Free Publicity

[LubeDude]

We have a good free paper that is distributed all up and down the coast. Its one of those papers you can pick up free that people can put things they have for sale, events and interesting articals about upcoming events and such, and even that is free. Its grown into quite a good paper over the years. Well, when a new business starts up in the area, they will send out a reporter and interveiw the owner and do a small write-up about them and the business. I figured that my guide service was new so I contacted them and they came out and I launched the boat and they interveiwed me and took about 20 pictures. Now, this is all free, so I shouldnt complain, but this is what happened.<br /><br />First, the reporter, (a Man), Sent me a printout of the artical he wrote, Well, It was so pourly written and had so many mistakes, that I had to practically rewrite the whole thing. I sent it back to him and he said it was fine and it would run in about a week. Well, it came out yesterday and I was all excited about it untill I read it. It was so scewed up that it made me look like a comlete idiot. One thing I mentioned in the artical was that there was just a tournament held here at the lake and the winning weight was 25 1/2 #s and I made it clear that it was a 6 fish limit. Well, he printed that I thought that Tenmile was the best Bass lake in the state, (And it is), and that there was recently a 25# Bass caught there. Ive already got three phone calls telling me Im an Idiot. Also, the picture had to be the worst one that he took, makes me look like a slob, and I cant imagine anyone wanting to even be seen with me, let alone want to go fishing. Like I said, it was free, but I think it actually may have hurt my business.<br /><br />Bummed!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Free Publicity

I thought any press is good press....<br />But this couldn't have come out worse.....<br />Maybe you need to put an ad in that you made up, to try & offset the damage?....<br />Ya get what ya pay for(unfortunately) .....JK

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Free Publicity

So, can you put me on those 25# bass????<br /> <br /><br />Ken

 

[JamesCoste]

Re: Free Publicity

That is a shame. Can you talk to the editor about this reporter? Mention the fact that you appreciate the attempt at a free advertisement to promote your business and that the reported probably tried his best; however, mention that because of the poor writing, your business has been harmed and you would like to have another article written with correct information. You also should be able to view exactly what is going to the press before it is printed.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Free Publicity

Originally posted by JamesCoste:<br /> Can you talk to the editor about this reporter? Mention the fact that you appreciate the attempt at a free advertisement. You also should be able to view exactly what is going to the press before it is printed.

I actually Emailed them this morning, no reply as of yet.<br /><br />I thought that I had read what they were going to print, and made changes, we were in comunication. For some reason the changes never made it to print!

 

[alden135]

Re: Free Publicity

Sorry about your trouble BFAKALD. <br /><br />But you gotta admit,<br /><br />it's a funny story (for everyone else but you)

 

[bootle]

Re: Free Publicity

LD, you're killin' me, it took me a while to stop laughing, aw dude! that was real bad, i hope that it don't affect your business too badly.<br />Did you call the paper back and inquire why they were so off on the story, that reporter is a moron, you probably can't do anything about the paper printing the story, with it being free and all they most likely have it in fine print somewhere that they are not to held responsible.<br />I would definitely get hold of that reporter and make him print a retraction of the story, else you could hold him libel for damaging your business.<br />Sorry LD, i did'nt mean to offend you by laughing so much, but you must admit that it is one funny as hell story the way you tell it.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Free Publicity

Dadgum media will mess up the facts every time.

 

[oddjob]

Re: Free Publicity

Meanwhile, Look at the bright side.....the acticle is so outrageuos that your already getting phone calls. use some tack and turn the callers around while their on the phone with you....it could turn out better than if the dip chit represented you correctly.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Free Publicity

No offence taken, it is actually pretty funny, I wish I could get the picture off cleanly enough to post it, its actually hillarious! <br />That is if it wasnt so degrading for the world to see. I actually caught a 3 1/2# Bass while I was waiting for him to show up so I had a fish to pose with. The picture is me on the front of the boat leaning on the bu*t seat with my belly looking like I just swallowed a water mellon and holding the bass in a strange position, its hard to explain, its like instead of your wrist being tilted in, its tilted out, not like you normally hold a bass, looks a bit gay so to speak. The only thing missing is if I would have made a face like my tongue hanging out to one side and looked crosseyed. Go ahead and laugh, I actually am chuckling.

 

[alden135]

Re: Free Publicity

Originally posted by Bassin' Fever AKA LubeDude:<br /> not like you normally hold a bass, looks a bit gay so to speak.

Maybe it will be good for business after all <br /><br /> Lube Dude Charters <br /> <br />

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Free Publicity

Originally posted by alden:<br />

Originally posted by Bassin' Fever AKA LubeDude:<br /> not like you normally hold a bass, looks a bit gay so to speak.

Maybe it will be good for business after all <br /><br /> Lube Dude Charters <br /> <br />

Or Brokeback Bass

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Free Publicity

ROFLMAO!

 

[bootle]

Re: Free Publicity

Lol @ Spinner

 

[JRJ]

Re: Free Publicity

Sometimes you get what you pay for. Glad you can laugh about it

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Free Publicity

@ Spinner!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Free Publicity

I just got a call from the editor, he said they would run a retraction. I ask if I supplied the picture, would they run it above the retraction so people would see it and he said sure. I told him that was great and that I would run a small paid add through the summer.

 

[Chief101]

Re: Free Publicity

Now you see how they get folks to advertise in their worthless rags... Chief Chief

 

[fireman57]

Re: Free Publicity

LD, some of us just look like slobs in a picture even though real life proves different. I have had problems with the media before as I coach a couple different high school sports teams and it seem like they go out of their way to make everyone they take a picture of to look bad.

 

[bamadave]

Re: Free Publicity

Free is worth exactly what we pay for it!