A while back I was discussing how the ability of driving traffic to stories is nothing new for PR professionals. Actually, I strongly believe being able to generate buzz and traffic around a story published in the media about a client is something journalists should consider when covering a topic. In the current background, it seems that this ability of PRs will prove to be worth quite a bit in the business world.

We all know that blogs and online news outlets usually give bonuses to their writers based on traffic, engagement or shares that help spread the word. It’s not unusual for a writer to make more just because his or her story gets tons of retweets or Facebook shares or because it brings in thousands of visits. Continue reading

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Research reports and survey results are always a great way to get some attention for your company and for the products and services you sell. A report on new threats from an antivirus company, a survey on how much spam companies get from a mail server developer partnering with an Anti-spam application, a report on how online users share news through social media from a news outlet, survey results on how journalists and bloggers want to be approach and through which channels from a PR or marketing company, these are all great ideas to help you plunge into an in-depth analysis and get some valuable data to spread through the industry and beyond.

While the interest in your company as a trend setter or key source when it comes to market analysis is a goal worth following, coming up with valuable information from your research and surveys is not always very easy. It takes time, quite some planning, reaching out to customers, peers, other industry analysts, wrapping up results in an informative, easy to digest text and then promoting it through all major outlets.

Yet data that concerns all is always more newsworthy than a new service or product or an enhancement to an old one. It’s something of far greater impact, not only useful to those in your field, but also a effective tool to help potential customers find out what problems they are actually dealing with and why they’d need what you’re selling. Plus, seeing major news and industry outlets mentioning your name along with your research paper or survey data does wonders to brand awareness.

Have you tried using research and surveys to increase brand recognition and to gain more customers and business partners? Which were the results and what resources have you invested to get the final product?

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How often do you come across people hired to promote a company or their products? I’m referring to those spreading coupons, those showcasing products at stands placed in malls, at those looking nice and interesting at trade events and promoting contests for visitors. How many times were they either too pushy or completely unable to help you?

The person you pay to spread out flyers of all kinds, to present your products or just look hot near a car you’re launching, is a company representative in the eyes of your customer. Customers generally don’t care it’s a temporary gig for them, that you had no time to train them or that maybe they’re just having a bad day. Potential buyers either want answers fast or not to be bothered by pushy people. Continue reading

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As you arleady know, a while ago I debuted on Everything PR and have since become one of their regular writers. It’s been fun and challenging and I’d like to keep you updated with what I’m posting there. So I decided the best way was a monthly roundup (along with the tweets and Facebook shares that annouce my new articles). Here’s what I’ve been up to this month, hope you enjoy it!

Coca Cola’s New Social Media Model: Going for the Kill
Coca Cola has revealed its new social media model. It is called the 4P model, namely reviewing, responding, recording and redirecting. There’s nothing quite revolutionary behind the fancy naming, but it is a tested, well documented, experiment and success backed model to help them accomplish marketing and sales goals.

Vocus Launches New Social Media Monitoring Tool
Vocus has released a new and improved version of its social media monitoring software, the Summer ‘10 Edition. The new application focuses on monitoring and analyzing the massive amounts of online information spread across blogs, forums, Twitter, LinkedIn and other online communities, identify and help engage key influencers.

Vocus acquired free PR service Help a Reporter Out (HARO)
Following a recent release of their social media monitoring software, Vocus announced they had acquired Help a Reporter Out (HARO), a free service connecting bloggers and journalists with their sources, mostly small businesses and entrepreneurs. Continue reading

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Yes, common sense! What we should really take for granted is becoming as rare as miracles. People are so hasty in pushing their own agenda that there’s no time for courtesy, for being nice instead of completely selfish and oblivious of the fact you’re addressing a human being.

Never mind the poor texts sent through email, blog comments and all other channels. Never mind the “what’s in it for me part”! That’s a whole other level of refinement. I really mean the basics of social interaction. Like saying hello, using someone’s name, saying thank you and goodbye. Yes, I am talking about making that other person feel a bit more valuable than just a blog name and an email address you’ve just ticked on a long xls file.

This is becoming so rare, it scares me. OK, you have no time to look for my name, although you can see it on every post I publish. I get the pressure of long to-do lists. But use a ” Hello” or a “Hi” or just “Good morning”! Thank me for allotting 5 minutes of my time to your email or message, then drop a copy/paste line such as “Best regards” or “Have a great afternoon!”.

Either PR people lack all common courtesy skills, or they think bloggers are vane, sub-human creatures that don’t need hellos, but need their ego-boosting pat on the back. Something like saying you chose them because they rank well on some fairly popular site. By the way, try to use a site they actually show up as top dogs on!

I tend to believe it’s the first theory, because such thoughtless messages are also sent to journalists, business partners, customers and whoever else they might come in contact with, not just to bloggers! I understand the fast-paced, Internet-bound world we’re living in has turned us into creatures talking in text message and instant messaging slang. But even on Twitter and messenger we stop to say hello!

Let’s return to the basics! Let’s be nice and thoughtful, act like human beings and have a tidbit of common sense! It’s good PR

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