The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #541 Feb. 8, 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. Your LinkedIn Power Formula
2. Washington Post Book Reviews
3. How to Avoid Corrections
4. If “Good Morning America” Calls
5. Help This Hound
6. Hound Quote of the Week
7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
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1. Your LinkedIn Power Formula
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When someone on LinkedIn types keywords into the search box to
find someone with your expertise, how close to the top of the
list will your profile appear?
That depends. One very important factor is whether others have
recommended you on LinkedIn.
Recommendations are the only outside verification of the
information you have provided in your profile. Also, words
included in the recommendations are keyword searchable.
LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth says it’s imperative that you
collect recommendations that are specific and strategic. But to
get them, you don’t always have to ask. There are other ways to
generate them, and they’re part of Wayne’s three-part LinkedIn
formula that he shares with audiences as he travels throughout
the U.S.
I’ve been reading and applying his tips for several months and
invited him to be my guest during a webinar March 3. It’s called
“Your LinkedIn Power Formula: How to Make Killer Contacts, Pull
Crowds to Events, be a Star in Your Industry & Track Down Leads
Like a Bloodhound.”
Inc. Magazine has invited Wayne to speak at their Growco
conference, April 6-8 in Las Vegas.
By the way, he isn’t one of the big social media “gurus.” He
sells office furniture not far from me in Wisconsin. But he’s
become such an expert on how to use LinkedIn strategically that I
want you to see him in action.
LinkedIn isn’t the same social media site you might have joined
three years ago. It has a variety of new apps, features and tools
that can quickly put you in front of the most influential people
in your industry. Wayne will explain how.
Learn more about the webinar, how to register, and what you’ll
find in the killer handouts at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-tapes/linkedinpowerformula.htm
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2. Washington Post Book Reviews
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Good news for authors.
The Washington Post has divided its Sunday Arts & Style section
into two new sections.
In the Arts section, the newspaper is adding one additional
review of an arts-related book. In the Style section, it will be
adding one additional review of a pop culture book.
The Post has added other new features, too. Read about all of
them at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2011/01/13/AR2011011303449.html
Authors, don’t rely only on print publicity for your books.
“Special Report #40: 42 Publicity Tips for Authors and Small
Publishers” will give you ideas galore for reaching your target
market. Only $10. Order at
http://publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html#SpecialReport42
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3. How to Avoid Corrections
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The next time you’re ready to send a press release, post an
article to an online directory or publish a blog post, make sure
it’s error-free.
Mistakes are a bigger problem than you might think. The Sheboygan
Press in Wisconsin, where I worked as the editor, says at its
website that one-third of the corrections it prints are due to
incorrect information in press releases and from sources. One
third!
Here are six tips on how to avoid corrections:
–Ask someone else to proofread your work. Every editor needs an
editor.
–Tell your proofreader to actually call the telephone numbers
that appear in the release, and type website URLs into a browser
window to make sure they are correct.
–Make sure dates are consistent. If the date of an event is Feb.
12 in the headline, is it Feb. 12 in the body copy?
–Don’t rely on spell-check. If it’s supposed to be “their,” and
the release says “there,” spell-check won’t catch it.
–Double-check the spelling of all names.
–Use the Associated Press Stylebook, the essential tool
journalists use to determine things like the correct names of
government agencies, whether certain words should be capitalized,
and when names of groups should be abbreviated, like AARP.
What if you learn you’ve erred AFTER you’ve sent your press
release? Read more about corrections at my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7782
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4. If “Good Morning America” Calls
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Do you remember every pitch you’ve emailed or called in to
journalists the last 12 months? What about the last 3 months?
Of course you don’t.
But if a guest booker for “Good Morning America” calls this
afternoon and asks for more details regarding the pitch you
emailed her in July, you’d better be ready. I’ve heard of
Publicity Hounds getting calls up to two years after delivering a
pitch.
On Thursday, Feb. 10, Steve Harrison will host a free teleseminar
on the three biggest tips you need to know to get onto major TV
shows. You’ll learn what NOT to send to producers, what NOT to
pitch to guest bookers, and mistakes you should never make, or
they’ll blackball you forever.
Then you’ll learn about the 3 big secrets for doing it the right
way. Read more about what you’ll learn and register for the free
call at one of two times-2 or 7 p.m. Eastern Time–at
http://www.tvpublicityteleseminar.com/?10011
If you can’t make the call, recruit somebody to take notes for
you. (I’m a compensated affiliate.)
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5. Help This Hound
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Judith Bron of Spring Valley, NY, writes:
“I’m not the only blind person in the world, nor am I the only
one who doesn’t have a Facebook account.
“However, I wouldn?t mind having Facebook and Twitter accounts or
an active LinkedIn account. The problem is that whenever I go to
these sites, I’m asked to identify something visually. Like the
deaf can?t hear, the blind can’t see. What can be done with
social networking sites to make them accessible to everyone?
“And does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get around
this problem?”
The Publicity Hound says:
With tens of millions of people using these sites, I’m surprised
there isn’t a way around the captcha problem. Hounds, do you have
ideas for Judith? If so, post them to my blog at
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7772
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6. Hound Quote of the Week
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To err is human, to forgive, canine.
–Unknown
DOG JOKES & QUOTES EBOOK: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes,
perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few
good laughs.
BONUS: Buy the ebook and you also get a compilation of the 50
best websites for dog humor.
http://publicityhound.com/dogjokebook/
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7. And at My Blogs & Mobile Site…
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Hear my business blogging tips Feb. 16 in Milwaukee
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7757
6 ways to avoid errors in press releases, blog posts
http://publicityhound.net/?p=7782
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Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound
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