The Publicity Hound’s Blog  

Dr. Shawn Messonnier, a veterinarian and award-winning author from Plano, Texas, writes:

“I would love ideas from other Hounds on how to promote my new line of certified organic pet shampoos.

“They’re currently available online only at http://www.drshawnspetorganics.com but should be available at retail outlets sometime next year.    

“I’d like to reach as many pet owners online to get a good jump start. So far, I’ve promoted them on my radio show, in my newsletter, by marketing to our current clients, and writing articles and being interviewed for pet magazines.

“Hounds, can you help?

Posted In: Magazine Publicity, Pitching the Media, Publicity for Niche Markets, Publicity on the Internet, Writing Articles
posted On: 9/30/2008: 1:13 pm: By Joan
Comments: 12 Comments

Publicity Hounds, what are you doing to let off steam the day after the bail-out bill failed?

Taking surveys at your blog? Organizing a telephone tree to call your representatives in Washington? Writing letters to the editor?

Are you creating and uploading videos that show you so angry that the veins in your neck are eyes are bulging?

Or offering free advice to your customers on how this mess will affect your business, or your product or service?

How are you using social networking sites, and what clever ideas have you seen? 

Share your ideas here.

Posted In: Pitching the Media, Publicity on the Internet, Social networking
posted On: : 9:46 am: By Joan
Comments: 9 Comments

If you’re strapped for cash and can’t afford a professional photographer, and you need a photo because you want to promote something on Facebook or another social networking site, what’s the next best alternative?

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal offers tips from three professional photographers on how to capture the right image. Each has a Facebook page.

From Jessica Kaminski, owner of J. Kaminski Photography:

If you’re taking your own photo, “Hold the hand with the camera higher than normal so you don’t get a double chin in the photo.”

From Kristyna Wentz-Graff, staff photographer at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who offers this tip if you’re shooting your own photo outdoors:

“Use the early-morning hours before 10 a.m. or early evening hours such as 4, 5 or 6 when the light is most flattering and there’s a beautiful glow in the sky.” The noon sun, she says, will cast shadows that give you raccoon eyes and an elongated nose.

From Janet McMillan, owner, Janet McMillan Photography:

“For me, the best photos are when you can capture something that’s not necessarily so posed, like a true moment.”

For her own photo and a casual, informal look, she used a Holga camera, a toy camera with a plastic lens that takes larger-format film.

The article also offered a great reminder for those of you who want to promote on LinkedIn but don’t want to use a personal photo. Don’t hide behind a corporate logo because the site doesn’t allow copyrighted material.

Posted In: Facebook, LinkedIn, Photos & Graphics, Social networking
posted On: : 2:07 am: By Joan
Comments: 3 Comments

If journalists and consumers are using Google to find someone with your expertise, and you’re not on the first page of the search results, they may call one of your competitors who ARE in one of the top three positions on the most popular search engine.

Like Adam Armbruster who is #1 on Google for “TV advertising expert” and “television advertising expert”:

Or Tim Walsh who is #1 for “toy expert”:

Or Debra Holtzman who’s in the #1, #2 and #3 positions for “child safety expert,” and driving her competitors crazy:

Adam, Tim and Debra have profiles in Expertclick, the Online Yearbook of Experts, which pushes them to the top of Page 1 in Google.  They’re also media darlings because journalists who use Google when searching for experts can find them easily.

As a result of his Google ranking and Expertclick profile, Adam has been interviewed by Boston Globe, E Television, the Daily Globe & Mail in Canada and appeared on FOX News to comment on Microsoft’s $300 million campaign to resuscitate Windows Vista via pitchman Jerry Seinfeld. You can watch it here.

Tim Walsh’s biggest media hit was an appearance on CNBC’s “The Big Idea” with Donny Deutsch.  Donny interviewed Tim for a segment on how to be successful after you’ve been rejected.  Several toy companies rejected Tim’s idea for a board game called TriBond in which players have to guess what three seemingly unrelated things have in common.  After nobody else wanted it, he manufactured it himself and sold 3 million copies.

The Washington Post called Tim for a story on Wham-O’s 60th anniversary because he’s the author of “WHAM-O Super Book: Celebrating 60 Years Inside the Fun Factory,” which will be on book shelves in a few weeks.

KGO radio in San Francisco called him for an interview on Wii, Nintendo’s electronic game “and I’ve gotten a ton of smaller media hits as well.”

Debra has received a  mountain of publicity because of her #1, #2 and #3 ranking on Google and her profile in Expertclick. She has been featured as a safety expert on NBC’s Today Show, Dateline NBC, CNBC Asia Market Watch, MSNBC, Associated Press Radio, and in Parenting Magazine, Newsweek, Child Magazine, Star Magazine, Us Weekly Magazine, USA Weekend Magazine, Reader’s Digest, First For Women Magazine, Boston Globe, Washington Post and Family Circle Magazine.

The other big advantage of Expertclick is that you can post up to 52 press releases a year, which are picked up by the Google and Yahoo news feeds,  at no additional per-release charge.  I have an Expertclick subscription, and you can see my press releases here.

Tomorrow is the deadline for Publicity Hounds to save $250 on the price of an annual Expertclick subscription, normally $995.  Mitchell Davis of Expertclick will let early birds save $150 if they subscribe by Sept. 30, and an additional $100 if they mention The Publicity Hound or use this link: https://www.ExpertClick.com/discount/Publicity_Hound

If you call Mitch and his staff at 202-333-5000, they will take your call personally and answer your questions.  Don’t miss out and have to wait another year for an opportunity like this one.

Posted In: Business Promotion, Press Releases/News Releases, Publicity Resources, Publicity on the Internet
posted On: 9/29/2008: 2:28 pm: By Joan
Comments: No Comments

If you sell freelance articles to newspapers or magazines and you’d like to make a little extra money selling accompanying photos, but you’re a lousy photographer, this is your lucky day.

I just got off the phone with Linda Martin, production coordinator for Shotgun Sports Magazine, who told me that she had a frustrating day today, looking at one crummy photo after another to accompany an article for the next issue.

“So, out of frustration, I wrote some tips on how to take photos with a digital camera,” she said.

Here are her tips, which are specifically for photographers shooting for her magazine. But they’re just as applicable to photographers who want to sell photos to any newspaper or magazine. Her advice is similar to what you’ll find in my ebook “How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Publicity Campaign.”

1. Fewer Dead Things

Of course, we all know the purpose of hunting is to kill your prey so you can eat or display it. That’s a given. But most readers want to see the beauty of the hunt, the scenery, the details of your ammo and gun and the little tricks you use to make your hunt more successful. Keep the “blood & guts” to a minimum and go for “less is more.”

Get a gun, some people or some colorful scenery into the picture with your harvest if you can. Include photos of the guns, ammo and other equipment, which are as important (or more) than the birds or bucks. Unless you are showing how to identify the species, it usually isn’t necessary to show a lot of the quarry (although, one great “beauty” shot as a possible lead is always nice…)

2. Be Sharp

The most beautiful shot in the world won’t look good in the magazine if it is blurry. If you can’t hold the camera steady, use a tripod or sandbag or get a cable release so you can do it “remote control” or maybe get one of the digital cameras that has the “no jiggle” feature. Everything looks sharp on the tiny LCD screen on your digital camera—at that small size, just about everything looks in focus—but use the “zoom” button on your digital camera to close in on the photo and you will see if it really is a sharp as you thought. If not, try, try again. You can also try using “continuous shooting” mode, where the camera takes a burst of photos at one time. That way, one might just be perfectly in focus

3. Get Up Close & Personal

You may have a great shot of your friend shooting the target, but if you are standing too far away, even with a zoom lens, the photo may not blow up big enough to show the great detail. Get as close as you safely can and then use the zoom, with the camera set on a high resolution, so there is plenty of detail and flexibility for the graphic artist to work with. Use macro mode or a macro lens to show details. In most cases, you need to get closer to the subject than you think you should.

4. Take a Different View

There is not just one way to look at a gun, bird, choke, shooter, whatever. Try taking shots from different angles to get a different perspective. Graphic artists need good “lead” photos to draw readers into a story, and one with a little different look to it often works well. If your camera has a “macro” lens, use it to get great shots of details. Readers get tired of seeing the “same old, same old” when it comes to photos, so give them something different (along with some traditional shots, too, of course.)

5. Move With the Light

If you have the opportunity, watch the area where you want to take your photos, inside or out, and see what time of day provides the best lighting situation, and take your photos then. It can make a huge difference in the results. Generally, dawn and dusk provide the warmest light and softest shadows. You can “cheat” on the light a little by using something like a frosted white shower curtain to provide some nice diffused light. You can also use your cap to reduce lens flares—just position it where the sun is positioned and look through your lens to get the light you want. If you think you can’t take good photos during bad-weather months, you’re wrong. Right after a storm, you often get great light; right before a storm, you often get great skies and clouds.

6. Location, Location, Location

Realtors say this all the time, but it’s true with photos, too. Often we get so caught up in getting a photo of the “thing,” we forget to look at what’s behind and around the thing. If you have to shoot with a bad background, take a high-resolution photo that can be blown up and cropped (before you send it in) to show only the good part. When shooting things like guns and gun parts, think about the background before you take the shot. Find a neutral background (or put one down) where there is good light. You don’t want the background to compete with or distract from the important part. Make sure the surface is clean. When the graphic artist zooms in to use the photo, all the dust and dirt shows up big time! Use your hands to “frame” the shot ahead of time so you can see what might be cluttering up your photo.

7. Relate to the Subject

To get great animal shots, aim at their eyes. If the eyes aren’t in focus, the rest of the photo won’t be too great, either. To get great shooting shots, anticipate. When you know what’s coming up (a great shot, a hard shot, whatever), get in position before it happens and set your camera, focus, lighting, etc. up, then wait for just the right moment and take your shot (or a burst of shots). If you want to show the size of something, include a person or something that everyone can relate to.

8. Be Your Own Worst Critic

Take a good, honest look at the photos you have taken and say to yourself “Is that really a good photo?” Compare it to photos in magazines that you like. You don’t have to take photos like a pro, but you should be able to say honestly to yourself “That’s a nice shot, and it shows exactly what I was trying to show.” If not, go back to the drawing board, or the photography location. You’ll be glad when you see your story in print accompanied by the great photos you took.

9. Invest in Good Stuff

Just like you invested in a good computer and printer to produce your manuscripts, invest in a good camera you find comfortable to use and spend some time learning to use it. The results will be as satisfying as using spell check and cut-and-paste to produce those blazingly hot, right-on-the-money bits of prose you are so proud of. Get a book on photography, take a class, invest in some “tricks of the trade” (like shades and boxes to help provide the right light, some background cloths, etc.) and talk to others about how they figured out to get good photos with their not-so-expensive digital camera. If your photos are at least as good as your writing, they will help sell the story to the editor and the readers.

OK, writers. Follow those tips, and you’ll be on your way to making your articles more attractive to editors by providing good-quality photos that makes the editors’ job that much easier.

Posted In: Magazine Publicity, Newspaper Publicity, Photos & Graphics
posted On: 9/26/2008: 10:33 am: By Joan
Comments: No Comments