Here's another big boo-boo made by made by many people who write news releases. They put the date the release was distributed right at the top. Why not just include a headline in 40-point type that screams, "OLD NEWS." In an era where hour-old news is practically ancient history, dating your news releases is just one more reason for reporters to … [Read more...]
People behind the events make great stories
She arrived in Milwaukee at age 24 with less than $40 in her purse, learned to speak English and took the streetcar to work. Today, at age 75, Magrit Heitmann still logs up to 1,500 hours a year doing what she loves best--organizing the hundreds of volunteers for Germanfest, one of the signature festivals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was a clever … [Read more...]
These email faux pas show you’re clueless
Some time ago I wrote about nerdy websites. If you email anything to the media, make sure you aren't guilty of these nerdy email blunders: --A subject line that says "News Release" with no clue what the release is about. --A generic greeting such as "Dear Editor." Always use the editor's name. If you don't know it, don't send it. --Subject lines … [Read more...]
Mossberg recommends MSN Spaces for bloggers
In the Personal Technology column in today's Wall Street Jurnal, Walter Mossberg recommends Microsoft's MSN Spaces as the best of the online services for free blogs. "My Verdict: MSN Spaces is very well done," he says. "It makes it easy to create a simple, attractive blog with text, links and potos, and to customize the blog in interesting … [Read more...]
12 worst mistakes PR people make
It was difficult to pare them down to a dozen, but we did. Of all the mistakes PR people make when working with the media, Jon Greer of Bulldog Reporter's PR University and Liz Miklya of Weber Shandwick joined me in whittling down the list to 12. We presented them the Media Relations 2005 conference earlier this month in San Francisco. Here's our … [Read more...]
Hospitals should show how they pamper patients
Hospitals throughout the U.S. are pampering patients like never before. You can now recuperate after your heart bypass or gall bladder removal in upscale units with suite-sized rooms, gourmet meals, high-thread-count sheets, attentive security, and smiling staff ready to cater to your every whim. A Forbes magazine survey of the [Read more...]
Think graphics when pitching
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...]
Don’t blame the reporter for inaccuracies; check first
Reporters get blamed enough for inaccuracies in news stories--sometimes rightly so.
Most Publicity Hounds don't know, however, that mistakes in print and broadcast stories are often caused by other people in the newsroom. So if you don't like what you see, don't call the reporter and start screaming into the phone. Find out who committed … [Read more...]
Do homework before hiring a publicist
One of the most frequent complaints I hear from Publicity Hounds is the one about what went wrong when they hired a big PR firm, or a lousy publicist. The nightmares sound like this. Whopping monthly retainers but few media placements. Fresh-out-of-college graduates with little PR experience assigned to major accounts. Sweet-talking publicists who … [Read more...]
A free hotline will get you great publicity
Everyone loves free, helpful information. Your customers and clients are no different. So why not create a free hotline where they can call and ask a question about how to use your product or service? Or suggest a product or service they'd like to see you offer. Or get a helpful recorded tip of the day. Or ask you a question about a particular … [Read more...]
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