The next time you write a press release, use BusinessWire’s handy checklist so you don’t forget key elements of the release. Its 11 pointers include things that are easy to forget like HTML formatting, using keywords and hyperlinks, and including video. (A few days ago, I wrote about 19 opportunities to use hyperlinks in press releases.) The list is… Read More
Content Creation
Authors, 7 things will keep you out of the poorhouse
If you’re writing a book, or thinking of writing one, please don’t take the quickest path to the poorhouse. Don’t start writing your next book unless you can identify multiple ways you’re going to make money from it. The answer “I’m going to make money when people buy it at the book store”… Read More
Sell books by the truckload: Free call explains how
Dr. Neil Baum, a urologist in New Orleans, tried lots of ways to promote and distribute his book, Marketing Your Clinical Practice. Most of them bombed. And like many other authors, he felt stuck. Then, he thought that perhaps a big pharmaceutical company might want to buy his book in mass quantity and give it… Read More
13 fun, easy ways to find content for your blog
The next time you’re looking for a topic for your blog, ask yourself these three questions, suggested by small business marketing coach Sydni Craig-Hart in 5 Simple Steps to Generate Relevant Content for Your Blog: 1. What’s keeping your clients up at night? 2. What’s the biggest challenge or problem they’re facing right now? 3. What… Read More
7 ways blogging makes you and your employees smarter
By now, you’ve probably read most of the arguments on why companies should be blogging. But here’s one you don’t read about very much. Blogging makes you smarter. And that goes for your employees, too, if they’re posting to your blog. Almost every time I write here, I do research, even if it’s simply Googling… Read More
How to write a guest post for my publicity blog
I love exposing readers of this blog to new viewpoints related to publicity, even if they disagree with mine. Topics can include anything dealing with traditional publicity to reviews for books and products that deal with publicity, online marketing, self-promotion or social media. I’m not interested in posts that aren’t related to those topics. Truth is,… Read More
Bad advice from Copyblogger on time spent blogging
By Joan Stewart Copyblogger is one of my very favorite resources to learn about blogging, writing and sales copy. But a post written by Jonathan Morrow, 20 Warning signs That Your Content Sucks, does a disservice to beginning bloggers and could easily turn them off forever to blogging, one of the very best ways to… Read More
12 more fill-in-the-blank headlines for your articles, blog
Suffering from headline writer’s block? If so, don’t sweat it. Over the weekend, I stopped at my local bookstore and scanned the covers of the June issues of several dozen business and consumer magazines and found these 12 headlines which you can tweak and turn into your own: Turn the _______ You Have into the _______ You Want… Read More
How a guest blogger pitched me and made me say ‘yes’
If you’re pitching a blogger with an idea for a guest blog post, take a cue from James Nissen. James pitched me last night regarding a guest blog post about how he built the buzz for SecretintheDirt.com, a free golf website hosted by PGA Champion Steve Elkington, legendary masters champion Jackie Burke, and Internet golf sensation… Read More
Frustrated authors, speakers: Canfield has sage advice
If you’re a frustrated author who has been trying to think of an idea for a book, finish a book already under way, or boost sluggish sales of a book that’s been on the shelves for several months, Jack Canfield has some sage advice for you. And who better than Jack to give it? He… Read More