Issue #1290 Jan. 12, 2019
Publisher: Joan Stewart
“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
In This Issue
- 15 Ways to Newsjack the Bezos Divorce
- Cheat Sheet & 5 Surefire Publicity Tips
- How to Provide a Hi-resolution Photo
- Hound Video of the Week
This Weekend in the Hound House:
I’m celebrating a friend’s birthday at Twisted Willow, a classy garden-to-table restaurant in Port Washington, Wis., where I live. My mouth is watering for the crostini appetizer: housemade ricotta, balsamic roasted grapes, toasted pine nuts, local honey and fresh herbs.
1. 15 Ways to Newsjack the Bezos Divorce
Everybody’s buzzing about the Jeff Bezos divorce which could become the most expensive in history.
That means it’s a perfect opportunity to offer your expert commentary, background and story idea on some aspect of this bombshell. This is known as newsjacking.
If you’re smart, you’ll jump on this today, while it’s still hot. Who can newsjack this?
Many experts including authors, speakers, marriage and relationship counselors, crisis managers, business coaches, financial advisors, CPAs and accountants, and anyone who can discuss the ramifications of a high-profile divorce on a publicly held company.
I came up with 15 ideas including several I discovered when I went to Twitter’s search tool and searched for #BezosDivorce and #JeffBezos. Here are five:
- This is a business story. How will the divorce affect Amazon’s stock price? Are investors getting jittery about holding onto Amazon stock?
- Bezos is leaving $137 billion on the line and doesn’t have a prenuptial agreement. If you don’t have a prenup, can you write a postnup as fortunes start to grow? How many couples do this?
- At what point should couples write a prenup or postnup?
- Help put the numbers in perspective. What can you buy with half of $137 billion?
- How can a man and his mistress be followed around the world by the National Enquirer for four months and not know they were being tailed? If you want to cheat and travel, what precautions do you need to take? Private investigators, this is perfect for you. Authors of crime novels, what advice would your fictional PI give?
To do: See my 10 other ideas in the article “How to Newsjack the Jeff Bezos Divorce for Free Publicity.”
2. Cheat Sheet & 5 Surefire Publicity Tips
Why do you read so many tips here about newsjacking?
Because it’s one of the top five ways to generate free publicity for your product, service, cause or issue.
Here’s another. It’s called a “follow up” and it’s simple.
If a media outlet or content provider already has given you publicity and the story has taken a new angle, or there’s a significant development to report, you can pitch the same outlet with “a follow-up story.” Tell them what’s new and let them decide if they want to cover it.
You can also get publicity by pitching a follow up to a story in which you weren’t mentioned. For example, typewriters have made a comeback because of technology burnout with computers and because, well, the retro look is just plain cool.
Let’s say you read a story in a local business magazine about a “type in” at a local coffee shop where customers were able to try out various old vintage typewriters and buy them on the spot. You know how to repair those typewriters and business is booming.
You can contact the business magazine and pitch a follow-up story about all the new business you’re seeing because of the typewriter trend. Or perhaps you own a thrift store, and you’re creating special displays for vintage typewriters.
At my blog, I created a fun little cheat sheet for you that will help you remember the five easiest ways to score valuable coverage.
Why do you read so many tips here about newsjacking?
Because it’s one of the top five ways to generate free publicity for your product, service, cause or issue.
Here’s another. It’s called a “follow up” and it’s simple.
If a media outlet or content provider already has given you publicity and the story has taken a new angle, or there’s a significant development to report, you can pitch the same outlet with “a follow-up story.” Tell them what’s new and let them decide if they want to cover it.
You can also get publicity by pitching a follow up to a story in which you weren’t mentioned. For example, typewriters have made a comeback because of technology burnout with computers and because, well, the retro look is just plain cool.
Let’s say you read a story in a local business magazine about a “type in” at a local coffee shop where customers were able to try out various old vintage typewriters and buy them on the spot. You know how to repair those typewriters and business is booming.
You can contact the business magazine and pitch a follow-up story about all the new business you’re seeing because of the typewriter trend. Or perhaps you own a thrift store, and you’re creating special displays for vintage typewriters.
At my blog, I created a fun little cheat sheet for you that will help you remember the five easiest ways to score valuable coverage.
To do: See the cheat sheet that accompanies the article “5 Surefire Ways to Make Journalists Cover You.”
3. How to Provide a Hi-resolution Photo
If someone asks for a high-resolution photo, a requirement for print media, don’t panic if you don’t have one and they need it now.
Let’s say a magazine editor on deadline needs your headshot. Recruit someone to take it. The newer the phone, the better the image. If you have the option, use an iPhone 10S or Max or any newer android (typically better than iPhones).
After the photo is taken, send it as “large” via email. The resolution will be dictated by the make and model of your phone. Thanks to my web developer, Jason Saeler of Saeler.com for this tip.
To do: See “Seven tips for providing images to the media.”
#DigitalPhotos #MediaPhotos
4. Hound Video of the Week
This woman trained Remus to respond to Harry Potter spells. The adorable Longhaired Mini Dachshund also has his own Instagram account with more than 44,000 followers.
[Tweet “#PublicityTips — 15 Ways to Newsjack the Bezos Divorce #BezosDivorce #Newsjacking”]
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