From now until October 31, the media will be reporting an anything even remotely connected to Halloween. So start thinking about ways you can piggyback off this holiday—the second biggest retail holiday of the year. Here are some ideas to get you started: —Roadside markets, nurseries and agricultural associations can offer tips on how to… Read More
Publicity Blog
Pitch the Religion News Service for publicity on religion, spirituality topics
If you have a story idea about values, religion, spirituality or philanthropy, consider pitching it to reporters at the Religion News Service, owned by Newhouse News Service. The news service has more than 100 secular clients, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, U.S. News & World… Read More
Create a quiz for inflight magazines
Whenever I fly American Airlines, I pull the inflight magazine out of the seat pocket in front of me and turn to the back to see if there’s a Mensa Quiz. Then for the next half hour or so, I go to work filling in the blanks, or decoding a series of numbers, or playing… Read More
How to Attract a Reporter’s Attention
Sponsoring an event? One of the best ways to generate publicity is to invite a reporter to participate in something that will result in a pre-event story. For example, if you’re sponsoring a hot-air balloon race, invite a reporter to take a hot-air balloon ride a week or two before your event, so she can… Read More
Vote for POOPY PR photos
I’ll bet many of you work for companies that regularly have “POOP” in their newsletters, annual reports and even at their websites. “POOP” stands for Photos that Ought to be Outlawed Permanently. The acronym is the brainchild of Jean Clough, who teaches photography. Her friend, Steve Crescenzo, thought it was so clever when he first… Read More
Tie celebrities to your publicity
The current issue of People magazine includes a short item about Jessica Simpson, who showed up at two recent events without her 3.5-carat wedding ring. Two photos that accompany the item show her without her hubby, Nick Lachey, and waving high “hi” with her left hand, without her ring. So is there a meaning in… Read More
How to promote programs for cancer patients
Kelly Moore of Des Moines, Iowa writes: My aunt, Deirdre Duff-Allen of Aspen, Colorao, is a cancer survivor who has just launched a venture she is calling Survive-All. Through greeting cards, countdown calendars, inspirational booklets, workshops and a TV show, she hopes to inspire cancer patients, their families and the professionals who care for them… Read More
Piggyback off “Commander in Chief”
TV reporter Shawne Duperon has a great publicity idea for women business owners. It ties into the premiere of the ABC prime-time drama “Commander in Chief” on Sept. 27. “Create a fun contest at work, surveying your employees about when they believe a woman will run the country,” Shawne says. “Remember: Only pitch to ABC… Read More
Pitch Jay Leno for special event publicity
Promise me that after you read this item, you won’t pester Jay Leno’s staff with a boring idea that could put his late-night audience to sleep. If you watch Leno, like I do, you know his “correspondents” travel far and wide to fun events where they can film whacky segments, from John Melendez going belly-to-belly… Read More
Pitch a stand-alone photo for quick publicity
Liz Morgan, my Jazzercise instructor, has been beaming all week because the local weekly newspaper printed a photo of her new Junior Jazzercise class for little girls. So which do you think has more credibility? That photograph? Or a quarter page ad that Liz could have bought if she had the budget to advertise? When… Read More