When someone who has never gotten publicity tells me they want to get onto “Oprah,” or onto the front page of The Wall Street Journal, I tell them they’re in for a rude awakening. “Do you really wnat to make all your mistakes on America’s Number One daytime talk show?” I ask. If you want… Read More
Pitching
TV Weatherpersons Day is February 5
You can score a great publicity hit if you tie into TV Weatherpersons Day on February 5, which this year also happens to be Super Bowl Sunday. I’ve been preaching about this for years because so many Publicity Hounds have told me it works. A few days before February 5, send your local TV weatherperson… Read More
Dying to get on ‘Oprah’? Check her website
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
Join me Jan. 25 for a free teleseminar on pitching problems
If your media pitches are going nowhere, or if you want me to help you refine your pitches, join me for a free teleseminar on problem pitches at 1 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, January 25. It’s sponsored by The Wasabi Club, a free telephone discussion group that meets for one hour each month to… Read More
New to publicity? Target smaller media outlets first
In the January issue of Country Business, the magazine for retailers of country gifts and accessories, freelancer Traci Bisson quotes me in an article about how retailers can get TV and radio publicity. I advise that people who are new to publicity start by targeting smaller media outlets first so they can learn from their mistakes before hitting the… 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
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
Human Capital magazine, “Between the Lines” ezine want your pitches
–The publishers of Human Capital magazine are looking for “lessons learned” stories about your employee recognition programs. For example, what worked and what didn’t? What were positive and negative employee reactions? Were there any unexpected reactions? If you have been involved in a recognition program that presented challenges, email Betty Hintch, editor of Human Capital… Read More
Tie into the popularity of poker, bridge
When I called my sister on New Year’s Eve to wish her a happy new year, I asked her what everybody was doing. “The geezers are upstairs watching TV and Tim is in the basement with his buddies playing poker,” she said. Tim is my nephew. He and his buddies are 16. Back when I… Read More
TV loves fitness, diet stories during January
My Jazzercise instructor has already warned us to be braced for packed classes this month. That’s because this is the month when everybody tries to take off what they gained over the holidays. TV stations everywhere want to know about these stories. Here’s an almost guaranteed way to get your company on the local TV… Read More