Wouldn’t it be great if you could get inside the minds of the army of bookers who decide which authors and experts get booked on Oparah, FOX News, CNN and other big shows? They could tell you instantly exactly what kinds of topics they’re looking for, how to pitch them and the big mistakes that would… Read More
Publicity Blog
Authors: Pitch issues & shows, not your books
If you’re writing a book, here’s a tip that savvy authors already know. When you’re trying to get onto a TV or radio show, never pitch your book. As soon as guest bookers realize you’re peddling a book, you’re toast. Instead, pitch a relevant issue that’s tied to the book. Also, pitch an entire show so… Read More
Why is ‘the mic is always on’ so difficult to understand?
It happened again—not to two starry-eyed, naive news sources who sat in front of the TV cameras for the first time—but to two political insiders who should have know better. I call it microphonitis—blabbering on and on about private matters and personal opinions and even uttering obscenities—while a microphone is pinned to your lapel. This time, it… Read More
Keepsake CD for birthdays, anniversaries needs promo ideas
Alaa el Ghatit of Libertyville, Illinois, writes: “I own a national service called LifeOnRecord which lets people capture and preserve their stories and memories from any phone. The most popular product is a keepsake CD that people will give for birthdays, anniversaries and other events. “Here’s how it works. Someone planning the celebration will sign… Read More
A new publication, DVDs that will help with online publicity
Can you think of a good reason why you shouldn’t be concerned with Internet marketing, which is tied directly to your ability to generate publicity online? If so, let me know because I can’t think of one. If you have a website, and most of you do, you should know things like how much traffic you… Read More
Palin daughter’s pregnancy: Fair game for Publicity Hounds
When the news of GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s pregnant 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, broke over the weekend, Barack Obama was quick to issue an order to his campaign workers to “back off.” Family members of candidates aren’t fair game, he warned. “We don’t go after people’s families, we don’t get them involved in the politics. It’s… Read More
Know bloggers’ pitching preferences; avoid ‘me too’ emails
Every Publicity Hound needs a media database of journalists, including contact information and pitching preferences. During my teleseminar series on How to Create a Media Plan, I explained all the details you need to gather, like when they’re on deadline and the time of day or week when they prefer to be contacted. That list… Read More
Prepare for an interview with a reporter these 8 ways
If a reporter contacts you unexpectedly and asks for an interview in the next few days, and you don’t feel entirely ready, how do you prepare? That’s what Leilie McKinley of Soaring-Phoenix.com, one of my business coaches, just called to ask. A reporter from a major online business magazine found Leili’s blog post about how the credit crunch will affect small business.… Read More
Why trying to get a magazine column can be wasted effort
A freelance PR person just emailed me and asked, “Did you ever or can you recommend a resource on how to become a magazine columnist?” I told her that several years ago, I wrote “Special Report #34: Secrets to Becoming a Columnist in Newspapers and Magazines.” It advises writers to offer columns for free and not ask… Read More
Authors, create multiple revenue streams from your book
Every week, it seems, I see authors who pour three or more years of their lives and entire bank accounts into writing and publishing a book. Then, six months after it hits the shelves, they’re drained of all energy and money. So they give up, start thinking about their second book, and the whole ugly mess starts… Read More