Publicity tips/How LinkedIn Connections Can Hurt You Aug 26, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #413 Aug. 25, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 50,460

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

"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.

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

Don't Miss These Deadlines & Events:

- -Labor Day is the unofficial deadline for submitting press
releases and photos of your consumer products for holiday gift
guides. Find out which media provide opportunities for publicity
with help from The Gift List at http://tinyurl.com/9es8y

- -Publicity Hounds can still get $200 off the $1,195
registration fee for Ragan Communications' Social Media Summit
Sept. 10-12 in Chicago. I'll be there, and I'd love to buy you a
cup of coffee if you're attending. Register at
http://www.ragan.com/publicityhound

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

1. How LinkedIn Connections Can Hurt You

2. Grade the Convention Speakers

3. Roach Race a Clever Publicity Stunt

4. Think Beyond Your Book

5. Where to Find Book Clubs

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


=======================================
1. How LinkedIn Connections Can Hurt You
=======================================

When somebody invites you to connect with them on LinkedIn, and
their name isn't familiar to you, what do you do?

As of a few months ago, I'd just accept the connection without a
second thought. These days, however, I'll hit "reply" and ask,
"How do we know each other?"

If they don't know me, I usually won't hear from them again.
Most times, however, it's somebody who reads this newsletter, was
in the audience during one of my presentations or heard me on
somebody else's teleseminar. In that case, I'll approve the
connection.

LinkedIn expert Scott Allen says a mile-long list of connections
can actually hurt you. Here's why.

Let's say Connection A asks you to introduce him to Connection B,
who you know, like and respect. Connection B asks "How do you
know Connection A?" If you admit you don't know Connection A,
you'll look like you really don't care about wasting Connection
B's time and that could damage the relationship.

But there are far greater dangers.

In order to be connected to someone on LinkedIn, you have to
invite them. Let's say I invite 50 people--names I've culled
from my email address book. Five of those people click on the
button that says "I don't know Joan." That's all it takes--five
people who say they don't know me--to suspend my account. All
that work down the drain!

You also run the risk of one of your connections reporting you as
a spammer to LinkedIn at any time. So the longer your list of
connections, the greater the chance that somebody on your list
won't like what you're doing.

Why risk it? Only accept connections from people who you know or
are connected with in some way.

If we haven't connected on LinkedIn, you can find me at
http://www.linkedin.com/in/publicityhound but when you ask to
connect, be sure to tell me you're a Publicity Hound.

Then learn the ins and outs of how to use this valuable service
to promote your expertise, as well as a product, service, cause
or issue. Almost everything about promoting on LinkedIn is very
different than the way we promote anything else. And knowing the
rules is imperative.

Scott Allen explained them all last month, and his super-smart
strategies for launching any type of promotional campaign on
LinkedIn, complete with a timeline. The two teleseminars he
recorded with me on "How to use LinkedIn to Promote Anything--
Ethically and Powerfully" are available as electronic transcripts
along with your choice of MP3s or Cd's.

Read more about the power of LinkedIn at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar/linkedin.htm


=========================================
2. Grade the Convention Speakers
=========================================

During the next two weeks, Publicity Hounds have opportunities
galore to piggyback onto the Democratic and Republican national
conventions:

- -Speech coaches, critique the speakers. Even though almost
everything is scripted, there's still lots of room for comment.
Witness last night's speeches by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who
much of the crowd ignored, vs. Michelle Obama, who they adored.
Which candidates best use the art of storytelling? How about
actually counting the cliches in somebody's speech?

- -Fashion and image experts, there's lots here to work with,
including Cindy McCain's ubiquitous cleavage and Sen. Joe
Biden's almost-too-white teeth.

- -Advertising executives, how effective are the instantaneous
attack ads coming from both sides, like the one that shows
Hillary Clinton praising and then dissing Barack Obama?

- -Anyone who can interpret body language can have a great time
during the next two weeks.

- -Critique the media. Who are the best interviewers? What
kinds of interviews and reporting have you seen that do or don't
support charges of liberal media bias?

TV and newspapers will be looking for the local angle to this
national story. The media will be groveling for almost anything
they can find during the long Labor Day weekend in the U.S. So
start pitching!

Raleigh Pinskey is one of the world's ultimate masters at
pitching. When she was my guest during a teleseminar on "How to
Create the Perfect 30-second Pitch," I was in awe. One by one,
she coached people who participated in the call and turned their
rambling, boring pitches into killer sound bites.

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 craft great pitches at
http://tinyurl.com/6xghx


=========================================
3. Roach Race a Clever Publicity Stunt
=========================================

Here's an idea you can steal. This isn't the first time it's
been done, but the presidential election makes the timing
perfect.

Last week, the New Jersey Pest Management Association kicked off
its annual clinic and trade show which would have been a real
snoozer in the media's eyes.

But they made it fun by staging a "roach race." They rigged up
paper silhouettes of John McCain and Barack Obama to two roaches
and had them race each other to the finish line, as a way of
predicting who will win in November.

McCain won. You can read about it at http://tinyurl.com/6o95p9

I Googled this story and found it all over the Internet and in
newspapers large and small.

Publicity stunts, done well, are fabulous publicity magnets. I
mention several in "How to be a Kick-butt Publicity Hound," my
most popular ebook. I'm updating the current version now and
anyone who buys it this week will receive the update free.

Read more about how to kick publicity butt at
http://tinyurl.com/2a3dp9


=========================================
4. Think Beyond Your Book
=========================================

Thinking of writing a book? Or already working on your next one?

Don't write another word until you do this assignment.

Sit down with a pen and paper and start making a list of all the
ways you can monetize the book, other than the cover price of the
book.

Think board game, calendar, workbook, subscription newsletter,
audio book, being a media spokesperson, boot camp, CD or DVD,
keynote presentations, consulting, mentor program, corporate
training, teleseminars, special reports and White Papers,
reference guide and home study course.

And those are just for starters. I hear from too many authors
who write a book, fail to follow up with some of the ideas above,
and then gripe that the book isn't making money. Unless you
don't care about multiple streams of revenue, the book should be
a springboard for spin-off products and services.

Many of the ideas I mentioned work equally well for fiction
authors. You sometimes have to think a little more creatively.

My good friend Adam Witty is hosting a marketing conference for
authors Oct. 3-4 in Charleston, South Carolina. As Adam says,
the whole point of the conference is to teach authors how to
"unlock the invisible income streams surrounding their book."

Full disclosure: Adam invited me to speak at the conference.
Adhering to the promise I made to myself to stop traveling to
speak, I kindly passed. But if the lineup of speakers is any
indication, this one isn't to be missed. My mentor, Tom Antion,
will be a keynote speaker, presenting "How Authors Make Money on
the Internet....for REAL." Also, Publicity Hound Wayne Kelly, a
Canadian talk show host, will be speaking on "Media Training 101"
for authors.

Eight marketing experts for two full days. Authors, don't miss
this one: http://tinyurl.com/5leayr


==========================================
5. Promoting Humorous Quadriplegic Stories
==========================================

This week, six Publicity Hounds have tips for Susan Carter of
Bloomington, Minnesota, on how to promote the book "Another Fine
Mess You’ve Gotten Us Into: The Life and Adventures of a Quad"
about a quadriplegic, and its humorous stories.


From Shelley Peterman Schwarz:

"As the host of the Making Life Easier, an Internet radio
program, I would be very interested in receiving a review copy of
the book. The author may have important information to share
with our more than 20,000 listeners per week. During the free,
one- hour program, guests/authors share the lessons they've
learned and the wisdom they've gained living in the world of
chronic illness and/or disability in hopes that their words will
help others. Authors may discuss and refer to their book with
the understanding that the focus is on what the author has
learned about surviving and thriving lifelong limitations."

Contact Shelley using the form at http://tinyurl.com/6o6ao8


From Stacey Kannenberg:

"I Googled humor blogs and found a site called My Senior Citizen
Humor Blog and another site that lists the top 100 humor blogs at
this link: http://humor-blogs.com/Members.aspx?MaxSites=100 Get
the bloggers involved in creating some buzz for what sounds like
a great book."


From Carolyn Howard-Johnson:

"This is a little off-subject but Authors' Coalition sponsors a
slide show that they show on big movie screens at Veterans' Week
in Branson, Missouri in November. It's huge and that would
definitely be your audience. Find more about Authors' Coalition
at http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com or email
Joyce Faulkner (she produces the video) at
mailto:katieseyes@aol.com


The Publicity Hound says:

I think National Public Radio is a perfect outlet for this story!
Start by using the search box at the NPR website at
http://www.npr.org to see which programs have featured similar
guests. Then start pitching.

Learn all the inside secrets on how to pitch NPR producers. Book
publicist Lissa Warren, who has booked dozens of clients on NPR
shows, explains "How to Get Booked on National Public Radio."
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/ayms6


Read all the comments to this Help This Hound question at my blog
at http://tinyurl.com/5nqu3v


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

Roz Wolf of Los Angeles, California writes:

"I have a fun but strange book title to promote.

"How To Woo A Bi’aaatch: The Key To Attracting Females by Brian
Zoozoo is a guide that speaks to a generation of single men and
curious women ages 18-35. The word Bi’aaatch is slang for 'a
woman who is so beautiful she gives you goose-bumps' according to
Brian.

"We are targeting college audiences and general audiences with a
book signing at a Barnes & Noble in Los Angeles Sept. 17.
However, I find that some journalists totally get it when I pitch
the title and some are turned off.

"Can I ask your Hounds if they think the term "Bi’aaatch" is the
problem? Or is the generation gap the problem? What other ways
can I get publicity for the book-signing without relying solely
on mainstream media?


The Publicity Hound says:

The problem is the age gap, but not because older people like me
think the book title is offensive. The problem is that most
people 18-35 years old don't read newspapers. They're online at
sites like MySpace and Facebook.

Time is running out, so here's my idea. I'll bet the author has
profiles on those two sites. Tell him to contact his friends on
those sites and let them know about the book and the book
signing. At Facebook, create an "event" for the book signing.
You can also buy an ad for the book signing on Facebook, and
target people 18 to 35 in the Los Angeles area.


Two weeks ago, Jason Alba explained more tips during the
teleseminar series "How to Use Facebook to Promote Your Business
or Nonprofit." The MP3s are available, and the edited electronic
transcripts should be ready within a week. You can get them both
for only $77. They're not even in the shopping cart yet, but you
can order at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar/facebook.htm


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

This isn't a joke, it's a puzzle, courtesy of Lois Carter Fay of
Harrisonburg, Virginia and MarketingIdeaShop.com.

Put the pieces together (it takes about a minute) and then watch
for the dog coming out of the dog house.

Http://www.riversongs.com/Flas/today.swf


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

Every day is a bad day for press conferences
http://tinyurl.com/6rbhuj


Your social networking profiles shouldn't include passwords
http://tinyurl.com/6835cc


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/Want Publicity? You May Have to Pay Aug 19, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #412 Aug. 19, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 50,398

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

"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.

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

Don't Miss These Deadlines & Events:

- -Labor Day is the unofficial deadline for submitting press
releases and photos of your consumer products for holiday gift
guides. Find out which media provide opportunities for publicity
with help from The Gift List at http://tinyurl.com/9es8y


- -Steve Harrison is hosting his free teleseminar "7 Things You
Absolutely Must Know to Get Publicity in Major Magazines &
Newspapers" again, at 2 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21. Register
at http://www.freepublicity.com/printpublicitycall/?10011


- -Publicity Hounds can still get $200 off the $1,195
registration fee for Ragan Communications' Social Media Summit
Sept. 10-12 in Chicago. I'll be there, and I'd love to buy you a
cup of coffee if you're attending. Register at
http://www.ragan.com/publicityhound


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

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

1. Want Publicity? You May Have to Pay

2. Be the Local Angle to The Olympics

3. An Unlikely Place for Video

4. Don't Get 'Brandjacked' on Twitter

5. Where to Find Book Clubs

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


=======================================
1. Want Publicity? You May Have to Pay
=======================================

As newspapers and magazines shrink their news holes and lay off
employees, PR people are reporting an increase in the number of
times their clients are buying ads in exchange for publicity.

A survey of 252 marketing executives found:

- -Almost one in five said their organizations had bought ads in
in return for a news story. That's 2 percent higher than last
year.

- -Eight percent of respondents said their organizations paid or
provided a gift of value to an editor or producer to place a news
story about the company or one of its products. That's up from 5
percent last year.

- -Ten percent said their organizations have had an
"implicit/non- verbal agreement with a reporter or editor that
you expect to see favorable coverage of your product or company
in exchange for advertising."

You can read more about the survey results in Bulldog Reporter's
newsletter at http://tinyurl.com/6y25mz

Don't be surprised if those "pay for play" stats jump even higher
in the next few years. I'm guessing that trade publications and
smaller newspapers and magazines are the culprits.

In the old days, "a pile of clips" determined the success of your
publicity campaign. The bigger the pile, the better the
campaign.

Today, however, clippings comprise a small piece of the publicity
pie.

Online publicity--from direct-to-consumer press releases to
pitching bloggers and using the social networking sites like
LinkedIn to promote--can produce far greater results than the
biggest pile of clips. Smart Publicity Hounds cover all the
bases by pitching traditional media and participating in social
media.

My teleseminar on "How to Use LinkedIn to Promote--Ethically &
Powerfully" sold out. You can still get the electronic
transcripts and MP3 audios for $77 each.

Read more about how to use LinkedIn to promote at
http://tinyurl.com/5zvzyd


=========================================
2. Be The Local Angle to The Olympics
=========================================

Publicity Hounds have opportunities galore to be the local angle
to The Olympics competition:

- -Sunday's quarterfinals in the beach volleyball competition, in
which Xue Chen and Zhang Xi of China trounced Elaine Youngs and
Nicole Branagh of the United States, was a display of poor
sportsmanship. Youngs kept berating Branagh when she screwed up,
then again during the break. What do incidents like this one
teach kids about sportsmanship?

- -Nutritionists can pitch story ideas tied to the 12,000-
calories-a-day diet of Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. You
can see what he chows down every day at http://tinyurl.com/5dk2b3

- -Maybe I'm not looking in the right places. But other than the
sad story about the Chinese girl who won the competition to sing
the country's national anthem at the opening ceremonies, but was
yanked in favor of a prettier girl who was shown lip-synching the
song, I've seen very few stories about the repressive Chinese
government. If you're an expert in international relations, or
you simply want to sound off about freedom in a blog post or
letter to the editor, now's the time.

- -Advertising executives can comment on the large female
viewership for the Olympics and the spate of commercials intended
for women--anomalies in TV sports. Read more about this at
http://tinyurl.com/6mf8s7

Local media are always looking for ways to localize national
stories. If you understand all the opportunities available at
your fingertips, you can generate fabulous publicity in your
daily and weekly newspapers, and on radio and TV. "Special
Report #35: How to be the Local Angle to National Stories" shows
you how to look for the local angle and capitalize on it--even
when you think there's nothing newsworthy happening. Only $10.

Http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


=========================================
3. An Unlikely Place for Video
=========================================

Covering your own events the media won't cover, by shooting video
with something as inexpensive as a Flip Video camera, drastically
increases your chances of receiving publicity.

TV and local newspapers, short on staff, have the regular news
cycle to worry about, in addition to their websites. They're
hungry for your video.

So is another unlikely medium: radio. Specifically, National
Public Radio.

"We want pictures, multimedia, audio, video--all of it--on our
sites," says Susan Feeney, senior editor for NPR's "All Things
Considered." "That's what people click on. That doesn't mean
we'll run your multimedia. But mention it if you have those
things, and think about ways to make it easy for us to get those
materials on our own."

You can read the interview she did for Bulldog Reporter at
http://tinyurl.com/5f3tv3

Then start planning your first few videos. During a free
teleseminar I conducted with Mike Stewart (no relation), he
explained how to create and edit your own video with a Flip video
camera and Sony Vegas Movie Studio software. You can listen to
it at http://joanandmikestewart.com/

Let John Easton explain the "9 Clever Ways to Use Video to Become
a Media Darling in Your Industry or Community." It's a recording
of a teleseminar I conducted with him a few months ago, and it's
available as a CD, MP3 audio, or electronic transcript that you
can download as soon as your order is approved.

Read more about creative uses for video at
http://tinyurl.com/5pbgzn


=========================================
4. Don't Get 'Brandjacked' on Twitter
=========================================

So you think the micro-blogging site Twitter is too frivolous,
too much of a time-waster and too much trouble?

If you aren't Twittering about your product, service, cause or
issue, somebody might beat you to it, pretend to be you, and
write whatever they darn well please. Then it could take you
weeks to unravel the mess.

That's what happened to Exxon recently.

Someone known simply as "Janet" opened a Twitter account under
Exxon's name and started Twittering about the oil company. Much
of what she wrote was favorable. She amassed more than 500
followers fairly quickly. But she wasn't associated in any way
with the company.

Exxon apparently hadn't been monitoring its own brand online, or
Twittering. When it discovered that "Janet" was highjacking its
brand, it asked Twitter to give it control of the fake account.
The page has since been removed.

You can read more about it at http://tinyurl.com/55hofo

If you aren't Twittering, start today. It takes just a few
minutes to open an account and post your first "tweet."

Twitter can be a huge time-waster unless you know how to take
advantage of this site. In "Special Report #52: How to Use
Twitter for Business to Network, Promote, Sell, Recruit &
Profit," I explain how many companies, nonprofits and
solopreneurs are using Twitter in very creative ways. Only $10.

Order at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


========================================
5. Where to Find Book Clubs
========================================

This week, five Publicity Hound have tips for Larry Richards of
Raleigh, North Carolina, on where an author can get accurate
information about the many book clubs and book discussion groups
in the United States.


From Gail Sideman:

"Dan Poynter's website at http://www.ParaPublishing.com has more
lists for authors than you ever knew possible! Also, some of the
websites for publications that target your audience will likely
have insight into how to contact those readers."


From Tag Goulet:

"One way you can find a list of hundreds of active book clubs is
by going to the site for Book Club Meetups at
http://bookclub.meetup.com/all/ When you click on the link for
each book club, you will go to the page for that particular club
where you can find a link to email the organizer in the left
column."


From Cheryl Pickett:

"I would also think this is a good use for social networking. If
you're on MySpace or Facebook, Ning or maybe LinkedIn (they are
stricter though) put out a request on your own page, and in any
groups you belong to. If you haven't joined any yet, check them
out. There are many for authors and book lovers."


The Publicity Hound says:

If you missed last week's teleseminars on "How to Use Facebook
for Your Business or Nonprofit," you can still order the MP3
links and the electronic transcripts. The transcripts are being
edited now and should be ready in about two weeks. I'll email
you the MP3 links as soon as you order at
http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar/facebook.htm


Read all the answers to this week's Help This Hound question at
http://tinyurl.com/68xzx6


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

Susan Carter of Bloomington, Minnesota writes:

"I own a small book publishing company and recently took on a
project that's near and dear to my heart: a memoir of the life of
a man who has lived as a quadriplegic for more than 40 years.

"It's particularly relevant to returning vets who have sustained
spinal cord injuries and amputations, as well as their friends
and family members. I'm contacting the natural niche markets of
spinal cord injury publications, websites, organizations, medical
facilities, therapists and equipment suppliers, as well as
seeking special sales.

"There's a significant section in the book that is a collection
of 26 stories about the mostly humorous situations he and his
friends have gotten into over the years, hence the title, Another
Fine Mess You've Gotten Us Into: The Life and Adventures of a
Quad. In addition to seeking markets for the niche side of the
book content, he would very much like me to promote this lighter
side of his life to appeal to a more general audience interested
in short stories. Since my comfort zone is in niche markets I am
struggling for a good way to promote this side of the book.

"Can your Hounds help?"


The Publicity Hound says:

This is a difficult challenge, but my Hounds are up to the task.
If you have ideas for Susan, post them to my blog at
http://tinyurl.com/5nqu3v


I'm running out of Help This Hound questions. Send your question
to mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound


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

Thanks to John Ross of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin for this one:


"Darling, you have the face of a saint."

"Thank you, dear. And just which saint would that be?"

"Bernard."


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

Don't hide behind a cloak of anonymity on Facebook
http://tinyurl.com/5l89ya


Promote nursing homes, senior centers with this tech angle
http://tinyurl.com/64ejpz


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/Grade John Edwards' Interview Aug 12, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #411 Aug. 12, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/(Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 50,329

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

"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 Teleseminars Sold Out:

The teleseminar series on "How to Use Facebook to Promote Your
Business or Nonprofit," which starts tomorrow, sold out this
morning. But sign up anyway. Even though you won't be able to
attend the event live, you'll still get copies of the MP3 files
and the electronic transcripts.

Learn more about how to get started using Facebook to promote at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar/facebook.htm


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

1. Grade John Edwards' Interview

2. Airlines Keeping Inflight Magazines

3. Time Running Out for Gift Guides

4. Publicity Summit Deadline Tomorrow

5. Promoting a Website for Musicians

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

=======================================
1. Grade John Edwards' Interview
=======================================

Put politics aside for a minute.

If you saw the interview that ABC's "Nightline" did with former
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Friday night,
tell us how you think he did from a PR standpoint.

I don't care if you think "he's only human" or that cheating on
his wife was "despicable."

Was the interview convincing? Will it put an end to this story?
Did his answers come across as honest? Was he justified in not
answering certain questions? ("Did you ever tell her that you
loved her?")

I'm asking because opinions from crisis counselors and other PR
pros seem to be all over the map. Crisis counselor Jonathan
Bernstein says on his blog:

"I think John Edwards did one heck of a job of 'packaging' his
confession of infidelity in a manner that will quickly put the
issue behind him--as long as there are no other skeletons in the
closet..."

PR guy Jerry Brown says he thinks Edwards blew it.

"He left at least two big loose ends that promise to keep the
story alive awhile longer:

"He offered to take a paternity test to prove Hunter's child
isn't his, but the test hasn't taken place and the mother says
there won't be one. That will keep the story alive awhile longer
and, without a paternity test, there will always be lingering
doubts. Out of Edwards' control? Perhaps. But he's had several
months to work on this issue.

"Hunter reportedly has received payments for some period of time,
up to $15,000 a month according to one report that claims the
payments were hush money to keep her quiet. Edwards says he
didn't make any payments to Hunter and that any payments that
were made were without his knowledge. If she was paid, who made
the payments, and why, promises to keep the story alive. If any
laws were broken, the story could become decidedly worse."

Hounds, what do you think? Weigh in at my blog at
http://tinyurl.com/58xg9x

P. S. Notice when the story broke: on a Friday. That's the best
day to break a bad news story. Did it work in Edwards' favor
that it also was the same day as opening ceremonies at the
Olympics?

Jonathan Bernstein, quoted above, knows every trick in the book
on how to deal with the media when the news is bad. And he
described his favorites during a teleseminar I hosted on "How to
Keep the Media Wolves at Bay." We recorded it, and it's
available as a CD or electronic transcript that you can be
reading as soon as your order is approved.

Learn how to keep the media wolves at bay at
http://tinyurl.com/b8wcy


============================================
2. Airlines Keeping Inflight Magazines
============================================

With additional fees for everything from extra luggage to
blankets and pillows, you'd think those glossy in-flight
magazines would be one of the first things to go as the airlines
cut expenses.

Not so, say major carriers.

The magazines provide much-needed advertising revenue. That's
good news for Publicity Hounds who are trying to target higher-
income, higher-educated audiences with their pitches.

Thanks to Publicity Hound Gail Sideman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
for tipping us off to this article in USA Today, which discusses
all the reasons the magazines will remain, at least in the near
future: http://tinyurl.com/5puvbx

Do you know the kinds of products and services these magazines
love to feature? Do you know which magazines feature books and
which don't? Do you know how to deliver your pitches, and to
whom? Are you aware of the many smaller magazines on smaller
airlines that are just as open to your pitches as the bigger
publications?

If not, "Special Report #29: Fly High with Publicity in the
Inflight Magazines" will tell you. It includes pitching tips,
plus contact information for more than 40 inflight magazines.
Buy the report, only $37, today and you'll get our October 2008
update at no additional charge.

Learn more about how to start reaching these airline passengers
with a high disposable income today at http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g


=========================================
3. Time Running Out for Gift Guides
=========================================

If your consumer product would make a terrific holiday gift, pay
attention to a looming deadline.

At many magazines, which have long lead times for their holiday
gift guides, you must have your product in the hands of editors
by Labor Day weekend. That's because within the next few weeks,
many editors will decide which products they'll feature in those
sections.

Elizabeth Woodson, associate editor at Travel + Leisure, told
Bulldog Reporter that they're already planning their holiday gift
guide. "The point is to get stuff to us early. That means now,"
she said.

Also, if you want to get into gift guides, don't use the same
strategy you use for getting into other sections of newspapers or
magazines. Usually, journalists don't want to be inundated with
unsolicited products and accompanying press releases and photos.
They want you to pitch first. Then, and only then, will they
decide if they're interested. If they are, they'll contact you
and ask for a product sample.

Gift guide editors, however, need products early so they can
decide which ones they'll include in the sections. In most
cases, you can send products unsolicited.

Read more pitching tips in this Bulldog Reporter article:
http://tinyurl.com/5js8hp

Then read more about The Gift List, a subscription service that
provides contact information, story themes, product features,
deadlines, submission preferences, photo requirements and tips
from the editors at more than 250 top daily newspapers, news
wires and syndicates, national television, and national radio, as
well as a list for web and blog outlets.

Get started pitching gift guides BEFORE their deadline at
http://tinyurl.com/9es8y


=======================================
4. Publicity Summit Deadline Tomorrow
=======================================

Whenever readers see me discussing the National Publicity Summit
in New York City, a few Hounds email me and ask if I can point to
any success stories about people who have gotten great publicity
hits as a result of meeting face-to-face with journalists.

Yep.

- -Ron & Lisa Beres were booked on the "Today" show.

- -Steve Shapiro was the subject of a big story in "O the Oprah
Magazine" after meeting the writer who attended the Summit.

- -Lauri Loewenberg appeared on ABC's "The View" and "Good
Morning America."

- -Jim Vonmier got on the "CBS Evening News" and "The Early Show"
as a result of the training and contacts he got at the Summit.

- -Kelly McCloskey used what she learned to get booked on
"Oprah."

- -Barry Spilchuk was interviewed on Fox News Channel within just
five hours of meeting the producer at the Summit.

- -Sandy Clemmons got written up in Health Magazine, Money
magazine and TV Guide--all from meeting journalists face-to-face.
Even better, she says that since attending, her royalty checks
have increased over 700 percent.

Only 100 attendees will be admitted to this year's summit Oct.
22-25. Tomorrow is the last day to take advantage of the early-
bird pricing. Go here now to sign up for a free info packet that
tells you more about what you'll see, hear and learn--and who
you'll meet--at the National Publicity Summit:

http://www.NationalPublicitySummit.com/?10011


========================================
5. Promoting a Website for Musicians
========================================

This week, 10 Publicity Hound have tips on how Kevin Gardiner of
Tolland, Connecticut can raise awareness of his website at
http://www.TuneRooms.com to musicians ages 13 and up.


From Jonathan Bernstein:

"Write articles in your field of expertise and then 'place' them
on some of the scores of websites which catalog such articles for
use by other sites. That has been invaluable to my SEO effort."


From Christine Buffaloe:

"I work with a client who is a musician and author. She has a
wonderful page on MySpace.com and has created a following there.
These are the people you should be targeting. Start a MySpace
page. There's a place there just for bands and musicians."


From Jennifer Lizak:

"Reach out to your local music industry professionals, introduce
them to the concept, and hold an event or showcase.

"Hit up the music blogs--Pitchfork, Tiny Mix Tapes, Oh My
Rockness.

"Reach out to college freshmen. Did their high school band break
up when they went to different colleges? Perhaps your service
will allow them to keep the band together!"


The Publicity Hound says:

Kevin, start your own Facebook group for songwriters and
musicians. My teleseminar series this week on "How to Use
Facebook to Promote Your Business or Nonprofit" sounds perfect
for you. It's sold out, but sign up anyway. Even though you
can't attend the live event, I'll send you the MP3 audio links
and the electronic transcripts. Register at
http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar/facebook.htm


Read all the responses to this week's Help This Hound question at
http://tinyurl.com/6fgxc9


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


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

Larry Richards of Raleigh, North Carolina asks:

"Where can an author get accurate information about the many book
clubs and book discussion groups that exist in the U.S.?

"My book is titled The Blind Prophet, one of six books in my
Invisible War series, and it's a story about angels and demons.
It should be published the first of the year."

"Somebody suggested offering a free review book to the person
from these groups who selects the novels. But I can't find a
list anywhere. Can your Publicity Hounds help me?

The Publicity Hound says:

They sure can, Larry. Many authors and publishers read this
newsletter, and I know they'll be able to offer lots of
suggestions. OK, Hounds. Let's hear it. Where can Larry find a
list of book clubs, reading groups and other groups that might
want a free copy of his book? (Other publicity ideas will be
gladly accepted, too.)

Post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/68xzx6


Send your own Help This Hound question to
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?=HelpThisHound


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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Burgundy Olivier of Rayne, Louisiana
for this one:

What does a man do standing up...and a woman do sitting
down...and a dog do on three legs?

Shake hands.


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

Pompous elevator pitches turn off reporters and others
http://tinyurl.com/6dft25


Newspaper food sections shrinking, so pitch wisely
http://tinyurl.com/6mdq9q


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/This Drives TV Producers Crazy August 5, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #410 Aug. 5, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 50,043

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

"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 Teleseminar Will be Sold Out

With more than a week to go before next week's teleseminar series on "How to Use LinkedIn to Promote," more than half the seats have been sold. And I expect this teleseminar series to be sold out. If you have a previous commitment and can't attend, sign up anyway at http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar/facebook.htm You'll receive the MP3 audio and the electronic transcripts.

If you think Facebook is just for kids, see Item #2 below.

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

1. This Drives TV Producers Crazy

2. Facebook Group Coolest of the Cool

3. 12 Ways to Sell Social Media to Your Boss

4. Party Publicity Perfect for the Web

5. Promoting Natural Hair Care Products

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...

=======================================
1. This Drives TV Producers Crazy
=======================================

It's one of the biggest mistakes self-promoters make when they try to get onto a local or national TV talk show. And it drives producers and guest bookers crazy.

People send press kits, copies of their books, samples of their products, galley proofs, photos, Cds and DVDs.

They send obnoxious tchotchkies, invitations that include handfuls of glitter or confetti, and press releases inside big boxes that are wrapped to resemble gifts, or inside cardboard tubes that are impossible to open.

They even send food that turns stale by the time it reaches the intended recipient.

What do you suppose goes on in the minds of the producers when they receive it? And what do you suppose happens to all that stuff?

My friend, Steve Harrison, created a neat little video that will help you see what life is like through a producer's eyes. It will also tell you the Number One secret about how to get national publicity for a book, product or service.

Take a look: http://www.TheBigSecretToGettingPublicity.com/?10011


============================================
2. Facebook Group 'Coolest of the Cool' ============================================

They're known simply as "The Bill Sobel Breakfasts" and if you live or work near New York City, they're a cool way to network with cool people.

So says Bill, who refers to himself as the "chief connections officer." He's a master networker and a consultant who connects people who market products, technologies and services for media and entertainment.

A former TV executive, he hosts the breakfasts in Midtown Manhattan about once a month, primarily for those in the media and entertainment industries. But anybody can come.

Each breakfast is a two-and-a-half-hour schmoozefest with big- name speakers like:

- -Bob Pittman, "the father of MTV."

- -Bill Rassmussen, the founder of ESPN.

- -Jeff Price, president of Sports Illustrated digital media.

- -Fred Seibert, former president of Hanna Barbera

- -David Poltrack, executive vice president and chief research officer of CBS Inc.

(Hounds, are you paying attention?)

If you're a member of Bill's breakfast bunch and buy a ticket for $30, or you're a non-member who pays $50, and you want him to introduce you to one of the big wigs, "I'll do it in a heartbeat."

He started hosting the breakfasts in June 2006 as a place where executives in the media and entertainment industries could meet with peers, share ideas and develop friendships with the goal of assisting each other in reaching the next level or their personal goals. To keep track of his followers, Bill started a Yahoo group. When he heard about Facebook last year, he created a Facebook group called "New York Media Information Exchange Group."

Here's what happened when he started posting information about upcoming breakfast speakers to his Facebook page:

"The floodgates opened. It was as if I had a faucet that hadn't been turned on in years," he said. "The email addresses I had accumulated suddenly went from a few hundred to a few thousand."

And as a result, attendance at the breakfasts jumped.

Learn how you, too, can promote your events, books, speaking engagements, or any other service or product on Facebook. Jason Alba will be my guest expert during two teleseminars Aug. 13 and 14 on "How to Use Facebook to Promote Your Business or Nonprofit." I expect this series to be sold out. Register at http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar/facebook.htm


============================================
3. 12 Ways to Sell Social Media to the Boss ============================================

Some people still don't get it.

They think social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter are a colossal waste of time.

They want to maintain "total control" over what people are saying about their brand online. (Psssst: There is no such thing as total control online.)

They still think it's far more effective to use traditional media like newspapers, magazines, TV and radio for publicity. But they fail to understand that all four industries are seeing lower advertising revenues due in large part to competition from the Internet. And they're cutting staff like never before.

Unfortunately, many of the people who don't understand social media marketing are bosses. Please don't give up on trying to convince your boss.

Check out Chris Brogan's list of "Twelve Ways to Sell Social Media to Your Boss" at http://tinyurl.com/5ujkgw

Then plan to meet me at Ragan Communications' Social Media Summit Sept. 10-12 in Chicago. I worked out a special arrangement with Ragan. Publicity Hounds get $100 off the price of registration, plus another $100 off for early-bird registration if you use this link: http://www.ragan.com/publicityhound

See you in Chicago! Be sure to let me know if you're going and we'll make plans to have coffee.


=======================================
4. Party Publicity Perfect for the Web
=======================================

Black-tie charity fund-raisers. Employee picnics. Corporate holiday celebrations. Anniversary parties for your business.

Regardless of what you're celebrating, shoot video and offer it to your local weekly or daily newspapers. They're under tremendous pressure to produce video for the web and, truth be told, they usually despise covering these kinds of events. I know I did when I worked as a newspaper reporter.

Thanks to videographer John Easton of Charlotte, North Carolina, for tipping us off to this interview he did with Dave Enna, the senior producer of the Charlotte Observer's Web partner, Charlotte.com.

It gives you a good idea of kinds of videos that make perfect content for the web. Read the entire interview at http://www.customerflypaper.com/?p=53

Then learn how to create videos, without spending a fortune on high-fangled equipment you don't know how to use. John was my guest during a teleseminar on "9 Clever Ways to Use Video to Become a Media Darling in Your Industry or Community." We recorded it, and it's available as a CD, or as an electronic transcript or MP3 that you can download as soon as your order has been approved.

Learn how to become a media darling right now at http://tinyurl.com/5pbgzn


========================================
5. Promoting Natural Hair Care Products ========================================

This week, seven Publicity Hounds have tips on how Dalia Wallach of New York, New York, can get more consumers to experiment with her line of specialty hair care products called Get Glow.


From Yvette Stanton:

"How about offering free samples to some of the best salons in your local area, to get started?...Also, have you considered the angle of travelers' toiletries? With the new liquids and gels regulations on airlines, if you have a small enough bottle, you could corner the market in travelers' needs. If, as you say, you'll have to wash your hair less, a mini bottle could potentially last a whole 2- to 3-week vacation, and certainly a short business trip. To promote these sizes, get your product into hotels and airline magazines." (See Special Report #29: Fly High with Publicity in the Inflight Magazines at http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html)


From Yves Marie Danie Baptiste:

"Develop a profile on sites like Ryze, Facebook and LinkedIn. You can share your expertise there." (See "How to Use LinkedIn to Promote Anything--Ethically & Powerfully" at http://www.PublicityHound.com/teleseminar/linkedin.htm )


From Candy Taylor Tutt:

"Both men and women whose hair gets exposed to chlorine will benefit from your product. Contact health clubs/gyms that have swimming pools. If your shampoos come in a small size they might stock them for their clients!"


Read all the responses to this week's Help This Hound question at http://tinyurl.com/6obj9l


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


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

Kevin Gardiner of Tolland, Connecticut writes:

"I am the president of Tune Rooms at http://www.tunerooms.com which is a social network for musicians that lets users to collaborate in virtual song-writing sessions.

"Since we launched our site, we've received overwhelmingly positive feedback. But the main gripe is that we don't have enough users. I need to figure out how to grow the community base.

"Can your Hounds suggest some ways that we can raise awareness of our site to musicians ages 13 and up, at all skill levels, so they can visit the site and collaborate? I believe in our product, but the size of the community is what will make Tune Rooms most useful for musicians."


The Publicity Hound says:

What a fun idea! I'll bet being a musician can get pretty lonely, especially when you have writer's block. Hounds with great ideas can post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/6fgxc9


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

Thanks to Jurek Leon from Willetton, Western Australia for this one:

Two drunks were about to board the train at 10 p.m. when they saw the sign "Dogs must be carried."

"Hold it," one of them said. "Where are we gonna get a dog at this time of night?"


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

McDonald's iced coffee showing up on TV news desks
http://tinyurl.com/5nf9hl


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