Way too many attorneys act as though we still have those laws prohibiting them from advertising. How else to explain why so many of them are just plain lousy when it comes to marketing their services and, specifically, generating free publicity? In this 32-minute interview, attorney Cole Silver asks me about my best publicity tips for sole… Read More
Retail Marketing
BBB’s ‘accredited business’ boosts your credibiity
I love knowing that in a few weeks, I’ll no longer be just a “member” of the Better Business Bureau. I’ll be an “accredited business.” That sounds better. It also lends an aura of credibility to small businesses like mine that join the BBB to, among other things, be able to display the BBB logo on the… Read More
Free meeting rooms: A great PR tactic
When I wanted to present a halfday workshop in Norfolk, Virginia two years ago, I asked my friend, Sandy Dumont, The Image Architect, if she knew about any inexpensive meeting rooms in Norfolk, where she lives. She immediately told me about how the YWCA of South Hampton Roads markets its facility by offering its meeting room, free, for speakers. I couldn’t… Read More
Gift store owner in Antioch, Calif. needs promotion ideas
Ted Fuller of Lafayette, California writes: “My friend has a gift store in the downtown area of Antioch, an older suburban city in California. At night, nearly all the shops shut down and the streets are almost deserted. “She’s tried without success to stir up some action with the merchants association. After a brief period of… Read More
CD company needs ideas to target pet owners
Janice Roberts of Woodmere, New York asks: “I created a new kind of greeting card company called Happy 2B Music, Inc. We create and produce original music relating to various themes for particular niches of people, such as brides, moms-to-be, and pet lovers. “Each CD contains four original songs in a cute and colorful self-mailer… Read More
Opening a bank branch? Display origami dollar bills
Publicity Hound Brian Foley read last week’s item in which I complained about those uncreative ribbon-cutting and check-passing ceremonies that seem to be everywhere. He loved my idea of a bank hiring a magician to perform magic tricks with dollar bills at its grand opening. Brian, a professional magician who does exactly that, offered another tip… Read More
Spa publicity, promotion is easy with this story idea
I can think of no better treat than a day, or even a few hours, at my favorite spa. Until I read an amazing article on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about how the local day spas are the newest hangouts for teens and little girls. Girls as young as 8 are no… Read More
Michigan driver’s ed school needs publicity ideas
Roger Pozeznik of Kalamazoo, Michigan writes: “I run All-Star Driver Education in Ann Arbor. Two other big driving schools in town seem to have a monopoly and have gotten lazy with there teaching skills. It’s frustrating to see that they have full classes. “The school I work for is very well-known on the east side… Read More
Ribbon-cutting event? You can do better than that
I know you’ve seen photos just like this one hundreds of times. It’s called a ribbon-cutting event, complete with the giant cardbaord scissors, and it’s one of the most-photographed, most boring ways to try to generate publicity. Equally repugnant are those giant cardboard checks that somebody “presents” to someone else, usually when a company or a group… Read More
Alternative newspapers should be taken seriously
If you get a call from a reporter who works for an alternative newspaper, be on your guard, and don’t take the interview any less seriously than you would if a reporter from your local daily newspaper had called. That’s the advice from Ken Haseley from the Ammerman Experience, a media training company. In this week’s… Read More