Here’s a great publicity idea for book clubs, libraries, book stores, author groups or any organization that relates in any way to books or reading. Offer predictions on how you think “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” will end. It’s the last book in the record-breaking series by author J.K. Rowling. The article asks whether… Read More
Get organized with Organize magazine
If you sell a product or service that helps people get or stay organized, a new magazine might be the perfect place for your news. Organize magazine, published for slobs like me, recently hit the newsstands. Editor Joyce Doreny, a professional organizer, says the magazine is for “doable organization projects for real people with real lives.” The magazine… Read More
BusinessWeek podcaster needs help quieting dogs
Michelle Nichols of Reno, Nevada, the BusinessWeek podcaster who offered interviewing interviewing tips in item #1 above, is now asking your help with this dilemma: “I have two Lab-type dogs, and I record my weekly podcasts for BusinessWeek from my home office. Occasionally, the dogs decide to bark for no discernable reason, and it’s a… Read More
White Papers teleclass tomorrow night
Back in the old days, White Papers read more like PhD dissertations: voluminous documents with highfalutin’ language, long paragraphs and big words with lots of syllables. Somewhere along the way, smart marketers discovered that White Papers needed a makeover. Slimmed down and spruced up, White Papers are now one of the hottest marketing tools, used for generating publicity as well as new leads.… Read More
Writing articles? Think marketing, not just writing
The next time you write an article, spend at least as much time figuring out how you will use it to market your products and services as you do wordsmithing. There’s an interesting conversation at Chris Knight’s blog about how some article writers mistakenly think the writing is more important. Chris says: “Take a fresh look at your… Read More
Need a proofreader? I found a great one
I write so much copy, that I could keep a proofreader busy 24 hours a day. I seldom use proofreaders. But I found one who did a fabulous job reviewing my sales page for Publicity Hound University, my new training course for assistants, virtual assistants and summer interns. She’s Philippa Jarecki, at left, of AwaywithWords.ca, and… Read More
Copywriters: How to attract high-paying clients
I’m a student of direct-marketing sales copy, and I’ve been studying everything I can get my hands on. One of my teachers is David Garfinkel, whose home study course I bought several years ago. He emailed me tonight and told me about a free audio he’s offering, in exchange for your name and email address.… Read More
Journalist’s toolbox: Take a peek inside
Journalists use all kinds of interesting tools to research and write their stories. Smart Publicity Hounds should be curious enough to know what they are. Who knows? You might even be able to use some of them when you’re writing your own articles, or crafting a pitch. Check out the Journalist’s Toolbox, a helpful website… Read More
“I Love My Library” Video Contest offers $10,000 prize
If you work, read or do anything else at a library you love, or your kids do, generate publicity for the library and a big, fat cash prize by entering and winning the “I Love My Library” contest. It’s sponsored by Thomson Gale, the company that publishes reference materials for libraries. Whether it’s your favorite neighborhood library, you… Read More
Copyrighting press releases on ’10 dumb things’ list
A copyright symbol conveys the message “if you copy this without attribution you’re in big trouble.” So why would a PR person put a copyright symbol on a press release? Enough of them must because it turned up as one “10 dumb things that smart marketers do,” a helpful list written by freelance writer and marketing pro Joy Jennings and posted at… Read More