Publicity tips/'Your Usual, Mr. Smith?' February 27, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #334 - Feb. 27, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.net (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 29,372
=====================================

"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 ThePublicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me that 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. 'Your Usual, Mr. Smith?'

2. Elevator Pitching on the Slopes

3. Gift Guide Show

4. Media & Publicity Leads

5. Promoting a Food Pantry

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week


==================================
1. 'Your Usual, Mr. Smith?'
==================================

If you're a business, nonprofit or government agency that's using new computer software, taking a survey, hiring secret shoppers,or interviewing focus groups to try to get closer to your clients and customers, you have fodder for great publicity.

Ditto if you provide any of these products or services.

Brennan's, a gourmet restaurant in Houston, Texas, uses a software program to collect and record lots of little details about each customer's preferences--from the type of cocktail they order to whether they're dieting and prefer their Hollandaise sauce on the side.

A server can check the computer before waiting on Mr. and Mrs.Smith. Then instead of asking "Would you like a cocktail?", the server asks, "Your usual, Mr. Smith?"

Or the wait staff might greet the couple with a cheery "Happy anniversary." Or, if the Smiths prefer cabernet wine, their automated profile might result in the restaurant sending them a direct-mail piece about a special dining event featuring cabernets.

GuestBridge, a small Milwaukee technologies information firm that targets the restaurant business, sells the software. A large feature article and photo appeared on the front page of yesterday's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel business section. You can read it at http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=569671

If you're pitching a story like this one, be willing to talk about your competition and how what you're doing helps set you apart in the marketplace. During the interview, GuestBridge's owners referred to a competing firm that provides similar software as the "800-pound gorilla." In fact, reporters love asking questions about your competition, so be ready with a good answer.

What marketing strategy, tool or technique are you using to build your customer base, or give customers an unforgettable experience?

If you're in a food-related business or industry, "Publicity Tips for Restaurants, Chefs & Foodies" gives you 51 great story ideas you can steal and start pitching to the media today. The CD comes with a handout of all 51 tips. You can download it and be reading it as soon as your order has been approved. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/clr26


==================================
2. Elevator Pitching on the Slopes
==================================

Sometimes all it takes is a clever little twist on a simple idea to bring publicity to your doorstep.

Take, for example, the typical networking event. You come to a luncheon with a pocketful of business cards, then spend time meeting other business people with whom you might strike up a relationship. If I were a reporter, I'd take a pass on covering that kind of event. Too boring.

But what if, instead of a restaurant, you can meet other business people on the ski slopes?

That's what happens each year during Peak Pitch, an event that gives entrepreneurs and investors a chance to network on the slopes. And it's been so successful that Borealis Ventures, which created it, is now partnering with four other venture funds and expanding Peak Pitch 2007 to five ski resort locations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.

At Peak Pitch, a shared chair lift gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business plans to a variety of venture capitalists, angel investors and other experienced startup advisors as they ride up a mountain on a high-speed chair lift.

The entrepreneurs wear blue. The venture capitalists wear green. Last year, Peak Pitch attracted over 200 entrepreneurs and investors to the series.

Phil Ferneau of Borealis Ventures says Peak Pitch "emphasizes entrepreneurial passion, not PowerPoint" and helps entrepreneurs connect one-on-one with investors and mentors.

The event, he says, offers focused networking, informed feedback and plenty of fresh air.

Isn't that a fun idea?

The event generates lots of publicity and has the potential for numerous follow-up stories. You can learn more about it at http://www.peakpitch.com/press.html

Thanks to Publicity Hound Donna Dufault for letting me know about this.

What routine event do you sponsor? And how can you tweak it so participants and the media flock to the event?

Deb Schmidt, one of the most creative event planners I know, teamed up with me to create a step-by-step guide called "How to Plan & Promote Sizzling Special Events." It's available as a set of 7 CDs, or an electronic transcript. Each gives you hundreds of ideas on how to turn routine events into unforgettable experiences for participants and the media.

Read more about what you'll learn, and download three of the 15 checklists in this guide, at http://publicityhound.com/publicity/promote.html


==================================
3. Gift Guide Show
==================================

If you sell consumer products in one of seven areas, you can meet journalists who want to know about your products by attending the Holiday Gift Guide Show June 13 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. It's sponsored by Stark & Associates.

The show will feature 50 non-competing exhibitors in the health, home, beauty, fashion, men's, women's, children's and electronic product categories. Categories will be filled as exhibitors sign up on a first come, first-served basis.

Event organizers are inviting top-tier media outlets like Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, InStyle, Parenting Magazine, Men's Journal, the New York Times and O, the Oprah Magazine. A complete list of all media that will be attending will be available after May l. Learn more at http://www.GiftGuideShow.com


In the meantime, regardless of whether you're attending the show, you should be pitching media outlets like these that are looking for products to feature in special sections that will be published just before Mother's Day, Father's Day and graduation ceremonies for high schools and colleges. Editors of these sections want press releases and photos about perfect gifts for moms, dads and grads.

If your product or service is a candidate for one of these sections, save yourself days of tedious research. Subscribe to the Gift Guide for Holidays, a service that will provide more than 1,000 contacts for newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations, wire services and other consumer media that are looking for products. You can take a test drive at http://snipurl.com/GiftListMedia


=================================
4. Media and Publicity Leads
=================================

--Author Paul Thornton is doing research for a book that focuses on the types of quotes, pictures and things people put on their office wall or desk that represent one of their guiding principles or values. If you'd like to contribute, tell him what's on your desk or wall. Mailto:PThornton@stcc.edu I've already responded. You should, too, because it's a great chance to promote your business. (A plaque on the wall of my office reads: "A certain amount of fleas is good for a dog.")

--Robert Smith is looking for small business owners with revenues of more than $500,000 a year for an article he's writing for American Chronicle, an online magazine for national, international, state, local, entertainment, sports and government news. He needs seven entrepreneurs to profile. You must be in business for at least two years. If you participate, you'll receive a copy of the article. His deadline is March 9. The website is at http://www.americanchronicle.com/ Email him at mailto:kcm@ureach.com


What? You say you can't respond to Robert's query because your revenues haven't yet reached $500,000? Don't fret. Alexandria Brown, one of the best Internet marketers on the planet, is selling her "Blueprint in a Box" that gives step-by-step instructions on how she makes more than $1 million a year using the Internet, a list of people who let her market to them, and information products she has created. This is for authors, speakers and entrepreneurs only. She's selling 147 blueprints,then closing the sale. When I read the fabulous testimonials from clients who swear her system works, my eyes just about popped out of my head. Yours will, too. Learn more at http://snipurl.com/PublishanEzine


====================================
5. Promoting a Food Pantry
====================================

This week, eight Publicity Hounds have tips for Cheryl Beck Pickett of Detroit, Michigan. She wants ideas on how to promote the Samaritan House, which gives food and other pantry items to needy families. She's having trouble getting information printed regularly in one of the local weekly newspapers.

From Natalie Nathan:

"In my town, the public library forgives late fees for donations to the local food pantry. The library publishes a monthly newsletter and information about the food pantry, and the organization sponsoring the food pantry is always featured during the 'fee forgiveness' period. Also, many churches have newsletters, and supporting your group would be fitting with their mission. Church members might also be associated with other publications which could help you."


From Shel Horowitz:

"Make the newspaper a partner in your success by enlisting it as a non-monetary 'sponsor' of your next event. Try the recalcitrant editor first. But if you fail there, go to the advertising department.

"The newspaper provides publicity and gets to hang its banner at the event, get publicly thanked, etc. You provide goodwill for the paper within the community. Present this not as helping you but as being in the newspaper’s interest."


From Linda Conn:

"Why don’t all the charities form one organization for publicity and exposure in these papers, then court them as one organization, not many? Offer them a column, for example, that will rotate stories fairly among the charities. Approach this as alliances, not competitors. Make it easy for the papers to say yes.


The Publicity Hound says: Paul Hartunian, a master at generating publicity for nonprofits, shows how to do big-time promotion on an almost nonexistent budget. "Failproof Publicity Tips for YourNonprofit" is available as a CD or electronic transcript. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/29dba


Read all the responses at http://tinyurl.com/3xu6an


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

Carrollyn Cox of Virginia Beach writes:

"I need help with distribution of video/TV public service announcements I just produced for Optimist International (at very little cost, I might add).

"I know how to personally approach local media, the public access channels and the local cable company. But we need an inexpensive way to distribute continent-wide. Is there such an animal? Do any of your Hounds know how to do this?"


The Publicity Hound says: Many Hounds who read this newsletter create and distribute PSAs, and I know they'll come through with clever ideas for you, Carrollyn. Hounds with tips to share can post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/3b744b


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

"They have dog food for constipated dogs. If your dog is constipated, why screw up a good thing? Stay indoors and let 'embloat!"

--David Letterman

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/


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

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®


March 8, 2007: PR University's Bulldog Reporter Teleconference

"PR Writing--Top PR Wordsmiths Analyze Proven Press Releases to Reveal Best Practices for Writing Compelling Copy That Reaches Millions," 1 p.m. Eastern. Want to improve your press releases and boost media pick-up fast? I'm part of a panel of wordsmiths that will deconstruct some of the year’s best releases and personally hand you the keys to duplicating their successes. Register at http://tinyurl.com/2cf7aq


March 17, 2007: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Savvy Media Relations: How to Get Free Print, Broadcast and Online Publicity." 8 a.m. to noon. Register at http://www.nsapittsburgh.com/


May 12, 2007: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Florida Speakers Association: "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Consumers, Not Only for Journalists." 9a.m. to noon. "Sleeping with the Competition: How to Collaborate with Other Speakers to Create Profitable Products and Programs."2 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 561-630-7766 or visit http://www.florida-speakers.org/


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

Reprinted from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," an ezine featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity. Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email the handy list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends, clients and colleagues.

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at ThePublicity 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/Feed a CPA February 20, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #334 - Feb. 20, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog) The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 29,156

=====================================
"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 that 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. Feed a CPA

2. Midwest Airlines' New Magazine

3. Valentine's Day Quiz

4. Media and Publicity Leads

5. Promoting a Commercial Printer

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

==================================
1. Feed a CPA
==================================

Here's a fun, timely publicity idea that just about anybody can steal.

It's called "Feed a CPA," and I heard about it from Seth Hodes, marketing director for Hodes, Ulman, Pessin & Katz, a Baltimore law firm.

On March 1, a local caterer hired by the firm will deliver delicious gourmet lunches wrapped in a beautiful silver bag, complete with fresh flowers, to three random CPA firms throughout Baltimore, Harford and Howard counties, all in Maryland.

"CPAs are one of our great allies," Seth said. "And since they barely come up to breathe this time of the year, we wanted to do something fun to thank them, while creating some goodwill between our firms."

He wrote a three-paragraph press release, posted it at their website at http://www.hupk.com/news.asp?opt=1&id=244 and sent it to a targeted list of 200 media outlets. The story already has appeared in The Daily Record in Maryland, at an accounting blog, and in the AICPA Newsletter which goes to 350,000 CPAs.

The Publicity Hound loves this brilliant promotion for many reasons:

--It's the local angle to the national story of preparing income tax returns.

--Notice the CPA firms are in three counties, which means more newspapers and TV stations will likely cover the story. (The law firm also has offices in those three counties, by the way.)

--CPAs are a gatekeeper industry for law firms. "Being a law firm, we cover the legality of all the financial stuff the CPAs do, so we get a lot of great referrals," Seth said. "We wanted a promotion that was more than just ringing our bell or pushing our wares."

--Each year, three different CPA firms will be chosen. That means more publicity, more goodwill, and more valuable referrals for the lawyers.

--This story has all the elements TV news crews want: people, color and motion. Can't you just picture the harried CPAs surrounded by stacks of papers, a bouquet of fresh flowers and all that tempting gourmet food?

Smart Publicity Hounds can take this idea and give it their own spin. How about "Feed a Santa" at Christmas? Or "Feed a Landscaper" during the spring? Or "Feed a Florist" on Valentine's Day?

Create your pitch, make it enticing, then set aside lots of time for all those media interviews. And don't forget the bloggers who love newsy tidbits like these. "How to Pitch the Best Bloggers & Create a Publicity Explosion" shows you how to save time by finding the influential bloggers, getting in front of them without being pushy, and convincing them to blog about you.

Learn more about this CD or electronic transcript that I created with Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff (aka The Blog Squad) at http://tinyurl.com/m7ymr

==================================
2. Midwest Airlines' New Magazine
==================================

Midwest Airlines is redoing and expanding its inflight magazine, and the new version will debut March 1.

You can read more about it at http://tinyurl.com/28kjj4

If your product, service, cause, issue or destination would be perfect reading for passengers in the cities served by Midwest, get your hands on the first issue and read it cover to cover.

Pay particular attention to new departments and features, freelancers who write for the magazine, columns written by the editor or other staff members, and any mention of trends or topics they'll be covering.

Pitching inflight magazines like this one can really boost your exposure because of the high pass-along rate.

But many of these magazines are very picky about the type of information they publish. Some magazines want to know about your new book, but only if it's about business topics. Others don't publish any information about books. Some of them welcome stand- alone photos to accompany, for example, a calendar listing for an upcoming event. Others don't want photos of any kind.

So unless you know who wants what, you'll be wasting your time.

"Special Report #29: Fly High with Publicity in the Inflight Magazines" includes valuable pitching tips plus contact information for 42 in-flight magazines." It took us more than two weeks to compile the original list, and several more hours to update all the information in this report in August 2006.

Learn more about the report at http://tinyurl.com/2ahgqy


==================================
3. Valentine's Day Quiz
==================================

Congratulations to Kristin Scully, owner of Nest by Swanky, an online maternity clothing shop at http://www.nestbyswanky.com/ She had the correct answers to all 10 questions in last week's Valentine's Day Quiz. Her name was chosen at random from the nine winners, and she'll receive $100 so she can treat herself to a massage, a night on the town, or whatever pampering she needs.

Here are the answers to last week's quiz:

--Marilyn Monroe was rumored to have bathed in 350 bottles of champagne.

--There are approximately 49 million bubbles in a bottle of champagne.

--In certain parts of Italy, basil is worn by male suitors to signal the serious of their intentions.

--Aphrodite is the Greek Goddess of love and beauty.

--Aphrodite sprung forth from the sea foam on an oyster shell

--Cassanova ate 50 oysters every day.

--Attila the Hun drank himself to death with honey.

--The pine nut has been deemed the kernel of love.

--Josephine Baker ate lobster while reclining, sans clothing, in her Paris dressing room.

--Montezuma drank 50 goblets of chocolate to please his harem of women.

Other Hounds who correctly answered all the questions include Heidi Peters, Jocelyn Murray, Kate Eastman, Dora Crow, Leon Scott Baxter Lewandowski, Cory Peters, Donna Turello and Shelly Cohen.

What fun quiz can you create about your product, service, cause or issue? If you can stuff relevant keywords into your quiz, then post the quiz online in the form of a press release, you can pull all kinds of traffic to your website or blog. Learn more about "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Buyers, Not Only Journalists" at target="_blank"http://tinyurl.com/ndwfo

Then subscribe to Expertclick, a press release distribution service that lets you distribute up to 52 press releases a year.

This is the service I use. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/f5evn


=================================
4. Media and Publicity Leads
=================================

--Blogger Laura Posey, who offers advice for small-business owners, is looking for experts to interview during telephone seminars she hosts. You can read more about it at her blog at http://tinyurl.com/ys6ttb and email her using the link you see under her photo.

--Lori LeRoy is writing a humor book on getting pregnant. She's looking for unusual but funny true stories and embarrassing anecdotes. Examples: someone who took one month to conceive or years of artificial reproductive technology methods. "I'm especially looking for stories from the male perspective.

Physician or psychologists anecdotes are welcome, too. Topics can include traditional or non-traditional ways to get pregnant such as Feng Shui; raging hormones; oddities of fertility treatment and extraordinary means, etc. Mailto:infyrtilemyrtle@gmail.com?subject=FodderforYourBook

====================================
5. Promoting a Commercial Printer
====================================

This week, five Publicity Hounds have tips for Chris Kelley of Emigrant, Montana. She wants to know how to publicize her client company PrintingforLess.com, the world’s largest commercial online printer.


From Garth Gibson:

"Oprah is building a whole school district for girls in South Africa. Are you giving her school supplies to help her see her dream come true?"


From Jaya Schillinger:

"I'm already a Printing for Less customer, and since I'm a business coach, I send my clients to you as well. If there was an area where you could expand that, and garner my loyalty for life, then it would be expanding your 'green' options and publicizing them. I'm now a certified green business, and was just about to break up with you (sniff, boo-hoo) because I need to go with a recycled paper & soy-based ink printer. What I learned after 6 hours of research, is that I can get greener options than PrintingforLess, but their websites are lame, which makes me nervous. When I emailed my PFL team to say I was sad to go, they said you do have green options, they're just not online. So it’s possible, but I've got to work harder to get them. (Bummer, I don't want to work harder. I like ordering online.)


From Carolyn:

"As head of the Beanery Writers Group, I deal with persons who want to self-publish. This is a popular idea today, for better or worse--and I do believe competition will separate the so-called sheep from the goats. For example, our group is unique in that it has a blog, http://www.ProBlogs.com/beanerywriters, which is the top site at ProBlogs.com, receiving 125 hits (and increasing) daily. I believe we've reached this lead because we emphasize GOOD writing, regardless of the genre. We are not the only writers group with self-published members. Perhaps this is a direction for you to investigate."


The Publicity Hound says:

Jeff Zbar, the Small Business Administration's 2001 Journalist of the Year, has lots more ideas on how small businesses can generate publicity. He explains them all during the interview I conducted with him called "The Fastest, Cheapest, Easiest Ways to Publicize Your Small Business--Even if You're a Solo Entrepreneur." It's available as a CD or an electronic transcript you can be reading as soon as your order has been approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/3tbbp

Read all the responses at http://tinyurl.com/3dcxxc


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

Cheryl Beck Pickett of Detroit, Michigan writes:

"Samaritan House provides food and other pantry items for families in need and has been around for about 13 years. They serve a handful of small towns within our county which have populations of 3,000 to 5,000 people each. Their primary support and donations come from local churches.

"There are two free weeklies, which are typical small-town papers, one countywide daily and then the Detroit News/Free Press as far as available press opportunities.

"My friend mentioned recently that they have trouble getting any coverage at all from the primary weekly. They are mostly trying to promote fundraisers/special events and most of their response would come from readers of these weeklies.

"Resistance is from the editor’s desk as one of the reporters/associate editors already tries her best to get stories in for them. One of my thoughts is that there is a mentality of 'if we do it for one, we have to do it for all of them' and of course there are lots of charities.

"As a puppy Publicity Hound, I'm stumped. Any advice for getting this editor to budge, as well as other avenues they could pursue instead, would be appreciated." You can learn more about Samaritan House at http://samaritanhousemichigan.org/


The Publicity Hound says: Cheryl, this problem is a perfect example of why newspapers are becoming increasingly irrelevant.

If people can't rely on their local free shoppers and daily and weekly newspapers to cover, or at least mention, these kinds of grassroots local events, then they will look elsewhere for their news. But enough pontificating. Many of my Hounds face this same problem and have found creative ways around it. Hounds with suggestions on how to work with a stubborn editor and promote the Samaritan House can post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/3xu6an


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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Max Weiman for this one.

A dog walks into a bar, jumps up on the stool and says to the bartender, "Hey, it's my birthday today. How about a free drink?"

The bartender turns, looks at the dog and nods his head, "Sure pal. Toilet's right down the hall."


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...
================================

Advertising Age editor offers pitching tips
http://tinyurl.com/386u2n


Employment lawyer blogs about NBC hit 'The Office'
http://tinyurl.com/2vuhrt


Press release tips from a Tennessee city editor
http://tinyurl.com/2p6yt9
---------------------------------------------------------------

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

March 8, 2007: PR University's Bulldog Reporter Teleconference

"PR Writing--Top PR Wordsmiths Analyze Proven Press Releases to Reveal Best Practices for Writing Compelling Copy That Reaches Millions," 1 p.m. Eastern. Want to improve your press releases and boost media pick-up fast? I'm part of a panel of wordsmiths that will deconstruct some of the year’s best releases and personally hand you the keys to duplicating their successes.
Register at http://tinyurl.com/2cf7aq


March 17, 2007: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Savvy Media Relations: How to Get Free Print, Broadcast and Online Publicity." 8 a.m. to noon. Register at http://www.nsapittsburgh.com/


May 12, 2007: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Florida Speakers Association: "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Consumers, Not Only for Journalists." 9 a. m. to noon. "Sleeping with the Competition: How to Collaborate with Other Speakers to Create Profitable Products and Programs." 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 561-630-7766 or visit http://www.florida-speakers.org


PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may reprint any items from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week" in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include the following paragraph:
Reprinted from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," an ezine featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity. Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email the handy list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends, clients and colleagues.

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/Valentine's Day Quiz February 13, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #333 - Feb. 13, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 28,665

=====================================
"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 that 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.

*****************************************
A Note to My Hounds:

--I'm out of the office this week. If you have a pressing question, I won't answer it until I return on Feb. 19, so thanks for your patience.

--I still need to hear from anyone who has used MySpace or YouTube to generate publicity or sell their products and services. Your success story might be part of a special information product on this topic, as well as articles that will appear online and offline. Please include details on the specific media outlets that found you on MySpace or YouTube, or details on how you've used either website to generate more business for your company, nonprofit or government agency. I want to hear only from people who generated publicity or p~rofits from either website.
Please be specific and name the media outlets that covered you.

Email MySpace success stories to Mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=MySpaceSuccess

Email YouTube success stories to Mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=YouTubeSuccess
*****************************************
================================
In This Issue
================================

1. Valentine's Day Quiz

2. 'American Idol' Angles

3. Write Book Reviews

4. Research Keywords

5. Promote an Automotive Association

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

==================================
1. Valentine's Day Quiz
==================================

Quizzes are a fun way to generate publicity and involve people in your topic. That's why the media love quizzes.

To prove how much fun they can be, I'm offering a challenging Valentine's Day quiz. I took it recently while attending a cooking class on how to whip up a romantic dinner. The instructor used it to keep us busy during the times when she was stirring the risotto or the hollandaise sauce.

If you win, you get $100 to do with as you please. Treat yourself to a spa day. Or indulge in chocolates. Or enjoy a night on the town, courtesy of The Publicity Hound.

Here are three sample questions:

--Who was the famous actress who was rumored to have bathed in 350 bottles of champagne?

--Approximately, how many bubbles are there in a bottle of champagne?

--Who drank 50 goblets of chocolate to please his harem of women?

The correct answers will be the ones my cooking instructor provided. So please don't quibble about exactly how many bubbles are in a bottle of champagne. Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14, Valentine's Day.

Take the quiz at http://tinyurl.com/2saj85

The winner will be announced in next week's newsletter. In case of a tie, I'll draw the winning entry from a hat.

Now that you know how much fun quizzes can be, I want you to start creating them. They are among the nine types of briefs the media love, and a great way to get into national magazines. Learn more about "Briefs, Fillers & Quizzes: How to Create Them & Why Editors Love Them." It's available as a CD or electronic transcipt that you can download and be reading as soon as your order is approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/d74h7


==================================
2. 'American Idol' Angles
==================================

"American Idol" is still at the top of the TV ratings and shows no signs of dropping.

That means smart Publicity Hounds will find ways to piggyback their topic onto this show. When the show debuted, publicist Pam Lontos of PR/PR created a pitch for her client, a telecommunications expert.

"In the pitch, we talked about how 'American Idol' was using telephone technology so the viewers could vote by phone," Pam said. "The real hook behind the story was about the fairness of voting by phone because the lines would often be tied up."

Because it was such a timely topic, a USA Today reporter called the client and used him as a source in a Lifestyle cover story about "American Idol" and voting by phone. By tying the client's expertise to a hot TV show, Pam developed a great hook and created fabulous publicity. (You can sign up for her publicity ezine at http://www.prpr.net/ and get more publicity ideas once a month.)

Music publicity expert Bob Baker generated national publicity a few years ago when he distributed a press release explaining how "American Idol" is doing a great disservice to aspiring musicians and the public at large by distorting perceptions of how the music business really works. The show, he explained, sends an outdated message of "dependence" on the industry vs. the more realistic "independence" that artists have today to control their own careers.

Many of you can probably come up with all kinds of other angles that tie into your topic.

But you don't have to piggyback only onto "American Idol." If you can, tie your idea to famous celebrities. I know cosmetic surgeons who regularly dispense "advice for the stars." And image consultants who critique the best and worst of the red carpet events. And relationship experts who are quick to piggyback onto celebrity divorces.

Special Report #50 shows you "How to Piggyback onto Celebrity News to Promote Your Product, Service, Cause or Issue." Order at http://tinyurl.com/3sa3j


==================================
3. Write Book Reviews
==================================

Publicity Hounds who want to create a huge presence online should be writing book reviews and posting them at places like Amazon.com and EzineArticles.com, the giant online articles directory.

Christopher Knight, who owns EzineArticles.com, says that last month, articles in the Book Reviews category received seven times the amount of traffic per article than articles in the main category of Shopping & Product Reviews, and two times more traffic than the average of all articles in the same main category.

He offers a list of helpful tips on how to write book reviews at his blog at http://tinyurl.com/yvmrcb

Why are book reviews so powerful? For several reasons.

People who buy books read reviews to determine whether they should spend time and money on certain titles. Also, if your review includes relevant keywords, the search engines will find them. That means people who don't know you will find your review and, if they like what they read, they might end up at your website.

Don Mitchell and Randy Gilbert have turned Amazon.com into a veritable goldmine of leads by writing book reviews and posting all kinds of other information there.

"How to Make Amazon a River of Gold (for Authors, Speakers and Consultants)" explains their step-by-step process, and you can follow in their footsteps, even if you aren't a published author.

It's available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can download and be reading as soon as your order has been approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/7u76e

=================================
4. Research Keywords
=================================

Every smart Publicity Hound should be paying attention to keywords--in your press releases, in copy at your website, in Google pay-per-click ads and in articles you're posting to online article directories.

Many of you have used Overture's f~ree Keyword Suggestion Tool.

And it used to be a terrific little way to do some quick keyword research in a hurry. But the tool no longer works.

Amateurs guess at which keywords customers are using to find them. But true professionals know. That's why I recommend a subscription to Wordtracker, one of the very best keyword programs.

Andy and Mike Mindel created Wordtracker in 1999 to answer a fundamental question in the search engine industry:


"What are people searching for on the Web?"

Wordtracker helps press release writers, website owners and search engine marketers identify keywords and phrases that are relevant to their or their client's business and most likely to be used as queries by search engine visitors.

Marketers can also determine how many competing sites are using those keywords, and they can identify the phrases that have the greatest traffic potential.

Take a test-drive at http://tinyurl.com/3697mp


====================================
5. Promote an Automotive Association
====================================

This week, seven Publicity Hounds have tips for Marcus Simmons of Southfield, Michigan. He wanted ideas on how to promote the Motown Automotive Professionals, a start-up nonprofit that offers no-cost automotive vocational training for socially and economically deprived youths.

From Susan Yancy:

"Most housing authorities have employment initiative programs to help people on subsidized housing improve their economic futures. You might consider partnering with the local housing authority to provide this training to their residents."


From Peg Kelley:

"One of the difficulties facing small automotive shops as dealers take over more and more of the services for post-sale cars is finding competent and reliable mechanics/technicians. You might create an opportunity for these smaller shops to sponsor students or contribute to scholarships that will allow them to have first interview rights upon graduation."


From Garth Gibson:

"The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy in Washington came out with the top 12 Green Cars. You can piggyback onto this news by creating the First Green Mechanics!

"Green Mechanics: Specially trained on car waste disposal procedures and prevention that best protect the environment.

--Wear mechanics clothing designed as earth-friendly

--Use tools made from earth-friendly products

--Trained to make Green Cars run even better

"Partner with Green Car dealers seems like a win/win for publicity."


The Publicity Hound says: Pitch a story about what you’re doing to Crain's Detroit Business. The hook? The labor shortage, of course. Explain how the local auto industry will benefit from your trained mechanics. You can also offer a "tip sheet" to the media titled "8 tips for hiring a top-notch auto mechanic."

See "How to Use Business Journals to Tell Your Story," in which Paul Furiga teams up with me to share our best secrets on how to get into your local business journal or a business magazine.

We're both former business journal editors, so tap into our brains. Read more about what you'll learn from this CD or electronic transcript at http://tinyurl.com/q4rf7

Read all the responses at http://tinyurl.com/2htmxa


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

Chris Kelley of Emigrant, Montana writes:

"I’m a publicist, and Andrew Field, the founder and CEO of PrintingforLess.com, the world’s largest commercial online printer, is one of my clients.

"More than 50,000 customers nationwide--mostly small- and mid- sized businesses--annually visit our website at http://www.prinintingforless.com/ for affordable, full-color marketing materials such as business cards, brochures, postcards, newsletters, letterhead and so on.

"Andrew now wants to become the first national brand name in the printing industry. He was runner-up in the national Best Bosses of the Year contest and has generated substantial publicity, including stories in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. All this has helped, but he wants the Printingforless.com name to be to the printing industry what Kinko’s is to the copying industry.

"Can your Hounds help?"


The Publicity Hound says: They sure can, Chris. They'll be able to give you lots of ideas to promote the business, as well as provide tips on how to recycle the publicity you've already generated. C'mon, Hounds. Help Chris make the client happy. Post your best ideas to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/3dcxxc


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

My dog chewed the tongue on one of my new, very expensive running shoes.

I hoped to save my investment, so I took the shoes to a shoe repair shop. I placed them on the counter and told the man, "My dog got hold of this."

The repairman picked up the shoe, looked it over, and placed it back down on the counter.
"Well, what do you recommend?" I asked.

He looked at me and replied, "Give your dog the other shoe."


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/
---------------------------------------------------------------

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

March 8, 2007: PR University's Bulldog Reporter Teleconference

"PR Writing--Top PR Wordsmiths Analyze Proven Press Releases to Reveal Best Practices for Writing Compelling Copy That Reaches Millions," 1 p.m. Eastern. Want to improve your press releases and boost media pickup fast? I'm part of a panel of wordsmiths that will deconstruct some of the year’s best releases and personally hand you the keys to duplicating their successes. Details pending.


March 17, 2007: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Savvy Media Relations: How to Get Free Print, Broadcast and Online Publicity." 8 a.m. to noon. Learn more at http://www.nsapittsburgh.com/calendar.htm


May 12, 2007: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Florida Speakers Association: "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Consumers, Not Only for Journalists." 9 a. m. to noon. "Sleeping with the Competition: How to Collaborate with Other Speakers to Create Profitable Products and Programs."
2 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 561-630-7766 or visit http://www.florida-speakers.org


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

Reprinted from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," an ezine featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity. Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email the handy list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends, clients and colleagues.

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/Heart-shaped Valentines February 6, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week Issue
#332 - Feb. 6, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.net
(Blog) The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 28,665

=====================================
"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 that 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.

*******************************************
Spank The Hound and Make Me Cry:

Yesterday was my birthday, and the smoke still hasn't cleared from the 55 candles I blew out. There's an old tradition that says the birthday person should get a birthday spanking--one light pat on the behind for every year. But at 55, I'll be doggone if I'll let that happen.

So here's another way to make me cry.

Clean out my inventory when I slash the price in half like I'm doing today. If you've been putting off buying CDs, transcripts, ebooks or special reports, now is the time. But you must use this link and you must order before 11:59 PM Wednesday, Feb. 7, tomorrow. This applies to products only, not the mentor program.

This 50 percent off special will be applied at the check-out counter.

http://tinyurl.com/ywue2p

I won't be making this offer again until next year. So fetch!
*******************************************

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

1. Heart-shaped Pizzas

2. Look for Local Legends

3. Give Your Story Legs

4. 'Best Bagger' Contest

5. Loose Lips Sink Ships

6. Media Leads

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

=====================================
1. Heart-shaped Pizzas
=====================================

Leave it to my friend Shawne Duperon, a TV reporter in Michigan, to suggest some fabulous last-minute pitching tips for Valentine's Day:

--Heart-shaped anything is great, from soaps to pizzas. Or maybe your restaurant is creating heart-shaped omelets.

--If you're a relationship expert or therapist, offer advice on how to create romance, fight fair or negotiate.

--Jump on the celebrity bandwagon and offer advice to celebrities who are making headlines. What would you tell Angelina and Brad about dealing with stress in a relationship? What about Britney and Kevin? Why not offer advice on how to have a civilized relationship during divorce? What couples seem to be doing it right?

"Newsrooms will eat that up!" Shawne says.

A few of my own ideas:

--What about singles who don't have a sweetie? What are the advantages of being unattached?

--Massage therapists can pass along tips on how to give a relaxing massage.

--Pitch any story about unusual Valentines, or methods of delivering them.

--Are you creating a clever video related to Valentine's Day and posting it at YouTube?

--Kids still say the darnedest things. School teachers can ask the little ones to comment on Valentine's Day, then share comments with the media. Just be sure children are not identified unless you have the parents' permission.

Shawne teamed up with me to present a telephone seminar called "116 WOW Story Ideas from January through June," including other Valentine's Day angles I don't have room for here. The audio CD comes with a list of all 116 ideas. This is perfect if you're still trying to fill in gaps in your 2007 media plan. Read more about it at http://tinyurl.com/6k7zk

Sign up for Shawne's excellent ezine, "ShawneTV Guide," at http://www.shawnetv.com


==================================
2. Look for Local Legends
==================================

Here's an idea anyone can steal, regardless of where you live.

The Milwaukee Press Club generated fabulous publicity for its recent contest called "Legends of Milwaukee." It asked people to nominate anyone who made Milwaukee famous. More than 5,000 people responded.

The winners included:

--Father Jacques Marquette of Marquette University fame

--Comedian Chris Farley

--William Harley and Walter Davidson, co-founders of Harley- Davidson

--Reginald "The Crusher" Lisowski, a professional wrestler

--U.S. Supreme Court Justice William H. Rehnquist

--Golda Meier, founder of the State of Israel.

Samson, a gorilla at the Milwaukee Zoo, and Albert the Alley Cat, a puppet on one of the local TV weather programs, also made the list.

The Press Club announced the top two winners in each of eight categories at a gathering celebrating Milwaukee's 161st birthday.

And an article last week in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel even included photos of the winners.

This contest can be a fabulous promotion for convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, state departments of development, and any group that wants to attract attention to its city or state.

Smart Publicity Hounds can probably think of all kinds of ways to tie this contest to a special event. "How to Plan & Promote Sizzling Special Events" includes 847 tips on how to make your next special event one to remember. It's available as a set of 7 Cds or an electronic transcript that you can download and be reading in just a few minutes. The Cds and transcripts include 15 can't-do-without checklists for event planners. Regularly $247, you can pick it up for half-price during my birthday promotion that ends Wednesday night.

You can read more about it at http://tinyurl.com/46jzg but use this link if you want to slash the price in half: http://tinyurl.com/ywue2p

Then click on the "CDs/transcripts" button on the left, and look in the "Special Events" category.


==================================
3. Give Your Story Legs
==================================

Thanks to my friend Bill Geist, an expert in destination marketing, for sharing this terrific tip about how the Convention & Visitors Bureau in Fort Wayne, Indiana, jumped on a Super Bowl angle and gave the story legs.

Bill says the whole thing started after Indianapolis Head Coach Tony Dungy's nationally televised post-game interview after the Colts came out of nowhere to upend the Patriots. Tony said, "It's a shame we have to go to Miami (to play in SB XLI). We should just go to Fort Wayne and play this off."

Bill writes:

"It took Ft. Wayne CVB CEO Dan O'Connell about three seconds to begin plotting his next move. Over the course of the next few days, Dan and his staff developed a list of why playing the Super Bowl in Fort Wayne was a fabulous idea.

"The story picked up steam when the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette did a piece on Dan's ideas. Then came a light-hearted release from the Bureau entitled 'What if Fort Wayne did host the Super Bowl?' In which Dan and his crew suggested that fans would stay at residents' homes and eat their meals family-style. Colts fans would fly into the Fort Wayne International Airport. Bears fans would be directed to Smith Airfield."

Media all over the U.S. jumped on the story. You can read all about it at Bill's blog at http://tinyurl.com/yp3ckb

"Special Report #35: How to be the Local Angle to National Stories" shows you how to piggyback onto regional, national or international stories to make them your own. Don't forget to use this link, then click on the special reports button on the left side of my homepage:
http://tinyurl.com/ywue2p


=================================
4. 'Best Bagger' Contest
=================================

Here's another idea to get you thinking.

The National Grocery Association sponsors a "Best Bagger Contest," designed to find the bagger who can get the job done the fastest. The contest is in its 21st year. You can read about it at http://tinyurl.com/yvydvr

A hotel has a contest each year in which members of the housekeeping staff can compete to see who can make a bed the fastest. And various restaurant groups sponsor a "waiters contest" to see which waiter can carry a glass of wine on a tray, or an entire tray of dishes, from one end of a big room to the other without spilling anything.

What kind of fun "fastest" contest can your group sponsor? These contests are perfect for TV because they offer people, color and motion--the three elements of a story that TV news producers want. "How to Get on the Local TV News Tomorrow" explains how to pitch your story to the right person inside your local TV news station. Read more about it at http://tinyurl.com/yjrktx and use this link for my birthday special: http://tinyurl.com/ywue2p


==================================
5. Loose Lips Sink Ships
==================================

If you think you know how to conduct yourself during a media interview, don't get too cocky.

I just found a fabulous "how to" guide called "Loosening Lips: The Art of the Interview," written specifically for reporters, by Eric Nalder, an investigative report for The Seattle Times. He shows in step-by-step detail how reporters can subtly encourage their interview subjects to spill the beans.

It's must-reading for anyone who does media interviews, regardless of how savvy an interview subject you think you are.

Many of the tricks Eric suggests are the same ones I learned when I was a newspaper reporter. He suggests ways to pry information out of people, how to encourage them to go "on the record" with information they want "off the record," how to find all the skeletons like drunken driving convictions in somebody's closet, and how to observe little details in a person's office that offer valuable clues to their job and personal life.

Yesterday, I conducted a teleseminar with people in The Publicity Hound Mentor Program and explained to them how to respond to the kinds of tactics Eric is encouraging reporters to use. You can see his entire list at http://home.earthlink.net/~cassidyny/naldertip.htm

If you're not in my Mentor Program, you can read about what you're missing at http://www.publicityhound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html


Then check out "How to Keep the Media Wolves at Bay," an interview I did with Jonathan Bernstein, one of the best crisis counselors on the planet. He explains how to avoid the land mines of killer interviews and how to respond to reporters' tough questions--on your terms. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/b8wcy

Note: Help This Hound will return next week.


================================
6. Media Leads
================================

--Emiliana Sandoval, a reporter for the Detroit Free Press, is looking for interesting topics to feature in her Page 2 column called "Five Things About (fill in the blank)." The "blank" can be any topic, from the zoo, to hockey to a concierge in the Detroit area. You can see a sample column at http://tinyurl.com/yqba3t In the last year and a half that she's been writing the column, fewer than a half dozen people have pitched her. Email your ideas to Emiliana at mailto:esandoval@freepress.com Thanks, Shawne Duperon, for tipping us off to this one.

--Interested in influencing some of New York's most knowledgeable readership in the advertising business? Packed with insider commentary, The MadAve Journal, read by 2,500 media buyers, account execs and creatives, is looking for contributors.
MarketingSherpa offers pitching tips and more info about this self-described "trade-sumer ezine" at http://www.marketingsherpa.com/article.php?ident=23853 You can read the article until Feb. 12, then you'll have to pay for it.

--The Publicity Hound wants to hear from anyone who has used MySpace or YouTube to generate publicity or sell their products and services. Your success story might be part of a special information product on this topic, as well as articles that will appear online and offline. Please include details on the specific media outlets that found you on MySpace or YouTube, or details on how you've used either website to generate more business for your company, nonprofit or government agency. I want to hear only from people who generated publicity or p~rofits from either website.

Please be specific and name the media outlets that covered you.

Email MySpace success stories to Mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=MySpaceSuccess

Email YouTube success stories to Mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=YouTubeSuccess

================================
7. Hound Quote of the Week
================================

Thanks to Dan Poynter of Santa Barbara, California for this one.


David Letterman's Top Ten Signs Your Dog Is Too Fat:

10. Instead of "Ruff," he barks "Ruffles"

9. Ticks that suck his blood die from high cholesterol

8. Strangers mistake him for a fat guy in a dog suit

7. Collar is a 48-inch belt from Today's Man

6. Answers to the name "Cheney"

5. His dish is filled with Kibbles, Bits and L~ipitor

4. Dog door is larger than your front door

3. Put his head out the window and the car tipped over

2. He's the only dog that knows how to work a deep fryer

1. Never have to say "Stay" since his fat butt never moves


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...
================================

Video press releases alive and well
http://tinyurl.com/2kcgvn

Public speaking tips: 7 ways to get on a panel
http://tinyurl.com/2vlhmb

On my blog at http://www.publicityhound.net/, I've made it easy for you to find what you're looking for by dividing my posts into more than 20 categories. Look under the "Topics" arrow on the right side of the blog to find the category you need.

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

March 8, 2007: PR University's Bulldog Reporter Teleconference

"PR Writing--Top PR Wordsmiths Analyze Proven Press Releases to Reveal Best Practices for Writing Compelling Copy That Reaches Millions," 1 p.m. Eastern. Want to improve your press releases and boost media pickup fast? I'm part of a panel of wordsmiths that will deconstruct some of the year’s best releases and personally hand you the keys to duplicating their successes.
Details pending.


March 17, 2007: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Savvy Media Relations: How to Get Free Print, Broadcast and Online Publicity." 8 a.m. to noon. Learn more at http://www.nsapittsburgh.com/calendar.htm


May 12, 2007: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Florida Speakers Association: "Savvy Media Relations: How to Get Free Print, Broadcast & Online Publicity." 9 a.m. to noon. "Sleeping with the Competition: How to Collaborate with Other Speakers to Create Profitable Products and Programs." 2 to 4 p. m. For more information, call 561-630-7766 or visit http://www.florida-speakers.org


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

Reprinted from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," an ezine featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity. Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email the handy list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."

If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends, clients and colleagues.
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