Publicity tips/What Assistants Can Do May 29, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #348 May 29, 2007
Publisher: JoanStewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 31,084

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

"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
Receive this ezine
direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityhound.com/tipsoftheweek/

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me that you want to subscribe. If you didn't subscribe, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter.

Please forward this ezine to anyone you know who needs free publicity to establish their credibility, enhance their reputation, position themselves as employers of choice, sell more products and services, or promote a favorite cause or issue.

****************************************************

Publicity Hound University for Assistants:

Many assistants, virtual assistants and summer interns are perfectly capable of assuming duties far above their current level of performance. But no one has time to show them how.

The Publicity Hound to the rescue.

My week-long, graduate-level course, the first of its kind anywhere specifically for assistants, features 11 hours of live training by The Publicity Hound and my crew of guest experts. Students will also receive a variety of educational tools, and free email support for 30 days.

Learn more at http://snipurl.com/PHUniversity or see Item #1 below.

Don't have an assistant yet? If you missed last week's teleseminar on how to hire a virtual assistant, you can order the CD or the electronic transcript here: http://publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm

We expect to ship CDs tomorrow or Thursday and email transcripts to those who already have ordered them early next week.

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

1. What Assistants Can Do

2. Book-burning Publicity Stunt

3. Media Leads

4. Val's Art Diary at YouTube

5. Promoting a Stem Cell Research Book

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


======================================
1. What Assistants Can Do
======================================

Longing for an assistant to help you with all the tedious grunt work that's part of a publicity campaign?

Stop dragging your feet and just do it already. Here's a short list of all the tasks you can unload on your assistant:

--Research media outlets where your story would be the best fit.

--Buy back issues of newspapers and magazines so you can become familiar with a reporter's work instead of pitching blindly.

--Search for influential bloggers, podcasters and Internet radio show hosts who are in a good position to spread the word about you far and wide.

--Ghostwrite how-to articles.

--Hunt for the best high-traffic websites and article directory sites, then post the article.

--Update print and online media kits.

--Call newspapers and magazines where your articles appear and ask for permission to reprint them, with the publication's nameplate at the top.

--Stand in line at Kinko's to have the reprints made.

--Do keyword research for website copy, articles and anything else you write that will be posted online.

--Track your website and blog statistics so you can see who's visiting, where they're coming from, what pages they're spending the most time on, what page they're leaving from, and which keywords are pulling the most visitors.

--Post to Craigslist, one of the most frequently overlooked vehicles for free publicity.

--Post your events to online calendars and city-specific calendar sites.

--Compile editorial calendars, and call for updates.

Now, don't you feel better just reading that list and imagining getting rid of all that work?

What? The budget won't allow a part-time or full-time assistant? Then how about a virtual assistant for just a few hours a week?

If you missed my May 17 teleseminar on "How to Find a Virtual Assistant to Help with Your Publicity Campaign," you can get the CD or electronic transcript at http://publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm.

Then give me five days and I'll train your assistant--over the phone. No airfare or hotel bills. Your assistant can start putting into practice what she learns, starting from the first day.

This is the only training of its kind, and you'll be kicking yourself if you miss this event. Read more about Publicity Hound University for Assistants at http://snipurl.com/PHUniversity


========================================
2. Book-Burning Publicity Stunt
========================================

One of the problems with publicity stunts is that you'd better attend to every little detail. Or you risk looking foolish when all eyes are on you.

That's what happened yesterday to bookstore owner Tom Wayne of Kansas City, Missouri. He needed to get rid of the 20,000 used books he has collected in a warehouse during the past decade--books he can't sell or even give away. So he decided to have a good old-fashioned book burning outside his store.

The burning also was in protest of what he sees as diminishing support for the printed word.

"This is the funeral pyre for thought in America today," Wayne told spectators outside his bookstore as he lit the first batch of books.

Within an hour, the Kansas City Fire Department arrived on the scene and doused the blaze because Wayne didn't have a permit for burning.

Even so, the Associated Press carried the story. You can read it at http://tinyurl.com/3dmnw5

So I guess the stunt accomplished its goal. I wouldn't be surprised if Tom starts getting calls from all over the place, from book collectors looking for rare books to charities looking for donations.

If he had taken the lazy way out and held a press conference, the AP wouldn't have covered it, and you'd be reading about something else in this space. The next time you're tempted to hold a press conference, a staged event that media everywhere hate, pinch yourself. Then start thinking of creative events that can tell the story better than you ever could, standing behind a microphone in an empty room.

And don't forget to get the right permits!

"Creative Alternatives to Boring News Conferences," a recording of a teleseminar I conducted with Sandra Eggers, APR, includes dozens of ideas for fun, compelling special events and publicity stunts that will draw the media like magnets. If you MUST have a press conference, she explains how to do it right.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/yu6qob


=======================================
3. Media Leads
=======================================

--WorkWise syndicated columnist Mildred Culp is looking for sources who have left a large company and now work at a smaller one. She wants sources outside of public relations, advertising or small business ownership to discuss their experiences in her column. Anonymity is available upon request. Mailto:workwise@comcast.net?subject=ThePublicityHoundSentMe


--Has your workplace gone to the dogs? Monster.com wants to hear about your experiences with dogs at work, and might include you in an upcoming article in conjunction with Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 22. Mailto:tellusyourstory@monster.com or learn more about TYDTWD at http://www.petsit.com/tydtwd/about.php By the way, if you're taking your dog to work, this is a great opportunity for publicity. Let your local media know. Thanks to Doris Appelbaum of Glendale, Wisconsin for alerting us to this one.


--Michele Ktel, the new music editor at YouTube, says: "I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting sounds fromYouTubers in all genres, whether it's jazz, hip-hop, electronica, twang, from kazoo to conga drums--everything and anything." The video you submit can be your own, or someone else's. She also wants to know about your favorite record. Watch her short video at http://www.youtube.com/blog and email her at mailto:music@youtube.com


The Publicity Hound says: This is a great opportunity for bands or anyone looking for publicity for their music. Music publicity expert Bob Baker has dozens more ideas on the CD or electronic transcript "Do-it-Yourself PR for Songwriters, Musicians & Bands on a Budget."

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/mqsug


======================================
4. Val's Art Diary at YouTube
======================================

When I was a guest during Ariane Goodwin's January telesummit on how artists can market their creations, I suggested that they create videos of their artwork in progress and post them to YouTube.

Little did I know at the time that an artist who goes by the name Valentina, from San Mateo, California, was doing just that--and pulling thousands of viewers.

In November 2006, Valentina almost gave up her dream of becoming a painter. She claims she can't write very well, and she didn't like having to write the typical artist's statement.

Galleries and museums often don't explain the artist's intentions. And Valentina thought, "Why not let myself ramble a bit on camera as I paint? Wouldn't that make a truly ideal statement?"

So she started Val's Art Diary, a video blog that documents the process of making her paintings. It includes her rants, reflections and funny moments she often captures with her camera. The subject of her episodes always relates to the subjects of the paintings she is working on.

She posts a new video every Sunday night. You can see the most recent one at http://www.youtube.com/valsartdiary and judge for yourself.

Today, just seven months later, thousands of fans tune in every Sunday, and she sells every new painting she produces. Here's the kicker. YouTube just announced that it's starting to share revenues with the most popular content creators, and Valentina is one of the few lucky ones.

"My videos have been watched by over 3 million people over the last five months," she said. "What surprised me more was the support and appreciation for art I found among the viewers who post comments under my video."

If you like the YouTube idea, you'll love the more than two dozen other ideas I shared with artists. Ariane recorded the call. "How Artists Can Sell More Artwork from Online & Offline Publicity" is available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can download as soon as your order has been approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/yvewm8


========================================
5. Promoting a Stem Cell Research Book
========================================

This week, five Publicity Hounds have ideas for Yvonne Perry of Nashville, Tennessee. She wanted tips on how to publicize her book "Right to Recover: Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America" through Nightingale Press. The publication date is October 2007. You can learn more about it at http://www.right2recover.com/


From Garth Gibson:

"You might think about putting Michael Moore on your list as well since his 'Sicko' (health care documentary?) will soon premier.

"Add Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger to the list. (Maybe Jimmy Carter?)"


From Kevin:

"There are quite a few podcasts that would love to interview you regarding your book. Go to http://www.theness.com/ and email Dr. Steven Novella. He has a weekly science/skepticism podcast that has over 15,000 listeners. These listeners are passionate about the promotion of science in society, and this book is right up their alley.


From Stephanie Chandler:

"Find a way to get this in the hands of Michael J. Fox ASAP! He’s been an advocate for stem cell research and probably has a very wide network. If you can’t get the book directly into his hands, get it into the hands of those around him. I bet the folks at his foundation would be very interested in reading your book and possibly working together. Here’s a link: http://www.michaeljfox.org/ Good luck."


The Publicity Hound says: I love Stephanie's idea of trying to get an endorsement from Michael J. Fox. This is a tactic many of you can use when promoting a cause or issue that somebody in Hollywood also is promoting. But getting through to them is another matter entirely.

A subscription to ContactAnyCelebrity.com gives you instant, unlimited access to their exclusive online database of contact information for over 54,696 celebrities, 6,890 representatives (agents, managers, publicists & attorneys) and 4,131 entertainment companies. Learn more at http://publicityhound.net/ContactAnyCelebrity

Kevin's idea reminds me to remind Yvonne about Alex Carroll's database of contact information for 213 radio shows that welcome guests who can speak on New Age, inspirational, mind-body-spirit or self-improvement topics. The contacts include those for satellite and Internet radio, and podcasts. Many of those shows have very niched and loyal audiences. Learn more at http://publicityhound.com/newageradioresources.htm


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

Patricia Dischler of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin writes:

"I am the author of 'Because I Loved You: A Birthmother’s View of Open Adoption' (Goblin Fern Press, 2006). This book is part memoir, part guidance/advice. I share the story of placing my son for adoption in 1985, beginning before the pregnancy and continuing through his high school graduation. It is the first book written by a birthmother about open adoption and that tells a positive story of adoption. (No regrets, searching, etc.)

"I have been focusing on marketing directly to adoption agencies and pregnancy centers, gaining endorsements from most national adoption offices. Once I get them to read the book, they’re hooked, and sales come in. But getting an agency to take that first step is tough. I have a national list of these agencies and have been sending emails and mailings, but most often these campaigns result in very few hits to my website and sometimes no sales at all. I am thinking that while I can write a good book, I really need some help writing copy that sells books.

"I think that whole 'compel them to buy' factor is missing in my material and I am looking for someone who can help me with this marketing. While there seems to be lots of help out there with publicity (press releases, etc.), I haven’t located anyone for marketing--writing ads, mailings, emails, etc. that sell. Can your readers help me out?"

You can learn more about the book at http://www.PatriciaDischler.com


The Publicity Hound says:

Most authors, or other people for that matter, can’t write a sales letter worth a lick.

OK, all you sales copy writers. This is the time to market your services and tell Patricia what makes your copy so great. How about offering specific links where we can see what you’ve written?

Then give us the cold, hard numbers. If your sales letter is online, what’s the lead-click conversion and the click-sale conversion for a particular sales page?

Do you split-test? (If you’re serious about your sales copy, you certainly do. Just a few small changes in one headline can quadruple sales quickly.)

If you don’t do any of that, you can still explain what makes your sales letters convert.

Also, check The Publicity Hound’s Resources List at http://www.PublicityHound.com/resources.htm Even though you won't find a specific category for sales copy writing, several writers, public relations companies and other service providers write sales copy.


Post your comments, ideas and samples at my blog at http://tinyurl.com/yssaeh


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

New research shows almost 20 percent of Americans share a bed with their dog or cat. Another 20 percent sleep on the floor in a basket while the pets have the bed to themselves.


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

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


=================================
8. And at My Blog...
=================================

Costco Connection covers books, authors http://tinyurl.com/24brqs


Media interviews: Balance of power has shifted to sources http://tinyurl.com/2g6zcc


Journalists' toolbox: Take a peek inside http://tinyurl.com/224ezq


Business reporters: 30 under 30 to watch http://tinyurl.com/2d65zm


Bad restaurant review? 2 more ways to recuperate http://tinyurl.com/34e7lh


---------------------------------------------------------------

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

June 6, 2007: Teleseminar for Attorneys

"How to Promote Your Law Practice and Generate Thousands of Dollars in Print, Broadcast and Online Publicity"

I'll be the guest expert on Steven Farley's one-hour teleseminar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on how attorneys can generate free publicity. $49. Register at http://www.rainmakerretreat.com/teleseminar.htm


June 7, 2007: Teleseminar on Press Releases

I'll be the guest expert on Debra J. Schmidt teleseminar at noon Eastern Time on "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Consumers, not Only for Journalists." Noon Eastern Time. Register at http://loyaltyleader.com/live_teleseminar.iml?id=81


June 11-15: Publicity Hound University for Assistants

Join me and a stellar line-up of guest experts for five days packed with teleseminars that will train your assistant, virtual assistant or summer intern on how to help manage your publicity campaign. This is the only training session of its kind. Learn more at http://www.PublicityHound.com/university.htm


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 list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."

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

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

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


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

Publicity tips/Queen of the nursing home May 22, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #347 May 22, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 30,838

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

"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
Receive this ezine
direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityhound.com/tipsoftheweek/

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me that you want to subscribe. If you didn'tsubscribe, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter.

Please forward this ezine to anyone you know who needs free publicity to establish their credibility, enhance their reputation, position themselves as employers of choice, sell more products and services, or promote a favorite cause or issue.

****************************************************

ANNOUNCING: PUBLICITY HOUND UNIVERSITY FOR ASSISTANTS

This is a graduate-level course for assistants, virtual assistants and interns. (I originally thought it would be basic Publicity 101 topics, but I've packed the course full of so much content-rich material, it's definitely for graduate students.)

If you already have an assistant who helps with your publicity campaign, but you know he or she can do be doing so much more, read on.

Many assistants are perfectly capable of assuming duties that are far above their current level of performance, but no one has time to show them how. The Publicity Hound to the rescue.

My week-long course, the first of its kind anywhere specifically for assistants, features 11 hours of live training by The Publicity Hound and my crew of guest experts. Students will also receive a variety of educational tools, and free email support for 30 days.

Learn more at http://snipurl.com/PHUniversity


Don't have an assistant yet? If you missed last week's teleseminar on how to hire a virtual assistant, you can order the CD or the electronic transcript here: http://publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm

We expect to ship CDs on Friday and email transcripts early next week.

*****************************************************

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

1. Queen of the Nursing Home

2. Dovetail Your Blog & Ezine

3. Religion in the Workplace

4. Media Lead

5. How to Promote a Pet CD

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


======================================
1. Queen of the Nursing Home
======================================

After 10 years spent traipsing in and out of nursing homes visiting my sick mother, I can understand why the media don't like covering those places.

They're depressing. And, sorry, but every nursing home I've ever been in smelled bad. Even the super-expensive ones where my mom lived.

About the only time the media pay attention to them is when a resident wanders out the door, and police issue an all-points bulletin.

That's why my ears perked up last week when my local TV station aired a story about the Ms. Missouri Nursing Home Contest.

I smiled when I saw the video of one of the frail contestants, in great American Idol tradition, crooning "It Had to be You" into the microphone.

I'm foggy on the details, but I seem to remember the reporter saying that the woman who was crowned Ms. Missouri Nursing Home Queen admitted to being naughty many years ago when she snuck into a bar to get some gin.

Then I said to myself, "Now there's a fun publicity stunt."

OK all you nursing home Hounds. How about stealing this idea?

TV stations will love it. Tie it to the final episode of "American Idol," which will air tomorrow night on FOX.

Piggybacking onto hot TV shows, movies and celebrities has never been easier because celebrity news has never been hotter. So why do so few Publicity Hounds take advantage of this trick? "SpecialReport #50: How to Piggyback onto Celebrity News to Promote Your Product, Service, Cause or Issue" gives you lots of clever ideas on how to tie books, products and anything else to the stars, especially their missteps. Only $10. Order at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


========================================
2. Dovetail a Blog & Ezine
========================================

If you're blogging, good for you.

Hopefully, the search engines are pulling traffic, including journalists, into your blog and your website.

Are you also sending either an electronic newsletter like this one, or a simple email tip at least every other week? If so, you're taking advantage of two of the strongest marketing tools on the planet.

But here's the question that separates the wanna-bes from the true marketers at the higher level.

Are you consciously promoting the blog in your ezine, and the ezine in your blog? If not, you're letting a golden opportunity slip through your fingers. Here's why.

You need to tell all those visitors who arrive at your blog that you want their email address so you can send your ezine or tip of the week. At my blog at http://www.publicityhound.net/, that's what I do, in the upper right corner, under my photo.

You also need to tell all your ezine subscribers what you're doing over at your blog. Each week, in Number 8 below, I give you a list of headlines at my blog from the past week, with links.

Then, when you visit the blog, you might see the covers of my ebooks in the right margin. Or links to products that I promote with my individual posts.

Think of it like this. The blog pulls traffic in. The ezine then pushes out your marketing message. That "pull/push" cycle can really make things happen. Like sales. And a ringing telephone. People want to suddenly buy your consulting services or sign up for your next workshop.

Don Crowther taught me the "pull/push cycle." And today, we both use it successfully. I picked Don's brain for one hour on other ways he dovetails his blog with his ezine to boost the bottomline. We recorded the interview, and it's available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can read as soon as your order is approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/3adrhs


=======================================
3. Religion in the Workplace
=======================================

--Lunchtime prayer meetings.

--Gospel choir rehearsals.

--On-site chaplains.

--Even "quiet rooms" for meditation and prayer.

Religion, once a taboo topic at work, has come out of the closet and into the office.

The Spring issue of The Public Relations Strategist, published by the Public Relations Society of America, has a fascinating cover story about the faith-at-work movement. Across America, it says, there's a growing trend to recognize and incorporate spirituality and religion in the workplace.

It quotes David Miller, executive director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture and author of the book "God at Work: The History and Promise of the Faith at Work Movement":

"The soul train is going through town. If you haven't thought through a structured policy and appropriate training for your management, you're going to make a misstep and find yourself on the back end of a lawsuit."

In short, religion in the workplace is the next hot diversity issue.

This is such a great story, for so many reasons. It offers compelling visuals, like the photo that accompanies this article. It shows two Muslims, kneeling on the floor in their prayer room at work. They're praying during work time.

The topic is also controversial. And it's part of a trend.

If your company has religion-in-the-workplace policies in place, and has dealt with the issue successfully, let the local media, national media, trade journals and business journals know.

Can't think of stories to pitch about your business? In Chapter 5 of my ebook "How to be a Kick-butt Publicity Hound," I offer 22 ideas that will have you pitching in no time. You can read them all right now for free, my way of giving you a taste of the book. Go to http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity/publicityhoundTOC.htm


===================================
4. Media Lead
===================================

Suzanne Jalot of Wilmington, North Carolina, publisher of Dog Living Magazine, a regional magazine covering the southeastern section of the state, is looking for giveaways for events and reader contests.

"If there are any companies out there looking to promote dog-related products, we will give them free publicity via the magazine promotion in exchange for some products to give to readers. And of course we’re also always looking for unique story ideas relating to dogs." Mailto:editor@doglivingmagazine.com

The Publicity Hound says: Suzanne, check out the next item


===================================
5. How to Promote a Pet CD
====================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have tips for Janice Roberts of Woodmere, New York. She wants ideas on how to promote a CD of songs for pet lovers. "It isn't selling well in stores, and she's trying to target the pet industry, pet parties and "yappy" hours (bars where people bring their pets and have a drink).

From Liz K.:

"Get yourself connected to any one of the service dog organizations. There are hundreds in the U.S. alone. Most of them are non-profits, but they have very large databases. Everyone involved with the organizations is an animal lover. I recently was able to donate some product samples for a sWAG Bag (get it?) provided to all attendees at a fund raising event called Woofstock for CCI (http://www.caninecompanions.org/). It cost me hardly any money, supported an organization that is near and dear to my heart, and I’m still pulling in business."


From Scott Anthony:

"Try to form alliances with specific retailers that have websites where you can get a sample listening like on your website. Your most cost-effective move would be to exchange links with these people and try to drive traffic to them. For example, send people to a pet store website for the dog and cat CDs."


From Dara Turransky:

"I would leverage the music as a gift product. And as such, the gift industry may be a better fit for you. I’ve met other business owners at pet trade shows who discovered that their lifestyle products have an easier time breaking into the market with the gift industry.

"Connecting yourself to any non-profit focused on animals is an excellent idea...My final suggestion would be to approach a company like Petlane, which uses individual consultants for 'Yappy Hour' parties. Entice them to include you in their catalog, and provide samples for the consultants to use at their parties."


The Publicity Hound says: Here's what I'd do. Start researching the most influential pet bloggers. Upload a portion of one of the songs to an audio program like Audio Acrobat because big clunky audio and video files reside on their server, not on mine.

Then send the bloggers the link and tell them about the CD. I mentioned Audio Acrobat last week. It's the program I use, and I love it. You can take a free 30-day test-drive at http://tinyurl.com/phau3

Then before you pitch bloggers, check out "How to Pitch the Best Bloggers & Create a Publicity Explosion." It's an interview I did with the Blog Squad, and it explains how to find influential bloggers, approach them, and pique their interest. The recording is available as a CD or transcript that you can be reading as soon as your order is approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/m7ymr


You can read the complete responses at http://tinyurl.com/39rpl7


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

Yvonne Perry from Nashville, Tennessee writes:

"I am publishing my book 'Right to Recover: Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America' through Nightingale Press. The publication date is October 2007.

"I need some help determining who my target market is and some tips on how I might best reach them. I have set up a blog and directed traffic there from http://www.right2recover.com/ to give people an idea of what the book is about. I would appreciate some creative ways to start the buzz now and get publicity as the publication date nears."


The Publicity Hound says:

Stem cell research is such a hot topic and always in the news. That means there are opportunities galore to create the buzz. Let's see how many of them my Hounds can think of.

Hounds with ideas for Yvonne can post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/2mnwtm


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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Virginia Reeves of Shasta Lake, California for this one:


"If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater...suggest that he wear a tail."

--Fran Lebowitz


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

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

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


=================================
8. And at My Blog...
=================================

'I Love My Library' Video Contest Offers $10,000 prize http://tinyurl.com/2vvjrk


Animal whisperer: Here's how to get onto radio http://tinyurl.com/2ee3kd


Copyrighting press releases on '10 Dumb Things' list http://tinyurl.com/ypoaw6


Pet experts, EzineArticles.com wants your articles http://tinyurl.com/2huuyz


---------------------------------------------------------------

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

June 6, 2007: Teleseminar for Attorneys

"How to Promote Your Law Practice and Generate Thousands of Dollars in Print, Broadcast and Online Publicity"

I'll be the guest expert on Steven Farley's one-hour teleseminar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on how attorneys can generate free publicity. $49. Register at http://www.rainmakerretreat.com/teleseminar.htm


June 7, 2007: Teleseminar on Press Releases

I'll be the guest expert on Debra J. Schmidt teleseminar at noon Eastern Time on "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Consumers, not Only for Journalists." Noon Eastern Time. Register at http://loyaltyleader.com/live_teleseminar.iml?id=81


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 list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."


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


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


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


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

Publicity tips/Stop doing it all yourself May 15, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #346 May 15, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 30,766

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

"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
Receive this ezine
direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityhound.com/tipsoftheweek/

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me that you want to subscribe. If you didn't subscribe, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter.

Please forward this ezine to anyone you know who needs free publicity to establish their credibility, enhance their reputation, position themselves as employers of choice, sell more products and services, or promote a favorite cause or issue.

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

1. Stop Doing it All Yourself

2. Radio Shows Want 'Woo-woo' Topics

3. Freelancers & Inflight Magazines

4. Salsa Dancing to Set a Record

5. How to Promote Meditation, Healing

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

======================================
1. Stop Doing it All Yourself
======================================

This month, Reader's Digest and the Wall Street Journal both have articles on the booming virtual assistant industry.

Stay-at-home moms and dads as well as talented but sometimes jaded employees who are tired of the corporate world are setting up shop for themselves, working for clients in their own communities or thousands of miles away.

With skills such as bookkeeping, website development and public relations, they're helping clients get speaking engagements, maintain their websites, do invoicing, compile media kits, help with other publicity tasks and do lots of other detail work that drives people like me crazy.

"There is so much work for VAs, the field is thriving, absolutely booming," said VA Diana Ennen, who was quoted in the Reader's Digest article. She is the co-author of "Virtual Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA."

My own virtual assistant has freed me up to plan and launch three major projects that will create new revenue streams this year. Isn't it time you, too, stopped trying to do it all yourself? I'll even help you.

Diana will team up with longtime virtual assistant Cindy Greenway and join me during a teleseminar I'm hosting at 1 p.m. Eastern Time this Thursday, May 17. It's called "How to Find a Virtual Assistant to Help with Your Publicity Campaign."

We'll save you hours of time searching for a V.A. by telling you exactly where to look and what kinds of questions to ask during the interview. We'll explain how V.A.s charge for their services and share tips for smooth sailing. We'll even talk about sensitive topics like how to set boundaries with your assistant.

I first met Cindy several weeks ago when I contacted one of her clients to participate in a joint venture project. He invited Cindy, his assistant, to join the call and take notes. I assumed she worked in his office. What I didn't realize until three weeks later is that he's in Phoenix, Arizona and she's in British Columbia, Canada. That's one of the beauties of working with a V.A. They can perform most the same tasks they could perform if they were seated next to you.

If you're flirting with the idea of hiring a V.A., join us this Thursday. Registration is $39.95 which includes a recording of the call on CD that we'll mail to you about 10 days later.

After you've hired your V.A., or found a part-time assistant, join me for a one-week intensive training program June 11-15, via telephone seminars. This will be just like sending your V.A., part-time or full-time assistant, or summer intern to publicity school. I will teach them how to handle all the publicity grunt work--from researching media outlets to tracking down the most influential bloggers. They'll even learn how to help you maintain your online media room.

Several guest experts will be joining me for the calls. If you're a V.A. who completes the training, you'll have an entirely new skill set that will probably allow you to raise your fees. I'll share all the details with you in the next week or two.

Register for the May 17 call on how to find a V.A. at http://publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm


========================================
2. Radio shows want 'woo-woo' topics
========================================

Not so long ago, people who were experts on topics like self-improvement, mind-body-spirit or anything inspirational--or any"woo-woo" topic that fits in the New Age category--often had a difficult time getting booked on radio shows.

Talk show hosts and producers viewed topics like reiki, energy healing, aroma therapy and feng shui as a little too weird for mainstream audiences.

Mind-body-spirit sounds too much like it's tied to religion.

And self-improvement often smacks of snake-oil salesmen.

As a result, thousands of experts who had valuable information to share with the right audiences had to pretty much scratch radio shows off their targeted media hit list.

But not anymore.

The popularity of satellite radio and the explosion of Internet radio shows has spawned a whole new group of talk show hosts and producers. They reach a targeted market that many other traditional shows don't bother with.

They're looking for guests in self-improvement, mind-body-spirit, inspirational and New Age topics. Because they have such loyal and dedicated listeners, it's likely that if you fit their category, you may get a bigger response from these shows than you might from a big mainstream general interest show with 100,000+ listeners.

Here's the best part. Because many of them host Internet radio shows, they archive the shows, and visitors can download the shows and listen months or even years after they were recorded.

Alex Carroll, who has been a guest on more than 1,200 radio shows and sold a quarter of a million books in the process, has created a new database of radio shows that welcome guests in those categories. For the next 7 days, you get your hands on the list and save $78 before the price goes up.

Get all the details here:

http://publicityhound.com/newageradioresources.htm


=======================================
3. Freelancers and Inflight Magazines
=======================================

One of the big advantages to forming relationships with freelancers is that most of them write for multiple publications. So if they sell a story that includes you as a source, there's a good chance they'll interview you again for another story for a different publication.

Stacy DeBroff, also known as The Mommy Expert, got a nice spike in book sales at Amazon, and traffic to her website, this month when her book "The Mom Book" appeared in the May issue of Go, the inflight magazine for Airtran.

Her publicist, Christine Hohlbaum of Wasabi Publicity Inc., started pitching a freelancer who submits to inflight magazines several months ago. They stayed in touch periodically. Christine took advantage of the special contact management function that's part of Press Kit 24/7, a PR product that lets Publicity Hounds create and maintain their own online press room, even if they don't know HTML coding or the first thing about managing a website.

Christine's follow-up is quick, and reporters love that. The freelancer interviewed Stacy for a story titled "Mind Your Manners" about how parents can teach manners and etiquette to their children by setting a good example. The pitch met quick deadlines and was well-organized--complete with a link to Stacy's online press kit--making for a perfect placement around Mother's Day.

Christine says many freelancers write for inflight magazines, a coveted placement for publicists because you have a captive audience. For example, just one inflight freelancer Christine knows writes for San Francisco Chronicle, Sights Magazine, MyMidwest (another inflight mag), Bottom Line Personal, Sales and Marketing Magazine, Incentive Magazine, Hemispheres (yet another inflight mag) and North Bay Biz.

See how valuable a source freelancers can be? Especially if they are good enough to sell to inflight magazines.

If you want to check out the really cool Press Kit 24/7 software package that also keeps track of who you pitched, when you pitched them and when you need to follow up, learn more here: http://www.presskit247.com/

Then save yourself hundreds of hours of research on inflight magazines. My special report "Fly High with Publicity in the In-flight Magazines" includes pitching tips and contact information for 42 inflight magazines. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/n3pk4


===================================
4. Salsa Dancing to Set a Record
===================================

The same issue of the Go inflight magazine I wrote about in the previous item has a short article about Philadelphia's annual Fiesta on the Parkway, part of the Sunoco Welcome America!Independence Day festivities.

Everybody is involved with Latino culture on July 3, even if they aren't Latino. And the organizers have planned an incredibly fun event that will give them gobs of free publicity.

They will assemble as many as 4,200 salsa dancers on the parkway at once and try to break the Guinness World Record for the number of dancers performing the salsa at once.

More than 400 local dance studios will offer free classes, both in person and via the Internet, to participants in advance of the choreographed dance event. You can learn more about it at http://www.AmericasBirthday.com

The next time you plan a major special event, figure out a fun publicity stunt like this one, and try to break the Guinness World Record.

Debra J. Schmidt and I can give you 847 ideas on how to plan and promote fun, creative events while avoiding the land mines that can ruin the entire event, not to mention your reputation. We teamed up to present "How to Plan & Promote Sizzling special Events," a series of 6 audio CDs. It's also available as an ebook. Both versions come with a handy list of 15 can't-do-without checklists for event planners.

You can read more about what you'll learn and download three complimentary checklists at http://tinyurl.com/46jzg


===================================
5. How to Promote Meditation, Healing
====================================

This week, eight Publicity Hounds have advice for Mike New of Beverly Hills, California. He needs ideas on how to promote a spiritual healing and teaching practice. It provides guided meditation classes and personal healing sessions.


From Nancy Gillespie:

"Yes, continue with the spiritual bookshop--also contact spiritual retreat centers, yoga studios, churches such as Unity and Religious Science that might be more open to this type of thing. Instead of supermarkets, how about health food stores? Advertise in your local spiritual/New Thought newspaper."


From Miriam Silverberg:

"Contact spas, many of which are New Agey and would find it appealing. Also, fitness clubs which are also New Agey to a degree."


From Michele Lessirard:

"In checking out your site, what strikes me is that everything you offer as a product is audio, yet there is nothing on the site that offers a sampling of your voice. Maybe introduce your concepts via an audio file that integrates into the website.

"There isn’t a hook, and nothing captures me so I want to return to your site (even though it is beautiful). How about personal stories--why do I want what you have to offer? Share mini insights through a blog so people get to ‘know’ you."


The Publicity Hound says:

What a coincidence that I learned about Alex Carroll's new database of radio programs, mentioned in Item #2 above. It sounds like a perfect fit for Mike and lots of other Hounds on this list. Learn more about the database at http://publicityhound.com/newageradioresources.htm


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

Janice Roberts of Woodmere, New York asks:

"I created a new kind of greeting card company called Happy 2BMusic, Inc. We create and produce original music relating to various themes for particular niches of people, such as brides, moms-to-be, and pet lovers.

"Each CD contains four original songs in a cute and colorful self-mailer with the lyrics printed on the package and space for your personalized message.

"These do not sell well in stores because people cannot hear them. We feel these make great promotional items for businesses to advertise on by giving discounts for future business. It's also a great way for a business to say "thank you" or a fun way to ask for referral business.

"We would also like to concentrate on the pet industry, because there are more and more pet parties and "yappy" hours (bars where people bring their pets and have a drink) and these would make a great addition to a goody bag.

"What can we do to promote these ideas? The website is http://www.happy2bmusic.com/ where you can hear samples. We are looking for an effective way to get our prospective clients to think out of the box, when it comes to marketing."


The Publicity Hound says:

I love it when my two-legged Hounds submit questions that tie into the four-legged kind. Two-legged Hounds with great ideas can post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/39rpl7


In the meantime, Janice, do you have a good audio program that will let you do all kinds of cool things, like record audio and then send an "audio note" email message to your customers? If not, check out Audio Acrobat. It's the audio program I use--much cheaper than Audio Generator, and their customer service is a thousand times better. Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/phau3


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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Burgundy Olivier of Rayne, Louisiana for this one:


What does a man do standing up...and a woman do sitting down...and a dog do on three legs?


Shake hands.


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

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

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


=================================
8. And at My Blog...
=================================

Realtors, stop whining about bad publicity
http://tinyurl.com/2dek47


Freelancer needs sources for orthodontic PR article
http://tinyurl.com/2t6eva


Is Atlanta Dog Magazine still publishing?
http://tinyurl.com/2x29zt


Authors, thank bloggers when your book is published
http://tinyurl.com/2bzkx9


David Meerman Scott thanked these 163 bloggers
http://tinyurl.com/yr3b4e


The Publicity Hound featured on That Marketing Show
http://tinyurl.com/29kalu


---------------------------------------------------------------

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

May 21, 2007: Teleseminar on How to Write Articles

I'll be the guest expert during a teleseminar with Sugar Shock expert Connie Bennett on "How to Write How-to Articles to Get Credibility, Visibility & Clients." It's at 2 PM Eastern Time. If you're an author, holistic health counselor, entrepreneur, or anyone who needs lots of shortcuts on how to write a simple 600-word article, this is for you. You'll get a handout that includes a template for a how-to article. I created it, and I invite you to steal my format and use it for your own articles. Read more about what you'll learn and register at http://tinyurl.com/37f7ee


June 6, 2007: Teleseminar for Attorneys

Save this date. I'll be the guest expert on Steven Farley's teleseminar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on how attorneys can generate free publicity. Details pending.


June 7, 2007: Teleseminar on Press Releases

I'll be the guest expert on Debra J. Schmidt teleseminar at noon Eastern Time on "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Consumers, not Only for Journalists." Noon Eastern Time. Register at http://loyaltyleader.com/live_teleseminar.iml?id=81


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 list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."


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


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


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


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

Publicity tips/Line dance, shovel manure & pitch May 8, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #345- May 8, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 30,777

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

"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
Receive this ezine
direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityhound.com/tipsoftheweek/

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me that you want to subscribe. If you didn't subscribe, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter.

Please forward this ezine to anyone you know who needs free publicity to establish their credibility, enhance their reputation, position themselves as employers of choice, sell more products and services, or promote a favorite cause or issue.

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

1. Line Dance, Shovel Manure & Pitch

2. How to Find a Virtual Assistant

3. 7 Reasons to Say No to New Business

4. How to Pitch Routine News

5. Promoting an RV Group

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

======================================
1. Line Dance, Shovel Manure & Pitch
======================================

It's almost summer. In the corporate world, that means the unusual team-building activities like rock-climbing and "throw them off the island" competitions, all in the name of bonding.

The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service in Menlo Park, California, surveyed 250 U.S. marketing and advertising executives and asked them to describe unusual team-building activities they have heard of or participated in.

As you read this list of responses, think of the wonderful ways you could publicize these activities:

--"Line dancing on the beach in matching outfits."

--"We shoveled horse manure in a stable."

--"We made sculptures in the sand."

--"Our department built a race car."

--"We took an improvisational comedy class together."

--"We built a raft and used it to go through the water, retrieve a torch and bring it back without putting the flame out."

--"We built boats out of cardboard and raced them in a pool."

--"We created a human bridge to cross a small stream."

--"We treated everyone to a glorious day of massages and chocolates."

--"Team drumming."


On a tight budget? You can still have fun:

--"We went to a garden store and tried to build a creative project out of $9 worth of materials."


And, finally, The Publicity Hound's favorite:

"We held our own dog show."


If your company is bonding this summer, be sure to let the media know. Why not invite a newspaper reporter and photographer and a TV camera crew to join the fun?


That's not the only one way to get fabulous publicity this summer. There are dozens more ways, and Shawne Duperon and I explained them all on two CDs we produced:

"116 WOW Story Ideas from January through June" http://tinyurl.com/6k7zk

and

"103 Sizzling Sizzling Story Ideas from July through December" http://tinyurl.com/54y6f

Each CD comes with the entire list of ideas that you can download and be reading as soon as your order is approved. No more excuses like "I can't think of anything newsworthy to pitch."


========================================
2. How to Find a Virtual Assistant
========================================

More than 80 Publicity Hounds responded to my survey about publicity training for assistants, virtual assistants and summer interns.

Many of you who responded were curious about virtual assistants--what they do and how to find one.

That's why I'm hosting a one-hour telephone seminar at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 17, on "How to Find a Virtual Assistant to Help with Your Publicity Campaign."

A virtual assistant is a temporary worker who works for businesses over the Internet, performing all work remotely, usually for a certain number of hours each week.

The assistant and the client can be thousands of miles away from each other. Because virtual assistants are independent contractors who usually bill by the hour, clients aren't saddled with Social Security taxes and expensive benefits such as health insurance.

I've been using a virtual assistant successfully for about a year. She frees me up from tedious administrative chores so I can concentrate on the fun, creative projects I love.

If you're flirting with the idea of hiring a V.A., join us on May 17. Registration is $39.95 which includes a recording of the call on CD that we'll mail to you about 10 days later.

Cindy Greenway, who has been working as a virtual assistant for several years, and Diana Ennen, a virtual assistant who specializes in publicity, will join me during the call. They'll offer tips on where to find V.A.s, how to know which V.A. is the best fit with your management style, and ways to work with your V.A. so it's smooth sailing all the way.

After you've hired your V.A., or found a part-time assistant, join me for a one-week intensive training program in early June, via telephone conference calls. This will be just like sending your V.A., part-time or full-time assistant, or summer intern to publicity school. I will teach them how to handle all the publicity grunt work--from researching media outlets to tracking down the most influential bloggers. They'll even learn how to help you maintain your online media room.

Several guest experts will be joining me for the calls. If you're a V.A. who completes the training, you'll have an entirely new skill set that will probably allow you to raise your fees. I'll share all the details with you in the next week or two.

Register for the May 17 call on how to find a V.A. at http://publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm


=======================================
3. 7 Reasons to Say No to New Business
=======================================

When PR people complain to me about the Customers from Hell, I always try to help.

At some point in the conversation, I'm not surprised to hear them say, "I should have trusted my gut."

Indeed.

Debbie Bermont, president of Source Communications, a marketing consulting firm, says trusting your gut is one of seven reasons to say no to new business.

"Your gut instinct or intuition is the most powerful weapon you own that is always correct and even if it isn't always a logical thought," Debbie says. "You should never ignore a nagging feeling something isn't right."

Her other six reasons to turn away new business are:

--The customer doesn't appreciate the value of what you offer.

--The customer expects you to invest time and resources into
pursuing their business without any financial commitment on their end.

--The customer doesn't treat you in a courteous or professional manner.

--The customer asks for products or services you don't provide.

--The customer's requests are too large for your operation.

--The customer doesn't share the same values as you.

Recognize any of these? I sure do. Read Debbie's excellent article at http://tinyurl.com/3yqk82 Thanks to B.L. Ochman who tipped me off to this in her blog at http://www.whatsnextblog.com/

Once you know which clients to say no to, start finding the ones you'll love to work with. I teamed up with PR expert Marcia Yudkin to create a list of 24 ways PR people can find clients. We explained them all on the CD or electronic transcript called "24 Ways to Attract Clients to Your PR Practice."

Many of our ideas work not only for PR people, but for small business people who are also struggling to find clients. It comes with a list of all 24 ideas that you can download as soon as your order has been approved. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/8txj8


=================================
4. How to Pitch Routine News
=================================

When I hear people griping about the U.S. economy, I wonder what planet they're really living on. Yet we still hear stories about "our bad economy."

And some of them come from, who else? Journalists.

That's why the following pitch worked so beautifully. When four prominent labor and employment lawyers on Long Island jumped from one firm to Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP, in Mineola, New York, marketing consultant Cecilia Alers knew that the Long Island Business News wouldn't consider that a big deal. Reporters think that publicizing that kind of news is "catty."

So she gave it this spin:

"I told the legal reporter that I thought the business community should hear another side to the glut of stories right now about how 'the economy is stagnant or shrinking' and see how one firm went from zero to seven lawyers in seven months," she said. "It worked, and he's writing about it this week."

Smart thinking, Cecilia.

Other organizations can use that little trick, too. It might turn a four-line brief in the back of your business journal to a full-fledged feature story, complete with photo.

Remember, many business journals have certain sections of the paper devoted to a different industry such as manufacturing, law, banking and health care every week. So if your company pitches the editor of that section with this type of story, you might generate some decent coverage.

Paul Furiga knows at least a dozen other ways to get your company or your PR client into business journals. He's a former business journal editor, and he explained them all on "How to Use Business Journals to Tell Your Story." It's available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can be reading as soon as your order is approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/q4rf7


===================================
5. Promoting an RV Group
====================================

This week, five Publicity Hounds have advice for Isabelle Kaminsky of Tustin, California. She and her husband belong to an RV group that has monthly weekend outings, and she wanted ideas on how to publicize the group.

From Lia Allen:

"I found a great resource that might help you: http://www.scrapblog.com/ Pictures speak louder than words. Capture the experience, and the emotion if you can and create a RV’ing Scrap Blog. Then use that to send as a link in emails.

"Also, in our area, the Visitors and Conventions Bureau is real active in bringing in tourists. I would partner with your local VCB to create an event, maybe a community open house that showcases your concept. They can partner with the local tourist attractions to offer discounts to RV’ers that are in the area. You might be able to create a series of events."


From Al Kalar:

"Talk to area RV dealers. The smart ones will see the sales hook to get customers into one of their rigs. Have something to put into their hands before you leave that explains the program so they won’t forget and can educate the sales staff."


From Cheryl Pickett:

"There is a book by authors Phil and Carol White, along with a great website focusing on RV travel. They are independent publishers and not only have they promoted their book well, I understand they’ve recently been named spokespeople for a national RV association.

"I contacted them last year for my book project, and Carol graciously agreed to be interviewed. I’m sure they’d have lots of tips and be willing to help you as well. Their site is http://www.roadtripdream.com


Read all the responses at http://www.publicityhound.com/publicityphotos.htm


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

Mike New of Beverly Hills, California asks:

"We have a spiritual healing and teaching practice called Spirituality Inside and Out. We provide guided meditation classes and personal healing sessions.

"Michelle Morovaty is the main healer and has an interesting background. Seven years ago she healed herself from Lupus using the power of her mind when all the doctors were telling her she would be paralyzed for the rest of her life.

"Since then she has learned many lessons on self-healing and has taught and helped many people to heal themselves. She has produced a range of guided meditation CDs as well.

"We promote our Spiritually Inside and Out website and our Inside Now websites at http://www.insidenow.com/ via our list of opt-in email addresses, publish articles on the Internet, hold a monthly seminar in a spiritual bookshop, and we put flyers in various supermarkets etc.

"Things are moving forward, but only slowly. What ideas do your Hounds have for us?"


The Publicity Hound says: I know from the emails I receive that many people who read this newsletter are New Age experts, and some of them are the sharpest Hounds I know. If you have ideas for Mike and Michelle, post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/2abrxa


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

"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts."

--John Steinbeck


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

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

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


=================================
8. And at My Blog...
=================================

Book lovers protest shrinking book review sections http://tinyurl.com/3dxycv

Newspaper, magazine columnists: Don't be greedy http://tinyurl.com/ywbbcp


---------------------------------------------------------------

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®


May 12, 2007: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Florida Speakers Association: "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Consumers, Not Only for Journalists." 9a.m. to noon. "Sleeping with the Competition: How to Collaborate with Other Speakers to Create Profitable Products." 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 561-630-7766 or visit http://www.florida-speakers.org


June 6, 2007: Teleseminar for Attorneys

Save this date. I'll be the guest on Steven Farley's teleseminar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on how attorneys can generate free publicity. Details pending.


June 7, 2007: Teleseminar on Press Releases

I'll be the guest on Debra J. Schmidt teleseminar at noon Eastern Time on "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Consumers, not Only for Journalists." Noon Eastern Time. Register at http://loyaltyleader.com/live_teleseminar.iml?id=81



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 list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."

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

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

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


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

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

Publicity tips/When your expert is a geek May 1, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #344- May 1, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 30,830

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

"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
Receive this ezine
direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityhound.com/tipsoftheweek/

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me that you want to subscribe. If you didn't subscribe, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter.

Please forward this ezine to anyone you know who needs free publicity to establish their credibility, enhance their reputation, position themselves as employers of choice, sell more products and services, or promote a favorite cause or issue.

*******************************************************

Update on The Publicity Hound Resources List:

Media trainer Lou Hampton from Washington, D.C. wanted to buy a listing last week and was looking over the categories at http://www.PublicityHound.com/resources.htm He noticed I have a category for Website design/development, and it just so happened that his wife needed some website programming explained so she could do it herself. She called Janet Hall of Overhall Consulting, who is on my Resources List, and bought an hour of Janet's time. Lou tells me his wife was thrilled with Janet's coaching and plans to use her on other projects.

Janet got her first paying customer less than two weeks after she joined the list. And now Lou is the first media trainer on the list, just waiting for referrals to come his way.

If you sell a product or service to Publicity Hounds, learn about how you can get in front of thousands of people every week at http://www.PublicityHound.com/PublicityResources.htm

P.S. My virtual assistant came up with the brilliant idea of making refrigerator magnets that list the URL of the resources page, and we're inserting them inside all product packages. I'm now also linking to the list from many of the posts at my blog at http://www.PublicityHound.net

********************************************************

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

1. When Your Expert is a Geek

2. The Fittest CEO

3. Before You Write That Book...

4. Media Lead

5. Promoting a Household Labor Website

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


======================================
1. When Your Expert is a Geek
======================================

When news breaks in your organization and you're pitching the story to TV, sometimes your best expert is a geek in a white lab coat who talks in industry lingo, or what I call geek-speak.

Let's say you do PR for a natural history museum, and a TV crew is coming to the museum to film a segment for that night's news on a new dinosaur exhibit that's opening.

To make your expert, an archaeologist, look "natural," you suggest that he stand in front of the exhibit with, say, the skeleton of a dinosaur behind him.

Truth is, many geeks and other left-brain types like engineers, accountants and even college professors feel uncomfortable talking with the media anyway. So asking them to just stand there and do the interview in a "natural" setting will make them appear stiff and awkward.

Media trainer Al Rothstein suggests that, instead, you should ask the expert to demonstrate something during the interview.

"If there is a way to do something where it’s a little more touchy-feely, where they can actually point and touch and walk around something, or do something where they can actually have something in their hands, that usually helps them feel more comfortable," Al says. "If they appear only with something in the background, and they're not media-trained, they tend to slideback into their uncomfortable zone, and then they’ll start to do what is most comfortable for them, which is to repeat the lingo and look kind of stiff on camera."

Al trains people to be media spokespersons. During a teleseminar I conducted with him, he said companies and organizations don't always have the luxury of training every media spokesperson, particularly experts who are called on at the last minute to do media interviews. So the best advice is to tell them to just be themselves and to talk in language that anybody can understand.

If you do PR for your company and call on expert spokespersons to speak to the media, or if you're the expert spokesperson, you must know exactly what the media expect from you. For example, what's the difference between a spokesperson and an expert spokesperson?

Al explains it, and offers dozens of other tips on the CD "How to be an Expert Spokesperson the Media Love." It's also available as an electronic transcript that you can be reading as soon as your order is approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/rzcdd


========================================
2. The Fittest CEO
========================================

Pay attention to contests that newspapers and magazines are sponsoring.

That's what Jo Steinberg, president of Midland Health Testing Services Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin started doing after she heard me harping about how contests can be great publicity opportunities.

Let her expain what has happened as a result:

"I'm 5-foot-4 and over 50, and I never dreamed that the way I look would bring me free publicity. But thanks to reading your newsletter, it did.

"The Small Business Times in Milwaukee recently sponsored the 'Fittest CEO' contest. Each executive was professionally examined for endurance, strength and body makeup. Here I am, the owner of a corporate wellness company, and I initially decided not to enter.

"I work out pretty consistently, but over the past two years put on a few pounds. Definitely not a cover girl for Shape Magazine. But then your free publicity philosophy hit me.

"Should I? Will people laugh? I took the plunge. The finalists--including the top women over 50, the top women under 50, the top men over 50 and the top men under 50--were announced last week.

"Not only did I get the free publicity, but I'm a finalist in the contest! I laughed. It just goes to show you, a little chubby can't be all bad, especially when you submit a publicity shot from the neck up."

You can see the page the Small Business Times devoted to Jo, and her photo, at http://tinyurl.com/ywoytl

What I love about this success story is that the contest ties into what Jo preaches as the CEO of a corporate wellness company. Good luck Jo. Hounds everywhere will be rooting for you.

As Jo has proven, contests can be publicity magnets, whether you sponsor them or enter them. If you want some fun ideas about contests that other organizations have sponsored, check out "Special Report #18: Clever Contests That Will Tempt Reporters to Call" at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


=======================================
3. Before You Write That Book...
=======================================

When authors come into my mentor program, often the first item on their agenda is writing and publishing a book.

That alone can eat up years of their time, as well as their bank accounts. So I challenge them with this question: What else can you sell to all those people who will buy your book?

Often, the answer is "nothing." Talk about a missed opportunity.

Instead of writing books, I wish authors would first start creating information products like downloadable special reports, CDs and workbooks. I urge them to have coaching programs and other services in place.

Then go to market with your book. Steve Harrison, who has worked with thousands of authors over the years, sees the same problems I do. And during a teleseminar this Thursday, he'll share seven strategies for dramatically increasing revenue as a non-fiction author, expert, speaker or consultant. You will learn:

--Some surprisingly simple ways to quickly and easily make another $75,000 to $250,000.00 from your non-fiction book or expertise, even if you haven't seen a penny yet as an author/expert.

--22 super-lucrative income streams which most non-fiction authors overlook. They are surprisingly easy to implement (and certainly MUCH easier to produce than writing another book).

--The 12 biggest mistakes which 99 percent of all authors make.These mistakes prevent them from maximizing the profits from their books.

--How a Christian energy therapist who wrote a print-on-demand book made a simple decision that generated more than $500,000 within two years.

--Proven tips for creating spin-off products based on your book or expertise.

--How to sell thousands of books to one company.

And more. This free call will last from 80 and 90 minutes. It's the third of three preview calls for his upcoming Quantum Leap Marketing Coaching Program.

He won't make recordings available afterward. So mark your calendar now. Choose from two time slots on Thursday: 2 p.m.Eastern (11 a.m.Pacific) or 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. Pacific). Register at http://snipurl.com/QuantumLeapCall3


=================================
4. Media Leads
=================================

The Iron Chef, a popular program on the Food Network, is looking for people who also love Iron Chef competitions, from fans who dress up in Japanese costumes to full-length videos of people who host their own cooking competitions. Tell the network why nobody Iron Chefs like you do and they might send a camera crew to capture you in Iron Chef action. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/95xn7


Not quite ready for Iron Chef competition? I have 51 story ideas you can steal to promote your food-related product, service or business. I used to be a restaurant reviewer and a food writer, so I know exactly the kinds of stories that print and broadcast media want. They're on a handout that you can download instantly when you buy the CD "Publicity Tips for Restaurants, Chefs & Foodies." Learn more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/2qyxye


===================================
5. Promoting a Household Labor Website
====================================

This week, four Publicity Hounds have tips for Kare Anderson of Sausalito, California. Her friend, who is co-founder of the company Labor Fair at http://laborfair.com/, needs ideas on how she can publicize this online referral community of reliable household labor.


From Shel Horowitz:

"Spend some time with the book 'Celebrate Today' by John Kremerat http://celebratetoday.com/ and 'Chase's Calendar of Events' at http://www.chases.com/. I’m betting you could find 50 or more events that would be easy to piggyback onto."


By Garth Gibson:

"Why not start an affiliate program so those people who refer these workers get paid for the referral? Seems they might be more motivated to drum up business. You might want to focus on churches and the like as they probably are already referring members for housework needs. But now they and the church could get paid for it."


From Biana Babinsky:

"When you use local search engine optimization, instead of optimizing for just 'plumber services' you will optimize for 'plumber services Sausalito.' Of course, you will need to optimize for different locales in California. Doing this will help you bring exactly the traffic you are looking for, which is local California traffic."


The Publicity Hound says: Biana's suggestion could be put to use if you start writing how-to articles about things like how to do housecleaning or other chores. The articles could be posted to article directory websites. But before you start posting, know the basics of issues like copyright and reprint rights. What would you do, for example, if a newspaper wanted exclusivity for your article? Intellectual property attorney Patricia Ayers tells you what you need to know on the CD or electronic transcript "Legal Issues You Must Know When Writing Articles for Fee or for Free." Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/dbc3p

Read all the responses at http://tinyurl.com/235dwl


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

Isabelle Kaminsky of Tustin, California writes:

"My husband and I belong to an RV group which has monthly weekend outings, and sometimes longer trips. We'd like to encourage other RV'ers to join us for an outing so they can see what we offer. Our long-range goal is to obtain new members from Los Angeles, Orange County and Riverside County. Membership is open to couples and families who have any type of RV or camping trailer.

"Our group is affiliated with Good Sam(aritan), a long-standing organization that promotes RV'ing/camping/etc. They have national conventions, as well as regional, state and county events. They also publish a magazine, and provide financing, insurance, etc. services to the RV community.

"Do your Hounds have any ideas on the best way to promote our RV group?"


The Publicity Hound says: Hounds, let's see who can come up with the most creative idea on how Isabelle and her RV group can round up a caravan of new members. Post your best tips to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/2dypq9

Here's an idea you can start on right now, Isabelle. Many newspapers and magazines are planning special summer recreation sections. Contact newspapers in your geographic area, call their advertising departments and ask them to send you a copy of their editorial calendars, which list upcoming special sections.

Call the editors of those sections and ask "How can we help you?" They might want a list of tips or a longer article, or maybe even photos, on how to travel in an RV or camper.

Sending photos of your events to local newspapers is another terrific way to generate publicity, even if the photos only have a caption, but no story. My ebook "How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity Campaign" includes time-saving tips on how to shoot your own photos, advice on how amateur photographers can make their images look as good as photos taken by the pros, and other advice. Read more about what you'll learn at http://www.publicityhound.com/publicityphotos.htm


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

Thanks to Erica Gorsuch of Thiensville, Wisconsin for this one:

Q. Why did the cowboy want to buy a dachshund?

A. (Said with a southern drawl) He wanted to get a long little doggie.


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

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

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


=================================
8. And at My Blog...
=================================

Article writing: How to shave minutes off this task http://tinyurl.com/39zvey


Capture email addresses with Hover Ad Creator http://tinyurl.com/32rffe


---------------------------------------------------------------

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®


May 12, 2007: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Florida Speakers Association: "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Consumers, Not Only for Journalists." 9 a.m. to noon. "Sleeping with the Competition: How to Collaborate with Other Speakers to Create Profitable Products." 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 561-630-7766 or visit http://www.florida-speakers.org


June 20, 2007: Teleseminar for Attorneys

Save this date. I'll be the guest on Steven Farley's teleseminar at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on how attorneys can generate free publicity. Details pending.

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 list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."


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


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


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


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

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