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.

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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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Too often companies are so eager to jump on the next hot thing that they forget to strategize their approach. This concept is painfully true for businesses of all sizes when it comes to social media. Disjointed, unplanned and poorly executed are too frequently the adjectives that best describe a company’s social media tactics. This causes company “energy leaks” that can be prevented.

A blog post about X, a Tweet about Y, and a press release about Z, waste time, energy and resources. Blog posts, Tweets, press releases, social bookmarking and more should be done in a strategic manner to create synergy and to play the symphony of social media.

Playing the Social Media Symphony

The symphony and social media tactics have a lot in common. Just as a symphony carefully coordinates many instruments, a strong social media strategy should employ all the available tools for optimal success.

Read more at Utah Business Magazine

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As the popularity of Facebook continues to grow, business owners are trying to figure out how they can capitalize on the more than 300 million Facebook users. With more than 40 million status updates and ten million users becoming fans of business pages each day, there has to be a market for your company.

As a public relations firm, one of the most frequent questions we are asked about Facebook is this: “Okay, I have a Facebook business page. Now what?” Signing up for and creating a Facebook business page is simple. However, making a meaningful, relevant and useable page for your market is a different process.

Here are a few basic practices that can help your Facebook business page grow in popularity.

Read more at Utah Business Magazine

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What is Ozzy Osbourne like in person? Is Lance Armstrong arrogant? What about Michael Jordan, Regis Philbin or George W. Bush?

PilmerPR is helping launch iFollo.com, a new social media community to offer a broader view of what celebrities are really like beyond the screen, camera, and field.

There are more than 100 million celebrity fan Web sites out there, but the majority are created and written by professional editorial staff. Tabloid magazines often cover the same the sensational gossip and incriminating photos as their counterparts. iFollo is unlike anything else available. The Web site bases all of its content on real experiences from real people.

iFollo allows people to do the following:

• Post stories about their celebrity encounters
• Read content generated from the stories of real people and their experiences with celebrities
• Rate celebrities based on looks, smarts, arrogance and more
• Upload photos and video in addition to their celebrity story
• Personalize iFollo by choosing what celebrities they want to follow

The site just launched this morning, and already has dozens of stories. It is also creating buzz across the Internet.

Try it out at www.ifollo.com.

Read more about it at Investor’s Business Daily.

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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.

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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

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Jon Huntsman Jr

Gov Gary Herbert

Public Relations and Politics stick together like syrup on pancakes. Jon Huntsman and Gary Herbert’s PR folks were busy today as their efforts culminated in a regal inauguration event in the Utah State Capitol. A large crowd of thousands jostled for limited seating and strained to hear the words of hope offered by leaders.

As lively public debate swirls today in Washington DC on HB 3200 and its questionable nationalized promise of healthcare for all, Utahns in attendance looked to more local leadership on burning issues related to the economy, jobs, and promises of education for all. Gary Herbert has gone on record saying his top priority would be 1) economic revitalization 2) education. These topics echoed again in today’s ceremony.

Jon Huntsman Jr. recounted the path to prosperity in the state under his leadership, keeping his remarks hopeful and brief. We were reminded that Utah’s economy ranks at the top of the heap of states who’s troubles far surpass those in our state.  On his way to China, Huntsman now looks forward to a larger playing field, wielding influence with the USA’s largest trading partner.

Gov Herbert recounted the record of his predecessor with high praise. The governor expressed his confidence in Utah’s collective innovation as a path to prosperity. He recounted data showing Utah is most likely to emerge early from the current national recession.  #1 Priority - economy and jobs. Herbert praised companies like Utah Valley’s Omniture for leading the way. He emphasized hard work as a key factor for economic growth. #2 Priority - Education, paramount to our future success as we build leaders of tomorrow. Herbert said education paves that road to future prosperity.  The state’s new leader committed to a hands on leadership role for education under his administration.

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Libya dedicates more than a third of its national budget on education, striving to compete in the global economy. The nation has the wealthiest citizenry in Africa, but is still trying to close the digital divide after more than two decades of trade embargo that were not lifted until 2004.

Khaled El Hamedi, chairman of ENG Holding Libya, dedicated the last 15 years to closing that divide through training and Certiport’s Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³). On August 1, he was recognized as the Inspiration Award winner after being inducted into the Certiport Champions of Digital Literacy Hall of Fame. He is one of only five people, worldwide, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.

His goal is to continue spreading his digital literacy program beyond the borders of his country to the entire continent of Africa. He says:

“My dream is to bring this program to the entire country and even to all of Africa. But for now I would be happy to bring our program to as many people as possible and for them to benefit from these newly acquired and important skills.”

More information:
Khaled El Hamedi’s Bio (PDF)
El Hamedi’s Story: It’s Truly Inspirational (Certiblog)
His acceptance speech at Certiport PATHWAYS 2009 (YouTube)
Interview after receiving the award (YouTube)
Press Release

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