Publicity tips/Taxes and tea at the B&B April 11, 2006

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #289 - April 11, 2006
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

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Attention Washington D.C. and Baltimore Hounds:

Seats are filling up fast for my May 16 half-day seminar called "Savvy Media Relations: How to Get FREE Print, Broadcast & Online Publicity." Because this event is at the City Club, seats are limited. Sorry, but when they're gone, they're gone. Register at http://www.publicityhound.com/washingtondc.htm or call 262-284-7451. So far, this is the only week when I'm speaking in Washington, D.C. this year.
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In This Issue
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1. Taxes and Tea at the B&B

2. Colleges Lucrative for Speakers

3. NPR Essay: A Rip-off?

4. Media Leads

5. How to Promote Dating Advice for Men

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

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1. Taxes and Tea at the B&B
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If you add an interesting little hook or angle to your business--something that ties into one of the seasons, a holiday or a certain time of year--you can generate fabulous publicity and have customers beating down the doors.

That's what Kevin and Belma Marshall of Granby, Connecticut have done. He's an accountant and she was a dental hygienist. Ten years ago, they bought a charming 1812 Colonial set on three acres in the historic section of Granby, Connecticut and turned it into a bed and breakfast.

Amenities include fireplaces in the rooms, a homemade breakfast by candlelight, massages, wireless Internet access, and even carriage and sleigh rides.

But the one little twist that has helped the couple reap mountains of publicity is the special "Tax & Relax" package. While you're antiquing or sipping tea or enjoying a walk in the perennial gardens, Kevin will prepare your federal and state income tax returns (for all 50 states). The package includes one complimentary night of accommodations in one of the guestrooms, and breakfast for two in the morning.

When you leave the inn, Kevin will mail your tax returns within 5 to 10 business days.

Too busy to get away for a weekend in Connecticut? You can still have Kevin do your taxes, and he'll send you a gift certificate good for one night's stay, redeemable through the end of the year. You can read more about it at http://www.dutchirisinn.com/

Three years ago, the Associated Press wire service featured the couple and mentioned the "Tax & Relax" package. That led to a flurry of media coverage from CNN, USAToday.com, NYTimes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Budget Travel Magazine, MSNBC.com, AccountingWeb.com, the Boston Herald, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Money magazine, the Hartford Courant, Yahoo.com and on and on.

Many of those stories mentioned that if Kevin prepares your taxes, your trip to the Dutch Iris Inn in is tax-deductible because it qualifies as a tax-preparation charge. This time of year, a story like that is a nugget of gold for a journalist.

"We haven't done any press releases of our own this year, and much of the business we're getting is still a result of that original article," Belma said.

Publicity Hounds everywhere should think about one little twist or angle that will make their story irresistible.

If your story idea isn't as enticing as this one, you can still find lots of ways to catch a journalist's attention. Raleigh Pinskey, a master at pitching, shows you how to condense your pitch into about 15 seconds on "How to Create the Perfect 30-Second Pitch," available as a CD or electronic transcript that you can download and be reading within a few minutes. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/6xghx


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2. Colleges Lucrative for Speakers
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Too many speakers go after the same markets when trying to book speaking engagements.

They chase after trade association meeting planners who typically receive calls and letters from several dozen speakers each day.

James Malinchak, a 33-year-old stock broker-turned-speaker, says that if you can spin your topic for a college audience, you can command attractive fees and keep busy speaking to college students year-round, or whenever it's most convenient for you.

Colleges hire speakers, authors, trainers, coaches and consultants for orientation, welcome week and back-to-school programs. They need speakers for student leadership gatherings, student government events, and lectures sponsored by fraternities and sororities.

They need experts to address students at career and job fairs, commencements and graduations, student conferences and summer programs. Add to the list academic, athletic and club events, and other meetings where an "outside" expert is needed.

Best of all, colleges and universities have guaranteed budgets from sources like student activity fees. If you can book yourself at a college, a flurry of publicity can often precede and follow your speech. Your article and photo can show up not only in the college newspaper, but in the local and weekly newspapers in that town. You might even end up on local radio and TV stations and be seen by students and others who never even heard you speak at the event on campus.

But the secret is knowing how to navigate the college speaking circuit, who to contact, how to follow up, and how to identify which topics are in demand.

Join James Malinchak and me for a complimentary telephone seminar at 1 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 19. Jim will spill the beans on how to find your way to the meeting and event planners who hire speakers at colleges and universities. Register for the call at http://tinyurl.com/oqgqx

If you can't make it, sign up anyway and you can listen to the recording afterward.


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3. NPR Essay Offer: A Rip-off?
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Many Publicity Hounds emailed me last week to thank me for the item about National Public Radio's new feature called "This I Believe," which airs essays from listeners about their core values.

But David Cohen, an author, writer and editor, says this publicity opportunity sounds a lot better than it actually is.

"I am not a lawyer, but if I understand the TIB contract correctly, NPR can hold the essay for up to two years," he says. "On Freelance Success, a forum for writers, there was great debate about whether NPR could hold the essay captive for that long or whether the author can resell the essay during that time."

He also chastises NPR for a "low balling rights grab" by using your essay any number of ways but paying for it only once. He posted a lengthy comment at my blog, and I'm interested in what other Hounds have to say. I'll weigh in with my own opinion next week. But first, let's hear yours. Comment at my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=558

If you write essays or articles for newspapers or magazines, or for online article directories, don't submit anything until you know what rights you can maintain. Patricia Eyres, an intellectual property attorney, was my guest during a teleseminar called "Legal Issues Your Must Know When Writing Articles for Fee or for Free." We've both heard from far too many Hounds who bark about submitting a piece, then getting ripped off because they can't offer it to anyone else. There are several ways around that problem. The recording of our teleseminar is available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can download and be reading in a few minutes. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/dbc3p


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4. Media Leads
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--Fran Silverman is looking for fiction and non-fiction authors of all stripes to interview, as well as publishers and publicists for her radio show called "Book Marketing with Fran" on Achieve Radio, an Internet radio station. The show is 57 minutes. It airs live each Tuesday at 3 PM Eastern. She's booked through September but wants to hear from you anyway. Email her at mailto:franalive@optonline.net

--Shotgun Sports Magazine wants articles from or about people who shoot trap, sporting clays or skeet. See the writers guidelines (left column) at http://www.shotgunsportsmagazine.com/. Articles about hunting aren't being accepted yet. Submit manuscripts to Linda Martin, Production Coordinator, Shotgun Sports Magazine, P.O. Box 6810, Auburn, CA 95604 or mailto:shotgun@shotgunsportsmagazine.com


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5. How to Promote Dating Advice for Men
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Kate Matteo of Denver, Colorado writes:

"I have a dating advice website for men. The site, called ScoreHer.com, relies on sports analogies and 'guy humor' to help men better understand women and be more successful on dates.

"Dating advice is obviously a very saturated market. However, our approach is fun and fairly unique. All the content is written by a group of women across the country and we avoid topics such as relationships and love in favor of basic dating tips and etiquette. We have a strong base of regular readers and are ready to take the next step by establishing ourselves as dating advice experts in the media.

"We would also like to turn special features of the site (e.g. The Chicktionary: A dictionary of common female expressions and questions) into cult dating materials and eventually, the first wildly successful dating advice book for men. Think the polar opposite of 'He’s Just Not That Into You.'

"We could use some creative ideas on how to differentiate ourselves in the vast dating industry."


From H.C.:

"'Laddie magazines (FHM, Maxim, etc.) would be a very good fit for this...Also mention that the website emphasizes dating basics and etiquette as opposed to long-term relationships strategies."

From L.A. Hunter:

"Maybe you would consider adding a page for women to add their comments, experiences, etc....If they like what they see, they'll tell friends and even men they are dating. These are the things women want them to know, so I wouldn't exclude them. Women are a very valuable asset."


From The Publicity Hound:

You'd attract more interest from the mainstream media if you changed the name of your website. Speaking as a former newspaper editor, I'd think twice before running an article in a family newspaper about a website called ScoreHer.com, which makes it sound as though it's all about how to, well, score. As in hitting a home run on a date. Consider a name change if you want publicity for media other than the men's magazines. Then, target both women's and men's magazines, blogs, electronic newsletters and other online and offline publications. Submit briefs, which include Q&As, quizzes, short articles and "fillers" that editors rely on to fill odd-size holes on a page and satisfy readers who love to skim. See "Briefs, Fillers & Quizzes: How to Write them and Why editors Love Them" at http://tinyurl.com/d74h7

Read the complete responses at my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=557


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6. Help This Hound
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Publicity Hound Christie Scott of Chicago, Illinois writes:

"I'm starting my business as a certified coach for doctors. When doctors have communication issues or want a more profitable practice, they call me. I work with them to eliminate stress--from relationship problems to medical malpractice risk, because the problems are usually communication-based.

"I'm looking for ways to let them know about me and my services. I'd love to speak at their medical society meetings and conventions. But this presents challenges. Until they are familiar with me, they are skeptical to book me. And until they hear me or see me speak, they are slow to hire me.

"I am open to new and innovative ideas and I will do what it takes to reach them. But I need some ideas of where to go next. Can your Hounds help?"

The Publicity Hound says: Of course they can, particularly those who are speakers and understand how to market to niche groups. Speakers, authors, experts and other Hounds who are willing to help Christie can post comments to my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=563 You can learn more about Christie at
http://www.extremesuccesscoaching.com/

If you're trying to promote yourself as an expert in any topic, first identify what publications your target market reads. Then start placing articles in those publications, or pitching reporters or freelancers that write for them. On "Get Free Publicity in Print," my very favorite interview, I share all the secrets of how to make editors at magazines, newspapers and newsletters love you, and how people made me love them when I worked as an editor. It's all about building relationships. Find out how on the CD or electronic transcript that you can download and be reading as soon as you order. Read more about what it includes at http://tinyurl.com/4kpmx


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


"They have dog food for constipated dogs. If your dog is constipated, why screw up a good thing? Stay indoors and let 'em bloat!"

--David Letterman


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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Most expensive mint julep worth gallons of publicity
http://publicityhound.net/?p=564

MarketBeat in Wall Street Journal a great landing spot for a CEO or business blogger
http://publicityhound.net/?p=561

NewsBios Website wants you to nominate your favorite journalist
http://publicityhound.net/?p=560

Vogue magazine editor says 'no blanket pitches'
http://publicityhound.net/?p=562

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Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®:

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." 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


July 7: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

"How to Use the Media to Promote Your Expertise and Get Thousands of Dollars in Free Publicity," Network SOHO, Radisson Hotel, 2303 N. Mayfair Road. Registration at 7:15, breakfast at 7:30, program from 8 to 9. $20. To register, mailto:nicole@corebusinessstaffing.com

***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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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