When you write a press release, how many different versions do you write? Just one? You’ll kick yourself when you hear about what Publicity Hound Kathi Petersen does. When Kathi told me she wrote nine versions of one release for a fund-raiser she was publicizing, I thought she was kidding. Then she told me about… Read More
event promotion
How to promote networking seminars
Corinne Donlin, San Francisco, California writes: “I am looking for recommendations as to how to get publicity to promote seminars which will present how individuals (real estate agents, financial planners, salespeople, insurance agents, etc.) as well as small business owners can increase their sales through networking. I’d like ideas as to 1) Where to start,… Read More
Dazzling grand opening won’t ensure a great restaurant review
I found the January issue of Restaurant Startup & Growth magazine in my mailbox today, sent by Patricia Luebke, the freelance writer who interviewed me for the story she wrote on restaurant publicity. The article includes a sidebar on how to please the media, with an interesting tip from Craig Gilbert—freelance writer, food lover and… Read More
How to promote an event for teens
Publicity Hound Anthony Ingram writes: I work as a volunteer Hound on a team for a church, and we have an upcoming teen event in February. Our goal is to attract more than 700 teens to an event that will feature vendors in areas such as formalwear, hair salons, nail salons, florists, limo companies, etc.,… Read More
How to promote a work-life balance retreat in Costa Rica
Life-work balance coach Joyce Dillon of Atlanta, Georgia writes: “I’m promoting a Costa Rica Retreat Feb. 4-12 for women who want to create the life they’ve always wanted. I’ve sent an email blast and will send a press release to the travel section of the newspaper in Atlanta. “Do your Hounds have any hot ideas… Read More
Pitch “Before you go” info boxes
If you’re publicizing an event, consider providing the media with a small summary of key information that can be included in a “Before You Go” box to accompany the main article reporters are writing. Editors love using these boxes, which can include information such as how to order tickets, how to get to the event,… Read More
People behind the events make great stories
She arrived in Milwaukee at age 24 with less than $40 in her purse, learned to speak English and took the streetcar to work. Today, at age 75, Magrit Heitmann still logs up to 1,500 hours a year doing what she loves best–organizing the hundreds of volunteers for Germanfest, one of the signature festivals in… Read More
Don’t let poor planning ruin your special event
In the more than two decades I worked as a newspaper editor, I saw one special event planner after another moan and complain that the media didn’t give them enough publicity to draw huge crowds–resulting in special events that were colossal flops. In many cases, it wasn’t the media’s fault. The event planners did it… Read More
Ask a business journal to co-sponsor your event
Let’s pretend you have $10,000 to spend promoting your organization. You have two choices. Buy an ad in the local daily newspaper. Or co-sponsor one of several events hosted by the local business journal. Which would you choose? Paul Furiga says the decision is easy. If you want to get in front of a business… Read More
Use daybooks to publicize Washington, D.C. special events
If you’re publicizing an event in Washington, D.C., be sure to submit your news to the Washington daybooks, the media’s source of events. By doing so, you can reach hundreds of major media outlets at no charge. While this is one method of driving the news cycle with a timely and newsworthy event, editors stress… Read More