The more you pitch to large magazines and newspapers, the stiffer the competition for an editor’s attention. That’s why placing stories in alternative publications can be so much easier–and sometimes more effective. They have a ready-made audience for your topic, regardless of how obscure it is. Check out the New Pages Guide to Alternative Periodicals… Read More
Use AP stylebook when writing releases
Smart Publicity Hounds know about the Associated Press Stylebook, “the journalist’s bible.” It’s the 427-page, spiral-bound book, organized liked a dictionary, that journalists throughout the world consult when they need to know the correct acronym for a government agency. They check the stylebook when they needto know if it’s re-election or reelection, or whether the… Read More
How to Get Onto “The 700 Club”
Sharon Dotson of Bayou City PR in Houston, Texas wants to know how to get a client onto “The 700 Club,” a live TV program that airs weekdays from The Christian Broadcasting Network’s (CBN) broadcast facilities in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Hosted by Pat Robertson, the program focuses on Christian ministry. From Sandy Dumont of Norfolk,… Read More
How to do background checks on reporters
In my workshop “Hey Boss, Mike Wallace is on Line 2,” I share a sneaky tip about how to do background checks on reporters. Not the kind that will tell you whether they’ve been picked up for drunken driving or filed for bankruptcy. Rather, the kind that will help you determine what kind of interviewer… Read More
Finding the nut graph will help you with pitches
Journalists refer to it as the “nut graph.” It’s short for “nut paragraph,” the part near the beginning that explains, in a nutshell, what the story is about. The nut graph often lends perspective, includes statistics or makes a comparison between something then and now. Here’s an examples from a recent Wall Street Journal. A… Read More
Authors rent a mall storefront for grassroots selling
Thanks to Publicity Hound Paul Rhetts of Albuquerque, New Mexico for telling us about the 200 New Mexico authors and publishers who banded together during the holidays to sell local books in a storefront at a local mall. Frustrated by the difficulties getting their books stocked in local and regional bookstores, the New Mexico Book… Read More
Machine shop can use trade shows, clever mailings
Tom Monroe, Jr. of Detroit, Michigan wants ideas on how to promote his production machine shop, which services the manufacturing industry. Its niche market is providing production tapping and drilling of metal parts. From Toni Graeme of Victoria, BC, Canada: “How about a brainstorming group with someone from the advertising field you know who is… Read More
New York Times op-ed page
Every week, roughly 1,200 unsolicited submissions arrive at The New York Times via e-mail, fax and the U.S. Postal Service. All are vying for valuable space on the op-ed page, the page next to the editorial page that includes divergent views on timely topics. Many of the submissions are first-rate. Yet most get turned down… Read More
The Business Journal’s Book of Lists party
It was a night of swashbuckling fun, complete with a pirate treasure game, foods of the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas, and even a special “Pirate’s Pleasure” drink made with Goldschlager, triple sec and rum. It was The Business Journal’s annual Book of Lists bash at a downtown Milwaukee hotel on January 20, in honor of… Read More
Fun idea for a dog training school
Sometimes all you need is a clever play on words and a fun event to generate some great publicity. Take the concept of happy hour. Remove the booze. Add four-legged hounds. What do you get? “Yappy Hour,” a play date for pooches from 6 to 8 p.m. on a recent Friday night at the Amiable… Read More