Trying to convince me that your company name (which is not an acronym) must be written in all caps just because you say so is bad enough. You most certainly do not get to specify that some letters in it are to be in bold while others are in regular font.
Tip #141: Get a room
Yes, Mr. startup CEO, your girlfriend is hot. But try to keep your hands off her when you’re pitching me at a conference reception.
Filed under Bad ideas
Tip #140: Don’t paint your stealth fighter orange
If you tell me your company is in “stealth mode,” it should take more than ten seconds with Google to find out everything about it.
I’m looking at you, Demo presenters.
Filed under Common sense, NDAs
Tip #139: I will honor the embargo… forever
This is really frighteningly accurate, with one exception. No journo would hang out on the phone this long explaining to the flack why they were turning down the pitch.
Video by Steve O’Hear of Last100.com.
Hat tip to Bill Baker.
Tip #138: If I want trapeze artists, I’ll go to the circus
Samsung spares no expense when launching a new phone. Photo credit: Bonnie Cha/CNET
If you’re hosting a press conference, you don’t need to make a musical number of it. As CNET’s Kent German says, “It’s my job to attend, so if there’s enough room, the Internet works, we have a place to sit, and press check-in isn’t complete chaos, then I’ll be a happy camper. Even better, just send us an e-mail with your announcements.”
Filed under Meetings
Tip #137: Gate change
If you’re going to call and pitch me from an airport, find a spot to call from where your own voice will be louder than the boarding announcements coming over the loudspeakers.
Filed under Common sense, Phone
Pro PR Tips in person!
I’ll be on a fun panel with a bunch social media wonks tonight, January 19, run by the Social Media Club, about social media (surprise) and public relations. I’ll be signing copies of my book, Pro PR Tips, at the event. Co-panelist Brian Solis will also be there signing his book, Putting the Public Back in Public Relations.
Filed under Housekeeping
Tip #136: A blessing in disguise
When you pitch me and I say, “No,” I’m doing you a favor. It means you can move on with your life. If I say, “Maybe,” you’ve got one more thing to manage. And most maybes become nos anyway.
Filed under Compassion, Phone
Tip #135: Give us a little to go on
Dear PR pro: If you leave me five phone messages telling me about your “great new product,” please understand that I won’t call you back unless you tell me what said product actually is.
Thanks to Kent German for today’s tip.
Filed under Common sense, Phone
Tip #134: Check your work
If your story is that you can find personal information about people, and your pitch includes a sample report on me, you might want to make sure the product is accurate.
"Stud or Dud" is a dud at finding accurate personal infromation
Rafe
Pro PR Tips 