Taking advantage of local or timely events is a great way to get
cheap publicity for your organisation.
Joan Stewart writes:
When it comes to celebrity status, the TV weather people are at
the bottom
of the totem pole. While the news anchor is invited to host a
glitzy
charity ball, the weather guy is asked to cut the ribbon at the
opening of
the local ice rink.
So imagine how surprised forecasters are when they receive
cookie bouquets
on February 5, "TV Weatherperson's Day," courtesy of Cookies by
Design.
The bouquets are even personalized with each TV station's logo.
"Some stations announced it on every newscast from morning to
midnight,"
said Michael Burns, president of Michael A. Burns & Associates,
the Dallas
PR firm that came up with the idea several years ago and
suggested it to
all franchise owners. The promotion was so successful that it
has become a
tradition. One year, Cookies by Design was mentioned on more
than 80 TV
stations nationwide. As a result, orders for cookie bouquets
skyrocketed
during the first week of February when sales are typically flat.
What can you deliver to your local TV weather person on the
morning of
February 5? For national exposure, you can even try schmoozing
Al Roker,
or your favorite forecaster over at The Weather Channel.
Reprinted from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," a free ezine
featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity. Subscribe
at
http://www.PublicityHound.com and receive free by email the
handy list "89 Reasons to Send a News Release."