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.

If a bomb went off in your backyard, would you know it? How about if that bomb was an explosion that took place on the internet and the wider it spread the more damage it did to your business and your brand. When would you hear about it?

Organizations of all types and sizes are finding they have to monitor their online reputation closer than ever before. If you don’t manage your brand and listen to your customers, you could be inadvertently losing leads, revenue and destroying your brand.

United Airlines learned the hard way about monitoring their brand and the difference that one person can make. You might remember Dave Carroll, a talented musician, on a flight to Chicago who, from his window seat, watched his guitars get thrown and broken. Carroll wrote a song about United breaking his guitars and within a few days, the video was featured on CNN, the LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Rolling Stone Magazine & the BBC to name a few. Although United apologized, they cannot replace the now 8.5+ million views of the YouTube video that humorously demeans United’s reputation.

Read more at Utah Business Magazine

You’ve spent time and money planning a public relations campaign, with press releases and social media involvement, and now you need a way to measure its effectiveness. The problem is compounded when you notice there’s little money left for high-budget tools like surveys and ad-equivalency evaluations.

Does this sound familiar?

In Part 4 of 10 of PilmerPR’s “PR 101″ webinar, John Pilmer lists the simple (often free) ways budget-conscious small businesses can evaluate their PR results. To learn how PilmerPR can help achieve cost-effective campaigns with measurable results, visit our contact page.

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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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For the next several weeks, PilmerPR will be posting clips from our recent webinar, “PR 101: The Basics.” These clips will not include everything that was discussed, but will provide you with essential information on a variety of public relations topics.

PR 101 will be divided into ten parts:

1. Social Media —Money Maker or Energy Leak
2. Press Release – Not Just for Reporters
3. Online Media Revolution—Print Media R.I.P.
4. Measurement—Turning PR into Money
5. Watering Holes—Finding Prospects in 2010
6. Avoiding Potholes—Common Errors of Entrepreneurs
7. CSR is for winners – The Payoff
8. And in this Corner—PR vs. Advertising for Start-ups
9. What’s News?–Making News Newsworthy
10. No Greenwashing Allowed

The first part, Social Media, is increasingly critical for businesses to understand. PilmerPR devotes a lot of its energy staying ahead of social media for clients, and has learned what is ultimately valuable… and what is just an energy leak.

This video will discuss the growing popularity of social media; the top social media sites of the day and how businesses should use each; the percentage of reporters who use these sites for primary research; why your blog should be the foundation of your social media strategy; and more.

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.

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This afternoon, PilmerPR finished its first webinar, “PR 101: The Basics,” sponsored by ecodzign and CFOwise. Those who attended learned valuable information about social media, making news, finding prospects, and more.

We will post clips from the webinar on this blog in the weeks ahead.

If you missed it, and would like to hear what was presented and/or learn about our upcoming webinars, please join the PilmerPR “PR Tips” Newsletter. By joining, you may also receive exclusive discount codes for future PilmerPR events.

Sign up for the PilmerPR “PR Tips” Newsletter:

If you would like to learn what PilmerPR can do, right now, for your business (including hosting your own webinar), visit our contact page.

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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:

• Social Media – Money Maker or Energy Leak
• Press Releases – Not Just for Reporters Anymore
• Online Media Revolution – A Conceptual and Monetary Shift
• Measurement – Turning PR into Money
• Watering Holes – Finding Prospects in 2010
• Avoiding Potholes – Common Errors of Entrepreneurs
• What’s News? – Making News Newsworthy
• And More!

“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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Two of the top three YouTube videos of 2009 were entirely amateur.

“David After Dentist” racked up more than 37 million views, and “JK Wedding Entrance Dance” received more than 33 million. The rest were re-purposed content from television and movies.

But can small businesses get similar success with a household camera?

Inc. Magazine’s Technology blog posed the question to PilmerPR, specifically regarding the increasingly-popular Flip cameras. Would potential customers forgive the bad lighting and background noise if they were viewing the video online?  PilmerPR answered with a clear YES.

From the article, “Five Ways Pocket Video Betters Business“:

Since the cameras are easier to use, business owners are more likely to exercise a little creativity and shoot video more often. The drawbacks are relatively minor and include lighting, occasional sound quality issues (the Flip lacks a jack for an external microphone) and the lack of a professional producer’s eye.

The tradeoffs are well worth it in the age of online video says Andon Carling of PilmerPR, a Utah firm that specializes in public relations for small- to medium-sized businesses. “Some experts have calculated that TV-quality video can cost $2,000 a minute. The same minute with a Flip camera would cost a small fraction of the price,” Carling says. “Furthermore, online viewers may not trust a high-quality, production-studio film as much as they would a grass-roots ‘man on the street’ production. From a public relations standpoint, a shaky picture adds a level of sincerity.”

PilmerPR, has been using Flip cameras for the past few years with small-to-medium sized businesses. The cameras help us deliver Web-based video on a budget that meets their needs.

Here are a few examples of how we have used Flip cameras for the Web:

• John Pilmer, founder of PilmerPR and Chairman of the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum, was interviewed for a quick-turnaround video about the forum. We used Windows Movie Maker to edit the film, which also saved hundreds of dollars for the client. The video is now posted numerous places on the Web. See “What is UVEF?“.
• For the same client, John Pilmer interviewed the winner of a UVEF award. In the past year, this video has already received nearly 2,000 views. See “Agel – UVEF Top 25 Under Five Winner.”
• For Certiport, a global computer certification provider, we interviewed the CEO as he discussed the use of Certiport’s digital certifications. See “Retooling for Jobs – Certiport CEO David Saedi.”

PilmerPR specializes in new ways to get the most bang for our clients’ buck. Flip cameras are just one tool in that social media arsenal. Contact us to learn about other ways we can help your business.

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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