50 Pitching Tips

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #716 May 18, 2013
Publisher: Joan Stewart

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“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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In This Issue
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1. 50 Pitching Tips

2. Helpful Summary: Google+ Updates

3. New Boston Globe Arts Section

4. Hound Video of the Week

This Week in the Hound House:

Is having a rummage sale worth the time and trouble of
decluttering, washing, haggling over prices for eight hours, and
then hauling the junk that didn’t sell to the local Goodwill? I
always say “no” afterward, but I meet the nicest people. My town
is having its first citywide rummage sale June 1. Should I or
shouldn’t I?

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1. 50 Pitching Tips
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Pitching remains one of the top three problems among Publicity
Hounds.

That’s why I’m sharing a fabulous post written by Alison Kenney,
an independent PR practitioner. It’s titled “50 Tips for Pitching
A Story to the Media”.

It includes tips on pitching by phone or email, how to research
media outlets and journalists, how to review your pitch, critical
elements to include within it, how to follow up, ideas for clever
angles, how to find out about hot topics you can tie into, and
more.

Here are three tips from her list:

–Explain to your kids what you do and what story you’re trying
to tell and then ask them to explain it back to you.

–Remember “if it bleeds, it leads.” How does your story angle
play into readers’ deepest concerns?

–Can your story be pitched as a video interview? The Publicity
Hound loves this idea when pitching bloggers, many of whom might
love to use Google Hangouts.

If you need help building relationships with journalists BEFORE
you pitch, as Alison recommends, find out how to access the video
replay of a webinar of my best tips on “How to Use Social Media
to Connect with Journalists”.

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2. Helpful Summary: Google+ Updates
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At the annual Google conference this week, Google announced 41
new features for Google+. Among them:

–A bigger cover photo (2120 x 1192 pixels) and profile image
(250 x 250).

–A simpler, more beautiful stream.

–A new version of Hangouts, the free online videoconferencing
service.

–New ways to make photos look great.

Here’s an easy-to-understand summary of the changes:

I’m on Google+. Add me to your circles and I’ll add you as one of
my Publicity Hounds.

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3. New Boston Globe Arts Section
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Good news for authors and others with stories about the arts,
particularly in Boston.

The Globe is launching a new 20-page Arts section tomorrow, May
19.

It will include enhanced restaurant, style and books coverage,
with a stronger emphasis on New England authors. The section will
also include “The Ticket,” the central dashboard for Boston’s
cultural scene.

Other topics include video games, visual arts, music, dance,
food, fashion, shopping and restaurants.

Read more about the new Boston Globe Sunday Arts Section.

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4. Hound Video of the Week
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Watch this dog balance a basketball on her nose and run across
the yard.