The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #518 Aug. 17, 2010
Publisher: Joan Stewart
mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com
http://publicityhound.com
http://www.publicityHound.mobi
http://www.publicityhound.net/ (Blog)
http://www.publicityarticles.net (Ezine Archives)
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“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
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In This Issue
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1. Grade Your Online Presence
2. TweetBeep Saves Time
3. Your Darn Smart Competitors
4. Make Money While Writing Your Book
5. Publicity & Survey Secrets
6. Help This Hound
7. Hound Video of the Week
8. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
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1. Grade Your Online Presence
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For all the time we spend discussing how to build an online
presence, we spend too little time talking about how to measure
the results.
That’s why Hubspot’s 10 grading tools at http://grader.com/ are a
good place to start.
They grade your influence on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. They
measure the effectiveness of your website and press releases.
There’s even a fun little tool that shows you how to get the most
out of FourSquare.
Authors, there’s one for you, too, that helps you improve the
marketing of your books.
If you sell anything online, http://Action.Grader.com lets you
optimize your calls-to-action. You can determine which content is
likely to generate the most clicks.
I used several of the tools to see how I rank and found some of
my scores overly generous, particularly my 100 percent Twitter
ranking, or falling far below where I thought they should be.
This isn’t scientific, but it’s one way to get a quick overview
of your online presence. In a few cases, your results will
include specific instructions on how to improve your scores.
Try it and let me know what you think.
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2. TweetBeep Saves Time
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Thanks to Publicity Hound Tom Ciesielka, a PR pro from Chicago,
Ill., for recommending TweetBeep.com, a free tool at
http://www.TweetBeep.com that can save you hours of time hunting
for conversations about your area of expertise.
The web-based application lets you create a search for any
keyword or phrase on Twitter, and receive hourly updates via
email when any tweets include that keyword, phrase or hashtag.
“TweetBeep is an easy tool for tracking talk on Twitter about
your company, website, events or products and services,” Tom
says. “By monitoring the conversation about your brand, you can
make sure you are managing your reputation and engaging with
people who are interested in you–people who can become potential
clients.”
You can also use TweetBeep as a way to measure the level of
interest in various campaigns, or track the reactions to your
company’s announcements or events.
“With targeted information delivered directly to your inbox,
you’ll be sure to never miss a beat–or a tweet,” says Tom, who
included this tip in his excellent PR newsletter at
http://www.tcpr.net/
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3. Your Darn Smart Competitors
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Ever read a blog post, article, or tweet from one of your
competitors, and wonder how Little Miss Smarty Pants got so darn
smart?
I have. But I don’t just sit here and scratch my head. I go to
her Twitter profile and check out her Twitter lists.
Does she have a list of the smartest PR people? The top marketing
gurus? The very best social media coaches? A list of people who
blog about blogging? If so, am I on any of them?
Whether I am or not, I’ll add her best lists to my lists. I’ll
read the tweets from top experts she follows, including those who
provide stellar content worth retweeting so my more than 15,000
followers retweet that information to their tribes, making me
look good.
But that’s only one way to use Twitter lists. Publicity Hounds
have sent me so many questions about this topic, and about
Twitter directories, that I’m hosting a webinar at 3 p.m. Eastern
Time on Thursday, Aug. 26. Come with questions! Register at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/twitterlists.htm and, as one of your bonuses, get a copy of
my special report “How to Use Twitter for Business to Network,
Promote, Sell, Recruit & Profit.”
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4. Make Money While Writing Your Book
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Yesterday, I emailed you the three disarmingly simple tips from
publishing and marketing mentor John Eggen on how to start making
money from your book long before it’s published.
John has many more tips he’ll share with you tomorrow night, Aug.
18, from 8 to 9:15 p.m. Eastern Time when we present the
teleseminar on how to “Write a Client-Attracting Book Fast that
Makes Up to $150,000 Before It’s Published.” He’s including a
package of three bonuses at the end that I’ve never seen offered
before, including one worth $265. Your time will be well spent.
Promise.
This session applies primarily to Publicity Hounds who are
writing or thinking of writing a non-fiction book. If you write
fiction, you’ll benefit, too.
We’re expecting several hundred people on the call. Register at
http://mypublishingopportunity.com/joans/ and come with your
questions!
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5. Publicity & Survey Secrets
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Two things you don’t want to miss:
–The replay of Jeanne Hurlbert’s content-packed session last
week on how to use surveys for PR and to grow your business. Find
out if you’re guilty of “survey suicide.” Grab the replay before
5 p.m. Eastern tomorrow, Aug. 18. Learn more about it at my blog
at http://publicityhound.net/?p=6893
–The video from Steve Harrison on “The Biggest Secret for
Getting Major National Publicity for Your Book, Product or
Message”:
http://www.thebigsecrettogettingpublicity.com/?10011
(Both are good fodder for retweets.)
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6. Help This Hound
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Lois Kirkpatrick of Fairfax, Va., writes:
“I work for a large county government that has a variety of
groundbreaking/grand opening events.
“The facilities range from libraries, parks and public safety
buildings to homeless shelters and mental health centers.
“What are some things we can do instead of the dreaded VIPs-
holding-shovels groundbreakings and VIPs-holding-scissors ribbon-
cuttings? I’m looking for general ideas that can be applied to
most types of facilities.”
The Publicity Hound says: While we’re on the subject, Hounds, how
about giving Lois some ideas for those equally obnoxious check-
passing ceremonies with the giant, oversized cardboard checks?
Post your best ideas to my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6913
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7. Hound Video of the Week
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You’ll love this short video which proves that many dog owners
do, indeed, look like their dogs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=642qxehEcGg
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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Great fodder for retweeting:
7 ways to use surveys for publicity, PR, business-building
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6893
21 ways to promote your webinars and teleseminars
http://publicityhound.net/?p=6877
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Joan Stewart
a.k.a. The Publicity Hound
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
U.S.
Phone: 262-284-7451
Fax: 262-284-1737
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