Unless you’re Steve Jobs, don’t call to pitch me me in the middle of an Apple keynote. (Or Google, or Microsoft… you get the picture.)
Tip #114: Spelling bee
New! Tip #180 Sounds like one thing, is another
If potential customers who hear your product or company name can’t guess the spelling from the hearing, you will lose business you’d otherwise get. Fallback: Spell it when you speak it. Better: Don’t choose a product name for which the spelling isn’t obvious.
Filed under Common sense
Tip #113: Search me!
If part of your Web service demo is going to be a search query on my name, test it before you show it to me. Make sure the results are accurate and timely. If the top result is a minor story I wrote more than two years ago, it’s not good.
Filed under Common sense
Tip #112: Too slick by half
Many reporters like taking notes on business cards. So resist spending extra money to get yours printed on glossy stock that we can’t write on.
PS: Yes, front and back.
Filed under Common sense
Tip #111: Fling!
Flinging your business card to me across the table at a conference meal is not a greeting.
Filed under Common sense, Meetings
Tip #110: Anything you say…
… can be used against you. Or for you. Assume that your phone call, email, IM, or Twitter message is on the record. We sure do. Want to be off the record or anonymous? Agree to it beforehand.
Filed under Email, Phone, Relationships, Twitter
Tip #109: The caveman pitch
If you’re pitching me at a busy conference, like Demo, and it’s late in the day, and especially if I have a drink in my hand, you should know that I’ve already heard dozens of pitches. My brain is full and I’m tired. Simplify. Even more than you usually would for a journalist. Or wait until the morning of the next day.
Filed under Common sense
Tip #108: Fake it
When giving a demo, especially over the Web, don’t use example data (like addresses and phone numbers) you don’t want to see captured in screenshots and published on the home page of my site.
Filed under Meetings
Tip #107: I am not stimulated
Ok, it was funny the first time. But a discount on a small business tech product is a “sale,” not a “stimulus package.”
Filed under Bad ideas
Tip #106: Search first
Before you personally pitch me , take the time to find out if I’ve written about your company before.
Hint #1: Use the “search” box on my site.
Hint #2: “I’m new to this account,” is not an excuse.
Filed under Relationships
Rafe
Pro PR Tips 