How To Get An Avalanche Of Free Publicity For Your Home Business!

There are many ways you can get tons of free publicity in the form of write-ups in magazines, newspapers, and even radio and TV. And sometimes you can turn family events into human-interest stories that editors like and will publish in their magazine and newspapers

One way is to compose a printed news release on your product or service, but include a story involving your family into the release. Write the release like a news article in a newspaper. Tell who, what, when, why, and how interested people can benefit from your product. Avoid hard selling copy --- just give the facts, and if you can weave in an interesting story in the process, all the better.

For example, I am a musician with a line of products in the music educational field. Years ago I created a giant musical staff out of plastic and turned it into a game that kids could play on the floor. In the news release about it, I told how my own kids used it, and included some dialog between them:

"That's a whole note!" exclaimed my daughter Kendra.

"Is not! It's got a stem, and whole notes don't have stems" my son Kurt corrected her.

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Oh?what's a stem, Kurt?"

"It's the line coming down from the note head, stupid."

"I am not stupid!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

Finally Mom intervened before an all-out war broke out.

But henceforth and evermore both of my kids knew the difference between a whole note and a half note.

For some reason, editors found that little story amusing, and wrote up the story pretty much as I sent it in. They also included information on how interested parents could get a "Giant Staff Game" for their own kids, and as a result we got orders from all over the states and some foreign countries from both parents and schools. It was written up in House Beautiful, Better Homes & Gardens, plus many music magazines and teachers' journals.

This was not just a one-time fluke, either -- over the years we received news write-ups galore in everything from the Wall Street Journal to Popular Mechanics -- all related to our product, but written in a way to make editors smile and then decide to publish the release in their publications.

Can you do the same? Think about the funny little incidents in your family life, and then think of ways you can work that into a news release about your product or service.

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. His courses have been written up in hundreds of newspapers and magazines. His book-CD-DVD course titled "How To Play Chord Piano" (http://www.chordpiano.com) has sold over 100,000 copies around the world. He holds an advanced degree from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. He has also logged time as an assistant music therapist and piano tuner, as well as a working pianist. He is the author of the popular free 101-week e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" with over 55,000 current subscribers. Those interested may obtain a free subscription by going to http://www.playpiano.com/

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Speak Up

Another way to really become known in your area is... Read More

Make Your PR Budget Work Harder

Do it by restructuring your business, non-profit or association public... Read More

Passion with Purpose - The Winning Combination

The power of PassionPassion is an extraordinarily powerful spring. Without... Read More

Business Community Relations 101 - Getting the Most Out of Your Chamber of Commerce Membership

Since the major part of a small business typically comes... Read More

The Key to Great PR

The Key to Great PR is PerseveranceBy Paula Gardner of... Read More

TV Reporter Shares the Secrets to Getting Covered on the News

Do you have a great idea for a story, but... Read More

How To Make Time For Public Relations

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly... Read More

Financial Planners Garner Free Publicity by Making it Easy for the Media

Would you advise clients to buy a stock based on... Read More

A Simple Formula for Success

Leaders in the business world need public relations big time,... Read More

How PR Makes a Managers Life Easier

Things are pleasant for many business, non-profit or association managers... Read More

Is There a Plumber in the House?

I don't know about you but I get really frustrated... Read More

Media Relations: When Google Got Googled

Before meeting my soon-to-be-wife for the first time, I "Googled"... Read More

A Blueprint for Managing your PR

OK, as a manager, your goal is to show a... Read More

Publicity: Write a Letter to the Editor for Free Publicity

Ever wonder why papers devote a page or more to... Read More

PR Where it Matters Most

What's more crucial to the success of a business, non-profit... Read More

Why News Releases Fail

Sorry about my otaku with this issue (otaku = more... Read More

Custom Reasons for Custom Publishing

Once considered the stepchild of the publishing industry, custom publishing... Read More

Top 10 Tips for Successful TV Interviews

1. Appearing in other types of media is the best... Read More

Public Relations Productivity

Should it be measured in "publicity by the pound," or... Read More

Managers, Got a Grip on Your PR?

What are you trying to do with your business, non-profit... Read More

Making Press Releases Work - Creating News Where None Existed

Aren't you tired of hearing how extremely easy it is... Read More

How to Tap in to the Holiday Publicity Bonanza

If your product or service can be given as a... Read More

Three Publicity Tips for Marketing-Minded Financial Planners

Financial planners, the first thing to know about reporters is... Read More

Youve Done PR the Hard Way Long Enough

As a business, non-profit or association manager, let the tacticians... Read More

When Managers Play the PR Card

The payoff for business, non-profit or association managers can be... Read More

Why Managers Need the PR Advantage

Where is there a business, non-profit or association manager who... Read More

The Press Release Method to Get Great Publicity

If you have had any experience in public relations or... Read More

Sure-Fire Recipe for a Successful Public Relations Career

Without a solid, well-designed foundation, few buildings successfully withstand the... Read More

Forget the Press Release - Heres How to Pitch Like Roger Clemens

Stripped down to its core, publicity is little more than... Read More

Talk Radio Success

You do not have to hire a publicist or advertise... Read More

A PR Surprise for Managers

For those business, non-profit and association managers committed to PR... Read More

The Worst PR Mistakes

For a business, non-profit or association manager, they could be... Read More

The Feeding Tube for Your Business

There are a lot of things that make a business... Read More