Author Archives: Rafe
Tip #196: Gone and forgotten
If you get me on the phone, and you ask if I got your e-mail, which you shouldn’t, but if you do, and I say, “I don’t see it here,” then I’d like you to know a few things. First, … Continue reading
Tip #195: Super what?
Don’t start a phone pitch with a geeky tech journalist by going on and on about the Super Bowl. I’m not saying that no tech journos are football fans, but the chances are significant that the person you’re pitching is … Continue reading
Filed under Compassion, Phone
Tip #194: Don’t bury the embargo
Embargoes and NDAs are bad enough. The presumptive embargo is worse: where you send embargoed information along with the embargo notice, without first making sure your recipient will agree to honor the embargo at all. But look! Here’s a new … Continue reading
Tip #193: The play’s the thing
Why go to a trade show if you’re not going to take advantage of peoples’ interest there? Or the possible widespread press attention? I found out about a cool gadget that was going to be shown at one of this … Continue reading
Filed under Common sense
Tip #192: You can’t be serious
Just because you take yourself seriously, it doesn’t mean I have to. This tip is for everyone who’s pitching me to cover their smartphone case or revolutionary screen cleaning product at CES next week. You’ve been warned. Hat tip: Paul … Continue reading
Filed under Bad ideas
Tip #191: Would it kill you to use words?
I know, you think your email pitches look better if you put big, fancy graphics in them. But they don’t look so hot if your recipient has images blocked by default, or worse, is reading their messages on a smartphone … Continue reading
Filed under Email
Tip #190: Oh, that’s what I’m supposed to do?
Please banish this redundancy from your email subject lines: “Please read.” As opposed to what? Wait… there are answers! From Twitter: “Please Read …aloud, while standing on your head.” (@MattStubbs) “Please delete prior to opening” (@MrCippy) “Please perform a dramatic … Continue reading
Filed under Email
Tip #189: Zoom in and enhance
A smartphone is an intensely personal device. It’s hard to share one. So when giving a demo of mobile software, especially to a writer with trifocals (ahem), use a tablet instead. This works especially well for iPhone apps. They’re actually … Continue reading
Filed under Compassion
Tip #188: What did I just say about focus?
Today I was doing the usual back-and-forth with a PR rep, trying to set up an interview with a CEO. I just got this email: I heard from [[CEO]] that he is free any time after 12 noon on Friday. … Continue reading
Tip #187: How do you quantify lack of focus?
When you’re demoing your mobile app, it is OK to not show me how the user changes units of measurement from Metric to Imperial. Really.
Filed under Meetings
Rafe
