The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #502 April 27, 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. Create Link Bait
2. Nonprofits, Beware
3. Write a Book Quickly
4. Webinars & Teleseminars
5. Shortcuts for a Harpist
6. Help This Hound
7. Hound Cartoon of the Week
8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
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1. Create Link Bait
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If you’re looking for an enticing headline for an article or blog
post that you want to go viral, here’s a handy, free tool that
can help you create link bait.
It’s http://www.linkbaitgenerator.com/. Just type in the subject
of your blog post, note whether it’s singular or plural, hit
“submit,” and it creates a headline. I typed in the word
“publicity” and it suggested these three headlines:
10 ballsy pranks involving publicity that failed miserably
9 crazy ways that publicity is infiltrating pop culture
6 ways Hollywood makes publicity look ridiculous in movies
Not every headline suggestion will work, but keep plugging in
words and you’ll find one that fits.
Compelling headlines are just a small part of generating
interest, and keeping it, at your blog. The blog should be set up
correctly, and include features and plug-ins that will engage
visitors and keep them coming back. Blogging expert Patsi Krakoff
explained how during the teleseminar “Time-saving Tips for Smart
Business Blogging.” It comes with 23 pages of handouts, including
101 ways to find content for your blog. Learn more at
http://budurl.com/blogcontentideas
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2. Nonprofits, Beware
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If a company calling itself GreatAmericaHD calls you with an
“offer” to be featured in a nationally broadcast PBS show
anchored by retired broadcaster Hugh Downs, know what you’re
getting.
Before you sign anything, read this post at The Consumerist blog,
including the New York Times article it links to:
http://snipurl.com/greatamericahd
The company, formerly known as Vision Media Television, charges
upwards of $20,000 in production costs for the show. And whether
the program has a chance of getting onto PBS is questionable. In
fact, the article above also links to a disclaimer that PBS has
on its website. It says it has no affiliation with Vision Media
television and more than 20 other production companies and
programs.
So what’s a publicity alternative to spending big bucks?
Publicist Lissa Warren shows you “How to Get Booked on the
Morning TV Talk Shows.” Learn more at
http://snipurl.com/morningtv
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3. Write a Book Quickly
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Don’t make the same mistake many authors make: Devoting three
years of your life writing a book.
If you’re writing a book or thinking of writing one, watch this
video in which Steve Harrison shares 7 tips on how to write a
book quickly: http://ow.ly/1DttE
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4. Webinars & Teleseminars
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Thursday, April 29:
–“How Non-Fiction Writers Can Use Social Media to Promote Their
Expertise, Find More Fans & Sell More Books,” 1 Eastern,
featuring Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound. Use the coupon code
“publicityhound” and save 40 percent on registration.
http://nonfictionwritersconference.com/
–“How to Thrive as an Author/Expert in any economy,” featuring
Steve Harrison, 2 or 7 p.m. Eastern. http://ow.ly/1DDCq
Tuesday, May 4:
–“Your Cash-Generating Crystal Ball: How to Use Simple Surveys
to Read Your Prospects’ and Customers’ Minds, Build Lists, Create
Products and Make Money,” featuring Jeanne Hurlbert, PhD, 2 p.m.
Eastern. http://bit.ly/brELc6
–“Words That Work in the Press, Politics & Public Relations,”
featuring word wizard Frank Lutz, sponsored by Bulldog Reporter.
http://ow.ly/1DtxK
Download the replay of “Discover the Secrets to Speaking in the
Recession-Proof College Market” with James Malinchak, or listen
at your computer. Includes 17 most in-demand topics.
http://www.callwithjames.com/call
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5. Shortcuts for a Harpist
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This week, seven Publicity Hounds have tips for Anne Roos of
South Lake Tahoe, CA, a harpist who’s looking for office
shortcuts to save time and her hands.
From Linda Williams:
“Try dividing your day into pods. Plan to work one hour on one of
your topics. Take a 15-minute break to walk, stretch, get a drink
of water and then, go to the next one-hour pod. Make sure you
have everything ready to do the work so you don’t spend your hour
organizing ‘stuff.’
From Jason Saeler:
“Spend an hour a week blogging. Just sit down and post your
entries for the entire week. Post date your entries and change
the times so that each day of the week, a new entry is posted.
You’re not even there, but the search engines and your visitors
don’t know that!”
From Lisa Chaffey:
“Great to see you’re making use of a virtual assistant. Sounds
like you just need to learn some of the shortcuts on your
computer to make your life just that little bit easier. I have
some good ones on my blog here:
http://www.inapickle-va.com/articles/time-saving-computer-tips/
Hope you find them useful.”
The Publicity Hound says:
Read all the responses to this question at http://ow.ly/1AN3i
Send your own Help this Hound question to:
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?subject=HelpThisHound
and include your city and state.
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6. Help This Hound
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Deborah Avens of Temple Hills, MD writes:
“Virtuous Enterprises, Inc. is a nonprofit devoted to
transforming lives of disadvantaged women and girls in the
Washington, D.C. area through training and development.
“Our programs include training in computer science, engineering
and computer information systems; a 16-week program for women who
want to become entrepreneurs; and a leadership development and
mentoring program for girls in foster care in Maryland.
“How can we promote these programs without a marketing budget?”
The Publicity Hound says:
With so many unemployed people, your question comes at the
perfect time, Deborah. Job training experts, marketing pros and
other creative Hounds read this newsletter, and they’ll post
their best ideas for you at http://ow.ly/1DHuq
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7. Hound Cartoon of the Week
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Ever talk to a dog, and it looks at you like you’re nuts? Thanks
to Suzanne Bates for this cartoon at her website that explains
why: http://snipurl.com/dogcartoon
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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8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
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Consider retweeting:
Do you thank people for retweeting your content?
http://ow.ly/1DAdD
Facebook traffic nipping at Google’s heels
http://ow.ly/1Dtj0 Learn words for persuasive PR during May 4 teleseminar
http://ow.ly/1DtxK
9 ways authors can use text messages to sell books
http://ow.ly/1DtlH
(Mobile site)
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Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound
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