers in 2010″ identifies your best followers. It’s
calculated based on the number of times they @-reply you in their
tweets in 2010.

Go ahead, find your top followers of 2010. YOu can even check the
box that automatically gives them a shout-out. This site takes a
long time to load, so be patient:

http://mytopfollowersin2010.com/

Thanks to my top four followers: @susanfuller, @bookmarketer,
@mycreativeteam and @suemagic.

=====================================
3. Scrawny Budgets for Book Publicity
=====================================

I wish I had a nickel for every self-published author who calls
me, asks if I can refer them to a publicist and then, after
further probing from me, admits they have only $300 to spend on a
book publicity campaign.

That’s when I tell them I can’t make a referral because they
won’t find anyone who’s willing to work for that little.

I do, however, suggest they learn to do most of their book
publicity themselves.

Authors can start by creating their own press kit. It includes a
cover letter, mock book review, press release, author bio, book
sell sheet and other materials that will help journalists and
bloggers determine if they want to report on your book, and it
will help readers decide if they want to buy it.

Dawn Josephson was my guest during a teleseminar on “How to
Create Eye-Opening Promote Pieces That Sell Books.” She walked
authors through the entire process of how to create these
materials, regardless of whether they’re working with a
publicist. Read more about what’s on the CD or electronic
transcript at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/promopieces.htm

=====================================
4. Update Your Bios
=====================================

Start the new year off right by updating all those bios that are
sprinkled throughout the Internet. Here are some places to look:

–LinkedIn. Is your profile 100 percent complete? If not, you’re
not making it as easy as possible for people to connect with you.

–Your Google profile. It can become outdated very quickly. If
you don’t have one yet, create one at
http://www.google.com/profiles

–EzineArticles.com and other article directory sites. That bio
you created six years ago could be embarrassingly out of date.

–The online press room at your website.

–The “About Me” section of your blog.

–Bios at websites for the professional interest groups and
industry associations where you’re a member.

That’s just a start. I know you can think of more.

If, while updating your bio, it dawns on you that it’s drier than
sawdust, check out my “Special Report #46: Tips for Rewriting
Your Boring Bio” at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html

You’ll find sample bios and tips galore on how to make yours come
alive.

======================================
5. My Facebook Fan Page Mess
======================================

Thanks to the many Publicity Hounds who are trying to help me
solve the problem with my missing Facebook Fan Page.

I still haven’t figured out why fans can’t access it. I’ve
completed two “bug reports” on Facebook and tried connecting
internally with some of their techies, but to no avail. I’ll let
you know when this mess is resolved. In the meantime, I’ll be
providing updates to the “Friends of The Publicity Hound” group
at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=58255926944

======================================
6. Hound Joke 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

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…
====================================

6 powerful ways for Twitterers to use Twellow
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7621

7 ideas for publicizing a new construction project
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7645

——————————————-

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
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
U.S.
Phone: 262-284-7451
Fax: 262-284-1737

Publicity Tips—-7 Ways to Improve Your Blog

January 4th, 2011 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

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:

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

Publicity Tips—Traditional PR Fading Fast

October 7th, 2010 by JStewart in Publicity Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #526 Oct. 5, 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)
http://www.MysocialMediaSolution.com/blog

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

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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

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

1. Traditional PR Fading Fast

2. 50+ Places to Promote Events

3. Twitter’s New Look

4. Seven Things Rich Authors Know

5. Carve a Pumpkin & Get on TV

6. Hound Joke of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

=====================================
1. Traditional PR Fading Fast
=====================================

If the increasing use of social media keeps building, social
media will overtake traditional media as a PR tool within two
years.

That’s one of the findings of a recent survey by
StevensGouldPincus, merger and management consultants to the
communications industry.

Currently, the total percentage of work devoted by communications
consulting firms to social media as opposed to traditional media
is 30 percent overall. Next year, the percentage will increase to
an average of 42 percent, with firms over $3 million in revenue
increasing to 46 percent.

“If this trend persists,” said managing partner Art Stevens,
“within the next two years, social media will replace traditional
media as PR/PA?s primary tool for reaching client audiences with
news and information. When you consider that traditional media
have been the bedrock of professional PR/PA practice for more
than 100 years, the implications are profound.”

You can read more about the survey and request a copy at
http://www.gspm.org/820_Social-Media-Will-Overtake-Traditional-
Media-as-PR-Tool-in-Next-Two-Years

Do you agree with the findings?

Tell me in my own quick survey that will take you less than a
minute to complete at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5KQTX52 and,
if you wish, comment. I’ll report on the findings next week.

======================================
2. 50+ Places to Promote Your Events
======================================

When it’s time to promote a live or viral event, do you rely on
the same old websites to spread the word?

Posting on Craigslist, Facebook and LinkedIn is a no-brainer. But
if you aren’t doing much more than that, you could be missing the
smaller niche websites where you can target your ideal attendees
like a laser beam.

For example, did you know that more than 25,000 musicians have
used the free account at http://www.ArtistData.com to promote
more than 4.9 million shows, events and other news across
MySpace, Twitter, Facebook and other websites that reach their
niche audiences? You can submit information about a gig and it
will automatically post your music-related calendar listing to
more than 25 sites. That’s a lot of eyeballs reading about you.

But that’s just for musicians. Major websites and niche sites
abound for businesses, tourist attractions, authors, speakers,
experts, nonprofits, sports events and more.

Join me from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Oct. 19, for
the webinar “50+ Places Online to Promote Your Live & Virtual
Events to Reach Your Target Market and Pull Sell-out Crowds.” The
first 20 people who sign up get my handy checklist of all the
sites I mention during the webinar, plus a long list of offline
places to promote events.

=====================================
3. Twitter’s New Look
=====================================

If you’ve heard a lot of buzz about Twitter’s new look, and
you’re confused about what’s new, or if the new changes haven’t
taken effect yet on your profile, watch this helpful video. It’s
the best one I found that explains the new changes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9xh_N_pzNE

If you’re still stumped about how to profit from Twitter and
really build a following, stop tweeting a series of free
commercials. Instead, you should be promoting your expertise by
sharing helpful advice and promoting others. Warren Whitlock
explains how he does it in the two-part teleseminar recording
“How to Use Twitter to Amass an Army of Followers, Customers &
Valuable Contacts–and Promote,” available as CDs, MP3s and
electronic transcripts.

======================================
4. Seven Things Rich Authors Know
======================================

Last week, I talked my cousin out of her hair-brained idea of
publishing a book of poetry.

She has $10,000, her life’s savings, to spend producing and
publicizing it.

If my cousin followed through on her plan, she’d be a dirt-poor
author. First, most poetry books are duds. Second, she isn’t
interested in producing any spin-off products or services from
the book.

Unfortunately, authors who publish really impressive books with
compelling content have the same attitude. They, too, belong in
the dirt-poor category.

Don’t end up with them.

Join Steve Harrison for a free teleseminar on Thursday, Oct. 7,
when he shows you “How to Achieve A Lot More Success As An Author
By Discovering The Seven Things Rich Authors Know That Poor
Authors Don’t.” Sign up for slots at 2 or 7 p.m. Eastern. Even
though the call is free, I promote it as a compensated affiliate
because I know too many authors whose dreams of selling their own
book are deflated by the cold, hard reality of the cut-throat
publishing business.

======================================
5. Carve a Pumpkin & Get on TV
======================================

If you want to make it onto the local TV news, here’s an idea for
companies and nonprofits everywhere.

Host a pumpkin-carving contest and ask your employees to
participate. Nothing new about that idea, but here’s the kicker
that just might bring the TV cameras to your doorstep.

Tell the TV station that someone from your company will carve the
TV station’s call letters into a pumpkin, so they can show it as
part of the news clip. You can also ask if someone at the station
will choose a winner during the actual competition, when
employees can carve whatever they wish into their pumpkins.

This is a schmaltzy idea, but TV producer Shawne Duperon says it
works and, right now, the timing is perfect. Shawne was my guest
during the teleseminar on “How to Get onto the Local TV News
Tomorrow,” available as a CD or electronic transcript. Read more
about the other smart, sneaky and clever ways to find your way
onto your local TV news at
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/getinthenews.htm

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

“I like driving around with my two dogs, especially on the
freeways. I make them wear little hats so I can use the car-pool
lanes.”

–Monica Piper

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:

How to work with a PR firm: 15 do’s and 8 don’ts
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7109

Free, colorful data charts for your website, blog
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7097

——————————————-

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
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
U.S.
Phone: 262-284-7451
Fax: 262-284-1737

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