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
Publicity Blog
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
Story ideas for the day-after-Thanksgiving shopping
Brick-and-mortar retailers refer to the day after Thanksgiving as Black Friday, the official start of the Christmas shopping season. Whatever you call it, you’ve got opportunities galore to tie your product or service to it. Think trends. Here are some ideas to get you started: —Credit counselors should remind us about how credit card companies… Read More
How to promote an MRI service
Publicity Hound Hillary Davis asks: “I would like to help get publicity for my friend who has an MRI (Xray) business. But the only way publicity would work is if it is targeted specifically to doctors, since it is doctors that send patients into his MRI office. I’d be grateful for any ideas from your… Read More
Share your experiences on Voice America Network
Several Publicity Hounds have asked my opinion on Voice America Network, the single largest producer of Internet talk radio programming in the world, with more than 100 hosts who broadcast over three branded networks (health, business and VoiceAmerica variety). One person in my mentor program was “offered” a $5,000 package to have his own show.… Read More
Research reporters with a “Reporter of the Month” club
If you don’t have a big PR budget, you’ll love this idea. In fact, it’s so cool, I wish I had thought of it myself. It’s called the “Reporter of the Month Club” and Dean Rotbart, a former Wall Street Journal columnist, deserves credit for suggesting it. Dean is head of the TJFR group and… Read More
How to find PR clients
It baffles me why so many PR people complain about a lack of business yet never think of offering to present a program to their local Rotary or Kiwanis Club on how to get publicity. When they grumble that they don’t have enough clients, I suggest they create an inexpensive information product on how to… Read More