Elbert Mackey of Austin, Texas writes: “I am interested in pitching a new FDA-approved disposable dental drill that consumers buy from us for $49.95 and which we, in turn, ship directly to their choice of dentists throughout the United States. The FDA prohibits the sale of dental devices to consumers. “Our one-time-use dental drill eliminates… Read More
Entrepreneur columnist focuses on do-gooders
Entrepreneur magazine has a new column called “Doing Good,” featuring entrepreneurs whose business models are based on giving back to their communities as well as the world. It’s written by JJ Ramberg who, with her brother, runs GoodSearch, a successful search engine company that donates money to nonprofits and charities of your choosing, whenever you do… Read More
Treat your blog like a dog
I love the headline “4 reasons to treat your blog like a dog” on this article by blogger Bonnie Lowe. I ignore many blogging articles simply because they’re everywhere. But I love dogs. That’s why this headline caught my attention. She includes content-rich tips in a fun format, and she uses the dog angle right to the end. Remember this… Read More
Press release headlines should be upper- & lower-case
Thanks to Dave Casali from readMedia in Albany, N.Y. for this simple tip about a common mistake I see regularly when I read press releases: Nothing kills a reader’s momentum quicker than a section of text in all caps. Blocks of capital letters are extremely difficult to read, and tend to immediately turn readers off.… Read More
Web video in Charlotte, N.C. wants publicity ideas
This “Help This Hound” question is from John Easton of Charlotte, North Carolina asks: “My new web video portal, Broadcast Charlotte, features local small business events, and I would like some help from your Hounds on how to generate my own publicity for it. “Broadcast Charlotte provides on-demand video coverage of a variety of small-business… Read More
Online event calendars: Which are your favorites?
OK, all you publicists and self-promoters. I’m in the market for the very best online calendar directories, preferably free, where you can post blurbs about your events. I’ll trade you six of mine for six of yours—or even just one of yours. Here are some of the sites we’re using: Full Calendar costs $19.95 per post, but… Read More
A Big Mistake Non-fiction Authors Make
It’s one of the biggest boo-boos you can make if you’re writing a non-fiction book. Hundreds of authors make it daily, and then suffer the consequences. They write books without first creating spin-off products and services to sell to people who buy the book and love it. That might not sound like a big deal. … Read More
Restaurants entice food bloggers with free meals
What’s behind that four-star rating of a restaurant review at your favorite foodie website? Diners can’t always know for sure. That’s because as online food sites become increasingly influential in the restaurant business, chefs and owners are offering bloggers complimenary meals to get good write-ups, explains an article in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal. In fact, publicists across… Read More
Wall Street Journal pitching tip: Show your warts
An article in the October 2007 issue of PR Tactics includes a great tip for pitching the Wall Street Journal and any other business publication. It’s courtesy of Gene Coulter, editorial director at Peppercom in New York and former news editor of the Money Investing section of the Journal. “You need to learn how to think like a… Read More
Public, leased access let you have your own TV show
Wishing and hoping for your own show on national TV? Stop waiting for an invitation to audition. Instead, create your own show on your cable TV company’s public access channel. That’s what foodie Dave Lieberman did when he was a student at Yale University. On his show “Campus Cuisine,” he demonstrated how fellow students could cook… Read More