The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #525 Sept. 28, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
==========================================
“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
===================================
In This Issue
===================================
1. Experts Directory Listing, No Charge
2. Promote Facebook, Twitter Offline
3. Look for Bloggers in Magazines
4. Press Release Keyword Phrases
5. Hound Joke of the Week
6. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
=====================================
1. Experts Directory Profile, No Charge
=====================================
Are you an expert, authority or spokesperson with real
credentials? If not, skip this item.
If you are, make sure you take advantage of a free Press Room
Page in the “Expert Book” at http://www.ExpertClick.com, edited
by Mitchell Davis of the Yearbook of Experts, Authorities &
Spokespersons.
I’ve promoted these listings over the years because the Yearbook
of Experts is one of the first places that many journalists look
when searching for sources in a particular industry or topic. But
until now, you had to pay to get a News Room Page at his website.
No more. Now, you can join for free and get a News Room Page and
your photo, text and link to your website.
But here’s the really valuable part. You’ll also get to post and
have distributed one news release each month, for free. News
releases posted to Expertclick are picked up by the Google and
Lexis news feeds, so your news will get wide exposure. This is a
wonderful alternative if you can’t afford paid news release
distribution services.
Mitch cautions that you shouldn’t even bother applying for a
listing if you aren’t a bona-fide expert. Within the last week,
he has turned down five people who claimed to be experts, but
aren’t. One doesn’t have a website. Another claimed she had a
variety of credentials from her industry groups, but Mitch
checked and discovered that she didn’t.
Join free, or save $100 on a paid profile that’s chock full of
other benefits, when you click from my link at
http://www.ExpertClick.com/Discount/PublicityHound
This is a no-brainer. Do it today.
======================================
2. Promote Facebook, Twitter Offline
======================================
It’s all too easy to forget about offline tactics you can use to
promote your presence on social media sites.
I just discovered two terrific tools:
–Hang a banner advertising your presence on Facebook, Twitter or
any other social media site, outside your store, restaurant,
park, school, museum, or wherever your target market gathers. I
saw an eye-catching banner over the weekend as I was driving by
the VanPatten Woods, part of the Lake County Forest Preserve in
Sterling Lake, Ill. See the photo I took and learn more about it
at the MysocialMediaSolution blog at
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/?p=448
–If you’re on Twitter, share your stream with customers,
patrons, colleagues, community, guests, family, friends and
passers-by via a Twisplay, an LED sign that allows you to
conveniently display whatever Twitter streams you wish. They’re
$299 each with free shipping for pre-orders. Their shopping cart
isn’t quite ready yet. But you can check it out at
http://www.twisplays.com/ and watch a demonstration of how Oprah
uses an LED sign in this YouTube video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cwreP9wmzs
I’m noticing that many Publicity Hounds still aren’t tagging
Friends on Facebook, creating their own Facebook badges, or
actively promoting other people’s Fan pages. Those are only three
of 11 Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on Facebook. Right now,
this is my fastest-selling product and available as a CD, MP3 or
transcript, complete with 28 pages of illustrated handouts. Learn
more about it at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/how_to_use_facebook.htm
======================================
3. Look for Bloggers in Magazines
======================================
The next time you read a consumer magazine, or even a trade
publication, pay attention to bloggers who are featured in those
magazines.
The September issue of Better Homes & Gardens includes a blurb
and photo about Meredith Schwartz, aka Penelope, who writes the
“Penelope Loves Lists” blog at http://www.penelopeloveslists.com
If I sold a product or service that keeps people organized, I’d
pitch it to her. But before I did, I’d inspect her blog, find
personal tidbits about her that I could include in my pitch, and
I’d take time to comment on one or two posts she has written.
That’s one of the tips I offered during the webinar “How to
REALLY Use Publicity as an Online Marketing Channel and ZIG When
Everyone Else is ZAGGING.” Learn more about what you can do if
you start zigging, and the great publicity hits that will result,
at http://publicityhound.com/onlinepublicitytips.htm
======================================
4. Press Release Keyword Phrases
======================================
Here’s a startling statistic that should change the way you write
press releases.
When people shop online, they typically type only one or two
keywords into the search engines. When they buy online, however,
they type four or more words.
Buyers who type those longer keyword phrases really narrow down
what they’re looking for. That means they’ll find fewer results,
but what the search engines return to them will be exactly what
they want to buy. And many of them will have credit card in hand.
If you use online press releases, one of the very best ways to
reach buyers directly without having to go through traditional
media outlets, you should be inserting longer keyword phrases,
also known as long-tail keywords, into your releases so people
can find you–and buy from you–more easily.
Press release expert Janet Thaeler has created three videos that
show you how to research keywords when writing press releases or
any other copy you’re using online. The videos are part of the 8
pages of illustrated handouts that come with the CD, transcript
or MP3 of the teleseminar I recorded with her called “Keywords:
The Magic Magnets That Pull Consumers & Journalists to Your Press
Releases.” Read more about what you’ll learn to do with keywords
and the 8-step checklist you can refer to every time you write a
press release, at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/keywords_in_press_releases.htm
======================================
5. Hound Joke of the Week
======================================
You know you are owned by a dog when you have a mental list of
people you would like to spay or neuter.
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/
=====================================
6. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
====================================
Great fodder for retweeting:
Latina bloggers a valuable PR tool, survey results show
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6922
Hang a banner advertising your Facebook Fan Page
http://www.mysocialmediasolution.com/?p=448
================================================
Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound
Share Your Two Cents