Joan Stewart

Keepsake CD for birthdays, anniversaries needs promo ideas

Alaa el Ghatit of Libertyville, Illinois, writes: “I own a national service called LifeOnRecord which lets people capture and preserve their stories and memories from any phone. The most popular product is a keepsake CD that people will give for birthdays, anniversaries and other events. “Here’s how it works. Someone planning the celebration will sign… Read More

A new publication, DVDs that will help with online publicity

Can you think of a good reason why you shouldn’t be concerned with Internet marketing, which is tied directly to your ability to generate publicity online? If so, let me know because I can’t think of one. If you have a website, and most of you do, you should know things like how much traffic you… Read More

Palin daughter’s pregnancy: Fair game for Publicity Hounds

When the news of GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s pregnant 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, broke over the weekend, Barack Obama was quick to issue an order to his campaign workers to “back off.” Family members of candidates aren’t fair game, he warned. “We don’t go after people’s families, we don’t get them involved in the politics. It’s… Read More

Know bloggers’ pitching preferences; avoid ‘me too’ emails

Every Publicity Hound needs a media database of journalists, including contact information and pitching preferences. During my teleseminar series on How to Create a Media Plan, I explained all the details you need to gather, like when they’re on deadline and the time of day or week when they prefer to be contacted. That list… Read More

Prepare for an interview with a reporter these 8 ways

If a reporter contacts you unexpectedly and asks for an interview in the next few days, and you don’t feel entirely ready, how do you prepare? That’s what Leilie McKinley of Soaring-Phoenix.com, one of my business coaches, just called to ask. A reporter from a major online business magazine found Leili’s blog post about how the credit crunch will affect small business.… Read More

Why trying to get a magazine column can be wasted effort

A freelance PR person just emailed me and asked, “Did you ever or can you recommend a resource on how to become a magazine columnist?” I told her that several years ago, I wrote “Special Report #34: Secrets to Becoming a Columnist in Newspapers and Magazines.” It advises writers to offer columns for free and not ask… Read More

Authors, create multiple revenue streams from your book

Every week, it seems, I see authors who pour three or more years of their lives and entire bank accounts into writing and publishing a book. Then, six months after it hits the shelves, they’re drained of all energy and money. So they give up, start thinking about their second book, and the whole ugly mess starts… Read More

Image consultant gives Obama advice on clothing choices

Here’s a great example of what I discussed in yesterday’s newsletter about how Publicity Hounds can piggyback off the Democratic and Republican national conventions and the campaign. Image consultant Sandy Dumont, The Image Architect, tells Barack Obama that a dark suit worn with a dark shirt and tie makes him look “forbidding, even shady, because… Read More

How to promote a book signing for a book about Bi’aaatches

Roz Wolf of Los Angeles, California writes: I have a fun but strange book title to promote. “How To Woo A Bi’aaatch: The Key To Attracting Females” by Brian Zoozoo is a guide that speaks to a generation of single men and curious women aged 18-35. The word Bi’aaatch is slang for “a woman who… Read More