I never guarantee you'll get publicity by following my tips. But this tip falls into the category of an "almost guarantee." While watching the local FOX TV news recently, I saw a short news item about a group of first-graders at a Milwaukee elementary school. They were shown singing a song to the tune of "Old McDonald Had a Farm." But instead of … [Read more...]
Dishing the dirt on Pantene bribing journalists
Back where I come from in the world of newspapers, an editor would practically pull off a reporter's fingers, one by one with a pair of pliers---then fire the sinner---for accepting a can of caramel corn from a source who wanted to say "thanks" at Christmas. The caramel corn, and other gifts that came to the newsroom, were usually trucked to the … [Read more...]
What do to when reporters won’t mention your name in an article
Here's a common problem Publicity Hounds run into when they're so eager for publicity that they'll do almost anything for a journalist. Last week, a reader asked, "I spent a lot of time talking to a reporter and we really hit it off. But when she wrote the article, I was surprised to see she used my information, but she didn't use my name. What … [Read more...]
How to Attract a Reporter’s Attention
Sponsoring an event? One of the best ways to generate publicity is to invite a reporter to participate in something that will result in a pre-event story. For example, if you're sponsoring a hot-air balloon race, invite a reporter to take a hot-air balloon ride a week or two before your event, so she can write about it for her newspaper and tell … [Read more...]
Customize news releases for specific media outlets
When you write a news release, do you write different versions of the same release---emphasizing different things in the first paragraph---depending on what media outlet you're sending it to? Smart Publicity Hounds do. They want every media person to read their releases and say, "Aha! This is perfect for our audience!" Yet too few people bother … [Read more...]
Don’t make these mistakes with follow-up calls to the media
Big PR agencies seem to be the worst offenders when it comes to following up on news releases. They usually assign a woman who sounds like an 18-year-old twinkie to call reporters and editors after the agency has mailed a release. The twinkie, usually using an annoying sing-songy voice, says: "Hi. This is Brittany. I'm just calling to see if you … [Read more...]
Hold off on non-hurricane news
If you're planning to pitch a news story like a new product announcement, or an upcoming event or whatever to the national media , hold off a week or two. Media everywhere are concentrating on the newest developments from Hurricane Katrina, from the horrible looting and shooting in New Orleans to the effects on local gasoline prices and what … [Read more...]
How to find a reporter’s hot button
One of the best ways to generate publicity for a product, service, cause or issue is to find a reporter who has experienced a problem that's related to the story you want to pitch. It's called finding a reporter's hot button and sometimes it happens purely by accident. Publicity Hound Carol Adams of Charlotte, North Carolina said she was having … [Read more...]
Stop calling news conferences
A reader wrote this week and asked: "We are looking for some advice on when to send a media notice to our contacts announcing a press conference. A week prior to the press conference? Two days? Or is it best to hit them a couple of times?" The Publicity Hound says: Why do you think it's so difficult to lure the media to news conferences? Here … [Read more...]
Find your way into weather stories
The 10 tomato plants in our garden, including two heirloom tomato plants, are wilting. And the basil just sits there looking helpless. If this newsletter is late today, it's because I've been in the garden for the last several days giving a hearty drink to the green beans, beets, carrots, radishes, peas, spinach and three rows of lettuce. The … [Read more...]
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