Publicity tips/Press releases & Google News April 25, 2006
The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #291 - April 25, 2006
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.net (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®
Circulation: 15,899
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"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
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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://tinyurl.com/h9p9m or call 262-284-7451. So far, this is the only week when I'm speaking in Washington, D.C. this year. If you want a poster for this workshop to hang in your company, chamber offices, etc., email me at mailto:jstewart@PublicityHound.com&u=Poster
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In This Issue
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1. Press Releases & Google News
2. Hidden Market for Authors, Speakers
3. Journalists at BookExpo
4. Lots of Media Leads
5. Promoting a Memory System for Kids
6. Help This Hound
7. Hound Joke of the Week
8. And at My Blog...
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1. Press Releases & Google News
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Here's a big mistake that many PR people make when they start writing a press release. They write the release for only one audience: the media.
Twenty years ago, when most of us were snail-mailing releases, that would have been fine. But today, you should be writing press releases so people in your target audience, not just the media, can find you online.
Greg Jarboe, a PR pro who is also an expert in search engine optimization, explains:
"Among the 4,500 'news sources' that Google News continuously crawls are PR Newswire, Business Wire, Market Wire and PR Web.
"When users search Google News for a term or phrase, they often find press releases as well as articles on the first three pages of results. This means that PR people can use Google News to pitch their news stories directly to prospects."
Greg says PR people can also use Google News to reach the press. An estimated 92 percent of journalists working at newspapers, magazines and broadcast outlets nationwide go online for article research, and about 81 percent say they search online daily.
Greg has a five-step process for optimizing your press releases so they're found by consumers as well as journalists. He explains it in an article in the May/June issue of The Publicity Hound newsletter. The issue also includes articles on how a Bulldog Kissing Booth got fabulous publicity for a dog show; what you need besides expertise to be a credible source on TV; a new women's magazine, where to find email addresses of Wall Street Journal reporters; a website that wants articles on parenting, families and relationships; 6 tips for working with freelance writers; how to write compelling comments on blogs; where to post a writing, editing or research project for freelancers; how to know how many other websites link to yours; how to pitch "Dateline;" and seasonal story ideas for May and June. All for $10.
Order at http://tinyurl.com
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2. Hidden Market for Authors, Speakers
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Attention authors, speakers and others who are experts on topics such as leadership, being successful in and out of school, relationships and dating, overcoming challenges, alcohol awareness and drug prevention.
Stop grumbling about not booking enough speaking engagements. Right now, in thousands of colleges and universities, there's a group of people in a position to hire you to speak on those topics. But you probably never knew they existed.
They're called Students of Disabilities Coordinators, and they bring in speakers with and without disabilities to speak to only students with disabilities. The talks can relate to any of the topics I just mentioned, or other topics that you think would be a good fit for that audience.
Problem is, so few speakers are even aware that such a group exists or that they have healthy budgets to pay for talks, lectures and training sessions. Instead, most speakers are all going after the same corporate, trade association and nonprofit meeting planners who everybody else is calling. And they overlook this small audience of coordinators, some of whom have money from state and federal grants to pay you.
The Students of Disabilities Coordinators, like other types of program coordinators at colleges, often change schools and will hire you again if you're easy to work with and if they like your talk.
James Malinchak, "The King of the College Speaking Market," has identified 16 other types of key people who book speakers for student leadership gatherings, student government events, lectures sponsored by fraternities and sororities, 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. Get his complimentary special report at http://tinyurl.com/rcbs4
Then join us at noon Eastern Time tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26, for a complimentary teleseminar in which he spills the beans on how to find your way to the meeting and event planners who hire speakers at colleges and universities, and get some free publicity in the process. 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. Journalists at BookExpo
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If you're attending the giant BookExpo America convention in Washington, D.C. May 18-21, pay attention to the journalists, book reviewers and other media people who will be there, keynoting or speaking on panels.
I found these names while paging through the convention program. This list is by no means comprehensive.
Thursday, May 18:
10-11 a.m.--Creating Digital Press Kits, Jess Todfeldt, "Fox & Friends"
11:30-12:30--How to Prepare for Media Interviews, Jess Todfeldt
2:30-3:30--Capturing the Baby Boomer Behemoth: Are Publishers Ready?, Hugh Delehanty, Editor-in-Chief, AARP Publications
5-6 PM, Opening keynote by Tim Russert, Host of "Meet the Press"
Friday, May 19:
10:30-11:30 a.m.--National Public Radio, Meet the Producers panel: Amy Salit of "Fresh Air," Setsuko Sato of "Talk of the "Nation," Susan Sweeney of "All Things Considered"
11-11:45 a.m.--The BEA Interview Series with Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired magazine
Noon-2: Saturday Book & Author Luncheon with commentator Pat Buchanan, "20/20" reporter Lynn Sherr
1-2 p.m.--DC Print Media: Meet the Editors, Carol Memmott, book critic for USA Today; Benjamin Schwarz, literary & national editor, Atlantic Monthly; Marie Arana, editor, Washington Post Book World
2:30-3:30 p.m.--State of the Thriller, including David J. Montgomery, critic, Chicago Sun-Times
3-4 p.m.--Fiction Under 40 and the Future of the Novel, Lev Grossman, book critic, Time magazine; Laura Miller, journalist, critic & co-founder of Salon.com; John Freeman, freelance writer & book critic, Jennifer Reese, critic, Entertainment Weekly; Oscar Villalon, book editor, San Francisco Chronicle
4-5 p.m.--Mind Body Spirit Publishing: Marketing Trend Update: Lynn Garrett, religion editor, Publishers Weekly
I won't be attending this year because of a prior commitment. But check my speaking schedule below and catch me earlier in the week where I'll be speaking three times in D.C. Learn more about BookExpo at http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/
Note: When you meet journalists at these events, this is NOT the time to pitch. It's crowded, noisy and the last thing they want to hear is your story idea. Introduce yourself and ask if it's OK to follow up with a call or email later the following week.
Several authors and others who are writing their first books are among members of The Publicity Hound Mentor Program. This is your last chance to join the program and take advantage of the current tuition because it goes up on May 1. Read more about what you'll learn, how to get in before the tuition increase, and the great things that have happened to others who have joined my program at http://www.publicityhound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html
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4. Media Leads
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--How does a terminally ill breast cancer patient prepare her family for life without her? The Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine: Empowering Mind-Body-Spirit is seeking inspirational messages on this subject from families that had to go through this experience. The magazine focuses on ways to empower mind, body and spirit in each issue, as well as the difficult challenges that come from being diagnosed with cancer. Publisher Beverly Vote says she would like five articles on this topic. The full-color magazine is free to breast cancer patients and survivors and is published quarterly. Word count is under 800 words. Deadline is July 1. The magazine is continuing to take names and addresses of breast cancer patients and survivors that wish to receive this free publication through July 1. Mailto:BeverlyVote@aol.com
--One of the "Seven Sisters" women's magazines, circulation 3.8 million, has asked freelancer Leah Ingram to write a roundup of eight fun European cities to travel to with your kids (toddlers to teens). This is based on a trip she's planned for her family to visit Edinburgh, Paris and London the last week of July. Now the magazine would like her to flesh out that experience to five additional cities. She needs to hear about kid-friendly things to do in other well-known European cities. Except for the three cities mentioned above, she's open to any suggestions. She wants to hear about experiences that will benefit the kids and the whole family--socially, physically, educationally, spiritually, etc. She is not interested in suggestions for which the only purpose is to load you down with souvenirs (read: no EuroDisney). In addition, Leah would appreciate any help with media rates and leads for travel to and within her planned itinerary to Scotland, England and France. This story is likely to run in the late fall, for people who want to travel during the winter, so please pitch only information that will be relevant at the publiction date. If you would like to overnight press kits, you can send them to: Leah Ingram, 106 Summer Lea Ct., New Hope, PA 18938. Or mailto:leah.ingram@comcast.net but no attachments. Deadline is as soon as possible.
--The "Today" show will be honoring outstanding grandmothers this May and wants you to nominate your favorite grandma. It also wants to hear from Publicity Hounds who live in or near Chicago, Seattle or West Palm Beach and love food. This is for an upcoming series with Giada De Laurentiis, author of "Everyday Italian" and the soon-to-be-released "Giada's Family Dinners."
--"Today" is also looking for the cheapest date in America. Are you the cheapest date or do you know someone who is? If so, find out how to participate in an upcoming segment. Email your responses to these queries at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/ Scroll about halfway down the page to the box on the right side that says "Send us your questions and stories" and click on the query that interests you.
If you can't get on the "Today" show this way, don't despair. Publicist Lissa Warren tells you how to contact the right people at shows like "Today," "Good Morning America," and "Fox & Friends" who are waiting to hear your pitch. She also explains what topics these shows like best and what to expect when you appear. The CD or transcript is called "How to Get Booked on the Morning TV Talk Shows." Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/ab86x
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5. Promoting a Memory System for Kids
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This week, three Publicity Hounds have advice for Linda Culbreath of Houston, Texas. She wants tips for promoting her website where she sells educational tools that help children improve their memory.
From John Elmore:
"Have you tried to identify and contact the newsletter or e-newsletter or website editors for national and state home school associations, Christian home school associations, elementary school teachers associations, science educators associations, and science tutoring organizations?
"For example, try The American Homeschool Association at http://www.americanhomeschoolassociation.org/
"I did a Google search for "home school associations Texas" and found a web page that lists some of those groups with a web link for each: http://homeschooling.about.com/od/txassoc/ "
From Doreen Smith:
"Call up your local parents associations and PTAs to do a demonstration."
Read all the responses at http://publicityhound.net/?p=571
The Publicity Hound says: I suggest you write briefs--short little items such as a list of tips--and send them to the various parents' magazines. "Briefs, Fillers & Quizzes: How to Write Them and Why Editors Love Them," shows you nine different types of briefs and explains how to work with editors when you submit them. It's available as a CD or electronic transcript. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/d74h7
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6. Help This Hound
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Tamara Remedios of Matawan, New Jersey writes:
"We're doing a restaurant promotion July 24-August 4 in northern New Jersey. It's Hudson Restaurant Week for Hoboken & Jersey City (across the river from Manhattan). I own a magazine and it was an idea brainstormed with one of my advertisers. It's a 10-day dining promotion with meals at fine restaurants for a reduced price. "The event has really grown over the past year. I give lots of attention to advertising but not PR. I want to change that as we go into Year No. 2. I want to do a kick-off party with mayors, politicians, chefs, restaurant owners, business owners and winners from our mailing list. We'll be selling tickets to the public with proceeds going to a local food bank. I want to invite media, but I'm not sure how to go about it. Do you send an invite or a personal note or letter? Do I also send a pitch? What's the protocol and should we do anything special for them? Any other tips for publicity?"
The Publicity Hound says: What a fun event! But there's a difference between simply inviting the media for a free meal versus inviting them to cover your event. Let's see what my Hounds recommend. Many of them have pitched food reviewers, lifestyle reporters and tourist media successfully. How about it, Hounds? Post your best ideas to my blog at http://publicityhound.net/?p=581
You'll never have to spend another sleepless night worrying about your next special event. Debra J. Schmidt helped me create "How to Plan & Promote Sizzling Special Events." It includes the critical checklists for pre-event planning, tips for staging your event without a hitch, hot tips for follow-up, laying the groundwork for pre-event publicity, how to lure the media on the big day, and secrets for promoting your event long after it's over. The set of 6 CDs or the electronic transcript come with 15 checklists for event planners. Read more about what you'll learn at http://publicityhound.com/publicity/promote.html and download three of our checklists.
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7. Hound Joke of the Week
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"When you leave them in the morning, they stick their nose in the door crack and stand there like a portrait until you turn the key eight hours later."
--Erma Bombeck, newspaper columnist
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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‘The View’ producers know what they want;
don’t try to change their minds
http://publicityhound.net/?p=579
Time, Fortune, People, Business 2.0
to feature easy-to-find table of contents
http://publicityhound.net/?p=578
Good Housekeeping articles editor blogs
http://publicityhound.net/?p=577
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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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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
