Several readers responded to the item I posted in yesterday’s publicity tips newsletter about how Facebook is expected to announce this week that it’s offering vanity URLs. “What’s the big deal?” one reader asked in an email. “Anyone can already do a short URL—yours would be http://profile.to/joanstewart.” She’s right. Facebook already has an application lets users adopt a short URL for… Read More
Publicity Blog
Holistic health coach needs publicity, marketing tips
Nancy L. Jerominski of SeaTac, Wash. writes: “I’m a holistic lifestyle coach who has pitched a variety of story ideas, including ‘maddening menopausal symptoms stopped without meds’ and ‘stop doing crunches for flatter abs.’ “I actually HAVE pitched Oprah several times with no results. There are lots of miserable menopausal women, and I can help… Read More
Your media pitch isn’t dead until you hear the word ‘no’
Several readers saw the item in last week’s newsletter about getting onto “Oprah” and wrote to tell me that they pitched ideas months ago and still haven’t heard back from Oprah’s producers. Can they assume their pitches are in the “deleted” folder? Never! While getting onto “Oprah” is always a long shot, I’ve heard of cases… Read More
Publicity ops for DIY weddings, coaches & franchises
If you haven’t subscribed to the free media leads courtesy of PitchRate.com, you could be missing the chance to score a big hit in a top-tier media outlet, or reach your target audience with your message in a niche media outlet. You can read more about this media leads service that matches sources with journalists. Of the many leads… Read More
Booklet author wants to attract licensees, publicity
Hugo Tschudin of River Vale, N.J. writes: “My booklet, Wake Up to Abundant Energy: 113 Ways to Make it Easy to ‘Rise and Shine,’ takes the struggle out of getting up in the morning. “I’d like to find licensees who could buy the booklets in bulk to give away to customers who request a catalog,… Read More
Don’t let Facebook confuse or intimidate you, or you’ll miss out
When I created my profile on Facebook many months ago, I was reluctant to use the site because I found it incredibly confusing. Most days, I just ignored it. In the process, I missed numerous opportunities to start building a community of people who cared about what I had to say, promote my business, and give people… Read More
Join me on VoiceAmerica Friday for my best publicity tips
When a producer calls you and needs you to fill in for a guest who has canceled, move a mountain if you must, and say yes. That’s what I did when Jon Missall of VoiceAmerica Business Network called yesterday afternoon and asked if I’d serve as a fill-in on the PRInsider show this morning with… Read More
Grow your business, beat competitors with your own book
For sales people and business owners ONLY: Answer this question in 10 seconds or less. If you sell a product or service, what’s the one thing that sets you apart from your competitors? If your answer isn’t “a book,” you could be leaving money on the table. If you own a business/professional practice, or certainly if… Read More
SEO tip will encourage journalists, customers to call
If a journalist uses the search engines to search for a source with your expertise, Google may return to her a long list of possibilities on the left side of the screen. There’s a clever trick you can use to prod that journalist into picking up the phone and calling you—even if she’s on deadline… Read More
Hate social media? This may change your mind—and the boss’s
Do you hate Twitter and refuse to use it because “who cares what I had for lunch?” Do you abhor Facebook and predict it will be passe by next year, so why go through all the trouble of creating a profile? Does your boss prohibit people from using Facebook at work? And nix your budget… Read More