Several years ago, I saw the same psychiatrist interviewed for a story about New Year’s resolutions almost everywhere I looked. He was quoted as saying that Jan. 1 is the worst day of the year to make them. That’s because most of us are stressed out from the holidays. We’ve overspent and overeaten. We’re tired. We’re cranky. And we’re… Read More
Holidays
Help promote ‘donations instead of gifts’ campaign
Harry Hoover of Charlotte, North Carolina writes: “I’d like to tap into the collective brains of Publicity Hounds. Since 2002, I have promoted a project each holiday season called Holiday For Charity. It encourages people to ask for charitable donations in their name in lieu of gifts. I’ve gotten solid local coverage of this program,… Read More
Black Friday can be like gold for Publicity Hounds
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is aptly named as the day when retailers shift into profitability or move “into the black.” But it can be like gold for Publicity Hounds. Here’s why: First, the media are often working with skeleton staffs. Second, PR people and even some publicists take the day off. That means less competition for your… Read More
Holiday gift guide tips featured weekly in free ezine
Every year, newspapers, magazines, TV news shows, newsletter editors, the wire services and even nonprofits feature products and services that would make ideal holiday gifts for their audiences. It isn’t too late to pitch your product for many of these special features. Newspapers, for example, typically plan several holiday gift sections in November and December. If advertising revenue… Read More
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
Festival of Owls in Houston wants promotion ideas
Karla Kinstler of Houston, MN writes: I coordinate the International Festival of Owls, held annually the first weekend in March in the tiny little town of Houston, MN (population 1,020). It began simply as a hatch-day party for Alice the Great Horned Owl, the Houston Nature Center’s only live animal, and grew into an event that… Read More
Halloween story ideas should be pitched now
If you sell a product or service related to Halloween, or you’re promoting a cause or issue that ties in, start pitching your story ideas now. Halloween-related stories and magazine covers started showing up as early as Labor Day this year, as the popularity of the holiday seems to grow each year. Halloween is the second… Read More
Papa Jack Weil, the oldest CEO, great Labor Day story
Thanks to professional speaker Robin C. Johnston, an expert at sales, marketing and fundraising, for tipping us off to a perfect Labor Day story: “A news article just aired on TV about Papa Jack Weil, CEO of a Denver-based company. Papa Jack recently turned 106 years old and is believed to be the world’s oldest working… Read More
Spring gift show alerts media to gift-related products
If you have a product that would make a terrific gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or Graduation Day next year, you should know about the Spring Product Media Event, a chance to get your product in front of journalists. Gift List Media and adVance Public Relations will present the event October 24 at the… Read More
Think Jingle Bells
It’s only June, and smart Publicity Hounds should be pitching– right now–the many consumer magazines, wire services and other media that will be featuring holiday gift guides or special holiday features. Many national magazines, for example, work six months in advance. That means that while you’re reading this, editors are sifting through their files looking… Read More