Publicity Tips

May 11, 2009
Public Relations Basics: Tips for Your First TV Interview

August is supposed to be a slow month for me, one where I catch up on long-term projects that I’ve managed to ignore for several turns of the calendar. This past August I was interviewed on television four times, a public relations coup. The four interviews — on Bloomberg TV, the BBC, CNBC and CNBC Europe — went off without a hitch. I was well-prepared, well-dressed and ready to tackle the subject at hand. Looking back on last week, here are some lessons that I tried to remember before my interviews, as well as ones that I discovered after the fact. (Read more…)
May 7, 2009
Public Relations Strategies: Positioning Yourself as an “Expert”

Presenting yourself–or someone in your organization–as an expert can be a critical aspect of your public relations strategy. However, there are some fields where just about anyone can say they’re an “expert”–or worse, a “consultant.” The media, and even the general public, has become increasingly skeptical of such claims. However, there are ways to overcome this skepticism, add credibility to your claims of expertise, and pull off a public relations coup. (Read more…)
April 28, 2009
The PR Fuel Mailbag: Job Hunting, Media Training, and Public Relations via Facebook

It’s time for another dip into the PR Fuel mailbag. This time around, readers have questions about job interviews with public relations firms; the pros and cons of media training courses; the potential public relations pitfalls of Facebook; and more. (Read more…)
April 24, 2009
The PR Fuel Mailbag: Press Releases as Email Attachments, Expert Quotes. and Loudmouth CEOs

Q: I need to send out a press release that includes graphics. But many public relations pros say not to send out press releases as an attachment. What should I do? (Read more…)
April 17, 2009
Dipping Into the Public Relations Bookbag

PR Fuel readers — including several public relations professionals — have written in with their suggestions for the best books about public relations. We got enough responses to fill a corporate library, books chockfull of tips for PR vets and newbies alike. (Read more…)
April 14, 2009
Public Relations Basics: Mastering the Television Interview Process

During my first television interview, the producer had one piece of advice for me: Don’t use profanity. During my second television interview, the producer had another piece of advice for me: Be controversial. Public relations consultants should take both of pieces of advice to heart. But there’s a lot more to an effective television interview. (Read more…)
The PR Fuel Mailbag: TV Interviews, Finding the Right Public Relations Firm, and More

Time to peek into the PR Fuel mailbag. This time around, readers wanted to know how to handle tricky media interviews, how to find a public relations firm at the right price, and more. (Read more…)
April 10, 2009
Perfecting Your PR Pitch

We see experts quoted in newspapers and magazines every day; journalists rely on third-party sources to offer unbiased opinions or to help sort through facts. The most inexperienced journalist can follow a formula and write a story about, say, computer viruses. However, without an expert to validate the subject, the story will ring hollow. Public relations consultants can help position clients as experts through an “expert pitch.” All it takes is a simple email. (Read more…)
April 2, 2009
Everything Journalists Want to Know About Their Public Relations Contacts

Since entering the world of public relations, my workday has changed drastically from the time when I was a professional journalist. Becoming a public relations consultant has altered how I deal with the media and how I deal with internal public relations at my company. (Read more…)
March 26, 2009
Cross-Culture Public Relations - It’s Not as Easy as It Looks

Every public relations professional dreams of developing a campaign that puts his or her company’s tag line on the lips of the entire world. However, the tried and true rules of continuity, consistency, and even practicality don’t always apply when it comes to international or cross-culture campaigns. (Read more…)