Issue #744 Aug. 24, 2013
Publisher: Joan Stewart
“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
In This Issue
- Boring Topics Pull Pinterest Fans
- Where Journalists Drop Clues
- New Posts at My Blog
- Hound Video of the Week
This Weekend in the Hound House:
I went to the Green Baby Packers game again last night, and it reminded me that I never showed you the fun I had in Norfolk, Va., a week ago when I trained professional speakers on how to create their own media outlets. Gloria Thomas won the big yellow Cheesehead hat and matching necklace. But before I drew Gloria’s name out of the foam hat, I let other speakers try it on, along with the necklace, and share their photos on Facebook. Here I am with Benita Adams. Her blue dress offsets the yellow necklace
perfectly, don’t you think?
1. Boring Topics Pull Pinterest Fans
Who cares if you have a topic that’s flat, academic, dull, boring or nonvisual?
You can still make a killing on Pinterest.
When I posted Tip #27 yesterday on my board “50 Tips for Free Publicity,” I noticed that almost 2,000 people follow the board. Every time I pin a tip, more subscribers pile on.
The images I’m pinning are simple PowerPoint slides. Each contains a helpful tip. If you click on it, and click again, it takes you over to my blog where I explain that tip in greater detail.
Here’s the best part.
The board still has the #1 unpaid position on Google for the keyword phrase “free publicity.” It’s even beating my website!
After several dozen Publicity Hounds asked me how I do this, I hosted a webinar on “How to Create How-to Tips for Non-visual Topics on Pinterest.” It comes with 5 valuable cheat sheets that will give you the exact dimensions of what I’m pinning so there’s no guessing, step-by-step directions on how to create your board, shortcuts so you aren’t always creating your pins from scratch, and free resources for squiggles and other graphics that will dress up your images.
If you aren’t ranking high on Google for your keywords, this is a powerful way to beat your competitors. See “How to Create How-to Tips for Non-visual Topics on Pinterest”.
2. Where Journalists Drop Clues
When you’re researching a journalist, podcaster, blogger, TV anchor, columnist or anyone else you want to pitch, look for little clues about their personalities, likes and dislikes, pets, hobbies, families, and controversial topics they care about.
Here are three places to look for clues:
–Start by searching for their name in Google. Type in “About Joan Stewart.” Click on the first item at the top. It’s my bio, and it will tell you which two celebrities I’ve interviewed when I worked as a reporter, my most prized possession, what I collect, and something on my Bucket List.
–Their company’s website. This is often the only way you can find their email address without buying a super-expensive media directory.
–LinkedIn. If you’re willing to spend time on this site, you can uncover a boatload of valuable tips that will help you craft a customized pitch that makes the recipient think, “This pitch is PERFECT for my audience.”
But this is just a start. You can be looking in eight other places for breadcrumbs that will lead you down the trail to publicity. I explained them all and even demonstrated how to use several of them during Thursday’s webinar on “11 Fast, Free, Easy Ways to Research Journalists, Broadcasters and Bloggers BEFORE You Pitch.”
I show you exactly where to look on LinkedIn, where to find free directories where their names and contact info are buried, and how to weave personal details into your pitch. The video replay and all the bonuses will be ready this weekend.
3. New Posts at My Blog
The 14 most powerful words in marketing and publicity
This blogger’s ‘Welcome’ message says, ‘It’s all about you’
The 7 Deadly Sins of Pitching Journalists and Bloggers
Dog Tweets of the Week–Shocking Social Media Statistics For 2013
4. Hound Video of the Week
These Chinook puppies get their first lesson on how to pull a sled. It’s part of Animal Planet’s “Too Cute” series–because it is.
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