The Publicity Hound’s Blog  

So you think your computer is ancient?

Many journalists are working on computers that are even older than yours. So says John I. Carney, city editor of the Shelbyville Times-Gazette in Tennessee in his list of tips titled “Have Pity on Your News Staff.” 

It’s must reading, even if you’re dealing with journalists who work on the most up-to-date equipment. John’s caveats include:

—Never send a press release as an attachment, or as a PDF file.

—Make sure all photos that you’re offering journalists are high-resolution, scanned at 300 dots per inch.

—Remember that older computers like his iMac installed in 1999 can’t read thumbnail-size photos.

—Never embed your photos into a Word document.   

Good reminders. 

By the way, notice  that at the end of the tips, John mentions his personal blog. If you’re trying to get into his newspaper, reading this blog is one of the most valuable ways you could be spending your time.  

Why? Because city editors are the heartbeat of a newsroom and decide which news events will and won’t be covered. What better way to build a relationship with him than to read his blog and comment on it?

In just a few minutes, I learned all kinds of interesting information about him. He has a favorite shrimp gumbo recipe. He and his brother stood in line for the stand-by audience for the Jimmy Kimmel show but failed to get in. And he’s a game show geek.

Are you checking to see if the journalists you’re trying to get in front of blog, then using that information to try to build relationships with them? If not, set up a Google Alert for their name and Google will alert you whenever their name appears online.  

Posted In: Blogs, Newspaper Publicity, Photos & Graphics, Press Releases/News Releases
posted On: 2/18/2007: 12:25 pm: By Joan
Comments: No Comments

Chris Kelley of Emigrant, Montana writes: 

I’m a publicist, and Andrew Field, the founder and CEO of PrintingforLess.com, the world’s largest commercial online printer, is one of my clients.

More than 50,000 customers nationwide—mostly small and mid sized businesses—annually visitor our website for affordable, full-color marketing materials such as business cards, brochures, postcards, newsletters, letterhead and so on.

Andrew now wants to become the first national brand name in the printing industry. He was runner-up in the national Best Bosses of the Year contest and has generated substantial publicity, including stories in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. All this has helped, but he wants the Printingforless.com name to be to the printing industry what Kinko’s is to the copying industry.

Can your Hounds help?

Posted In: Business Promotion, Publicity on the Internet
posted On: 2/8/2007: 9:25 am: By Joan
Comments: 5 Comments

Will somebody please tell the folks over at ClickZ that video press releases are alive and well?

A post yesterday indicated the writer wasn’t aware of how often video is being used successfully in press releases. A link to an audio or video clip can be incredibly powerful.

Readers simply click on the video link and watch a short video of you extolling the benefits of your product or service. Here are other ways you can use video:

—Readers can watch you demonstrate a new product.

—They can see you interviewing a customer who has used your product successfully, and the customer can offer a testimonial.

—If you’re a professional speaker, they can watch a snippet of you at a recent presentation.

—If you’re an author, they can see you reading at a recent book signing.

—Artists can show short videos of their artwork in various stages of completion.

—A gourmet cooking can do a quick cooking demonstration.

I’m sure you can think of many other uses for video. Take a look at this fabulous example of how security expert Robert Siciliano used video in his press release to establish his credibility instantly and to show he’s a media darling. He distributed it through Expertclick, the online the press release distribution service I use.

As for the naysayers who are complaining “But journalists don’t want to have to sit through video,” they’re forgetting that today’s smart Publicity Hounds are writing press releases and posting them online not only for journalists, but for consumers. People can find your press release online, click on a link to go to your website and enter your sales funnel—even if journalists don’t think your release is worthy of their time and attention.

Learn how to write and distribute press releases in my free email tutorial called “89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases.” 

Posted In: Business Promotion, Press Releases/News Releases, Publicity on the Internet
posted On: 2/6/2007: 7:40 am: By Joan
Comments: 3 Comments

Scott Lorenz of Westwood Communications has helpful tips on how public speakers can land a spot on a conference panel.

It’s in the latest issue of The Navigator, the ezine published by Bacon’s.

Most important: don’t wait for an invitation! And tell them you’ll help promote the panel as well as the conference.

Here’s my personal experience with panels. I stopped wasting time filling out RFPs to speak at conferences and conventions. In fact, I can’t remember one time when an RFP has led to an invitation.

For me, the three best magnets that attact invitations to speak at conferences:

—My weekly ezine, “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week.” If you’re an expert and you aren’t publishing an ezine, or a tip of the week, start now. See “How to Turn Your Ezine into a Cash Machine.”

—The free articles page at my website, where I can flaunt my expertise.

—Word-of-mouth referrals from happy meeting planners who have hired me. 

If you’re a professional speaker, learn everything you need to know about how to grow your speaking business from my mentor, Tom Antion.  

Posted In: Business Promotion, Writing Articles
posted On: 2/1/2007: 4:24 pm: By Joan
Comments: 2 Comments