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Back in November, I was the WIA in the print edition of XBIZ, and it was definitely an honor. A few weeks ago, the article hit the Internet and was posted on their site. In case you missed it, check it out.

A lot of people don’t understand what PR is and what a publicist does—they assume publicists are agents, managers or even (God forbid) assistants. I’d like to clear up this confusion.

Publicists make you famous—our job is to get your name out there. This can equate to more work and more money, but not always right away. I get my clients interviews (radio, Internet, written, etc.), magazine placement (which may or may not pay), presenting and nominated for awards (and hopefully winning them too), hosting parties, and a bunch of other things.

For clients with no agent or manager, or who don’t have exclusive contracts, I can help them get work (mainstream and adult, depending on the client), but this isn’t my focus. There are many competent agents out there—when girls ask me who to go with I usually suggest three—ask me, and I might tell you whom they are. Agents take a percentage—I don’t, but I do charge a monthly fee. Agents have time to get on the phone and hustle up work for you (or the companies are calling them). If I do this, it takes time away from what I do best—getting your name out there.

Manager do just that—manage. They make sure you’re taking the right jobs and make sure you get there on time. As a publicist, I make sure you get to interviews, signings, trade shows, etc. on time, and I also remind you the day of about these types of things. I suggest that you be on time when working with the studios, directors and producers, because it’s professional—and even though we work in adult, it’s still important to be professional. If my clients want advice (or just my opinion) on a specific studio, director or performer, I can offer that, but managers specialize in this type of knowledge.

Although our company offers more services than most, we are by no means to be viewed as an assistant. We will go with you to meetings, but we won’t run errands for you. I will take your call at 2am (if I’m awake), but I won’t bail you out of jail. These are just a few examples. A godo way to think of it would be a publicist is her to help you, but is not a sidekick or go-for (going for this and that).

If you’d like to see a menu of some of the services we provide, go here: www.therubpr.com/departments.php?dep=services. No two clients are the same, and each one has different goals and needs. We have a specific plan of action tailored to each client. Performers and companies don’t all fit into one mold. Contact us and see what we can do for you.

The Rub PR Team

Whether you’re a new performer or an established one, PR is very important to your career. Hiring the right publicist isn’t always easy and there’s a lot to consider. Here are a few things to think about:

Are You Looking for a Career or Just a Lot of Money Fast

Some girls enter the industry in the hopes of making a pile of cash and making a quick exit. Other girls want to be the next Jenna Jameson. If you want to be Jenna, you’re going to need marketing/PR team, along with a stellar agent and/or manager and a lawyer. A true publicist knows about and has experience in social media, marketing and publicity—you need a specialized individual like this to skyrocket your career, in addition to being cast in great movies and having an amazing onscreen performances.

You need to know what you want. I always meet with potential clients and ask them what they want to achieve. If they don’t know, I ask them to think about it and get back with me. I can make suggestions, but you have to know what you want. What are you immediate and long-term goals? You need to have a goal in sight and get the right team behind you.

How Much Can You Afford

PR can get expensive—it will generally start at $500 and can go up to $2000 or more, per month. Most companies require a one or two month deposit, before they will start working for you. You will want to make sure you have enough money for at least three months of service—less than that won’t do you much good, because it’s basically just getting started. But, in a few months time, you’ll know if your PR firm is doing a good job—in fact, it might only take a month. Also, keep in mind that forking out a lot of money doesn’t always guarantee you’ll get the best publicist. And on the flipside, paying less than $500 a month will get you what you paid for, which usually isn’t much.

What’s Their Rep or Street Cred

Most of my business comes from current or past clients—they are satisfied and let people know they’re happy with the work I’ve done for them. When I get someone inquiring about PR, I ask them how they found me and it’s usually from a referral. Ask around to other talent and/or companies who have publicists and find out if they’re happy with the level of service they’re receiving and the amount of stuff they’re getting (interviews, paying gigs, etc.). Do they treat all their clients the same or do they just focus on one or two? Some new clients contact me from all the stuff they see me talking about on Twitter, Facebook and my website.

You might also ask your potential publicist to give you a rundown of things they have scored for their clients. Do they have AVN or XBIZ nominations and awards? What magazines have they got their clients in? Are they doing more than just writing a press release or two a month and then collecting your fees?

Spend Some Time on Their Website

Does your potential publicist have a website? If not, you might want to rethink hiring them. And what does their site say about them? It is a bunch of flashy pictures or does it really tell you something about them and their services?

Look at their past and present clients? Do they only take established names or do they take girls new to the biz? Do all their girls look alike? If so, it might be harder for them to get you interviews, etc. because you’ll be competing with the other girls on their roster. Does the publicist focus on one girl more than the others? All these things are important things to consider.

How Do You Mesh

Sit down and really talk to your potential publicist. Do you guys get along and are you on the same wavelength? It needs to be more than you think they can just do the work. You need to be able to have stellar communication with them.

When I meet with a potential client, I’m interviewing them, too. By getting to know them, I can decide if I want to take them on. I have a policy—I never take clients I don’t like, don’t think I can work with and/or help. For me to go the extra mile (like I always do), I have to like the person. And unlike most publicists, I really do care about not only my clients’ success, but also their well being and happiness.

Check Out Their Press Releases

Can your potential PR actually write a good press release? Is it professional done and edited/proofread? These things are important and will be a reflection on you. Not all publicists are great writers—the smart ones learn to write or hire someone to do the writing for them. Also, you might want to see if their stuff ends up on the major websites and if people in the industry take their work and press releases seriously.

How Long Have They Been in the Biz

You want a publicist who’s been around the block and knows the adult industry, has amazing contacts and has been doing PR for at least a few years, whether it’s their company and/or working for someone else. You want to hire someone who not only knows what they’re doing, but has the crucial experience behind them.

Know What You’re Getting

Some publicists offer services that others don’t—don’t assume we all do the same thing. Some will get you mainstream and/or adult work, but others won’t. One publicist might get you paid to sign at a convention and another will assume it’s your agent’s responsibility. You might want to ask for a proposal to make sure you’re getting what you want (service wise). If they don’t provide a particular service, you can ask them if they will do it for you, but they might charge you more or say no. I give my clients a big bang for their buck (no pun intended)—I do a lot and offer them a ton of services.

Social Media is King these days—everyone from giant brands to TV shows to grandmas in Poughkeepsie are Tweeting their brains out. The key to using Twitter is not to just Tweet for Tweet-sake. If you’re a brand, you probably have your ad agency or social media guru running your Twitter account. Porn stars normally run their own accounts, and while this is great, it can definitely lead to the downfall of their careers.

I have run accounts for clients who are porn stars (or up and comers) and adult-oriented companies and studios. And of course, I run my own Twitter @therubpr. In the year and a half I’ve been using Twitter, I have learned what works and what doesn’t work. I have seen my clients and other girls Tweeting things they shouldn’t be. When it’s one of my clients they get “the call”—this is me calling them and telling them to take down a Tweet (or Tweets). And 9 times out of 10, they listen to me, since I’m looking out for their images, careers and futures. For the greater good (and so I don’t have to constantly see girls sabotaging their careers), I’ve decided that a blog on do’s and don’ts is in order here.

Do’s

Be Interesting & Descriptive

Tell your fans about your day on set, what a naughty girl you are or the shoe extravaganza you went on today. This is all very interesting to them, even though it seems like the usual to you. Feel free to tease you fans and leave them wanting more…of you.

Post Photos

Yes, post photos of you in your new, sexy dress or you at the gym—anything! If you post naked or topless photos, make sure they are not posted to Twitter. Use YFrog, Lockerz or other photo services that actually host the images for you. If you upload them directly through Twitter, your account could be suspended or deleted. Also, make sure your pics on your Twitter page also aren’t naked or too risqué—this can also lead to your account being suspended or deleted.

Keep the Tweets to a Minimum

I always tell my clients to Tweet at least 10 times a day. Try to Tweet no more than 25 times a day. This will force you to have interesting Tweets and really think about what you’re Tweeting—don’t Tweet about taking out the garbage or your skin breaking out. If you Tweet too much, your fans will unfollow you.

Offer Your Fans An Incentive to Follow You

Are you 10 away from hitting 10,000 followers? Let your fans know and offer to Tweet a topless photo or give a prize to the 10,000^th follower. This can really make your numbers go up.

Promote Yourself

This is the reason you should be Tweeting. Tell your fans about your latest movie about to street, award nominations, your spread in Penthouse Magazine or that you will be signing at a convention. You can even retweet press about yourself. Be your own publicist, or help the one you have because they can retweet your Tweets.

Retweet Certain Tweets

The fans LOVE it when you retweet their Tweets about how much they love you or how hot you are. When you retweet these types of Tweets, it gives fans their 15 minutes of fame and makes them feel important and that you care about them. Try and limit retweets (RTs) from fans to 1 or 2 a day, at the most—a few a week would be better.

Keep the Swearing to a Minimum

It’s OK to swear on Twitter, but no every other word. If I’m going to use the “F” word, I usually write is like f@ck. Yes, it’s porn, but professionalism counts.

Try & Follow Back

It’s easier to follow 10 people than 1,000. But, if you follow back, it can help raise your amount of followers. I follow industry peeps, peeps who can help my clients, friends and fans (yes, I have them too, thanks to my clients). I follow half as many people that follow me (generally). I also create private and public lists so I can find my clients’ and associates’ Twitters easily. Your timeline can get full quickly when you follow a lot of people—and, you don’t want to miss stuff.

Add Your Wish List

Use tone of the link shortener tools for Twitter and get your Amazon Wish List in there. Fans love to buy you stuff. But don’t beg for them to repeatedly buy you stuff. You can put up a link for a dress for AVN (or whatever you need) and ask the fans to buy it for you. But, don’t repeatedly ask. And when they do send it to you, thank them on Twitter or spoil back with an autographed photo or some item that shows the fans your love.

Dont’s

Inside Jokes Should Stay…Outside

Inside jokes between you and another person can be funny, but if your Tweets sound more like riddles and/or make no sense, you’ll also get unfollowed. I had a business associate who babbled utter nonsense all the time, and it was quite the topic of conversation for a lot of people. Just say no to inside jokes.

Don’t Be Too Personal

No one wants to know you have an STD, your fiancé is in jail, you’re depressed (or suicidal) and/or you don’t have money to pay your rent. Avoiding political chat that can enrage others (with a different opinion than yours) is also a good idea. Some things are better left unsaid. Think before you Tweet. And remember to never give out yours or anyone’s info on Twitter (i.e. email addresses, phone numbers, etc.).

Don’t Make Threats

No one should make threats on Twitter—posting threats to the Internet is a crime and is admissible in court. Even if it’s a joke, it can still get you in trouble.

Don’t Start Fights or Talk Trash

Starting fights and talking trash are the quickest ways for my clients to get a phone call from me. Starting fights is a bad idea—nothing good can come of it. Talking trash and/or gossiping is another way to get people to hate you. I had a client who dissed a director on Twitter—even though it wasn’t by name, it’s easy enough to figure out whom she worked for the day before. This can keep you from getting work. Just remember that directors and studios could very well be checking you out on Twitter.

Don’t Type in All Caps

Just like email, it is screaming.

Don’t Talk about Drugs

Yes, even Tweeting about pot is a no-no. Don’t use code words and try to be clever when discussing drug use. I always tell my clients to live their lives as they please, but drugs are one thing they should NEVER Tweet about. Studios will pass on hiring you if they see Tweets about drugs. Really. Also, try and not talk about how drunk you are—people will think you do it all the time and you’re an alcoholic, which isn’t too great for your image either.

Don’t Buy Applications to Up Your Followers

When you go from 5,000 followers to 27,000 followers in the blink of an eye, people know you bought your followers. The not so popular girl who’s new to the biz with 55,000 followers…that’s suspicious. Earn your followers, so you’re actually Tweeting to someone and people know you’re on the level.

Don’t Get Caught Up in #FFs

Follow Fridays are time consuming and it sucks when you forget to add someone in there. Personally, I get so many that I just retweet a few. It won’t make you more popular, but could piss people off when you forget to #FF them. Some people take their #FF very seriously.

Don’t Spend All Your Time on Twitter

Get out and work on set, webcam or on your site. Twitter is great for your career, but you need to be working and out in the “real world” too.