If you’re trying to pitch the Charlotte Observer with your business story, first watch this short interview with business editor Patrick Scott. It’s courtesy of videographer John Easton, who will be providing videos of other Charlotte-area journalists, complete with their own tips, at a website called Broadcast Charlotte. (What a great way for John, a citizen journalist, to… Read More
Brick & Mortar
Free meeting rooms: A great PR tactic
When I wanted to present a halfday workshop in Norfolk, Virginia two years ago, I asked my friend, Sandy Dumont, The Image Architect, if she knew about any inexpensive meeting rooms in Norfolk, where she lives. She immediately told me about how the YWCA of South Hampton Roads markets its facility by offering its meeting room, free, for speakers. I couldn’t… Read More
Cockroach Hall of Fame Museum still generating publicity
The thousands of run-of-the-mill small business owners who can’t figure out how to generate publicity for their businesses can learn a lesson or two from Michael Bohdan. He’s an exterminator who runs The Pest Shop in North Texas. And whenever there’s a problem with fire ants or roof rats, he alerts the local media, and they feature him as… Read More
Website listing free NYC rehearsal space needs publicity help
Emily Bowles of New York, New York writes: “I work for a small New York City-based nonprofit that provides free website resources to performing artists (musicians, dancers, choreographers, producers/directors, actors, etc.) seeking rehearsal and performance spaces in NYC. “Our websites at NYCMusicSpaces.org , NYCDanceSpaces.org and NYCTheatreSpaces.org allow performing artists to search for spaces that match their space and… Read More
Gift store owner in Antioch, Calif. needs promotion ideas
Ted Fuller of Lafayette, California writes: “My friend has a gift store in the downtown area of Antioch, an older suburban city in California. At night, nearly all the shops shut down and the streets are almost deserted. “She’s tried without success to stir up some action with the merchants association. After a brief period of… Read More
Missouri teleconferencing center needs promotion ideas
Nellie Lamers of Reeds Spring, Missouri writes: The Tri-Lakes TCRC is one of 10 Telecenter Network sites in Missouri. Our greatest benefit is in bringing education and technology to rural areas that otherwise would not have access to it. We need help getting folks to sign up for classes/events and telling people about the other… Read More
Great lobbies, receptionists worth bragging about
Does the receptionist at your company make visitors feel welcome by offering a bowl of M&Ms? Or a dry towel for people who walk in a torrential downpour from the parking lot into the lobby? Is there a TV in your reception area so visitors who have to wait can enjoy the Three Stooges on DVD? I’ve… Read More
Going green? Let everyone know
If your company is switching from paper to ceramic coffee cups, from paper to cloth napkins in the cafeteria, recycling almost everything, or doing anything else in the category of “going green,” be sure to spread the word. Journalists, in particular, love to jump on almost any story about saving the environment. You can pitch to business… Read More
Ribbon-cutting event? You can do better than that
I know you’ve seen photos just like this one hundreds of times. It’s called a ribbon-cutting event, complete with the giant cardbaord scissors, and it’s one of the most-photographed, most boring ways to try to generate publicity. Equally repugnant are those giant cardboard checks that somebody “presents” to someone else, usually when a company or a group… Read More
Publicity for dancers: Online and offline tips
If you want publicity for your dance company, dance event or anything else related to dancing, check out these great tips on how to use social media press releases and open rehearsals to generate more publicity. It’s courtesty of Doug Fox’s Great Dance Blog. Doug makes an important point: that dance coverage in traditional media like newspapers is eroding… Read More