Issue #785 Jan. 14, 2014
Publisher: Joan Stewart
“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
In This Issue
- Use Niche Blogger Directories
- Google+ Cheat Sheet
- Meet Me in April
- Hound Video of the Week
This Week in the Hound House:
Bogie’s bandage is off her back right paw and it’s healing nicely. But the Elizabethan collar, aka “the lampshade” around her neck, is driving her nuts. She can’t lick her paw. But she also can’t scratch her face and ears when they itch. And she misses her walks. The stitches come out in six days, and she’ll be home free.
1. Use Niche Blogger Directories
Make sure your publicity campaign includes pitching niche blogs.
One of the best ways to find them is to search for blog directories in your niche.
While researching organic blogs for a client, I struck gold. I found the “Top Eco-Friendly Blogs” published by Mommy Bloggers.
It includes a detailed description, ranking, and links to the blogger’s Twitter, Faceboook, Google+, Pinterest and Instagram accounts, which means many more opportunities to connect with these influencers. A little heart-shaped icon with the letters “PR” denotes a PR-friendly blog. This directory will save hours of research time!
Here are five more examples of niche blog directories I found with a few quick Google searches.
Blog Hub, The Australian Blog Directory
Bloggeries, the Fashion Blog Directory
Blog Directory for New York Times Journalists
PR Blogs in the Yahoo! Directory
2. Google+ Cheat Sheet
When you post on Google+, do you take an extra minute to write a headline and format it so it appears in bold to attract more attention?
I’ve started doing that, and it seems to have resulted in more +1s, Shares and Comments. Simply type an asterisk at the beginning and end of the headline, with spaces, like this:
*The Publicity Hound Loves Funny Dog Videos*
Here’s a handy Google+ Cheat Sheet that shows you how to format your text so it’s boldface, italicized, or includes a strikethrough.
Lots of other helpful Google+ tips, too.
3. Meet Me in April
I’ll be in New York City and San Francisco in April.
This is the perfect opportunity to get on my schedule while I’m in town. I’m available for a speaking gig, consulting, or a brown bag lunch session for your PR firm or company. Let me know what you need and I can customize a presentation for you.
Email me for availability: JStewart@PublicityHound.com
4. Hound Video of the Week
I was almost screaming I was laughing so hard when I saw how this ingenious Beagle figured out how to get the goodies that someone left inside the toaster oven on the kitchen counter. Big thanks to Publicity Hound Meryl K. Evans for sharing this on Twitter.
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