Way too many attorneys act as though we still have those laws prohibiting them from advertising. How else to explain why so many of them are just plain lousy when it comes to marketing their services and, specifically, generating free publicity? In this [Read more...]
BBB’s ‘accredited business’ boosts your credibiity
I love knowing that in a few weeks, I'll no longer be just a "member" of the Better Business Bureau. I'll be an "accredited business." That sounds better. It also lends an aura of credibility to small businesses like mine that join the BBB to, among other things, be able to display the BBB logo on the [Read more...]
Free meeting rooms: A great PR tactic
When I wanted to present a halfday workshop in Norfolk, Virginia two years ago, I asked my friend, Sandy Dumont, The Image Architect, if she knew about any inexpensive meeting rooms in Norfolk, where she lives.
[Read more...]
Gift store owner in Antioch, Calif. needs promotion ideas
Ted Fuller of Lafayette, California writes: "My friend has a gift store in the downtown area of Antioch, an older suburban city in California. At night, nearly all the shops shut down and the streets are almost deserted. "She's tried without success to stir up some action with the merchants association. After a brief period of remaining open at … [Read more...]
CD company needs ideas to target pet owners
Janice Roberts of Woodmere, New York asks: "I created a new kind of greeting card company called Happy 2B Music, Inc. We create and produce original music relating to various themes for particular niches of people, such as brides, moms-to-be, and pet lovers. "Each CD contains four original songs in a cute and colorful self-mailer with the lyrics … [Read more...]
Opening a bank branch? Display origami dollar bills
Publicity Hound Brian Foley read last week's item in which I complained about those uncreative ribbon-cutting and check-passing ceremonies that seem to be everywhere. He loved my idea of a bank hiring a magician to perform magic … [Read more...]
Spa publicity, promotion is easy with this story idea
I can think of no better treat than a day, or even a few hours, at my favorite spa. Until I read an amazing article on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about how the local day spas are the newest hangouts for teens and little girls. Girls as young … [Read more...]
Michigan driver’s ed school needs publicity ideas
Roger Pozeznik of Kalamazoo, Michigan writes: "I run All-Star Driver Education in Ann Arbor. Two other big driving schools in town seem to have a monopoly and have gotten lazy with there teaching skills. It's frustrating to see that they have full classes. "The school I work for is very well-known on the east side of the state and they are in … [Read more...]
Ribbon-cutting event? You can do better than that
I know you've seen photos just like this one hundreds of times.
It's called a ribbon-cutting event, complete with the giant cardbaord scissors, and it's one of the most-photographed, most boring ways to try to generate publicity.
Equally repugnant are those giant cardboard checks that somebody "presents" to someone else, usually … [Read more...]
Alternative newspapers should be taken seriously
If you get a call from a reporter who works for an alternative newspaper, be on your guard, and don't take the interview any less seriously than you would if a reporter from your local daily newspaper had called. That's the advice from Ken Haseley from the Ammerman Experience, a media training company. In this week's edition of [Read more...]