Publicity tips/Press release quiz July 25, 2006

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #303 - July 25, 2006
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.net (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 19,653

=====================================
"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
Receive this ezine
direct to your desktop
http://www.publicityhound.com/tipsoftheweek/
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You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me you want to subscribe. If you didn't subscribe, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter.

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.

*************************************************

================================
In This Issue
================================

1. Press Release Quiz

2. Learn Ex-Oprah Booker's Tips Again Today

3. Public Shaming Online

4. Media Lead

5. Promoting Watches for Attorneys

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

==================================
1. Press Release Quiz
==================================

So, you think you know how to write press releases?

Answer true or false to the following statements:

--I write press releases primarily to encourage journalists at newspapers and magazines to write articles about my company, or for broadcasters who will feature us on the news or invite us as guests on talk shows.

--I write press releases only when I have legitimate news that the media think will be worth covering.

--Because journalists are busy and don't have time to read long press releases, my releases are always as short as possible.

--I try to include "who, what, when, where, why and how" high in the press release, preferably the first paragraph, so journalists don't have to spend valuable time hunting for it.

--When I write a release and journalists never print it, or I get no calls for interviews, I chalk it up as a failure. Then I start all over again and find something better to write about so I can get the media coverage I need.

--I measure the success of my press releases by the number of clippings I have generated, or the number of TV and radio shows that have covered my organization.

Now, give yourself one point for every statement that you marked as true. Now tally up your points.

If you scored 5 or higher, you're writing press releases the old way--only for journalists--and you're completely overlooking an audience that you should be targeting with your message: the end user who will find your press releases online, read them, and buy what you're selling, even if journalists think your story isn't worthy of their time and attention.

If your score is 1 to 4, you're doing some things right but you're still missing the chance to really make your press releases as effective as possible.

If you scored zero, congratulations! You understand why you are writing press releases. You're writing them not only for journalists, but for people who are in a position to buy your products and services. Twenty years ago, the old way worked just fine. Today, thanks to the Internet, everything we've learned about writing press releases has changed.

The Number One problem I hear from most people who email me or attend my presentations is the inability to write a compelling press release. That's why I'm kicking off a f~ree 89-day course for Publicity Hounds on "89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases."

Every day for 89 days in a row, I'll give you one lesson, delivered via email, on how to write and distribute a press release. Each day, I'll also give you one opportunity to write a release. For example, if you're rolling out a new product, that's one opportunity. Each day's lesson will take you just a few minutes to read.

By the time you're done, you'll learn everything you need to start writing releases not only for journalists, but for the end user. And I'll show you how to use your press releases to change their behavior. That is, to encourage people to do whatever you want them to do: buy tickets to your event, make a donation, test-drive your new product, see your catalog at your website, visit you at a trade show, or whatever.

You'll see examples of good and bad press releases, and you'll get tips from some of the very best publicists, PR practitioners and Publicity Hounds on the planet.

You can start the tutorial at any time, and you can opt out of it at any time. Each week, I'll concentrate on one specific sub-topic. You can see what the entire course includes and sign up for your first tip here: http://www.PublicityHound.com/pressreleasetips/list.htm

If you're a blogger or ezine publisher, pass this information along to your readers. Speakers can share it with their audiences. Trade associations, chambers of commerce and other nonprofits can pass it along to their members. If you do, please use the link below. The course is identical but this link will take people to my blog where they can read more about the course and take the quiz:
http://publicityhound.net/index.php/press-releases-just-got-easier-thanks-to-this-free-tutorial/

I've had a blast creating the course and I can hardly wait to share it with you. Sign up today, and your first lesson will be delivered via email within 15 minutes.

If you subscribe to this ezine, use this link:
http://www.PublicityHound.com/pressreleasetips/list.htm

If you're passing this along to someone else, give them this link at my blog where they can take the little quiz about, then learn more about the course: http://publicityhound.net/index.php/press-releases-just-got-easier-thanks-to-this-free-tutorial/


==================================
2. Learn Ex-Oprah Booker's Tips Again Today
==================================

Remember last week's item about the f*ree teleseminar that teaches you how to get onto the big talk shows like "Oprah," "Good Morning, America" or "Fox & Friends"?

Steve Harrison interviewed Michelle Anton, a former "Oprah" guest booker on how to get onto the show. Response was so overwhelming that he's offering the call again today, Tuesday, July 25, at 2 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m. Pacific) and 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. Pacific).

"The Three Big Secrets for Getting Booked as a Guest on Top National TV Shows" will explain exactly what producers are looking for and the mistakes to avoid when pitching your idea.

Register here: http://tinyurl.com/pje65

==================================
3. Publicity Stunts
==================================

When it comes to brainstorming clever publicity ideas, publicity expert Marcia Yudkin is one of the most creative people I know.

Her book "6 Steps to Free Publicity" is perhaps my very favorite book on how to work with the media. I'm one of her groupies, and I read her ezine "Marketing Minute" each week. You can subscribe at http://www.yudkin.com/markmin.htm

So I was thrilled when she gave me permission to reprint one of her articles in the July/August issue of The Publicity Hound subscription newsletter. It's called "Publicity Stunts that P.T. Barnum Would Love."

For example, Marcia suggests shaming "do-badders" with awards. Or ranking cities according to their friendliness to new technology. Or issuing brash predictions, with donations that kick in when they don't come true.

I particularly like her idea about the best cities. That's because you're virtually guaranteed publicity in those 10 cities. Create a "10 Best Cities for..." and a "10 Worst Cities for..." and coverage in those 20 cities is almost a sure bet.

The article gives three more clever ideas for publicity stunts you can pull off when it's a slow news month and you can't think of anything newsworthy to promote.

The July/August issue also includes articles on how to appeal to the 5 types of journalists, how the U.S. Bowling Congress got more than $2.5 million in free publicity, 5 simple "rules of the road" for PR, how to get free tips on healthcare crisis communications, where to find new ethics guidelines for business writers, a Canadian decorating magazine that will debut later this year, what to do when Hispanic media call, how Florida nonprofits profit from PR interns, a DVD you can buy if you're training your staff on how to interview with the media, pitching tips on how to get into Consumer Reports, and July/August story ideas.

All for $10. Order at http://tinyurl.com/zampu


===============================
4. Media Lead
===============================

Tired of tank tops, cleavage and flip-flops in the workplace? Are Fridays too casual? What else bugs you? Barbara DesChamps of Nevada City, California is writing a book on how to build your own custom travel wardrobe, and many of the rules that people break at work are the same ones they break when they travel. She's looking for illustrative anecdotes to use in the book. If she uses yours, you get a f~ree copy of her book. Send your anecdotes to her at mailto:chateau@ncws.com?subject=TheHoundSentMe


The Publicity Hound says: Smart Publicity Hounds understand that getting into other people's books is one of the most powerful ways to spread your name far and wide because books have such a long shelf life. I'm mentioned in more than 40 books on free publicity and marketing and continue to receive lots of leads from people who are reading those books and might not otherwise have heard about me. Getting into books is one of the thousands of tips I share in my ebook "How to be a Kick-butt Publicity Hound," written with Tom Antion. We updated it to include an entire chapter Tom wrote on how to make money from your blog. It's the best one-stop shop for publicity you'll find anywhere. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/6uw4n

==================================
5. Promoting Watches for Attorneys
==================================

This week, seven Publicity Hounds are helping Lisa Solomon of Ardsley, New York. She wants tips on how to promote watches and clocks especially for lawyers. The dials are divided into six-minute increments--the same way many lawyers bill. You can see them at http://www.TheBillableHour.com


From Michele Samuels:

"If the clocks can be engraved, you might want to promote them to law firms as awards for most billable hours or business gifts for the holidays. I would also find out about legal conferences and put promotional pieces in the gift bags for participants."

From Margaret Vos:

"I think you have markets outside the legal field--try a tie-in with holidays or events dealing with time--for example, February 29 in leap years (what to do with all that extra time? Divvy up the day into 6-minute blocks), New Year’s Eve (countdown from 10 seconds is so old, how about from 6 minutes), running a 6-minute mile in a marathon, etc. What if Father Time had a 6-minute watch for the holidays?"

From Gail Sideman:

"Partner with a professional organizer who specializes in time management. Using this watch would be the ultimate in time organization! I do think the style of the watch could be 'whimzier' if it is to be being taken lightheartedly. I know with some color and fun, it would be on my wrist as I determine how much time I spend on specific clients! GREAT concept."


The Publicity Hound says: Don't forget the bloggers! Anyone who blogs about the legal community, or any of the topics listed above, would love to know about the watch. And bloggers, unlike mainstream journalists, are more apt to gush about products that they think are perfect for their audiences. Also, send press releases with photos of your products to inflight magazines that cater to business travelers, including attorneys. Learn more from "Special Report #29: Fly High with Publicity in In-Flight Magazines" at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g

Read all the responses at my blog at http://publicityhound.net/index.php/watches-for-lawyers-a-clever-product-that-needs-publicity-ideas/


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6. Help This Hound
===================================

Carolyn Cox of Virginia Beach, Virginia asks:

"Optimist International, one of the Big 4 of community services groups, focuses their volunteer efforts on 'Bringing Out the Best in Kids. Right Here. Right Now.'

"We recently joined the I Keep Safe Coalition in order to help keep kids safe on the Internet. Our first effort is focused on bringing speakers (teens and adults) into the elementary schools with a program to instill a safe Internet ethic in kids BEFORE they create their own page at MySpace.com or enter chat rooms.

"The coalition sent a press release, which got zero response. How can we get the word out to parents and schools that we are here to deliver programs to groups of school age children, within or without the schools?"

The Publicity Hound says: Let's help Carolyn help children who are using the Internet. Post your best ideas to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/q8lp5 Carolyn, I think your topic is fabulous and there's no reason this should have been ignored by the media. Unless, of course, the press release was written incorrectly. Sign up for my 89-day class on how to write powerful press releases at http://www.PublicityHound.com/pressreleasetips/list.htm


================================
7. Hound Joke of the Week
================================

Two fleas are coming out of the movie theater and it's raining very hard outside.

One flea says to the other flea, "What should we do? Walk or wait for a dog?"


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/


================================
8. And at My Blog...
================================

Bad customer service? Shame companies onlinehttp://tinyurl.com/jwj5a

Book reviews vs. advertising an easy callfor book marketing expert John Kremerhttp://tinyurl.com/z9yj6

MyShelf.com needs a book reviewerhttp://tinyurl.com/j8dpk

Find a photographer at LookBetterOnline.com http://tinyurl.com/zugyk
---------------------------------------------------------------

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

No public programs scheduled at this time.

***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.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may reprint any items from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week" in your own print or electronic newsletter. But please include the following paragraph:

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."

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends, clients and colleagues.
You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me you want to subscribe.

PRIVACY STATEMENT: The Publicity Hound® will never distribute your address to anyone.

Period.

Promise.
=======================================================
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

Publicity tips/Oprah's favorite things July 18, 2006

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #302 - July 18, 2006
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.net (Blog)

The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 19,391

=====================================
"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
Receive this ezine direct to your desktop:
http://www.publicityhound.com/tipsoftheweek/
=====================================

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me you want to subscribe. If you didn't subscribe, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter.
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.

*************************************************
WANTED: I Need More Press Releases That Generated Publicity

After last week's request for "before" and "after" press releases you wrote that generated publicity, Publicity Hounds sent me several dozen samples. However, I didn't see many that were optimized for the search engines. If you write your press releases not only for the media, but for potential customers who can find the releases online, I want to know. I'm almost ready to launch my f~ree 12-week online class on how to write press releases and I still need samples. The course covers almost every aspect of writing and distributing releases and will be as helpful for veteran PR people as it will be for beginners. Please send your best samples to me at mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=PressReleases even if you have only the finished versions, and explain exactly what kind of publicity they generated. Be as specific as possible. If I use your press release in the course, I'll give you 5 of any of my 49 special reports (your choice) as my way of saying thanks. Next week, I'll include details here on how to sign up for the tutorial.
**************************************************

================================
In This Issue
================================

1. Oprah's Favorite Things

2. Get Onto the Big TV Shows

3. Public Shaming Online

4. Media Leads

5. Promoting a Feng Shui Controversy

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


==================================
1. Oprah's Favorite Things
==================================

At the end of each year, the Queen of Daytime TV Talk Shows makes a list of things she likes, then features them on her show around Christmas.

They're known to her fans simply as "Oprah's Favorite Things." Last year, they included an Apple iPod, croissants from William-Sonoma, a Burberry coat and purse, a Philip Stein Teslar diamond watch and a $49.99 tin of cookie dough so you can make gourmet oatmeal cookies.

Companies lucky enough to be on Oprah's list end up with a problem any company would love to have. Here's what the "Oprah's Favorite Things" list at her website says: "Having trouble ordering your favorite thing? Due to heavy traffic, some websites may become inaccessible throughout the day. We suggest you try again later!"

The Oprah Magazine prints something similar called "The O List" in its December issue. Her other magazine, O at Home, features a similar gift list and is looking for products such as "throws, picture frames, bowls with animal pictures on them, and gold table-top items."

Amy Bates Stumpf of The Gift List, the subscription-based service that provides leads and pitching tips for Oprah's media outlets and for thousands of other media that feature special gift sections, says you should be pitching right now if you hope to get your product into Oprah's December issues. That's because editors work six months ahead. She doesn't yet have information on when you should be pitching for the "Oprah's Favorite Things" list for TV.
Amy said, however, she thinks it's a long shot that Oprah will choose your product simply because competition is so fierce.

"I think the more interesting story is the voluminous amount of media that goes unpitched," she said. "There are dozens of regional and smaller outlets looking for unique home products."

They include Today's Charlotte Woman, The Tennessee Magazine, At Home In Arkansas, Grand Magazine, Midwest Home, Flaunt, Romantic Homes, and Midsouth Living Home & Garden Magazine. She did a quick search of home decor products for me and found more than 200 editors who are looking for the same kinds of products Oprah wants.

You can see what she means by taking a test-drive and seeing last year's list. The Gift List also includes holiday-related features being planned by the wire services, TV and radio shows, and newspapers. Tips include everything from how to submit photos to specific kinds of items the editors are looking for.

Publicity Hounds who take a test drive, then subscribe by Friday, get a $100 discount on the service. Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/9es8y

The Gift List includes leads only for consumer products, not for services or destinations such as vacations.


==================================
2. Get Onto the Big TV Shows
==================================

If your goal is to get onto Oprah's TV show, or on one of the other big shows like "Good Morning, America" or "Fox & Friends" but you're afraid you're just small potatoes, you're giving up way too soon.

TV producers don't care about whether you work by yourself. They don't care about how much you make. What they do care about are engaging guests who can pitch timely stories, aren't afraid of controversy, look lively on camera, deliver exceptional sound bites, and keep viewers from reaching for the remote.

They want guests like Lauri Quinn Loewenberg, author of "So, What Did You Dream Last Night" who pitched ABC's "The View" and ended up doing a segment on bad dreams--in costume--right around Halloween. Her book was a perfect tie-in to a major holiday, and it created a fun segment.

And guests like Jim Vonmier, CEO of Septic Protector, a company that makes filters for washing machines. "Who the heck would want somebody like that?" you're asking yourself. "Doesn't he belong in a trade magazine?" Perhaps. But CBS grabbed him as a guest for one of its "Consumer Watch" segments.

And guests like Stephen Shapiro, who landed an interview with O the Oprah Magazine right about the time his book "Goal-Free Living: How to Have the Life You Want Now" was published. His secret? His book tied in perfectly with a topic Oprah is passionate about.

Learn more about what the big TV producers look for during a free 90-minute teleseminar at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 20, with Steve Harrison of Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR). It's called "The Three Big Secrets for Getting Booked As a Guest on Top National TV Shows." His special guest will be Michelle Anton, a former guest booker on "Oprah." Michelle fielded hundreds of pitches, and she'll talk about ways that anyone can get land a coveted spot on the show.

You'll also hear from a Fox News Channel producer and other surprise guests. Register at http://tinyurl.com/pje65


==================================
3. Public Shaming Online
==================================

If you want the real scoop on what people think of your customer service, don't bother asking the folks in your customer service department.

For a much more accurate look, do an online search for your company. You might be shocked at what you find. A recent story in the Washington Post said disgruntled customers are increasingly turning to blogs where they can publicly shame companies that have ripped them off, made them mad or refused to respond to their complaints.

--Last month, for example, AOL was chastised publicly after an angry customer recorded and posted online a service rep's emphatic reluctance to cancel his service. Count the number of times the exasperated customer says "Cancel the account." (Warning: A four-letter word slipped out of the customer's mouth during the call, so if you don't like four-letter words, don't click on the link.) You can listen here: http://media.putfile.com/AOL-Cancellation

--Comcast fired a technician after a videotape showed him asleep on a customer's couch. The technician went to the customer's house to replace a cable modem, called Comcast customer support, was put on hold for more than an hour, and eventually fell asleep. You can see the video at http://youtube.com/watch?v=ufo9p1O9iAQ&search=comcast

--As for Wal-Mart, you don't have to look far to see and hear people bad-mouthing the Number One retailer in the U.S. Do a search for "Wal-Mart + complaints + blog" and see what you find.

Wondering what people are saying about YOU? Start doing regular searches for your company using a search engine like Google. Or search the blogs using the Technorati search engine at http://technorati.com/

If you find something you don't like, it might be time to swing into action. Crisis counselor Judy Hoffman teaches companies how to react to mud-slinging, lies and other nasty comments online and offline. She says bloggers are more dangerous than traditional journalists but that there's a powerful weapon you can use to silence them. She also says that if you find someone is besmirching your good name, knowing how and when to respond is critical.

I interviewed Judy last year during a teleseminar called "What to do When Someone Damages Your Good Name." It's available as a CD or electronic transcript that you can download and read as soon as your order is approved. Read more about what you'll learn at http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-tapes/Damage.htm


===============================
4. Media Leads
===============================

--Thanks to Michelle Tennant of Wasabi Publicity, a graduate of The Publicity Hound Mentor Program, for this one. The online version of the forthcoming Hitched Magazine has launched at http://www.hitchedmag.com/ and is looking for content and story pitches. This is an online service/lifestyle publication focusing on every aspect of married life from picking the Friday night movie to true stories of couples dealing with online affairs. Updated weekly, the site includes information on entertainment, relationships, finances, features, a daily blog and numerous polls. Co-founder Steve Cooper says: "The toughest leads for us to hunt down right now are the anecdotal stories from real couples. We write about anything and everything that has to do with the married demographic. Saying that, our target age group are couples between the age of 25 and 39, but of course most of our content appeals to a much broader audience." You can contact Steve at mailto:scooper@hitchedmag.com And learn more about my mentor program at http://www.publicityhound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html

--Min magazine, published for the magazine industry, will devote its November issue to highlighting the "21 Most Intriguing People" in the industry. It will also highlight magazine titles or websites celebrating milestone anniversaries (10th, 15th, 20th, 50th, etc.). Get your magazine or executives featured in this special section. Learn more at http://www.minonline.com/anniversaryform.pdf. If you have a story to pitch, contact Ann Cooper at mailto:ACooper@accessintel.com


==================================
5. Promoting a Feng Shui Controversy
==================================

This week, five Publicity Hounds have tips for Debra Blackmon of Bakersfield, California. She needs advice on how to promote her feng shui workshops and piggyback onto the controversy created by a local radio station host who blasted feng shui because it's "non-Christian and shouldn't be taught at the community forum."


From Andrew Abel:

"This could be an excellent opportunity for you to publicize your event...I would start by inviting local community leaders and religious leaders to a class. Present your dilemma to them as a way to educate people about cultural differences. I would also invite the radio station to attend that same class...Assuming that this class was community approved, you shouldn’t have a problem getting the support of the local politicians. With the community leaders in your corner, the radio station will lose interest in the story. Don’t be afraid of the spotlight."


Carol Ruddick says:

"I, too, am a feng shui consultant and have given a number of talks and workshops to the local community. I live in the South--the Bible Belt--and I, too, was accused of practicing voodoo. However, my approach to feng shui is based on the understanding of energy, which is pure science. While there is much symbology in the Chinese culture that is used in remedies of feng shui, the basic principles are about energy. When I explained the philosophy in this way, even the hard-core 'good old boys of the South' were impressed."


Candy Tutt said:

"I would recruit some outside support from feng shui practitioners. Here in Northern California they are numerous both in the Sacramento area as well as San Francisco. Why not contact some of them and invite them to visit your class for a session? If they agree, contact the radio station as well as newspapers and TV - this would be an excellent opportunity for the entire community to learn about Feng Shui, as well as for positive publicity for you."


The Publicity Hound says: I love the idea of using controversy to generate publicity. Too few Publicity Hounds are willing to do that. But be very careful when interviewing with a reporter who will do everything possible to loosen your lips. My "Special Report #1: Damage Control: How to keep the media from making a mess of your story" and "Special Report #2: Questions you can expect reporters to ask during an interview" tell you exactly how to prepare for the interview and how to control what's reported about you, as much as possible. You can read more about them at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


Read all the responses to the feng shui question at http://publicityhound.net/index.php/feng-shui-instructor-needs-ideas-on-how-to-use-controversy-for-publicity/

===================================
6. Help This Hound
===================================

Lisa Solomon of Ardsley, New York writes:

"My husband and I, both attorneys, are partners in The Billable Hour Company at http://www.thebillablehour.com/ We make watches and clocks especially for lawyers, with dials divided into six-minute increments--the same way many lawyers bill. "Our product is a lighthearted take on the concept of the billable hour and it's the perfect gift for a lawyer, law student, or any professional who bills by the hour. What's the best way to pitch our products to get the media interested? Should we just send a press release and a photo? Or do we have to try to tie our product into a specific topic?"

The Publicity Hound says: OK, Hounds. Let's see how many of you can come up with great ideas to help Lisa. I'll bet some of you can even do it in less than six minutes! Post your ideas to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/g98kg


================================
7. Hound Joke of the Week
================================

A guy walks into a bar with a small dog. The bartender says, "Get out of here with that dog!"

The guy says, "But this isn't just any dog...this dog can play the piano!"

The bartender replies, "Well, if he can play that piano, you both can stay and have a drink on the house!"

So the guy sits the dog at the piano, and the dog starts playing ragtime, a little swing, some Gershwin. The bartender is amazed and patrons are enjoying the music.

Suddenly a bigger dog runs in, grabs the small dog by the scruff of the neck and drags him out. The bartender asks the guy, "What was that all about?"

The guy replies, "Oh, that was his mother. She wants him to be a doctor."


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/


================================
8. And at My Blog...
================================

A bra that deflects bullets? Details, please
http://tinyurl.com/h8o3h

Article directories abound:
Post to sites with a Google page ranking of 4 or higher
http://tinyurl.com/ewsed


---------------------------------------------------------------

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

No public programs scheduled at this time.

***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 fall, winter or spring 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.


PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may reprint any items from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week" in your own print or electronic newsletter. But please include the following paragraph:

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."

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends, clients and colleagues.
You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me you want to subscribe.

PRIVACY STATEMENT: The Publicity Hound® will never distribute your address to anyone.

Period.

Promise.
=======================================================
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

Publicity tips/The Backpack Index July 11, 2006

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #301 - July 11, 2006
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.net (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 19,220

=====================================
"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"
Receive this ezine direct to your desktop:
http://www.publicityhound.com/tipsoftheweek/
=====================================

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The PublicityHound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me you wantto subscribe. If you didn't subscribe, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter.

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.

*************************************************
WANTED: Press Releases That Generated Publicity

I'm creating a free 12-week online class on how to write press releases. It covers almost every aspect of writing and distributing releases and will be as helpful for veteran PR people as it will be for beginners. I want to include great press releases that got results. I am particularly interested in "before" and "after" versions so that people can see how to turn a blah press release into one that commands attention. Please send your best samples to me at mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=PressReleases and explain exactly what kind of publicity it generated. Be as specific as possible. If I use your press release in the course, I'll give you 5 of any of my 49 special reports (your choice) as my way of saying thanks. Stay tuned for details, possibly as early as next week, on how you can sign up for the course.
**************************************************

================================
In This Issue
================================

1. The Backpack Index

2. Media-train Your Staff

3. Still Time for Swimsuits

4. Media Leads

5. Promoting a Book on Leadership

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

==================================
1. The Backpack Index
==================================

If you have a child in elementary school, you can expect to pay $307 on back-to-school supplies and related items this year.

But if your kid is in high school, that amount jumps to a whopping $669 and accounts for things such a $228 activity fee, a $39.99 cell phone, and fees so your college-bound kid can take the SAT test.

Those statistics are part of The Backpack Index, a clever publicity tool created by Huntington Bank, based in Columbus, Ohio.

I learned about it yesterday when Bonnie McGeer of American Banker, a newspaper for the financial services industry, called to ask my expert opinion on what I thought about the idea of The Backpack Index to generate publicity. You can read more about it at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060705/clw012.html?.v=49

"It's very clever," I said. "I like the way they broke down all the costs for kids in elementary school, junior high and high school, and I especially like the way they included expenses parents might not think about, like the cell phone and the activity fees."

I even liked the five tips on how to save for your kids' school supplies.

But I told her I thought Huntington blew two opportunities to grab and hold onto potential customers who find The Backpack Index interesting:

--In the press release, their website URL is buried in a long gray paragraph of boilerplate text about the company. The bank doesn't give people any reason to go to the website other than to say "Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at http://www.huntington.com/." Had I written that press release, I would have stated in it that parents could find 10 more tips at the website on how to save for their kids' school supplies. Or I would have paid a techie to create a clever interactive calculator that parents could use at the bank's website to determine the cost of something else related to going back to school, such as new clothes. Offer people something for free and give them a reason to visit your website.

--I clicked on the URL and it took me to the bank's home page. But once I arrived, they never once asked me for my email address so they could market to me later by sending, say, a financial tip of the week, or an ezine like the one you're reading right now. Had they done that, they would have been able to bring me into their circle and perhaps keep my attention for months, or for as long as I thought their tips were valuable. And who knows? If I need a mortgage someday, I might choose Huntington.

Want more proof on how valuable it is to capture people's email addresses? At the end of our conversation yesterday, I asked Bonnie the same question I ask all journalists who call me for interviews: "How did you hear about me?"

"I've been getting your newsletter for awhile, and knew you'd be perfect for this article," she said.

I rest my case.

If you aren't capturing people's email addresses at your website and sending them a free 7-day class, or a tip of the week, or an ezine at least once every other week, you don't belong in marketing's Major Leagues. More than 19,000 people read this newsletter--the engine that drives my entire business.

If you want to know how to write an electronic newsletter or even a short tip of the week that lures potential customers and gives them a chance to know, like and trust you--so that at some point they hand over their credit card number for one of your products or services--check out "How to Turn Your Ezine into a Cash Register." It's a one-hour interview in which my friend, Dan Janal, prods me to reveal all the secrets on how I generate more than $120,000 in revenue each year just from this ezine. The interview is available as a CD for only $39.95. Order at http://www.marketerschoice.com/app/javanof.asp?MerchantID=20214&ProductID=3098700

==================================
2. Media-train Your Staff
==================================

Do the key people in your organization know how to handle tough questions from the media, deflect them, then bridge to their key message--something they want the public to hear, even though the answer doesn't necessarily address the question the reporter asked?

When I do media training for companies and nonprofits, I take them through this little exercise. I divide them into small groups and ask each group to discuss the worst question they can imagine being asked by a journalist.

"Think of the one question that keeps you up at 3 a.m.--the question that, if asked, would embarrass, humiliate or frighten you. It would be so bad that you'd want to dig a hole right there in front of the reporter and jump in."

Once each group has come up with a question, I tell them to work together to craft a response. I give them about 15 minutes to work on the problem. Then I bring them all back together and ask each small group to share the question and the response they came up with.

Most of the time, participants think it was a difficult exercise. Even though they had no trouble coming up with difficult questions, they can't always create answers that would earn them a passing grade. That's because they don't understand the dynamics of an interview.

If you can't hire a professional media trainer, you can use an inexpensive training tool I found that helps you handle difficult questions, control your key message and breeze through the toughest interviews with confidence. It also cautions you against making one of the worst mistakes you can make during a media interview. Former President George H. Bush made the mistake not once, but three times, during his first Town Hall debate in October 1992 with Ross Perot and Bill Clinton. Political analysts say it marked the point of no return during the campaign. Bush never recovered, and he lost the election to Clinton.

Learn more about this training tool in the July/August issue of The Publicity Hound subscription newsletter. The issue also includes articles on how to appeal to the 5 types of journalists, how the U.S. Bowling Congress got more than $2.5 million in free publicity, 5 simple "rules of the road" for PR, how to get free tips on healthcare crisis communications, where to find new ethics guidelines for business writers, a Canadian decorating magazine that will debut later this year, what to do when Hispanic media call, how Florida nonprofits profit from PR interns, publicity stunts that P.T. Barnum would love, pitching tips on how to get into Consumer Reports, and July/August story ideas.

All for $10. Order at http://tinyurl.com/zampu

==================================
3. Still Time for Swimsuits
==================================

Remember my tip two weeks ago on how you should tie story ideas for TV into swimsuits because news producers know that viewers love seeing all that skin?

Publicity Hound Holly Russel of Pilot Publicity in New York City paid attention and used the idea to get fabulous publicity for her client, Freddy & Ma, a custom handbag company in the Big Apple.

"I thought they'd be the perfect people to talk about the best beach bag to flatter your bikini (and your body type) in a fashion segment for the local news," Holly writes. "I put together a pitch describing how four of the label's most popular shapes complemented different body types, and voila! My story got picked up by both the Village Voice and the WB11 Morning News, which will do a live 4-minute segment with my client Thursday morning. Thanks for sparking a great idea."

The Village Voice article includes language that some Hounds might find objectionable, but this Hound thought it was hysterical and I howled when I read it:
http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0627,zappia,73771,15.html

When the local TV station responded to Holly's pitch and told her they'd cover it if she could provcide the models, she swung into action and used another publicity tool she read about here: Craigslist. She found four models, and they just completed the segment this morning.

If you're not posting your news and other information about your company to Craigslist, you're missing a terrific opportunity to spread your message worldwide or to target spcific cities and countries. You pay nothing to post, except for job postings in New York, Can Francisco and Los Angeles.

Nancy Mills, an expert at generating publicity from Craigslist, explains why your Craigslist posts need to sound different than your standard press releases. She explains all the inticacies of Craigslist and passes along helpful tips that will save you hours of time and hundreds of dollars buying expensive classified ads in your local newspapers. "How to Use Craigslist as a Global Publicity Tool" is availabe 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


===============================
4. Media Leads
===============================

--Thanks to Publicity Hound Thomas Harrison of Tulsa, Oklahoma for this one. Kelsey Martyn-Farewell is a reviewer for the Norman Transcript, a daily newspaper in central Oklahoma which serves a college community (University of Oklahoma) of more than 29,000 students, and population of 95,000 for the city of Norman itself. Kelsey reviews DVD and movie releases. If any Hounds would like to send her advance copies, she would consider them for reviews. She is interested in products other than traditional mainstream movies and wants independent films, business films and DVDs that most people don't know about. Her column runs each Friday. You can pitch her at Mailto:Kelsey@marshallandcompany.org?subject=TheHoundSentMe or at 405-329-1969.


--Lisa Whaley is looking for guests for her radio show "Choices: Get it Right with Work & Life." The one-hour program begins July 21 on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel. Lisa says: "Guests just need to be an expert in their field and I prefer guests who are published but they don’t have to be. They need to have a topic that would fit within the overall theme of my show that business professionals would find of value...almost anything can fit with the right slant! All I ask of my guests is that they help promote their appearance on the show by sending email blasts to their contacts or a blurb on their website." Learn more about the show at http://www.lifeworksynergy.com//docs/schedule.htm Contact Lisa at mailto:lwhaley@lifeworksynergy.com?subject=TheHoundSentMe


If you can get onto Lisa's show, that's great. But don't stop there! Try to get booked on AM and FM drive-time radio shows, which is a lot cheaper than buying an ad. George McKenzie, a former talk show host, explains the kinds of guests he loved having on his shows. He also shares clever pitches, give-aways and other enticing little extras that guests offered to catch his attention and earn a slot on his shows. "How to Get onto Drive-time Radio Shows" is available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can be reading as soon as your order is approved. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/663ow

==================================
5. Promoting a Book on Leadership
==================================

This week, five Publicity Hounds have tips for Tom Warneka of Cleveland, Ohio. He helped Hurricane Katrina victims as a mental health worker with the Red Cross last summer. And he wants to use the first anniversary of Katrina to help promote his book, "Leading People the Black Belt Way: Conquering the Five Core Problems Facing Leaders Today."


From Marcia Yudkin, author of "6 Steps to Free Publicity":

"If you make your book title prominent in your pitch, you’ll have a hard time getting the media to perceive you as someone appropriate to comment on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Why? Because 'black-belt leadership' comes across as a totally pointless, even appalling way to approach helping people after a natural disaster...If you present yourself simply as a mental health worker who volunteered for two weeks after Katrina and are still involved somehow with helping, you’ll have a much better shot at getting coverage. And I’m sure you’ll have valuable insights that could help those directly affected and those who care but weren’t directly affected by the storm and flood."


From Garth Gibson:

"You can tie in black belt defenses against natural disasters. Perhaps while volunteering, you gave lessons to people who needed to rebuild their self-confidence and get out of depression and you used martial arts to help them do it. So how are they doing one year later?"


From Scot Hansen:

"While you might want to promote your book, if you can’t articulate how the principles in the book helped some of the victims, then the media isn’t going to see the tie-in. However, if you have contact with some of the people you helped, and they are willing to talk to the media about how your program really bounced them back from the tragedy, including the success they have achieved using your principles, there may be interest. Pitching something along the lines of 'how five people turned tragedy into success using Black Belt Leadership Techniques and where they are today' is better than something like 'my experiences helping Katrina victims and what I learned from it.'"

Read all the responses at http://publicityhound.net/index.php/katrina-first-anniversary-means-publicity-opportunity/


The Publicity Hound says: Authors, stop pitching your books. Most media people don't care about your books. Instead, find a compelling hook or an interesting angle. National Public Radio is often a gold mine of publicity opportunities for authors. The trick is finding the shows that are a perfect fit with your topic. Book publicist Lissa Warren has booked dozens of her author clients on NPR shows with fabulous results. She shares all her secrets, including the way to quickly find which NPR shows are the best fit for you, on the CD or electronic transcript called "How to Get Booked on National Public Radio." Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/ayms6


===================================
6. Help This Hound
===================================

Debra Blackmon of Bakersfield, California writes:

"This morning, a popular local radio host blasted the inclusion of Feng Shui workshops scheduled at our local community center this summer.

"The reason? Feng Shui is a religion and non-Christian and shouldn't be taught at the community forum. I'm the instructor of the workshop (and a Christian). I want to be ready for any fall-out that may arise out of this 'opportunity' and spin it in a positive way. Do any of your Hounds have tips for me?"

The Publicity Hound says: They sure do. In fact, many members of the Feng Shui Institute International subscribe to this ezine, and I know many of them will help you. So will other Hounds who are experts in crisis communications. Even though Debra submitted this question several weeks ago, I think this is still a wonderful opportunity to use controversy in her publicity campaign. Hounds with great ideas can post them to my blog at http://publicityhound.net/index.php/feng-shui-instructor-needs-ideas-on-how-to-use-controversy-for-publicity/

Crisis counselor Jonathan Bernstein says many people make 5 critical mistakes when faced with a crisis that involves their organization. He describes them all and shows you how to avoid them in the one-hour interview he conducted with me called "How to Keep the Media Wolves at Bay." He even shows you 3 ways reporters try to loosen your lips. It's available as a CD or 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/b8wcy

================================
7. Hound Joke of the Week
================================

Thanks to Publicity Hound Dennis Tooley, publisher of the Funny Bone newsletter at http://www.bigfatbellylaugh.com/ for this one:

Behind every cat that crosses the street, there is a dog saying, "Go ahead, you can make it."


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/

================================
8. And at My Blog...
================================

Publicity photos will look better if you follow these tips
http://publicityhound.net/index.php/publicity-photos-will-look-better-if-you-follow-these-tips/

Book marketing tip: Hand people your book
http://publicityhound.net/index.php/book-marketing-tip-hand-people-your-book/

---------------------------------------------------------------
Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

No public programs scheduled at this time.

***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.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may reprint any items from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week" in your own print or electronic newsletter. But please include the following paragraph:

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."

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends, clients and colleagues.
You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me you want to subscribe.

PRIVACY STATEMENT: The Publicity Hound® will never distribute your address to anyone.

Period.

Promise.

=======================================================
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

Publicity tips/Invite a TV celebrity July 4, 2006

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #300 - July 4, 2006
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.net (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 19,177

=====================================
"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"

Receive this ezine
direct to your desktop:
http://www.publicityhound.com/tipsoftheweek/
=====================================

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The PublicityHound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me you wantto subscribe. If you didn't subscribe, you can unsubscribe by clicking thelink at the bottom of the newsletter.

Please forward this ezine to anyone you know who needs free publicity toestablish their credibility, enhance their reputation, position themselvesas employers of choice, sell more products and services, or promote afavorite cause or issue.

****************************************
Teleseminar: How to Create an Online Press Kit the Media Will LOVE

The f*ree teleseminar I conducted last week with Drew Gerber, on how to create a great online media kit, was filled to capacity, and lots of you couldn't get onto the line. In fact, there were so many people that technical problems forced Drew and I to rerecord it, with just the two of us. And when we did, we included lots more tips than we did during last week's call. So if you were on the line last week, or if you couldn't get on, just click on this link and you can hear a full explanation of "How to Create an Online Press Kit the Media will Love":
http://www.audioacrobat.com/note/CG1XvYYQ/
***************************************
================================
In This Issue
================================

1. Invite a TV Celebrity

2. The 5 Types of Media People

3. Pitch Items That Make Great Gifts

4. An Example of Great Pitching

5. Promoting a Second Edition

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

==================================
1. Invite a TV Celebrity
==================================

Want a sneaky way to make sure at least one local TV station covers your special event?

Invite a TV celebrity like the anchor, on-air reporter, or the weather person, to be your keynote speaker, judge, or grand marshal.

That's what the folks in Hartland, a community near Milwaukee, did this week when they sponsored their annual Fourth of July parade a few days ago. I saw a 30-second clip of the parade on Channel 12, the local ABC station. Featured prominently in the clip was Lance Hill, one of their weather guys, sitting on the back of a convertible and waving Old Glory high above his head.

I can guarantee you that Channel 12 would never have covered that parade if one of their own celebrities hadn't been in it. Same with radio. You can call on deejays or other on-air personalities to participate in your event. The more exposure you give them, the more inclined they will be to cover it in the news. And deejays will probably be yacking about your event in the days leading up to it.

This little trick usually works only for broadcast outlets. So don't expect to get very far if you're inviting print media people to participate. That's because TV people view themselves more as entertainers. Print media people view themselves more as journalists.

That's what my friend Shawne Duperon, who's a TV reporter in Michigan, says. She also says that TV stations like to make a big deal out of getting involved in their local communities. And their participation at special events is one way to do that.

So how about inviting a media celebrity for your Labor Day event? Or your community festival this summer?

Shawne and I teamed up to present 103 great story ideas that you can pitch during the second half of this year. She offers her best ideas for broadcast media and I give you my best ideas for print. The one-hour recording of "103 Sizzling Story Ideas from July through December" is available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can download and be reading as soon as your order is approved. Both come with a complete list of all 103 story ideas, and we encourage you to steal them! Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/54y6f


==================================
2. The 5 Types of Media People
==================================

When I worked as a reporter, I viewed my job as that of a storyteller.

I got really excited when somebody pitched a story and led off by saying, "Joan, I have a heart-warming story to tell you about..."

It made my ears perk up. If I agreed to do the interview, I asked the kinds of questions that would lead to answers that I could use to tell a great story for my readers.

Many other journalists view themselves as storytellers, too. Here are other characteristics of the storyteller:

--They are generally very optimistic people who have a sense of wonder and faith in human nature.

--Sometimes they are anti-authoritarian and take the side of the underdog.

--They love doing profile pieces and features on people and their lives, so others can understand what makes them tick. For example, when I worked as an editor, one of my side jobs was a column called "Foodies" in which I interviewed people who had anything to do with food--from one of the judges in the cheese category at the Wisconsin State Fair to the grandma who delivered a hot-baked apple pie to anyone who moved into her neighborhood.

--They connect well with people, and when they hear a great story, they like to share one of their own.

--They love telling stories about how people overcame adversities. They love the "rags to riches" angle.

So if you're pitching a reporter who you know is a good storyteller, remember the tips above.

Media people fall into four other categories, and publicity expert Thomas Murrell lists them all in the article he wrote for the July/August issue of The Publicity Hound subscription newsletter. The issue also includes articles on how the U.S. Bowling Congress got more than $2.5 million in free publicity, 5 simple "rules of the road" for PR, how to get free tips on healthcare crisis communications, where to find new ethics guidelines for business writers, a new Canadian decorating magazine that will debut later this year, what to do when Hispanic media call, how Florida nonprofits profit from PR interns, publicity stunts that P.T. Barnum would love, a terrific DVD for anyone who does media training, advice on how to get into Consumer Reports, and July/August story ideas.

All for $10. Order at http://tinyurl.com/zampu


==================================
3. Pitch Items That Make Great Gifts
==================================

While many of you who live in the Northern Hemisphere are sweating it out, Christmas gift story ideas are probably the last thing on your minds.

But right now, editors of many big magazines are sitting in their air-conditioned offices planning special holiday gift guides for the end of the year. Some of them have very long lead times, so they need information right now.

You can pitch them the hard way, by guessing which media outlets feature special content just for the holidays. Or you can subscribe to the Gift List, a handy subscription service that tells you exactly which newspapers, magazines, wire services and even TV and radio stations are looking for press releases and photos about products and services that would make great holiday gifts.
If your product or service is for people in a specific niche, that's OK. Many niche publications, like one for hunters and fishermen, for example, have holiday gift sections or special features.

And they need information right now to feature in their holiday gift guides.

The Gift List gathers its information by speaking directly to each media outlet to get detailed data you can't find anywhere else: story themes, product features, deadlines, submission preferences, photography requirements, cross references, and more.

You'll hit the ground running without missing deadlines or wasting precious staff time getting there. Get hundreds of contacts for U.S. and Canadian magazines, newspapers, television, newswires and radio, as well as the Internet.

Not sure if you want to subscribe? Take a test run at http://tinyurl.com/9es8y


===============================
4. An Example of Great Pitching
===============================

Remember last week's media lead from radio host Jacey Eckhart, who was looking for guests to interview on "The Jacey Eckhart Show" on KCBQ-AM 1170 in San Diego? She needs experts who can offer free advice to people in the military, and many of you responded.

Jacey emailed me to say the response was overwhelming. And that I'd be proud of the Hounds who responded:

"Just wanted to send you a thanks and an update. I've received a lot of info from your Hounds for my upcoming military family radio show on KCBQ 1170 in San Diego. Most of the replies were quick, to the point, led me to well-organized websites, etc.

"I can only use a few, but I felt like I had a banquet before me. Thanks for that! This morning, I booked Leigh Olsen of Velvet Plum in Washington State. She runs a home staging business, which is something I think of as a visual presentation. I didn't think it would be good for radio. But she wrote a paragraph about how to make a space that doesn't belong to you a place you can call home. That was the zing for me.

"She understood a slice of military life that will make a difference to my listeners. When I called her on the phone to talk more about it, she gave a great quote. I'm looking forward to having her (and the other Hounds) on the show.

"Thanks again for such a great service."

The Publicity Hound says:

Way to go Hounds! By the way, when you pitch a radio talk show host and they call you on the phone for a short chat, they're not talking to you just to while away the time. They are actually doing what is called a "pre-interview" to find out if you can offer great sound bites and if you'd be a compelling guest. The longer the pre-interview, the better the chance they'll book you.

That's why you must have great sound bites ready to be delivered in a moment's notice, even when you're in the middle of washing the dog.

Alex Carroll, a veteran guest on hundreds of radio talk shows, says the pre-interview is one of several dozen things you must do if you want to get onto the really big shows. He outlined them all during a teleseminar we conducted called "How to Get Booked on Big Radio Shows in the Top 20 Markets." It's available as a CD, and it will dispel some of the myths you might have about how to get onto these shows. Learn more about it at http://tinyurl.com/asgyx


==================================
5. Promoting a Second Edition
==================================

This week, three Publicity Hounds have ideas for Rob Grede of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on how to publicize the second edition of his book "Naked Marketing: The Bare Essentials."

From Gail Sideman: "Updates in the second edition would make great 'then and now' news for marketing and publicity trade publications. Plus, producers/reporters/editors like sequels to success stories almost as much as sequels to doom/gloom. Grede can further segment his pitches to specific industries and present those updates as 'great new and effective ways to market' whatever-the-subject."

From Lois Carter Fay: "The first thing you should do is make a list of everything you updated in the second edition. Reiterate what you included before, too. For instance, say something like 'with 15 new resources, and a quicker, easier way to keep track of your marketing results.' Take a look at Joan’s web page on her Kick-Butt ebook: http://snipurl.com/so2b. You’ll see what you should be doing. Make yourself a web page to promote the book; it should include everything you discuss in the book (benefit driven).

"Then take that list and create your news release or pitch letter. All the new resources and ideas will give you something new to talk about with the same media you spoke to before."

From The Publicity Hound:

"In your pitch for the second edition, tell the media you will also discuss 'The Top 3 Marketing Campaigns That are Creating the Biggest Buzz' but don’t mention what they are. The tease might encourage them to call you for an interview. And your top 3 choices can change from month to month, depending on what kinds of marketing campaigns are under way."
Read all the responses athttp://publicityhound.net/index.php/how-to-promote-a-books-second-edition/

Book publicist Lissa Warren says you can publicize books that are 10, 20 or even 30 years old by tying the topic to a current event. She offered dozens of other tips she has used in her own campaigns during the teleseminar we conducted called "How to Revive a Dying Book Marketing Campaign." It's available as a CD or an electronic transcript you can be reading within minutes. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/67bhu


===================================
6. Help This Hound
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Tom Warneka of Cleveland, Ohio writes:

"I spent two weeks in southern Mississippi last fall as a mental health worker with the Red Cross. We're quickly coming up on the first anniversary on August 29 of Hurricane Katrina.

"As a way of promoting my book 'Leading People the Black Belt Way: Conquering the Five Core Problems Facing Leaders Today,' I want to make myself available to the media to discuss the effects of Katrina, one year later.

"I'm a beginning Hound, so I'm wondering what the other Hounds think the best way might be to get the most media exposure. Should I write up a 'special report' for my website? Or something else? I'd appreciate any ideas. You can learn more about the book at http://www.blackbeltconsultants.com/pages/products.htm "

The Publicity Hound says: The media will be all over the first-anniversary Katrina story, but I think you need a really compelling pitch to get them to book you. And my Hounds will deliver it. Hounds with great ideas on how Tim can generate publicity can post them to my blog at http://publicityhound.net/index.php/katrina-first-anniversary-means-publicity-opportunity/

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7. Hound Joke of the Week
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Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes.


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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Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

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.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may reprint any items from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week" in your own print or electronic newsletter. But please include the following paragraph:

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."

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends, clients and colleagues.
You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me you want to subscribe.

PRIVACY STATEMENT: The Publicity Hound® will never distribute your address to anyone.
Period. Promise.

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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