Publicity tips/Give Bloggers a Scoop June 10, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #402 June 10, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 46,929

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"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"

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Save the Dates:

June 11: Teleseminar

PR whiz Robert Smith explains "How to Earn An Extra $100,000 This Year as a Publicist, Even in a Bad Economy." 3-4 p.m. Eastern Time. Register at http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm


June 18: Teleseminar

Business coach Leili McKinley shows you "How to Outsource Almost Any Part of Your PR Campaign or Your Business." 3-4 p.m. Eastern Time. Register at http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm See Item #2 below.

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In This Issue
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1. Give Bloggers a Scoop

2. The Big Myth of Outsourcing

3. Wal-Mart's Online Classifieds

4. Media Lead

5. Promoting a Wardrobe Survey

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


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1. Give Bloggers a Scoop
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If you write and distribute press releases online, you're in an ideal position to give bloggers a scoop.

Before you distribute the release, simply email your favorite blogger with a "heads up" that you'll be posting the release later that day. Explain the essence of the release, or just give it to them.

A blogger who knows the information is exclusive to him or her will give it better play. (If you're a publicly held company, make sure you abide by SEC regulations and safe harbor statements.)

I blog, and I prefer that people who pitch me send the release in the body of an email instead of attaching it, or asking if I'm interested in seeing it.

This tip is among several from four tech bloggers, shared by blogging expert Sally Falkow via Bulldog Reporter's Daily Dog newsletter at http://www.infocomgroup.net/falkow/?p=198

Other tips worth flagging:

- -In a Web 2.0 world, graphics are vitally important so have plenty of images from which to choose.

- -Make it easy for bloggers to get the data. Create a section on your website with information, images and multi-media for bloggers.

- -Video that bloggers can't use on their blogs is useless. Offer them the code so they can embed the video. An easy way to do that is to upload the video to YouTube and use the coding that YouTube provides.

- -Make it easy for bloggers to get the data. Create a section on your website with information, images and multi-media for bloggers.

- -Don't embargo news to bloggers--by the time the embargo is up they've moved on to other news and forgotten it.

"How to Pitch the Best Bloggers & Create a Publicity Explosion," one of my most popular teleseminars, is available as a CD or electronic transcript that you can be reading as soon as your order is approved. Stop relying only on traditional media and start tapping into the incredible power of blogs to spread your message. Learn how at http://publicityhound.net/cdpitchbestbloggers/


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2. The Big Myth of Outsourcing
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Several weeks ago, when I started writing about the importance of outsourcing work in your PR campaign, several Publicity Hounds wrote to tell me they'd love to farm out work to others, but they just can't afford it.

Outsourcing, they said, is too expensive. Let's explode that myth right now.

You don't need a huge budget--or any budget--to persuade other people to work for you. One of the best resources for free or inexpensive labor is in your own community: at your local college, university or tech school.

Once you've identified a job that needs to be done, like writing a how-to article or producing a video, call the department that teaches that skill and ask a professor to assign it as a class project. Or ask the instructor to identify the brightest students who might be willing to take on the project for extra credit.

Students, particularly seniors, are eager to work on projects that they can eventually add to their portfolios and show prospective employers during job interviews. You might also find an instructor or a teaching assistant who would be willing to work for you for free or next to nothing.

Projects you can outsource include:

- -Press releases

- -Creating your online press room

- -Researching journalists who you'll include in your publicity plan or media plan

- -Administrative work

- -Creating information products or reports you can offer at your website in exchange for someone's email address

- -Photography

- -Managing your social networking requests

- -Writing, editing and proofreading

- -Transcription

- -Graphics and artwork

- -Updating your website

- -Blogging

Now that you've identified tasks you can outsource, learn what you must do before you assign the work. Leili McKinley, an outsourcing expert, will be my guest during a teleseminar on outsourcing from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, June 18.

"Outsourcing Secrets: Your Guide to Getting the Best Quality, Price and Teamwork from Freelancers" is for anyone who can't do it all and needs help growing their business.

Register and watch the video to find out how to get five free outsourcing tips from Leili: http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar.htm


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3. Wal-Mart's Online Classifieds
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Craigslist, the world's largest community bulletin board, and Ebay's popular Kijiji have a new competitor.

It's Wal-Mart's new f*r*ee online classifieds which debuted two weeks ago at http://WalMart.Oodle.com/. The giant retailer is partnering with Oodle.com, a classified ad website.

Classifieds are f*r*ee to buyers and sellers. You can post ads in six categories: cars, real estate, for rent, job, items for sale, and tickets. You can also search for items by city.

Walmart.com classifieds says it reaches more than 5 million consumers each month through a network of sites including newspapers, portals such as Lycos, and online communities such as Military.com.

If what you're selling fits into one of the six categories, you'd be crazy not to advertise here.

But don't forget good old Craigslist which can be a publicity gold mine if you know how to use it. Nancy Mills, a Craigslist expert, explains "How to Use Craigslist as a Global Publicity Tool," a one-hour interview that will explain the smartest ways to use Craigslist to promote your product, service, cause or issue--and follow the Craigslist rules so you aren't banned from the site forever.

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.

Learn what other smart Craigslist posters have learned at http://tinyurl.com/geog2


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4. Media Lead
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- -Freelance writer Leah Ingram is looking to develop relationships with responsive and reliable media relations staff at medical centers, hospitals and health systems that also have an emergency room. "I am searching out stories for a new magazine from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). These stories are about real-life people who ended up in the ER because of an accident or health condition along with the ER doc who treated the person. Here's the catch: The docs must be ACEP members. Additionally, I'm look to hear about ER stories that have appeared in local papers or that people know about from a personal connection. We've already covered a skateboarding accident, heart attacks and aneurysms, so please don't pitch me stories on those three topics." Mailto:leah.ingram@comcast.net

If you do PR for a hospital, check out "How to Make Hospital PR an Easy Pill to Swallow," an interview I did with Dan Collins, chief media officer at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. It's available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can be reading as soon as your order is approved. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/lr6qf


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5. Promoting a Wardrobe Survey
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This week, seven Publicity Hounds have tips on how Merri Cvetan of Big Bend, Wisconsin, an interior decorator, can promote a fun survey to find out the relationship between a woman's wardrobe and the colors she decorates her home with.


From Nika Stewart, The Designers' Success Coach:

"Why not do a joint venture with a local women's clothing store? You could even put on an event relating to the survey, i.e. on the event day, each customer who comes into the store and purchases an item of clothing gets an analysis of their ideal home style (based on the clothing they chose). You can pass out printed copies of the survey to everyone who comes by the store, and tell them to enter their results on your blog to receive two $10 gift certificates--one for your design services and one for the clothing store."


From Donna Cook:

"I would do more to update your blog--great ideas, but you need much more visual information--you are a designer!!! Show it off on your blog. Have some links on your blog, and offer some little contests there for people who post comments."


From Kathleen Lisson:

"The local radio stations in my area have a segment where the DJ asks a 'question of the day,’ and listeners call in with their opinions. Perhaps radio stations in the Big Bend, WI area would want to ask 'Does your wardrobe match your home decor?' And tie the story in to your website."


The Publicity Hound says:

This survey screams for a video. Once you've created it, be sure to share it with your local newspapers, magazines and TV and radio stations for use at their websites. John Easton explained how during the teleseminar "9 Clever Ways to Use Video to Become a Publicity Darling in Your Industry or Community." It's available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can download and be reading as soon as your order is approved.

Learn more about John's secrets at http://tinyurl.com/66xshb


Read all the responses to this week's Help This Hound question at http://tinyurl.com/6bq6ns

Send your own Help this Hound question to: mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound and include your city and state.


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6. Help This Hound
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Lisa Cupolo of Ballston Spa, New York writes:

"I handle public relations and marketing for four rehabilitation and nursing home facilities that offer pediatric through geriatric care.

"I'm looking for story ideas that I can pitch to the local business journal. The newspaper only focuses on hard business stories as opposed to human interest stories. For example, the health reporter will write stories related to how health facilities, such as hospitals, are surviving within the trying times of the health care industry.

"I also see several articles published in this particular publication regarding our competitors. Readers are decision makers as far as the health care needs of their families. That's why we're targeting the business journal."

Their website is at http://www.northwoodshealth.net/


The Publicity Hound says:

Hounds, when offering ideas for Lisa, remember that business journals want multiple-source stories. They seldom write a story about a business without input from other sources. Post your best ideas for Lisa at my blog at http://tinyurl.com/3wd6vv


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7. Hound Quote of the Week
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Thanks to Publicity Hound Viveca Stone-Berry of DogCaptions.com, where you can find wonderful dog greeting cards.

"His ears were often the first thing to catch my tears."

- -Elizabeth Barrett Browning


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. At My Blog...
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New social networking site for New Age, spiritual communities
http://tinyurl.com/6czaeo


Why few journalists comment at blogs or in forums
http://tinyurl.com/5bgvj2


Crisis at your company? Consider embedding reporters
http://tinyurl.com/5peguq


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Where to See or Hear The Publicity Hound


June 11: Teleseminar for Publicists

PR whiz Robert Smith explains "How to Earn An Extra $100,000 This Year as a Publicist, Even in a Bad Economy." 3-4 p.m. Eastern Time. Register at http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm


June 18: Teleseminar on Outsourcing

Business coach Leili McKinley shows you "Outsourcing Secrets: Your Guide to Getting the Best Quality, Price and Teamwork from Freelancers." 3-4 p.m. Eastern Time. Register at http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar.htm


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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."

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Joan Stewart
a. k.a. The Publicity Hound®
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
USA
Phone: 262-284-7451 (Central) Fax: 262-284-1737