PR Tips

PR Tips | The wrong way to shorten a quotation

August 18, 2014 Elizabeth Scafuro

Especially when it comes to writing op-eds, incorporating quotations from experts can be a great way to bolster your arguments. Unfortunately, an 800-word op-ed doesn't leave much room for lengthy block quotations. So writers often shorten quotes by using ellipses. However, if you find yourself doing this, be extremely careful. When you chop up a quote, it's easy to alter the meaning completely. This can be an honest mistake or, worse, a purposeful manipulation. To see how someone’s words can be misrepresented by an artfully placed ellipsis, look no further than a recent Amazon letter released online at ReadersUnited.com. The letter makes the argument that today's book publishers are attacking Amazon's eBooks in the same way that the literary community opposed the introduction of paperbacks, which were much cheaper than the alternative hardcovers at the time.

PR Tips | Like, um, err, you know what I’m saying?

August 12, 2014 Sam Ryan

Nothing weakens a sales pitch or interview more than clogging up your points with "ums," "errs," and "you knows." Just a few "ums" can make you sound nervous and unsure. Too many “likes" and you’re a gum-popping valley girl or bad SNL skit. Luckily, one simple...

PR Tips | Pitching Magic

August 5, 2014 Kristen Thomaselli

When you're submitting op-eds and news stories to the media, why do some pieces run in top publications, while others slip through the cracks? Well, it’s all in the pitch. So what are the keys to a “winning” pitch. And how do you make your story stand out...

PR Tips | LeBron’s PR Tactics

July 29, 2014 Laura Bentz

NBA star LeBron James made big, big news this month when he announced he’d be going back to the city he’s always loved and play for the Cleveland Cavaliers once again. I have very close ties to the city myself, so when LeBron burned Cleveland --...

PR Tips | What’s up with Google+ authorship images?

July 22, 2014 Mike McElhaney

Google recently announced that it no longer will show Google+ authorship images in its main search results. This was a real setback for many web development firms, digital marketers, and website owners in general. There were a lot of folks who (at the suggestion of...

PR Tips | If the biggest papers say no, don’t quit your pitchin’!

July 1, 2014 Robby Schrum

Every writer would like to see his or her op-ed published in The Washington Post or The New York Times. But you never know if you're pitching your piece on the same day that Bill Clinton is submitting one as well. It's tough to beat out a former president -- much less the scores of other writers vying for scarce editorial-page real estate. So where do you go if the Post and the Times say no? You could simply pitch by circulation -- the bigger the better. But to maximize the impact of your op-ed, a more strategic approach may be in order.

PR Tips | How to get your op-ed in the New York Times

June 17, 2014 Elizabeth Scafuro

"How can I get my op-ed in the New York Times?" That's one of the most frequent questions I'm asked. And for good reason. The publication boasts a circulation of 1.25 million, making it one of the top papers in the United States. While it's nearly impossible to guarantee placement in any publication, there are some important guidelines aspiring op-ed writers should follow if they want to increase their chances of getting published in a top outlet. In fact, I recently came across a piece in the New York Times in which Trish Hall, editor of the paper's Op-Ed and Sunday Review sections, offers a few important tips to writers. Below is what I've found to be some of her most helpful points. So if you've ever wondered how to increase your chances of catching an editor's eye, keep reading …

PR Tips | Deciphering Design Terms

June 4, 2014 Kali Edwards

Ever talk with a designer about a project and feel like she's speaking another language? With all the design terms out there, it’s easy to get confused. Don’t worry! Most of these terms are pretty simple to understand. Here are a few of the most...