Biz Review: Local PR Execs on GlobalFoundries
May 28, 2010 | Advice for local companies, Great PR | 0 Comments
Courtesy of The Business Review
An article today in the The Albany Business Review explores how the public relations community locally will be affected by the impact of GlobalFoundries. Sounds like all of the PR practitioners in the area agree on one thing – technology is the key growth factor for the Capital Region. But do our technology brands understand how to get there?
Couple of quick hints on jump starting your national awareness:
1. Pick an agency that can demonstrate recent, national clips. If you are a local provider only, consider your own executive visibility as a reason to further invest in national press.
2. Work on giving your agency a peek under the kimono. The more we know about your business, the more creative story ideas we can come up with. Sometimes even how you hire people can make you a national spokesperson.
3. Integrate social media where necessary – and hire an agency with social media clout. Research the team, each individual, request clips they’ve achieved and ask the tough questions in the board room. Never hire a team without meeting everyone who will be working to communicate the message – particularly important when social media is so real-time.
4. You should be meeting with 3-5 new reporters a month for an average PR retainer. If you aren’t, ask why. And listen. Most of the agency leaders locally would probably agree that story coverage is a two-way street. We need the info to sell your brand.
5. Stick to your gut. If you’ve requested new messaging and it’s not feeling right, or feeling comprehensive, resides on a graphic that makes no sense and it isn’t something you can easily send to a sales prospect at the drop of a hat – well, then this isn’t messaging.
When choosing a PR agency, be careful about the traps. Ask for the following, and you shall receive great representation: [and there are plenty of local team to choose from]
1. Current clients who are references. Ask for clients longer than +1 and speak to a variety of people internally in the company. Do your homework, it can be really worth your time.
2. Case studies that demonstrate the type of coverage you’re expecting. Make sure they are relevant, current and are not press release syndications.
3. Give deadlines. One thing I stress to executives is to try and make it worth with their PR agency. Be direct with what you want, put it in writing and set a deadline. If there are clear expectations that are obtainable, then you should feel comfortable at the end of the term with the communication about how they’re going about achieving these goals and the progress throughout the time frame.
4. Most important – read your corporate pitches. If an agency tells you they won’t show you the pitch, it means they’re not confident in how they are selling your brand. Be weary of someone out there contacting reporters without you understanding the words they are using.
I love this business and we’ve having a blast serving Tech Valley. Adding PR to your marketing portfolio can be the perfect way to express your capabilities to the impending growth. Benefit from headlines, not bullshit. Ask great questions and be responsible to your agency – a lifetime partnership with an agency who can sell your story on a dime is worth every penny.
2010 Doodle 4 Google winner announced, And the best startup is…
May 27, 2010 | Thursday at Three | 0 Comments
Every year Google holds a contest known as “Doodle 4 Google” where Kids (grades K-12) are able to create their own version of the infamous Google logo. This year’s theme, “If I could do anything I would…”, encourages kids to use their creative imaginations while showcasing their artistic abilities, whatever level that may be.
There was an outstanding 33,000 submissions this year and Google narrowed that down to 40 regional finalists. Of the 40 finalists, one person is chosen to have their artwork displayed on Google’s site for one whole day. This year’s winner is nine year old Makenzie Melton, whose work of art “Rainforest Habitat”, was inspired by her passion to save the rain forests.
TechCrunch Disrupt took place this week from May 24-26 in New York City. The annual conference showcases new tech startups, and the winner goes home with not only the title and bragging rights, but with a $50,000 cash prize.
After three grueling days, Soluto was determined the winner among the 20 start-ups as decided by an expert panel of judges as well as audience voting. Soluto is a trouble-shooting company that provides frustrated PC users to pin point the source of trouble down to which application is acting up.
Proctor and Gamble launch new eStore, iPad goes Global
May 20, 2010 | Thursday at Three | 0 Comments
Ditch the 11 pm trip to CVS, Proctor and Gamble has now made it possible for you to shop from the privacy of your own home for products like Tide, Olay, Febreze, and an array of other P&G products.
The beta site dubbed the eStore launched today promising to focus on not making money, but learning more about online shopping and the needs of its customers. I personally think that is a great philosophy, but honestly, does P&G actually expect us to believe they care more about what their customers think of online shopping than the bottom dollar? That being said, I checked the site out for myself and found it extremely user friendly. There are also numerous places for a customer to give feedback if you really buy into the P&G eStore mission statement. See for yourself and let us know what you think.
Now that the hoopla surrounding the U.S. release of Apple’s iPad is dying down, excitement is beginning to gear up in other countries across the globe.
The UK, Spain, Belgium, France, and the Europeans just received access to the App store in anticipation of the iPad’s May 28 European arrival. Tech geeks in Israel and the Philippines are also rejoicing their new app store access, though like the counterparts in Western Europe, they still need to wait a few more weeks until the iBooks and iWorks apps are available for the iPad.
How Tech Valley companies could benefit from blogs
May 14, 2010 | Advice for local companies | 0 Comments
This week I gave a talk at the Albany Ad Club surrounding how to integrate ad campaign efforts with free PR tools to bring more awareness to not just your company’s brand, but also to the campaign itself.
I thought maybe I should make a few examples of where blogs have been hugely helpful to some of our clients.
We’re representing @oppsconnect – otherwise known as OppositesConnect.com – we work with @overit or Overit Media on this one. Beautiful design and web work, and an amazing concept for singles to stop making the same mistakes when dating by continuously looking for the same ole person.
We’ve been working on building the install base for OppositesConnect.com – I mean, who wants to go to a dating site and not find a date. The early sign ups are rolling in. Maybe it’s because of the blog coverage.
As PR people, we never like to let the cat out of the bag, but in this case, early on coverage is really helpful. We’ve been reaching out to dating, singles, love and relationship bloggers. Nothing fancy, just those bloggers with +1000 followers. We’re up to 96 bloggers who we are actively working with — free promotions, potential regional events and partnerships.
Here’s some of the coverage (and syndication sites) ahead of time:
MENUDating.com
By Tristan Coopersmith
Do opposites attract? New dating website is betting on it
Examiner
By: Kelly Seal
April 30, 2010
All Over Albany
By: Mary Darcy
April 13, 2010
E Dating
April 14, 2010
He Loves Me Not
By: Sarah
April 14, 2010
Opposites Connect: New online dating site promises great first dates!
Ask Girl Shrink
By: Lisa Angelettie
April 15, 2010
New, locally based dating site lets opposites connect
NewsoDrome
April 16, 2010
New, locally based dating site lets opposites connect
Times Union
By: Kristi Gustafson
April 16, 2010
New, locally based dating site lets opposites connect
Online dating. Best Tips.
April 16, 2010
Spotlight News
By: Charles Wiff
April 22, 2010
Furthermore, a new client, iPhone app provider ScanBizCards hit wild success this week with just one review from major blogger Scott Merrill of MobileCrunch/TechCrunch. The syndication capabilities of hitting a major hit on one major blog is astounding. ScanBizCards jumped from #63 in App Store, to #21 to #12!!! Check out the coverage/syndication that ensued:
How do you find bloggers — Google baby! And things like Technorati.com and other blogger community sites. Working with bloggers to feed them VIP information, special offers which they can give to their readers, a sneak peek at the website before anyone else — virtually easy and ridiculously beneficial.
Need help getting organized? ScanBizCards is just the app for you! The new 2011 Ford Fiesta takes a road trip
May 13, 2010 | Thursday at Three | 1 Comments
Ever shove a business card down your pocket only to lose it to the spin cycle? Ever spend a day at your dining room table, sifting through hundreds of cards, alphabetizing, and storing them in that desktop albatross known as a rolodex? Or paid your kids to tackle the mess for you (I know my Dad did!)? Well, those days are over. ScanBizCards is an iPhone app which allows a user to snap a photo of a business card and automatically upload the info to an address book at the touch of a button.
Unparalleled scanning recognition aside, what really makes ScanBizCards stand apart, is functionality, which is light years ahead of its nearest competitors. In fact, the app allows users to send an introductory email, automatically connect on LinkedIn, or, this is cool, even upload contacts to a CRM platform.
Sign me up!
The new 2011 Ford Fiesta takes a road trip
Ford is taking social networking to a new level with their 2011 Fiesta, a super computer/car that will allow the vehicle to tweet it’s way across the country. Born out of the minds of a few of the University of Michigan’s best and brightest undergrads, the car will be home to multiple applications developed specifically with the vehicle as the platform in mind.
Some of the apps are about functionality such as ‘Virtual Road Rally’ which allows users to do everything from pick specific points of interest to share fuel consumption stats. Others, however, are about entertainment, or don’t even need humans, like the “Auto” matic blog, an app with AI that tweets and blog about not only where the car is headed, but where it has been.
The journey from the University of Michigan to California is set to launch within the next couple of months.
How we tell a PR person from a paper pusher
May 10, 2010 | Great PR | 0 Comments
One of the greatest challenges we have is finding experienced technology PR professionals. Our team is growing fast and we’re adapting to this shortage by training PR people who haven’t been in tech but have well rounded backgrounds.
While playing the dutiful wife last week at the SEDC 2010 Annual Dinner, I was approached a few times from PR or marketing people looking for a job. When I was on my way out, a young woman stopped me and gave me an impromptu 30-second resume pitch on the spot. I loved it!
She started with, “I haven’t done technology PR before but I have a lot of relevant experience including recent national media hits and writing samples.”
Great – you’ve caught my attention. My interaction with her inspired me to educate our audience on what technology PR practitioners look like and how to demonstrate that you’re a candidate even when you’ve never been in tech.
To fit our business model you have to have certain credentials, otherwise you’ll sink here:
- Examples of top tier and trade press secured for a past client (within the past few months) – this helps me know you can build relationships, write a pitch and provide proactive story development to a client.
- Relevant writing samples – includes pitches, press releases, bylined articles.
- Significant influence in social media – if you’re not on Twitter, don’t know what HARO is and aren’t on DM or Facebook messaging basis with national reporters, you’re probably not a fit.
I ran through this with a local colleague of mine the other day and she said – “Wow you’re asking for a lot.” I almost fell backwards.
The crux of PR is building awareness and whether it’s traditionally with headlines or through social media influence, if you apply for a job where we request 3-5 years of experience, then we assume you have clips and a Twitter following in the very least. Our tech brands don’t hire us to get local press around Albany. You have to be able to sell them on you and demonstrate you can sell a reporter on them.
So here are a few things that make you seem more relevant to our growing agency:
- Be lighthearted and confident – I want to see a cover letter that makes me want to meet you. If you send me something that starts with “To Whom It May Concern” then you not only show me you haven’t done your homework, but it also shows me you haven’t read our blog, seen our site or really even read through the whole job description.
- Send me links to your writing and recently achieved clips. We’ll consider you if you can at least demonstrate local media, we will absolutely meet you if you have national trade or business press. I throw any and all resumes away that don’t have this.
- Give me an idea – let me know how you think. Or demonstrate how you’ve creatively applied thought in a past position.
- Don’t tell me what you do everyday in your job, tell me what you achieve.
- I want to see personality and job loyalty. If you’ve been to every agency under the sun in Albany in the past five years, I’m probably not going to be your next.
Now there are exceptions to consider before you take Portfolio off your radar. If you are any of the following, read my response:
- “I’m an excellent writer, I manage the whole web and all the content for my current company.” Great, if you show me examples, I might be able to figure out how your value can be applied here.
- “At XXX agency, they don’t let account executives pitch, so I don’t have press examples.” In today’s day and age, with bloggers and the changing media landscape, I don’t believe this. But if you can show me who you worked for and what you did do on your accounts, I will definitely take a strong look.
- “I come from a strong marketing background and managed the PR agency from the internal side, so I understand the process.” Not ideal, but doable. If you really understand what PR is and were pushing your agency to drive awareness, then you are probably a fit.
Things that are preferred but not deal breakers, just an added bonus which demonstrates you’re caught up with the times:
- A Twitter following that has +500 people
- You blog personally on your own and it’s a public site
- At one point and time you’ve secured a lead or client for your current agency
- You have a client as a reference
- You have a reporter as a reference
Facebook’s untold coming of age story, New social networking sites taking it too far?
May 6, 2010 | Thursday at Three | 0 Comments
If you’re like me, you probably have a tough time trying to name three people that aren’t on Facebook. From friends to colleagues, to moms and grandfathers, EVERYBODY is on the social media site that changed the world.
Now, all the dirty details of how this internet phenomenon got its start will be revealed in an upcoming tell-all book, cleverly titled The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company that is Connecting the World. Written by Fortune Magazine’s David Kirkpatrick, the book is the first truly objective look at Facebook’s meteoric rise and subsequent scandals.
Early reviewers are ecstatic over Kirkpatrick’s obvious access, on full display with his behind the scenes look at everything from the shady dorm room power struggle to Mark Zuckerberg’s refusal of MTV President Michael Wolf’s $800 million cash offer. As a coming of age tale, this true story of a 20-year-old kid turned overnight multi-billionaire CEO, will no doubt impress.
You can pre-order the book here.
Everybody uses social networking sites in some capacity, whether for personal or business use, but until now the number used for threatening people have been limited. Enter, Formspring.com, one of a number of new sites blurring the line between free speech and illegality. Began as a forum that provided answers to everyday questions such “have you seen that movie?”,
Formspring.com has morphed into a go-to site for cyber-bullying among teens, allowing users to post the most aggressive and mean-spirited questions or comments that minds can think on a user’s page, all protected by irrefutable anonymity.
Teachers and parents all over the country are understandably upset. Let’s hope they take action, not by eliminating the site (there are others just like it popping up everyday) but by teaching kids to be respectful of others, to stand up to peer pressure, and to educate children on what to do if they become a victim of bullying of any kind.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES – Keynote at SEMI West
May 6, 2010 | Today's Headlines | 0 Comments
Our new neighbors at GlobalFoundries are keynoting SEMICON West this year, taking place in July 2010. Looks like Thomas Sonderman, vice president, manufacturing systems and technology will serve as an executive panelist and Senior Vice President of Process Technology, Research and Development, Gregg Bartlett will have his own keynote.
We’re hoping to blog from the event this year…and of course escape to San Francisco.