Ask any journalist if people should follow up with them after sending a press release or emailing a pitch, and you’ll hear the word “No!” The persistent people who follow up, however, are sometimes the ones I write about in my ezine, “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week,” or this blog. Last month, a publicist who… Read More
Publicist
Celebrity addresses can be yours for $1
I just got my hands on the mailing addresses for the agent, publicist or manager of these celebrities: Jodie Foster Meg Ryan Maggie Gyllenhaal Diana Krall Elizabeth Perkins Ming-Na I received an email from ContactAnyCelebrity.com, the subscription service that provides contact information for 54,696 celebrities, 6,890 celebrity representatives (agents, managers, publicists & attorneys) and 4,131 entertainment companies. I signed up… Read More
Public Radio International producer shares pitching tips
Thinking of pitching public radio with your story? If so, first read these pitching tips from Charles Munroe-Kane, courtesy of Bulldog Reporter. Munroe-Kane produces “To The Best of Our Knowledge” and “Zorba Paster on Your Health” for Public Radio International and says he isn’t interested in breaking news events but, rather, a “cultural” look at the… Read More
Celebrity addresses are easier to get with this service
Celebrity addresses are a closely guarded secret. So what do you do if you’re hoping to contact a celebrity and ask if they’ll appear at your special event? Getting contact information for the celebrity is next to impossible, but getting in touch with the people in their inner circle isn’t. The best service for contacting a celebrity’s agent, manager,… Read More
Book promotion: 50 ideas for under $50
Book publicist Penny Sansevieri, never lacking for a creative ideas, wants authors to start promoting their books even if they’re on a shoestring budget. She has 50 ideas for under $50. They include: Buy your domain name as soon as you have a title for your book. You can get domain names for as little as… Read More
Terrorist plot story had some great tie-ins
I saw two clever tie-ins to last week’s big story about Scotland Yard breaking up the terrorist plot to blow up as many as 10 U.S.-bound passenger jets. Michelle Tennant of Wasabi Publicity Inc. and her team of 10 publicists immediately started pitching story ideas about their client, SATSair, which provides “air taxi’ services. (Update on… 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
Publicist does almost everything wrong
I’ve never heard of the company Invent-Tech, but I’m betting it’s one of those companies that charges amateur inventors a gazillion dollars to help them license and market their inventions. The company sent me a news release and cover letter last week about Freddy Mella from Union City, New Jersey, who invented a product that extinguishes fires.… Read More
Archiving news clips: How do you manage this?
Publicist Kathi Petersen of Asheville North Carolina writes: “I am wondering how other publicists archive their news clippings. I am surrounded by newspapers and magazines that I cannot bear to toss, though the professional organizer I hired questions the importance of keeping one’s news clips. “I insisted to her that showing a prospective client an… Read More
Pay-for-placement fees: Make sure you know what they include
Whenever I talk to someone who owns a pay-for-placement PR firm and the topic turns to their fees, they’re suddenly tongue-tied. That’s because the fees are hefty, like $1,500 or more to get a story placed in a business journal—something that isn’t that hard to do yourself, even for inexperienced Publicity Hounds, if you just do just a little… Read More