It happened again this week.
Two Publicity Hounds called and asked for my recommendation for a publicist. They expected me to rattle off a list of my top three choices, including contacting information.
As I stated in my ebook “How to Hire the Perfect Publicist,” I rarely if ever do that because I don’t know whether the most important element of hiring a publicist is there. That is, great chemistry between you and your publicist.
I was hanging around at Bill Stoller’s message board today and found an interesting response to a question on how to hire a publicist for a music company.
Pierce Mattie of Billboard magazine responded with a helpful comment:
“The best thing for you to do is to shop the music artists that your record label competes with that get good press. Then find out who their PR firm or publicists are and approach them. The best thing when shopping for a PR firm is to go brand to media, media to publicist. Find the recording labels in the music industry that get the best press, then source their PR contacts. I would also suggest you call Billboard Magazine, Spin and Rolling Stone and ask them who they get the best press materials from and who they love working with.”
I love that suggestion. If you try doing the same thing, don’t be surprised if busy journalists won’t take the time to talk to you. Multiple deadlines loom almost daily. But if you do find somebody eager to talk, pay attention. When I worked in the news business, I always knew who the best two or three PR people in town.
Tip: After chemistry, the second most important quality to look for in a publicist is a track record of successes. And don’t forget to ask for references.
I am in need of some good help locating a publicist. Please give me some info on going about this. Thank you for your time.
T-Mo
I am currently looking for a publicist. I am an inventor, and a firefighter. I have developed a new tool that will reduce water damage done by firefighting operations by over ninety percent. I am negotiating with a manufacturer. My goal is to have the tool instituted throughout the fire service. The main winner in this would be the insurance industry. They will save billions in water damages. My aim is to educate the public and the insurance industry about the new tool. With the end results of having the insurance industry donate the new tool to fire departments. The donation of the tool would be tax deductiple and a huge public relations coup for the insurance agency. I have a uniquely American story I’m a firefighter, America loves firemen, I’m an inventor, America loves inventors. I’ve been broke and had to sell my home and all my stuff three times due to failed business ventures, including being put out of business by Walmart, and America loves an underdog story. My goal is to be a public interest story to get this very important tool into the hands of firefighters. The tool is very simple and will retail for under two thousand dollars. If at all possible I would like some good advise on how to get this story out there. Thanks Stan Coulthard