May 2, 2012
compiled by Raschanda Hall, Global Media Relations Manager, Business Wire/Chicago
Recently
@muckrack asked journalists to share some of their pitching pet peeves in a
#muckedup chat. I’ve compiled my favorites for your learning pleasure.
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Posted by raschandahall
March 15, 2012
Corporations, non-profits organizations and professional communicators around the world took part in Social Media Week this past
Pilar Portela, Business Wire Media Relations Representative
February. Pilar Portela, Media Relations Supervisor and Business Wire LatinoWire Representative served as a panelist at a discussion hosted by Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) South Florida that focused on social media for economic development.
Panelists Included:
L-R: Natascha Otero, Brenda Leguisamo, Pilar Portela, Ernesto Sosa, Jorge Fernandez, Blanca Stella Mejia, and Carlos Pedraja
Social Media is not just about marketing or technology
Rodriguez stated that, aside from social media being about marketing and technology, more and more it’s about how a product today is made or made better collaboratively. For non-government and government organizations it’s about how to raise money. Increasingly for all it’s about how work gets done. This is something that impacts both big businesses and small businesses.
Pedraja talked about how Google not only caters to big businesses but makes sure it is providing small businesses the online search tools that will allow for collaboration to happen instantaneously and speed up the business practice. For Google collaborating with businesses is in their DNA. You can find a host of Google Apps for Businesses online.
International Trade and Social Media are a Great Mix
Leguisamo stated that in Miami it’s increasingly important to create more cash flow between businesses both locally and internationally. Using social media to increase sales outside of the country can hugely impact the local market.
When the real estate market crashed in South Florida, ONE Sotheby’s was forced to look for new ways to generate interest in the local market. Fernandez says ONE Sotheby’s used social media to tap into the interest of foreign buyers. They madetheir Twitter, Facebook, blog and website available in three languages: Spanish, English and Portuguese. As a result, in 2011, 60% of their residential sales in Miami came from foreign buyers.
Having the right mix – SEO, Social Media and Sharing
When it comes to the communication outreach efforts of Business Wire, Portela says
“We see clients using a number of tools to not only get their messages across and extend the life of their press releases but to have a web presence and build relationships with media in both traditional and social media newsrooms as well. Having the right mix is not an `or’ proposition but an `and’ proposition to conduct business today. You have to leverage mobile, social media and traditional communication strategies.”
In retrospect, each panelist had a different take on how social media has helped their industry but all agreed that collaboration and communication is the key to building a new vision to power the economy.
To view the live streamed panel discussion visit: http://new.livestream.com/smwmiami/socialmediaforeconomicdevelopment/videos/160007
Photos courtesy of Blanca Stella Mejia, Latism South Florida.
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2 Comments | LatinoWire, Media Relations, MRT, social media, Targeting | Tagged: Blanca Stella Mejia, Brenda Leguisamo, Carlos Pedraja, Economic Development, Giovanni Rodriguez, Jorge Rodriguez, Latinos in Social Media, LATISM, Pilar Portela, social media, Social Media Week | Permalink
Posted by Phil Dennison, Senior Marketing Specialist, Business Wire
December 20, 2011
– by Shawnee Cohn, Media Relations Specialist, Business Wire/NY
Shawnee Cohn
If you think mobile apps are solely for fun and games, think again.
A recent study conducted by Flurry showed that consumers are spending more time on their mobile applications than on the Internet. The tablet revolution is changing the way in which journalists tell stories, as well as how they prefer to be pitched.
However, PR pros do not have to sit back and wait for their clients to generate media coverage. Smart businesses can ‘go mobile’ by creating their own apps to connect with customers and build their brand.
Here at Business Wire, we launched our very own mobile app so that our news content can be easily accessed from any location.
Leaders in the industry insist that PR professionals must not only learn about mobile app development, but also take advantage of the opportunities it offers to increase brand loyalty.
However, not every application hits a high note, and many have failed in the past. So what is the formula to create a successful mobile app?
Recently the International Association of Business Communicators/NY Chapter hosted a panel covering the ways in which brands can utilize mobile strategy to strengthen their PR, communications and marketing efforts.
The panel featured:
- David Weiner, Digital Media Manager, PepsiCo
- Lou Tosto, SVP Digital & Mobile Sales, CNBC.com
- Sarah Meron, Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications, American Express Company
- Adam Carey, Client Services Director, Imano
- Nicole Kuritsky, Senior Manager Emerging and Social Media, Rodale
The group of mobile marketing experts had a wealth of beneficial tips to offer regarding best mobile practices. Here are some key take-aways:
The customer is key: The panelists agreed that positive user reviews are highly influential when it comes to the success of your app. Make sure that your design allows for both a seamless and engaging user experience. Also, keep in mind that including polls and surveys within your app can be a valuable tool to help you learn about your audience.
Ask yourself, “Do I need an app?”: Sarah Meron of American Express notes that brands must consider whether their application creates a new experience for the user, different from that which is available on the original website. Will your iPad app offer value that the customer cannot find on any other platform? David Weiner of PepsiCo commented that brands should first place emphasis on becoming mobile-friendly before beginning the app development process. You might be convinced that your app is the first of its kind, but take a thorough look at the various stores to make sure an app similar to yours does not already exist, suggests Nicole Kuritsky of Rodale.
If you build it, they might not come: Building an app does not necessarily guarantee that customers will automatically rush to download it; thorough marketing and PR efforts are still as critical as ever. Make sure all systems are go before the app is live, and remember to include a link to the app store in whatever marketing materials you release to promote the new development. Adam Carey of Imano also suggests including a casual game within the app to spark the interest of potential customers. But be careful before you try to create the application yourself; development is a complicated undertaking. Partnerships with mobile consulting firms are the “name of the game,” and you “will fail if you try it yourself,” according to Sarah Meron of America Express.
For more information on the IABC New York Chapter , visit www.nyiabc.com. You can also get the latest mobile/wireless news by registering at www.businesswire.com.
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Leave a Comment » | Mobile, new media, Public Relations, social media, Targeting | Tagged: apps, media relations, mobile, mobile PR, PR, Public Relations, tablets | Permalink
Posted by Phil Dennison, Senior Marketing Specialist, Business Wire
October 6, 2011
by Danny Selnick, Vice President, Public Policy Services
Business Wire’s LatinoWire hosted a panel event for professional communicators on Sept. 28 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
The panel featured:
- Erica Gonzalez, Executive Editor of El Diario/La Prensa
- Julio Aliaga, News Director, Telemundo (Washington, DC affiliate)
- Hilda Garcia, Vice President of Multiplatform Content and Information for impreMedia
- Charlie Ericksen, Managing Editor and founder of Hispanic Link
L-R: Danny Selnick, Julio Aliaga, Erica Gonzales, Hilda Garcia. Seated: Charlie Ericksen. Photo by: Michael Toner/Business Wire
Moderated by Danny Selnick, vice president for Business Wire’s Public Policy Services, panel members all underscored the notion that professional communicators must understand the particular needs and interests of this ethnic community and the Hispanic media that is in touch with their readers, viewers and listeners — only with that understanding can communicators successfully connect.
Key points made by each panelist:
Erica Gonzalez:
Erica pointed out that it is important to understand the history of Hispanic journalism. Spanish-language media should be treated as a valid news outlet – not a 2nd class one. Your news should relate to the audience – just because it has been translated into Spanish doesn’t qualify it as being newsworthy to the audience.
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Leave a Comment » | Business Wire Events, journalism, LatinoWire, Pitching, social media, Targeting | Tagged: Business Wire, Danny Selnick, Erica Gonzales, Hilda Garcia, Hispanic Link, Hispanic media, impreMedia, Latino media, Spanish language news, Telemundo | Permalink
Posted by Phil Dennison, Senior Marketing Specialist, Business Wire
May 13, 2011
by Liz Koch, Media Relations Specialist, Business Wire/Boston
Directly from those who cover the biotech, pharma and medical device industries: tips for getting your life sciences announcement covered by mainstream media and niche industry publications alike.
“Media often prefer to write about broader trend stories than individual pieces on just one company or product,” says Todd Wallack, Business Reporter for The Boston Globe who formerly covered life science firms.
That means putting the news in context. For instance, maybe your company is part of a wave of oncology firms winning venture capital to develop cancer fighting agents. “If you can name the other companies, that will help make the case that’s it’s a broader story than one company firing off a press release, says Wallack.
Brad Perriello, co-founder and executive editor of the Massachusetts Medical Devices Journal (MassDevice.com), suggests always including a link to key information. “I want to be able to find the release online. Always include in your pitch a URL for the press release on a newswire or company website posting. Just including the URL ups your chances by 50 percent.”
To summarize:
- Give your press release some context and don’t be afraid to mention your peers. Relate your announcement to industry trends and hot topics.
- Your news is going to be accessible on every social media platform, so make your release available right away by always including a URL for your release in your pitch email.
Use these tips and you’ll maximize your biotechnology or pharmaceutical announcement’s potential to get the “healthiest” results!
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Posted by Phil Dennison, Senior Marketing Specialist, Business Wire
March 28, 2011
by Nikelle Feimster, Media Relations Specialist, Business Wire/NY
Nikelle Feimster
The Publicity Club of New York (PCNY) recently held a business media briefing at 3 West Club in New York City. The event, moderated by Peter Himler, Founder and Principal of Flatiron Communications LL, included a panel of guests from top business magazines. The speakers were: Michael Santoli, Senior Editor & “Streetwise” Columnist, Barron’s; Jeff Chu, Articles Editor, Fast Company; Steve Bertoni, Reporter, Forbes; Nadine Heintz, Senior Editor, Inc. Magazine; Russell Pearlman, Senior Markets Editor, SmartMoney Magazine.
Here are a few techniques offered by the panelists on how PR professionals can increase their chances of getting media coverage:
Make your pitch challenging. According to Steve Bertoni, Forbes is always known as the “drama critics of capitalism”. He said that for the magazine, stories need to have challenge or conflict so be sure there is drama or a lesson in your pitch.
Take time to build relationships. Russell Pearlman of SmartMoney Magazine advised PR pros to invest in long term relationships with journalists. He is willing to contact companies for information, but only after he has developed a relationship with them first. It’s also helpful to provide him with a client list that explains what each client can talk about.
Make sure your pitch fits the publication. According to Nadine Heintz of Inc. Magazine, you should know and read the magazine. “Show that you understand it and how your story would be a good fit,” she said. When pitching Fast Company, Jeff Chu said to check out the magazine issue covering the world’s most fifty innovative companies to get a good sense of the companies they cover.
Small companies, small industry you can still get big coverage. Inc. Magazine only covers privately held companies. Heintz will focus on how people start their own business and what makes them successful. Also, Barron’s writers are not bound by a beat assignment so ”everything is pretty much fair game,” said Michael Santoli.
The panelists provided additional tips for pitching, like:
- Don’t continue to call without leaving a voice message.
- Spell the writer’s name correctly.
- Stay away from jargon.
- Put the news in the headline and subhead of the email.
PCNY has monthly “Meet the Media” luncheons that include a panel of guests from leading print, broadcast and online news organizations. For more information on upcoming events, visit www.publicityclub.org.
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Leave a Comment » | journalism, Media Relations, Public Relations, Publicity, Targeting | Tagged: Jeff Chu, media pitching, media pitching tips, Michael Santoli, Nadine Heintz, Nikelle Feimster, PCNY, pitching, pitching tips, Publicity Club of New York, Russell Pearlman, Steve Bertoni | Permalink
Posted by Phil Dennison, Senior Marketing Specialist, Business Wire
October 15, 2010
Tradeshows are still one of the most important channels for both B2B and B2C companies to show their products and services to interested buyers. With so many major shows coming up in the next several months, what strategies can help you maximize your tradeshow marketing investment?
Karen Reynolds, Regional Manager, Business Wire/Boston offers some tradeshow guidelines in a blog post at the Publicity Club of New England site. Click over and spend a few minutes of your Friday getting some great advice.
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Leave a Comment » | Targeting, Trade Show News | Tagged: Karen Reynolds, Online Press Kit, press releases, Publicity Club, Trade Show, trade shows, tradeshow, tradeshow marketing, tradeshows | Permalink
Posted by Phil Dennison, Senior Marketing Specialist, Business Wire
October 1, 2010
by Cecile Oreste, Media Relations Specialist, Business Wire/DC
Business Wire/DC hosted a “Meet the Technology Media” Event at Marriott Tysons Corner in Vienna, Virginia on Wednesday, September 29th. The panel discussion, moderated by Cecile Oreste, Media Relations Specialist, featured five technology journalists from some of the area’s top media outlets:
About 120 public relations and communications professionals were in attendance to learn how to increase your organization’s chances of securing media coverage. Attendees joined in the conversation during a question and answer section and also by live tweeting the event using the #BWEvents hash tag.
Here are some of the key points from the panel discussion:
- Headlines are important. Nick Wakeman said to think about your press release headline as a headline in a newspaper. Just as media outlets compete for readers at the newsstand, public relations professionals must compete for the attention of journalists in their inbox. The headline should tell reporters why they should care. For The Hill, you should have a clear link to politics or policy issues, said Gautham Nagesh.
- Include your organization in the e-mail subject. Paul Sherman noted that e-mail subjects are key in a mobile environment. Rob Pegoraro added that including a client and product name in the e-mail subject makes it easier for him to find the message later on.
- Know who you’re pitching. Every journalist has his or her own preferences when it comes to being pitched. Paul Sherman noted that he prefers texts over voicemails. Nick Wakeman likes when you follow up your e-mail with a phone call. There is no secret formula to media relations. You just need to do your homework.
- Consider your audience. Bill Flook pointed out that the Washington Business Journal reaches two different audiences through its online and print editions. Think about how your story fits in and remember that exclusivity matters for print while immediacy is more important for the web.
- Go beyond the pitch. According to Gautham Nagesh, Twitter can be an effective way to generate interest. If his followers are interested in your message, he will be more inclined to pay attention. Rob Pegoraro noted that commenting on articles online is a great way to provide information that was not included in the story. Bill Flook suggests setting up informational interviews with your CEO. Often, meetings like these can result in story ideas.
For more upcoming local Business Wire events or to see what’s coming up in our award-winning webinar series, visit http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/business-wire-events.
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Leave a Comment » | Business Wire Events, journalism, Media Relations, social media, Targeting | Tagged: Bill Flook, Gautham Nagesh, Nick Wakeman, Paul Sherman, pitching journalists, pitching media, Potomac Tech Wire, Rob Pegoraro, The Hill, Washington Business Journal, washington dc, washington dc journalists, washington dc technology journalits, Washington Post, Washington Technology | Permalink
Posted by Phil Dennison, Senior Marketing Specialist, Business Wire
September 2, 2010
by Pilar Portela, Media Relations Specialist, Business Wire/Florida
With Hispanic Heritage Month beginning yesterday, keep in mind that the Hispanic consumer base in the U.S. is so big (50 million people) that all marketers, not just Hispanic brands, need to be targeting this group. Also, Latinos are now the nation’s second-largest consumer market after white non-Hispanics. Check out Pew Hispanic Center’s new case studies: “The Latino Digital Divide: The Native Born versus the Foreign Born” and “How Young Latinos Communicate with Friends in the Digital Age“.
The Pew Hispanic reports found that when it comes to socializing and communicating with friends, young Latinos (ages 16 to 25) make extensive use of mobile technology. Hispanic Youths vs. Hispanic Adults: Hispanics ages 16 to 25 are more likely than Hispanics ages 26 and older to use mobile technologies to communicate with their friends. While half (50%) of young Latinos use texting to communicate, just 21% of older Latinos do the same.
Check out the latest companies using LatinoWire, including Yahoo!, UnitedHealth Group, Best Buy, KFC, Sprint, McCormick, Prudential, Comcast, and Mayo Clinic, just to name a few. These releases run in English and Spanish with translation included! This is a great time for your company to share stories about culture, inspiration, success and more.
Keeping Hispanic Heritage Month in mind, we also encourage you to sign up any knowledgeable experts from your company or organization in our ExpertSource database. Individuals who can share insight into the Hispanic experience, be it business, events, issues or culture, will help make diverse voices available to media members all year round.
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1 Comment | LatinoWire, Targeting | Tagged: Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanic media, hispanic news, Latino media, latino news, LatinoWire, spanish language media | Permalink
Posted by Phil Dennison, Senior Marketing Specialist, Business Wire
August 19, 2010
by Andy Kehoe, Media Relations Specialist, Business Wire/Dallas
Rick Hadley, News Director, WBAP
The Texas Public Relations Association sponsored a “Meet the Media” event on Aug. 17 at the studios of WBAP News/Talk 820AM & 96.7FM in Arlington, Texas. The featured speakers were Rick Hadley, news director, and Tyler Cox, operations manager. WBAP broadcasts a local morning news show, followed by a local talk show (The Mark Davis Show) and syndicated talk shows in the afternoon. In March, WBAP became the first news/talk station in North Texas to have an FM simulcast (on 96.7 FM). Here are some comments from the morning’s discussion:
- When pitching a story idea, it’s important that the story will somehow relate directly to the station’s listeners, Hadley said. If it’s a national story, there needs to be a way to localize it for the listeners.
- It helps to do some research on the station and its programs. If you are pitching interview subjects, don’t offer to send the author of a new “love advice” book to be a guest on the station’s political talk show.
- If you have a story idea that is not time-sensitive, pitch it on a Thursday. This way, the story can hold until the weekend newscast when there’s more time for it to air.
- When it comes to business news, they’re not as interested in things like earnings and product announcements as they are in stories that will directly affect listeners. “If American Airlines is building a new park in a depressed part of town, of if they make an announcement about having more legroom on flights, that is something we would probably cover,” Hadley said.
- WBAP hardly ever runs PSAs. Instead, they prefer to incorporate that kind of content into their other weekly programs.
- The station’s new FM simulcast was launched to attract a younger, more female demographic. “Most people only listen to FM radio. If you ask the average 20- or 30-year-old today, a lot of them won’t even know what AM radio is,” said Cox.
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Leave a Comment » | journalism, Media Relations, Targeting | Tagged: local radio, news radi, news/talk, Rick Hadley, talk radio, Texas Public Relations Association, TPRA, Tyler Cox, WBAP, WBAP Texas | Permalink
Posted by Phil Dennison, Senior Marketing Specialist, Business Wire
