The Publicity Hound’s Blog  

If you’re a guy, and your local TV station wants to interview you, how would you dress?

If you’re in the corporate world, the logical assumption might be a dark suit, white shirt, red tie and gold cufflinks.

Sandy Dumont, also known as The Image Architect, says that would be a good choice, except for the cufflinks.

“For the average person, cufflinks can make you look snobby or too slick, like ‘going to Vegas.’ Keep your eyes open to see if they’re acceptable in the industry or region you are approaching,” she says.

Here in the Midwest, cufflinks would look out of place on TV, except if they’re worn by CEOs.

As for suits, the darker the color, the higher the authority, Sandy says. That’s why navy blue, charcoal grey and black are traditional colors for business suits. You can sign up for Sandy’s fabulous monthly ezine “Image Tips.”   

In the January/Februrary issue of The Publicity Hound subscription newsletter, Sandy lists seven other fashion faux pas you must not make if you’re appearing on TV. For example, women should leave the charm bracelets at home and wear only jewelry that makes a statement like big, bold earrings or chunky pins or broaches.

Posted In: TV Publicity
posted On: 1/17/2006: 2:20 pm: By Joan
Comments: No Comments

If your media pitches are going nowhere, or if you want me to help you refine your pitches, join me for a free teleseminar on problem pitches at 1 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, January 25.

It’s sponsored by The Wasabi Club, a free telephone discussion group that meets for one hour each month to brainstorm publicity ideas. Michelle Tennant, a member of The Publicity Hound Mentor Program, started The Wasabi Club to help Publicity Hounds get their creative juices flowing.

I’ll even choose a few problem pitches from those submitted and critique them during the call. Email your pitch to Elizabeth Philpott.

To participate on the call, sign up at The Wasabi Club website.

Posted In: Pitching the Media
posted On: 1/16/2006: 10:50 pm: By Joan
Comments: No Comments

In the January issue of Country Business, the magazine for retailers of country gifts and accessories, freelancer Traci Bisson quotes me in an article about how retailers can get TV and radio publicity.

I advise that people who are new to publicity start by targeting smaller media outlets first so they can learn from their mistakes before hitting the big time. 

I call it “climbing the media ladder” and you can read an article about it at my website. 

The ladder looks like this:

Top rung: National network news

Next to top rung: National newspapers, national magazines

Middle rung: Local daily newspapers, radio and TV stations, business journals, city and regional magazines Next-to-bottom rung: Trade publications, weekly newspapers, special interest publications, alumni publications

Bottom rung: Print and online newsletters, cable TV station’s public access channel

Once you’ve gotten publicity at the lower rung, start working your way up. Never shoot for the top, like getting onto “Oprah” or into the The New York Times.
 

Posted In: Magazine Publicity, Newspaper Publicity, Radio Publicity, TV Publicity
posted On: : 10:27 pm: By Joan
Comments: No Comments

Tracey Hawkins of Kansas City, Missouri writes:

“I own a business that sells safety and security products–everything from pepper spray to door alarms, fire extinguishers and more. There is no clear leader in this field. I want to be the company known for safety and security products.

“I have a website but don’t get a lot of orders. However, I sell on Amazon.com and do quite well. My goal is to get more traffic to my website and sell more on my own. Safety and Security Source needs to be a recognized brand. I conduct free personal safety presentations and have become an expert for real estate agents and have products specifically for them. How would I also increase my seminar business to real estate companies throughout the United States?” 

Posted In: Business Promotion, Publicity on the Internet
posted On: : 9:45 pm: By Joan
Comments: 7 Comments

Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London and New York sent me a copy of their slick, beautiful 2006/2007 course catalog, which must have cost a fortune to produce.

I plucked it from my mailbox this morning. As soon as I opened the envelope, I asked myself, “Why are they sending this to me?”

I’m not an artist and don’t want to be. I don’t collect art. I’m not a photographer. The closest I’ve come to being an artist is being a member of the American Needlepoint Guild about 10 years ago and considering my own needlepoint artwork. But I stashed the needlepoint in the closet about eight years ago, shortly after I started my business.

So why is Sotheby’s trying to woo me? Beats me. Maybe they think I’m a member of the media and I’ll give them publicity for their institute. But as I said, I’m not interested, so the only publicity I’m giving them is what you’re reading here.

This leads me to ask: How much do you know about all the media outlets on your media lists? Have you taken the time to hold every newspaper and magazine in your hands, read them, and understand exactly what they cover and what kinds of news they need before you send them anything? Have you watched TV programs you’re pitching? Have you read print newsletters and ezines that are on your news release list?

If a reporter called you right now, confused as I am, and asked, “Why did you send this to me?” what would you say?

If you don’t have a good answer, it’s likely your publicity materials are ending up in the same place as the Sotheby’s catalog I just received: in the wastebasket.

Take the time to research every media outlet on your list. Go to their websites and look around. Read newspapers and magazines thoroughly to understand all your pitching opportunities. Listen to the archives of shows at websites such as National Public Radio so you know what you need to do to get booked on NPR or other shows.

Make the same mistakes Sotheby’s made and join the ranks of the Media Mutts that mean well, but remain clueless.

Posted In: Business Promotion, Magazine Publicity, Media Kits, Newspaper Publicity, Pitching the Media
posted On: 1/12/2006: 1:17 pm: By Joan
Comments: 1 Comment