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®

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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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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.

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In This Issue
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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...


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1. What Assistants Can Do
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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


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2. Book-Burning Publicity Stunt
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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


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3. Media Leads
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--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


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4. Val's Art Diary at YouTube
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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


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5. Promoting a Stem Cell Research Book
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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


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6. Help This Hound
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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


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7. Hound Quote of the Week
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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/


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8. And at My Blog...
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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


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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


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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