The Publicity Hound’s Blog  

If your company or oranization wants to partner with a big-name celebrity or sports star, understand the potential danger—and that you might get publicity you wish you hadn’t gotten.

Aurora Health Care, Wisconsin’s biggest hospital system, has pulled its sponsorship of the 2005 Ahman Green Football Camp because Ahman Green, the popular running back for the Green Bay Packers, was involved in a domestic abuse incident at his home last month. Green pleaded not guilty and faces trial Aug. 31.

Posted In: Crisis Communications
posted On: 5/27/2005: 5:15 am: By Joan
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At the end of the dot-com era, the Orlando Business Journal asked PR guy Richard Laermer what he thought of WordWise, a local firm that had hired a person full-time to get them a horde of industry awards.

Laermer says WordWise did no advertising but “this hardly-shy communications agency pursued a different strategy: it won awards.”

Actually, by 2001, Laermer says, WordWise had racked up nearly 300 awards—23 that year alone. They included Florida Public Relations Association’s Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award and the Grand Golden Image Award. Their employee was all over the award circuit.

Laermer, author of the book “Full Frontal PR,” says that when the business journal called him, the reporter “wanted me to stop laughing and give a comment.”

Laermer hates the PR industry’s Oscar-envy this time of year and writes more about it in “Navel-Gazing for PR People: The Tumult of Awards, Groups & Parties.”

What I found so remarkable was the sloppy way WordWise displays the press clippings announcing its awards. Check out this one posted at its website.

This from a marketing communications firm? So much for awards.

Posted In: Business Promotion
posted On: 5/26/2005: 1:53 pm: By Joan
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If you’re going to New York City next week for the BookExpo America convention, don’t miss Steve Harrison’s media panel on Saturday. I’ll be there.

I attended this last year when it was part of the convention, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. A panel of top-tier print and broadcast journalists offered their best tips on how authors should pitch journalists. Then a few brave authors were chosen from the audience to pitch the panel in front of a room full of people. The journalists gave thumbs up or thumbs down, then critiqued the pitches.

This year, the panel will be nearby at a smaller publicity seminar at Marquis Ballroom at Marriott New York Marquis Hotel, a 7-minute/$4 cab ride from the Javits Center.

Journalists include:

–Amy Salit, National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross
–Jess Todfelt, Fox News Channel (Really nice guy)
–Stephanie Siegel, CNN
–Betsy Goldman, MSNBC
–Stacy Rollins, “Montel Williams” Show

The $19 you’ll pay to get in will be well worth it. But don’t go expecting some private time with the media folks. After last year’s session, a mad rush of authors descended on their table and it was bedlam. Sign up before it’s sold out.

Posted In: Authors & Publishers, General, Pitching the Media
posted On: : 8:25 am: By Joan
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Today’s Wall Street Journal has a great section titled “how Old Media Can Survive in a New World.”

It’s loaded with tips from experts on how the traditional newspaper, television, music and advertising industries can survive.

The section is worth keeping. Some of the tips will probably come to pass. And it will help you understand the direction that some of the industries need to use to compete with the digital revolution.

Posted In: Authors & Publishers, Information Products, Newspaper Publicity, Radio Publicity, TV Publicity
posted On: 5/25/2005: 9:02 pm: By Joan
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This week, 10 Publicity Hounds have tips Andrew Ingram of Toronto, Canada. He and his wife own a high-end maternity boutique. A local magazine that has a Best of Toronto section and a fashion guide continues to ignore them. Andrew wants clever publicity ideas that will get the boutique into the magazine and elsewhere.

From Christina Sorbella of Syracuse, New York:

“Do they have a Best of Toronto maternity or boutique category? If they don’t, call the editor and tell them why they should include one, and give them a list of local stores that fit that category. I know, it sounds like you’re providing your competitors with opportunities. But that’s OK, if you invite the editor on a personal one-on-one tour of YOUR store after you give him or her your list.

“Chic maternity wear is all the rage here in the States, and pregnant fashionistas from all kinds of television shows are wearing the latest mama wear. Lots of celebs are currently pregnant - Britney Spears, Jennifer Garner, Denise Richards, Heidi Klum, to name a few. Do you carry any of the lines of maternity clothing that any of the celebs wear? The clothing line 2chix got very popular after one of the stars of Desperate Housewives wore one of their shirts on the show. Pitch the editors about your insight on the latest maternity fashions trends and the availability of them at your store.”

From Molly Cook of Spokane, Washington:

“Fashion show, fashion show, fashion show! Create a catered event that combines a maternity fashion show with a party. If you can enlist any expectant local fashion mavens for models, so much the better. Obviously, you will invite appropriate people from the magazine and also include current and former customers who can talk you up over tea, wine or milk and graham crackers–no wine for the expectant mothers, of course. The folks at the magazine need to understand that for former professionals now entering motherhood, fashion is as important as it was for those big time board meetings.”

From Mark Buzan of Gatineau, Quebec:

“Media relations is much like relationship developing. If you only knew the amount of information an average newsroom or magazine gets in a day, you’d understand that priority goes to the ones who have built up a long-standing relationship.

“Take the time to get to know the editors, go for lunch with them, and LEARN what makes a story for THEM. Too often, people believe that because they have the greatest product on earth and as such, they deserve coverage. But what’s newsworthy about it? Make yourself a resource and you’ll gain the coverage you deserve…and a friend in the process!”

Read all the responses.

The Publicity Hound says: Mark is absolutely correct. Relationships are everything if you want publicity. OK, on the count of three, I want all Hounds who have attended my workshops to repeat the most valuable question you can ever ask anyone in the media. Ready? One, two, three!

“How can I help you?”

Don’t ever forget it.

If you’re afraid of the media and reluctant to start building relationships, relax. I show you hundreds of ways to get to know reporters, editors, TV and radio talk shows hosts and other media folks and stay on their radar screens so they come to YOU for information. They’re all in my ebook “How to be a Kick-butt Publicity Hound,” a one-stop-shop for anybody who wants to self-promote. Perfect for publicity puppies as well as old Hounds who want to learn new tricks.

Posted In: Business Promotion, Magazine Publicity
posted On: : 3:05 am: By Joan
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