| | In This Issue:
1. Tie a No-News Event to a Charity
2. Invite Bragging on Facebook
3. New Posts at My Blog
4. Hound Video of the Week
1. Tie a No-News Event to a Charity
It isn't exactly the type of news event I would have raced to cover, back in my days as a newspaper reporter.
"How does our hotel get publicity for replacing all our old mattresses when the public doesn't give a hoot about new mattresses?" asked a hotel operator.
She was in the audience when I presented my session this week on "Savvy Media Relations" for the Wisconsin Lodging Conference & Trade Show.
Before I could suggest an idea for publicity, she answered her own question.
"What are we supposed to do? Promote the fact we're giving the old mattresses to a charity?"
Uh, that's exactly what you should do, I told her.
This story is custom-made for TV because of the visuals. Can't you just see piles of mattresses in the parking lot, being hoisted one by one onto a semi-tractor trailer?
When you have a not-very-interesting event, consider a way to work in a charitable contribution where more than just cash or a check changes hands.
Ditching your old computers and monitors? Donate them to a local senior citizens center. Throw in a free class, taught by one of your employees, on how the elderly can create an account on Facebook and connect with their grandkids. Find a few seniors who would be willing to be interviewed, and you've practically handed the TV stations a story on a silver platter.
Humane societies need things like postal scales to weigh kittens, and even artwork for their annual fund-raisers' silent auction. (TV LOVES news stories about kittens and puppies, by the way.)
If your company or trade group is planning a conference next year and you need me to speak about publicity, PR, social media or marketing, call me at 262-284-7451 to check my availability.
2. Invite Bragging on Facebook
People love to talk about themselves, and they especially love to brag.
So let them brag all they want on your Facebook page. It's a great way to drive traffic, get more Likes and prompt somebody to drop what they're doing and respond, even in the middle of a very busy work day.
Here are some examples:
--Graphic artists, ask people to post links to their Facebook pages and profiles that have unusual, creative cover photos at the top.
--Blogging experts, invite your fans to link to the most popular post at their blog.
--Book coaches, encourage your author followers to "crow about your best cover" and link to the book, either at their website or on Amazon.
Invite them from your LinkedIn groups, or from a tweet, from your blog, or from your ezine. Ask other page administrators on Facebook to spread the word among their fans.
It's hard driving traffic to Facebook pages, especially if you're not really sure what will work and what won't. Join me on Thursday, Nov. 1, for my webinar on "35 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Facebook Page." Many of these ideas are things you do just once, and drive traffic forever.
Register here
Want to brag about your own Facebook page and how you pull people to it? Hit "Reply" and explain. I might feature you in the webinar.
3. New Posts at My Blog
How clever Dan Poynter promotes his multimedia ebook
Dog Tweets: How to use holidays to publicize your hotel, B&B or lodging property
4. Hound Video of the Week
Watch Maymo the dog try to steal cabbage off the kitchen table. How many times do you think he has to try before he gets it?
Dog Jokes & Quotes Ebook: 170+ G-rated dog jokes and quotes, perfect for a dog-lover, your favorite vet, or just for a few good laughs. Permission to Reprint:
You may reprint any items from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week" in your print or electronic newsletter. But please include the following paragraph:
Reprinted from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," an ezine featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity. Subscribe at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email the handy cheat sheet "89 Reasons to Send a Press Release."
If you like these tips, please pass them on to your friends, clients and colleagues.  |
Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound | | |