Browsing Tag
media
21 posts
What the Rise and Fall of Anthony Scaramucci Can Teach You About Your Startup’s Communications Strategy
I grew up in the Midwest where discussions of money, politics, religion and college football allegiances are deemed impolite. But if you’re not talking about politics in 2017, you’re likely not paying attention. It’s the best reality show on television. The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and more are getting their...
Branding: In Media, What’s Old is New Again
Over the past few years, the television industry has grappled with diminishing ad revenue in an increasingly diversified media landscape. Choices amongst platforms means that funding has been spread over more than network and cable, to now include OTT/SVOD platforms and a myriad of digital and social media platforms. Upfronts now have to compete with digital...
Pitching Your Startup to the Media
Many bootstrapped startups handle their own public relations rather than outsourcing it to an agency. Thanks to services like HelpaReporter.com, entrepreneurs can land major media mentions on their own. Still, many don’t understand how to pitch journalists and generate media coverage. Here are several strategies to get you started on pitching your startup to the...
Rethinking Engagement in a Digital World
I was recently interviewed by Joel Pilger of RevThink on what I would tell agencies looking to get into TV. In listening back, I might sound overly pessimistic about traditional linear media. Let me be clear, I am a TV guy. I have spent almost two decades developing, selling and producing television. So no, I do not think that TV...
There is Nothing Wrong with Reinvention!
Millennials have a reputation for being incapable of sticking to one career. It has become a rallying cry for businesses: that they have to "put up" with bad prioritization and lack of focus from those ages 18 to 34 (which represent roughly 35 percent of the workforce). Those that believe this is a problem point to...
Making a Case for Thinking Inside the Box
Oh... the box. That "thing" we do. That "widget" we promote. That "idea" we present. Every company, every brand, every piece of media fits in a box. The shape, size, color, texture, smell (etc.) of the box changes, but there is indeed a box for each of us. That's commerce. That's how we define and distribute...
Media Today: A Never Ending, Ever Changing Las Vegas Buffet
Ever been to Las Vegas' renown buffets? The piles of crab legs, the omelette station that can make you a 6-lb. omelette, endless waffles, the potential for at-your-table flambés? That my friends is a great analogy of today's media landscape. I come from "traditional"/linear media: television. One in which most programs are paid for by a...
How to Be a Reporter’s Favorite News Source
As a writer for StartupNation as well as Fast Company and Entrepreneur, I get a lot of emails and press releases from small-business owners and publicists hoping to get some press. Some are great but unfortunately most are not, and my delete key often gets a workout as I review my inbox. Then there are...
Find Out Why the Media Isn’t Calling You
Yes! You just started your new business, and customers are starting to arrive at your door and visit your Website, but you haven’t heard from the media. Why aren’t they calling you? Well, here are… The Top 3 Reasons Why The Media Is Not Calling You They won’t unless you call them. Have you reached...
Prepare a Killer PR Story in 3 Steps
You have worked months on preparing your new product and are ready to announce it to the press. Your press release is ready to go, complete with search engine optimization (SEO) keywords. That’s fantastic… but don’t expect a lot of publicity just from sending out your release. Don’t get me wrong. You need to send...
Pick Yourself Up and Get Back to Work!
Yes, the economy is ugly. Yes, customers are tightening their purse strings. Yes, it’s harder to bring in new sales. Blah. Blah. Blah. Things are tough for many people right now, but that’s no reason to just sit back and wait for things to get better. It’s time to take action! No one...
Protect Your Cookies This Holiday Season
ID theft continues to be a major problem. And since many us will be shopping online this holiday season, I caught up with the CEO of MAXA Research International, Inc., www.maxa.com, Manfred Rolle, to get his insights. Here’s what he had to say about ID protection and publicizing his new product… Tell us about the...
What Happened When One Entrepreneur Had Cleavage Issues
If you have an idea for a new product based on your personal experiences, you should definitely look into creating it. Just look at today’s interview. After having a difficult time finding a piece of clothing that would give her the ability to "manage" her cleavage in comfort at work, Julie Crotty quit her job, conducted...
Are You Promoting Yourself?
In the process of promoting your products and services to potential customers, are you also promoting yourself? Competition is fierce today, and people want more for their money. This means that they are not just looking at products and services – but the people behind the businesses as well. With this in mind,...
Got a last minute interview? What to do next…
It's 6:00 a.m., and I just finished responding to a fellow, StartupNation entrepreneur who needed some help. She has a wonderful opportunity to show her products on a local television program and asked me what to do next. Since many of you may run into this same "happiness problem," here are a few suggestions I...
PR Insights from Marketing Expert Jared Tanner, PrintingForLess.com
I recently caughtup with the vice president of marketing at PrintingForLess.com, Jared Tanner, to ask him about the relationship between public relations and marketing. With an extensive background in web-based marketing, direct and database marketing, and general advertising, Jared was previously the director of customer marketing for Blockbuster, Inc. and Logoworks’ VP of Marketing. Plus, he managed direct...
How to Calm Your Interview Nerves
If you haven't had a lot of experience doing media interviews, you may have butterflies in your stomach or even feel sick! To overcome your nerves and improve your chances of giving a great interview, here are a few quick tips: 1. Prepare. This is pretty obvious, but the more you prepare in advance, the...
What Summer Super Heroes Teach Us About PR
Summer is finally here, and there are a lot of great movies to see. It got me thinking about how "Indiana Jones," "The Incredible Hulk," "Iron Man," and others have a lot to teach us about PR. For example: 1. Act Fast. Super heroes think and act quickly to get results so the next time reporters contact...
3 Cool Sites to Help with Your PR Efforts
If you are working on your own publicity efforts, there are a few sites that can help you build buzz while saving money. When you get a moment, check these out: http://www.helpareporter.com/ By simply registering your name, e-mail address and company name on this site, you'll get access to some great reporter requests. Peter Shankman,...
Don’t Get Too Excited-Wait for Media Placements to Happen
Woo Hoo! After hours of research, pitching and dealing with false promises from various media members, I scored an interview for my client with Newsweek. It is tentatively scheduled to be a feature story, but we'll see what happens. And this brings me to an important point I've learned over the years...Don't celebrate a media...