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
Author needs help writing a sales letter
Patricia Dischler of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin writes: “I am the author of ‘Because I Loved You: A Birthmother’s View of Open Adoption’ (Goblin Fern Press, 2006). This book is part memoir, part guidance/advice. I share the story of placing my son for adoption in 1985. “I have been focusing on marketing directly to adoption… Read More
Costco Connection covers books, authors
Thanks to book marketing guru John Kremer for reminding authors that Costco Connection, the monthly magazine published by the giant warehouse club exclusively for its members, can be a great publicity vehicle for authors. In the current issue of John’s ezine, he lists contact information for about a dozen editors at the magazine, most of… Read More
Bad restaurant review? 2 ways to recuperate
Linda Baldwin, associate publisher of Isthmus, the alternative weekly in Madison, Wisconsin, wrote to tell me she liked the advice I gave to restaurants that get bad reviews. In short, don’t complain to the newspaper that the reviewer visited on the night two people called in sick. And don’t threaten to pull your advertising because… Read More
Media interviews: Balance of power has shifted to sources
If you’re involved in a news story and you’re afraid the media will misrepresent you, slant the news, or write it according to their own agenda, don’t refuse comment, thinking they’ll just go away and leave you alone. As I’ve said so many times before, refusing an interview is akin to screaming “we’re guilty,” even if… Read More
Cross-promote your blog and ezine
One of the biggest mistakes made by Publicity Hounds who blog and also publish an ezine is failing to cross-promote from one to the other. For example, in this blog, there’s a sign-up box for my ezine, “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,” just below my photo over on the right side. Many of you… 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
Business reporters: 30 under 30 to watch
If you’re pitching business news, you probably know lots of the big-name journalists who work for top-tier publications like the Wall Street Journal and Forbes. You may not be familiar, however, with some of the up-and-coming writers who are really making a name for themselves in business journalism. I harp constantly about researching journalists before you… Read More
Religion in the workplace a trend story worth pitching
The Spring issue of The Public Relations Strategist, published by the Public Relations Society of America, has a fascinating cover story about the faith-at-work movement. It’s titled “The merger of faith and work: Think religion and work are as separate as church and state? Not anymore.” Across America, it says, there’s a growing trend to… Read More
Nursing homes, sponsor a talent contest
My ears perked up last week when my local TV station aired a story about the Ms. Missouri Nursing Home Contest. I smiled when I saw the video of one of the frail contestants, in great “American Ido”l tradition, crooning “It Had to be You” into the microphone. I’m foggy on the details, but I… Read More