Issue #856 Sept. 30, 2014
Publisher: Joan Stewart
“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
In This Issue
- Media Kit FAQs
- Press Release or a Pitch?
- Tips for Business Headshots
- Hound Video of the Week
This Week in the Hound House:
I’m so excited that my entire family is coming this weekend for a visit. Last time they were here, they worked themselves to death remodeling my living room. This time, it’s nothing but autumn fun in beautiful Wisconsin. We’re taking a tour boat ride down the Milwaukee River and onto Lake Michigan. Then a brewery tour and a fish fry in my lakefront town. They’ll love the surprise side trip we’re taking Friday morning. I’ll tell you next week what it is (they read these tips).
1. Media Kit FAQs
Here are answers to four questions that Publicity Hounds have been asking about the special offer under way (it ends tonight) on the giant package of Indie Author Media Kit Templates I created:
Q. “Can I use the templates if I’m not an author?”
A. Yes. You’ll find templates for your bios, contact info sheet, a cheat sheet, speaker one-sheet and more. The big bonus package includes videos, checklists and instructions on how to rewrite your boring bio, how to connect with journalists online, and how to write compelling headlines. If you don’t think our killer price of $67 for a package worth $232 delivers the value you expected, we have a 30-day refund policy.
Q. “Do I need technical skills to use the templates?”
A. No. If you know how to type and use Microsoft Word on a PC or a Mac, you’re in good shape.
Q. “What if I have problems using the templates and I can’t figure out the instructions?”
A. Almost 1,000 authors have used the templates so far and not one has emailed me to tell me the instructions are confusing. If you have questions, email me and I’ll be happy to help you. Every template comes with a sample so you can see what it’s supposed to look like when you’re done.
Q. “Is the media kit for digital use or for print?”
A. Both. You will make the kit available at your website, and each element within the kit will be a link to a PDF. You can send the media kit link to journalists and others who request it. You can also use the templates to create a printed kit to take to events such as trade shows. But print them only as needed. Otherwise you’ll be wasting money.
Our offer ends at midnight tonight. Go here and watch the 6-minute video that demonstrates how to use the templates. If you missed my webinar last week that explains every element to include in your media kit, and you want to attempt this on your own, the video replay.
2. Press Release or a Pitch?
Here’s another frequently asked question:
“If I want publicity, when do I use a press release and when do I pitch? Do I ever have to do both?
My answer:
You aren’t limited to using either a press release or a pitch. You can—and should—use them in tandem.
Use the press release as the background information and the starting point. When you pitch, refer journalists to the press release where they can find additional details.
I’ve given you a more in-depth explanation in the blog post I wrote on “When to use a press release and when to deliver a pitch.”
3. Tips for Business Headshots
A professional business photo that shows a woman with her hands near her face looks staged and old-fashioned.
Photographers used this pose three decades ago. I didn’t like it then either. I can’t ever remember seeing a photo of a man with his hands near his face.
If you’re having your professional photo taken, read my tips on what to wear, how to save money, traps to avoid and how to look your best. It’s in the latest column at the Entrepreneur.com website. Please leave a comment and share your own photo tip.
4. Hound Video of the Week
Thanks to Publicity Hound Sophie Wajsman of Melbourne, Australia, for this video of a dog performing a very unusual morning ritual–sliding down stairs. “They must have taken the film over a few mornings because he repeats his action daily, but in the third repeat you can actually see the dog smile,” Sophie says.
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