If you blog, the worst of your worries shouldn’t be how many times to post, or what to write about, or whether to use WordPress or Typepad. Your Number One concern—the question bloggers never think to ask—should be: “What if somebody sues me tomorrow for copyright infringement, defamation or invasion of privacy—what does that mean?” Here’s what… Read More
Public Relations
WomensMedia.com needs promotion/media kit ideas
Karen Kalisek of Escondido, Calif. writes: “WomensMedia.com a seven-year-old website that has undergone a major overhaul and is in the process of relaunching. “We pride ourselves in offering ‘expert advice for working women.’ Currently, we have 30,000 unique website followers each month (20% of those are overseas), 10,000 follow the blog, Women’s Lunch Talk, and, 1,000 listen to… Read More
Top food trends and how PR people should pitch them
If you want publicity in traditional media for a food-related story, don’t miss these tips from Nancy Wall Hopkins, deputy editor of food and entertaining at Better Homes and Gardens. Brian Pittman of Bulldog Reporter interviewed her. Here’s a quick summary, but please read the entire article. After each one of Nancy’s tips, I’ve also given you some of my… Read More
NY film-maker needs intern to do PR for documentary
Mitchell Teplitsky of New York, NY writes: “I am self-distributing a documentary to the home video and institutional markets. “I do my own PR, but as one-man band, it’s too much. I’m thinking of trying to find an intern or PR firm pro bono. The benefit: They’ll get to work with and learn how to… Read More
Hiring a VA to book speaking gigs sends a bad message
Let’s see a show of hands. How many of you like receiving cold calls from people selling ink cartridges, aluminum siding or ads in your local Yellow Pages? That’s what I thought. That’s why a speaker should think twice about hiring an assistant or virtual assistant to cold call meeting planners. It sends the message, “I’m too important… Read More
Speakers: Use local stories in towns where you speak
If you speak for free or for a fee, and you’re trying to generate media attention in towns where you speak, steal a great idea from motivational speaker Terry Hershey of Vashon, Wash. When he speaks in communities throughout the United Staties, he tries to find a local angle that ties into his topic—something he can pitch to… Read More
Can’t sell your house? Bury St. Joseph for an offer & publicity
With a glut of houses on the market and few buyers, here’s an almost guaranteed way for you to get free publicity for a house you’re trying to unload—and maybe even a quick sale. This is just one of several great publicity ideas for real estate agents, too. An old superstition says that burying a St. Joseph statue upside down… Read More
Thank book, food, music reviewers who write about you
Here’s an appropriate reminder for Thanksgiving Day. Send handwritten thank-you notes to journalists, freelancers, broadcasters, bloggers and others who write about you. It helps build the relationship. But what about book reviewers? Anne Roos, author of the book The Musician’s Guide to Brides—How to Make Money Playing Weddings, asks: “I have received some wonderful online… Read More
Canadian jeweler wants ideas for Bloomingdale’s trunk show
Rachel Mielke of New York, New York writes: “I have a high-end designer jewelry company, Hillberg & Berk, that wholesales across Canada. We have just broken into the U.S. market by being invited down to do a trunk show with Bloomingdale’s in New York City. “This is an unheard of opportunity for our company and could… Read More
Attleboro, MA threatens granny for past-due bill of 1 cent
If you’ve done something dumb and bad publicity results, the quickest way to make the story go away is to apologize. But not in Attleboro, Mass. where the city has threatened to place a lien on the home of Eileen Wilbur, a 72-year-old blind woman because she has failed to pay a past-due water bill of 1 cent. The… Read More