Getting famous is all about who you know...

For the last two years or so I’ve been bumping into Peter Shankman’s name again and again along with his innovative site, Help a Reporter Out.

Here is an invaluable free service that uses the powerful tool of fun to make an impression again and again in your email inbox, while it helps you get all kinds of publicity.

Basically it’s a free way to get lots and lots of notices about experts/sources/ideas working reporters, broadcasters, producers, authors, bloggers and editors are looking for right now. And if you happen to be one of those experts being sought … well, here’s a hot lead for you.

Unlike paid services like P R Leads - an excellent service I’ve recommended here many times - this does not presort the leads into categories specific to your needs. You must wade through them all. BUT, they are organized in an efficient way that makes it easy to do that.

What’s cool about HARO is that Peter begins each email with a fun, interesting juicy little tidbit, or quip, etc that’s fun to read. AND manages to sneak in a plug for a sponsor in each issue. It’s really very well done. Please note, there are ALL KINDS Of leads here - from people thinking about writing a book to seriously major media. So you have to do the sort work, but it’s quite entertaining, all the same.

I’m hoping to interview Peter on how he’s built this impressive business - he currently represents more than 20,000 media leads - in a short amount of time. Waiting to hear back on a good date, hopefully in Sept..

Stay tuned! And drop by to give this baby a whirl: Help a Reporter Out.