Publicity tips/Can a purse make you sick? November 21, 2006

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #320 - Nov. 21, 2006
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 25,007

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"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
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Why I'm Thankful:

I have the best job in the world, thanks to the more than 20,000 of you who take the time to read this newsletter, call and send emails, respond to the "Help This Hound" queries, offer your great ideas, teach me things I didn't know--and even tell me when I'm wrong. When I bow my head and say the blessing before the feast on Thanksgiving Day, you'll be in my heart, right up there near the top of the list of all the reasons I'm thankful and eternally grateful. Have a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving, wherever you live.

--The Publicity Hound

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In This Issue
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1. Can a Purse Make You Sick?

2. Borat in Balloons

3. Recycle Your Publicity

4. Media Leads

5. Promoting a Press Release Course

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


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1. Can a Purse Make You Sick?
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When I discovered a big splotch of dried chocolate ice cream on the bottom of my Coach purse last week, I was mortified.

How long has THAT been there, I wondered. And how many people have seen it and said nothing?

The next day, I read the first item in Marilee Tolen's ezine, titled "Can Your Purse Make You Sick?" And suddenly the dried ice cream didn't seem that bad.

Marilee, a member of The Publicity Hound Mentor Program, calls herself "The Home Spa Lady" and teaches you how to turn your bedroom, bath and kitchen into a spa. Her ezine referred to an article she had read that discusses the germs, bacteria and other nasties that attach themselves to the bottoms of women's purses--and sometimes end up on our kitchen tables, where many of us routinely routinely drop them.

Nelson Labs in Salt Lake City tested the bacteria type and count on the average purse. Almost all the purses tested were high in harmful bacteria like Staph Aureous, Pseudomonas and E-Coli. In one sampling, four out of five purses tested positive for salmonella.

But the worst finding was--yikes!--fecal contamination. Many women put their purses right on the floor when visiting a restroom, or in the seat of a supermarket shopping cart, where babies in diapers sit. You can read the rest of her article and her helpful tips on how to keep purses germ-free at http://www.homespaladytips.blogspot.com/

The article really caught my attention. What forced me to read it? It was the headline: "Can Your Purse Make You Sick?"

That's called a formula headline, and it's the kind of headline you often see on the covers of big magazines.

That got me thinking. Many Publicity Hounds can use a variation of that same headline in their own press releases, blogs, ezines, articles, columns, letters to the editors or even direct-mail pieces. A health expert could write an article titled "Do Video Games Make Your Kids Sick?" A chiropractor could write one titled "Does Your Office Chair Make You Sick?"

Here's how to find formula headlines and turn them into your own.

Stand in front of a magazine rack with a notebook and a pen. Or visit Magazines.com at http://www.magazines.com/ Then click on a few magazine covers. Look for headlines that catch your attention. Can you remove a word or two and substitute your own words to conform to your own topic?

If so, you've just come up with a fabulous headline that can really capture the attention of an editor, or a TV producer who's looking for a talk TV show guest.

Small business expert Sharron Senter's how-to articles are so compelling that they actually generate 30 to 100 sales leads a month. She posts her articles to online article directories, where editors and publishers can pick them up and reprint them, or where consumers can find them through the search engines, and click through to her website.

Before you start posting your own articles, make sure you understand all the rules and little tricks to drive traffic to your website. My interview with Sharron is available on the CD or electronic transcript called "How to Submit Online Articles That Pull Traffic to Your Website." Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/5zvga

Ready to get really serious about your publicity campaign in 2007? I can help you identify great story ideas, start your own ezine or blog, or turn a lackluster article into one that editors are vying for. Learn more about The Publicity Hound Mentor Program at http://tinyurl.com/n22hn


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2. Borat in Balloons
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When Russian-born balloon artist Irina Patterson of Miami, Florida noticed that the movie "Borat" was quickly becoming a hot box office hit, she figured out a way to piggyback onto the publicity.

"I took advantage of the 'Borat' craze by posting a balloon art parody on Borat on my blog at http://tinyurl.com/yz98s8

"It was picked up by the media and other blogs and the traffic on my blog increased twenty-fold. It took only a few hours to see the results. It's a good example of what a newsworthy blog post can do."

She mentioned the blog item as part of her pitch to the Miami Herald. They loved it, and assigned a reporter and photographer to cover her. It was the fourth time she has appeared in that newspaper.

Not only that, but as a result of the online and offline publicity, Irina, who dresses in unique balloon art couture and serves as an entertaining host, even got a few paying gigs. By the way, she says she's open to collaborative PR projects with other creative Publicity Hounds. "I have my own media contacts, and I'm able to engage them successfully and get media coverage for the events that I am a part of." Call her at 786-301-2456 or email at mailto:thetrader@comcast.net

Have Irina and I convinced you that you're leaving sales leads and money on the table if you aren't blogging? Confused about where to start? Don't be. You can have your own blog up and running, and your first entry posted, within half an hour.

BL Ochman, one of my favorite bloggers, explains how in a recording of a teleseminar I hosted called "Blogging 101: How to Use Weblogs for Publicity." If you order by midnight Eastern Time tonight, November 21, I'll add to the package my new CD called "How to Pitch the Best Bloggers and Create a Publicity Explosion"at http://tinyurl.com/m7ymr

Read more about what you'll learn on Blogging 101 at http://tinyurl.com/4n8ok


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3. Recycle Your Publicity
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How many times have you generated publicity, then failed to recycle that one media hit into four or five more hits?

John Easton, CEO of Eastonsweb Multimedia, wrote last week to tell me about a missed opportunity he noticed.

He was watching a program about tanning leather on "Modern Marvels" on the History Channel. The program prominently featured Prime Tanning, Inc. in Berwick, Maine.

"I went to the Prime Tanning website and there's no mention of the fact that they were on Modern Marvels," John said. "I see so few people making use of their press coverage, especially television coverage. Getting featured on a TV show is great, but if you don't do anything else, the promotional opportunity ends when the show goes off the air."

He's right.

A very polished TV production about your company could cost up to $20,000 to produce. So why not take advantage of a newscast or a TV show that costs you nothing?

"Contact the station, get usage permission and let your customers and prospective customers know through all the means at your disposal such as your website, blog, newsletter, trade association, etc.," he adds.

Don't forget including a mention in your email signature that says something like, "As seen on 'Modern Marvels' on the History Channel." Then link to a video clip at your website, or the article, or ask permission to reprint an article or post a video clip at your own website.

Top-tier publications like the New York Times charge astronomical fees for reprint rights. TV stations and even national shows, however, will often let you post a clip of your appearance on their show at no charge.

"Special Report #13: How to Recycle Your Publicity (for Serious Publicity Hounds Only)," gives you lots of ideas on how to generate multiple hits from one story. $10. Order at http://tinyurl.com/3sa3j


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4. Media Leads
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--Diana Stockdale, a mother of eight and grandmother of 18, is researching creative yet affordable ways to stay in touch, especially with children, for a book she's writing. "Our high-tech world offers endless opportunities to reach families and friends," she says. She wants people to share their ideas about how they stay in touch with those they love. To be considered for inclusion in the book, contact her at 13 Mill Brooke Drive, St. Peters, MO. 63376 or at mailto:dimi8@aol.com?subject=Staying_in_Touch


--Fred Hueston and Lyna Farkas of the "Growing Your Business" radio show are writing a book, and they're looking for stories from business people, entrepreneurs and others. For example, can you tell a story about a unique and successful way you networked? Are you flexible in setting goals and, as a result, did you get something better than you thought you'd get? Submit your story of any length to mailto:Info@growingyourbusiness.net If they use your story, they'll include a link to your website. Deadline is December 1.


If you're a journalist looking for sources, an author gathering information for your next book, or a broadcaster who needs certain kinds of guests, send your media lead to mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=Media_Lead If you're a broadcaster who charges guests for sponsorships, or guests have to pay to be on your show, that doesn't qualify as the kind of media lead I'd include here.


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5. Promoting a Press Release Course
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Talk about teaching an old Hound new tricks. I was overwhelmed with the great ideas and offers to help me promote my free email course "89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases" at http://tinyurl.com/y7yekt

Thirteen Hounds responded to last week's query with enough suggestions to keep me busy for months. Thanks to you all.


From Denise Barnett:

"If you’d be interested in submitting an article for our Winter InnTouch trade publication, we’d love to share this info with our members! I believe our lodging property members would find it very beneficial as well."


From Danielle Westerman:

"What about promoting your course among university PR students and their professors? There are hundreds of PR/journalism programs across the country. Your course might be a great supplement to their classes. There’s also the Public Relations Student Society of America."


From Anthony Ingram:

"Post info on your course at places such as Craigslist.com and local places such as Kaboo.com (for individual cities) and places such as YourHUB.com (for individual cities)."


The Publicity Hound says: Thanks, Anthony. I had forgotten about Craigslist. I'm going to listen to the CD I recorded with Nancy Mills called "How to Use Craigslist as a Global Publicity Tool." You can read more about it at http://tinyurl.com/geog2

Read all the responses at http://tinyurl.com/y4n9zh


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6. Help This Hound
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Carolyn Chambers Clark of Englewood, Florida writes:

"I've written the book 'Living Well with Anxiety: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know.'

"Anxiety can take over our world, causing dizziness, stammering, heart palpitations, trembling, shaking, unreasonable fears, panic attacks that seem like heart attacks, obsessive thoughts and behaviors, discomfort in confining or public places, and other distressing symptoms in social, work, or school situations.

"The book is useful for everyone who wants to minimize anxiety and enhance peace and calm. It includes conventional psychiatric and psychological approaches, client anecdotes, and ways to use nutrition, herbs, environmental changes, exercise, stress-reduction measures and an Anxiety Success Plan."

A sample chapter and Table of Contents are at http://www.carolynchambersclark.com/id30.html


The Publicity Hound says: What a perfect week to be mentioning a book about anxiety. Anxious Hounds, or those who are too cool to get rattled, can post their best ideas to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/tl8gu


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7. Hound Quote of the Week
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"Dogs never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation."

--Jerome K. Jerome, English humorist


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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Photo tips: It's a camera, not a gun
http://tinyurl.com/y3c56d


Get 20 hours of free virtual assistance
http://tinyurl.com/y7tmve


Build blog traffic with these 10 tips
http://tinyurl.com/yxcmfm


Public Radio International
producer shares pitching tips
http://tinyurl.com/yx9y3q

On my blog at http://www.publicityhound.net/, I've made it easy for you to find what you're looking for by dividing my posts into more than 20 categories. Click on the "Topics" arrow on the right side of the blog to find the category you're looking for.
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Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

March 17, 2007: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Savvy Media Relations: How to Get FREE Print, Broadcast and Online Publicity." 8 a.m. to noon. Details pending.

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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