Applying for a Writing Job

I am in the midst of hiring a writer/blogger to help provide content for PR Fuel. I placed an ad on problogger and have received more than 200 responses. In fact, I’m still working on the short list. I’m finding a lot of qualified writers who each bring something unique to the table. I also witnessed many common mistakes. (Read more…)

10 Essential Tips to Press Release Success

eReleases Editorial Director Heather Fuller told me she was thinking about the model of Jiffy Lube’s 21-point signature service and whether a similar model could be applied to press releases. She came up with the following 10 essential tips that should be considered before sending your next press release. (Read more…)

Free Press Release Distribution Roundup

I get asked all the time if I can I provide a list of free press release distribution companies. Despite being antithetical to my business, which relies on reaching media directly by email and dedicated newswire feeds to newsrooms nationwide, I thought it would be worth venturing into this murky world to give you a comprehensive list of free press release websites. (Read more…)

WTF?? Free Press Release Distribution Head Scratcher

The concept of a free press release distribution service is a real head scratcher to most PR professionals because it removes “reaching the media” from the equation. Free press release websites are recommended by SEO professionals, webmasters and business owners for one reason: to get one-way links and traffic. A note of caution: the one-way links to your site are from a deep-linked page on the free press release website — not the homepage. (Read more…)

Online Press Release Myth - When Public Relations Equals SEO PageRank Voodoo

A phenomenon that his hit the press release world is the myth of the online press release as a SEO (Search Engine Optimization) vehicle. Reaching the media appears to be an afterthought. The goal of the online press release … well, no one agrees what is the goal of the press release, but SEO plays a part. (Read more…)

Oprah-Worthy? How to Get on the Oprah Winfrey Show

The Oprah Winfrey Show
(noun)
1. (also known as Oprah) the highest-rated and longest-running daytime U.S. syndicated talk show. It is hosted and produced by Oprah Winfrey through her company Harpo Productions, Inc.
2. maker of dreams; the holy grail of public relations professionals, authors, entrepreneurs, and individuals seeking exposure for their products, books or services.

One of the most frequent questions we get at eReleases is, “Can you get us on Oprah?” (Read more…)

Holiday PR: Get Your Gift-Related Pitches Out Early

Journalists always know the holidays are upon them when they begin to receive pitches geared towards holiday-themed gift guides and such. Every year the holiday season seems to extend itself, so if you work in the public relations industry it’s best to start circulating your holiday-related pitches early in order to get the jump on the competition. The following tips should help public relations pros make the most of the hectic months before the holidays finally arrive. (Read more…)

Social Networking Guilt: Five Reasons Why Email Newsletters Still Matter

Over the past few years, the trend has moved from newsletters to blogs to Twitter. It’s hard for companies to stay on top of what they’re supposed to be doing. If you open a business magazine or visit any marketing website, you will experience “social marketing guilt.” Everyone seems to be hyping the next big thing you should be doing. Trade publications show your competitors tweeting or having thousands of “friends” on Facebook. (Read more…)

Public Relations Basics: When It Comes to Holiday Press Releases, Sooner is Better

It’s no secret that the fourth quarter is the most important time of the year for companies marketing to consumers. Holiday shopping can make or break many businesses; many analysts wait to see how a company weathered the holidays before determining its financial outlook. However, booming holiday business doesn’t just happen. It takes hard work through triangulated marketing, advertising, and public relations efforts. Unfortunately, many companies fail to address their public relations campaigns until it’s too late in the holiday season, missing what is probably the most cost effective way to promote their product or service. (Read more…)

Why Email Newsletters Are Doomed

I’ve been with email newsletter publisher iContact since December using the same list of approximately 12,000 subscribers. Well, a recent newsletter triggered some AOL unsubscribes in which AOL users find it easier to flag as spam than go through the effort to find an unsubscribe link. (Read more…)