Four Steps for harnessing the power of the Social Media as a component of a well conceived public relations strategy:
1) “Listen Up” To The Conversation
2) “Join In” The Conversation
3) “Power” The Conversation
4) “Orchestrate” The Road Signs
In this video, I discuss why focus on Social Media is imperative to avoid energy leaks from your company.
Ask the Expert
Ellen McCarthy, talented writer for the Washington Post, recently published an article that got my attention big time. It discussed the power of Pop in today’s new media world. This article offers application for strategic public relations. In this video, John discusses the power of PR Pop, especially in the world of Social Media.
Ask an Expert
Allan Grafman of All Media Ventures was the featured speaker at today’s joint event sponsored by Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (UVEF); Wayne Brown Institute; Utah Technology Council (UTC), and Mountain West Capital Network (MWCN). Held in the Garden Room at Thanksgiving Point, 200+ entrepreneurs and business leaders paid close attention as our skilled presenter spoke on the elusive subject of “Exits, Monetizations & New Media.”
In preface to Allan’s remarks I was able to put in a plug for UVEF to the group. I mentioned that despite our economy, it’s a great time for entrepreneurs. I referenced Hewlett Packard, Howard Johnson, and Boeing as entrepreneurial startups during the Great Depression. I expressed my enthusiasm for today’s speaker as our Public Relations business and all services carrying the “message” to target markets must master social media as yet another terrrific tool for getting the word out and engaging with target audiences.
Allan spoke candidly about the negative ROI being experienced by most investors in 2010. He also pointed to Online Gaming, Virtual Goods, Advertising, and Content providers as near term winners in monetization of social media. He cautioned startups against slowing their time to market to “get it perfect,” saying that an early beta launch can build viral support while gleaning invaluable feedback from which to improve the offering.
One key point that resonated with PilmerPR’s client counsel in the new “PR 2010″ is that EVERY company is now a media company. Those companies which offer the best and fastest content stack the deck in their favor.
Hard to believe by now, but it was only at the end of 2008 that the internet overtook newspapers to become the #2 source of news in America. We predict it will soon overtake television news to become the #1 source, as both ABC and CBS have dramatically cut their news staff, and more broadcast segments are posted online.
Bloggers are replacing traditional journalists, Google News is replacing USA Today, and “gatekeepers” that stand between you and your audience is becoming just a matter of SEO.
Welcome to the Online Media Revolution.
In Part 3 of 10 of PilmerPR’s “PR 101″ webinar, John Pilmer discusses this revolution, and concisely breaks down what businesses need to know.
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There’s a war in the communications world, right now, between the terms “press release” and “news release.”
Though the former phrase is still common, and may accurately describe the release’s purpose, others argue it is a relic of the pre-internet era. The Web has made releases instantly available to the world, and not just press. Many times, PilmerPR team members have browsed news online, and found that the top results for their searches are “press” releases.
So how can your small business capitalize on this? How can the releases you are already producing reach your target audience, directly?
In this second parts of PilmerPR’s 10-part “PR 101″ series, John Pilmer will discuss what it means to “think web first,” and how to get your news to your targets with or without media gatekeepers.
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When “blogging” became a term a decade ago, many probably saw it as a short-living fad. It was a hobby, not a credible business tool.
Times have changed, and many top businesses are seeing a positive return on investment by blogging.
Forty-five percent of the 2009 Inc 500 now maintain a corporate blog. That’s up from 39 percent in 2008, and 19 percent in 2007, according to research by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
“[It appears] that blogs and social media profiles are becoming the new ‘home pages,’” John Pilmer recently told Utah Business magazine.
Utah Business, the top magazine for the Utah professional community, interviewed John about this blog, and why he feels its important to invest in one.
Pilmer says blogs are especially effective when immediate two-way communication is the goal, as updates can be posted without needing a Webmaster, and readers can easily give feedback. “Unlike social network updates, blogs have a longer shelf life, and are much more search-engine friendly,” he says.
He also addressed the return on investment, and how almost any company can have similar results if they’re willing to pay the price.
Pilmer suggests that businesses commit to starting a blog if they want to see results. “Most businesses can benefit from a blog if they are prepared to invest the needed time for a long period of time,” he says. “Even if a company doesn’t have frequent news to tell its audience, it can still use a blog to establish itself as an industry thought-leader, build community and attract new talent.”
In addition to the PilmerPR blog, John regularly contributes to the Utah Business Blog. PilmerPR has also helped launch blogs for companies like Certiport and RecruitHire.
If your company would like to start a blog, but does not yet have the experience or resources to make it successful, PilmerPR can help.
Read the full article from Utah Business.
Loading ...We’re frequently asked, “What should my business do, from a PR perspective?”
Most of the time, they’re not asking for a full consultation, but are asking, “What do the successful companies know?”
For months, the PilmerPR team has been working behind-the-scenes to compile the most useful information together, and in terms for the layman. The result is “PR 101: The Basics.”
Beginning this month, PilmerPR will host the webinars to introduce basic public relations strategies to entrepreneurs, CXOs and emerging company owners, within an hour.
This is not just a sales presentation. You will come away seeing your business from a PR perspective, which may inspire you to rethink current practices.
Topics include the following:
“PR 101: The Basics” is only $149. For this first webinar, if you sign up for the PilmerPR newsletter, we will give you a code to attend for just $49.
Sign up for the PilmerPR Newsletter:
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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.”
Alan Ashton & Lt. Gov Gary Herbert address UVEF
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Today, Lt Gov Gary Herbert keynoted a terrific awards program by the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (UVEF). 160 attendees. 25 top companies under five years of age were honored. Representing $80 million in combined 2008 revenue, the winners created 840 jobs last year. ZAGG, Imagination Learning, and OrangeSoda came in 1, 2, & 3. Emcee, Rick White, co-founder of rising startup Fusion-io kept the event light with ample humor and insights into the healthy state of entrepreneurism in Utah.
According to soon to be Governor Herbert, 50% of jobs in Utah come from small business. The Wall Street Journal reported this past month that more than half of the Fortune 500 in 2009 launched in recessions or bear markets. Speakers at the event credited Utah’s relatively resilient economy is due to great startup companies like those honored today.
The Daily Herald honored Alan Ashton, founder of WordPerfect, with a special “Founding Fathers” award for his quarter century of contributing to Utah business and the community.
Media for the event:
YouTube highlights video
Business Wire coverage
Daily Herald coverage
Daily Herald special section on Utah entrepreneurs
Deseret News coverage
Utah Pulse coverage
Wasatch Digital IQ coverage
Fox TV News coverage
Only ten years ago, press releases used to be one of the only ways to get your company’s name mentioned by the media. A painfully slow fax to newsrooms was the preferred way to get your press release to the media. Thanks to technology, today things are a little different and the value of press releases has significantly increased.
New services like PR Newswire and Business Wire allow companies to put their news release “on the wire” and broadcast their release to thousands of news outlets and influential blogs. Companies now enjoy more than just news clippings from papers and magazines.
A press release is a small investment that not only brings results while in print, but long after. Similar to a press release, advertising can provide a great response while an advertisement is active; however, when the ad is no longer active, the results drop. Press releases have a different life cycle. Similar to advertising, positive coverage provides valuable results, yet, long after the print or broadcast coverage; press releases continue to provide results with great SEO benefits
Continue Reading at Utah Business Magazine
