Issue #870 Nov. 18, 2014
Publisher: Joan Stewart<\/p>\n
\nThis Week in the Hound House:<\/strong><\/p>\n
I wore two pairs of gloves during our 9-degree walk this morning in Wisconsin and almost froze my paws off. Can you recommend your favorite brand of super-warm gloves? I don’t wear mittens because they make it too difficult to maneuver the dog leash.\u00a0Email me<\/a> and put “Gloves” in the subject line.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
1. Another Facebook Restriction<\/h3>\n
If you want to advertise on Facebook, buy an ad.<\/p>\n
Starting in January, Facebook will crack down on status updates that look like ads. Those include updates that parrot copy that appears in Facebook ads you’ve already bought.<\/p>\n
Facebook users will start seeing fewer free commercials that ask you to buy something, or urge you to enter a promotion or sweepstakes. It also means big brands that have worked hard to build up their “Likes” won’t be able to expose their huge audiences to ad-style content.<\/p>\n
If you’re use to promoting in your status updates, here’s one way to deal with this:<\/p>\n
Rather than overtly promote, share tips on how to solve the problem associated with your product or service. Then link to a blog post where you can promote all you wish.<\/p>\n
Read more about the tougher rule.<\/a><\/p>\n
2. Press Release or a Pitch?<\/h3>\n
When I presented a daylong Book Camp for authors in Denver on Saturday, hosted by Judith Briles, many of them wanted to know when to use a press release and when to deliver a pitch.<\/p>\n
Use a press release when you want a permanent record online of your news. You can post it at your website or use one of the press release distribution services.<\/p>\n
You can also write a release when you want to bypass traditional media and reach consumers directly.<\/p>\n
If you want major publicity, that will almost always require a customized pitch. If you’re hosting a food festival in your town, you can pitch a food angle to a local food blogger. But your event can also find its way into your local business journal if you pitch a story about all the tourist dollars the festival attracts, or offer another business angle.<\/p>\n
Sometimes you should use a press release and a pitch.<\/p>\n
I’ve removed the mystery of which one to use when, and when to use both, in a blog post I wrote earlier this year on “When to use a press release and when to deliver a pitch.”<\/a><\/p>\n
Need a speaker for your corporate or nonprofit retreat, workshop or convention? I present customized programs on almost any topic dealing with self-promotion.\u00a0Email me<\/a> or call 262-284-7451 to check my availability.<\/p>\n
3. Vanity License Plates<\/h3>\n
One of the most inexpensive ways to brand your business is by investing in a vanity license plate.<\/p>\n
The Help Key, a computer repair shop in my town, has a plate that says HELP KEY. I was driving behind their car several months ago, saw the plate and it reminded me to call them to have a computer repaired.<\/p>\n
I’m writing an article for Entrepreneur.com on business owners who have vanity plates, and I’m looking for more sources. If you’re creating a buzz around town with your plates, or getting leads or more business, I’d like to interview you.<\/p>\n
Email me<\/a>\u00a0and tell me briefly about your plate. Put “Vanity License Plates” in the subject line. I’ll follow up with a call.<\/p>\n
I’m not interested in cute, clever plates that have nothing to do with your business.<\/p>\n
4. Hound Video of the Week<\/h3>\n
The ultimate\u00a0“Guilty Dog” video compilation.<\/a> Part of the “dog shaming” series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week<\/h2>\n
– Issue #870 Nov. 18, 2014<\/h3>\n
\n
- Another Facebook Restriction<\/li>\n
- Press Release or a Pitch?<\/li>\n
- Vanity License Plates<\/li>\n
- Hound Video of the Week<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n