By Roshanda E. Pratt Everyone loves extras. Extra fries, extra time to complete a project, and extra money in your bank account. Just as you and I enjoy a few “extras” so does the local television media you’re pitching. Before we outline the sort of things you can offer as “extras” to land your interview,… Read More
pitching the media
Speak at Meetups
Issue #812 April 26, 2014 Publisher: Joan Stewart “Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity” In This Issue Speak at Meetups More Fun Chalk Signs Memorial Day Story Ideas Hound Photos of the Week This Weekend in the Hound House: We had a ball at the fashion shown where I modeled six outfits on Wednesday… Read More
Newsjacking: A tempting bone for the media, even when you have no news
By Roshanda E. Pratt There is always a story to be told. The key is to know how to tell the story in a way to draw the media into calling and chasing you down. As a former television news producer for 10 years, my main responsibility was to gather and communicate stories in bite-sized… Read More
Costco Might Sell Your Book If…
Issue #801 March 18, 2014 Publisher: Joan Stewart “Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity” In This Issue Costco Might Sell Your Book If… Reliable Sources Reporters Use Facebook “Tips” That Don’t Work Hound Video of the Week This Weekend in the Hound House: When I saw Garrison Keillor in Milwaukee about 10 years ago,… Read More
Need TV publicity? Don’t pitch a website. Pitch a yummy hook
One way to kill your chances of getting onto local TV is to pitch your website. That’s what Tom Graber of Milwaukee wanted to do a few weeks ago. Tom’s website, Friday Fish Fry Guide, lists more than 1,000 restaurants in a six-county area in metropolitan Milwaukee. Every Friday of the year throughout the entire… Read More
Tips for getting booked on the more than 800 Mind-Body-Spirit radio shows
When you think of talk radio, you think politics, home improvement shows and public radio. Mind-Body-Spirit shows aren’t as obvious, but they have huge followings. Guests talk about familiar topics like the law of attraction, positive thinking, walking your life journey and guided meditation. Not-so-obvious topics include soulgasms, twin flames, platonic solids, and mystic visualization.… Read More
Crowfunding Success Stories
Issue #797 March 4, 2014 Publisher: Joan Stewart “Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity” In This Issue Crowfunding Success Stories Meatballs and Meatheads Facebook Cover Photo Template Hound Video of the Week This Week in the Hound House: My early morning walks with Bogie down to Lake Michigan are almost painful in this rotten… Read More
Don’t Blow Your Chance for a Good Review
Issue #792 Feb. 11, 2014 Publisher: Joan Stewart “Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity” In This Issue Don’t Blow Your Chance for a Good Review Help Me Choose a New Slogan Use My Best Tips Hound Video of the Week This Week in the Hound House: It’s back to the doctor today. The natural… Read More
Why you should welcome bad reviews for your books and products
More than 6 out of 10 people read one or more product reviews on a shopping site before deciding whether to buy. But how many of those people do you think hear their B.S. detector going off when all the reviews on the company’s website are 5-star, and there’s not a lousy review in the… Read More
When to use a press release and when to deliver a pitch
Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of press releases and pitches, here are my recommendations on when to use each one. When to Use a Press Release When to Deliver a Pitch Use both You aren’t limited to using either a press release or a pitch. You can—and should—use them in tandem. … Read More