If you’re a publicist or PR pro and write press releases for your clients, you’re making a big mistake if you let your clients determine exactly what the final version of a press release will say—particularly if that release is being sent to the traditional media. Of course, they should read it for accuracy and… Read More
Publicist
Publicity dilemma? Let Publicity Hound readers help—for free
Struggling to find a good story idea to pitch to the business reporter at your daily newspaper? Wondering how to use your Facebook Fan page to promote your product or service? Trying to catch the attention of the editors at Oprah’s magazine? Help is on the way. Actually, it’s called “Help This Hound,” and it’s one… Read More
Book on PR/social media perfect for wanna-be publicists
Occasionally, I’ll get a call from somebody who thinks it might be “fun and interesting” to be in the world of PR, or a publicist. But they don’t want to go back to college and spend more than $50,000 on a degree in PR or communications. So they ask me what the best way is to break into… Read More
Should publicists be compensated for bigger publicity hits?
Joel Kweskin of Charlotte, NC, asks another question this week: “I’d like to hear your Hounds’ opinions on how to compensate publicists. “Some press releases result in a little blurb in a publication, which can be considered satisfactory. And then there’s a query to a business publication that results in a full feature article, which… Read More
NPR host says pitch your idea to one show at a time
National Public Radio, with its hundreds of shows, offers opportunities galore for people to pitch a story about their product, service, cause or issue. But here’s an important caveat: Don’t pitch to more than one show at the same time. That was one of several tips from (Ms.) Alex Cohen, a reporter and local host for… Read More
Publicist needs ideas for promoting book of zombie stories
Karma Bennett, a publicist for Ulysses Press, asks: “My company is publishing a compilation of zombie stories. It will be direct-to-trade-paperback, so I can’t get reviews in the leading periodicals that review fiction since it isn’t coming out in hardback. “Some, but not all, of the stories have never been printed before. The editor is… Read More
Sept. 11 deadline looming for O Magazine pitches
Sept. 11 is the deadline for pitching your business woman’s success story, or your tips for women, for a special round-up of story ideas that will be presented to O Magazine editors and other top-tier media. Publicists for PitchRate.com, which connects journalists with people seeking publicity, will take the best 10 to 20 pitches and present… Read More
Which of these author TV-interviews-from-hell is the worst?
I love showing you clips of TV interviews that are perfect examples of how NOT to act on camera. This week, you get not one, but two videos. Each can best be described as, uh, a “teaching moment.” Both authors start stumbling, right out of the gate. In the first video, author Uri Man’s comments… Read More
Retailer’s guide lists clever ideas for in-store promotions
If you’re a retailer who’s looking for some clever ways to do fun in-store promotions in this sluggish economy, and you’re on a tight budget, pick up a copy of A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions by Carolyn Howard Johnson. It’s part of her “How to do it Frugally” series. When it comes to marketing on a shoestring,… Read More
Your media pitch isn’t dead until you hear the word ‘no’
Several readers saw the item in last week’s newsletter about getting onto “Oprah” and wrote to tell me that they pitched ideas months ago and still haven’t heard back from Oprah’s producers. Can they assume their pitches are in the “deleted” folder? Never! While getting onto “Oprah” is always a long shot, I’ve heard of cases… Read More