Publicity tips/Call talk radio shows March 14, 2006

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week

Issue #285 - March 14, 2006

Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)

The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 14,601

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"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
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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.

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New Teleseminar: "Do-It-Yourself PR for Songwriters, Musicians & Bands on a Budget"

When: 8 to 9:10 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 29

Guest: Bob Baker, author, independent musician and former music magazine publisher

To register or buy the CD or electronic transcript:
http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar.htm

(See Item #2 below)
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In This Issue
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1. Call Talk Radio Shows

2. PR for Musicians, Songwriters

3. Fake Press Passes

4. Write Better Blog Posts

5. How to Promote Custom Insoles

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

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1. Call Talk Radio Shows
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Smart Publicity Hounds listen to talk radio and use every chance to promote their product, service, cause or issue on a show--whether it's national shows like Howard Stern or Sean Hannity or the rinky-dink shows in your own community.

So there I was on Saturday afternoon, driving to the supermarket near my home for a dozen eggs. The radio was tuned to WISN-AM 1130 in Milwaukee, far from a rinky-dink station. Diane Chamness was halfway through her show called "Business Solutions," which features marketing tips for entrepreneurs.

"When we come back, we'll spend the remainder of the show taking calls from small business people who have clever names for their businesses," the host said.
I looked at my watch and still had 25 minutes. So I raced to the store, bought the eggs, flew home, called, and immediately got on the air.

I explained what I do and how I came up with the name The Publicity Hound. Then I carefully worked in a plug for my website without making it sound like a blatant promotion.

"Small business people should make sure their website domain names tie into the name of their company," I said. "When I decided on the name, I immediately bought the domain names PublicityHound.com and ThePublicityHound.com."

Then Diane said, "I'm familiar with your business, and I'd love to have you on the show sometime."

I followed up with an email to her, offering to fill in if any of her guests cancel. She asked if she could book me for March 25 for an hour. It was as easy as that. Mark your calendars and listen the live feed at 2 PM Eastern Time at http://www.newstalk1130.com/pages/streaming.html
WISN reaches 11 counties in southeastern Wisconsin, and I'd be surprised if the gig didn't lead to more many more readers for this newsletter, visits to my website and blog, and maybe even a few requests for speaking engagements. I'll share the results with you.

A year's subscription to Talkers magazine, which includes a list of the top 250 talk shows in the February issue, is one of two bonuses you'll get when you sign up to be included at Expertclick.com. The second bonus is a free mailing of one news release of your choice to the 100 top talk radio hosts, otherwise knows as "the Talkers Heavy Hundred."

Plus, Publicity Hounds get $100 off but only if they use this link:http://tinyurl.com/f5evn
If you're a journalist who reads this newsletter, you can register at http://www.expertclick.com/expertclick/signup/ to get a f*ree copy of the Yearbook of Experts so you have a variety of experts at your fingertips.


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2. PR for Musicians, Songwriters
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Within two short years, John Taglieri, a solo singer/songwriter from New Jersey, went from being a frustrated veteran musician who spent years in the bar band trenches to a one-man success story and a PR machine.

His pop-rock CD, Leap of Faith, sold more than 4,000 copies. He landed an appearance on one of the biggest morning radio shows in New York. Since then, he has toured, performed at music conferences, landed two major sponsors and has been signed to an independent label. He also was able to snag investors who paid for his next album and tour.

"The problem was, I couldn't figure out how to keep it going," he says. "As a solo artist, I had no band to book clubs with, so touring was not an option."

He took his PR campaign online with phenomenal results.

"I would find one website for my type of music and contact them about the possibilities of reviews and promotion, then go to their links page and go to every site on that page," he said. "I kept up this routine for every site I went to. For every one I visited, I wound up on 25 more, which led me to 75 more. Before long, I had made contact with dozens of webmasters who were willing to mention me or do a review."

His online and offline promotion success story is courtesy of Bob Baker, who will be my guest during the teleseminar "Do-it-Yourself PR Tips for Songwriters, Musicians & Bands on a Budget" at 8 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 29. Bob is a musician, former music magazine publisher and author of several books and music resources. I've been reading his stuff for years and am so impressed with his breadth of knowledge in the area of PR for musicians that I invited him to be my teleseminar guest. You can register, or buy the CD or electronic transcript, at http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm


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3. Fake Press Passes
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I attend a popular trade show each year where several people I know create fake press passes so they don't have to pay the hefty admission fee.

It's easier than ever, thanks to desktop publishing. But get caught, and you risk looking like a cheapskate. Even worse, you can ruin your reputation within that industry.

If your organization issues press passes to the media, or you're a journalist or blogger who requests press passes and has had problems getting them, I'd like to interview you for a freelance story on fake press passes that I'm writing for PR Tactics, the magazine for the PR industry.

The kinds of sources I'm looking for include:

--Convention and visitors bureaus

--Anyone in the hospitality industry

--Groups that sponsor major special events and issue press passes

--Bloggers, ezine publishers and other online media that have had problems getting press passes

--Anyone who has caught anyone else using a fake press pass

--Anyone who has used a fake successfully

Email me with comments that I can use in the article and I may follow up with a longer interview.
Mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=PressPasses

If you issue press passes to special events, make sure you're giving out lots of passes and generating lots of publicity. But don't spend sleepless nights worrying about whether you'll attract enough attendees or media. My friend Debra J. Schmidt, a former event planner for a Milwaukee TV station, teamed up with me a few years ago to pool our best ideas and create "How to Plan & Promote Sizzling Special Events." The set of 6 audio CDs includes a seventh CD with 15 can't-do-without checklists for meeting planners. You can download 5 sample checklists and read more about what this package includes at http://publicityhound.com/publicity/promote.html

It's also available as an electronic transcript that you can download and be reading as soon as your order is approved.
http://publicityhound.com/publicity/promote.html


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4. Write Better Blog Posts
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One of the best ways to become a better blogger is to read the best blogs on topics in your area of interest.

My favorites include BL Ochman, who blogs about Internet and corporate blogging strategy at http://www.whatsnextblog.com/

She's edgy. She's on top of breaking PR news within minutes. And best of all, she teaches the rest of us how to do it right.

BL suggests, for example, that bloggers write long headlines, rather than short ones.
"Most people use news feeders like Feed Demon to scan blog headlines," she says. "They decide after seeing the headline to click into the post. So tell as much of the story as you can in the headline."

She also urges bloggers to link like crazy to other blogs and websites. It's a value added for the reader and one of the biggest things that separates bloggers from traditional media.

Her article "How to Write Killer Blog Posts & Comments" is featured in the March/April issue of The Publicity Hound subscription newsletter. The issue also includes 9 ways to customize one press release, 3 rules for working with celebrities who you want to appear at your special event, how to follow up with reporters, 4 new magazines and a new technology column to add to your media list, how to write killer blog posts and comments, an inexpensive subscription service where you can have access to pitching tips for 149 magazines, where to learn what's hot at Los Angeles radio stations, where to get a free manuscript critique and a free book marketing newsletter, and how to be a guest on an Atlanta talk radio show. All for only $10.

Order the March/April issue for $10 at http://tinyurl.com/rg7zs

Or save time ordering individual issues and get a year's subscription for $49.95 at http://tinyurl.com/co57d

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5. How to Promote Custom Insoles
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This week, five Publicity Hounds have ideas for Louise Epic of Calgary, Alberta, Canada who asked for advice on how to promote her company's custom insoles or foot beds. Their website is at http://www.yoursole.com/

From Carol Adams:

"April is Foot Health Awareness Month. Why not pitch the product to a segment producer at one of the national morning shows? Offer to send them a few pair to test. They are always looking for timely health-related stories. They would likely use your product alongside others in the 'foot health' segment. (See "How to Get Booked on the Morning TV Talk Shows" at http://tinyurl.com/ptb9e )


From Marcia Yudkin, author of "6 Steps to Free Publicity":

"You’ll get the most publicity mileage out of sponsoring walking and running events that tend to draw a lot of amateurs. For instance, there’s a 60-mile three-day walk benefiting breast cancer in cities all over the U.S. These are ordinary women, not athletes, participating. Do a workshop beforehand for participants and have representatives offering foot care advice during the event. Do media interviews on how it is possible for an ordinary person to walk 60 miles in three days without injury. Offer tips for posting at the web sites for these sorts of events. The reason I say to target events for amateurs is that they are really likely to be concerned about and to develop foot problems and participants are not a tight little group who all know each other, but a very widely dispersed and diverse group of people who will spread the word about your products to the general public."


From Sophie Wajsman:

"How about injecting a little fun into your promotion to attract some media publicity? Make a couple of sample products for a fictional character like King Kong, then get someone dressed in a gorilla outfit to show off your product. What about casting a footprint the size of Bigfoot and announcing the ‘discovery’ of this new footprint to the media."

Read all the comments at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=521#comments

The Publicity Hound says: I suggested her company start an electronic newsletter, like this one, or a simple email tip of the week. If you're selling a product or service and you're not emailing regularly to a targeted list of people who have given you permission to market to them, you're leaving lots of revenue on the table. See "Special Report #38: How to Publish a Profitable Electronic Newsletter" at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


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6. Help This Hound
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Valerie Agosta of Boise, Idaho writes:

"More than two years ago, Spy Moms (consisting of two previous stay-at-home moms) had a flood of publicity on local and national TV, radio and newspapers for our undercover service.

"We work the mean streets of Boise, Idaho and anywhere else we are asked to go. We do most types of investigative work that does not appear outright dangerous: infidelity, lost loves, child custody, insurance fraud, elder abuse and background checks.

"We are so grateful for the publicity we received from the 'Today' show, MSNBC, Good Housekeeping and More Magazine, as well as local newspapers. It did generate a lot of individual business. But now the ride has stopped. We need some inspiration about how to capture more clients, especially more businesses and attorneys. Spy Moms is also known as Hanady Investigations at http://www.hanadyinvestigations.com/ and desperately needs help from your Hounds."

The Publicity Hound says:

I'll put my Hounds on this case immediately, Valerie. Hounds who are experts at solving promotion dilemmas like this one should post their best ideas to my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=532

In the meantime, how about trying to get back onto your local TV news shows, since you're doing most of your PI work in Boise? You can use dozens of different angles, and TV reporter Shawne Duperon show you how on the CD or transcript "How to Get on the Local TV News Tomorrow" at http://tinyurl.com/4zpuz


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7. Hound Joke of the Week
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Thanks to Publicity Hound Ger Thatcher for this one:


"They say the dog is man's best friend. I don't believe that. How many of your friends have you neutered?"

--Comedian Larry Reeb


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/


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8. And at My Blog...
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Hot magazines for 2006 appeal mostly to women
http://publicityhound.net/?p=530

Learn online PR, Internet marketing tips in trade association of information marketershttp://publicityhound.net/?p=529

How to address journalists might phase Miss Manners, but not the journalistshttp://publicityhound.net/?p=528

Article directories, free online press releases work hand in hand to generate publicityhttp://publicityhound.net/?p=531


***If you missed my recent teleseminar on "How to Use Craigslist as a Global Publicity Tool" you can order the CD or electronic transcript at http://tinyurl.com/mj7rd

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Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®:


March 22: Waukesha, Wisconsin

2006 Micro Entrepreneur Expo, "How to Get F~ree Publicity," Part 1 from 5:30-6:15 and Part 2 from 8-8:45 PM, Waukesha Area Technical College; pre-registration $25 or $30 at the door (includes dinner). To register, call 262-695-3468.


March 25: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I'll be a guest on "Business Solutions," the radio show for entrepreneurs, on WISN-AM 1130, from 2 to 3 PM Eastern Time. Listen to the feed at http://www.newstalk1130.com/pages/streaming.html


May 16: Washington, D.C.

I'll be hosting a half-day public seminar called "Savvy Media Relations: How to Use Your Expertise to Get Thousands of Dollars in F~ree Publicity." Don't miss out on the early bird sign-up. Read all about it at http://www.Publicityhound.com/washingtondc.htm


May 17: Washington, D.C.

PMA University, Washington D.C. Convention Center. Robin Bartlett and I will present "Advanced Website Tricks to Pull More Traffic and Sell, Sell, Sell," 8:30-10:00 a.m. Sponsored by Publishers Marketing Association. Register at http://www.pma-online.org/pmau2005/1.cfm


May 18: Washington, D.C.

PMA University, Washington, D.C. Convention Center. Penny Sansevieri and I will present "How to Turn Your Ezine into a Cash Machine." Sponsored by Publishers Marketing Association. 8:30-10:15 a.m. Register at http://www.pma-online.org/pmau2005/1.cfm

***If you're in the National Speakers Association or the Public Relations Society of America--or another business, marketing or PR group--and you want details on how to bring in The Publicity Hound to do a fund-raiser for your chapter, or you want me to host a teleseminar customized just for your group, contact me at mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=speaker_inquiry or call 262-284-7451.

***Attention Meeting Planners: If you're booking speakers for winter, spring or summer conferences or events, keep me in mind--even if you have a last-minute cancellation. I deliver high-content, interactive programs that are lots of fun. Call 262-284-7451 or mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=speaker_inquiry for details.

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Reprinted from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," a free ezine featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity. Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive free by email the handy list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."

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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