| There are many ways you can get tons of free | | | | Staff Game" for their own kids, and as a result |
| publicity in the form of write-ups in magazines, | | | | we got orders from all over the states and some |
| newspapers, and even radio and TV. And | | | | foreign countries from both parents and schools. |
| sometimes you can turn family events into | | | | It was written up in House Beautiful, Better |
| human-interest stories that editors like and will | | | | Homes & Gardens, plus many music magazines |
| publish in their magazine and newspapersOne way | | | | and teachers' journals.This was not just a |
| is to compose a printed news release on your | | | | one-time fluke, either -- over the years we |
| product or service, but include a story involving | | | | received news write-ups galore in everything |
| your family into the release. Write the release like | | | | from the Wall Street Journal to Popular Mechanics |
| a news article in a newspaper. Tell who, what, | | | | -- all related to our product, but written in a way |
| when, why, and how interested people can | | | | to make editors smile and then decide to publish |
| benefit from your product. Avoid hard selling copy | | | | the release in their publications.Can you do the |
| --- just give the facts, and if you can weave in an | | | | same? Think about the funny little incidents in |
| interesting story in the process, all the better.For | | | | your family life, and then think of ways you can |
| example, I am a musician with a line of products | | | | work that into a news release about your product |
| in the music educational field. Years ago I created | | | | or service.Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 |
| a giant musical staff out of plastic and turned it | | | | music books and music educational materials such |
| into a game that kids could play on the floor. In | | | | as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord |
| the news release about it, I told how my own | | | | charts, musical software, and piano lesson |
| kids used it, and included some dialog between | | | | instructional courses for adults. His courses have |
| them:"That's a whole note!" exclaimed my | | | | been written up in hundreds of newspapers and |
| daughter Kendra."Is not! It's got a stem, and | | | | magazines. His book-CD-DVD course titled "How |
| whole notes don't have stems" my son Kurt | | | | To Play Chord Piano" ( has sold over 100,000 |
| corrected her."Is too!""Is not!""Is too!""Is | | | | copies around the world. He holds an advanced |
| not!""Oh...what's a stem, Kurt?""It's the line coming | | | | degree from Southern Oregon University and was |
| down from the note head, stupid.""I am not | | | | the founder of Piano University in Southern |
| stupid!""Are too!""Am not!"Finally Mom intervened | | | | Oregon. He has also logged time as an assistant |
| before an all-out war broke out.But henceforth | | | | music therapist and piano tuner, as well as a |
| and evermore both of my kids knew the | | | | working pianist. He is the author of the popular |
| difference between a whole note and a half | | | | free 101-week e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing |
| note.For some reason, editors found that little | | | | Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord |
| story amusing, and wrote up the story pretty | | | | Progressions" with over 55,000 current |
| much as I sent it in. They also included information | | | | subscribers. |
| on how interested parents could get a "Giant | | | | |