Booze + the Media = Trouble

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #511 June 29, 2010

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. Booze + the Media = Trouble

2. July Story Ideas

3. Special Event? Target Walkers

4. Involve Reporters

5. Comment at Blogs

6. Hound Video of the Week

7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…

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1. Booze + the Media = Trouble
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Loose lips sink ships. Generals, too.

One of Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s worst mistakes was one I didn’t
see mentioned much this past week: allowing an investigative
reporter from Rolling Stone to interview him–over drinks.

Media-savvy Publicity Hounds know that booze and reporters are a
lethal mix, and most wouldn’t think twice about letting a
reporter interview them when alcohol is flowing, because it removes
your inhibitions and triggers the urge to blab.

But how many people drink in social settings, with reporters
present?

Have you attended after-work networking events where wine is
served and reporters are mingling? What about awards banquets where
mediarepresentatives are seated at your table? At a convention, have
you ever gone out for a nightcap with a group of business associates
that included people from the media?

See “7 places to stay off the sauce if reporters are present” at
my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/7-places-to-stay-off-the-sauce-if-
reporters-are-present/

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2. July Story Ideas
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–Tie your story idea to an “independence” theme, even if it has
nothing to do with the Fourth. Examples: Independence from
cigarette smoke in restaurants, messy desks, bratty teen-agers,
computer problems or arguments with your spouse. Add great
visuals, and you have a ready-made story for TV.

–Do companies relax dress codes during the summer? What’s
appropriate and what isn’t?

–If your products or services teach people how to save money,
pitch penny-pinching tips related to cars, clothing, vacations,
toys, groceries and gasoline.

–Gardening is booming. Pitch anything related to growing
veggies, garden art, garden supplies, or children who garden.

–Tie your pitch to the words “cool, sizzling, heat wave” or
“heating up,” even if it has nothing to do with summer.

Excerpted from “103 Sizzling Story Ideas from July through
December,” with TV producer Shawne Duperon. Read more about the
other ideas we have that you can steal at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/JulyIdeas.htm

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3. Special Event? Target Walkers
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When my garden club sponsored its annual garden walk last summer,
somebody came up with the bright idea of placing signs on a
public walking trail that was near one of the gardens on the tour.

Sure enough, people who had seen the signs walked over, bought
tickets and toured the gardens.

If you’re sponsoring a special event this year, attract walk-in
traffic. Place signs near bike paths and in dog parks, on public
bulletin boards that can be seen by mall walkers, and along the
route where a neighborhood is holding a giant rummage sale.

Ask local banks to advertise your event on their marquees.

Don’t forget good old Craigslist, which probably gets more
eyeballs than the event calendar in your local newspaper. See “How to Use
Craigslist as a Global Publicity Tool” at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/craigslist.htm

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4. Involve Reporters
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If you’re an event sponsor, let the media participate in your
story, not just report on it.

Having a cardboard boat race to raise money for your service
club? Invite a reporter along to help paddle, and ask her to write
about her experience. These stories are always so much better than when
the reporter simply watches from the sidelines.

See “Special Report #42: Tips for Letting Reporters Experience
Your Story, Not Just Write About It” at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html

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5. Comment at Blogs
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If you don’t have a blog yet, the very least you should be doing
to promote your expertise is commenting at other blogs.

You get a backlink to your website, you can wow readers with your
expertise, and your comment just might encourage the blogger to
ask you to write a guest post.

To find out which blogs feature topics in your area of expertise,
create a Google Alert at http://www.Google.com/alerts. Every day,
review your alerts, scan the blog posts within it, and comment if
appropriate.

Commenting is also a great way to attract the blogger’s attention
before you pitch him with your idea. See “How to Pitch the Best
Bloggers and Create a Publicity Explosion” at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/pitch_bloggers.htm

Note: The teleseminar on guest blogging, scheduled for Wednesday,
June 30, has been postponed for later in the summer.

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6. Hound Video of the Week
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Thanks to Christine Buffaloe, my assistant, of San Diego, Calif.,
for this great video of a Doggie Freestyle act on a “Britain’s
Got Talent” segment. It starts slowly, but stick with it. Simon is
awestruck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0jNC_w1tSw

DOG JOKES & QUOTES EBOOK: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.

BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.

http://publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/

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7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
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Consider retweeting:
How to answer a media leads query and prompt a reporter to call
http://publicityhound.net/how-to-answer-a-media-leads-query-
prompt-a-reporter-to-call/

7 places to stay off the sauce if reporters are present
http://publicityhound.net/7-places-to-stay-off-the-sauce-if-
reporters-are-present/

Bad advice from Copyblogger on time spent blogging
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/bad-advice-from-copyblogger-
on-time-spent-blogging/

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Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound