One of the best ways to generate publicity from traditional media outlets is to form a relationship with reporters, editors, broadcasters and freelancers. That’s a critical step that 99 percent of the people miss! And what a shame. If you know what they’re looking for, how to talk to them, how to help them, and… Read More
press kits
WomensMedia.com needs promotion/media kit ideas
Karen Kalisek of Escondido, Calif. writes: “WomensMedia.com a seven-year-old website that has undergone a major overhaul and is in the process of relaunching. “We pride ourselves in offering ‘expert advice for working women.’ Currently, we have 30,000 unique website followers each month (20% of those are overseas), 10,000 follow the blog, Women’s Lunch Talk, and, 1,000 listen to… Read More
Video tour of your website will impress journalists, others
One of the best ways to use video for publicity is to give visitors to your website the red-carpet treatment by taking them on a video tour of your site. I’m creating a video right now for that very purpose, using Camtasia Studio 5.0. It’s a software program that captures whatever is on your monitor screen. The… Read More
A bra that deflects bullets? Details, please
Reporters are taught from Day One to always get pertinent details. Like the name of the cat that died in a housefire. Or the height of the basketball star who hit his head on the top of a doorway and had a concussion. This amusing post by the Poynter Institute titled “Get the name of that bra” reminds us of… Read More
Spy on your competitors in their online media rooms
Thanks to Publicity Hound George McKenzie for this tip, which you’ll find in his “Free Publicity Action Plan.” Use your competitor’s online media room to generate publicity for yourself. Simply check the media room on their website. George says they’ll probably be crowing about their media successes (as they should). You can contact the media… Read More
Create media kits that scream ‘Read me!’
Back in September, just before McGraw-Hill published Maria Grace’s book “Reel Fulfillment: A 12-step Plan for Transforming Your Life Through Movies,” Maria worked with me to create a media kit that would scream “Read me!” She joined The Publicity Hound Mentor Program, and I helped her with the eight items that needed to go inside… Read More
Research media outlets before sending expensive press kits
Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London and New York sent me a copy of their slick, beautiful 2006/2007 course catalog, which must have cost a fortune to produce. I plucked it from my mailbox this morning. As soon as I opened the envelope, I asked myself, “Why are they sending this to me?” I’m not… Read More
6 ways to improve writing news releases, media kit content
Write like you talk. That’s the easiest way to communicate a message in a clear and compelling way. I harp on this repeatedly to those in my Mentor Program. Yet far too many writers build roadblocks when they write. They use stodgy words and phrases that slow down readers. Here are six writing roadblocks you… Read More
How to find freelancers for news releases, media kits and more in a hurry
Within the last several weeks, two projects have been driving me crazy: something I needed written very quickly, and a PDF document of an ebook that I need to update. But the Word file that I used to create the PDF was corrupted. It’s possible to edit a PDF but it’s time-consuming and it would… Read More
PMA Update: Book reviewers don’t want press kits
Do you know what book reviewers at newspapers and magazines do with those fancy press kits you send them? They throw them away. Or, if it’s Bob Minzenheimer of the New York Times, he throws away the contents and takes the folders home to his kids. A panel of book reviewers told members of the… Read More