Publicity tips/Don't ask the wrong Question April 24, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #343 - April 24, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 30,778

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

"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'tsubscribe, 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.

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

Update on The Publicity Hound Resources List:

Twenty vendors have already claimed a spot on The Publicity Hound's Resources List at http://www.PublicityHound.com/resources.htm

This week, to promote the list, we're making stickers with the URL of the resource list, and we'll be inserting them into every product package that leaves my office. I've also inserted the URL into every "thank you" email message that we send to anyone who buys a product or service from me.

If you sell a product or service to people or companies that self-promote, read how you can be part of the list at http://www.PublicityHound.com/PublicityResources.htm

If you tell me you want to be on the list now, and pay for your spot, I'll start promoting you now. But the clock won't start ticking on your listing until May 1. That means you get free exposure until then.

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

1. Don't Ask the Wrong Question

2. Let Assistants Help with Publicity

3. Authors, Can You Guess the 7 Secrets?

4. Media Leads

5. Promoting a Driving School

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


======================================
1. Don't Ask the Wrong Question
======================================

Here’s what usually happens when somebody scores a big publicity hit, either in their local newspaper, or on a major TV show.

They see a big spike in traffic to their website. Then within a week or two, the traffic slows to a crawl.

That’s when they email me and ask, "How can we keep the buzz going? How can we turn this publicity into even more publicity?"

Before answering, I visit their website. Then I usually conclude, rather quickly, that they’re asking the wrong question. Instead of worrying about how to turn one publicity hit into multiple hits, they should be more concerned about what to do with all that traffic that’s visiting their website. Right now.

The answer? Start capturing people’s email addresses once they land on the website.

Offer them something for free: a report, an ebook, a White Paper, or a list of tips on how to solve the Number One problem your customers or clients face. When people visit my website, I ask for their email address in exchange for a helpful cheat sheet called "89 reasons to send a press release." I also tell them I’ll send them this ezine every week.

That intrusive box that bounces down from the top of the screen at http://www.publicityhound.com/ is largely responsible for my email database that now has more than 30,000 names. It gives me the power, without spamming, of emailing to a targeted list of people week after week after week, and marketing to them--and often selling to them--until they tell me to stop.

If you’re planning a publicity campaign for yourself or your PR client, don’t start pitching the media until you’ve figured out how to benefit from all that publicity.

I don’t care whether you’re a Fortune 100 company or a stay-at-home mom who sells Tupperware from a one-page website. Traffic at your website is worthless if you can't hang onto most of it, then dazzle those visitors with your knowledge and expertise so they eventually become customers.

Can't think of anything to give away in exchange for an email address? I have 55 ideas, and I included them all in "Special Report #51: 55 Free Things You Can Offer to Generate Publicity or Capture People's Email Addresses." Only $10.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


========================================
2. Let Assistants Help with Publicity
========================================

One of the smartest moves I ever made was hiring a virtual assistant.

She frees me from time-consuming, energy-sucking grunt work so I can concentrate on the creative, fun and profitable projects I love.

That got me thinking. What could you Publicity Hounds accomplish if you had an assistant to help you?

What about those of you who already have assistants? If your assistant was trained on how to help with many aspects of your publicity campaign, just think about those important projects you could concentrate on!

If you don't yet have an assistant, did you know you can hire a virtual assistant for as little as $30 an hour? Your VA doesn't have to live near you. VAs, who are independent contractors, can live thousands of miles away from their clients, and still do a fabulous job.

Right now, I’m planning the content for a series of teleseminars that I'll host during the next several weeks to train assistants, virtual assistants, executive assistants and summer interns on how to help their bosses manage a publicity campaign.

For example, they'll learn how to do the all-important research that’s necessary before the boss starts pitching specific reporters and bloggers. I’ll teach them how to write routine press releases and what to do after they’ve written them.

I'll even do a training session on user-generated video that explains how they can shoot their own video of special events, commentary, news stories or feature stories for use on your local evening news, or on national news channels like CNN.

They’ll learn about photos and graphics, and other topics such as how to get the boss in front of the best bloggers. But before I get too deep into the content, I want to know what you think I should be teaching them.

If you have an assistant or an intern, or you plan to hire one, I hope you’ll answer 5 questions that will help me plan this course around your needs. If you complete the survey, let me know which of my two special reports you'd like me to email to you--my way of saying thank-you.
This survey is only for Publicity Hounds who already have assistants or interns, or who will be hiring them within the next month or two.

Take the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=943413741903

If you want to get a jump on training your assistant, you can start right now. One of the first things your assistant should be doing is submitting your articles to online article directories.

Sharron Senter explains how on "How to Submit Online Articles That Pull Traffic to Your Website." It's a recording of a teleseminr we conducted, in which she explains how she gets from 30 to 100 sales leads a month from this simple strategy. It's 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/5zvga


=======================================
3. Authors, Can You Guess the 7 Secrets?
=======================================

I was on the teleseminar call last week when Steve Harrison explained the seven things that the top 3 percent of authors---the most successful---do.

I'm betting that most of you who already have written books, or are thinking of writing them, wouldn't be able to take an educated guess and nail four of the seven.

If you don't know what the seven secrets are, you'll end up wasting hours of time and thousands of dollars trying to make a living selling books. (Hint: That ties into one of the seven things Steve discussed on last week's call.)

He's letting Publicity Hounds listen to a rebroadcast of the 81-minute call until May 8. Then he's removing it. Listen to it at http://snipurl.com/AuthorSecrets

His next teleseminar, this Thursday, is for authors and anyone else who has a product or service to sell and wants to build a publicity machine that runs round-the-clock.

He'll explain why conventional press releases are usually not the best way to contact journalists (I agree) and what to send instead.

He'll tell you what a "Good Morning America" producer says is the absolute best way to pitch the show--something very few publicity-seekers do. But it dramatically increases your chances of getting booked.

And Steve will tell you about the surprisingly simple strategy a former "Oprah" guest booker says everyone should use when pitching the show.

This free call will run approximately 75 minutes. You can listen to it at 2 PM Eastern (11 AM Pacific) or at 7 PM Eastern (4 PM Pacific). It's the third preview call for his upcoming year-long Quantum Leap Marketing Coaching Program. Learn more about Thursday's call and register at http://snipurl.com/QuantumLeapCall2


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

--The Frommers travel website at http://www.frommers.com/ has an average of 1 million visitors a month who view some 18 million pages. About 250,000 subscribers receive a related newsletter three times a week. Here's one way to get into Frommers. Robert Fisher contributes two articles a month after making worldwide trips. He welcomes individual or group invitations to regions, cities and other destinations, as well as resorts, hotels, cruises, tours, guest ranches and attractions. His articles appear about one to three months after his travel. Contact him during March, June, September and December. Write to him at 315 West 55th Street (5A), New York, NY 10019. Call 212-246-3527. Or mailto:bobharu@aol.com. This lead is courtesy of Travel Publicity Leads, a newsletter that provides contact information for reporters, editors, freelancers and other media outlets that want your travel-related news. Get 10 free issues at http://snipurl.com/19bcz


--Author Gary W. Toyn is looking for stories about unsung or little-known American heroes for his book "Quiet Heroes: America's Greatest Stories of Heroism You've NEVER Heard." He is looking for heroes who, in a singular act, ignored their own safety to protect or save the life of another and, since that event, have lived a life of honor and integrity. If you'd like to nominate a hero, complete the form at http://americanlegacymedia.com/unsungheroes.htm


--"That Marketing Show," an Internet radio show with host Rodger Roeser, needs 30-second and 60-second audio public service announcements to air during the show. This is a chance for nonprofits to get exposure in front of thousands of marketing industry executives who decide which organizations their companies and clients should align with. If you don't have a PSA, the producers can professionally record one for you for a small fee. Learn more at http://www.thatmarketingshow.com/main/index.php


PSAs are only one of dozens of ways for nonprofits and charities to generate publicity. Learn all the others--all can be done on a shoestring budget--from Paul Hartunian. We recorded a CD called "Failproof Publicity Tips for Your Nonprofit." It's also available as an electronic transcript that you can download a few minutes after your order is approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/29dba


===================================
5. Promoting a Driving School
====================================

This week, 10 Publicity Hounds have tips for Roger Pozeznik of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He wants to know how to promote his driving school, which competes with two other driving schools nearby.


From Lisa Montagna:

"Joan is always giving us tips on how to piggyback off of news events or holidays. Since driving schools are typically targeting teenagers, why not reach out to media in your area during prom season? You can offer '5 Driving Tips to Keep Your Teen Safe This Prom Season.' It might also be useful at graduation time: 'BuyingYour Teen a Car for Graduation? Here are 5 Tips to Keep Him Safe Behind the Wheel.'


From T. Jackson:

"You might consider a 'bring a friend' program. If two teens signup at the same time, they get a discount. Also, consider other markets. Not all adults know how to drive (my mom, who is from London and never needed to drive, didn’t learn until she was 55). What about immigrants or non-English speakers?


From Ayana Glaze:

"Think of issues that affect driving and write and submit articles about that. Go against the norm. Instead of driving while talking on cell phones, discuss issues on driving when angry. Offer reasons for calming down before getting behind the wheel. Speak at area high schools and colleges on safe driving. Partner with local MADD offices. Hold a teen driving mixer."


The Publicity Hound says: Don't forget good old Craigslist, which has a list for Ann Arbor. But before you start posting, learn the best strategies for using this giant community bulletin board. Nancy Mills, a Craigslist expert, explains how on "How to Use Cragislist as a Global Publicity Tool." It's one of my most popular CDs and electronic transcripts.

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


Read all the responses at http://tinyurl.com/2sg7ad


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

Kare Anderson of Sausalito, California writes:

"I am a friend of Jenna Raby, co-founder of the company LaborFair at http://laborfair.com/ It's an online referral communityof reliable, quality workers for all on-demand household labor. Consumers get fre*e, real-time access to hundreds of local worker profiles, pictures, and professional references, and consumers connect directly with already available, qualified but underemployed workers.

"For the first time, time-pressed consumers have a fast way to find reputable household help online (cleaning, repair, gardening, childcare, etc.) through LaborFair. It just launched in 15 San Francisco Bay Area cities, from San Jose to Sausalito.

"By paying LaborFair just $15 a month for a listing, workers can bypass costly (for them) and time-consuming neighborhood flyer distribution or agency representation that cuts deeply into their take-home pay. Better than Craigslist for this service, think of LaborFair as an Ebay for household services, with fair trade built into the business.

"Can your Hounds think of ideas for promoting this service throughout California?"


The Publicity Hound says:

I know my Hounds will be willing to do a lot of the heavy lifting for your friend. Hounds with great promotion ideas for Kare can post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/235dwl

I also suggest you check out "The Fastest, Cheapest, Easiest Waysto Publicize Your Small Business." It was a teleseminar I conducted with Jeff Zbar, the U.S. Small Business Administrations's 2001 Journalist of the Year. Jeff offers dozens of suggestions on how to publicize small businesses just like this one, and the driving school in the previous item. It's available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can be reading as soon as your is approved.

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


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

Thanks to Elizabeth Guy of St. Louis, Missouri for this one, her favorite dog joke from the great comedian George Carlin:

"What does a dog do on his day off? He can't lie around--that's his job."


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

Why you should read reporters' blogs
http://tinyurl.com/2m6j2p

Amazon best-seller campaigns not worth it
http://tinyurl.com/2t5bp4


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

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®


April 27, 2007: Webinar

Women Business Owners Virtual Growth Summit Webinar. I'm presenting a session at 1 PM Eastern Time on how to become an expert in your topic, then generate online and offline publicity. Register at http://www.businesswomensgrowthsummit.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." 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® respects your privacy and has a strict anti-spam policy. Read my privacy policy at http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm


=======================================================
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/Citizen journalists & Virginia Tech April 17, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #342 - April 17, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com

http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 30,511

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

"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.

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

Need Help Buying a Publicity Product or Service?

Already, several people who have bought a three-month or one-year listing on The Publicity Hound's Resources List are getting calls from people who might want to do business with them.

If you'll be using the list, I've written an article that includes tips on how to shop for the best publicity product or service. You can find it at http://tinyurl.com/yrazf5

If you're looking for people to write or distribute your press releases, serve as your publicist, provide media directories, do voiceovers or ghostwrite articles, you'll find my handy resource directory at http://www.PublicityHound.com/resources.htm

I'm already promoting the list aggressively, and it will be growing in the months ahead. If you sell a product or service to people or companies that self-promote, read how you can be part of the list at http://www.PublicityHound.com/PublicityResources.htm

If you tell me you want to be on the list now, and pay for your spot, I'll start promoting you now. But the clock won't start ticking on your listing until May 1. That means you get free exposure until then.

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

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

1. Citizen Journalists & Virginia Tech

2. What Successful Authors Do Differently

3. Apply for the Torch Award

4. Origami Dollar Bills

5. Promoting Ergonomics Training

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


======================================
1. Citizen Journalists & Virginia Tech
======================================

When news broke yesterday morning about the massacre at Virginia Tech, people throughout the world turned on their TVs to learn more.

Some of the first video they saw came directly from citizen journalists--students who recorded the events on their cell phone cameras.

Jamal Albarghouti, a Virginia Tech graduate student from the West Bank, took cell phone pictures of police charging Norris Hall as shots rang out. CNN broadcast the video over and over again.

What made it unique and valuable was the sound track: Gunshotscould be heard coming from one of the buildings. People viewed it more than 900,000 times on CNN.com.

By early evening, CNN showed Jamal standing on campus, microphone in hand, reporting from the scene as he talked with anchorman Wolf Blitzer, who was in the cable channel's Washington newsroom.

A story in today's Baltimore Sun quotes Nancy Lane, CNN's vice president of domestic news, on the value of user-generated content: "Let's face it, right now, his material is still the best of the day in terms of capturing on video what took place there."

You can read the entire story at http://tinyurl.com/2xakzq

MSNBC and other news outlets solicited video from anyone who was on campus. They also immediately started monitoring social networking sites like Facebook.com and MySpace.com to see how students reacted to the shooting, and to learn whatever details they could about who survived and who didn't.

In the months ahead, we'll be hearing more about how citizen-generated journalism and social networking sites are changing the media landscape.

Said CNN's Nancy Lane: "What you saw today with the cell phones and the I-Reporters is the future - and the future is now."


========================================
2. What Successful Authors Do Differently
========================================

Most of the authors I've worked with over the years--hundreds of them--tell me the same thing.

They never imagined how much time, money or energy they'd have to spend writing and selling a book. Some of them run out of steam by the time they have to start promoting it.

Steve Harrison, who has worked with more than 19,000 authors during almost two decades, says he has concluded that the top 3 percent of authors simply do seven key things differently than the rest. Those seven things don't include writing a stellar book or having a catchy title.

To learn what the most successful authors know, Steve is hosting a free 75-minute telephone seminar on Thursday, April 19. Choose from two time slots: 2 PM Eastern (11 AM Pacific) or 7 PM Eastern (4 PM Pacific).

He'll talk about the "unfair advantage" top authors use to win the publishing game--99.9 percent of all authors, he says, don't know this.

Steve will also discuss the single biggest thing authors need to attract a publisher and one thing authors should do to dramatically increase the profit they make from every book. I'm curious, so I'll be on the call, too.

You can reserve your spot at http://snipurl.com/AuthorSecrets


==================================
3. Apply for the Torch Award
==================================

Winning a prestigious award can skyrocket your company's profile, bring more traffic to your website, put you heads above your competitors, and give you the kind of credibility and publicity you couldn't possibly get on your own.

That's why I can't understand why the Better Business Bureau has to practically beg people to apply for its annual Torch Award for business ethics and integrity.

Last week, I attended a workshop at the Milwaukee office of the BBB to learn how I can apply for the award and win it. Even though I have my own team of subcontractors, I'm a company of one. That means I'm eligible to apply in Category One, for companies with one to 10 employees.

The contest has five categories in all, including one for charities. You don't have to be a member of the BBB to apply.

Last year in Wisconsin, only about 100 companies were in the running. Some years, they don't have enough good entries in a particular category to even choose a winner.

If your company prides itself on ethical business practices, gives outstanding customer service, subscribes to truth in advertising, and helps foster ethics and integrity within your industry and community, you're a perfect candidate for this award. What a great way generate fabulous publicity, and separate yourself from the Enrons of the world.

During the next few months, in communities all over the U.S. and Canada, the BBB will host workshops designed to show you how to apply. In Wisconsin, the deadline for applications is Friday, August 17. Winners will be announced at a huge awards banquet in November.

The application process can be tedious and time-consuming. But based on what past winners have said, it's worth it.

Thomas Bentley III, CEO of the Bentley Company, a Wisconsin construction company, said news of their first-place award in 2003 made it all the way to the boardroom of one of their client companies.

"A Fortune 500 company was so proud that one of their vendors got this that they took it to their board of directors and actually made a showcase out of it," he said.

Today, he said, his company promotes the Torch Award at its website and in its marketing materials, and puts it out in front of all its sales efforts.

In a few months, when I start creating my own application, I'll be telling you about ways you can help me win. Until then, I hope you check into how you can apply in your own state or province. Call your local BBB office for details.

Awards are only one of hundreds of ways to generate publicity. "How to be a Kick-butt Publicity Hound," my most popular ebook, explains them all. The book, updated last year, includes an entire chapter on blogging. Learn more about the book at http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity/publicityhound.htm


=================================
4. Origami Dollar Bills
=================================

Publicity Hound Brian Foley read last week's item in which I complained about those uncreative ribbon-cutting and check-passing ceremonies that seem to be everywhere.

He loved my idea of a bank hiring a magician to perform magic tricks with dollar bills at its grand opening. Brian, a professional magician who does exactly that, offered another tip that's worth sharing.

"Banks can also have origami displays of animals made out of bills," Brian wrote. "I've seen displays like this in banks in Europe, in glass cases in the middle of the bank floor. They always get great responses, and you can keep them on display for weeks. I think they'd result in good publicity for any bank."

Use the origami display idea not only for grand openings, but to celebrate anniversaries and during other special events.

Since it's tax deadline time, how about a local tax preparer's office finding local students to make origami animals from all the unused tax forms, then displaying them?

If you teach origami, do a joint promotion with a local print shop. Your students can use over-runs or leftovers and turn them into animals, flowers and other colorful pieces of paper art.

An office supply store can sponsor a local contest inviting people to submit the most creative piece of origami artwork. Those are just a few ideas to get you started.

If you're an artist who creates origami or works in any other medium, learn dozens of ways to promote it. "How Artists Can Sell More Artwork Through Online and Offline Publicity" is available as a CD or electronic transcript that you can read as soon as your order is approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/yvewm8


===================================
5. Promoting Ergonomics Training
====================================

This week, seven Publicity Hounds have tips for Kay Richardson of Miami, Florida. She asked for help promoting an ergonomic consulting/training company.


Candace Moody Says:

"Consider teaming up with a massage therapist to offer chair massage at a company. You could generate a contest of some sort and provide the chair massage as the winning prize. Massage therapy corrects many of the aches and pains created by poor ergonomics; while at the business, you can offer tips and a follow-son assessment. Massage therapists and chiropractors would make great partners in a referral network, as well."


From Shel Horowitz, Ethical Marketing Expert:

"Since journalists are frequently nursing computer- and telephone-induced ergonomic issues, offer a free one-time workshop just for local journalists. Don’t charge, but be sure to provide a handout that not only gives them stuff they can remember and practice but also describes your public offerings--maybe some no-cost stuff on your website, a list of resources--something they will promote without necessarily needing to directly promote you, and useful for their readers. Of course, some of them may do a feature on you, but even if they don’t, they’re likely to mention your freebie."


From Eric Gruber at ArticleMarketingExperts.com:

"Write an article and submit it to sites such as www.HR.com. Article topics include 'How to Reduce Working Pains & Improve Your Productivity' or '5 Ways to Identify & Eliminate Employee Injuries at Work.'"


The Publicity Hound says: Articles like the ones Eric suggested can pull lots of traffic back to your website. But what if you just don't have time to write? Or you don't know how to write? I have a handy template for a how-to article. It comes with the CD or electronic transcript called "How to Write How-to Articles for Newspapers, Magazines & Trade Journals."

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


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

Roger Pozeznik of Kalamazoo, Michigan writes:

"I run All-Star Driver Education in Ann Arbor. Two other big driving schools in town seem to have a monopoly and have gotten lazy with there teaching skills. It's frustrating to see that they have full classes.

"The school I work for is very well-known on the east side of the state and they are in about 20 schools. We have done the basics: targeted mailing lists, PA announcements, and we're putting raffle boxes around town to win a free class and collect names/leads to follow up on. The other schools have such a hold on the locals because they never really had any competition, and they have been around for years.

"What can we do to promote the school?" The website is at http://www.allstardrivereducation.com/


The Publicity Hound says: I know my Publicity Hounds will take the wheel and steer all kinds of great ideas your way, Roger. Hounds with suggestions can post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/2sg7ad


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

Thanks to Debbie Schenk of Boulder, Colorado for sending this personal ad that was spotted in a newspaper in southern Florida.


SBF SEEKS MALE COMPANIONSHIP

I love long walks in the woods. Riding in your pickup truck.
Hunting.
Camping.
Fishing trips.
Cozy winter nights spent lying by the fire.
Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. Rub me the right way and I will respond with tender caresses. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me. Kiss me and I'm yours. I'm a svelte, good looking girl who loves to play. Call 555-2121 and ask for Daisy.

The phone number was the SPCA, and Daisy was an eight-week-old black Labrador Retriever.


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


The changing media landscape: How to keep up with it
http://tinyurl.com/3xfbgv

USA Today reporters' list also offers their articles
http://tinyurl.com/34ewov


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

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®


April 27, 2007: Webinar

Women Business Owners Virtual Growth Summit Webinar. I'm presenting a session at 1 PM Eastern Time on how to become an expert in your topic, then generate online and offline publicity. Register at http://www.businesswomensgrowthsummit.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." 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® respects your privacy and has a strict anti-spam policy. Read my privacy policy at http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

=======================================================
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/Piggyback onto Imus, April 10, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #341 - April 10, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 30,075

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

"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.

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

It's Here: The Publicity Hound's Resources List

If you're looking for people to write or distribute your press releases, serve as your publicist, provide media directories, do voiceovers or ghostwrite articles, you'll find my handy resource directory at http://www.PublicityHound.com/resources.htm

I'm already promoting the list aggressively, and it will be growing in the months ahead. If you sell a product or service to people or companies that self-promote, read how you can be part of the list at http://www.PublicityHound.com/PublicityResources.htm

If you tell me you want to be on the list now, and pay for your spot, I'll start promoting you now. But the clock won't start ticking on your 3-month or one-year listing until May 1. It will take me a few weeks to get the entire promotions campaign for the resource list in place. And I think that's only fair. So the faster you sign up, the more f*ree exposure you'll get.

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

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

1. Piggyback onto Imus

2. How Publicity Snowballs

3. Cardboard Checks and Scissors

4. When to Hire a Publicist

5. Promoting a Safety Program

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

=====================================
1. Piggyback onto Imus
=====================================

You can't go anywhere today without hearing about Don Imus and the hot water he's in over racial comments he made about the Rutgers University girls basketball team.

He's all over talk radio, TV news and in major newspapers. Even the comedians and the bloggers are having a great time with this one.

So what are you doing to piggyback onto the controversy? Here are some ideas:

--Crisis counselors and public relations professionals should offer their expert commentary on how people like Imus should respond and what he should do next.

--Diversity counselors can offer advice to Imus.

--Take a survey at your website or among your members. Should Don Imus be fired? Report results to the media.

--Girls basketball teams: What would you say to Imus if you were on the receiving end of his remarks?

--Broadcast groups and radio experts: Do most people who listen to shock jocks like Imus expect these kinds of comments? How far is too far?

--Church leaders: What's the lesson to be learned here?


When the media wolves are howling at your door, would you know how to respond? Crisis counselor Jonathan Bernstein teaches companies how to tame the wolves and not get eaten alive. During a teleseminar I conducted with him called "How to Keep the Media Wolves at Bay," he said that the time to learn savvy media strategies isn't when the crisis is spinning out of control. You can hear his advice on an audio CD, or read the electronic transcript.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/b8wcy


======================================
2. How Publicity Snowballs
======================================

Barbara Thompson, an expert in gastric bypass surgery and a graduate of The Publicity Hound Mentor Program, emailed me last week to tell me she's going to be on "Nightline."

It all started with the electronic newsletter she publishes, just like this one. Her story is a great example of how ezines generate calls from the media, and how one media hit can snowball, until it finally attracts the attention of a "Nightline" producer.

Barbara, who writes about bypass surgery, started getting email from her readers, claiming they never had a problem with alcohol until after their surgery and the pounds started coming off.

So she asked the 9,800 people on her subscription list if they had the same problem.

"I got a ton of emails, many of which I posted in my newsletter, "Barbara said. "One, in particular, was written by Patti Worrels and was quite good and I featured it along with many of the others."

Because her newsletters are archived at her website at http://wlscenter.com/e-Newsletter.htm, The Wall Street Journal found the comments, interviewed Patti Worrels, and quoted Barbara briefly.

Patti appeared on "Good Morning America" soon after that. Then CNN contacted Patti.

"They didn't want her on their show because she had already been on 'Good Morning America', so Patti had them contact me," Barbara said. "I supplied them with someone to interview with the understanding that I would be mentioned. Well, CNN did mention me but it was very brief."

Brief, yes. But it was enough that People magazine saw it. When People called Barbara, it was time for her to negotiate.

"I got an agreement up front with People that in exchange for my supplying them with people to interview, I would be mentioned, as well as my website," Barbara said. "The writer was true to her word. My name and a quote from me along with my website leads off the article. I am quoted again in the article as well."

A few days after the People article, "Nightline" contacted her, asking for an interview on what is now called "transfer addiction."

'Nightline' is coming to my next speaking event which is in Charlotte, North Carolina. I'm having the weigh*t loss surgery practice in Charlotte gather together people who have this problem, and Nightline will interview them as a group. They will then interview me separately and also film me speaking. That's how this happened, and it all started with an article in my newsletter."

If you aren't publishing a weekly newsletter, or sending a helpful email tip to your audience once every week or two, you're missing publicity opportunities--one of many benefits of an electronic newsletter.

Dan Janal got me to spill the beans about how I use this newsletter to sell products, generate publicity, and get invitations for speaking engagements. "How to Turn Your Ezine Into a Cash Machine" is available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can be reading within minutes.

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

If you're interested in having unlimited access to me, read about The Publicity Hound Mentor Program at http://www.publicityhound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html


==================================
3. Cardboard Checks and Scissors
==================================

One of the ugliest, most uncreative tools people use to generate publicity are those oversized cardboard scissors that show up at just about every ribbon-cutting event.

We've all seen that same photo millions of times. People, often politicians, line up shoulder-to-shoulder, with big smiles on their faces. The person in the center usually holds the oversized cardboard scissors, making it look as though the ribbon is about to be cut.

Equally repugnant are those giant cardboard checks that somebody "presents" to someone else, usually when a company or a group makes a donation.

Sadly, too many lazy PR people rely on cardboard checks and scissors when they can't think of a creative way to generate publicity for a business that's opening, or for a donation.

Here are far better ideas:

--Publicizing a bank branch that's opening? Ask the local newspaper to photograph the first customer on opening day.

--Better yet, stage a fun event at the bank. How about hiring a magician who can do magic tricks with dollar bills? Alert the media.

--If your organization is donating money to buy food for the local food pantry, ask a reporter to help stock the pantry when the food arrives, then write about what it's like to work at the food pantry for a day. Inviting reporters to become involved in your story often results in far more interesting stories.

--Donating money for new hospital equipment? Work with the hospital's PR department to line up a patient who would agree to be photographed using the equipment.

Dan Collins, director of media relations for Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, one of the most creative PR people I know, uses a variety of fun, whacky, creative ideas that are far better than cardboard checks and scissors. He explained them all on the CD we recorded called "Fun Alternatives to Boring Ground-breakings, Ribbon-cuttings and Check-passings."

We explain why inviting politicians to your events can often backfire. And we pass along a valuable tip for Publicity Hounds who are ordered by their Boss from Hell to stage a ground-breaking, ribbon-cutting or check-passing. Our tip will help you placate the boss while saving face with the media.

It's also available as an electronic transcript. Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/7cl6z


=================================
4. When to Hire a Publicist
=================================

Based on the calls and emails you send me, many of you love the idea of generating free publicity on your own, but some of you don't have the time.

In certain cases, it's smart to let a publicist do it for you. Here are seven situations when you should consider hiring a publicist:

--You don’t have the right kinds of media contacts.

--Because of work or family commitments, you can’t devote the time to create and manage a major publicity campaign.

--You work for yourself, but running your business entails hundreds of other tasks that leave time for little else.

--You’re an author who’s on a book tour, or you’re busy working on your next book and don’t have time to line up all the details for events like book signings.

--You’re an author whose contract with the publicist assigned to you by your publishing company has expired, and now you’re on your own.

--You have a job such as a consulting practice, and your time is better spent making money on client projects than it is doing your own publicity.

Sound like you? If the time has come to hire a publicist, or someone to write your press releases, or other experts who know far more about how to generate publicity than you do, consult The Publicity Hound's Resources List at http://www.PublicityHound.com/resources.htm


===================================
5. Promoting a Safety Program
====================================

This week, 13 Publicity Hounds have ideas for Treg Stark of Delaware, Ohio. He wants tips on how to promote his Professor Safety DVD and CD on personal safety for children and parents at http://www.professorsafety.net


From Lia Allen:

"Add a video clip to the site for people to test it out and post that clip on YouTube. You might want to add a free report to your site that people can sign up for by adding an email address, and then you can capture their info to promote a special to them later." (See The Publicity Hound's "Special Report #51: 55 Free Things You Can Offer to Generate Publicity or Capture People's Email Addresses" at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g)


From Kay Pinkerton:

"AMBER Alert is a public service that helps law-enforcement agencies quickly recover abducted children. The parent organization, Engaging and Empowering Citizenship (E2C), encompasses a number of public/private partnerships aimed at enhancing public safety. Consider teaming with this organization, which already has strong relationships with media, law enforcement and other organizations."


From Jenni Hilton:

"Align with other online child safety organizations such as The Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use and TheParentReport.com. Here are some other resources you could partner with: http://www.kidsolr.com/educationresources/page2.html"


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


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

Kay Richardson of Miami, Florida writes:

"I need help with publicity ideas for Work Smart with Ergonomics, Inc., an ergonomic consulting/training company at http://www.worksmarterergo.com

"We provide assessments for businesses that have employees that may be complaining of wrist, neck, back and shoulder pains while sitting at their desk performing typing, researching (surfing)and speaking on the phone, pain from reaching into a file cabinet or even reaching over a counter to provide service. Our goal is to identify the potential cause of the problem and provide cost-effective solutions.

"We also provide all levels of employee educational training programs for HR and safety departments, and for managers on ways to identify the possible causes of an injured employee. We also teach the employee how to prevent injuries related to lifting, twisting or seating incorrectly when performing their jobs.

"Most people think of the word 'ergonomics' as either too expensive to correct, or a chair (which is not the only solution to fixing a problem). Can your Hounds help with ways to promote the company?"


The Publicity Hound says: You bet they can! Hounds with great tips for Kay can post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/2u8yfs


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

"Dogs have no money. Isn't that amazing? They're broke their entire lives. But they get through. You know why dogs have no money? No pockets."

--Comedian Jerry Seinfeld


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

PR copywriters: SEO a great career opportunity http://tinyurl.com/yvxdgn


Alternative newspapers should be taken seriously http://tinyurl.com/ywb5r8


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

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®


April 27, 2007: Webinar

Women Business Owners Virtual Growth Summit Webinar. I'm presenting a session at 1 PM Eastern Time on how to become an expert in your topic, then generate online and offline publicity. Register at http://www.businesswomensgrowthsummit.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." 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® respects your privacy and has a strict anti-spam policy. Read my privacy policy at http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

=======================================================
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/Pedicure Parties for 8-year-olds, April 3, 2007

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #340 - April 3, 2007
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com

http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 30,012

=====================================
"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.

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

Coming Soon: The Publicity Hound's Resources List

Every week, I'm inundated with phone calls and emails from Publicity Hounds asking me to write their press releases, ghostwrite columns, publicize their new books, or create their online media rooms.

I don't do that kind of work. But I've been spending from three to four hours a week trying to match up my readers with service providers who do. And I don't always have time to find the contact information for the companies that will serve them best.

That's why I'm creating The Publicity Hound's Resources List, a handy list of companies that provide products and services for people who need help with publicity.

If you write press releases, do ghostwriting, offer crisis counseling, work as a publicist, proofread, create websites, or provide any other product or service for people who need publicity, learn how you can be included on the list:

http://www.PublicityHound.com/PublicityResources.htm

I'll start publicizing the list aggressively online and offline in the next few days.

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

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

1. Pedicure Parties for 8-year-olds

2. Style on the Stump

3. Hot Topics on College Campuses

4. Media Leads

5. Promoting a Gift Registry for Women

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


=====================================
1. Pedicure Parties for 8-year-olds
=====================================

In my world, a day at the spa is a real treat. That's why spa certificates are at the top of my Christmas and birthday wish list.

Then last week, I read an amazing article on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about how the local day spas are the newest hangouts for teens and little girls.

Forget about pajama parties. Girls as young as 8 are having pedicure parties at the spa.

One 13-year-old girl interviewed gets manicures, pedicures, eyebrow waxings and facials every other week, to the tune of several hundred dollars a month.

Another wellness center said children as young as 6 and 7 are getting massages.

When it comes to rewarding little girls for good grades, "A day of shopping just doesn't do it anymore," one parent lamented.

You can read the entire article here:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=582027

I noticed that the reporter mentioned my favorite spa. And I can tell you right now that I'm out of there--pronto--if it turns into a hang-out for teeny-boppers.

But all you day spa owners: If you're seeing this trend too, pitch the story to your local newspapers and TV stations. It's almost prom season, and that's the perfect tie-in.

To make the story more enticing, introduce some controversy. The owner of the spa I go to said she's weighing concerns about age-appropriate body waxing. She knows, however, that she won't be offering bikini waxes to young teens.

What about old folks like me, who don't want to have to share a hot tub with a bunch of little girls yacking on their cellphones? Are spa owners enforcing age limits for certain services?

I know of 35 more story ideas that many people can pitch during April, May and June. They're included on the CD I created with my friend, Shawne Duperon. It's called "116 WOW Story Ideas from January through June." We even tell you which ones are better for print media and which are more appropriate for TV. You can download the entire list of story ideas as soon as your order has been approved.

Read more about what you'll learn at http://tinyurl.com/6k7zk


======================================
2. Style on the Stump
======================================

If John Edwards wants to appear presidential on the campaign trail, his suit is fine. But he needs to get rid of the sport watch that makes him look like a kid dressing up.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson needs to understand that red ties reflect color onto his face, and make him look angry. He also should do something about that suit jacket, which always looks too tight, like it's about to burst open.

Hillary wears clothing made of fabric that's too stiff. It works against her ability to soften up.

As for Republican candidate Rudy Guliani, his dark suits and power ties look presidential. But because he has dressed in drag on several occasions for comedy routines, enemy bloggers routinely reach for the photos that show him made up as a platinum blonde starlet or a campy showgirl. Those photos could derail his run for the presidency.

That's what the image consultants and stylists had to say in an article about how candidates look on the campaign trail. It was in Saturday's Wall Street Journal. And it reminded me to remind you that you have lots of opportunities between now and the election to weigh in with your expert opinion on the candidates.

--Hair stylists and make-up artists can offer tips not only for Hillary, but for the guys. Because men appear frequently on TV, it isn't unusual for them to wear light make-up. During their debates, Richard Nixon looked like Casper the Ghost next to the tanned John F. Kennedy.

--Speech coaches should offer to critique the candidates during televised town hall meetings and debates.

--Image consultants can dole out advice on everything from posture to the way the candidates come across before a live audience.

--Etiquette experts can comment on the way candidates treat each other on the campaign trail. Does the mud-slinging help or hurt?

--Authors who can tie their topic into any aspect of the presidential campaign should do so.

--The ideas are endless for success and life coaches, as well as bloggers.

Sure, you can pitch national reporters who are covering the race. But what if you don't know who they are? And what if they go to Experclick, the Online Yearbook of Experts, looking for experts to interview? Will they find you in the directory?

If not, don't miss the chance to be included in the 2007 Yearbook of Experts. Today is the last day that Mitch Davis is accepting subscriptions, and Thursday is the last day to write your profile. Publicity Hounds receive $200 off the subscription price, but only if you subscribe today.

Call them at 202-333-5000 and tell them The Publicity Hound sent you. Or sign up at http://www.ExpertClick.com/create and put"Last call for $200 discount from The Publicity Hound" in the special offer box.

This is the service I use. Here's my profile that journalists can read if they're looking for a publicity expert: http://www.expertclick.com/19-2429


==================================
3. Hot Topics on College Campuses
==================================

During the teleseminar I conducted last night with James Malinchak on how speakers, consultants and experts can get onto the college speaking circuit, James busted seven myths about getting booked at colleges and universities.

One of them was that you have to already be an experienced, famous speaker or musician in order to get a paying gig.

Not true, he says. In fact, comedian Adam Sandler and the popular Dave Matthews Band each got their start performing on college campuses, back when they were nobodies. Students liked them. So activities directors continued to book them year after year. And the rest is history.

During the teleseminar, James rattled off a long list of some of the most popular and in-demand speakers at colleges. I only recognized one name on the list, and that's because the speaker is a member of a professional group I'm in.

His point is, if your topic is in one of 20 categories that colleges and universities think are important, you can devote your entire career speaking to students, faculty and staff at four-year college and universities, community colleges and tech schools. Those schools frequently book good speakers again and again because as students graduate, new students come on board, creating a new audience that needs to hear the speaker's message.

At the boot camp that James hosts twice a year, he tells speakers how to get contact information for the more than one dozen people on each college campus who are in a position to hire them. He shows speakers how to create a brochure that will get them hired, and he tells them why they shouldn't waste time and money on expensive speaker videos.

As of this morning, James had only four seats left at the boot camp May 3-6 in Las Vegas. If it's sold out by the time you read this newsletter, you can listen to a recording of last night's teleseminar, then attend his boot camp in November.

Learn more about how to take your messages to colleges and universities: http://snipurl.com/JamesMalinchak


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

--Carol Pereyra, editor of the national magazine Going Bonkers?, is looking for a variety of articles that will help readers understand, manage and overcome stress in all areas of life. Deadline is April 20 for the summer issue. Read the writers'guidelines at http://www.gbonkers.com/writer_guidelines.htm


--Molly Glentzer, lifestyle editor of the Houston Chronicle, is looking for products that can be featured as gift ideas for Mother's or Father's Day. For mom, she wants products related to fashion, beauty and grooming products, books, cooking utensils and equipment, and home and garden decor. For Dad, she wants ideas for tech and consumer electronics and gadgets, recreational and sporting items, games, books, fashion and grooming products. She accepts press releases, story ideas and pitches by email, and attachments are OK. She accepts hard copy press kits, story ideas and pitches by regular mail. She wants high-resolution digital images emailed, and attachments are OK. You can also send prints and digital images on CD by regular mail. Her address is 801 Texas Street, Houston TX 77002. Email to mailto:molly.glentzer@chron.com


The Houston Chronicle lead is one of many you can get courtesy of The Gift List. It's a subscription service that provides contact information for consumer media that feature products and services perfect for gift-giving. Sign up for a test drive and for their newsletter at http://tinyurl.com/9es8y


====================================
5. Promoting a Gift Registry for Women
====================================

This week, 13 Publicity Hounds have tips for Felicia Coley of Rochester, New York. She asked for advice on how to promote her online gift registry for women at http://www.wellheeledsociety.com/


From Mary Louise English:

"Felicia, congrats on a great concept. But when I arrive at your website, I’m puzzled--why am I here? What’s the purpose of the site? Add a subhead or tagline in your header. Make clear who the Well-Heeled Society is for and what benefits it provides."

From Rekaya Gibson:

"It has nothing to do with me being single. It has everything to do with the items that I want from my favorite stores. Promote the great items women can register for versus the idea of registering for items because we are single. After all, married women might enjoy these items too."


From Ciara Daykin:

"As a wedding planner I know all about registries and I have some tips. You need a media kit on your website. You need to tell the media why they should write about your company. You don’t mention any of the press you have already received on your website or link back to the blogs that mentioned you. I am pretty computer-savvy but I know a lot of women who are not. You ask women to highlight the URL of the product they like and then click back to your registry and paste the link there. My mother would give up. Is it possible to get this step down to one click?"


The Publicity Hound says: I, too, was confused when I first arrived at her website, and I thought it was devoted to only shoes.


Read all the responses at http://tinyurl.com/2zoo4s


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

Treg Stark of Delaware, Ohio writes:

"For the past 14 years. I have worked locally with parents and kids, teaching them about personal safety (stranger danger). The character I created, Professor Safety, is featured in a DVD and companion CD for parents and day care centers.

"While those who have purchased my safety program rave about it, I have yet been able to get a following on the web. My site at http://www.professorsafety.net/ has been active for over a year and is just now starting to get good numbers, but I feel there is so much more to do and so many more people I can help, but I can't seem to get publicity for the site. I have tried the conventional methods and am currently building a network of reporters that I can email with ideas.

"I was hoping your Publicity Hounds can offer more specific details for me."

The Publicity Hound says: What a great topic! And I can hardly wait to see all the creative ideas for this one. C'mon, Hounds, post your best tips to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/2ztjzu


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

"Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear."

--Dave Barry


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

Writing press releases:
9 out of 10 miss this critical element
http://tinyurl.com/2ly5nw

Bad book or music review? Here's how to recover from it
http://tinyurl.com/2sa435



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

Where to Meet or Hear The Publicity Hound®

April 27, 2007: Webinar

Women Business Owners Virtual Growth Summit Webinar. I'm presenting a session at 1 PM Eastern Time on how to become an expert in your topic, then generate online and offline publicity. Register at http://www.businesswomensgrowthsummit.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." 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® respects your privacy and has a strict anti-spam policy. Read my privacy policy at http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm


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