The more addicted you become to Twitter, one of the fastest and easiest-to-use publicity tools, the more time-consuming and confusing it can become. Answering the question “What are you doing?” within 140 characters is the easy part. The hard part is figuring out the Twitter culture and etiquette, understanding the Twitter lingo (Tweeple means people… Read More
Think far beyond traditional media & target niches
Too many Publicity Hounds are still chasing after top-tier newspaper reporters, national magazine editors, the highest rated TV talk show hosts and major market radio deejays, hoping that if they mention you, you’ll make it big. Problem is, so are thousands of other publicity seekers. And because lots of those big media outlets reach a general audience of millions,… Read More
3 website mistakes that derail your publicity efforts
If you missed Tuesday’s teleseminar with Tom Antion, my mentor, who explained his (and my) three-pronged strategy for business success—Internet marketing, public speaking and success principles—you can download it. You’ll hear Tom talk about dozens of topics, including the three big mistakes many website owners make. I made the first one when I hired a company to create… Read More
Twitter and text-speak are poisoning the English language
Maybe it’s just me, a grumpy former newspaper writing coach. But I fear our love affair with Twitter, text messaging and even those ubiquitous emoticons is poisoning the English language. Mari Smith’s Twitter Lingo Demysified includes a list of the most popular terms that many active Twitterers use in everyday tweets, to help them keep their posts within the 140-character limit. Even if you don’t… Read More
Revlon ties contest to ‘lipstick on a pig’ controversy
Most of us may forget the “lipstick on a pig” controversy by next week. But I’m betting the word lipstick will be front and center on the stump, straight through to the election and possibly beyond. As soon as the news about Barack Obama’s lipstick comment broke yesterday, the media went nuts. Race Taylor, a deejay for WPLJ-FM… Read More
Journals for puppy, kitten lovers need promotion ideas
Rik Feeney of Orlando, Florida writes: “I need help from fellow Hounds on how to best promote my new book, the Puppy Lover’s Journal. “It’s made up of 104 lined journal pages with pictures of cute little puppies of several different breeds on the bottom outside corner of each page. Since it’s a journal, you… Read More
The perils of friending journalists on Facebook
Journalists have always hated being identified publicly as the “friend” of a source. “I’m not your friend,” is a typical response. “I’m just trying to do my job.” But that was 10 years ago, long before social networking sites came onto the scene. These days, if you’re trying to get in front of a reporter at… Read More
If you missed Oprah’s guest booker, join her Thursday
Wouldn’t it be great if you could get inside the minds of the army of bookers who decide which authors and experts get booked on Oparah, FOX News, CNN and other big shows? They could tell you instantly exactly what kinds of topics they’re looking for, how to pitch them and the big mistakes that would… Read More
Authors: Pitch issues & shows, not your books
If you’re writing a book, here’s a tip that savvy authors already know. When you’re trying to get onto a TV or radio show, never pitch your book. As soon as guest bookers realize you’re peddling a book, you’re toast. Instead, pitch a relevant issue that’s tied to the book. Also, pitch an entire show so… Read More
Why is ‘the mic is always on’ so difficult to understand?
It happened again—not to two starry-eyed, naive news sources who sat in front of the TV cameras for the first time—but to two political insiders who should have know better. I call it microphonitis—blabbering on and on about private matters and personal opinions and even uttering obscenities—while a microphone is pinned to your lapel. This time, it… Read More