Publicity tips/Facebook's Twilight Zone July 29, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #409 July 29, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 49,355

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

"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.

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

Facebook Training: You Asked for It, You Got It

Many of the more than 155 people who signed up for the teleseminar on "How to Use LinkedIn to Promote" or bought the products have asked for a similar teleseminar series on how to use Facebook.

I've lined up a fabulous guest expert, so mark your calendars for Aug. 13 & 14. See Item #1 below.

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

1. Facebook's Twilight Zone

2. When Doctors Shill for Pharmas

3. Why is Oprah Obsessed with This Topic?

4. Start Pitching Gift Guides

5. Promoting Natural Hair Care Products

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


=======================================
1. Facebook's Twilight Zone
=======================================

When you use Facebook, do you ever feel like you've entered the Twilight Zone, or some strange planet from which there's no escape?

Ever feel like you're suffocating from information overload? I sure do.

But I don't get nearly as upset as Stacie Krajchir does. Facebook leaves her feeling so overwhelmed that she wrote "5 Reasons Why I want to Kick Facebook's A--" recently at the Huffington Post blog at http://tinyurl.com/6k4ofd. (An amusing column.)

Stacie can probably just abandon Facebook and it's no big deal.

But what about the rest of us who need to incorporate social networking sites like this one into our publicity campaigns, or publicity for our PR clients? After all, many of the friends we've accumulated on Facebook actually look forward to our messages. They love it when we write on their walls. They wait to see who has poked them, or who has sent them a virtual drink.

Help is on the way, Hounds.

Many of you have asked for a training session on Facebook, similar to the series I did last month with Scott Allen. I asked Scott if he could recommend a guest expert who can help us learn about Facebook.

Scott, it turns out, served as editor for the book "I'm on Facebook -- Now What??" Written two years ago by Jason Alba and Jesse Stay. Scott recommended Jason, and Jason agreed.

A lot has changed on Facebook since he wrote the book. Millions more people now have profiles--more than 60 million total, in fact--and techies have created hundreds of applications to use at the site.

Join me for a 70-minute teleseminar on Wednesday, Aug. 13, and Thursday, Aug. 14, on "How to Use Facebook to Promote Your Business or Nonprofit."

The first day, we'll present an overview of he site and the most important things you need to know. The second day will be devoted to actually promoting. If you don't have a profile yet at Facebook, we suggest you visit the site at http://www.Facebook.com, create one, take a look around and try to become familiar with the site. You'll be in a better position to ask questions during the teleseminars.

We could devote an entire week to Facebook. Because many of you are at various levels with Facebook--from not having a profile to feeling very comfortable on the site and using it to promote-- I've structured these sessions so we cover some of the basics for beginners, and lots of advanced content for more seasoned Hounds.

This is not a webinar. All you need is a telephone. But it would be very helpful if you can be in front of your computer and logged into the site during the calls so you can actually see what we're discussing.

Register for the teleseminars, which includes a copy of the MP3 audios and the edited electronic transcripts, at http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar/facebook.htm

The LinkedIn teleseminars sold out, and I expect these to sell out, too. Even if you can't attend, you can sign up any and listen to the recordings or read the transcripts when it's most convenient.


=======================================
2. When Doctors Shill for Pharmas
=======================================

Leigh Ann Hubbard, managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com, writes:

"Periodically, in response to a request, I'll get a quote from a doctor (via a publicist) that mentions a specific product. Inevitably, I Google the doctor and he or she has been or is on the payroll for the folks who make the product.

"There's no mention of conflict of interest in these emails, so it makes me mad, and I assume the publicists are trying to pull the wool over my eyes.

"Recently, that happened again. In email correspondence about it, in which I expressed my anger, the publicist actually defended the practice:

'Dr. [____] consults from time to time with the company as do many medical professionals for the pharma and OTC markets... As you know, Leigh Ann, many reputable practicing physicians consult with manufacturers from time to time to help them develop better products so people can be well.'

"I responded, 'Yes, I know that. And as you may know, it is then inappropriate for them to promote the companies they 'consult.'"

"Much to my amazement, she responded, 'I was not aware of that, to be honest with you, and not sure whose policy you are referring to--or perhaps some code of ethics I am not aware of. However, you see it all the time in the medical journals where researchers are in the pockets of pharmaceutical companies (disclosed of course) and surprise! The research makes the pharma drugs look good.'

"Have I really been getting these conflict-of-interest pitches simply because publicists don't know any better?

"Anyway, whatever the reason, this practice makes me never want to use the publicist--or any of his or her clients--again because I can't trust the person.

"It would be wonderful if you could address this. I know you have a large audience, and maybe there are publicists who truly don't know that this is absolutely unacceptable and insulting."

What do you say, publicists? Do these doctors need to hire new PR people? Or is what Leigh Ann experienced common PR practice within the medical community? If so, does it work? You can weigh in at my blog at http://tinyurl.com/5ofxom

Learn how to be the type of source journalists not only trust-- but treasure. "Special Report #49: 17 Ways to Build Valuable Relationships with Media People" tells you what to do and say if you want to stand heads above all the other PR people and self- promoters. The 17 things I teach you in this report are the same 17 things I valued in sources when I worked as a newspaper editor and reporter. Only $10. Order at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


=======================================
3. Why is Oprah Obsessed with This Topic? =======================================

"Does my butt look big in these jeans?"

Maybe the reason Oprah loves that topic is because women love it.

Think I'm kidding? Go to the Oprah website at http://www.Oprah.com and type the word "jeans" into the search box and see how many show segments fall into the butt-in-jeans category.

So, what if you want to get onto Oprah but your story pitch doesn't have anything to do with butts or jeans? How can you hope to compete with all the other wanna-be guests who are pitching stories in the beauty/makeover category?

Michelle Anton knows. She worked as a guest booker on Oprah and accepted and rejected hundreds of pitches from publicists and self-promoters. She'll be a guest on Steve Harrison's free 90- minute teleseminar on Thursday, July 31, at your choice of two times.

"The Three Big Secrets for Getting Booked as a Guest on Top National TV Shows" will feature Steve interviewing Michelle and other surprise guests who will teach you things unknown to 95 percent of all publicity-seekers.

On the call, you'll learn things like:

- -How to increase your odds of getting on Oprah, Fox News, CNN, Today Show and other top shows.

- -Understanding the mindset of national TV producers and what gets them to book you as a guest.

- -What you should send TV producers (and what you shouldn't).

- -An important lesson from one author who got on Oprah and saw sales soar as a result.

- -The most important question you must be able to answer to land a TV appearance.

- -The biggest mistakes to avoid when pitching TV producers (including ones that could get you black-balled forever!).

Once registered, you'll receive all the details back within five minutes.

Note: Steve usually doesn't offer replays of these calls. But sign up anyway just in case he changes his mind. If he does, he'll send you the link.

You can register for the call, which is free except for your normal long distance charges, at http://www.TVPublicityTeleseminar.com/?10011


=====================================
4. Start Pitching Holiday Gift Guides
=====================================

If you subscribe to leads services like ProfNet, PR Leads, or Help a Reporter Out, keep your eyes open for the many opportunities to get news about your consumer products into holiday gift guides.

Getting into these special sections is often a lot easier than getting into the regular news and feature sections of newspapers because gift guide editors are specifically looking for press releases and photos of products that make great gifts. In most cases, you don't need a clever hook or angle.

Just submit the information and--voila!--it ends up in a gift section that millions of newspaper or magazine readers might see.

The tough part is knowing exactly which publications are planning special gift sections. That's why I recommend the Gift List, a subscription service that provides contact information, story themes, product features, deadlines, submission preferences, photography requirements, cross-references and more for more than 250 top newspapers, all the major wire services, and television shows like Filter, The Look for Less, and, of course, MTV, "Ellen," "The View" and hundreds more.

You can even take a test drive to see how this service works: http://tinyurl.com/9es8y


========================================
5. Promoting a Design/Build Firm
========================================

This week, seven Publicity Hound have tips on how Teresa Berger of North Wales, Pennsylvania, the marketing director of Creative Contracting, Inc., can get more exposure in the community as a "premier design/build" firm in the Philadelphia area.


From Tanya Epstein:

"As marketing director for one of L.A.'s top architecture firms, I feel your pain, Teresa! I would lead with one of Joan's famous lists of ten: "Ten Ways Design-Build Can Save Construction Costs" using your boss' byline and contact info. Local trade and business journals can use those for sidebars in recession- conscious times, and they confer instant 'expert' status. Then develop a standard presentation and offer your (or his!) Services as a speaker to local organizations like Rotary Club, business breakfast clubs, and developer and real estate professional organizations."


From Harry Menta:

"Some of the easiest places to get an audience are at local chambers of commerce, trade associations and Rotary Clubs. It costs next to nothing to develop a nice 10- to 15-minute Power Point Presentation...If your company has an expertise like using green products or in design or doing restoration work on historical buildings, these are ways that you could get your boss some publicity."


From Jonathan Bernstein:

"You might want to consider investing in search engine optimization (SEO) work that would get you on the first page of a search for 'design firms Philadelphia.' Right now, even your home page's keywords are not geographically specific, hence they compete against every design firm in the country."


The Publicity Hound says:

How about suggesting that the boss create his own TV show or a series of shows to air only in the Philadelphia market? Robert Smith explains how he does it during the interview I conducted with him called "How to Get Your Own National TV Show for Less Than $400 a Month." (Your boss's show would cost far less than that.)

The interview is 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 how to create your own TV show at http://tinyurl.com/y4by43


Read all the comments for last week's Help this Hound question at http://tinyurl.com/6brzyb


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

Dalia Wallach of New York, New York writes:

"My company has a line of specialty hair care products. Our Get Glow products nourish your hair with formulas that include vitamins, minerals and plant extracts.

"As your hair gets healthier, it starts to look better and you don't have to wash it as often which is better for your hair's health. Our products have wonderful scents and really make caring for your hair a more pleasurable experience.

"All we need is for more people to find out about us and experiment with our products. Our website is at http://www.GetGlow.com and we've gotten quite a bit of publicity in national magazines and the trades. What ideas do your Hounds have for spreading the word?"

The Publicity Hound says: How about it Hounds? What can Dalia do at the social networking sites? And what other online and offline publicity ideas can you suggest? Post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/6obj9l


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

Thanks to Deb Schmidt of Milwaukee, Wisconsin for this recycled oldie but goodie from one of the old Hollywood Squares shows:

Peter Marshall: "When you pat a dog on the head he usually wags his tail. What will a goose do?"

Paul Lynde: "Make him bark."

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

8 interview mistakes you don't want to make
http://tinyurl.com/6k5y8z


Hungry reporter gets a gourmet burger thanks to Twitter
http://tinyurl.com/6cuaam


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
USA
Phone: 262-284-7451 (Central) Fax: 262-284-1737

Publicity tips/Facebook Makes the Cash Register Ring July 22, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #408 July 22, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/(Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 48,851

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

"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.

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

Sell Books by the Truckload:

If you're an author, and you're selling most of your books
through book stores, you're doing it the hard way.

If your title is a good fit, and you know what you're doing, you
can sell 5,000, 10,000 books or more to corporate buyers--many of
whom give away books as special premiums along with other
products and services they're selling.

Sign up for a free teleseminar to learn how you can unload
thousands of books.

See Item #3 below.

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

1. Facebook Makes the Cash Register Ring

2. LinkedIn Also Makes the Cash Register Ring

3. Sell 120,000 Books with One Phone Call

4. How to Make News When There's No News

5. Internet Help for the Blind

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


=========================================
1. Facebook Makes the Cash Register Ring
=========================================

This is for the Publicity Hound who aren't convinced that social
networking can be profitable.

I promoted last week's teleseminar series "How to Use LinkedIn to
Promote Anything--Ethically & Powerfully" by creating an event on
my Facebook page. My assistant then invited my 1,028 friends. At
$77, I wasn't sure how many Facebook friends would attend, but it
was definitely worth it.

Fifty-four people RSVP'd to tell me that they were attending, or
had already signed up. That's $4,158 in registration fees just
from Facebook! Something else started to happen. My Facebook
event started to grow legs.

Warren Whitlock, one of my Facebook friends, wrote on my wall:

"I found out about this from the Kim Beasley day celebration at
Twitter. http://www.Twitter.com/kbeasley

"I'm sharing the event with my LinkedIn subscribers and many
authors that have been asking about LinkedIn.com when I teach
publicity at http://BookMarketingStrategy.com.

"I'll be sharing this event for sure."

You can see what this wall post looks like here:
http://tinyurl.com/6qcrv4

Kim Beasley, The Blog Queen, who Warren referred to, has more
than 400 followers on Twitter, and I have no idea how many of
those people signed up after reading her tweet.

If I still haven't convinced you that sites like Facebook make
the cash register ring, you can listen to social media success
stories galore at The Social Media Summit Sept. 10-12 in Chicago,
sponsored by Ragan Communications. I attended Ragan's
"Unconference" on social media last year in Chicago. I made great
contacts, came back with hundreds of tips to share with you,
blogged about it while there, and learned about how to
incorporate social media into my own marketing campaigns.

At this year's summit, you'll learn about Web 2.0 strategies such
as podcasts, message boards, video and wikis. The conference
includes one track for internal communications and a separate
track for external and marketing communications. Curious about
what Web 3.0 might look like? You'll get a sneak preview.

I hope to see you there. This conference is so important that I
worked out a special arrangement with Ragan. Publicity Hounds
save $100 on the $1,195 registration, plus an additional $100 if
you take advantage of the early-bird registration, which has been
extended to this Friday. To get $200 off and pay only $995, you
must use this link: http://www.ragan.com/publicityhound

Let me know if you're going to the conference. Maybe we can have
a cup of coffee between sessions.


============================================
2. LinkedIn Also Makes the Cash Register Ring
=============================================

If you want to use LinkedIn to promote, here's step Number One.

This sounds like a no-brainer, but you must have a profile at the
website--preferably a darn good one.

Do nothing more than that and the cash register can start
ringing. It did for my friend, crisis counselor Jonathan
Bernstein.

"I landed one of my best clients--Craigslist--because the person
searching for a firm like mine looked at LinkedIn first," he
says.

If a multi-million-dollar company needs the kinds of products or
services you provide, and searches at LinkedIn, will it find you
there right now?

Once that you've created your profile, it's time to start making
connections with other LinkedIn users. This is an ongoing
process, but not to be taken lightly. Social networking expert
Scott Allen cautions that if you're asking somebody to connect
with you, they'd better know you, or could be digging a hole for
yourself.

"If you send out invitations to connect with people and five
people say they don't know you, your account is going to be
suspended and you're going to get a letter from LinkedIn
explaining their connection policy and asking you to adhere to it
and warning you that if you get more in the future, you'll have
your account locked," he said last week, during the first of two
teleseminars on "How to Use LinkedIn to Promote Anything--
Ethically & Powerfully."

His other tips on how to promote include:

--Give at least as much as you take. Instead of always asking
questions on LinkedIn or asking for connections, take the time to
answer questions that other LinkedIn users ask. Offer lots of
helpful advice.

--85 quality connections that include people who already know,
like and trust you are much better than 585 connections
consisting mostly of people who barely know you.

--Let's say you're hosting a live event and you want to use
LinkedIn to help fill seats. But many people would have to travel
by plane. You should be using the question-and-answer feature at
LinkedIn and asking a question that ties into the topic of the
event months before the event. This plants a seed in your
readers' minds that you care about this topic, that they can find
helpful advice related to the question or problem, and that
you're the go-to person who can help solve this particular
problem.

During the second teleseminar on Thursday, Scott created an
entire timeline that explains what you should be doing on
LinkedIn, and when, to promote. As of today, more than 150 people
have signed up for the teleseminar series, or to get the MP3
audios and electronic transcripts, a steal at only $77.

Read more about what it includes at
http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm

You'll receive the MP3 audio download links immediately. The
electronic transcripts should be ready in about 10 days.


==========================================
3. Sell 120,000 Books with One Phone Call
==========================================

Dr. Neil Baum, author of the book Marketing Your Clinical
Practice, tried lots of different ways to promote and distribute
the book--but most of them didn't work and he ended up
frustrated.

Then he thought that perhaps a big pharmaceutical company might
want to buy his book in mass quantity and give it away to doctors
as a gift. Pharmaceutical companies have very strict regulations
on what they're allowed to give to doctors. But giving them
educational products wasn't problem.

So Dr. Baum contacted the Bayer company and asked if they'd like
to give his book away to their customer doctors as a way of
showing appreciation for their patronage. Within a week, Bayer
bought more than 120,000 copies of his book and sent it to
doctors throughout the U.S. Today, his book is on the shelf of
virtually every medical clinic in the U.S.

And it all happened from just one phone call.

These kinds of deals happen all the time. But few authors
understand the step-by-step process of how to make that happen.

Matthew Bennett, a self-published author who's relatively unknown
to the general public, has had even greater success than Dr.
Baum. He has sold more than 5 million books in quantity to
Fortune 500 corporations including Disney, Reebok, NBC, Abbott
Labs, Pfizer, US Healthplans, Subway and many others.

Want to learn how he does it--and how you too can get started
selling your books by the truckload to big companies?

You're invited to a free telephone seminar tomorrow--Wednesday,
July 23--to hear my friend, Steve Harrison, interview Matthew
about his methods for the proven system for selling tons of
books. Register here:
http://www.freepublicity.com/mattbennett/?10011


========================================
4. How to Make News When There's No News
========================================

Here's a quick trick for creating news when there's absolutely
nothing new to pitch.

Be willing to talk about your business problems and how you
solved them.

Pick up any business journal and you'll see company after company
mentioned, usually because they've figured out ways to solve a
problem, whether it's delivering the product faster to customers,
or finding and keeping great employees, or how to enter a new
market that's already crowded with competitors.

But these stories don't only play well in business journals.
They're great for general interest magazines, daily and weekly
newspapers, and television, particularly if you have enticing
visuals.

This tip is one of more than a dozen I'll be sharing Thursday
during Bulldog Reporter's teleseminar on "Evergreen Magic for PR:
Media Masters Show How to Make News When There's No News."


We'll talk, for example, about editorial hot buttons: pegging
your story to rumors, future trends, features, divisive issues,
dramatic hooks and other sure-fire ways to supercharge your hit
ratio, even when you're not breaking news.

Four other panelists will join me, and moderator Brian Pittman
will make sure we move things along quickly so we can squeeze in
everybody's tips. Don't miss this one! Sign up at
http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?Clk=2488570


========================================
5. Internet Help for the Blind
========================================

This week, 10 Publicity Hound have tips on how Marcus Simmons,
president of the Motown Automotive Professionals, can get around
the image registration on websites. He's blind and his screen-
reader can't decipher images.


From Carol E. Dunsworth:

"I am including a link to a report describing the work of Prof.
Jonathan Lazar of Towson University, his Towson University
student Jonathan Holman and their two collaborators from the
University of Notre Dame: http://tinyurl.com/5e896x

"Abstract \CAPTCHAS are widely used by websites for security and
privacy purposes. However, traditional text-based CAPTCHAS are
not suitable for individuals with visual impairments. We proposed
and developed a new form of CAPTCHA that combines both visual and
audio information to allow easy access by users with visual
impairments."


From Linda Swisher:

"The people who brought you CAPTCHAS recommend reCAPTCHA for
those with visual disabilities.
http://recaptcha.net/whyrecaptcha.html"


From Barbara:

"I, too, am blind. I've used Internet courses offered by
YahooGroups and some on Google. I use the JAWS screen reader. If
the site has a moderator, contact them via email. They can
register you. Sometimes they have an alternative audio sign-in.
But, these have a lot of static and you may have to braille the
numbers as they come in as they run to 7 or 8 characters. Your
best bet, if no moderator is noted, would be to contact the
organization putting on or sponsoring the course and tell them
you need assistance to register for the course. All of the
courses I've taken have been willing to aid me in signing up for
their course."


Read all the responses to this week's Help This Hound question at
http://tinyurl.com/62trrn


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


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

Teresa Berger of North Wales, Pennsylvania writes:

"As marketing director for Creative Contracting, Inc., a
Philadelphia-area design/build remodeling firm, it's my
responsibility to get the company and its ownership more exposure
in the community. The owner wants me to get him in front of more
people, and find outlets for giving seminars and speeches to
consumers, business networking organizations and others.

"With a tight marketing budget and limited resources, how can I
work toward positioning the organization and owner as the premier
design/build firm in the area? Any innovative, cutting edge
suggestions from Hounds?"


The Publicity Hound says:

Here's my tip about how to get speaking engagements before
business groups. Get a copy of the Philadelphia Business Journal
and look in the back of the newspaper, where the calendar of
events is listed. Look for groups that are featuring speakers.
Call the number listed and ask for contact information for the
program chairman who books speakers. This is how I got dozens of
speaking engagements when I started my business.

You should also try to get your boss mentioned in The Business
Journal. Paul Furiga, former editor of the Pittsburgh business
Times, shares dozens of ideas on how to get in front of editors
and reporters who have the power to give you thousands of dollars
in publicity.

I interviewed him, and it's available as a CD or electronic
transcript that you can be reading as soon as your order is
approved. Read more about "How to Use Business Journals to Tell
Your Story" at http://tinyurl.com/q4rf7


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

"You may have a dog that won't sit up, roll over or even cook
breakfast, not because she's too stupid to learn how but because
she's too smart to bother."

--Rick Horowitz, Chicago Tribune

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

Campaign fun: Put yourself in this election video
http://tinyurl.com/6qt8zj


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
USA
Phone: 262-284-7451 (Central) Fax: 262-284-1737

Publicity tips/Don't Discuss Social Media, Do It July 15, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #407 July 15, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/(Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 48,851

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

"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.

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

LinkedIn Teleseminars Sold Out:

The two teleseminars on "How to Use LinkedIn to Promote
Anything--Ethically & Powerfully" on Wednesday and Thursday of
this week are sold out.

Even though you cannot attend the live calls, you can still sign
up anyway and I'll send you the MP3 audios within 24 hours after
Thursday's call. I'll send you the edited electronic transcripts
in about two weeks.

Sign up to receive both at
http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar/linkedin.htm

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

1. Don't Discuss Social Media, Do It

2. Jesse, the Mic is ALWAYS on

3. Will You be Ready if Oprah Calls?

4. Journalists' Green Fatigue

5. Promoting a Staffing Service

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

=======================================
1. Don't Discuss Social Media, Do It
=======================================

Response to the two teleseminars I'm hosting this week on how to
use LinkedIn to promote has been overwhelming.

All 100 seats have been sold and I closed registration this
morning. You can still sign up to receive the MP3 audio and
electronic transcripts, however, at
http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar/linkedin.htm

Anybody who has a LinkedIn profile must know how to squeeze every
last drop of networking out of every single connection. Or, as
many people on LinkedIn have sadly discovered, that long list of
names you've collected is...well...nothing more than a long list
of names.

Many of the 100 people who will be on tomorrow's call own a
business or work for PR firms. For them, LinkedIn is a no-
brainer.

Social networking is a much harder sell, however, in large
companies, based on some of these comments I've heard:

"Our boss wants total control over our image."

(Tell the boss there is no such thing as total control over your
image. Just ask Dell computers, Wal-Mart or any other company
that's been skewered by bloggers and in online discussion
groups.)

"We'd rather spend our efforts getting stories in The New York
Times and USA Today."

(Guess where many of those reporters search for sources? On
social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, and at
blogs.)

"We've decided that this isn't where we want to spend our time."

(Too bad. Your clients, vendors, shareholders, competitors and
hundreds of potential customers spend lots of time using social
media and Web 2.0 to connect with their key audiences, often with
great results.)

Popular blogger and internal communications expert Steve
Crescenzo says that two years ago, everybody was talking about
Web 2.0 and social media. Today, the smart companies have
stopped talking about it and they're DOING it.

"I talk to hundreds of communicators every year in my seminars
and consulting work, and go into dozens of companies. And I can
tell you this: The time for big talk and theories about social
media is over," Steve says. "The time to actually use these
tools to dramatically improve how you communicate is now."

Steve is conference organizer for The Social Media Summit Sept.
10-12 in Chicago, sponsored by Ragan Communications. I attended
Ragan's "unconference" on social media last year in Chicago and
it was fabulous--sort of an unstructured, free-flowing day in
which so many tips and ideas were bouncing around that I couldn't
type my notes fast enough.

This year's Social Media Summit will include example after
example of how companies are using podcasts, message boards,
social networking sites, video, widgets and other Web 2.0
applications to get closer to their key audiences. You'll even
get a peek at Web 3.0.

The conference includes one track for internal communications and
a separate track for external and marketing communications.

I'll be there and I hope you'll be, too.

I worked out a special arrangement with Ragan. Publicity Hounds
save $100 on the price of registration, plus an additional $100
if you register by Friday using this special link:
http://www.ragan.com/publicityhound

See you in Chicago!


=======================================
2. Jesse, the Mic is ALWAYS on
=======================================

How could the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a master at playing the media
like a fiddle, not know the mic was on last week when he made
that repulsive comment about castrating Barack Obama?

One of the very first things you learn in Media Training 101 is
that if you're mic'd, always assume it's on and never say
anything you wouldn't say off the air.

I heard at least two radio talk show hosts say they're convinced
that Jackson knew darn well the mic was on and that his comments
would be picked up and aired.

How about it, Hounds? Did Jackson know the mic was on? Post
your comment to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/6fo7ff


=======================================
3. Will You be Ready if Oprah Calls?
=======================================

If Oprah called this afternoon, or Larry King, or the "Today"
Show, and wanted to book you for an appearance later this week,
would you be scurrying around at the last minute trying to find a
media trainer?

What about that New York Times reporter you've been pitching for
two years? If he called to interview you tomorrow, would you be
ready?

If Oprah called, would you be practicing your sound bites between
making travel arrangements to Chicago and shopping for something
to wear on the big day?

Here's a quick tip from Jess Todtfeld, president of Media
Training Worldwide, who worked as a producer on "FOX & Friends"
for seven years:

One way to craft great sound bites is to use rhetorical
questions. Reporters like rhetorical questions because they
break up the structure of their stories. And during broadcast
interviews, they make viewers really think.

Examples:

"Are you better off today than you were four years ago?"

"Are we going to face a possible bankruptcy next year?"

"Why has the governor betrayed the faith of the voters?"

The one thing all of these questions have in common, Jess says,
is that they aren't real questions. They aren't expressions
uttered by someone seeking new information. They're rhetorical
questions, meaning they're simply a way of making a point in the
form of asking a question. The question doesn't have to be
answered in order for the point to be made.

Jess knows at least a dozen other ways to create compelling sound
bites. He'll arm you with all of them and give you valuable on-
camera experience and a critique during PR Leads' daylong media
training on Friday, Aug. 1, in New York City. This session is
perfect for speakers attending the National Speakers Association
convention that weekend in New York and for anybody else who will
be in the area.

I spoke at an event with Jess two years ago and I watched him
work his on-stage magic with members of the audience. This
promises to be a fun, information-packed session with practical
experience in front of a camera. But only 20 people can attend.

Sign up for "Media Training for Experts and Authorities
Workshop--From Sound Bites to Messages That Make The Media Take
Notice" at http://www.mediatrainingforexperts.com/publicityhound/


P. S. Dan Janal, president of PR Leads, the sponsoring company,
is attending the media training as a student. He's publishing a
book soon on how to negotiate, and he says he needs to learn
sound bites for his many upcoming media interviews.


=====================================
4. Journalists' Green Fatigue
=====================================

When Bulldog Reporter invited me to be a guest panelist on the
July 24 teleseminar designed to help Publicity Hounds create news
when there is no news, I jumped at the chance.

I wrote three pages of notes and reviewed them yesterday with the
three other guest experts who will be on the panel with me.
During the call, I learned something fascinating.

Always-cynical journalists are becoming increasingly suspicious
of story ideas tied to the green movement. That could be because
PR people are bombarding the media with them.

"Everybody wants to be the next Al Gore," said one panelist, a
corporate PR person who says she's been meeting increasing
resistance from journalists when pitching green stories.

If you're pitching them, too, you'd better know what you're
talking about, have facts to back up your claim, and make the
angle unusual enough.

We'll discuss this topic in more depth next week. We'll also
explain how to get into the news, front and center, when there's
absolutely nothing happening at your business that's remotely
exciting.

We'll talk, for example, about editorial hot buttons: pegging
your story to rumors, future trends, features, divisive issues,
dramatic hooks and other sure-fire ways to supercharge your hit
ratio, even when you're not breaking news.

Sign up for "Evergreen Magic for PR: Media Masters Show How to
Make News When There's No News" at
http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?Clk=2488570


========================================
5. Promoting an Admin Staffing Service
========================================

This week, three Publicity Hound have tips on how Michelle Suter
of Frisco, Texas can promote her HR company, Administaff, a
professional employer organization that serves as a full-time
human resources department for small and medium-sized businesses.


From Meryl K. Evans:

"Sign up for a NeighborsGo.com account, if you haven't already
and post events, blog entries, and stories on it. If they find
your story compelling, they will publish it in the Dallas Morning
News local edition. Plus, you reach other people from the DFW
area."


From Stephanie of JJ Keller:

"Our company has a great number of HR products and our biggest
success have come via the SHRM Annual Conference as well as the
state/local chapter conferences that are held annually throughout
the company. Perhaps attending some of these smaller events will
allow you to localize your message in different areas. It's less
overwhelming than the large SHRM show and you're reaching
organizations more within your target (7-50 employees) because
these organizations can afford to travel to conferences within
their state versus halfway across the country."


From The Publicity Hound:

Outsourcing is a hot topic these days. So pitch different angles
to different business reporters in your area. Because of the bad
economy, companies are laying off full-time employees and
outsourcing their work. What trends are you noticing among your
clients? What kinds of tasks are most frequently outsourced?
What about unusual tasks that many companies feel should remain
in-house? Can you do those, too? Be ready to talk about
problems your company has experienced and how you have overcome
them.

"How to Use Business Journals to Tell Your Story," a recording of
a teleseminar I hosted with Paul Furiga, former editor of the
Pittsburgh Business Times, is packed with ideas on how to form
strong relationships with business reporters who need the kind of
news you can offer. 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 how to get your news into prestigious business
journals at http://tinyurl.com/q4rf7.


Read all the responses to this week's "Help This Hound" question
at http://tinyurl.com/6jb7z5


I'm running low on Help this Hound questions. Send yours to
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound
and include your city and state.


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

Marcus Simmons, president of the Motown Automotive Professionals,
asks:

"I want to broaden my presence in the digital world and need to
enroll in various online courses.

"Since I'm blind, I can't write down the characters in the image
on the registration page, because my screen-reader can't decipher
images. Do your Hounds have any suggestions around this
problem?"


The Publicity Hound says: This is a tough one. I remember
reading something about this several months ago but I can't
remember the solution. Hounds, any ideas for Marcus? If so,
post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/62trrn


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

Why it's great to be a dog:

1. No one expects you to take a bath every day.

2. If it itches, you can scratch it.

3. There's no such thing as bad food.

4. A rawhide bone can entertain you for hours.

5. You can lie around all day without worrying about being fired.

6. You don't get in trouble for putting your head in a stranger's
lap.

7. You're always excited to see the same people.

8. Having big feet is considered an asset.

9. Puppy love can last!


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

Social networking tips and success stories
http://tinyurl.com/596qr9


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
USA
Phone: 262-284-7451 (Central) Fax: 262-284-1737

Publicity tips/Use LinkedIn to Snoop and Promote July 8, 2008

The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week
Issue #406 July 8, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/(Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 48,218

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

"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.

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

How to use LinkedIn to Promote Anything--Ethically & Powerfully

Are you accumulating dozens, maybe even hundreds, of contacts on
LinkedIn, and then not sure what to do with all those names?

Social networking expert Scott Allen knows. And he'll walk you
step-by-step through the entire process of how to use all those
names to promote whatever you're selling. Join us for two 70-
minute teleseminars on a topic every serious business person must
know.

See Item #1 below.

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

1. Use LinkedIn to Snoop and Promote

2. How to Become a Paid Speaker

3. Stricter Product Placement Rules

4. When Journalists say "No Thanks"

5. Musicians, Artists: Provide Commentary

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Video of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

=======================================
1. Use LinkedIn to Snoop and Promote
=======================================

In the old days, spying on your business competitors was next to
impossible without hiring a private investigator.

These days, however, social networking sites are an open door to
snoop on the competition quickly and easily. But be forewarned
that you might not like what you find.

Take LinkedIn, the popular business networking site, for
instance. If you're spying on somebody who works for a competing
company and is working hard to position herself as an expert in
your field, one of the first places to look is at LinkedIn.com,
the business networking site. Type her name into LinkedIn's
search box near the top of the screen. If your competitor has a
profile on LinkedIn, you'll be able to learn all kinds of
interesting tidbits about her.

Now scroll down a little and look for the sub-head that says
"Questions & Answers." You can see at a glance her areas of
expertise. You might also find something called "best answers"
which refers to the number of times she has provided an answer to
a question asked by another LinkedIn user and those users have
flagged her answer as a "best answer."

You can also see exactly how many questions she has posted to the
LinkedIn community, and how many people answered them and started
building a relationship with her.

How many best answers did she provide in each area of expertise
on her bulleted list? How many does your LinkedIn profile say
you provided?

If somebody came to LinkedIn looking to do business with somebody
in your industry and they compared your profiles, who would they
be more inclined to view as the expert? You or her? If her
LinkedIn profile shows far more expertise than yours does, who do
you think would get the new business?

If the answer is her, she has done an outstanding job promoting
herself on LinkedIn.

But wait! She has only 148 connections. You have 589. Doesn't
that count for something?

Not necessarily. What I've described so far is what social
networking expert Scott Allen says is a good example of how fewer
but better connections can give your competitor the edge. It can
also mean new contracts for her, new joint venture partners, and
lots of new introductions to top decision-makers on LinkedIn.

Next week, during two 70-minute teleseminars, Scott will explain
"How to Use LinkedIn to Promote Anything--Ethically and
Powerfully." Everyone who registers will receive the MP3 audio
and the electronic transcript afterward, so if you can't make the
live call, that's OK, you can study the information later. I've
already sold more than half of the 100 seats available, and I
don't know of any other product like this one on the market.
Because most people sign up within a day or two of the event, I'm
expecting this one to be sold out.

Learn how to start using LinkedIn today to snoop, promote and
stand miles above your competitors at
http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar/linkedin.htm


=======================================
2. How to Become a Paid Speaker
=======================================

If you're trying to become an expert in your field, one of the
things you should be doing is speaking to audiences about your
topic.

Speakers can:

- -Earn an additional source of revenue from speaking fees.

- -Sell products from the back of the room.

- -Generate far more publicity than if they didn't speak to
audiences.

- -Leave the event with dozens and sometimes hundreds of email
addresses, and then market to those audience members who have
given you permission to do so.

- -Catch the attention of journalists.

- -Catch the attention of bloggers who need content and expert
sources.

- -Be invited to submit content for other people's books, simply
because they speak on the topic.

- -Be invited to submit articles for industry-specific trade
journals, newspaper and magazine editorial pages, and online
article directories.

Yes, the world is glutted with speakers, many of whom are
struggling to make a name for themselves. So you'll be competing
with them all, even the ones who speak for free.

This Thursday, my friends Steve Harrison and James Malinchak will
team up to present a free teleseminar on "What You Need To Know
To Make $2,500.00 a Day (or More) As a Public Speaker Without
Being Famous!"

James, who has made a 7-figure income for himself on the college
speaking circuit, will explain how you can find companies and
organizations that already have a budget to pay speakers like you
quite handsomely, even if you're not famous or well-known in your
field.

He'll explain why you should never accept less than $2,500.00 to
give a speech--even if you're a complete unknown with an
"ordinary topic," and what to do to get it easily. He'll list
the five critical steps for landing paid speaking gigs when you
don't have a lot of time to market yourself.

The teleseminar is being presented at 2 p.m. Eastern Time and
again at 7 Eastern. Seating is limited, so sign up right now at
http://www.SpeakerTrainingTeleseminar.com/?10011


===========================================
3. Stricter Product Placement Rules
===========================================

Thanks to digital video recorders like TiVo, we don't have to sit
through all those annoying commercials anymore.

That's why companies are clamoring to get their products placed
onto the sets of TV shows.

Hewlett-Packard put its computers in the U.S. production of The
Office, for instance, and cast members on The Sopranos could be
seen frequently drinking Tropicana orange juice and eating Honey-
Combs cereal.

Now, the FCC is considering whether it should create a stricter
set of rules for product placement. Current rules call for
disclosure only at the end of a show. But the rules might change
so that viewers can be notified of product placements as soon as
they come into view.

The agency has asked commissioners for their opinion on the
stricter rules, but a vote hasn't been scheduled. There's no
indication whether the rules would apply to paid placements or
unpaid placements.

Unpaid placements can be just as lucrative for companies.
Production companies need things like bottled water and even bug
spray while they're shooting. If you donate those products for
use on the set, they sometimes will stay there, even during
shooting, and show up during the program or movie.

Amy Bates Stumpf says you have to jump through a lot of hoops to
make that happen. But if you know who to contact and how to
pitch your products, millions of people can see them. Amy was my
guest during a telephone seminar last year on whom to pitch,
when, and how to work with them.

"Product Placement: How to Get Your Consumer Product onto the
Sets of Movies & TV Shows" is 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/6gdevz


=====================================
4. When Journalists Say "No Thanks"
=====================================

What do you do when you pitch a journalist about an event you'll
be sponsoring or participating in, and the journalist isn't
interested?

Do you move on to the next name on your media resource list and
hope somebody take the bait?

If so, you've skipped an important step. You should be making
notes in your media plan about whether the media outlet you're
contacting accepts online video. If you aren't sure, ask.

Many do, even newspapers and magazine which traditionally have
been interested in stories only for print. They're hungry for
user-generated video for their websites. And when you provide
it, sometimes the most amazing things happen.

When you shoot, say, a two-minute video about an event you've
sponsored--one they weren't interested in covering--that video
could end up not only at their website, but on TV.

It happed to John Easton when he wanted local TV stations to
cover a story about an Australian production company filming a
segment at his son's school. Nobody was interested. So he shot
video himself and provided it to local media and TV stations.
Those same TV stations ended up airing it. Local newspapers also
posted the video at their websites. Even the school district,
which didn't shoot its own video, used it!

You don't need a fancy camera or skills as a videographer.
During a teleseminar I conducted with him several months ago on
"9 Clever Ways to Use Video to Become a Publicity Darling in Your
Industry or Community," John said an inexpensive Flip Video
camera can do the trick.

The recording is 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/5pbgzn


========================================
5. Musicians, Artists: Provide Commentary
========================================

Musicians and artists frequently email me, asking how they can
promote on a shoestring budget.

One of my tips is to provide commentary about breaking news
events in their industry.

A perfect example occurred last Tuesday when singer Rene Marie
was asked to sing the National Anthem before Denver Mayor John
Hickenlooper's annual State of the City address.

Instead, she surprised everyone and sang "Lift Ev'ry Voice and
Sing," which is also known as the "black national anthem." It
raised a huge stink, and Denver's politicians criticized her on
local and national TV and radio shows. Bloggers threw more
gasoline on the fire.

This would have been an excellent chance for musicians to
generate some local publicity by calling their local TV stations
and offering a comment about whether the criticism was justified.
This controversy broke just three days before the Fourth of July.

Artists, if you keep your eyes and ears open, you'll find lots of
opportunities like this one for you, too. Examples:

- -When somebody criticizes public art for being in poor taste.

- -When taxpayers object to funding any type of public art.

- -When artists stage publicity stunts to call attention to their
artwork.

Remember, the media love controversy. And local media love
providing "the local angle" to national stories.

Musicians, learn dozens more publicity tips on how to promote. I
interviewed music publicity expert Bob Baker who explained "Do-
it-Yourself PR Tips for Songwriters, Musicians & Bands on a
Budget" at http://tinyurl.com/mqsug

Artists, learn "How Artists Can Sell More Artwork through Online
& Offline Publicity," an interview Ariane Goodwin did with me.
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/yvewm8


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

Last week, Michelle Suter of Frisco, Texas submitted a Help This
Hound question, but I failed to give the link where Hounds can
post answers. So I'm including the question again this week.
You can respond at http://tinyurl.com/6jb7z5

"Our company, Administaff, is a professional employer
organization that serves as a full-time human resources
department for small and medium-sized businesses.

"We have had a great deal of national marketing, yet my best
clients are small business owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth area
who have from seven to 50 employees. How do I take our "big" PR
and marketing message and localize it so my prospects get our
message in a way they can relate to?

"I feel as though they don't understand that 'Small Business is
Good for America, and Administaff is Good for Small Business.'"

Their website is at http://www.administaff.com


The Publicity Hound says:

Post your best ideas for Michelle at http://tinyurl.com/6jb7z5

Here's my idea. You need to find your way into the Dallas
Business Journal which, I'll bet, lots of local business people
read. Landing a story, or even an opinion column, in this paper
will really put your business in the spotlight. Get your hands
on a copy of their editorial calendar and check to see which
topics they'll be writing about that are a perfect fit with the
type of information you can offer as an expert source.

I interviewed Paul Furiga, former editor of The Pittsburgh
Business Times, and got him to share his best tips on how local
businesses can form strong relationships with business journal
staff and give them the kinds of stories they love. We recorded
"How to Use Business Journals to Tell Your Story" and 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/q4rf7


And speaking of errors, I made another one last week. I stated
here that Friday, July 13, is "Dress Up Like a Cow Day,"
sponsored by Chik-fil-A restaurants which will give a free meal
to anyone who enters the restaurant dressed like a cow. It's
actually Friday, July 11.


================================
7. Hound Video of the Week
================================

I love this short video which proves that many dog owners do,
indeed, look like their dogs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=642qxehEcGg


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

Add social media links to your EzineArticles.com profile
http://tinyurl.com/5tpr2a


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
USA
Phone: 262-284-7451 (Central) Fax: 262-284-1737

Publicity tips/What You Don't Know About LinkedIn July 1, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #405 July 1, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/(Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 48,019

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

"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"

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In This Issue
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1. What You Don't Know About LinkedIn

2. Is Your Video Driving Away Customers?

3. "Today" Show Tips

4. "Dress Like a Cow" Day

5. Promoting a Book on Suicide

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

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1. What You Don't Know About LinkedIn
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Some people collect LinkedIn connections like they collect
pennies in a big, empty mayonnaise jar.

They add them one by one, watching the pile of names grow bigger
and bigger. They keep track of how many connections they've
made. And they feel pretty darn good when their list grows to

100. ..300...500 names and beyond.

People who don't know any better view their LinkedIn connections
like the rainy fund inside the mayonnaise jar. They'll use
LinkedIn when it's time to job-hunt. But until then, their list
of contacts just sort of sits there.

That's because in the world of social networking, people have
heard that they should never ever use LinkedIn to promote.

Don't tell that to Scott Allen, an expert in social media and
social networking. Since creating his LinkedIn profile four
years ago, he has used LinkedIn to:

- -Close a 5-figure consulting deal with a company that found him
at that site.

- -Find an agent for his first book, "The Virtual Handshake:
Opening Doors and Closing Deals."

- -Collect feedback from 100 contacts who read the draft of The
Virtual Handshake. Of those, about 80 had never met Scott face
to face. Yet he established such a strong connection with them
on LinkedIn that they took the time to not only read his book but
provide valuable comments.

- -Generate media opportunities. How many? "I've lost count,"
he says.

- -Find joint venture partners.

- -Connect with authors who interview him and quote him in their
books.

Scott calls that promoting. Not the in-your-face, obnoxious kind
that most of us hate. But the smart, subtle, savvy kind that
makes it easy for people to find him if they need the kind of
help and information he can offer.

Scott goes the extra mile on LinkedIn by answering questions from
other LinkedIn users whenever he can. He has more than 500
connections and an impressive 61 recommendations, almost all of
them absolutely glowing.

He stresses, however, that someone on LinkedIn with only 70 or 80
really strong connections can make them go a lot farther than
somebody with 500 names of people who they barely know.

Scott says Publicity Hounds who aren't using LinkedIn to promote
are missing a huge opportunity. He'll be my guest during two
teleseminars from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 16,
and Thursday, July 17, called "How to Use LinkedIn to Promote
Anything Ethically and Powerfully."

This series is limited to the first 100 people who register.
Afterward, I'll sell the recording as a CD, electronic transcript
or MP3 audio. On July 16, Scott will explain how to build an
impressive profile, use LinkedIn to position yourself as an
expert and do all the little extras on LinkedIn that most other
people don't bother doing--things that can really make you stand
out from the pack and get found by the search engines.

On July 17, he'll walk us step-by-step through the entire process
of how to use LinkedIn to promote. He'll even share case studies
of LinkedIn members who have done just that, with great success.

If you haven't built your LinkedIn profile yet, this teleseminar
series if for you. Even if you've been using LinkedIn for
several years, we guarantee you'll learn far more than you know
already. Register at
http://www.Publicityhound.com/teleseminar/linkedin.htm


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2. Is Your Video Driving Away Customers?
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Here's a common mistake people make when shooting amateur video.

They place the camera too low, and then point it upward, toward
the subject's face.

When I watch that kind of video, I feel like I'm in kindergarten
and the teacher is cowering over me, preaching. If you've
created the video to try to sell me something, sorry, but you've
just killed the sale.

Media coach Susan Harrow agrees. She says camera angles are just
one of several variables that can instill confidence in your
viewers, or make them recoil. Other factors include things like
the type of clothing you're wearing and even something as simple
as the backdrop.

If you're shooting video at home or in your office, and you
aren't careful about where you're standing, it might look like
you have a plant, a tree, a lampshade or even antlers, growing
out of the top of your head.

Another important factor is how comfortable you look. Some
people look so stiff that I'm afraid they'll crack if they move a
muscle.

Susan, who coaches people for TV appearances, says the first
three seconds of a video are critical to catching the attention
of a big-shot TV producer as well as a customer with a credit
card. She has evaluated hundreds of videos in the past 17 years
for everyone from Fortune 500 CEOs to celebrity chefs and
Internet millionaires. She's prepped clients for appearances on
"Oprah," "Larry King Live" and "60 Minutes."

And now she's ready to critique you during her "10-minute speed
session" for $99. She'll grade your sound bites and clothing and
provide valuable feedback on how well you connect with your
audience and whether you look authentic. If you're using your
video to sell something, she'll give you tips on how to put
viewers in a buying mood.

Read more about what the "speed session" includes at
http://tinyurl.com/3rfssn


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3. "Today" Show Tips
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Landing a spot on the "Today" show is no easy task.

But Publicity Hound Eli Davidson got a four-minute interview on
the show last Thursday morning by following a tip she learned in
The Publicity Hound Mentor Program. Ask other TV producers who
have booked you if they know of other shows that might want you
as a guest, and then ask if they'd be willing to contact the
other producer on your behalf.

That's what she did after appearing on Dr. Phil's "Decision
House" TV show. The "Today" show took the bait, and she got the
phone call she was waiting for.

Eli, an author and coach, discussed how she turned her life
around after losing her business, marriage and health, all within
18 months. She was $88,000 in debt but dug out. Today, she
coaches others on success strategies and turnaround techniques.

Other pointers she passes along for getting onto a show like
"Today":

- -Study the show closely. She noticed that hosts Kathy Lee
Gifford and Hoda Kotb both had dark tans. So to avoid looking
like a ghost next to them, she got a spray tan.

- -Talk in sound bites. "Men talk like they're laying bricks,"
she said on the show. "Women talk like we're tossing salad."

- -Offer props. She took a glue gun and a hair barrette to help
tell the story of the successful company she started to get back
on her feet.

- -Encourage friends and relatives to comment on the video that's
posted online. Producers pay attention to the number of comments
and might be swayed to invited you back if the video triggers a
big reaction. Comment on her video and she'll be more inclined
to comment on yours, or review your book, when it's your turn.

"How to Get Booked on the Morning TV Talk Shows" explains dozens
more tips on how to get onto the big morning shows. 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/ab86x

And then find out whether you're a good fit for The Publicity
Hound Mentor Program at
http://www.publicityhound.com/mentorprogram/intro.html


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4. "Dress Like a Cow" Day
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Thanks to Publicity Hound Lisa Solomon for this one.

If you walk into any Chick-fil-A restaurant on Friday, July 13,
fully dressed like a cow, you'll get a Chick-fil-A Meal
absolutely free.

The publicity stunt, staged for the fourth year in a row at the
almost 1,400 stores, results in phenomenal publicity.

Last year, the Chick-fil-A restaurant in Hendersonville, N.C.
hosted a herd of 350 cow-spotted customers from summer camps, day
care centers and preschools. Another group of ambitious college
students calling themselves "The Herd" set out on a "cattle
drive" from Knoxville, Tenn. To Atlanta, Ga. On a mission to
visit 30 Chick-fil-A restaurants in one day.

In 2007, the Chick-fil-A "Eat Mor Chikin" Cows were recognized as
one of America's most popular advertising icons in a public vote
sponsored by Advertising Week and became the newest members of
New York's Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame.

But you don't need to be a billion-dollar company like Chick-fil-
A to benefit from these fun publicity stunts. Create your own
special day.

"Special Report #45: How to Generate National Publicity from Your
Own Holiday (or Day, Week or Month of the Year)" gives you lots
of ideas on how small companies can create their own special
days. Only $10. Read more about how to get started at
http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


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5. Promoting a Book on Suicide
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This week, eight Publicity Hounds have tips on how Patricia
"Trish" Gallagher of Worcester, Pa. Can promote the book "Don't
Jump! Out of the Shadows" about depression and suicide. It was
written by her husband, who tried unsuccessfully to commit
suicide by jumping from a building.


From Michelle Meacham:

"Patricia and John - congratulations, and thank you, for taking
on this worthy but very misunderstood issue. Have you tried
collaborating with the National Institute of Mental Health at
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ and the Depression and Bi-polar Support
Institute at http://tinyurl.com/ynbq47 A particular angle you
might want to focus on in your promotional materials is
referencing important figures throughout history who have
suffered from depression, including Abraham Lincoln, Winston
Churchill, Billy Joel, J.K. Rowling, Michelangelo, and many, many
other intelligent and creative people."


From Gabriele Pallin:

"I recommend making a podcast and read that part from your book--
which might make others who want to jump THINK and hopefully
prevent it. You could then upload the podcast to iTunes on your
own blog, which makes you web-visible...Hearing your voice makes
it a more grabbing, moving experience. I would then contact all
the suicide hot lines and prayer lines."


From Dana Smith:

"The first step is to clarify your goals and create an online
presence. I recommend a blog-based website which is much easier
to create and will allow for interaction with others. You could
even ask readers to share their stories on the blog and use some
of those stories in the book, with permission.

"Also, I recommend creating a marketing and publicity plan for
the book as soon as possible."


The Publicity Hound says:

A publicity plan is imperative because without one, you'll be
missing lots of opportunities for coverage. "How to Create a
Media Plan" walks you step-by-step through the entire process and
even includes a handy "fill in the blanks" template for a media
plan, complete with a handy list along the side of several dozen
publicity opportunities to job your brain. Read more about how
to create a media plan at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/mediaplan.htm


Read all the responses to this week's Help This Hound question at
http://tinyurl.com/44vt26


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


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

Michelle Suter of Frisco, Texas writes:

"Our company, Administaff, is a professional employer
organization that serves as a full-time human resources
department for small and medium-sized businesses.

"We have had a great deal of national marketing, yet my best
clients are small business owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth area
who have from seven to 50 employees. How do I take our "big" PR
and marketing message and localize it so my prospects get our
message in a way they can relate to?

"I feel as though they don't understand that 'Small Business is
Good for America, and Administaff is Good for Small Business.'"

Their website is at http://www.administaff.com


The Publicity Hound says:

Here's my idea. You need to find your way into the Dallas
Business Journal which, I'll bet, lots of local business people
read. Landing a story, or even an opinion column, in this paper
will really put your business in the spotlight. Get your hands
on a copy of their editorial calendar and check to see which
topics they'll be writing about that are a perfect fit with the
type of information you can offer as an expert source.

I interviewed Paul Furiga, former editor of The Pittsburgh
Business Times, and got him to share his best tips on how local
businesses can form strong relationships with business journal
staff and give them the kinds of stories they love. We recorded
"How to Use Business Journals to Tell Your Story" and 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/q4rf7


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7. Hound Joke of the Week
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An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard. I could tell
from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was
well taken care of.

He calmly came over to me. I gave him a few pats on his head.
He followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled
up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside
and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an
hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: "I would like to find out
who the owner of this wonderful, sweet dog is and ask if you are
aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for
a nap."

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned
to his collar: "He lives in a home with six children, two under
the age of 3. He's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come
with him tomorrow?"


DOG JOKES & QUOTES EBOOK: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.

Http://www.publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/


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8. And at My Blog...
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Story idea for this week: Freedom from (fill in the blank)
http://tinyurl.com/4c777n


Best Twitter tools and resources
http://tinyurl.com/4yvxow


If you work in PR, you should be reading snarky Gawker
http://tinyurl.com/3jkds9


Working with a virtual assistant? Follow these 4 golden rules
http://tinyurl.com/4us7up


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Reprinted from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," an ezine
featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity.
Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email
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=======================================================

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