The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #696 March 9, 2013
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. Facebook’s Redesign & You
2. Ask for Reviews on LinkedIn
3. Freelancer Directory
4. Hound Joke of the Week
This Weekend in the Hound House: I’m constantly fumbling in
the kitchen, grabbing for recipe books when I can’t remember
exactly how many fluid ounces are in one cup, or how many
tablespoons equal one-fourth cup. Leave it to Pinterest to
feature lots of handy cooking conversion charts like this one
at http://pinterest.com/pin/418694096576874970/
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1. Facebook’s Redesign & You
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Facebook is giving its cluttered news feed a spring cleaning.
The new look, which I love, is trickling out to users slowly so
Facebook can watch how people adjust to it and further tweak it
if necessary.
Here’s how the new look affects you:
–The first thing you’ll notice are photo stories, taken from
tiny thumbnails.
–You’ll see the same clean look wherever you use Facebook–on
mobile, tablet or the web.
–You’ll see bolder images and more and larger photos.
–You’ll see special sections for friends, photos and music. It’s
like your own personalized newspaper.
–You can get Facebook exactly how you want it with your choice
of feeds: Most Recent (everything you like, in the order it
happened), All Friends, Photos, Music, Following, Games and
Groups. If you choose the Photos feed, for example, you’ll get
nothing but photos from your friends and pages you’ve liked.
Here’s a short video that summarizes the changes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWrUDgnVuHE
I found it odd, however, that Facebook–which encourages Likes,
Comments and Shares–has disabled all comments on this video.
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2. Ask for Reviews on LinkedIn
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If someone reads your book and loves it, do you give them a
chance to review it on your LinkedIn Company page?
What if a company hires you to do a consulting project? Can they
write a testimonial for you in the Services section on your
Company page?
In both cases, they can review your products and services–but
only if they’re listed on your Page.
Sometimes I’m so busy chasing after testimonials from happy
customers that I forget about this golden opportunity right on
LinkedIn. Here are three ways to prompt customers to write
reviews:
–When you get a glowing email from someone who gushes about a
product or service, jump over to your LinkedIn Company Page,
click on “Products & Services” in the menu bar, and add the
prodcut or service they’re raving about. A photo with a short
description is fine. Then, send the customer the link to the
product or service page, and ask them to click “Recommend” and
write a review.
–If someone buys a product from your website, create an
autoresponder message that goes out a week or two later, asking
them to write a review on your page.
–Use the “Recommend us on LinkedIn” call to action, along with a
link to your page, on fliers, brochures, packing slips and
marketing materials.
There are dozens more ways to really make LinkedIn Company Pages
present your company as best in its industry (even if it isn’t).
LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth will demonstrate them all, and
lots more, on the webinar I’m hosting from 3:30 to 5:30 Eastern
Time on Wednesday, March 13, on “How to Use LinkedIn Company
Pages and Ads to Attract an Audience, Promote Your Heart Out and
Help Them Buy.”
I’m recording this one, and if the time doesn’t work for you,
I’ll send you the links for the video replay and three valuable
bonuses.
This is Wayne’s fifth appearance as a Publicity Hound guest
expert because my Hounds keep begging me to bring him back.
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3. Freelancer Directory
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Hunting for freelance writers who might be interested in your
story?
Check out the Society of Professional Journalists Freelancer
Directory. It includes more than 1,300 freelancers, most with
contact information.
You’ll love this free resource because you can search by city,
state or specialty.
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4. Hound Joke of the Week
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Thanks to Publicity Hound Ann Dekorsi of Glendale, WI, for this
video of a dog that looks spellbound while a little boy eats a
sandwich nearby. Then watch what happens.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/dog-steals-sandwich-video.html
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