Sunday, March 28, 2010

Publicity Ideas That Can Work for You

By Danek S. Kaus

There are unlimited ways to approach the media to get free publicity, though some work better than others.

Below are some of the types of stories journalists are likely to be interested in. Some of these may apply to you, others may not, but you can use them as a stepping-stone for related public relations ideas.

Do well by doing good works. For example, you can sponsor a charitable event or do volunteer work for a charity. Doing good works offers you two chances for free publicity. You can distribute a press release to announce the commitment you've made before the event and another one after the event detailing some of your accomplishments.

Celebrate a milestone or an anniversary. Just sold your 10,000th car? Reached a 10th, 25th or 50th anniversary? Let journalists know. It's a great time to get free publicity.

Write a how-to article. If you own a pastry shop, offer an article on how to get a flakier pie crust. If you own an auto repair shop, offer tips on trouble-shooting or basic maintenance.

Connect into the news. There are so many possibilities. Let's say some celebrity couple announces that they're getting divorced. If you're a psychologist or a marriage counselor, you could offer a press release on how to have a better marriage. If you're a divorce attorney or a CPA, you might issue a release on the financial consequences of divorce.

Create your own survey. If you sell computers, you can get some free publicity if you do a survey about the most common customer complaints and announce your findings to the press. If you operate a health spa, you could do a survey to determine whether jogging or walking is more popular. Fortune 500 Humor Consultant Malcolm Kushner is author of "Public Speaking for Dummies" and "Presentations for Dummies." He has garnered national publicity for his annual "Cost of Humor Index." Each year he assesses the cost of such humor-related items as rubber chickens and whoopee cushions, then he issues a press release to announce his findings. He's been a guest on several top TV talk shows and other national venues. - 2364

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