Publicity tips/A Publicity Miracle Dec 9, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #428 Dec. 9, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)

Circulation: 50,513

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

"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.

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

Announcements:

--Publicity Hounds have chosen Patricia Reszetylo the winner of
the $50 Amazon.com gift certificate for her idea of promoting an
ebook by hosting teleseminars that tie into the topic of the
book. You can see all the ideas at http://tinyurl.com/64jkzq
Thanks to everyone who voted.


--If you're new to the publicity game, here's a must-attend
teleseminar, join Steve Harrison for a free teleseminar on
Thursday, December 11, on "Practical Ways To Get More F~ree
Publicity In Top Magazines, Newspapers And On Radio/TV Shows," at
2 or 7 p.m. Eastern. He isn't recording it so if you can't
attend, recruit someone to listen and take notes for you. The
teleseminar includes a handout that will be available on
Thursday. Sign up at http://tinyurl.com/6cfrsn

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

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

1. A Publicity Miracle

2. Be the Expert in a Niche

3. Oprah Does it Again

4. PR Tips for Nonprofits

5. How to Promote Medical Guides

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Joke of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


=====================================
1. A Publicity Miracle
=====================================

One of the best ways to generate publicity is to be willing to
discuss your business problems and ways you are trying to solve
them, even if the solutions are so bizarre that people think
you're nuts.

For years, the real estate industry has known about the practice
of burying a St. Joseph statue upside down in your yard if
you want to sell your house.

In the mid-90s, my husband and I were so desperate to sell our
four-bedroom Colonial in Pennsylvania that had been on the market
for 14 months that we, too, buried a statue. Several weeks later,
we received three offers in one day and sold the house. I wrote
about it this week in my blog at http://tinyurl.com/6rkm75

I'm not alone.

The St. Joseph practice is so widespread that an entire industry
has been built around this superstition. Do a search for "St.
Joseph statue" and you'll find Phil Cates' website at
http://tinyurl.com/5lhyrg at the top of the list.

Phil, who has been in the real estate industry for 22 years, now
works full time selling a "St. Joseph Statue Home Sale Kit" that
includes a complementary online listing of the house you're
trying to sell. His website includes more than $2.7 billion in
real estate listings--all from people who have bought his home
sale kits.

"We've polled people who have bought our statues and 50 percent
of the real estate agents don't even tell their sellers that
they're burying it," Phil says. "And 50 percent of the sellers
don't tell their real estate agents they're burying the statues."

That means two St. Joseph statues, not one, are buried in
thousands of yards throughout the world.

This year alone, Phil has racked up publicity for his company in
more than 44 media outlets, blogs and social networking sites,
including the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, the
Dallas Morning News and Consumer Reports.

If you're a real estate agent or a home-seller willing to discuss
your experiences with the St. Joseph statue, publicity is almost
yours for the asking, particularly since the housing market is so
dismal. If you're pitching this fun story to TV stations, be sure
to have your own St. Joseph statue as a prop. You can get just
the statue or the entire kit at http://tinyurl.com/5lhyrg

Real estate agents, I know dozens of other ways to generate
publicity, and I shared them all during the interview I did with
real estate coach Jim Gillespie, available as a CD.

Read more about how to stop relying exclusively on expensive
newspaper classified ads at http://tinyurl.com/56waoa


=========================================
2. Be the Expert in a Niche
=========================================

A super way to promote your expertise within a niche and generate
publicity is to write a content-rich report that walks people
through the steps of how to solve a problem.

You can give it away if you wish and offer it to journalists who
write about topics within that niche.

Or sell the report for a low price. I sell 52 special reports on
all aspects of free publicity for only $10 each at
http://tinyurl.com/6uz9g

But what if you don't have a website, a shopping cart, or email
addresses from people who have given you permission to market to
them? What if you don't want the hassle of creating a website,
processing the payments or delivering the product?

Problem solved.

Lynn Terry, who I met in Stompernet, the membership site for
Internet marketers, has figured out a way for anyone to sell
practically any product without email subscribers, without a
website and without a shopping cart--even in super-competitive
niches.

You only need two things: an email address and a PayPal account.

It's an easy seven-step process that she explains thoroughly in
her 13-page report called "Easy 7-Step Fast C*ash Strategy."
You'll also learn how to sell the product quietly before you
launch it, so you can get feedback and testimonials from happy
customers in time for the official launch.

It's perfect for:

--Consultants who want to promote their expertise within a niche.

--Authors who want to create a quick product that upsells people
to their printed book or ebook. Or create it as a spin-off
product for people who buy the book.

--Speakers who want speaking engagements in a particular
industry.

--Small-business owners who can explain a problem, and the
solution, that relates to a product or service they sell. The
report can generate leads that turn into paying customers.

--Publicists and PR agency owners who want more clients. Show how
much you know by concentrating on one aspect of PR. You can sell
the report from your blog and on the social networking sites, or
simply use Lynn's seven-step formula.

In some cases, you can create the report and start selling it in
well under a week. And if you have questions, go over to Lynne's
discussion forum where she'll be happy to help you.

The report is a steal at only $10, and she's offering it
exclusively to Publicity Hounds. Read more about it at
http://www.fastcashstrategy.com/PHprivateoffer.htm


========================================
3. Oprah Does it Again
========================================

If your Christmas list includes a Kindle, that nifty hand-held,
wireless portable reading device that has access to more than
200,000 books, sorry.

You'll have to wait until February to get one because they've
sold out. Blame Oprah Winfrey for the delay.

Amazon was confident that it had enough Kindles in stock for the
2009 holidays, but then along comes Oprah in late October,
christening the Kindle as her "favorite new gadget" on her TV
show, and then gushing about it at her blog at
http://tinyurl.com/5p9hlx

Now, the shelves are bare.

That's what happens when the most powerful woman celebrity
endorses your product. Just ask the numerous authors whose books
have catapulted to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list
after Oprah chose them for her book club.

And that's why authors, speakers, experts, nonprofits and
millions of others are hankering to get onto her show.

Did you know, however, that one of the best ways to get the
attention of Oprah's producers is to first get mentioned in O,
the Oprah Magazine? If you can get into the magazine, it's almost
as though you've already passed inspection, and her TV producers
will be more inclined to take a second look when they get your
pitch.

Or they might hand-pick you for the show, based on the story they
read in the magazine.

That's what happened to Genevieve Piturro. She's the founder of
The Pajama Program, a charity that gives new pajamas to needy
children.

Genevieve first appeared in O Magazine, and then on the TV show
two years ago. That one segment resulted in more than 32,000
pairs of pajamas being raised for charity. Producers at Oprah &
Friends XM radio booked Piturro for an interview on the radio
show--so it was a triple whammy in Oprah Land.

Sometimes it works the other way around. You can get onto the TV
show first, and then appear in the magazine. But because
competition for the TV show is so intense, it's often better to
try to get into the magazine first.

Read about the 12 topics the editors love at
http://tinyurl.com/6c6nsc

Then grab Susan Harrow's ebook "Get into O Magazine" at $100 off
the regular price, now through Dec. 18. But you must use this
coupon code: oprah

Susan explains how at http://tinyurl.com/fuxmn


=========================================
4. PR Tips for Nonprofits
=========================================

Publicity Hound Bob Crawshaw from Australia has come up with a
creative way to market his business, help his community and give
a special holiday gift to the nonprofit world:

"We deal a lot with community groups and to help them out, we're
compiling a list of practical PR tips for challenging times. We
intend to circulate this f~ree to community groups in the next
couple of weeks.

"We've started out with some ideas in our latest post. You're
invited to add to this list. And in return, we'll share the
gathered ideas with you (or groups you nominate) before
Christmas."

Publicity Hounds can contribute ideas for low-cost PR tools and
tactics at http://tinyurl.com/6y56jz


If you don't want to wait to see what will be added to his list,
Paul Hartunian has dozens of tips on how nonprofits can generate
publicity, even on a shoestring budget. He shared them during the
teleseminar on "Failproof Publicity Tips for Your Nonprofit."
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/29dba


==========================================
5. How to Promote Medical Guides
==========================================

This week, four Publicity Hounds have tips for Winthrop Morgan of
Bethesda, Maryland, on how to raise awareness of a government
agency's comparative effectiveness summary guides for clinicians.


From Karen Cook:

"I have been creating a ton of podcasts and downloadable books
and seminars, even yoga classes for this generation of web-savvy
clients. We have found that it creates a buzz passed on by email
and Twitter/Facebook type applications. After the initial cost of
digitizing it, it's free advertising. You can attach these links
to every piece of correspondence."


From Bruce Jones:

"I would say produce some quick video guides and place them on
the popular web video hosting sites with links back to the
government sites. Promote that people can download them as PDF
files. You don't even have to use a camera. You can create four
or five slide presentations in PowerPoint and save them as a
movie, add a little music or see if you can read the copy into
your computer. Make sure you use keywords in the description and
title and add a link back to your website."

"Do an email blast to as many health sites as you can, offering
free publications that they can place on their site. Everyone is
looking for content.

"Set up a website with the copy of each book on a page, plus the
PDF download. Google loves good relevant copy."


From Paulette Ensign:

"Start by giving those PDFs and MP3s to every relevant
professional association for the association to provide to its
members. This is viral marketing at its finest, and costs zip!
The associations will be delighted, too, since they are always
looking for more member benefits to provide, as inexpensively as
possible. It doesn't get more inexpensive than free.

"The same is true for every relevant publication and website, for
each of them to use as bonuses to bring more traffic. "Visit our
site and get a free..."


The Publicity Hound says:

Winthrop, you should be reaching out to bloggers who write about
medical issues. They would love to know about your resources. See
"How to Pitch the Best Bloggers & Create a Publicity Explosion"
at http://tinyurl.com/m7ymr


Read all the responses to this week’s “Help This Hound question
http://tinyurl.com/65dltt


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


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

Publicity Hound Erin Portman of Austin, Texas writes:

"I am a freelancer and have a ton of media contacts. My New
Year's resolution this year was to find a better way to track and
capture information about the media I work with. Excel
spreadsheets are getting old. Also, I should note that I use a
Mac, which may be limiting in some instances.

"I’d be interested to hear about how other Publicity Hounds keep
track of their media contacts."


The Publicity Hound says:

This is a great question because a media contact list is an
important part of any media plan. Hounds with tips for Erin can
post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/5vf9pq


Time's a wastin' if you haven't created your media plan for 2009.
Wait until next year and you might miss opportunities to get into
the spring issues of national magazines. My training program "How
to Create a Media Plan" comes with a half-hour of telephone
consulting. Let me critique your media kit, your online press
room or your press releases, or give you creative ideas to work
into the plan. Read more about how to create a plan that keeps
you on track, month by month:
http://www.publicityhound.com/mediaplan.htm


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

"If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs
I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons."

--James Thurber


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

Can't sell your house? Bury St. Joseph for an offer & publicity
http://tinyurl.com/6rkm75


How to persuade newspaper editorial boards
http://tinyurl.com/5keakz


How to get Google juice from your LinkedIn profile
http://tinyurl.com/5wxnz9


When radio/TV talk show guests cancel, hosts need fill-ins
http://tinyurl.com/6cfpch



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

WHERE TO SEE AND HEAR THE PUBLICITY HOUND:

Wednesday, Jan. 21--Teleseminar

Join me for the third annual smARTist telesummit where
photographers, jewelers, potters, painters, metalworkers,
woodworkers and other artists will learn all the secrets for
growing their art business. I'm presenting a session on how to
use social networking, from 2 to 2:45 Eastern Time on Wednesday,
Jan. 21. Register for the Virtual Opening Day Reception from 7
to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Dec. 4. It's a free
teleseminar leading up to the telesummit, in which all the
speakers offer a few of their best tips. Register for Thursday's
free call at http://tinyurl.com/5haqs5 or for the telesummit at
http://tinyurl.com/5axy3x

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 cheat sheet "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."

If you like these tips please pass them on to your friends,
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PRIVACY STATEMENT: The Publicity Hound® respects your privacy and
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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'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/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/Think Christmas in June June 24 , 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #404 June 24, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 47,857

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

"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"

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

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

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

Please forward this ezine to anyone you know who needs free publicity to establish their credibility, enhance their reputation, position themselves as employers of choice, sell more products and services, or promote a favorite cause or issue.

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

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

1. Think Christmas in June

2. A Big Payoff of Social Networking

3. What You Can Learn from a Dog's Obituary

4. Get 'em to Mention Your URL

5. Promoting Books on Christmas, Cooking

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. And at My Blog...


=====================================
1. Think Christmas in June
=====================================

Now is the time to start pitching if you're hoping to convince journalists to feature your consumer product or service in holiday gift guides.

Gift guides appear in many forms:

- -As special sections in newspapers, like holiday gift guides printed by USA Today and the Wall Street Journal.

- -As special holiday features in magazines like Redbook, Allure, Wired, Stereophile, Fast Company, Organic Gardening, Cooking Light, Shape, Atlanta Magazine, Cottage Living and Elite Traveler.

- -As special segments on TV such as Oprah's "Favorite Things" show each year in which she lists her favorite holiday gifts.

- -As special radio promotions.

- -As columns, reviews or special holiday features in online magazines.

- -Even bloggers feature their favorite things to give as holiday gifts.

If your consumer product or service would make the perfect gift, getting a placement in some of these media is easy--but only if you know where to look, whom to pitch, when to contact them, and if they want photos.

The Gift List can make your job easy. Its staff contacts the top 250 daily 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.

It doesn't bother with media outlets that won't mention products by name or those with circulations under 25,000. Broadcast outlets must reach a national or significant regional audience.

Already, The Gift List has compiled a whopping 400 leads for this year's features. You can buy a subscription to either The Gift List for Holiday 2008 Print & Broadcast, or The Gift List for Holiday 2008 Web & Blog, or both.

What if "Oprah" or USA Today changes its feature focus the week before a deadline? Not to worry. The Gift List will notify subscribers who sign up for their ezine and email alerts. You won't miss a beat. And you'll be miles ahead of the competition.

Take a test drive today at http://tinyurl.com/9es8y


=====================================
2. A Big Payoff of Social Networking
=====================================

When the media are searching for interview subjects, or guests for a TV show, they often search profiles of people who participate at social networking sites.

That's how producers for a TV series found Publicity Hound Dorothy Neddermeyer of Phoenix, Arizona. She's a board-certified regression therapist who will be featured in the series "Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal" that's being aired right now on the A&E channel.

"My role in the documentary was doing a past life regression with an 8-year-old boy who had memories of his life in Egypt," she said. "The regression was revealing, and I was amazed at the outcome."

The production company, Four Seasons International, chronicles the lives and experiences of kids with psychic abilities.

The producers found her on Ziggs, a social networking site at http://www.Ziggs.com that is devoted to "organizing and connecting people in a professional way." You can join groups and make contacts through your Ziggs account to increase your company's presence online and further your own personal career.

"It shocked me because I had only recently added my profile there," Dorothy said. "It was just my lucky day. Of course, I don't believe in luck. I, no doubt, was prompted to start posting on social networking sites."

Internet marketing expert Don Crowther says everyone should have a presence on seven social media sites. If you're pitching only traditional media, you're missing a huge opportunity to use online tools like social networking sites to promote. Learn about the seven websites Don recommends. His interview is included in the eight-part series "How to Create a Media Plan," available as a series of Cds, MP3 audios on a CD, or electronic transcripts. Each comes with handouts that include a fill-in-the-blanks template for a media plan.

Read more about how you can take the pain out of creating a media plan at http://www.publicityhound.com/mediaplan.htm


===========================================
3. What You Can Learn from a Dog's Obituary ===========================================

When Publicity Hound Michelle Tennant emailed me last week to let me know that her beloved pet, Lex, a strawberry blonde Siberian husky, had died, the obituary she wrote for him made me smile.

While reading it, I couldn't help but think that Lex's obituary is more interesting than the personal bios of many humans I know. As you read what Michelle wrote, notice the fun little details-- something that's sorely missing from so many human bios.

"Lexington (Lex) passed yesterday at 3:50 p.m. Eastern at our vet's with my husband Shannon and myself at his side holding his paws. He was the most gentle, loving dog one could know and love. He had complications from a lung condition, pancreatitis and diabetes. He is survived by Lou Lou, the black and white husky in the photos attached.

"In 1998, I rescued Lex from a Cincinnati kill shelter when he was six months and he's lived a fabulous, adventurous life traveling throughout Ohio, West Virginia and the Smoky Mountains (and other great places whitewater rivers run).

"His life's work: children.

"He attended children's birthday parties with me while I was living in Cincinnati and working on the weekends as a children's entertainer. He was my 'pirate' sidekick teaching children manners at the dinner table because he knew how to 'wait' until others were served before eating. (He would even WAIT with a small White Castle hamburger placed on his paw. Now that's a good dog.)

"He earned his 'good canine citizen award' in 1999. (This is like a Ph.D for dogs!)

"His favorite past-time--chewing/catching tennis balls, digging holes, and cooling off in a baby pool.

"Please have a moment of reflection today to celebrate this very special soul. And then hug a pet or person you love and remind everyone wanting a pet to adopt from shelters first. They are so appreciative of second chances."

We can learn two things from this:

- -Use details, details and more details.

- -Writing about the relationship with our pets in our professional bios can teach readers more about us than a monotonous list of academic degrees and other trivia we think are important.

Some of you might argue that details about your pets don't belong in a professional profile or bio. What do you think? Would you consider including information about your pet in your bio? If so, tell us something about your pet that lets us know more about you. Or link to a bio at your website that has information about your pet.

Post your comments at my blog at http://tinyurl.com/5b2nlu

"Special Report #46: Tips for Rewriting Your Boring Bio," gives you lots of examples of fun, compelling, witty bios and tips on how rework your bio--or start from scratch. Only $10. Order at http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html


=====================================
4. Get 'em to Mention Your URL
=====================================

A common frustration with media interviews results when the reporter, for whatever reason, never mentions your website.

Here's a way to solve that problem.

The next time somebody interviews you, and the reporter asks for the name of your company, use your website URL, not the actual company name.

Instead of me being the owner of "The Publicity Hound," my company is simply PublicityHound.com.

That little trick won't work every time, but it should work with telephone interviews, and especially when the reporter is rushed.

OK, but what happens if you can't even persuade reporters to call? You pitch a story and it goes nowhere. Then what?

Have you followed up your pitch at least seven times?

If you haven't, no wonder they're not calling you. Don't believe journalists when they tell you they hate follow-ups. They hate LOUSY follow-ups.

Jill Lublin, author of "Guerrilla Publicity," says following up your pitches is critical to catching the attention of hassled reporters and editors who sometimes let things fall through the cracks. I interviewed her about "Failproof Ways to Follow Up with Reporters."

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. Start following up today and getting the media stories you deserve by going to http://tinyurl.com/bmyn7


========================================
5. Promoting Books on Christmas, Cooking
========================================

This week, 10 Publicity Hounds have tips on how Tracy Arceo of Pelican Publishing of Gretna, LA can generate interest in two separate series of books on Christmas and Southern cooking.


From Julia Hillegass:

"It shouldn't be difficult to promote these great southern cities. Try doing a tasting event with area restaurants creating the recipes for people to nosh on--like a progressive cocktail party in a ballroom or at a major landmark in that town. You could create the great southern Taste Series of events: "A Taste of Charleston," "A Taste of New Orleans" perhaps in Jackson Square or the French Market, "A Taste of Savannah" maybe at Forsyth Park. Price of admission could be donated to your local food bank, so party goers get to do good too."


From Rachelle Matherne:

"Numerous discussion groups online trade free recipes. Upload a recipe from the book to these sites and include the source information. Video of the author reading from the kids' book is always fun, and can include some of the illustrations as well."


From Stacey Kannenberg:

"Find regional 'all Christmas' stores and coordinate with them to be involved in a Christmas in July Party. I did a Google search and found a few of these stores: Traditions Year-Round Holiday Store in Canoga Park, CA and Kristmas Kringle Shoppe in Fond du Lac, WI.

"Since the recipes are classics, see if you can partner with Rachael Ray, the Food Network, Martha Stewart, or online places like Recipes.com to share some of the local flavor behind these classic recipes."


The Publicity Hound says:

I know I sound like a broken record. But reach out to bloggers. Those who write about children and parenting issues might want to hear about the Christmas books. Bloggers who write about food might appreciate some recipes and tips about southern cooking. "How to Pitch the Best Bloggers & Create a Publicity Explosion" shows you how to find the bloggers who need what you have, and convince them to write about you.

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 start pitching them at http://publicityhound.net/cdpitchbestbloggers/


Read all the responses to this week's Help This Hound question at http://tinyurl.com/4orekj

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


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

Patricia "Trish" Gallagher of Worcester, Pa. Writes:

"My husband, John, and I are doing a print on demand book and need help to publicize it and book paid speaking engagements.

"The book is 'Don't Jump! Out of the Shadows about Depression and Suicide.' It's about how John tried to commit suicide by jumping from a building onto a cement slab. The attempt failed, and he was seriously injured.

"For nine years, he stood behind a wall of silence, hiding the truth of his resulting injuries, and sabotaging his relationships. In January this year, after reading about a teenage boy who tried suicide but was unsuccessful, John knew it was time to end the silence.

"His message will help anyone who is personally dealing with a crisis or tragedy, and will inspire caregivers, people struggling with addictions, and anyone who wants to learn how to help others during times of despair.

"We have a possible 700 Club interview, a local NPR affiliate interview, and we did a Philadelphia Inquirer story you can read at http://tinyurl.com/3vfcd2 No luck with any paid speaking or major interviews that have helped with expenses. So we're putting out the white flag."


The Publicity Hound says:

Unless I'm missing something, Patricia, I don't see a website or even a single page at your site at http://www.teamofangels.com devoted solely to the book. I even Googled the title and couldn't find anything. That could be the main reason why the book isn't selling as well as you had hoped.

Let's see what other ideas my Hounds have on how to promote the book and get speaking engagements. Hounds with tips for Patricia can post them to my blog at http://tinyurl.com/44vt26

Authors who are frustrated by their own books' slow sales can check out "Special Report #40: 42 Publicity Tips for Authors and Small Publishers" and get back on track quickly. See http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html


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

Thanks to Publicity Hound Kerry Hargraves of Oakland, California, for this one:


"Little Harold was practicing the violin in the living room while his father was trying to read in the den.

"The family dog was lying in the den, and as the screeching sounds of little Harold's violin reached his ears, he began to howl loudly. The father listened to the dog and the violin as long as he could. Then he jumped up, slammed his paper to the floor and yelled above the noise, "For Pete's sake, can't you play something the dog doesn't know?"


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

If a journalist uses humor in a query, use it in your pitch
http://tinyurl.com/3eme9u


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/Why Most Authors Fail April 15, 2008

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

Circulation: 44,401

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"Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity"

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

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You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me 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.

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Attention Wisconsin Hounds:

Meet me next week, April 22, at my day-long workshop in Shorewood (Milwaukee). In the morning, learn about online and offline publicity and video. In the afternoon, learn how to write and post direct-to-consumer press releases. We're almost filled to capacity, so sign up today before you're closed out: http://www.publicityhound.com/teleseminar.htm

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In This Issue
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1. Why Most Authors Fail

2. Don't Make the Video Mistake I Made

3. Connect with Top-Tier Journalists

4. Answers to Your Craigslist Questions

5. Promoting a Gift Service for Kids

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. At My Blog...


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1. Why Most Authors Fail
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Yes, I said most. As in more than 90 percent.

Some weeks, based on the calls I receive from frustrated authors who can't sell their books, I conclude that 9 out of 10 of the authors who wrote the more than 170,000 titles last year should never have written their books in the first place.

When the phone rings and it's a desperate author begging for advice on how to generate free publicity, the first question I ask is, "Who's your target audience?"

Silence.

"That's what I'm hoping you'll help me decide," the authors sometimes reply.

By then, it's way too late. I've spoken with authors who have spent up to five years of their lives writing, editing and publishing their books. Some have applied for bank loans. Others have sold books, but they can barely cover the cost of self-publishing.

Sadly, most authors' success doesn't come anywhere close to their fantasies of selling thousands of books and attracting a huge following.

It kills me to see authors make dumb mistakes, and then struggle to move piles of books nobody wants to read.

Other authors, like the creators of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and Rich Dad Poor Dad, are happily not-so-famous but quietly raking in high six-figure and even seven-figure annual incomes without ever being on "Oprah" or hitting any bestseller list.

To learn what those wildly successful authors know that poor authors don't, sign up for a free 75-minute telephone seminar this Thursday, April 17, at your choice of two times: either 2 p.m. Eastern or 7 p.m. Eastern. It will be hosted by Steve Harrison, who will explain the seven key differences between r^ch authors and poor authors and why they aren't obvious things like getting publicity or having a good title, although those things are important.

You'll also learn how the top 0.1 percent of authors overcome the many problems and frequent obstacles of the bookstore distribution system, and the "unfair advantage" r^ch authors use to win the publishing game which 99.9 percent of the other authors don't know anything about.

There's no cost to participate on the call (except for your normal long distance charges). So if you're writing your next nonfiction book, or planning to write one, don't miss this call. Go to http://publicityhound.net/RichAuthorSecrets to learn how to participate.


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2. Don't Make the Video Mistake I Made
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Speaking of dumb mistakes, here's one of mine.

When I wanted to start creating video, I foolishly bought an Aiptek HD camcorder, thinking the quality would be far superior to much simpler-to-use cameras.

For five days, I struggled.

The instruction manual has print so small that I held a magnifying glass in one hand trying to read the directions, and the camera in the other, trying to fiddle with the controls. Not only that, but the joystick on the back of the camcorder was difficult to move up and down and back and forth.

Three days later, when I finally figured out how to record, I watched my first video on my computer screen. But I could barely hear the audio and I couldn't figure out what I did wrong.

Then I met Mike Stewart, who told me one of the biggest mistakes people make when entering the world of video is buying equipment with too many bells and whistles, and then spending days like I did figuring out how to use it.

That's valuable time that can be spent cranking out videos and posting them to a website or video blog to pull in tons of traffic. Google, it's worth remembering, bought YouTube for $1.65 billion--proof that the granddaddy of search engines gives high priority to video and will reward you handsomely if you use it.

Mike recommends two brands of camcorders. One is the Flip Video. I immediately went to Best Buy to exchange the Aiptek for a Flip. I had it out of the box, on the tripod and recording in less than half an hour, by myself! He then showed me how to use a video editing software program that's so easy and cool, I felt like a big-shot Hollywood producer.

I'm hosting a free teleseminar with Mike from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, April 17, for the first 300 Publicity Hounds who sign up. As of this morning, I only had 26 seats remaining, and it will certainly be filled to capacity before long. Mike will teach you how to create videos for YouTube, for one-page sales letters, and for your own video blog or website.

Learn how to participate in "How to Create Videos for Your Website to Pull Traffic, Impress Visitors, Make the Phone Ring and Close the Sale" at http://www.PublicityHound.com/mikestewartvideo.htm


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3. Connect with Top-Tier Journalists
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Here are three more reasons why I'm wild about Publicity Hounds getting a subscription to Expertclick: The Online Yearbook of Experts. Speakers and authors, pay attention.

- -Mitch Davis of Expertclick is speaking at the International Association of Speaker Bureaus' annual convention in Chicago on April 24. Many Expertclick clients are speakers and authors who greatly benefit from his networking. He's giving away copies of the Yearbook of Experts to help his clients promote themselves to speakers bureaus.

- -Mitch rubs elbows with more top-tier journalists and broadcasters than almost anybody I know. Over the weekend, he passed out yearbooks at the 37th Annual American Society of Journalists, Authors and Writers Conference in New York. He's also passing them out at Talkers Magazine's 11th Annual New Media Seminar, and at the Society of Professional Journalists National Convention.

- -When Mitch attends a trade show or convention, he invites Expertclick clients to a client appreciation networking program. He also invites local journalists, who have a table full of sources right at their fingertips. He'll be hosting these events April 25 in Chicago at the International Association of Speakers Bureau event, the National Association of Government Communicators event April 28 in Albuquerque, the National Speakers Association's branding lab on May 2 in Boston, NSA's Speakers Academy May 9 in Atlanta, and the giant Book Expo May 29 in Los Angeles.

I'm an Expertclick subscriber, and several journalists have called me for stories or commentary after searching the Expertclick database. Tell Expertclick you're a Publicity Hound reader and they'll knock $100 off your subscription price. Learn more about this great service at http://PublicityHound.net/expertclick


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4. Answers to Your Craigslist Questions
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I'm still amazed at the number of people who don't use Craigslist as part of their publicity campaigns.

I don't care what you're selling. You should be posting regularly to the Craigslist nearest to where you live, even if you're in Podunk Junction.

In a question-and-answer feature about Craigslist in The New York Times last year, Jim Buckmaster, the CEO of Craigslist, said postings on the smaller Craigslists can be just as valuable as postings on lists for big cities like New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

"Surprisingly, postings to smaller markets like Des Moines often get more page views than ones in large cities where there are more postings competing for attention," he said.

You can read the entire feature at
http://publicityhound.net/craigslistquestions

But before you start posting, take advantage of the dozens of tips that Nancy Mills shares on how to make the most of this worldwide bulletin board. She was my guest during a teleseminar on "How to Use Craigslist as a Global Publicity Tool" and passed along fabulous tips on how to save time, pull Craigslist visitors to your website and make this service one of your most powerful publicity tools.

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://publicityhound.net/cdcraigslist


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5. Promoting a Gift Service for Kids
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This week, 10 Publicity Hounds have tips on how Steve Mock of Henderson, Nevada can promote his company, Giftventure, that gives children a personalized week-long treasure hunt.


From Susan Gingerich:

"Where are kids found? At the library during story hour, at the playground, and kids events. Work with promoters of these venues to stage a hidden treasure that is found with, none other than, your clues.

"Most activities sponsored by parks and recreation centers and libraries and have media coverage. You can tag onto their press as a sponsor and pass information onto parents at the events in a secret letter for parents."


From John Easton:

"I would consider running a contest for a video of the most entertaining reaction to your product. Have your customers upload videos to one of the online services (YouTube, Blip.tv, Revver, or other) and select the best one. I am partial to Brightcove and Splashcast which allow your customers to upload videos to your account directly (Brightcove enables you to filter the videos) and display the uploaded videos in a multi-channel player.

"I am willing to bet you would get some submissions that would rival America's Funniest Home Videos, and these could spread the word about you like wild fire."


From Carol White:

"Contact all the major sites where moms and grandparents hang out and offer a story about gift giving, a contest, etc. Here are a few ideas: MomsMinivan.com, Eons.com, Grandparents.com, 2young2retire.com, Boomerwomenspeak.com. At each site, look at their list of links for more ideas of sites to contact."


The Publicity Hound says:

Steve, your service is perfect for the many gift guides published by newspapers and magazines. The Gift List sells a database that tells you exactly which media are planning special sections and other features highlighting gifts. For example, gift guides in parents magazines would be a perfect place to pitch a story about your business. Learn more about the Gift List at http://publicityhound.net/giftlist


Read all the responses to this week's Help This Hound question at http://publicityhound.net/giftventure


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
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Alex Foo of Christmas Island, Australia writes:

"I resigned from a prestigious job three years ago when I discovered that I could help people start Speaking Chinese in 58 minutes with no pen, no paper.

"My dream is to help 957,000 people around the world start speaking some basic Chinese before the Beijing Olympic Games held in August this year. Equally important, a portion of the proceeds from my DVDs and Cds will go to help 6 million men, women and children help themselves so that they no longer have to worry where the next meal is going to come from.

"What's the best way for me to spread the word about what I'm doing? My website is at http://www.ChinaSpeak.com.au (turn down your speakers)."


The Publicity Hound says:

Alex, the Beijing Olympics are the perfect tie-in! Let's see what specific ideas or pitching angles my Hounds can suggest. Hounds with tips for Alex can post them to my blog at http://publicityhound.net/speakchinese

Here's my idea. How about trying to get onto one of the many shows on National Public Radio that deal with topics like travel and culture, and give listeners a few basic lessons on how to speak Chinese quickly? I visited your website and saw from one of your videos that your mom teaches Chinese and your dad does Chinese calligraphy. I'm sure you have some great stories to share with NPR audiences. See "How to Get Booked on National Public Radio" at http://PublicityHound.net/cdnpr for helpful tips on how to get onto the shows, give great interviews and be invited back.


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7. Hound Joke of the Week
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Alert Publicity Hounds emailed me after they read last week's item here about Loews Hotels' "learning vacations" for four- legged hounds and asked about the other two services that I read about in Midwest Airlines' inflight magazine. Here they are:

- -At Su'ruff Camp at Lowes Coronado Bay Resort, about 45 minutes from Tampa, Florida, dogs get surfing lessons with Coronado Surfing Academy at Coronado's Dog Beach.

- -At Outward Hound at Loews Denver Hotel--which features a two- hour on-and-off leash guided hike with a personal trainer--dogs get fresh-baked healthy treats, limo pick-up and drop-off, and a personalized Web photo gallery documenting their adventure.


If you're targeting your publicity at an upscale, well-educated audience, in-flight magazines might be the perfect vehicle for your story. "Special Report #27: Fly High with Publicity in the Inflight Magazines" saves you hours of research with pitching tips galore and contact information for 43 inflight magazines. Read more about the report at http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html


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. At My Blog...
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National mag wants Wisconsin expert in small biz retailing http://publicityhound.net/smallbizretailing


How to promote your 'best of' honor for more publicity
http://publicityhound.net/bestofhonor


American Airlines' canceled flights a publicity op
http://publicityhound.net/canceledflights


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Where to See or Hear The Publicity Hound


April 17: Teleseminar

Mike Stewart demystifies the process of creating video for your website; 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Registration is free. Only 26 seats left as of today so register now: http://www.PublicityHound.com/mikestewartvideo.htm


April 22: Shorewood, Wisconsin

"Savvy Media Relations: How to Get FREE Online & Offline Publicity," 8:30 to noon, and "The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them for Consumers, Not Only for Journalists," 1 to 3:30 p.m.; North Star, 4515 W. Oakland Ave., sponsored by the Shorewood Business Improvement District. Tickets are $75 each or $65 for two or more persons. To register, contact Barb Caprile at barb@shorewood.com or 414-962-7002.


April 30: Teleseminar

"How to Create a Media Plan," part of the teleseminar series "Intro to Internet Marketing" for health professionals. Perfect for doctors, nurses, spa owners, holistic health counselors, massage therapists, etc. Register at http://publicityhound.net/introinternetmarketing


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

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

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

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound® website at http://www.publicityhound.com/ or you told me you want to subscribe.

PRIVACY STATEMENT: The Publicity Hound® respects your privacy and has a strict anti-spam policy. Read my privacy policy at http://www.publicityhound.com/privacypolicy.htm

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

Publicity tips/The Worst TV Talk Show Guest Ever April 1, 2008

The Publicity Hound's
Tips of the Week
Issue #392 April 1, 2008
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://www.PublicityHound.com
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
The Publicity Hound®

Circulation: 44,041

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

"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.

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

Hiring a VA or a Summer Intern?

Smart PR agencies and publicists are interviewing right now for summer interns to help with clients' publicity campaigns. These assistants can do everything from writing press releases and updating press kits to doing online research and tracking down bloggers.

If you're hiring an intern or a virtual assistant to help with any aspect of publicity, don't spend weeks training them before they start producing results. Let me train them for you.

"How to Help Your Boss or Client with a Publicity Campaign" is a graduate-level course for assistants, virtual assistants and interns. It gives them dozens of tools and resources that many professional PR people don't know about. And it walks them step-by-step through more complicated tasks that most people would never think of turning over to an assistant. Things like article writing and search engine optimization.

Read more about what I can teach your assistant at http://www.publicityhound.com/PHU_AssistantsCourse.htm

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In This Issue
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1. The Worst TV Talk Show Guest Ever

2. When 'Oprah' Features Your Competitor

3. Book Waiver Forms

4. 'The Office' Returns

5. Promoting Garage Sale Signs

6. Help This Hound

7. Hound Quote of the Week

8. At My Blog...

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1. The Worst TV Talk Show Guest Ever
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When Madonna appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman" on March 31, 1994, her coarse language made the episode the most censored in American network television talk-show history.

It also resulted in some of the highest ratings of Letterman's late-night career.

Three year's later, when Farrah Fawcett appeared on Letterman's show, either drunk or stoned or both, Letterman made the most of the interview, interjecting comments like "time to get into a 12-step program" into the conversation, without her even realizing he was making fun of her.

Then there's Adam Green, a singer/songwriter and member of the now-defunct band Moldy Peaches, who appeared on "Total tv," a late-night German TV talk show, recently.

After host Stefan Raab introduced him, Green sauntered onto the stage, beer bottle in hand, then jumped onto the couch next to Raab's desk and almost landed on his head. Swigging from the bottle periodically, he gave one of the oddest interviews I've ever seen.

At one point, he joked about serving in Iraq. He sat on the host's lap and kissed him. Then he threw the beer bottle at a member of the production crew. He missed, and the bottle shattered on stage. Green ranks right up there as one of the worst TV talk show guests ever.

Judge for yourself by watching the video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XfBIz-NyQFY

Celebrity guests can often get away with disobeying one of the commandments that no other guest can break on a TV talk show: Never, ever embarrass the host.

Embarrassing the host also means:

- -Holding up your book on camera and pitching it

- -Hogging the spotlight and not letting the host control the conversation

- -Continuing to talk when it's time for a commercial break

If you're trying to get onto TV talk shows, know what's expected of you before, during and after the show. Know the 6 traits every talk show host is looking for. Know how to avoid the "freeze and squeeze" mistake that can make you sound like you're 10 years old. And the nine other commandments you must follow during taped interviews.

TV personality Connie Dieken explained them all during an interview she 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 "How to be a TV Talk Show Host's Dream Date" at http://publicityhound.net/cdtvtalkshowdreamdate


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2. When 'Oprah' Features Your Competitor
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If you're dying to get onto "Oprah," one of the worst things that can happen to you is having Oprah pass you over in favor of one of your competitors.

Unless you're Santosh Krinskey of Lotus Brands, a company in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin that sells neti pots. A neti pot is a miniature watering can that resembles an Aladdin's lamp. People like me, who are susceptible to sinus infections, use neti pots regularly to keep sinus passages clean.

Fill the pot with a homemade mixture of salt water. Hang your head over a sink. Shove the pot's long spout up one nostril. Turn your head to one side and let the water flow through your sinus cavity and drip out the other nostril. It sounds gross and uncomfortable, but it works.

Last April, Santosh didn't see the "Oprah" segment on nasal irrigation, in which she featured a neti pot from one of his competitors. But within hours after the show was broadcast, he was deluged with orders.

He air-freighted 300,000 pots immediately. Two months later, he started ordering 220,000 pots a month for the rest of the year from his Chinese supplier.

But it didn't end there. The neti pot show was aired again in November and December last year, resulting in another tidal wave of sales. Santosh estimates he sold 750,000 neti pots as a result or his competitor's publicity.

That's probably because many people still aren't familiar with neti pots. So when they saw the Oprah segment, they didn't go shopping for a particular brand.

If your competitor ends up on "Oprah" and is hawking a certain book or another product that appears, you probably won't be as lucky as Santosh. Susan Harrow shows you how to tilt the odds of being on the show in your favor. My interview with her called "How to Get Booked on Oprah" includes advice on how to tap into Oprah's hot-button topics. Susan explains what producers are listening for when they hear your pitch and the little "extras" that will make Oprah's producers more interested in you.

The interview is available as a CD or an electronic transcript that you can download and be reading as soon as your ord