Make a Smilebox slideshow

Organic by John Patrick

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Reach Out, Don't Fake Out

So I had to get a hold of some pretty unreachable people today. You know, the type where you may get there secretary or assistant who may pass on the message that you called. Yeah, you know what I mean. Anyways, I made a breakthrough today. Talking to people on the other end of the line like you would want to be talked to makes all the difference. Yes it sounds so unbelievably simple and childish, but its often overlooked in this business. More often than not, you talk to someone like a robot and you have a script in front of you. And 9 times out of 10, the person on the other line can sense that within the first 5 seconds of you talking. Being organic and genuine can really pay off in both getting what you want, as well as building a lasting relationship with that contact for future PR needs. Also, just being courteous and attentive about who and what they are representing can go a long way as well. Calling a contact without knowing their job title, consumer reach, or publication category is a big BIG mistake and can leave you with irreconcilable damages for the future.

Long story short, I made those relationships and those contacts today. I researched their publications and made sure I knew that they were the correct person to come to for this particular pitch. Its so much more than a media list and a mass email. You have to connect with the persons real interests in order to be successful both for you and the person you are reaching out to.

Sony's Jumping In The Ring With Apple & Kindle

Sony Reader Daily Edition PRS-900BC - More amazing videos are a click away

Who Knew 3-D Would Ever Be Called Chic...

It’s no longer nerdy to channel Avatar. British stalwart Burberry will live stream its fall runway show in 3-D in four cities. While models take the stage in London on February 23, onlookers in New York, Paris, Dubai and Tokyo will be chicly geek in their 3D appropriate glasses.

This five-city visual bonanza will mark the first time a brand has broadcast live simultaneous events in 3-D worldwide, says WWD. Burberry will also stream its show in 2-D at live.burberry.com for at-home viewers, who can comment on the collection in real time using their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Other luxe labels have experimented with live simulcasts. Alexander McQueen live-streamed his Paris show in October of last year. With all of the traffic, the site crashed. Louis Vuitton used Facebook for a show as well. In December, Ralph Lauren’s Rugby brand had models walk on a treadmill in an office with a green screen behind. A virtual backdrop was superimposed so the models appeared to be walking through New York City or a college campus.

Time Magazine said that instead of Ralph Lauren spending $1.5 million on an audience of approximately 700 members of the fashion press and department-store buyers, the virtual Rugby show was set to cost less than $50,000 to produce and was expected to attract more than 40 million page views.

With the weakened economy, editors aren’t traveling as much to shows. With fewer magazines and a heightened celebrity quotient, coveted front row seats are being taken by celebrities and reality stars.

Luxe fashion has never been quite “for the people,” but giving consumers a look-see into something glamorous may spark some much-needed buyer interest.

I know that I'll be watching, will you??

Do you think that this is the start of something big and innovative in the world of fashion??

Google is Teaming Up With Social Media Giants!

Just when we thought Google couldn’t get any cooler, they go and prove us wrong. The online cool kid announced plans to add social media-esque updates to its Gmail program. Currently, Gmail users can update their availability through the Gmail chat feature, but it simply consists of “available” or “busy” settings, along with the ability to add a custom message.

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Google products YouTube and Picasa will also be part of the status update stream. The new feature will allegedly allow individuals to see status updates, much like the ever popular Facebook and Twitter. But, the big question is: will the new features include Twitter and Facebook updates as an aggregate or will they rival the two?

Google is pretty fantastic, but would they really want to take on mega social media like Facebook and Twitter? They might. And let’s be honest, we’ve all wondered who will top Facebook, and this may be it. Exactly how the Gmail status updates will work is still unknown, but no doubt Google is working hard to develop something that’s far more hip than anything we’ve experienced thus far.

It would be less risky (and perhaps far less fear inducing for Facebook and Twitter) if the new Gmail feature provided an integrated view of friends social media profiles. However, my money is on Google competing directly with Facebook and Twitter. It should be a fun battle to watch. If Google’s past performance is any indication, whatever they do will most likely revolutionize social media.

Vogue’s Newsstand Sales Fell 15 Percent

So sad to hear this is happening, but I can't say I'm surprised. This is a digital age we're coming into. Books have moved to the kindle, maybe magazines can do the same thing. Either be available on the iPad, Kindle, The Sony Reader or one of its competitors so that the magazine business can evolve with the ever changing digital age. Having subscriptions online like WSJ days could be a possibility as well.

Your thoughts?

Kindles Not Going Down WIthout A FIGHT!!!

The release of the iPad has been turning heads and putting other bloggers wrist into full on carpal tunnel status. Its all anyone on twitter or facebook can talk about. It seems like quite the device, but its definitely not going to replace your laptop computer like many consumers think.

If Apple decides to position this product like the picture above suggests (a kindle + extras) then they will be very successful with this launch. However, if consumers buy the iPad thinking its going to be like their iPhone only with more capabilities they will be sadly mistaken. Yes it has 3G coverage, and all the apps that the iPhone has and more, but it can't process like your MacBook. It can't multitask like your MacBook. And it definitely will not make your MacBook obsolete.

It is a fun toy, and very well priced for what it offers I believe. I will definitely be in the market for it once it launches in March. But I will be using it as a substitute for the colorless and boring kindle, and not as a replacement for my oh so amazing MacBook Pro

What Brand Am I?

“As a consumer, you don’t make choices based on messages. You consider information that relates to you as a person and as a customer.”

My professor has given us the assignment of choosing a brand that we like the most. But its more than that, its choosing a brand that identifies you. You see it as part of your character, part of your life, part of you. So many brands come to mind when I think of this quote.

What brands are on my person right now?: Apple, Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren, Motorola, Visa, Mercedes, American Express, Gatorade, Verizon Wireless, Guess, DKNY, Nike, Ben Sherman, Zales, Calvin Klein. I have at least 15 branded items in my possession right now. That is an amazing revelation to me. Everything we use is branded. But which brand identifies me???

And people can be brands too. Actors/actresses, singers, etc. Who in the public eye do I identify myself with? Beyonce, Alicia keys, Mariah Carey, are my three favorite songstresses out there. Are they a brand in and of themselves?

After we’ve chosen the brand that defines us, we must create a 2-3 minute presentation as if we were pitching the brand to a client. What is it about the brand that would compel a customer to bring it and make it apart of their lifestyle. You must also describe in ONE SENTENCE why the person your pitching this brand to should write about it. Why would their readers care about what you have to say? What is it about what you have to say that will compel other readers and bloggers to share it with their communities??

I love projects like these. I get to be as creative as possible, my mind is racing with all the audio, visual aids I could use to really wow my professor and prove my point. But I digress, I have to start with the basics.

What brand shall I choose?

It’s really between my two favorite brands: Burberry & Apple. Why couldn’t they work together and make something like a nova check MacBook or a Scarf that plays my iTunes. One day

Okay, I guess I’ll pick:

Besides, everyone and their mother is going to pick effing Apple. I don’t want to be just another presentation lost in time

A lesson to be learned about PR

"There is no one tool, one release, or one story that will motivate your customers to take action. It all starts with becoming the person (and different people) you’re trying to reach and then reverse-engineering the process. Listen. Read. Learn.

Stop thinking like a “PR” person and start approaching marketing as both a consumer (whether it’s B2B or B2C) and a market expert. This is how you demonstrate that what you represent matters to the people and why they should engage in conversations with you. Doing so will change how you see things. It will change how you approach people. It will change how you write news releases. It will change how you distribute and share information. Most important, it will give you the means to engage transparently and genuinely.

The process shift from pitching to conversation-based interaction cultivates relationships, strengthens customer service, and increases brand resonance and loyalty. It’s important to humanize the story and become a part of the conversation instead of just trying to sell your way into it."

- Solis, Brian & Breakenridge, Deirdre. Putting The Public Back in Public Relations. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2009.