The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #558 June 7, 2011
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. Weinergate’s 5 PR Lessons
2. Facebook Best Practices Guide
3. Duck Makes Home at Home Depot
4. Your Biggest Publicity Problem?
5. Inventory Closeout Next Week
6. Hound Video of the Week
7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
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1. Weinergate’s 5 PR Lessons
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What a week for learning about crisis communications.
Here are five important lessons that Rep. Anthony Weiner taught
Publicity Hounds. You’ve heard them all before:
–Don’t lie. Weiner thought he could fib his way through the
crisis. But at almost every media interview, he got himself
tangled up in his own lies and kept changing his story.
–Don’t criticize the messenger. He called a reporter a “jackass”
for asking a logical question, and that showed he was combative.
–Prepare talking points and stick to them. Weiner agreed to
numerous media interviews but kept digging a deeper hole because
he wasn’t prepared.
–When dumping bad news, tell it all, tell it first and tell it
fast. The drip-drip-drip of bad news throughout last week helped
this story grow long legs.
–Take responsibility. Weiner claims “responsibility for my
actions” but adamantly says he won’t resign. Expect politicians
from both parties to pile on throughout the week and keep this
story at the top of the news. A resignation would end the media
frenzy.
Learn more about how to respond in a crisis. Crisis counselor
Jonathan Bernstein was my guest during a teleseminar on “How to
Keep the Media Wolves at Bay” and explained how to deal with a
variety of issues, from tape-recorded interviews to hostile
reporters. Read more about what you’ll learn at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-tapes/media_wolves_atbay.htm
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2. Facebook Best Practices Guide
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Still puzzled about how to make Facebook work for you?
Check out the free Facebook Best Practices Guide from Facebook-
Studio.com. They did a super job of presenting their tips in an
easy-to-understand format.
All their tips fall into one of five categories of guiding
principles:
–Build a strategy that’s social by design.
–Create an authentic brand voice.
–Make it interactive.
–Nurture your relationships.
–Keep learning.
I found incredibly helpful tips on how to use Facebook ads, apps,
widgets, social plugins and more. Claim your copy here:
http://www.facebook-
studio.com/fbassets/media/856/FacebookBestPracticeGuide.pdf
Used in combination with the webinar I offered on “12 More Ways
to Avoid Missed Opportunities with Facebook,” you’ll have more
than enough ideas on how to make Facebook work for you. Read more
about what Christine Buffaloe taught during the webinar at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/facebook12ways.htm
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3. Duck Makes Home at Home Depot
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Home Depot in Bangor, Maine, generated fabulous publicity on CNN
recently with a feel-good story about a mallard duck that built a
nest and laid its seven eggs in the garden aisle.
The story had three key elements that TV cameras love: people,
color and motion.
And two more things: a sales associate named Brenda Hatch (great
last name) who made for a fun interview, and the fact that the
duck has returned for the second year to make its nest in the
same place.
Watch:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2011/06/02/me.home.depot.duck
.wvii?hpt=hp_t2
TV producer Shawne Duperon says it’s often easy to call a TV
station and get onto the news the same day. Read more about the
TV pitching tips she shared during the teleseminar I hosted with
her:
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-
tapes/getinthenews.htm
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4. Your Biggest Publicity Problem?
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I had a second set of botox injections into my vocal chords, last
week, to remove the straining in my voice caused by spasmodic
dysphonia (you can read about it at my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8142).
So far, I’ve noticed only a slightly higher pitch to my voice,
and I’m thrilled! The after-effects should disappear within a
week.
That means I can start planning more webinars on topics that will
help you with publicity, PR and social media.
But I don’t want to guess about topics you need. I want you to
tell me.
What’s your Number One publicity problem that keeps you up at 3
a.m.? What PR training do you need? Is there a certain expert who
I should invite as a guest?
Click here and suggest a topic:
Mailto:JStewart@PublicityHound.com?=SuggestedWebinar
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5. Inventory Closeout Next Week
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I’m still clearing out my inventory, and finding more CD and
transcript titles to add to my inventory clearance.
It will be ready next week. Promise.
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6. Hound Video of the Week
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Thanks to Elaine Grassbaugh of Columbus, Ohio, for this video of
Bizkit, the sleep-walking dog:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2BgjH_CtIA
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7. And at My Blog & Mobile Site…
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Lulu.com: You get what you pay for, says Book Shepherd
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8586
Nonprofits: Patch.com offers volunteers, free ad space
http://publicityhound.net/?p=8571
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Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound
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