This morning I called someone and had to sit through a 45-second email message that about drove me nuts. If I had been a reporter calling her for an interview, I probably would have hung up and called someone else to interview. Here are three voicemail tips that will make it easy for the media… Read More
Media Relations
Tips for working with media photographers
I just received the latest issue of Marketer, the print magazine published for members of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. I’m a contributing writer, and my article on Page 17 offers great tips on how to work with photographers, excerpted from my ebook “How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity Campaign.” One… Read More
How to research reporters and other media contacts
As I was writing the previous tip about the “Coats for Kids” drive, I couldn’t remember all the details. So I Googled weatherman Vince Condella. Here’s what I learned about him within about 30 seconds: –He rides a Harley. –He’s a “Seinfeld” junkie. –He likes guitar music, quality coffee and ice hockey. –He was named… Read More
Piggyback off Media Charities
I never guarantee you’ll get publicity by following my tips. But this tip falls into the category of an “almost guarantee.” While watching the local FOX TV news recently, I saw a short news item about a group of first-graders at a Milwaukee elementary school. They were shown singing a song to the tune of… Read More
Dishing the dirt on Pantene bribing journalists
Back where I come from in the world of newspapers, an editor would practically pull off a reporter’s fingers, one by one with a pair of pliers—then fire the sinner—for accepting a can of caramel corn from a source who wanted to say “thanks” at Christmas. The caramel corn, and other gifts that came to… Read More
What do to when reporters won’t mention your name in an article
Here’s a common problem Publicity Hounds run into when they’re so eager for publicity that they’ll do almost anything for a journalist. Last week, a reader asked, “I spent a lot of time talking to a reporter and we really hit it off. But when she wrote the article, I was surprised to see she… Read More
How to Attract a Reporter’s Attention
Sponsoring an event? One of the best ways to generate publicity is to invite a reporter to participate in something that will result in a pre-event story. For example, if you’re sponsoring a hot-air balloon race, invite a reporter to take a hot-air balloon ride a week or two before your event, so she can… Read More
Customize news releases for specific media outlets
When you write a news release, do you write different versions of the same release—emphasizing different things in the first paragraph—depending on what media outlet you’re sending it to? Smart Publicity Hounds do. They want every media person to read their releases and say, “Aha! This is perfect for our audience!” Yet too few people… Read More
Don’t make these mistakes with follow-up calls to the media
Big PR agencies seem to be the worst offenders when it comes to following up on news releases. They usually assign a woman who sounds like an 18-year-old twinkie to call reporters and editors after the agency has mailed a release. The twinkie, usually using an annoying sing-songy voice, says: “Hi. This is Brittany. I’m… Read More
Hold off on non-hurricane news
If you’re planning to pitch a news story like a new product announcement, or an upcoming event or whatever to the national media , hold off a week or two. Media everywhere are concentrating on the newest developments from Hurricane Katrina, from the horrible looting and shooting in New Orleans to the effects on local… Read More