What do you when a photographer comes to your event, shoots photos, and you’re disappointed with what ends up in the paper? That’s what a Publicity Hound wanted to know when she emailed me with this dilemma: “What should one realistically expect when a photographer shows up to shoot a networking/luncheon/cocktail-party? My publicity chairperson is… Read More
Review a product before giving a testimonial
I just finished a teleseminar this afternoon for members of The Publicity Hound Mentor Program. The topic? How to get and give powerful testimonials. Giving testimonials can be as powerful as getting them, and even though authors, speakers and others solicit me regularly for testimonials, I’m very careful about offering kind words only for people… Read More
Pitch these story ideas in December
Thanks to Publicity Hound Shawne Duperon, a TV reporter, for reminding us that December is the very best month to pitch TV stations. “Newsrooms are no longer in a busy Sweeps month, so many employees are taking time off,” she says. Fewer employees means they need your story in a big way. She suggests: —Any… Read More
How to promote a photo gift business
Publicity Hound Jill Caren of Matawan, New Jersey writes: “My business, Expressions Photo Design, takes personal photographs and creates art and gifts with them. Our specialty is creating custom designed collages, pop art and photo memory books. “I have a brick and mortar store, but it has been difficult to launch because everyone thinks we… Read More
How to get great radio publicity
Some Publicity Hounds sabatoge themselves and make it difficult for the media to find them, then wonder why they don’t get publicity. For example, they give media contacts only their office phone numbers, forgetting that radio talk show hosts and newspaper reporters work around the clock and sometimes need to contact sources in the wee… Read More
Let’s Expose the PR Flunkies
One of the worst ways that PR agencies rip off their clients is by forcing new hires to make those idiot phone calls to journalists asking questions like “I’m just calling to see if you got my news release and if you know when it will be printed?” These calls infuriate the reporters. The company… Read More
Tracking trends in retail, radio, utilities, housing, groceries, delivery services, advertising, the security industry, venture capital and steel
Thanks to Publicity Hound Paul Furiga for pointing out the special section on trends in the November 21 Wall Street Journal. It’s worth a trek to your local library to check it out. The paper tracked trends in 10 industries: retail, radio, utilities, housing, groceries, delivery services, advertising, the security industry, venture capital and steel.… Read More
The war against Christmas
It’s not even December yet, and the sparks are already flying. In some ranks, it’s no longer Christmas Eve. Now it’s “Holiday Eve.” Others don’t send Christmas greetings. They send “holiday greetings.” As for that tree…you guessed it. It’s now a “holiday tree.” On AM and FM radio stations and on TV talk shows, the… Read More
How to promote a dating site for senior citizens
Rebecca Sharp Colmer of Ann Arbor, Michigan writes: “I have just launched an online dating site for senior citizens, called SeniorSparks.com. In addition, I have just released a new book in The Senior’s Guide Series called The Senior’s Guide to Dating (Again)—Traditional and Online. Senior Sparks offers dating seminars and personalized compatibility coaching. Any ideas… Read More
Pitch your gifts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and graduates
If you have a product that would be a perfect gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or graduation day, now is the time to start thinking about pitching ideas to national magazines. You might even get in under the wire for Valentine’s Day. Here are some leads to get you started: —Vegetarian Times magazine is… Read More