2008 October

Ideas needed to promote website for do-it-yourself divorces

10/7/2008 By Joan 4 Comments

Jackie Stanley of Greensboro, N.C. writes:

“I’m an attorney and recently launched a website which offers offers online courses that teach people how to handle their own simple divorce cases in North Carolina.

“It teaches people who want to save time, money and hassle how to handle their own simple divorce actions. There are lots of places to go online to get divorce papers. But we teach you to prepare the forms and walk you step-by-step through filing them and getting your divorced finalized. We customize our courses to each of the 100 counties in the state.

“I’m hoping your Hounds could share some creative ways to promote the website.”

Filed Under: Publicity for Niche Markets, Publicity on the Internet

Find a freelancer with SPJ freelancer directory

10/5/2008 By Joan Leave a Comment

Here’s another great resource for Publicity Hounds who need to outsource work to freelancers.

Consult the Society of Professional Journalists’ online freelancer directory, a listing of more than 600 members. You can search by state or specialty. Members include writers, photographers and graphic artists.

The trade group also has a new “Editor of the Moment” feature on its freelancer blog, The Independent Journalist, that connects editors and journalists.

During the teleseminar I hosted on Outsourcing Secrets: How to Find the Best Quality, Price & Teamwork from Freelancers, Leili McKinley mentioned several online services like Elance.com and Guru.com. I’ve used Elance.com several times and have found great writers and a few clunkers.

If you have a project that requires research or reporting, and you want journalists who speak English as a first lanuage, SPJ’s freelance directory is a great resource. SPJ members also agree to abide by the society’s Code of Ethics.

Filed Under: General, Photos & Graphics, Publicity Resources, Writing Articles

Presidential politics in the workplace: A great story idea

10/2/2008 By Joan 5 Comments

Can’t think of a story to pitch about your business, nonprofit or government agency?

Thanks to TV producer Shawne Duperon’s excellent newsletter Shawne’s TV Guide, for this timely story idea: politics in the workplace.

Shawne suggests you pitch the idea to your local TV stations, daily and weekly newspapers, and bloggers who cover your industry. It’s too late for trade publications but still a great opportunity for publicity in business journals.

Shawne suggests these talking points:

Is it safe to talk politics in the office?
Is it unavoidable?
How loud and frequent is the conversation in your workplace?
Does your organization have a policy about discussing politics with clients or customers?
What’s the proper office etiquette?

I suggest these:

Do you have policies governing T-shirts, campaign buttons and bumper stickers inside the office?
Are you a sole proprietor? If so, do you ever discuss politics with your clients or customers? If not, would you consider discussing it if you knew that you and a client or customer are backing the same candidate?
Do you make your political affiliation known on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, and comment about things like the presidential debates and the campaigns? Have you gotten any flack from people who following you and disagree?
What about LinkedIn, the social networking site that’s strictly for business? If somebody asks a question on LinkedIn about something pertaining to politics, do you make your political views know without fear of alientating your connections? I’ve seen a few political questions that have led to political debates that have no businesses on a site like this one.

Keep this story idea in mind for when you’re creating your publicity plan or media plan in the years ahead, even when you have hot local or statewide contests.

Shawne is one of my favorite Publicity Hounds. We teamed up and brainstormed more than 200 story ideas you can pitch to print and broadcast media when we presented teleseminars on 116 WOW Story Ideas from January through June and 103 Sizzling Story Ideas from July through December.