Publicity Hound Kate Farrall of San Diego, CA, writes:
“I need to get national/international publicity for my two muralist clients who are completing a five-story public art installation this November for the City of Davis, just outside of Sacramento. They have transformed a water tank into 360-degree kinetic art installation. You can see a short video that explains the project.
“My pitches have done well, thanks to your great advice. So far, I’ve gotten my clients a segment on our local PBS channel that will run for a year and a half, along with a few other news and print hits. The feedback on my pitches has been really good and I’ve tailored each one.
“How do I create a hook for national publications, especially art publications? Or even publications that are not so big but located elsewhere? Local has been a good hook for us so far, but that won’t work in the Midwest, New York or Europe. My clients want to be recognized as professional artists and to have a broader name recognition so they can expand where they work and the types of projects they do.
“You can read a press release about the project and see photos on Flickr.”
The Publicity Hound
13 press release topics when there’s nothing newsworthy
That was true two decades ago when we wrote press releases primarily for journalists and we had to worry about insulting them with trivia about our business.
But now that we post them online, mostly to pull traffic to our websites, we’re free to write about whatever we wish.
Here, then, are 13 press release topics when your pockets are empty and there’s absolutely nothing newsworthy to write about. They’re excerpted from my free email course on 89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases. (PR people, take the course to sharpen your press release skills. And then use the tips below when you’re scrounging for ideas to publicize your clients.)
Publicity Hounds who have a subscription to Expertclick, The Yearbook of Experts, which lets you post up to 52 press releases a year, will find these tips particularly helpful.
1. Take a Stand on a Controversial Topic
Controversial topics can include everything from the old standbys such as abortion and gun control to local issues like proposed zoning laws.
When you’re done with the press release, generate extra publicity by writing a letter to the editor of your local or national newspaper. How to Use Newspaper & Magazine Editorial Pages shows you all the ways you can rally support for your cause or issue by using editorial pages, from writing letters to asking for a meeting with the newspaper editorial board.
2. Write About Your Blog
If you’ve started blogging for business, write a press release about it so people who want information on your topic can find it. Or devote the release to some of the things you mentioned in a specific post.
This blog, for example, helps people solve problems writing press releases, and I encourage people to submit questions to me. It also teaches people how to use social media sites to self-promote. I could write two press releases, or more, just telling reades about ways they can use this blog. You can, too.
Visit other bloggers who blog on the same topic, or a similar topic, and post comments at their blogs. By linking back to your blog from your comments, you will improve the page ranking of your own blog.
3. Lead Readers to Free Articles at Your Website
If you have free articles that solve people’s problems, or entertain them, say so.
Are your articles arranged by category? Are they updated monthly? Do you let the media, ezine publishers, newsletter editors and bloggers reprint them? Do you feature articles from other industry experts?
4. Tell People Where to Find You on Social Media Sites
Smart Publicity Hounds use Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Quora profiles to position themselves as the go-to sources in their industries.
Do you post your photos and videos to Flickr? Do you have a YouTube channel chock full of helpful how-to videos? (Here’s mine.)
5. Create Your Own Holiday
Create your own day, week or month of the year, or your own holiday, at Chases Calendar of Events. The listing is free. You can then use that holiday as a springboard to even more publicity.
The topic doesn’t have to be serious. In fact, the more fun, the better. I love Doing Business in Your Bathrobe Day.
6. Make a Prediction
Predict something that ties into your area of expertise—or not.
Predict when gasoline prices, the stock market or interest rates will rise and fall. For fun, predict who will win the Super Bowl or when the first snowfall will occur in your area. Predict the winner of local or national elections.
7. Issue a Proclamation
Congratulate the local high school football team for winning a state title, or a local business for celebrating its 10th anniversary.
8. Write Tips That Tie into an Upcoming Holiday
Professional orgnizers can write about how to stay organized during the Christmas holidays. A child safety expert can offer tips on how to keep kids safe during fireworks season on the Fourth of July.
9. Identify A Trend You’re Seeing in Your Business or Industry
You don’t even have to think very hard to identify a trend you’re seeing. How has your customers’ behavior changed the way you do business? What’s happening with your orders? Is your nonprofit serving more people in a particular age group or income level?
If you want to cheat, Google “Top trends in the (fill in the blank) industry” and write about one of those.
10. Comment on Breaking News
This one’s easy. The news can tie into your business or industry—or not. If you’re an expert who welcomes interview requests for radio talk shows, say so in the release. See 6 ways to tie your pitch to breaking news for PR and publicity.
11. What Event Are You Attending?
Most people don’t think it’s a big deal if they attend a trade show or industry conference. But why not turn this into a publicity opportunity?
Write a press release telling people that you’d welcome meeting them. Encourage them to ask you questions about problems they’re facing.
12. Take a Poll or Survey
Sites like Survey Monkey make simple polling a breeze. You can also take a poll on Facebook. Don’t forget to write a follow-up press release that reports on the results of the poll.
13. Explain How to Solve a Problem
Press releases offering tips and advice are often the very best for pulling traffic to your website. That’s becauase you can dazzle readers with your expertise, help them solve their problem, and then link to a website where they can find more information about a product or service you sell that can help them even more.
What topics do you write about when the idea well is dry?
Tools to Help You:
How to be a Kick-butt Publicity Hound
Keywords: The Magic Magnets That Pull Journalists & Consumes to Your Press Releases
The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write them for Consumers, Not Only for Journalists
The Big Press Release Samples Ebook: Press Releases for Every Occasion and Industry