Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is aptly named as the day when retailers shift into profitability or move "into the black." But it can be like gold for Publicity Hounds. Here's why: First, the media are often working with skeleton staffs. Second, PR people and even some publicists take the day off. That means less competition for … [Read more...]
Holiday gift guide tips featured weekly in free ezine
Every year, newspapers, magazines, TV news shows, newsletter editors, the wire services and even nonprofits feature products and services that would make ideal holiday gifts for their audiences. It isn't too late to pitch your product for many of these special features. Newspapers, for example, typically plan several holiday gift sections in … [Read more...]
Halloween promotion ideas to generate publicity
Here are some ideas on how to promote a product, service, cause or issue by tying it to Halloween, the second largest retail holiday of the year. They're courtesy of TV producer Shawne Duperon, one of my guests during next week's media … [Read more...]
Festival of Owls in Houston wants promotion ideas
Karla Kinstler of Houston, MN writes: I coordinate the International Festival of Owls, held annually the first weekend in March in the tiny little town of Houston, MN (population 1,020). It began simply as a hatch-day party for Alice the Great Horned Owl, the Houston Nature Center's … [Read more...]
Halloween story ideas should be pitched now
If you sell a product or service related to Halloween, or you're promoting a cause or issue that ties in, start pitching your story ideas now. Halloween-related stories and magazine covers started showing up as early as Labor Day this year, as the popularity of the holiday seems to grow each year. Halloween is the second largest retail … [Read more...]
Papa Jack Weil, the oldest CEO, great Labor Day story
Thanks to professional speaker Robin C. Johnston, an expert at sales, marketing and fundraising, for tipping us off to a perfect Labor Day story: "A news article just aired on TV about Papa Jack Weil, CEO of a Denver-based company. Papa Jack recently turned 106 years old and is … [Read more...]
Spring gift show alerts media to gift-related products
If you have a product that would make a terrific gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day or Graduation Day next year, you should know about the Spring Product Media Event, a chance to get your product in front of journalists. Gift List Media and adVance Public Relations will present the event October 24 at the New York Marriott Marquis on Times … [Read more...]
Publicity tip: Green dogs on St. Patrick’s Day
I just received TV reporter Jeff Crilley's excellent email newsletter which you can subscribe to here, and I wanted to share his terrific tip on one way to generate publicity as St. Patrick's Day nears. You don't have to have an Irish pub to tie into this holiday. A few years ago, Kim Morris from [Read more...]
Do Business in Your Bathrobe Day Feb. 12
If you're one of those entrepreneurs who's luck enough to have a home office, and you enjoy the luxury of doing business in your bathrobe, generate a little publicity.
Kristie Tamsevicius, at left, founder of Webmomz.com, has chiristened Monday, Feb. 12, has Do Business in Your … [Read more...]
More ideas for holiday pitches
The weeks leading up to Christmas are the very best times to pitch the media with your story idea. I offered several controversial holiday ideas earlier this week, and I just found a [Read more...]