The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #527 Oct. 12, 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. Lots of Sample Press Releases
2. Promote Events These 5 Ways
3. Virtual Assistants Can Do PR
4. Win Lunch with Jack Canfield
5. Help This Hound
6. Hound Joke of the Week
7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
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1. Lots of Sample Press Releases
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If you struggle figuring out how to write press releases, why
reinvent the wheel?
Mickie Kennedy is giving away a free ebook of 75 sample press
releases to give you ideas on all the different ways you can
write your own releases (a $49 value). Download it at
http://www.ereleases.com/ph
You’ll find 35 industry-specific press releases, 40 occasion-
specific releases, tips for formatting and getting your press
release noticed, and ticklers that will help you generate ideas
for your own press releases.
If you see a release format that you like, make note of it, and
use it as a template the next time you need to write one.
He’s also giving you two free ebooks on how to use Facebook and
Twitter. Download them here: http://www.ereleases.com/ph
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2. Promote Events These 5 Ways
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Here are five types of websites you should be targeting when
you’re promoting a live or virtual event:
–Location-based social networks like http://www.FourSquare.com
and http://www.Yelp.com where thousands of people search daily
for fun, interesting or educational things to do in their cities
or neighborhoods.
–Social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, where you can
create events, and invite your connections, followers and fans to
attend.
–Niche sites like Haunted House Magazine at
http://www.hauntedhousemagazine.com/myaccount/new_sign_up.cfm
which offers free calendar listings for haunted houses, corn
mazes, hayrides and other Halloween and autumn events.
–Websites for your local convention & visitors bureau, state
department of economic development and other government bodies
that specialize in promoting tourism. Many of these websites will
then distribute your event listing to several smaller calendar
sites.
–Websites for traditional media outlets. Shrinking newspapers,
for example, usually don’t have room for all the news, so they
have event listings at their websites. Remember, too, that many
people have canceled their subscriptions because they can get
most of the same information online. If you aren’t reaching those
people with your event promotion, you’re leaving money on the
table.
You won’t believe the incredibly cool websites I found while
doing research for my webinar, “50+ Places Online to Promote Your
Live & Virtual Events to Reach Your Target Market and Pull Sell-
out Crowds.” It’s from 3 to 4:15 p.m. Eastern, and if the time is
inconvenient, sign up anyway because you’ll get the video replay
link and the handouts.
I’ve been inundated with registrations since last week because
Publicity Hounds everywhere are looking for ways to fill seats
during a time when everybody is pinching pennies.
Register at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-tapes/promotevents.htm
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3. Virtual Assistants Can Do PR
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Never ask a virtual assistant to call a media outlet or blogger
and pitch a story idea about you. That sends the message: “You’re
not important enough for her to make the call, so she sent me.”
But I assign my virtual assistant all types of PR-related tasks:
–Uploading press releases to distribution sites. (Experts, did
you get your free Press Room Page yet and free news release
distribution from Expertclick at
http://www.ExpertClick.com/Discount/PublicityHound?)
–Updating media databases.
–Doing research you can use to write articles, blog posts, tips
sheets and other content.
–Proofreading.
–Monitoring your social media accounts and telling you when you
need to spend time at those sites replying to comments and
questions.
A virtual assistant is an independent contractor who works
remotely. Even though she might live 2,000 miles from you,
today’s technology makes that a moot issue.
Read my free article on other PR tasks that virtual assistants
can do:
http://publicityhound.com/free_publicity/Articles/Virtual_Assistants_Publicity_Training.html
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4. Win Lunch with Jack Canfield
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Would you like to have lunch with Jack Canfield, and pick his
brain about your own book or project?
Jack was featured in the movie “The Secret” and co-created the
“Chicken Soup for the Soul” series, which has sold over 115
million books.
In fact, at one point he had seven books on the New York Times
Best Seller List simultaneously–a world record.
My friend, Steve Harrison, is offering a free 90-minute telephone
seminar with Jack this Thursday, Oct. 14. I’m a compensated
affiliate.
Go here now to register for the call and you’ll be entered into a
drawing to have lunch with Jack and Steve and a maximum of three
other people.
http://www.teleseminarwithjackcanfield.com/?10011
Even if you don’t win the lunch, this is a call you won’t want to
miss. You’ll hear about Jack’s journey from inner city public
school teacher to best-selling author and speaker, how he and co-
creator Mark Victor Hansen kept going when “Chicken Soup” was
rejected by 144 publishers, and savvy advice on what to do if you
find yourself reluctant to aggressively market your work.
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5. Help This Hound
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Dr. Stephanie Buehler of Orange County, Calif., writes:
“I am a psychologist and sex therapist who is publishing the book
Sex, Love, & Mental Illness: A Couple’s Guide to Staying
Connected. It’s geared toward couples in which one (or both)
partners has a mental health problem, and toward the therapists
and others who may help them.
“It discusses how a spectrum of problems affect sexuality,
including side effects of medication–and ways couples can work
together to overcome them. The problems include depression,
bipolar disorder, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, ADD,
substance dependence, and Asperger’s Syndrome, among others.
“The book offers examples of struggles couples have faced and
provides pragmatic activities including sensual touching and
mindfulness.
“I’m looking for ideas on how to market to specific niches like
psychotherapists and pastoral counselors who may want to buy my
book and use the info with their clients. Hounds, can you help?”
The Publicity Hound says:
They sure can! They’ll give you a bunch of great ideas for
reaching your target market and building buzz for your book.
Hounds, don’t prove me wrong. Share your best ideas for Dr.
Stephanie at my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/how-can-an-author-reach-therapists-
pastoral-counselors/
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6. Hound Joke of the Week
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Maybe you’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places. A dog
will treat you better than anyone you’ll meet at happy hour.
Trust me. I’ve been to happy hour.
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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7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
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You can now sign up to receive email notifications every time I
publish a new blog post. Submit your email address to “Subscribe
to Email Updates” on the right side of my blog at
http://www.PublicityHound.net
Here are posts from the last seven days:
This blog now part of Bulldog Reporter’s ‘Dog blogs
http://publicityhound.net/this-blog-now-part-of-bulldog-
reporters-dog-blogs/
Make event promotion/PR easy: 27 questions spark ideas
http://publicityhound.net/make-event-promotionpr-easy-27-
questions-spark-ideas/
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Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound
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