Maps, pie charts, bar charts, illustrations, clever photos and a whole host of other graphic elements that can help readers or TV viewers better understand your story can be part of your pitch to reporters. But don't suggest graphics right away until you know whether the reporter is interested in your idea. If the reporter bites by saying … [Read more...]
When being cute works and can result in publicity
Cute headlines on news releases. Cute lead paragraphs. Cute story
pitches.
It's enough to make a reporter gag. Unless, of course, they crave
cute. But how do you ever know?
When pitching a story or sending a news release, err on the side
of caution. Don't send anything that smacks of cute to reporters
who … [Read more...]
Use computer worms, viruses for publicity
A virus has infiltrated my email, and about two dozen messages, all written in either German or Dutch, keep pouring into my emailbox. I'm sure some kind of virus has plagued you. The next time that happends, see if you can get some publicity from it. In the days after major worms hit, I read story after story about local businesses that are … [Read more...]
Piggyback off the weather
The spring's unseasonably cold weather here in Wisconsin--complete with wool socks, furnaces at full blast and hot soup for lunch--is a good reminder about one of the easiest ways to gerate publcity--by piggybacking your story idea off the weather. After sweating through a week of 100-degree temperatures a few summers ago, Publicity Hound John … [Read more...]
Don’t pitch your books as the story idea
If you're an author and you want to get onto Fox & Friends (or any other show for that matter), avoid the Number One problem authors make when pitching. Don't pitch your book as the story. In the April 11 issue of PR Week, Jess Todtfeld, an associate producer at Fox News, says authors sometimes make the mistake of pitching book titles, rather … [Read more...]
Pitch stories for TV’s warm & fuzzy finale
Just before the local evening news is coming to an end, you hear the TV anchor lead off the final story of the night with the same two words. "Finally, tonight..." What follows is a warm and fuzzy finale, a 60-second slice of fluff that makes you smile as you head to bed. It might be a story about a worker from the sanitation department … [Read more...]
Use powerful boldface type when emailing story ideas
When you send a journalist a story idea, either by snail-mail letter or email, do you put the most important phrases in boldface? You should. Boldface type is powerful. It attracts the eye and helps the reader cut through the clutter. It's also a powerful sales tool. All those long sales letters you receive in the mail are filled with boldface … [Read more...]
Wall Street Journal lists 10 trends in 10 industries
Grab a copy of yesterday's Wall Street Journal and save the special section called "The Top 10 Trends in 10 Industries."
It's an annual section compiled by Journal reporters who tell you what's in and what's out with automobiles, beverages, publishing, restaurants, hospitals, movies, fashion, insurance, lodging and toys.Did you know … [Read more...]
Indoor water park can promote during off-season
Karla Swita of Wausau, Wisconsin gets advice from Publicity Hounds on how to promote her indoor water park during the off-season. From Lee Newman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin: "I am going to a high school reunion in Wausau in a couple weeks. That would be a great place to stay and meet old friends. Get to those high school reunion committees." From … [Read more...]
Use other people’s days, weeks, months of the year
Publicity Hound Genevieve Frederick of Paw Publishing in Carson City, Nevada wrote to me to comment on the importance of piggybacking off other people's days, weeks and months of the year.
"The American Kennel Club celebrates Responsible Dog Ownership Day on September 17. I was able to get a big article and photo in the Carson City local … [Read more...]
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