2010 May

Oprah looks for the next big TV star—Is it you?

5/25/2010 By Joan Leave a Comment

If you’ve always dreamed of having your own TV show because you just KNOW it would be a lot better than all the other junk on the tube, this is your chance.

Oprah Winfrey and her new network, OWN TV, are looking for the next big TV star.

Not surprisingly, that certain someone must have a lot of the same characteristics Oprah has. Let her tell you herself. Watch the video at her website.

Open casting calls for your OWN show will be held in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Deadline for entries is Saturday, June 26.

Not interested in your own show but you’d like a shot at being on Oprah before she ends her current show next year? Susan Harrow knows all the inside secrets on how to get booked on Oprah.

Filed Under: Celebrity tie-ins, Special Events, TV Publicity Tagged With: casting call, oprah Winfrey, OWN TV

How freelancers can use Twitter to find journalists, sources

5/25/2010 By Joan 2 Comments

Freelance writer Angie Gambino, one of myLinkedIn connections, invited me to respond to her question on how freelancers can use Twitter.

I came up with several ideas and added more to the list:

Follow journalists in your target market. Regardless of whether they follow you, pay attention to what they’re tweeting. Retweet some of their content that’s of interest to people who follow you.
You probably have a “dream list” of magazines, newspapers, etc. you’d like to buy your articles. Find out if the editors of those publications are on Twitter. If so, follow them. They may follow you back. Do your research at JournalistTweets.com, JustTweetIt.com, MediaonTwitter.com and TwitteringJournalists.pbworks.com.
Search for journalists at Search.Twitter.com. Search by job title. For example, if you’re looking for assignment editors, search for “assignment editor” and “#assignmenteditor” and variations.
Also use Search.Twitter.com to find sources.
Do you review books? If so, discuss the types of books you review and some of your favorites.
Offer advice on how the media can work with freelancers.
Offer tips for people who want to make money freelancing. Is the market saturated?
Link to your blog posts. (You ARE blogging, aren’t you? If not, see “Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging.”)
Which writers do you admire?
Cast your net on Twitter for specific types of sources you’re seeking.

How about it freelancers? What have I missed?

Filed Under: Authors & Publishers, Blogs, Business Promotion, LinkedIn, Twitter Tagged With: finding sources on Twitter, freelance writing, freelancers on Twitter, tweeting journalists

‘The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week’ now accepts ads

5/24/2010 By Joan Leave a Comment

I’ve been publishing a free weekly newsletter for almost 10 years, and accepting paid ads never appealed to me.

I hated reading them in text-based newsletters but never minded them at all in HTML newsletters where they aren’t obtrusive.

Since I’ve always published in text-only, I never gave ads a second thought.

But when I offered readers the option of an HTML newsletter several weeks ago, Publicity Hounds started asking about whether they could buy an ad.

If you offer a product or service for people who self-promote, or for the PR community, here’s what you need to know about how to advertise.

Size

All ads are 125 x 125 pixels, and must be delivered as a JPEG. I also need an ad of 15 words or less for the text version of my newsletter. If you need a larger ad that’s 125 pixels wide (the maximum width), contact me at 262-284-7451 or email jstewart at PublicityHound.com.

If you don’t have your own graphic artist, I suggest you check the Graphics Services/Design category on the Publicity Resources page at my website. Or ask for referrals on the social media sites. Or post your project to Elance.com or VWorker (formerly RentaCoder).

Update: If you’re a graphics artist who wants referrals from me, for people who need ads created, consider adding your name to my publicity resources page in the Graphics Services/Design category. These are paid listings, and we’ll check your references before you’re added to the list.

Ad Rates

Ads are $100 a week. Order your first ad here.

Deadlines

Ads are due by 5 p.m. Eastern Time the Friday before publication day, which is always Tuesday.

Questions?

Call 262-284-7451 or email me.

Filed Under: Advertising

Creator of novelty soaps needs social media, marketing advice

5/24/2010 By Joan 17 Comments

Cindy Tollen of El Paso, Texas writes:

“I am a one woman shop at SudznBubbles.com and I sell custom and novelty glycerine soap products, bath salts, body butter and lip balm—some of it around a food theme. You can buy a soap that looks like a piece of lucious peach pie, a cupcake or a cherry tart, for example.

“I need tips on how to market my products with a limited budget and little time. I sold my products in stores until the recession hit, now I sell mostly online or at trade shows. I need to know the best tool for marketing.

“I have a Facebook Fan Page but few fans. I blog, but can’t remember the last time I wrote something. I’m on Twitter but I don’t know what to tweet about.

“Can your Hounds offer some smart marketing tips, tools or strategies that will help translate into sales? My target market is upscale women over 30.”

Filed Under: Blogs, Business Promotion, Facebook, Twitter

10 magic questions to hook the media

5/17/2010 By Joan 2 Comments

The next time a journalist is interviewing you, or a blogger is interested in an idea you’re pitching, ask this question: “Do you need other sources?”

They love that question because it shows you’re trying to make their job easy and you don’t want to hog the media spotlight. If you can provide a name, email address and phone number for an expert or source who you know would agree to be interviewed, you’ll position yourself as helpful.

After 22 years working at newspapers, I can tell you that almost NOBODY asks that.

Here’s another question that people almost never ask: “Are you looking for photo ideas?”

Those two questions area among 10 magic phrases to use with the media. I’ll explain all of them when I present the 90-minute webinar, “How to REALLY Use Publicity as an Online Marketing Channel and ZIG When Everyone Else is ZAGGING,” from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, May 19.

This session is perfect for beginner and intermediate self-promoters. I presented it a few weeks ago to Stompernet, the association of Internet marketers, to rave reviews. Come with your questions and I’ll answer them all, either during or after the call.

I’ll also explain the missing link—how to create relationships with journalists and bloggers. And I’ll share my favorite free tools that help you know instantly which journalists need sources with your expertise, and how to contact them.

The session will be recorded, and you can watch the video replay after the call. Register here.

What other questions or phrases do you think are useful to use when speaking with journalists or bloggers?

(Shutterstock illustration)

Filed Under: Blogs, How to Interview, Magazine Publicity, Newspaper Publicity, Photos & Graphics, Pitching the Media