Sponsoring an event? One of the best ways to generate publicity is to invite a reporter to participate in something that will result in a pre-event story. For example, if you’re sponsoring a hot-air balloon race, invite a reporter to take a hot-air balloon ride a week or two before your event, so she can… Read More
Pitching
Tie celebrities to your publicity
The current issue of People magazine includes a short item about Jessica Simpson, who showed up at two recent events without her 3.5-carat wedding ring. Two photos that accompany the item show her without her hubby, Nick Lachey, and waving high “hi” with her left hand, without her ring. So is there a meaning in… Read More
Piggyback off “Commander in Chief”
TV reporter Shawne Duperon has a great publicity idea for women business owners. It ties into the premiere of the ABC prime-time drama “Commander in Chief” on Sept. 27. “Create a fun contest at work, surveying your employees about when they believe a woman will run the country,” Shawne says. “Remember: Only pitch to ABC… Read More
Pitch Jay Leno for special event publicity
Promise me that after you read this item, you won’t pester Jay Leno’s staff with a boring idea that could put his late-night audience to sleep. If you watch Leno, like I do, you know his “correspondents” travel far and wide to fun events where they can film whacky segments, from John Melendez going belly-to-belly… Read More
Pitch a stand-alone photo for quick publicity
Liz Morgan, my Jazzercise instructor, has been beaming all week because the local weekly newspaper printed a photo of her new Junior Jazzercise class for little girls. So which do you think has more credibility? That photograph? Or a quarter page ad that Liz could have bought if she had the budget to advertise? When… Read More
Publicity Ideas for October
The month of October provides opportunities galore for pitching. —October is Consumer Information Month. Your company or nonprofit can offer tips and free advice on product safety, how to avoid rip-offs, and how not to abuse credit cards. —Sponsor a pumpkin-carving contest among your employees or customers. Invite people to carve the logo of certain… Read More
Carve a pumpkin for TV publicity
Here’s an idea almost guaranteed to bring the TV cameras into your company in October. Sponsor a pumpkin-carving contest for employees. Invite an on-air personality at your local TV station to be the judge. The challenge? To carve the TV station’s logo in the pumpkin, of course. TV reporter Shawne Duperson loves those kinds of… Read More
Wall Street Journal section lists Boomer trends
If you market to Baby Boomers, get your hands on a copy of the Monday, September 26, issue of The Wall Street Journal. It included a special section called “Encore: a Guide to Retirement Planning and Living.” It’s packed with trends, statistics and other helpful facts that you can use when pitching story ideas that… Read More
Tips for pitching TV after a disaster
If you don’t subscribe to Bulldog Reporter’s excellent ezine “Journalists Speak Out,” you’re missing some terrific pitching tips. Brian Pittman passed along several tips last week after interviewing Penelope Dunham, producer for ABC-TV’s Channel 7 in San Francisco, on how PR people can pitch in the wake of a disaster. He gave me permission to… Read More
Pitch “how to” segments for TV talk shows, news
This time of year is perfect for pitching a “how to” segment for a local or national TV talk show or a newscast. For example: —Demonstrate how to carve a pumpkin. If you’re pitching to a local talk show, carve the local TV station’s call letters into the pumpkin. How in the world could a… Read More