If you sell a product or service that would make an ideal gift, target Holiday Gift Guides. Seven reasons gift guides rock: 1. You don’t need a “hook” or “angle” or a creative pitch. You only need a compatible product and a succinct pitch. 2. Print and broadcast media aren’t the only ones with gift guides.… Read More
Magazines
How to turn your old articles and other printed content into money in the bank
By Barbara Florio GrahamGuest Contributor In the 1970s, I self-syndicated personal essays to newspapers across Canada. In those days, papers purchased only “one-time rights” for their circulation areas, so I was published frequently in six to 10 different papers. Some of these were travel pieces, but most were humorous accounts, and one became my best-seller… Read More
20 Things About Publicity True 20 Years Ago and Today – Part 1
By Marcia Yudkin When the first edition of my book 6 Steps to Free Publicity appeared in 1994, email was something used by nerds, websites were a curiosity and blogs had not yet been invented. To celebrate the milestone that this book remains in print 20 years later, in its third edition, I thought I’d… Read More
Targeting media in Alberta? Use these helpful resources
If you’re targeting media in Alberta, Canada, or you want to become more familiar with publicity opportunities, check out the helpful resources from Marilyn Jones, a media relations and social media strategist and “self-confessed news junkie,” who publishes the MediaMag.ca blog. You’ll find lists of new and old TV and radio shows, new magazines and… Read More
The 7 Deadly Sins of Pitching Journalists and Bloggers
If you want publicity, or you simply want a big-shot blogger to pay attention to you, you can deliver a decent pitch with a little writing talent and some research. Doing your research before you pitch will make them far more likely to cover your story, because you’ll be pitching the right people, not the ones… Read More
Offer journalists, bloggers a Skype interview with you or your expert
The more “extras” you can offer journalists and bloggers when you pitch, the more you increase your chances they’ll cover your story. When pitching, even print media, offer a Skype interview with yourself, or your company’s expert. Why? Because video is integral to news coverage, even at newspapers and magazines. This month’s issue of PR… Read More
Publicity goldmine: Magazine editors’ blogs (clues galore!)
If you want publicity in magazines big or small, and you’re targeting a particular reporter or editor, are you checking to see if your media contact blogs? You should be. While thousands of other publicists and self-promoters are all competing for the journalist’s attention via email pitches, many of which end up in the Deleted… Read More
Want publicity in magazines? Research, then pitch
You can have the most interesting story idea on the planet. But unless you do your homework first and get to know everything you possibly can about the journalist you’re pitching it to, you could be blowing a golden opportunity for publicity. Let’s say you want to pitch a story about tweens to Caren Oppeneheim,… Read More
Pitching magazines? Tips for a compelling subject line
Writing the email subject line is often the most difficult part of pitching a magazine. But not if you use this tip, one of more than 30 that I shared during the webinar on “How to Find Your Way into Glossy Magazines.” (The replay is available.) Here’s the tip: When writing the subject line, follow the… Read More
How to pitch your new product to magazines
You’re launching a product and you’re hoping for a big story in a national magazine. You find the editor’s name and email address in one of those expensive media directories. You write a pitch and email it to her. Not so fast! You’re probably pitching the wrong person. If it’s a big magazine,… Read More