When Publicity Hounds think of ways to get onto “Oprah,” they spend days and sometimes even weeks crafting the perfect pitch that will appeal to her producers. Most of them, I’m guessing, probably miss a vital step that could save them a lot of time. They fail to visit her website and click on the… Read More
Media Relations
Research media outlets before sending expensive press kits
Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London and New York sent me a copy of their slick, beautiful 2006/2007 course catalog, which must have cost a fortune to produce. I plucked it from my mailbox this morning. As soon as I opened the envelope, I asked myself, “Why are they sending this to me?” I’m not… Read More
Attend Business Journal parties, but don’t pitch
The Business Journal in Milwaukee hosts its annual Book of Lists party on January 19, and I’m kicking myself because I have a speaking engagement that night. Similar parties will be held all across the U.S. by other papers in the American Cities Business Journals chain. They’re held to honor businesses, non-profits and organizations that… 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
Don’t lay guilt trips on media that won’t cover you
A reader emailed me today to show me a pitch letter that her friend had composed and wanted to send to her daily newspaper. The letter, about two pages, is meant to interest the media in her business. Not only does it break every rule of pitching etiquette, it pretty much promises that this particular… Read More
Research the media before you pitch
I grumble all the time about media mutts who deliver pitches that have nothing to do whatsoever with the media outlet they’re pitching it to. For a perfect example of what I’m talking about, check out this poorly written pitch I received this week from Travel Features Inc., complete with errors: “Kindly find a 900… Read More
Invite reporters to participate in your story
When members of the Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania traveled by bus to Albany, Ohio earlier this month to meet with Abercrombie & Fitch and complain about the retailer’s controversial T-shirts, a reporter from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette rode along with them. The women were upset over sleazy T-shirt slogans such as “Who needs… Read More
How to get great radio publicity
Some Publicity Hounds sabatoge themselves and make it difficult for the media to find them, then wonder why they don’t get publicity. For example, they give media contacts only their office phone numbers, forgetting that radio talk show hosts and newspaper reporters work around the clock and sometimes need to contact sources in the wee… Read More
Let’s Expose the PR Flunkies
One of the worst ways that PR agencies rip off their clients is by forcing new hires to make those idiot phone calls to journalists asking questions like “I’m just calling to see if you got my news release and if you know when it will be printed?” These calls infuriate the reporters. The company… Read More
Research reporters with a “Reporter of the Month” club
If you don’t have a big PR budget, you’ll love this idea. In fact, it’s so cool, I wish I had thought of it myself. It’s called the “Reporter of the Month Club” and Dean Rotbart, a former Wall Street Journal columnist, deserves credit for suggesting it. Dean is head of the TJFR group and… Read More