Another Facebook Restriction

Issue #870 Nov. 18, 2014
Publisher: Joan Stewart

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

In This Issue

Another Facebook Restriction
Press Release or a Pitch?
Vanity License Plates
Hound Video of the Week

This Week in the Hound House:

I wore two pairs of gloves during our 9-degree walk this morning in Wisconsin and almost froze my paws off. Can you recommend your favorite brand of super-warm gloves? I don’t wear mittens because they make it too difficult to maneuver the dog leash. Email me and put “Gloves” in the subject line.

1. Another Facebook Restriction

If you want to advertise on Facebook, buy an ad.

Starting in January, Facebook will crack down on status updates that look like ads. Those include updates that parrot copy that appears in Facebook ads you’ve already bought.

Facebook users will start seeing fewer free commercials that ask you to buy something, or urge you to enter a promotion or sweepstakes. It also means big brands that have worked hard to build up their “Likes” won’t be able to expose their huge audiences to ad-style content.

If you’re use to promoting in your status updates, here’s one way to deal with this:

Rather than overtly promote, share tips on how to solve the problem associated with your product or service. Then link to a blog post where you can promote all you wish.

2. Press Release or a Pitch?

When I presented a daylong Book Camp for authors in Denver on Saturday, hosted by Judith Briles, many of them wanted to know when to use a press release and when to deliver a pitch.

Use a press release when you want a permanent record online of your news. You can post it at your website or use one of the press release distribution services.

You can also write a release when you want to bypass traditional media and reach consumers directly.

If you want major publicity, that will almost always require a customized pitch. If you’re hosting a food festival in your town, you can pitch a food angle to a local food blogger. But your event can also find its way into your local business journal if you pitch a story about all the tourist dollars the festival attracts, or offer another business angle.

Sometimes you should use a press release and a pitch.

I’ve removed the mystery of which one to use when, and when to use both, in a blog post I wrote earlier this year on “When to use a press release and when to deliver a pitch.”

Need a speaker for your corporate or nonprofit retreat, workshop or convention? I present customized programs on almost any topic dealing with self-promotion. Email me or call 262-284-7451 to check my availability.

3. Vanity License Plates

One of the most inexpensive ways to brand your business is by investing in a vanity license plate.

The Help Key, a computer repair shop in my town, has a plate that says HELP KEY. I was driving behind their car several months ago, saw the plate and it reminded me to call them to have a computer repaired.

I’m writing an article for Entrepreneur.com on business owners who have vanity plates, and I’m looking for more sources. If you’re creating a buzz around town with your plates, or getting leads or more business, I’d like to interview you.

Email me and tell me briefly about your plate. Put “Vanity License Plates” in the subject line. I’ll follow up with a call.

I’m not interested in cute, clever plates that have nothing to do with your business.

4. Hound Video of the Week

The ultimate “Guilty Dog” video compilation. Part of the “dog shaming” series.