For every PR person who grouses about a rude, inconsiderate journalist, there’s a journalist complaining about a lazy PR person. And the writers are sharing their gripes online. Thanks to Publicity Hound Lori Lisi of Joshua, Texas for pointing out this interesting thread at a discussion board for travel writers. Their gripes include PR people… Read More
How to write press releases that hook readers
The average desk harbors 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat. A study, funded by a grant from The Clorox Company, found that surfaces in personal work areas such as offices and cubes had higher bacteria levels than surfaces in common areas. Telephones came in as the Number One home for office germs,… Read More
Tip off reporters to blogs
Many of the great ideas you read about here come from the many Publicity Hounds who read this newsletter and my audiences who hear me speak. When I spoke recently to the Virginia chapter of the National Speakers Association, I picked up another great tip. It’s from Brian Kirwin, a consultant for Rourk Public Relations.… Read More
How to promote services for the elderly
Publicity Hound Joan Riley writes: “There are many helpful programs for low-income seniors and official methods to inform them, but the people who need help the most often don’t get the word word about things like the current application for assistance with Medicare Part D prescription drugs, or their state’s Renters Credit, etc. “As a… Read More
Voicemail messages that help the media
This morning I called someone and had to sit through a 45-second email message that about drove me nuts. If I had been a reporter calling her for an interview, I probably would have hung up and called someone else to interview. Here are three voicemail tips that will make it easy for the media… Read More
Tips for working with media photographers
I just received the latest issue of Marketer, the print magazine published for members of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. I’m a contributing writer, and my article on Page 17 offers great tips on how to work with photographers, excerpted from my ebook “How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity Campaign.” One… Read More
Bulldog Reporter: Please start blogging
One of the best little tip sheets to hit my email box is Journalists Speak Out, the ezine published by Bulldog Reporter and edited by Brian Pittman. I find something useful in every one of them, like the nifty pitching tips in yesterday’s issue under the headline “Be a Resource, Not a ‘One Pitch’ Wonder:… Read More
Author wisely passes up a chance at publicity
Lana Jordan from Jorlan Publishing, who I met at the conference of the Small Publishers of North America on Oct. 23, emailed me today asking for advice on how she should have handled a situation that could have led to some great publicity. “I may be in the background somewhere on NBC’s Three Wishes this… Read More
How to recycle publicity in Woman’s Day
Gale Trent of Bristol, Virginia writes: “Our mystery fiction line Dark-N-Stormies was featured in WOMAN’S DAY magazine’s WD Giveaway in the October issue. ‘Fifteen lucky readers’ receive a set of all six books currently in the Dark-N-Stormies line. Although I’m donating the books and taking care of fulfillment, I’m delighted that our two-year-old imprint is… Read More
How to write press releases the media love
Writing coach Ann Wylie says this is the kind of press release that makes an editor’s eyes glaze over: “XYZ Co. Inc., a leading supplier of the world’s integrated real-time advanced software-aided microchips, announced today the availability of its latest product, the XYZ 4.2, version 3, which will revolutionize the software-aided micro-technology chip industry. “‘This… Read More