The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #656 Oct. 16, 2012
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. How to Use Instagram for PR
2. Let Freelancers Pitch for You
3. Use Social Media to Grow
4. Hound Joke of the Week
Where to See or Hear The Publicity Hound:
I’ll be in the Wisconsin Dells next week; Des Moines, Iowa,
next month; and Columbus, Ohio, in June. Check my availability by calling 262-284-7451.
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1. How to Use Instagram for PR
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And you thought Facebook was growing quickly.
Instagram, the hip photo-sharing system now owned by Facebook, is
less than two years old and already has more than 30 million
users.
The app lets you snap a photo with your mobile phone, then choose
a filter to transform the image. It’s free in the Apple App Store
and Google Play store.
Here are seven ways Publicity Hounds can use Instagram:
–In your Facebook timeline photo.
–Replace a boring photo of something like an awards presentation
with an eye-catching image. Jen DeAngelis of InkHouse Media +
Marketing suggests a photo of a hand gripping the trophy or
someone nailing a certificate to a wall.
–To accompany a press release about a new product or service.
Link to the images.
–Nonprofits, use it to feature your volunteers. Or take photos
of cool products that will be up for grabs at your silent
auction.
–Use it when announcing a contest.
–Offer a behind-the-scenes look at your company.
–Take photos to build excitement and boost attendance for a
special event.
I know you can think of more.
Freelance writer Carlo Pandian wrote a guest blog post for me and
offers lots of tips and examples of how to use Instagram. Check
it out at and then tell us in the Comments section how you’re using Instagram. Include links,
too, so we can see your photos.
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2. Let Freelancers Pitch for You
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Trying to get into a big magazine but failing?
Let freelancers help you. Many of them are already selling their
articles to magazines, have excellent relationships with editors,
and are always on the lookout for interesting stories to pitch.
One of the best places to find freelancers is inside the
magazines you want to get into.
The October issue of Sky, the inflight magazine for Delta
Airlines, features three freelancers along with their bios and
photos, in the front of the magazine, under the editor’s column.
These bios often list other magazines where the freelancer is
featured.
If you can’t find contact information for a freelancer you want
to pitch, Google the writer’s name. You’ll probably find their
social media profiles, other articles they’ve written, contact
information, and more.
You pitch the freelancer. The freelancer determines if there’s a
market for the story, or tweaks the story idea and then pitches
it to editors. An editor who is interested in the story
negotiates the price of the article with the writer. You pay
nothing.
My recent webinar on “How to Find Your Way into Glossy Magazines”
includes three other places to find freelance writers and dozens
of tips on how to build relationships with magazine writers and
editors. The video replay and bonus tip sheet “11 Ways to Prepare
for a Magazine Interview” are available.
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3. Use Social Media to Grow
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Every time you post a Facebook or LinkedIn status update, is it
part of a strategic plan?
Or are you throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping
something sticks?
I admit, I’m sometimes tempted to throw the pot. But I’m forcing
myself to ask, “Is this really why people are following me?”
Mari Smith, the world’s Number One Facebook expert, says social
media can’t only be part of your overall marketing strategy. It
has to be part of your business growth strategy, too.
She’s inviting you to “It’s Crunch Time!,” a free, three-hour
live streaming webcast a week from today, Oct. 23, from 1 to 4
p.m. Eastern. She’ll show you how to ramp up your Facebook and
social media marketing, stop the time-wasting tasks, apply proven
business and productivity principles, and increase your profits
in less time with less effort.
You can post your questions on Twitter and Facebook.
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4. Hound Joke of the Week
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Thanks to Christel Hall of Minden, NV, for this video of a dog
that just couldn’t make it as a service dog and became a SURFice
dog.
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