Tips Of The Week -- Aug. 21, 2012

Port Washington, WI

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Tips, tricks, and tools for free publicity delivered weekly!

Tips Of The Week -- Aug. 21, 2012

Issue #640

In This Issue:

1. New LinkedIn Tools Few Use

2. From Bankruptcy to $1.5 Million

3. Help This Hound

4. Hound Video of the Week

This Week in the Hound House:

Best zucchini recipe: Stir fried zucchini chunks, Baby Bella mushrooms and cherry tomatoes in Wild Mushroom and Sage olive oil from Oro di Oliva Buon appetito!!

1. New LinkedIn Tools Few Use

When I left the restaurant yesterday morning after a two-hour breakfast with LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth, my chin was practically on the floor.

I thought I was pretty good at navigating LinkedIn. But Wayne showed me a very cool trick for generating publicity. He logged into his LinkedIn account and, in less than a minute, found a list of about a dozen radio talk show hosts that might welcome him as a guest.

He didn't know any of them. He wasn't connected to any of them. Yet LinkedIn gave him the ability to email them all at once, introduce himself, explain that he's a LinkedIn expert, and offer to appear on their shows.

"For every 10 people I email, I typically book two to three appearances," Wayne said.

Indeed. Right there, on his laptop, I saw the responses from two of the hosts who wanted to book him immediately. Most of the others hadn't read his message yet.

I said, "Speakers could use this same tool to look for meeting planners. And authors could use it to look for readers, right?"

"You bet," he said. "But there are so many more ways to use this."

In little more than a year, LinkedIn has introduced four tools that are making it incredibly easy to pinpoint your target market even though you aren't connected to them. You can also email them without spamming. You can eavesdrop on conversations they're having about you and respond instantly. You can also email information about new products and services ONLY to people who want to know more about what you're doing.

Wayne says the vast majority of people on LinkedIn aren't using these tools, or they're using them incorrectly.

That's when he agreed to be my guest on the webinar "4 Secret LinkedIn Power Tools to Connect with Journalists and Put Money in Your Pocket." It will be from 3 to 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Aug. 30. Register here and read the glowing testimonials from Publicity Hounds who attended my two other webinars with Wayne.

2. From Bankruptcy to $1.5 Million

Still wondering if it's possible to make money using social media?

Here's the fourth in a series of videos from Don Crowther, my mastermind coach, on how one of his students went from days away from bankruptcy to $1.5 million.

In the construction market. In this economy. Just using social media.

They did it by using one of Don's strategies. Watch it here, no opt-in required.

Plus, Don answers some of your biggest questions and he introduces his new software that lets you easily share content on your blog, YouTube and your other social media sites with just a few quick steps. He demonstrates how it works.

3. Help This Hound

This week's "Help This Hound" question is from Laura Davis of Santa Cruz, CA:

"I'm a seven-time HarperCollins author who now teaches writing in my home area of Santa Cruz, CA. And increasingly in retreat settings.

"This past June, I created my first international trip: a two- week writing retreat, featuring daily yoga and adventures in Bali. I filled the first trip (16 participants) and loved it and am planning to go back next June. I have a website, a participatory blog that sends out free writing prompts each week, an email mailing list of about 4,000 names.

I've done the obvious---creating postcards, a web page designated for this event, listed in my newsletter and in targeted emails, and have digital ads on my website and on the blog.

"What I'm looking for help with is how to reach beyond my existing network to find people: who travel regularly and like to travel with a purpose, those who like writing and yoga (both offered on the trip), and who can afford the $4,200-$4,500 price tag (airfare included) for an eco-friendly trip. The trip is a bit of hybrid---it includes writing, yoga, adventure and cultural adventures so it's not a pure writing retreat.

"My typical students are women ages 35-65 who are in transition, wanting to know themselves better, or looking for a change in their lives."

The Publicity Hound says:

I can think of so many ways to promote this one, Laura, and I'll add my own ideas after other Publicity Hounds start the list and offer theirs in the Comments section at my blog.

4. Hound Video of the Week

What's better than a soldier returning home and being welcomed by his dog? Being welcomed home by two dogs

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.

You are receiving this because you signed up for it at The Publicity Hound website or you told me you want to subscribe.

Privacy Statement:

The Publicity Hound respects your privacy and has a strict anti-spam policy.