One of the biggest mistakes people make when measuring the success of a publicity campaign continues to be counting the number of newspaper clippings, or the number of page views, that result from a press release or promotion. But a pile of clips, or thousands of page views, don’t mean diddly. Instead, determine whether your campaign did one of… Read More
Pitching
Intranet software company needs publicity ideas
Martin Amm of Boston, Mass., writes: “Our company, adenin Technologies, Inc., provides a complete intranet suite for businesses. We also offer software that turns your existing intranet into web 2.0, including blogs, a Twitter-like app and more. “Employees communicate and interact with each other better using the intranet software. It’s a simpler and more user-friendly intranet than… Read More
Entrepreneurial moms need PR ideas for chair skirts
Suzanne Fox Sevel of Melbourne, Fla., writes: “I have a client in Atlanta, Ga., who just launched a new product called Scurtz: stylish, decorative skirts for chairs. They’re very upscale, and some people see them as an alternative to tablecloths or place settings as a unique way of decorating for guests. “They’re $49-$69 a pair and come in luxurious or traditional… Read More
How to pitch small business tips, stories to BusinessWeek.com
If you have advice, opinions, story ideas or a question related to small business for BusinessWeek.com, a high-traffic destination for anyone looking for business tips, check out their frequently asked questions. It includes tips on how to contact Karen Klein, who writes the Smart Answers column, and has a weekly podcast series. I suggest you contact Karen and offer yourself… Read More
Artists, new book shows how to meet your PR goals
Lots of books on PR dole out advice on how to generate publicity, but few encourage the reader to take the next step needed to reach a particular goal. Power Up with PR—A publicity guide for artists by Jackie Abramian does just that. The 105-page softcover book (ArtNetworkPress, $14.95) is packed with information on how artists can claim their share of… Read More
PR interns shouldn’t pitch the media on your behalf
Companies that want to hire a PR firm, or do their own publicity, can find some helpful suggestions in the Forbes.com article The Single Greatest Marketing Tool. One tip, however, is just plain wrong. The article recommends hiring a PR intern from a local college on the cheap, and then using that intern to deal with the press: “Mine… Read More
Holistic health coach needs publicity, marketing tips
Nancy L. Jerominski of SeaTac, Wash. writes: “I’m a holistic lifestyle coach who has pitched a variety of story ideas, including ‘maddening menopausal symptoms stopped without meds’ and ‘stop doing crunches for flatter abs.’ “I actually HAVE pitched Oprah several times with no results. There are lots of miserable menopausal women, and I can help… Read More
Your media pitch isn’t dead until you hear the word ‘no’
Several readers saw the item in last week’s newsletter about getting onto “Oprah” and wrote to tell me that they pitched ideas months ago and still haven’t heard back from Oprah’s producers. Can they assume their pitches are in the “deleted” folder? Never! While getting onto “Oprah” is always a long shot, I’ve heard of cases… Read More
Publicity ops for DIY weddings, coaches & franchises
If you haven’t subscribed to the free media leads courtesy of PitchRate.com, you could be missing the chance to score a big hit in a top-tier media outlet, or reach your target audience with your message in a niche media outlet. You can read more about this media leads service that matches sources with journalists. Of the many leads… Read More
How can a D.C. artist piggyback onto recent publicity?
Karren Jeske, APR of Milwaukee, Wis. writes: “My friend is an emerging fine artist in the Washington, D.C. area. “He was recently featured in Elan magazine, a publication that showcases talented North Virginia artists. The magazine imcluded a photograph of one of his paintings on the magazine cover and included photos of six more inside. “What are… Read More