Thanks to self-publishing guru Dan Poynter’s excellent Your Publishing Poynters ezine for this tip. Marika Flatt of PR by the Book, says your pitch will always be more interesting to the media if it’s tied to a timely date, such as a health awareness month (October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month) or a holiday (Memorial… Read More
Pitching
Publicity stunts to try when the idea well is dry
Author Marcia Yudkin is one of the most creative people I know. Her book “6 Steps to Free Publicity” is perhaps my very favorite book on how to work with the media. I’m one of her groupies, and I read her ezine “Marketing Minute” each week. So I was thrilled when she gave me permission… Read More
Press releases just got easier thanks to this free tutorial
Writing press releases isn’t easy. If you think I’m wrong, take this little quiz. Answer true or false to the following statements: I write press releases primarily to encourage journalists at newspapers and magazines to write articles about my company, or for broadcasters who will feature us on the news or invite us as guests on talk shows.… Read More
Feng shui instructor needs ideas on how to use controversy for publicity
Debra Blackmon of Bakersfield, California writes: “This morning, a popular local radio host blasted the inclusion of Feng Shui workshops at our local community center this summer. “The reason? Feng Shui is a religion and non-Christian and shouldn’t be taught at the community forum. I’m the instructor of the workshop (and a Christian). I want to… Read More
Katrina first anniversary means publicity opportunity
Tom Warneka of Cleveland, Ohio writes: “I spent two weeks in southern Mississippi last fall as a mental health worker with the Red Cross. We’re quickly coming up the first anniversary on August 29 of Hurricane Katrina. “As a way of promoting my book ‘Leading People the Black Belt Way: Conquering the Five Core Problems Facing… Read More
Child abuse stories can make it onto TV with creative pitches
My friend, TV reporter Shawne Duperon, has fabulous ideas on how to get TV people interested in your story. In her ezine this week, she featured the following question from Chris Jamieson of the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect: “I work in the child abuse prevention field. Typically, these stories only hold water with the… Read More
Radio, TV talk shows need emergency guests
If you’ve been a guest on a TV or radio show and you’d love to make a return visit this summer, here’s a quick way to get the producer’s attention. Offer to fill in if a guest cancels or runs into travel problems. Radio and TV talk show hosts dread having to fill an entire hour… Read More
Cosmetic surgery pitches don’t need a tie-in to celebrities
Pitching a story about cosmetic surgery? If so, you no longer need to tie it to a celebrity, says the may 15 issue of PR Week. Coverage on all types of procedures, including nose jobs, skin peels, tummy tucks and breast augmentation has become mainstream. The media are also devoting more coverage to things like hair… Read More
Trade press editors know what they want, so follow these 10 tips
If you’re pitching the trade press, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is telling an editor that you just bought an ad. Most reputable trade press editors don’t care, and like their brothers and sisters at consumer magazines and newspapers, they will be insulted that you mentioned it. That’s one of 10 tips offered… Read More
Ladies’ Home Journal editor offers pitching tips
If you’re pitching the Ladies’ Home Journal, adhere to its three-month lead time. So says Julia Kagan, the health director at the magazine, whose pitching tips were featured in an article at the Media Insider blog. Other things you should know: The magazine prefers news tips, not how-to news. Most readers don’t have young… Read More