navigate communications

• 08Jul

  Do I regret not buying an iPhone (yet)?

  6 Comments

  Do I regret not buying an iPhone? Yes and no. I have seen a couple now, and while the device is incredibly sleek, there are some drawbacks that I hope will be resolved with the next version. Here are the reasons I resisted the hype and did not buy an iPhone. For those of you that really know me, this is a major feat. I am an Apple sort of guy (our house runs an Apple network for home entertainment and work). I am also a bit of a gadget guy.

  1. As an “Internet device”, I would expect the iPhone to help me connect my computer online while I’m mobile, but this is not the case. It cannot function as a modem.
  2. The Internet speed crawls from most accounts I’ve read. My wife has a 3G Motorola RAZR that rocks when it comes to a relatively high-speed multimedia experience, but the service is unavailable everywhere. I may in fact see if I can get my hands on the new RAZR2 when it comes out later this month (Motorola is a Fleishman-Hillard client). There is a great overview discussing why Apple did not incorporate 3G into the current iPhone from AppleInsider. Fortunately, iPhone users can flip to Wi-Fi if it’s available.
  3. The battery replacement seems to be a major concern. The battery lasts approximately 400 charges and when it dies it needs to be returned to Apple for three days at a cost of $80 for the replacement battery, $7 for shipping and $29 for a loaner phone if required. Talk about a pain! Especially on top of a $500 - $600 purchase price and a minimum monthly service fee of $60 on a two year contract. Mind you, the service fee doesn’t seem to be too exorbitant.
  4. Work at this point is not outfitted to support the iPhone. This is completely understandable, but the built in VPN features are something I’d hope to explore if I was to own an iPhone at one point.

  These drawbacks were enough to derail my initial desire for the hottest new device. I am still envious when I see an iPhone. It’s cool enough, but lacks in practicality for my immediate priorities. That may change though. We’ll see.

  Technorati Tags: iphone, apple, motorola, razr, razr2, cell phone, mobile phone

• 30May

  Sample new media release for GeoCommons

  , , , 1 Comment

  Here’s a great blog posting referenced in the New Media Release group about lessons learned on a recent new media release produced by GeoCommons’ agency. They blogged about the experience and provided a link to the release.

  In particular, they seemed to do a pretty good job with their online editorial outreach (OEO) outlined in the following paragraph:

  “Further, our outreach to the blogging community was value-based, not simply pitch centric, inviting the community to use the maps for their own purposes in whatever way they wanted. As such we started a dialog with several bloggers, and anticipate they will give GeoCommons a whirl. We really see this as a peering technology, and as such the world of social networks will drive the actual usage of GeoCommons maps to their tastes. So we anticipate that GeoCommons will be found valuable to bloggers and other social network users, and that the maps will start being used in place of older push-pin types of mash-ups.”

• 23May

  Don’t be a son of a pitch when it comes to reaching bloggers

  , , , 5 Comments

  There was a bit of a buzz today regarding a pitch one of our youth trend spotters in Fleishman-Hillard’s Next Great Thing (NGT) made trying to raise visibility of their recently launched team blog. It appears that her pitch, while generating a largely favorable response irked one esteemed blogger in particular who shared it with her network sparking a bit of a blurt about how PR and marketing agencies need to learn how to properly approach bloggers. Notice I didn’t use the word “pitch”. Toby Bloomberg (that esteemed blogger) offered her 12 Blogger Relations Secrets For PR, Advertising and Brand Marketers. She included a bonus tip that read, “In the world of social media relationships are the new currency.”

  This is bang on. I keep telling my peers that rapport is the most important thing in social media. The concept of pitching works in some instances if it’s relevant. Some of our online editorial outreach folks make it a habit of leading with a question and getting a nod of permission before offering up what we think may be of value or of interest. The most important thing is to know your audience. What’s going to appeal? How is it going to be interpreted?

  I personally am more comfortable in the realm of rapport versus pitches. More often than not you generate results through the connections you have built up. It’s just like landing a great job or an incredible client. So much of it is who you know and being in the right place at the right time. Cliché but true.

  I guess the trick is to define your own style that works for you and the recipients of your communication.

  In order to excel in this new environment, you need to be a known and credible resource. PR people in particular are typically well suited for social media if they can get past the concept of packaging information in traditional formats. We use the social media mix to make it work. PR professionals have access to the subject matter experts that can offer unique and informative points of view. We also have access to the facts, research and materials that can provide greater context. Based on my experience, if people know you can deliver and help them enhance their content, you’re going to do well.

  FH is in the process of globally switching on the firm to embrace digital communication. Ethics and being appropriate within digital culture are two of the greatest tenets we promote as people come on stream. We also talk a ton about respect for the individual, being authentic and transparent, and not over marketing. We’re engaging in a conversation and contributing to a community. In order to really create value, you need to be passionate about what you do and what your clients do. If you can’t speak with enthusiasm and insight, should you really engage in the dialogue?

  Also see my colleague David Jones’ take on this: Bad blog pitch? You be the judge

  Technorati Tags: social media, public relations, blogger relations, fleishman-hillard

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