The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #488 Jan. 19, 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. Pitch Comics Artists
2. 9 Places to Find Blog Content
3. Write a Book in a Weekend
4. Promoting a Religious Book
5. Help This Hound
6. Hound Joke of the Week
7. And at My Blogs…
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1. Pitch Comics Artists
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The next time you need to generate publicity for a worthy cause
or issue, don’t forget the comics.
Yes, the comics. Comic strip artists might agree to make your
cause part of their storyline.
Thanks to Rebecca Morgan, publisher of the popular SpeakerNet
News ezine for sharing the fabulous tip to pitch comic strip artists
as a way of getting into newspapers large and small all over the world.
Last fall, with just one email pitch, she convinced Greg Evans,
creator of the strip Luann, to incorporate her campaign to
encourage people to give gently used books, instead of candy, for
trick-or-treaters. That brought about 6,000 visitors to her
website.
See the strip, read about how she did it and learn about a
website with links to hundreds of comics strips that might tie
into your cause or issue.
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2. 9 Places to Find Blog Content
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If you’re blogging, or you want to start a blog but you’re afraid
you won’t have enough content, here are 9 places to look to find
more than enough topics to write about.
–In your email box. When someone asks you a question, answer it,
and then include the question and the answer in a blog post.
–In print newsletters and ezines for your industry.
–At other people’s blogs. (Comment on the post at your own blog,
and link to it.)
–In newspaper and magazine articles. Excerpt a few tips from an
article you’ve just read, with attribution, and comment on them.
–5 things they don’t teach you in __________ school.
–3 things I want to do in my business before I die.
–In your office. Write about the best (or worst) computer
equipment and other tools you use.
–On TV. If a show or character you saw ties into your topic,
write about it.
–Your goals for 2010.
Want 68 more sources for blog content? They’ll be on the handout
you’ll get when you register for my teleseminar on “Time-saving
Tips for Smart Business Blogging” at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on
Wednesday, Jan. 20, with Patsi Krakoff.
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3. Write a Book in a Weekend
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If you want to be taken seriously as an expert in your topic or
industry, a book can give you credibility and put you heads above
your competitors.
The big mistake many authors make, however, is that they spend
years writing their books, then many more months editing and
proofreading them. Many non-fiction books can be written in a few
days.
Ann McIndoo, the former creative assistant to motivational
speaker Tony Robbins, has developed a system for writing the
first draft of a non-fiction book in just one weekend-?a fraction
of the time it takes most authors.
She has helped 268 authors write their books in just three days,
thanks to time-saving shortcuts.
Her system works best for authors who are writing non-fiction
books on topics they know well, particularly how-to, leadership,
business, self-help and autobiographies.
Ann will explain her system during a free telephone seminar with
Steve Harrison at 2 and 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Jan. 21,
at your choice of two times. If the times are inconvenient,
recruit someone to listen and take notes for you.
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4. Promoting a Religious Book
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This week, six Publicity Hounds have tips for Bonnie Stuempfig of
Waukesha, Wis., author of Heavenly Connections, a book of
inspirational religious stories. She wants ideas on how to sell
the book.
From Jeff Rothe:
“Why not target 10 of the largest churches in your city, and get
them to get a copy to be discussed for X weeks at a Bible study,
or even better, used by the service head if they teach a weekly
class.”
From Anne:
“If you are still thinking about selling it at churches, look
into their bulletins and see what kinds of church groups they
have that meet on a regular basis. You might be able to be a
guest speaker (and pitch your book at the end) for one of their
meetings.
“Another idea is to tie it in with a religious holiday (for
example: Ash Wednesday for Catholics). Offer a small discount to
those who purchase multiple copies.”
From Dale Hutchings:
“The first thing that comes to mind for me is for you to target
Christian book reading clubs. On the Internet, there are numerous
websites that where you can find listings of these groups. There
is even a site where they show you how to start a Christian book
club and how to join one.”
Read all the answers to this question.
Send your own “Help this Hound” question and include your city and state.
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5. Help This Hound
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Consuelo Okdie from Tampa Bay, Fla., writes:
“I’m hoping that you or one of your readers will be able to tell
me how to get my artwork used as set decoration for TV or films.
“My work is unique in medium and application as I am one of a
very few artists using polymer clay to create illustrations &
paintings. Any information you may be able to give me will be
greatly appreciated.”
The Publicity Hound says:
Hounds with ideas for Consuelo can post them to my blog.
Consuelo, you need to be willing to do the research necessary to
pitch set designers, costume coordinators, production
coordinators, prop masters and product placement decision-makers
for specific movies and TV shows. I hosted a teleseminar with Amy
Bates Stumpf two years ago on How to Get Your Consumer Product
onto the Sets of Movies and TV Shows.
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6. Hound Joke of the Week
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Wanda’s dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman. Since
she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman, “I’ll
leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill
on the counter, and I’ll mail you a check.”
“Oh, by the way, don’t worry about my dog, Spike. He won’t bother
you. But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk
to my parrot. I repeat. Do NOT talk to my parrot!”
When the repairman arrived at Wanda’s apartment the following
day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking dog he has ever
seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there on the
carpet watching the repairman go about his work. ? The parrot,
however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant
yelling, cursing and name calling. Finally the repairman
couldn’t contain himself any longer and yelled,
“Shut up, you stupid, ugly bird!”
To which the parrot replied, “Get him, Spike!”
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7. And at My Blog…
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