Issue #1012 April 16, 2016
Publisher: Joan Stewart
“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
In This Issue
- 365 Chances for Publicity
- AP Style Change
- Top 100 Talk Show Hosts
- Hound Video of the Week
This Weekend in the Hound House:
About that recipe I shared for a relaxing detox bath. Publicity Hound Petre Sefton, who grows and lectures on essential oils, wrote to caution that 10 drops of lavender oil can overstimulate the central nervous system. If it’s already mixed with vegetable oil, that’s OK. Otherwise, use only six drops. Corrected recipe: Pour 2 cups of epsom salts, one-half cup of baking soda and 6 drops of lavender oil into a tub of hot water. Add a few candles, turn off the lights, and relax for 30 minutes.
1. 365 Chances for Publicity
The weather happens 365 days a year.
That means 365 chances to get into the news if you have a story idea that ties into the rain, cold, heat waves, ice storms, dust storms, droughts, hurricanes or floods.
Have you written a book that’s a great beach read? Pitch it to bloggers who offer “Top 10 Beach Reads.”
Do you teach people how to keep lightning from frying everything on their computers? Pitch it when electrical storms are forecast.
I’ve seen hardware stores in the northern states get onto TV by pitching “snow rakes” that prevent roofs from caving in.
How are our pets, emotions, yards, homes, utilities, children, jobs, schools or income affected by the weather?
Tying your story to the weather was one of several dozen tips I shared during the free training on Thursday. I called it “52 Solid Gold Publicity Nuggets to Make Self-Promotion Easier.”
To do: Watch the free replay here. If you’ve been eyeing my popular special reports, hoping and praying you’ll eventually get the deal of the century, you’ll see it at the end of the video. That’s where you’ll also find my three “Best of Breed” super-duper publicity tips for top dogs. Note: You’ll be watching this video on YouTube. Next weekend, I’ll try to schedule a special rebroadcast in which I answer questions live, while you’re watching the video. Stay tuned..
2. AP Style Change
Starting June 1, a new style rule takes effect at media outlets that are members of the Associated Press, and you’d do well to follow it.
The words “internet” and “web” will be lowercase.
You might not think this is a big deal. But journalists do.
Writing like they write and following their rules shows you know how to play their game.
Use AP style in your press releases, letters to the editor, articles and anything you submit to them–even pitches.
To do: Invest in the spiral-bound AP Stylebook or the iOS app. But wait until the new 2016 edition is ready, about June 1.
3. Top 100 Talk Show Hosts
Talkers.com has released its new list of “The Talkers Heavy Hundred,” the top 100 radio talk show hosts in the U.S.
It includes shows for conservatives, liberals and everything in between. You’ll find lifestyle shows, how-to shows, and possibly a few shows that broadcast from your own community.
Many love interviewing authors, speakers and experts who are willing to take a stand on controversial topics. Controversy drives talk radio. It pulls viewers. And it sells ads.
To do: Before you pitch major shows, get experience on shows in smaller markets. Let morning radio show host Wayne Kelly show you how to find the perfect hook for your book or other product or service so you can get on the air. For smaller shows like his, your topic doesn’t have to be controversial. It only needs to be interesting. Watch the free video replay of “How to Promote Your Book to More Than 10,000 Radio Listeners for Free, Month After Month.”
4. Hound Video of the Week
I love watching the “bloopers” reels. You’ll howl at this video from car commercials.
[Tweet “RT @PublicityHound –365 Chances for #Publicity #PublicityTips”]
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