Issue #761 Oct. 22, 2013
Publisher: Joan Stewart
“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
In This Issue
- Writing Headlines: A Hamster Wheel
- Why Authors Shun Libraries
- Get a Corporate Sponsorship
- Hound Video of the Week
This Week in the Hound House:
I know this is Wisconsin, and I love cold weather. But wool hats, mittens and fleece-lined jeans in October? That’s what I wore this morning on my walk. If you live in a cold weather climate and don’t wear jeans lined with fleece or flannel, buy a pair. You’ll be so warm and toasty that you’ll wonder how you lived without them.
Note about Saturday’s issue: Sharp Publicity Hounds told me I failed to include the link for Hubspot’s free press release template. You can access it along with “The Newsworthy Guide to Inbound Public Relations.” Enjoy.
1. Writing Headlines: A Hamster Wheel
When it’s time to write a headline, do you feel like a hamster on a wheel? I’ll bet you do.
I love the phrase “hamster wheel” because it creates a picture in my mind. When I saw the phrase in a headline this morning, I Googled it to see if it had been used by any other headline writers.
It showed up several times in the search results, on a few articles and blog posts, but not often enough that it turned into a cliche.
I took the phrase and used it as the subject line for this email.
A compelling headlines makes people take action.
Offline, it forces them to pay $3 for a magazine even if they have to scrape together spare change. Online, it forces them to click. Then read. Then sometimes, even buy.
The stats in my email manager program will tell me whether the headline above results in a higher open rate for this particular issue.
Professional writers use a variety of tips, tricks, tools, templates and formulas to write these short titles that force readers to keep reading. But these writers don’t always start from scratch. You shouldn’t either.
Every good headline writer has a toolbox that make the job easier.
I’ll give you your own toolbox when you join me for a webinar from noon to 1:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, Oct. 26. If you already have plans for the weekend, register anyway because you’ll get the video replay and all the bonuses.
Do obscenities belong in headlines? Find out Saturday. Register for “Headline Tips, Tricks, Tools and Templates That Make Readers Click” here.
2. Why Authors Shun Libraries
If you love to write, you’ve probably spent a lot of time in libraries.
When some authors publish books, however, the library is the last place they want their books to be found.
“Why do I want to sell to libraries and let hundreds of people read my $29.95 book for free?” they ask.
Because libraries buy books. They also help authors sell books by introducing them to readers who don’t already know about them.
Libraries are seeing an enormous rise in traffic, and you need to know how this affects you if you’re planning to write a book.
It’s one of 12 trends “The Chicks at Sea” will identify tonight when we host a free webinar on “How to Use 12 Book Publishing Trends to Sell More Books” from 8 to 9:15 p.m. Eastern Time.
Register here.
This topic is fascinating, and the other Chicks identified a few trends I hadn’t even heard of. I’m eager to learn more.
Knowing about these trends will make you a smarter author and a savvy marketer, but only if you join us.
3. Get a Corporate Sponsorship
What author, speaker or expert wouldn’t love to be sponsored by a big-name corporation?
The company promotes you to spread a message about a topic you’re already passionate about in return for you mentioning the company onstage, or at a book signing, at your blog, and in videos you produce. They even pay for your airfare, hotel and other travel expenses.
But companies don’t have money to throw around, especially now in this bad economy, right?
Wrong.
Partnering with subject matter experts can actually save corporations and nonprofits money because you serve as their ambassador and promote them to ready-made audiences that know, like and trust you.
It took Brendon Burchard two years to learn how to crack the protective shell of corporate and nonprofit sponsors, and his success has been nothing short of astonishing.
He’ll share his tips during a webinar with Steve Harrison at 2 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. You can register right now or go to my blog post where I explain all the reasons these partnerships aren’t out of reach, even in a rotten economy.
4. Hound Video of the Week
You’ll be howling as you watch Tessie, a Red Fox Labrador, trying desperately to join in a game of ping pong.
Share Your Two Cents