Quick Press Release Quiz

Issue #759 Oct. 15, 2013
Publisher: Joan Stewart

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

In This Issue

Quick Press Release Quiz
Danger: Guest Blog Post Links
Lots of Help for My Slogan
Hound Video of the Week

This Week in the Hound House:

My deepest sympathy to Christine Buffaloe, my dear friend and assistant, whose father, Frank Fichtner, died on Saturday. He was a charter member of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and sang with them for 34 years, right to the end. A fellow chorus member wrote a touching blog post about him. After reading it, I am vowing to use my own blog to share similar memories about people I don’t know well, but who touch me in profound ways.

1. Quick Press Release Quiz

Think you know how to write press releases under Google’s new rules? How many of these statements are true?

1. Links in press releases have three main purposes: To brand my business, to supply “Google juice” so my site ranks higher in Google search, and to let journalists and consumers know about my news.

2. The best way to encourage other websites to link to my press releases is through a strategic social media campaign that reaches people in my target audience and asks them to link.

3. I can no longer use the words “Click here” in my press releases with a hyperlink that leads viewers to a page at my website or blog.

4. All links in my press release must now be spelled out, like this: http://www.MySite.com.

5. If I see a competitor or anyone else breaking Google’s rules and trying to game the system, it’s OK if I rat them out by alerting Google.

How many of those statements are true?

If you’re not sure, join me on Thursday for “Google’s New Rules for Press Release Links,” a 60-minute webinar that will explain what you need to know about the major changes in how we use links in press releases and articles. Everyone who registers will receive a handout with sample releases written by professional press release writers, using the new rules.

I’ll also share the best advice and guidelines from some of the major press release distribution services on what they’re doing differently.

So how did you do on the quiz? If you guessed that all five statements above are false, you’re wrong. The first four are false. The last one is true.

There’s a lot more you need to know because press releases are still a vital tool in your publicity toolbox.

2. Nook, Kindle Stores Ban Erotica

Amazon, Barnes & Noble and WHSmith are doing full-scale sweeps of their ebook stores, removing adult content and even books with keywords and titles that sound like they MIGHT be raunchy.

The biggest targets? Self-published authors.

WHSmith is going even farther and shutting down its entire “free ebooks” page until it has removed all the questionable titles.

An author who is banned once can be banned forever. What to do?

Book shepherd Judith Briles and book distribution expert Amy Collins will offer their best advice to authors tonight during the free webinar I’m hosing with them. We had planned to devote the entire 75 minutes to questions from authors on the line. But Judith says the erotica issue has so many authors confused and angry that we’ll address it.

We don’t have all the answers, but Judith has a several recommendations.

Join us on the free call by registering here.

You’ll also learn how you can win a free cruise with us Jan. 18-23 to the Caribbean. The working vacation that will teach you all about the world of publishing and how to make your next book a best-seller. If your book is on the market right now but sales are slow, and if you’re on the fence about the cruise, at least join us tonight for the free call.

If you missed last week’s session on “What You Must Know to Avoid Being Fleeced by the Publishing Predators,” you can listen to the replay at your choice of times and dates.

3. How to Promote Your Podcast

If you have a podcast, or you know someone who does, I have tips galore on how to promote it.

I was a guest this week on Dave Jackson’s School for Podcasting radio show. Listen to my tips by clicking on the “Listen Now” button in the upper right corner.

4. Hound Video of the Week

You know how a dog tilts its head to the side when you ask it a question? Watch what happens when these four pugs listen to a list of questions from their owner.