If only Publicity Hound Joni Hubred-Golden could have been around to help avert a PR disaster for Ellen DeGeneres and the dog rescue group Moms and Mutts. Ellen, you may have heard, adopted a terrier mix dog named Iggy from the nonprofit dog rescue group Moms and Mutts. When the dog didn’t get along with her cats, she… Read More
Publicity Blog
Halloween promotion ideas to generate publicity
Here are some ideas on how to promote a product, service, cause or issue by tying it to Halloween, the second largest retail holiday of the year. They’re courtesy of TV producer Shawne Duperon, one of my guests during next week’s media plan teleseminar series: —Sponsor a pumpkin-carving contest at your company. Challenge participants to carve… Read More
Free press release distribution for Calif. wildfire news
Starting immediately, PR Newswire is offering to distribute press releases free of charge if they pertain to the wildfires in California. It has created an archive of releases on both the public site and the media-only PR Newswire for Journalists website. To take advantage of the free service, submit a news release via email and use the subject line “California Wildfires.” Include… Read More
Disposable dental drill needs publicity ideas
Elbert Mackey of Austin, Texas writes: “I am interested in pitching a new FDA-approved disposable dental drill that consumers buy from us for $49.95 and which we, in turn, ship directly to their choice of dentists throughout the United States. The FDA prohibits the sale of dental devices to consumers. “Our one-time-use dental drill eliminates… Read More
Entrepreneur columnist focuses on do-gooders
Entrepreneur magazine has a new column called “Doing Good,” featuring entrepreneurs whose business models are based on giving back to their communities as well as the world. It’s written by JJ Ramberg who, with her brother, runs GoodSearch, a successful search engine company that donates money to nonprofits and charities of your choosing, whenever you do… Read More
Treat your blog like a dog
I love the headline “4 reasons to treat your blog like a dog” on this article by blogger Bonnie Lowe. I ignore many blogging articles simply because they’re everywhere. But I love dogs. That’s why this headline caught my attention. She includes content-rich tips in a fun format, and she uses the dog angle right to the end. Remember this… Read More
Press release headlines should be upper- & lower-case
Thanks to Dave Casali from readMedia in Albany, N.Y. for this simple tip about a common mistake I see regularly when I read press releases: Nothing kills a reader’s momentum quicker than a section of text in all caps. Blocks of capital letters are extremely difficult to read, and tend to immediately turn readers off.… Read More
Web video in Charlotte, N.C. wants publicity ideas
This “Help This Hound” question is from John Easton of Charlotte, North Carolina asks: “My new web video portal, Broadcast Charlotte, features local small business events, and I would like some help from your Hounds on how to generate my own publicity for it. “Broadcast Charlotte provides on-demand video coverage of a variety of small-business… Read More
Online event calendars: Which are your favorites?
OK, all you publicists and self-promoters. I’m in the market for the very best online calendar directories, preferably free, where you can post blurbs about your events. I’ll trade you six of mine for six of yours—or even just one of yours. Here are some of the sites we’re using: Full Calendar costs $19.95 per post, but… Read More
A Big Mistake Non-fiction Authors Make
It’s one of the biggest boo-boos you can make if you’re writing a non-fiction book. Hundreds of authors make it daily, and then suffer the consequences. They write books without first creating spin-off products and services to sell to people who buy the book and love it. That might not sound like a big deal. … Read More