Personal trainers Jim Labadie and Ryan Lee of North Palm Beach, Florida knew the release of Michael Moore’s new movie “Sicko,” which castigates health care in the United States, was the perfect chance to use two strategies I advocate: 1. Don’t be afraid to become embroiled in a controversy. 2. Piggyback off celebrities and current movies. With help from Tampa… Read More
Publicity Stunt
Help artist raise funds for legal defense; win a shovel mask
John T. Unger of Mancelona, MI writes: “My fire bowls, original art which I’ve been making since 2005, have been copied by a manufacturer. He is now suing me in federal court to overturn my existing copyrights and continue making knockoffs. “I have a strong case, a great lawyer and believe that if I can… Read More
Job-hunter offers $6,000 finder’s fee on LinkedIn
If you’re unemployed and desperate, it’s time to muster a little creativity, stage a kick-butt publicity stunt, and call on your LinkedIn connections to help land the perfect job. Enter Beverly Shepard, who has been job-hunting for 16 months and jobless since January when The Virginia-Pilot newspaper eliminated her job as marketing manager and her entire department. Here’s her… Read More
Can’t sell your house? Bury St. Joseph for an offer & publicity
With a glut of houses on the market and few buyers, here’s an almost guaranteed way for you to get free publicity for a house you’re trying to unload—and maybe even a quick sale. This is just one of several great publicity ideas for real estate agents, too. An old superstition says that burying a St. Joseph statue upside down… Read More
Revlon ties contest to ‘lipstick on a pig’ controversy
Most of us may forget the “lipstick on a pig” controversy by next week. But I’m betting the word lipstick will be front and center on the stump, straight through to the election and possibly beyond. As soon as the news about Barack Obama’s lipstick comment broke yesterday, the media went nuts. Race Taylor, a deejay for WPLJ-FM… Read More
Artists, photographers: Comment on Miley Cyrus photo
The it-borders-on-kiddie-porn photo of Miley Cyrus in the current issue of Vanity Fair magazine screams for comment from artists, photographers, parents, teens, and anybody else who wants to jump onto this controversy. Miley, who was photographed by Annie Leibovitz, has issued a statement saying she’s embarrassed by the way the photo turned out. And her father, Billy Ray… Read More
Hannah Montana, buckle your seatbelt!
Piggybacking onto celebrity news and hot movies almost guarantees publicity, especially if you see the celebs misbehaving on or off screen and you take them to task. On Monday, Consumer Reports criticized Miley Cyrus, the alter ego of Hannah Montana, and her celebrity dad, Billie Ray Cyrus, who are shown in their new movie with their seatbelts… Read More
Hollywood bad girls provide pitching opps galore
Piggybacking onto celebrity news and gossip is one of the best ways to generate publicity for your own expertise. Commenting on Britney Spears’ lousy parenting skills, her mother’s apparent absence of parenting skills, or celebs bouncing in and out of rehab has never been easier. The article “Rise of the Hollywood Bad Girl” at GlobeandMail.com explains what’s behind… Read More
Pizza Hut jumps on Witherspoon’s comment
Kudos to Pizza Hut for jumping on celebrity Reese Witherspoon’s innocent, but not-so-nice, comment about pizza delivery drivers and turning it into some fun publicity. The actress told a journalist that her 4-year-old son, Deacon Phillippe, wants to be a pizza delivery driver when he grows up. “Not that there is anything wrong with that,… Read More
Elephant’s ‘spa day’ a missed publicity opportunity
Publicity Hound Sue Lowery of Chattanooga, Tennessee saw a short news item on one of her local TV stations about how the Bliss Spa in Dallas, Texas pampered an elephant the day before it was making its Dallas debut at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus. She said the news clip showed a… Read More