The Publicity Hound

February 22, 2009 by Joan Stewart

More publicity for Dallas hardware store after Bush visits

Tying celebrities to your news story can generate publicity you never dreamed of. But if the celebrity responds, the publicity can multiply. That's what happened to Elliott’s Hardware in Dallas, Texas yesterday when former President George W. Bush stopped in for a one-hour visit, bought a few items and joked that he was looking for a job. The … [Read more...]

February 21, 2009 by Joan Stewart

A journalist’s tips for pitching story ideas about your business

This month's guest blogger Mark Macias, author of the book "Beat the Press: Your Guide to Managing the Media," shares terrific tips on how businesses can grab media … [Read more...]

February 18, 2009 by Joan Stewart

Dominate Page 1 of Google: Try Expertclick free for one week

When somebody uses Google to search for a person with your expertise, and types in "time management expert" or "leadership expert" or "parenting expert" or "(fill in the blank) expert," does your name show up near the top of the list of search results?

Does it even show up on Page 1 of the … [Read more...]

February 17, 2009 by Joan Stewart

Home & garden show needs promotion ideas FAST

Lori Feldman of St. Louis, Mo. writes: "My client is a home and garden show that's produced in four cities---Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Portland---from late February through early March. "We're launching a social media plan for this company that has done nothing but traditional advertising for the last 50 years! Last year was the … [Read more...]

February 17, 2009 by Joan Stewart

Online promotion tips in Jan/Feb issue of SUCCESS magazine

If you want to promote anything online, be sure to check out the January/February issue of SUCCESS magazine, on newsstands now. I'm featured along with Internet marketers Joel Comm and Scott Fox … [Read more...]

February 16, 2009 by Joan Stewart

The Number One mistake of online press releases

One of my newsletter readers writes:

"We've used PRWeb a couple times for press releases. The first time, last summer, resulted in a few small … [Read more...]

February 15, 2009 by Joan Stewart

Media event to feature products linked to celebs, good causes

If you sell a consumer product that has a celebrity connection, or supports a good cause, you'll be able to pitch your product to the media, face to face, at a media event on Wednesday, April 1, in New York City. Two shows---The Celebrity Connections Media Event and … [Read more...]

February 12, 2009 by Joan Stewart

PitchRate matches sources, journalists and rates your pitch

Publicity Hounds hoping to connect with journalists who need their expertise now have another free service to use. PitchRate, created by Drew Gerber of Press Kit 24/7, connects sources with journalists, bloggers and anyone who provides … [Read more...]

February 10, 2009 by Joan Stewart

Pennsylvania farmer’s market needs publicity ideas

Rose Strong of Springtown, Pa. writes: "I am a volunteer for the Springtown Farmers Market and I'm looking for some marketing and publicity ideas. "We started off with a bang last year but for some reason we lost our shoppers, and our vendors sort of dwindled down a bit. One week there’d be lots of customers, but not too many vendors, the next … [Read more...]

February 9, 2009 by Joan Stewart

Speakers: Use local stories in towns where you speak

If you speak for free or for a fee, and you're trying to generate media attention in towns where you speak, steal a great idea from motivational speaker Terry Hershey of Vashon, Wash. When he speaks in communities throughout the United Staties, he tries to find a local angle that ties into … [Read more...]