Ignore the Big News Hook, but Not the Risks of Social Media (and Other PR Blog Jots)
PR Squared
In light of the upcoming Superbowl, which will no doubt have public relations agencies and marketing firms scrambling to tie their clients’ campaigns to such a large national event, Todd Defren suggests stepping back from the “big” news meme of the day in order to get ahead. He notes that at times of large national stories, journalists and media outlets are already receiving more pitches than they can sort through. Defren argues that pitching stories during slower news cycles is a better way to build media relationships. “Provide information and content (whether related to clients or not) in the quieter times, when the media could really use a helping hand, and they'll not only reward you with more in-depth coverage when things are quiet --- they'll also remember you more fondly when you come up with a "touchdown!"-level pitch about the Big Game.”
Do Not Ignore the Risks of Social Media
Canuckflack
Colin McKay lays out a risk/benefit scenario for social media that he feels should be standard when an agency launches any campaign in such a new medium. He points to several of the risk factors of a social media campaign, and lays out methods to prepare for and respond to those risks. “A capable counsellor always tempers their pie-in-the-sky projections with a dose of reality. For example: our blogger relations program could help influence online opinion of our new program - or it could really irritate one particularly influential commentator. Preparing the groundwork before launching your new communications strategy will insulate it from unintended consequences.”
Vista Hits Shelves - And Blogosphere
901am
Thord Hedengren links to a Blogger's Blog list of in-depth online coverage of the launch of Microsoft’s Windows Vista. He notes that because of Microsoft’s grip on the OS market in the U.S., they will always be a hot topic of blogosphere conversation, and a hot target for criticism. He calls for bloggers to criticize where necessary, but not to go over the top merely because of resentment for the company’s overwhelming success. “It’s no surprise that the launch of Windows Vista is hitting the blogosphere big time. Most major Microsoft launches and projects affect our work since so many people are running their software. It doesn’t get much bigger than a new version of Windows though, and with the recent debate on the evilness of the OS, and Microsoft itself (an always living topic), Vista is a bomb in the blogosphere.”
New Virtual Community for Kids
BL Ochman
BL Ochman tours Webkinz, a Myspace and Second Life mash-up that has become all the rage for young children. Webkinz are small stuffed animals that come with a unique code for children to enter online, granting them access to their animals virtual world, where they must maintain their new pet and have the potential to interact with others and play games. She notes that children growing up today will be the most technologically savvy generation in history. “Take a look at it and you'll begin to realize how soon the kindergarten through junior high generation will leapfrog over adults in their ability to use the Internet, their understanding of e-commerce, their acceptance of online community, and the idea that one's social life can be centered in a virtual world. Publishers, this is how kids will learn instead of with already obsolete text books. Fashion, music, art and commerce online will be as natural a part of young digital native's lives as TV was to baby boomers.”
Comments