As the new 2010 Chairman of the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (www.uvef.net ), I’m enthusiastic about the potential for new business startups to turn the economy around. The grit and power of the small business startup executive is infectious and is likely the most valuable stimulus program available to the USA.

Entrepreneurs aspiring for greatness would do well to pay attention to the lessons of the past as they forge the future.  That’s why I wanted to share a recent Forbes story that hits the mark in my view.  Here’s their list of 10 Arrogance Traps of Entrepreneurs:

“Business plans are for dummies”
Think business plans are just for investors? Wrong. Those plans are primarily for you.

“This is so cool!”
Just because you think your new mousetrap is extraordinary doesn’t mean the whole world will agree

“If we build it, they will come.”
…our product is so great that everyone will know about us anyway by word of mouth and through online social networks…

“We have no competitors.”
If you haven’t identified a competitor…you either 1) haven’t looked or 2) there isn’t any market for what you are selling.

“Me, myself and I.”
I recently watched a promising start-up wither and die for lack of funds because the founder refused to step aside as chief executive in favor of a more experienced candidate…

“We’re too nimble for the big guys to keep up.”
Serving a relatively small customer base well can yield a tidy little business,

“We have more features than anyone”
Truth is, marketing a flurry of features often puts off customers who would rather not have to deal with complexity, or the costs to switch to a new product or service. Simple sells.

“We have the first-mover advantage”
Right. Or, what you really mean, but can’t admit, is that you don’t have a patent or any differentiating competitive advantage.

“There’s no need to risk my own money.”
Investing your own capital is, in the eyes of investors, the difference between “involved” and “committed”–and investors like commitment even more than they like sweat equity.

“We’re funded, now we can relax”
The real work starts when the money comes in

(See entire Forbes story)

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Big buzz surrounds the comments of BYU QB Max Hall and the reported bad behavior of University of Utah fans. On the opposite sidelines is alleged mistreatment of Utah coach Whittingham’s daughter by BYU fans. As an alumnus of both schools in question, my thoughts about the infractions in question have covered a lot of yardage defining the problem and suggesting a solution. So, here goes nothin’. Hut! Hut! Hut!

The challenge is not solely the bourgeois behavior of fans or a rude comment by an athlete. After further review from a business communications perspective, the problem is that high profile customers gave these schools a failing grade as a host.

The company (university) challenge is creating a safe environment and a positive buying experience for customers (fans)-both home and visitor. One could easily make a case that sports tourism, whether from city to city or nation to nation, has a huge impact on school, city and state revenue. Some states allocate funds to ensure they get their piece of the tourism pie through sports. In addition to tourism, think about the legal risk for a school for out of control fans. Read more at Utah Business Magazine.

For those who can’t seem to keep their language clean, their hands to themselves and all other objects in their possession under control, universities are forced to create behavior policies for spectator events. No need to complain about ridiculous rules, because “ridiculous” should be saved for the behavior that requires such policies to be created. It is expected that universities across the country will need to release policies and statements about conduct at sporting events for fans and athletes.

The following sample public policy and statement (Public Relations Professionals can help with this) would apply to all NCAA sports programs whose goal is to insure packed, not boycotted, sports venues:

To our Fans, Visitors and Athletes

We deeply appreciate your attendance at [SCHOOL] athletic events. Your attendance is important to athletes, coaches and our university. Every individual helps create an exciting and unforgettable sporting experience.

Creating a safe, fun and enjoyable atmosphere for athletic competition has been and continues to be the goal of [            SCHOOL]. Such competition builds school spirit and builds character as athletes strive for excellence on the field or on the court. Welcoming visitors to our campus for these fierce competitions is a vital component of this effort. Treating our guests with respect creates ambassadors for this school and our community that greatly assist in making our university great well into the future.

In keeping with this commitment, any fan attending a [SCHOOL] athletic event, may text [TEXT NUMBER] to report a health emergency or security issue before, during or after the game. Any security concern will be investigated immediately. After assessing the situation according to policies posted at all sporting venues and on [SCHOOL]’s Web site, offending fans may be escorted from the facility.

[SCHOOL] prescribes to a zero tolerance policy for intoxication, extreme verbal abuse, or any physical abuse of another fan. For details regarding this policy, see [WEBSITE].

We encourage you to continuing assisting all the games you can in support of [SCHOOL] athletics. Thank you for providing a competitive atmosphere at [SCHOOL].

Sincerely,

[SCHOOL]

Yesterday, I heard Louis Pope speak to the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (UVEF.net) as he received recognition as Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Louis thinks globally, about our back yard in Utah, about our back yard to the world. In his acceptance remarks, he said more than a billion people live in extreme poverty-less than $1/day. However, his comments were not gloom and doom. He spoke of the net reduction of that number over the past several years because of efforts to create jobs.

In PilmerPR’s work in social responsibility (CSR) we tell clients to first “be good, then talk about being good.” Louis and his company are the best examples of this that I know of. He could likely afford to retire to anywhere he chooses. What he chooses to do is lift people by the thousands and to inspire others to do the same. He, Yehu Microfinance, and US Synthetic have truly inspired me. Thank you Louis.

Great story about Louis Pope on KSL TV

US Govt Lost Record

In our PilmerPR public relations firm, words communicate a message like “trust us, we’ve got your back.” But, what’s the message behind the words? What does the attached letter communicate.

The US Government wants to “protect” and run our healthcare system. Do they really have a track record we can count on? They lost my father’s 25 year US Navy service record.

“We have been unable to find the record needed…”

Can you imagine how you would feel if they lost your family’s medical records? What’s your recourse against the US Government if they mess up your healthcare records.

No thank you to Nationalized Healthcare – Just Say No to ObamaCare.

Notice the cute security marketing logo in the lower right corner of the letter. Did it make you feel more comfy about the government losing your records? Not me!

The message here behind the words is, “we could lose your records and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

One important aspect of marketing and public relations is combating negative news in a client’s area of business. One of our clients, ModifyUtah, recently saw a negative news program about their industry – loan modification.

Sometimes bad stuff happens and a homeowner finds themselves on the brink of losing their home. When in such a pinch, noted consumer advocate, Clark Howard, recently reported the following options in order of damage to one’s credit score.

Least Damaging – Loan Modification
More Damaging – Short Sale
Even More Damaging – Foreclosure
Most Damaging – Bankruptcy

An unscrupulous loan modification business was recently highlighted on Get Gephardt, an investigative TV segment in Utah. This particular business took money up front to do a loan modification, then kept the money and never achieved the modification.

ModifyUtah felt that they needed to respond right away, since the story gave all loan modification companies a bad name, simply because of one bad seed.  They have previously taken many steps to ensure their business is honest and fair with customers, including offering a money-back guarantee, registering with the Utah Department of Real Estate, and more.

ModifyUtah VP of Finance Randy Chipman has some ideas about how to gain credibility in an industry with a bad reputation that will publish shortly over on the Utah Business Blog.

So, have you ever felt scammed by a business?  Take the poll below and let us know.

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After the media frenzy about Obama’s comment regarding Kanye West’s actions during the VMA Awards, many people have questioned the relevance of “off record comments.” Who is at fault for Obama’s comments ending up on Twitter? Obama? The ABC News employees?

The LA Times referred to the situation as, “Obama, Kanye West and the trouble with Twitter.” However, according to most public relations professionals, the problem is not with Twitter or the ABC New employees, but rather with Obama. It’s not because he’s a democrat, but it is because he is a public figure.

When politicians, executives, or any other public figure speaks with the media, there are certain written and unwritten rules they should all know. These rules are not a secret, but a basic part of spokesperson training. One of those rules is that off the records does not guarantee you won’t read it in the paper.

Although CNBC granted an explicit agreement with the White House that Obama’s pre-interview chitchat was off the record, there are still certain things Obama should not have said. Public figures have to realize that off the record does not grant immunity and that social media is desperately waiting for their next comment. Read more at Utah Business Magazine

Presentation

Today I present at the UVEF Crunch Lunch in Provo, Utah. We expect a big crowd if its anything like the last one of these I spoke at. I’ll be addressing the revolutionary changes in Public Relations and PR tips for startup success on a budget new businesses can survive. Here are some of the revolutionary social media  facts that are changing the PR business:

24 of 25 of the largest newspapers have falling circulation*

Online news is 2nd most trusted source, #1 is TV***

26% of Internet users utilize Twitter for finding news**

By 2010 Gen Y will be larger than the Baby Boomers market segment. 96% of them use Social Media*

To reach 50 million users it took: radio-38 yrs; TV-13 yrs; Internet-4 yrs.  It took Facebook 9 months to reach 100M users.*

Most companies use Public Relations professionals to manage their Social Media strategy.****

The majority of editors now look at blogs to get story ideas.

John Pilmer presentation on YouTube

*Source: Socialnomics

**Source: TNS and The Conference Board

***Source: Pew Research

****2009 Digital Readiness Report, iPressroom/PRSA

Give us a call for more about the Social Media revolution and how it fits into a strategic public relations plan.

PilmerPR works feverishly to “skill up” staff to meet the demands of Social Media as an important component of a well conceived public relations strategy.  And, if there ever was a moving target, Social Media is it! If you are still a doubting Thomas as to why, watch the following video. Then, give us a call and let us help take your company from “zero to hero” through public relations, including well conceived social media.

Social Media Revolution

Huntsman mounts Harley-sends message

After the pomp and circumstance, the cannons firing and bands playing, the flags and the applause, Ambassador Huntsman (past governor of Utah) rides off of Utah’s capitol hill on board a a “big hog” Harley Davidson. No, not a farm animal, a motorcycle.

Flanked by Utah Highway patrol and his posse of dirt biker buddies, Huntsman may have sent a perfect message to Chinese trade counterparts awaiting his arrival in their country. Buy American, buy Harley. Certainly the US based manufacturer’s public relations team should be “making hay” with this endorsement from the USA’s newly appointed and  most powerful trade ambassador.

Some feel that Obama appointed Huntsman to this post to sideline any potential opposition from the savvy Republican politician. However, the president may yet learn that Huntsman still has growing political, and guerrilla PR, savvy that may haunt the liberal machine.

See KSL video (motorcycle)