Publicity tips/Meanest Mom on the Planet Jan 29, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #383 Jan. 29, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 39,991
(I'm almost at 40,000!)

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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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Internet Marketing Blueprint-in-a-Box Update:

Ali Brown has only 70 copies remaining of the 2008 version of her "Online Success Blueprint-in-a-Box" and they'll go fast. She's the Internet marketer who will teach you how to sell your expertise online and quit your day job.

I know her well and she's the real deal. The product includes shipping but only until Feb. 2. If you're at work, turn down your speakers, listen to her greeting and hear more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/ea6od

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In This Issue
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1. Meanest Mom on the Planet

2. Can People with Problems Find You?

3. What TV Talk Show Producers Want

4. Grab a Page in a Desk Calendar

5. Create Your Own TV Show

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


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1. Meanest Mom on the Planet
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Buying newspaper classified ads is an expensive way to spread the word about whatever you're promoting.

But guess who reads the classifieds?

Reporters--lots of them. That's where they find the low-hanging fruit in the form of clever, funny or unusual ads. With one or two phone calls, they can turn that ad into a free article.

That's what happened to Jane Hambleton, a disc jockey in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Last month, she found a booze bottle under the front seat of her 19-year-old son's OLDS 1999 Intrigue.

She and her husband set two rules when they bought the car at Thanksgiving: No booze, and always keep the car locked.

And what good are rules if you don't enforce them? She called The Des Moines Register's classified advertising department and bought this ad:

"Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for 3 weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

After the ad appeared, two things happened:

--More than 70 people called her, including emergency room technicians, nurses, school counselors and a Georgia man, who wanted to congratulate her.

--A reporter from the Des Moines Register saw the ad and called her for an interview. You can read the article at http://tinyurl.com/2d4opv

"The ad cost a fortune, but you know what?" she told the newspaper. "I'm telling people what happened here. I'm not just going to put the car for resale when there's nothing wrong with it, except the driver made a dumb decision. It's overwhelming, the number of calls I've gotten from people saying, 'Thank you, it's nice to see a responsible parent.' So far, there are no calls from anyone saying, 'You're really strict. You're real overboard, lady.' "

The lesson for Publicity Hounds?

Don't rule out the classifieds as a place to spread the word about what you're promoting. But take the time to write the ad so it catches attention.

If you don't want to spend a fortune on an ad, hop on over to Craigslist at http://www.craigslist.org/ and find the list for the city closest to where you live. Post a free ad, and then see what happens. Reporters, by the way, LOVE to lurk at Craigslist where they find story ideas galore.

Craigslist expert Nancy Mills was my guest during a teleseminar called "How to use Craigslist as a Global Publicity Tool." It's available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can download and be reading as soon as your order has been approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/geog2

Thanks to Publicity Hound Bryan Todd of Lincoln, Nebraska for tipping me off to this fun story.


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2. Can People with Problems Find You?
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Millions of times each month, people searching for solutions to their problems type phrases like these into the search engines:

--"Disgruntled employees"

--"Relationship commitment issues"

--"Non-engagement letter"

You can generate lots of attention, new business and even journalist interviews when you write press releases or articles that address your customers' problems, and then post them online.

For example, management consultant Alan Weiss wrote a press release with the phrase "creating loyal employees," and distributed it through Expertclick: The Online Yearbook of Experts. So far, more than 1,400 people have opened it.

When psychologist Debra Burrell wanted attention for her services, Expertclick devised the phrase "relationship commitment issues" for her, which showed up again and again in her online release. That phrase has a high Keyword Effectiveness Index, which means that there are many searches but few web pages using that exact phrase.

Expertclick found the phrase "non-engagement letter" for Ed Poll, who has a legal marketing firm. Law firms search on that phrase when they're firing clients who don't pay and they need Ed's help to get new business.

If you don't know the phrases that your ideal clients type into the search engines, let Expertclick help you with one of their fee-based services. Or write your own releases--up to 52 a year--and let Exertclick distribute them online. Dozens of Publicity Hounds have raved about this service.

When you register for an ExpertClick.com page, you get a search-engine optimized Press Room page, and you can add content instantly to the Web.

Lock in a $100 Publicity Hound discount on top of its double early-order discount to drop the cost from $895 to $695. Save $200 on all sizes when you order from the link below by Thursday, January 31. Prices go up $100 in February.

Call the office in Washington, D.C., at 202-333-5000, and ask for the "Publicity Hound Discount" or order online at http://www.ExpertClick.com/Discount/The_Publicity_Hound

See all the benefits at http://www.ExpertClick.com/Brochure.

You can use the $200 savings on any level of membership in the Yearbook of Experts, too.


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3. What TV Talk Show Producers Want
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Every time I let Publicity Hounds know about Steve Harrison's teleseminars with Michelle Anton, a former guest booker for "Oprah," I get numerous emails thanking me for tipping off my Hounds.

That's because Michelle can tell you better than anybody the kinds of shows and compelling guests that "Oprah" producers are looking for.

Steve, publisher of Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR), will introduce you to Michelle and a few other surprise guests during another free 90-minute call on Thursday, January 31, titled "The Three Big Secrets for Getting Booked as a Guest on Top National TV Shows."

Choose from two times:

--2 PM Eastern (11 Pacific)

or

--7 PM Eastern (4 Pacific)

They will teach you things unknown to 95 percent of all publicity-seekers.

To register for this call--which is free except for your normal long distance charges--go here now:

http://www.GetMajorPress.com/tvcall/?10011

On the call, you'll learn things like:

--How to increase your odds of getting onto "Oprah," "Fox News," CNN, the "Today" show, "Montel" and other top shows.

--Understanding the mindset of national TV producers and what gets them to book you as a guest.

--The strategy a husband-and-wife team used to land a 7-minute segment on the "Today" show.

--What you should send TV producers (and what you shouldn't).

--An important lesson from one author who got on "Oprah" and saw sales soar as a result.

--The most important question you must be able to answer to land a TV appearance.

--The biggest mistakes to avoid when pitching TV producers (including ones that could get you black-balled forever!).

--Case histories of four other authors and entrepreneurs and the strategies they used to get on top TV shows.

Again, to register go here now:

http://www.GetMajorPress.com/tvcall/?10011

Once registered, within five minutes, you'll receive all the details on how to participate on the call.

P.S. If you end up on TV, be sure to let me know and I'll include your success story in my newsletter.


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4. Grab a Page in a Desk Calendar
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Thanks to Publicity Hound Roberta Beach Jacobson for this tip on how to grab a page of free publicity in the Bylines 2009 Writers' Desk Calendar.

The deadline to submit a short piece, maximum 300 words, to editor is Sylvia Forbes is Friday, Feb. 1.

See http://www.bylinescalendar.com/guidelines.php for full details.

"This marks my third year in a row appearing in this calendar," Roberta says.

A word of caution. I read the guidelines and here's what they say about your bio:

"You're not dry and boring, so your bio shouldn't be either. Give us your accomplishments but round out your profile so our readers feel like they'd like to meet you for coffee. Or a beer."

Most bios I read, especially author bios, are real yawners.
"Special Report #46: Tips for Rewriting Your Boring Bio" gives you ideas galore and lots of examples of how to rewrite your bio so it makes people smile. Only $10. Order at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


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5. Create Your Own TV Show
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I wish I had a nickel for every Publicity Hound who asks me how they can get their own TV show.

Stop waiting around for a producer to call, I tell them. Instead, create your own show and buy time on the leased access channels throughout the U.S.

If you're trying to get in front of, say, 1 million people, you don't have to lease expensive time in a big market like New York City. Instead, you can lease less expensive time in many smaller markets and still get in front of 1 million people.

Once you're on TV, you stand a far better chance of being contacted by a producer than if you just waited for the phone to ring.

PR pro Robert Smith has been creating programs for himself and his own PR clients, and buying leased access time, with great results. I interviewed him, and he provided step-by-step instructions on the CD or electronic transcript "How to Get Your Own TV Show for Less Than $400 a Month."

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/y4by43


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6. Help This Hound
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Sara Holliday of Poway, California writes:

"I specialize in pre-and post-natal fitness and relationship issues.

"I've had a lot of press: Oprah & Friends Radio, Martha Stewart Living Radio, Playboy Radio, PBS Radio, KABC, KNBC and KTLA, and I'm a columnist for several women's health and fitness publications.

"But it hasn't led to an increase in sales on my website at http://www.fitbysara.com/ and I continue to write all my columns for free. Do your Hounds have any suggestions to help me use my media hits and PR to increase sales and get even more exposure?"


The Publicity Hound says:

They sure do. Hounds, post your best ideas to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/2ogcrq

Sara, I see you're collecting email addresses of people who can subscribe to your newsletter. Good for you! You also have several info products, so I can't understand why you aren't making money from the newsletter.

Are you offering lots of free tips in the newsletter, then promoting a product you sell that ties into your tips? That's what I do.

Dan Janal interviewed me on "How to Turn Your Ezine into a Cash Machine." I share all the tips on how I've turned this newsletter into my Number One revenue generator. It's available as a CD or electronic transcript that you can read as soon as your order is approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/y6mp2c


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7. Hound Joke of the Week
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Thanks to Mark Viergutz of Ventura, California for this one:

Wanda's dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman.Since she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman, "I'll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill on the counter, and I'll mail you a check.

"Oh, by the way don't worry about my dog Spike. He won't bother you. But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk to my parrot! I repeat: DO NOT talk to my parrot!"

When the repairman arrived at Wanda's apartment the following day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking dog he had ever seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there on the carpet watching the repairman go about his work.

The parrot, however, drove him nuts the whole time with its incessant yelling, cursing and name calling. Finally, the repairman couldn't contain himself any longer and yelled,

"Shut up, you stupid, ugly bird!"

To which the parrot replied, "Get him, Spike!"


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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Get mentioned in books: Subscribe to Dan Poynter's newsletter
http://tinyurl.com/2mul7y


Green marketing: 5 simple rules to follow
http://tinyurl.com/2l6l4l


Meet journalists at writers conference in April
http://tinyurl.com/24ynot


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Where to See or Hear The Publicity Hound


March 27: Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

"Red Hot Tips to Set Your Publicity Campaign on Fire," Menomonee Falls, Sussex and Germantown Business to Business Networking Breakfast; networking and breakfast from 7:30 to 8, presentation from 8 to 8:45 a.m. Tickets are $15. Guests welcome. For reservations, call Diane Henning at the Menomonee Falls Chamber at 262-251-2430.


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.


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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