Ned,

Similar experiences with all sorts of news release distribution services
abound.  I just posted the following to self-publishing in response to a
similar question.  Google News hits from web sites with no Google rank don’t
mean very much in the overall scheme of things.  I know you were looking for
SEC compliant outreach and I think Business Wire financial package is a very
choice for that purpose. But for people who seek publicity in media
(newspapers magazines, radio, tv, news services and syndicates, and Internet
media and blogs) and are trying to reach specific target audiences, then
they have other choices.  What I wrote was in response to a question titled
“Wisdom of Press Releases”.

My post:

I personally believe that some of the advice that’s being posted is of
questionable real effectiveness.  The post or transmit a news release and
snap your fingers income idea is not something you can rely on.

But hey, the proof is in the pudding and if it works for you then by all
means do it.  I don’t want to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm.  The goal is to
achieve success.

My experience and that of the hundreds of book author and publishing clients
I work with is that hits and web pages and search results done on key words
do not automatically translate into sales or real actions. 

You need to achieve meaningful communication with the people you can help
the most.  You need to craft publicity and marcom (marketing communications)
that not only interests people and gets their attention but motivates them
to reach down and open their wallets or pocketbooks and hand you money. 

This is no easy challenge. But I do believe that anyone can learn and
develop these magic words just about anywhere.  I call this the miracle of
the microcosm.

Now my comment on the different news release distribution services is that
they are different and you need to truly understand how people find what you
submit or post when you use them.  

There are services that reach real people by email and there are services
that post news releases on web sites where people have to search and find
them.  The more distant and attenuated the pathway to a real set of
eyeballs, the less meaningful communication and response you can get.  I’m
not a fan of free and/or the web post technologies because my clients seek
financial results and that’s how they ultimately evaluate the effectiveness
of what they are doing.  The theory that more hits or robots or spider or
automated archive placements is better doesn’t really play out when what you
are really after is a specific action on the part of some very specific
types of people.    

To date, profitable results depend on achieving meaningful communication
with the right people that persuades them to take action.  The issues with
the choice of news release distribution is whether you get to reach the
right media so that you can then reach your real target audience. When it
comes to getting the word out, there’s free and there’s fee and as in the
case of real life, you get what you pay for.  Is your news release really
reaching your target audience?

I prefer email to custom targeted media lists followed by a phone call. 
That formula continues to produce the maximum results for my clients.

I believe that it’s better if you can send out a news release and get two or
three meaningful conversations with media that produce really good articles
or interviews that then produce real tangible income than hundreds or
thousands of phantom electronic placements that don’t. I’ve seen even just a
handful of good media responses, (even one single media response), produce
gobs of sales and income.

But the results depend what gets published (or aired) and where.  Then the
results are based on what the audience then does. This is a multi-step
process.

Of course, once you do prove that you can write and speak magic words that
produce the actions you hope for (e.g., sales or service income), then you
can use the technologies to your advantage and you can repeat the message to
reproduce the effects it has when delivered. That’s one of the modern
wonders we get to use. The message still has to hit the right eyeballs and
has to produce the action if you are to make this work and a lot can go
wrong in the process.    
Book page to download Trash Proof News Releases Smashwords edition:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/5921

Tonight, I’m doing an interview with Irene Watson on Authors Access
www.authorsacess.com.  It’s scheduled for Thursday, November 19th at 7 p.m.
CST.  The topic is: Are Press Releases an Effective Way to Market?

If anyone wants a transcript of the conversation, please send me an email.
I’ll send it to you after the show.


Paul J. Krupin, Direct Contact PR
Reach the Right Media in the Right Market with the Right Message
http://www.DirectContactPR.com  Paul@...
800-457-8746  (TF US) 509-531-8390  (Cell)  509-582-5174 (Direct)
Blog.DirectContactPR.com

Ned,



Similar experiences with all sorts of news release distribution services
abound.  I just posted the following to self-publishing in response to a
similar question.  Google News hits from web sites with no Google rank don't
mean very much in the overall scheme of things.  I know you were looking for
SEC compliant outreach and I think Business Wire financial package is a very
choice for that purpose. But for people who seek publicity in media
(newspapers magazines, radio, tv, news services and syndicates, and Internet
media and blogs) and are trying to reach specific target audiences, then
they have other choices.  What I wrote was in response to a question titled
"Wisdom of Press Releases".



My post:



I personally believe that some of the advice that's being posted is of
questionable real effectiveness.  The post or transmit a news release and
snap your fingers income idea is not something you can rely on.



But hey, the proof is in the pudding and if it works for you then by all
means do it.  I don't want to dampen anyone's enthusiasm.  The goal is to
achieve success.



My experience and that of the hundreds of book author and publishing clients
I work with is that hits and web pages and search results done on key words
do not automatically translate into sales or real actions.



You need to achieve meaningful communication with the people you can help
the most.  You need to craft publicity and marcom (marketing communications)
that not only interests people and gets their attention but motivates them
to reach down and open their wallets or pocketbooks and hand you money.



This is no easy challenge. But I do believe that anyone can learn and
develop these magic words just about anywhere.  I call this the miracle of
the microcosm.



Now my comment on the different news release distribution services is that
they are different and you need to truly understand how people find what you
submit or post when you use them.



There are services that reach real people by email and there are services
that post news releases on web sites where people have to search and find
them.  The more distant and attenuated the pathway to a real set of
eyeballs, the less meaningful communication and response you can get.  I'm
not a fan of free and/or the web post technologies because my clients seek
financial results and that's how they ultimately evaluate the effectiveness
of what they are doing.  The theory that more hits or robots or spider or
automated archive placements is better doesn't really play out when what you
are really after is a specific action on the part of some very specific
types of people.



To date, profitable results depend on achieving meaningful communication
with the right people that persuades them to take action.  The issues with
the choice of news release distribution is whether you get to reach the
right media so that you can then reach your real target audience. When it
comes to getting the word out, there's free and there's fee and as in the
case of real life, you get what you pay for.  Is your news release really
reaching your target audience?



I prefer email to custom targeted media lists followed by a phone call.
That formula continues to produce the maximum results for my clients.



I believe that it's better if you can send out a news release and get two or
three meaningful conversations with media that produce really good articles
or interviews that then produce real tangible income than hundreds or
thousands of phantom electronic placements that don't. I've seen even just a
handful of good media responses, (even one single media response), produce
gobs of sales and income.



But the results depend what gets published (or aired) and where.  Then the
results are based on what the audience then does. This is a multi-step
process.



Of course, once you do prove that you can write and speak magic words that
produce the actions you hope for (e.g., sales or service income), then you
can use the technologies to your advantage and you can repeat the message to
reproduce the effects it has when delivered. That's one of the modern
wonders we get to use. The message still has to hit the right eyeballs and
has to produce the action if you are to make this work and a lot can go
wrong in the process.

Book page to download Trash Proof News Releases Smashwords edition:
<http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/5921>
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/5921



Tonight, I'm doing an interview with Irene Watson on Authors Access
<http://www.authorsacess.com/> www.authorsacess.com.  It's scheduled for
Thursday, November 19th at 7 p.m. CST.  The topic is: Are Press Releases an
Effective Way to Market?



If anyone wants a transcript of the conversation, please send me an email.
I'll send it to you after the show.





Paul J. Krupin, Direct Contact PR

Reach the Right Media in the Right Market with the Right Message

  <http://www.directcontactpr.com/> http://www.DirectContactPR.com
<mailto:Paul@...> Paul@...

800-457-8746  (TF US) 509-531-8390  (Cell)  509-582-5174 (Direct)

Blog.DirectContactPR.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks, Andy.  BTW - her email is "ane@ ." so maybe that's the European
spelling of the name (she's got a heavy Euro-accent, but not one I can
place).



However, her emails spell about as well as her press release, which is to
say, worse than my sister's (and that's bad <g>).



FYI, a search of the Hollywood Reporter website reveals ONE WHOLE ARTICLE
(which I suppose could make her a freelancer, but once doesn't make a
career) written by Anne Howard.



Not as impressive as she'd like, I suppose, but that pretty much sums up her
whole "service."



I can't wait to put her in my forthcoming book, "Combat Consumerism."


Ned



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: prquorum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:prquorum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Andy Russell
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 7:07 PM
To: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com; prquorum@yahoogroups.com;
prbytes@yahoogroups.com; SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [PRQuorum] RE: [PRMindshare] XP - Bad Review - RushPRNews





Ned: A cursory Google search about them -->
http://tinyurl.com/yhxf5lh
. . . would have revealed that Anne is:

(1) a self-proclaimed freelance reporter for Hollywood Reporter and
RushPRNews
(2) not a great speller. She starts this bylined press release by
misspelling her own first name "Ane" and it gets worse from there. I thought
a key rule for press releases is to get someone to help you proofread copy
for typos & spelling errors....and she sure doesn't do that here.

BTW, when I saw the brand name for this service, for some reason I thought
it was promoting a conservative radio host.

Andy

From: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com> ]
On
Behalf Of Ned Barnett
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 12:33 PM
To: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com> ;
prquorum@yahoogroups.com <mailto:prquorum%40yahoogroups.com> ;
prbytes@yahoogroups.com <mailto:prbytes%40yahoogroups.com> ;
SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com <mailto:SmallShopNetwork%40yahoogroups.com>

Subject: [PRMindshare] XP - Bad Review - RushPRNews

I placed a release last night with RushPRNews, hoping to find a lower-cost
way of getting IR-related news out (in compliance with SEC regs). My
results were so disappointing that I had to re-release it on BusinessWire
(which got immediate results).

Concerned that I wasn't seeing the release anywhere (neither was my client)
I just spoke to their head honcho, Anne Howard, and found out this:

A posting on RushPRNews' website, because it gets searched (if you do a
Google News search), counts. Ditto for Yahoo News, MSN News, etc. In
short, it's not republished on their site - but if you go to Google search
(or Yahoo search, or MSN search), you'll find it.

If you read the fine print while already understanding what they're saying,
then you'll see that this is all they're promising:

"Online Publishing: Google News, MSN News, Yahoo! News, Twitter,
Technoratti, Zimbio, RPRN Front Page, RPRN Media Network,& more"

However, if you don't have that going-in understanding, you might suspect
that the release would be republished on MSN and Yahoo the way it is when
BizWire or PRNewswire releases it. I don't know if this RushPRNews
placement qualifies for SEC RegFD compliance, but I kind of doubt it.

If you look at their name, RushPRNews, you might be forgiven for thinking
that this service is fast - you know, "Rush." In that, you'd be mistaken.
Again, if you read the fine print carefully, you'll see that they allow
themselves 24 hours to place your release (I bought a statewide distribution
in Florida, as well as the Basic package of online publishing) - and they
take this seriously. In this day of instant internet and email
distribution, I'm not sure why they take 24 hours, but they do.

So I kissed $80 down the drain, and the results are so bad that I'm not
going to bill my client. I'm eating it. Fortunately, I just won MegaBucks,
so I can afford to piss away $80.

Ned Barnett, APR
Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association
Barnett Marketing Communications
420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276
Las Vegas NV 89110
702-696-1200 - ned@... <mailto:ned%40barnettmarcom.com>
http://www.barnettmarcom.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've always used and liked BusinessWire (yep, a plug). Also Marketwire. Both are
dependable, reliable, good and reasonable. I have a service sheet on line that
offers some comparisons -- it's not comprehensive, or even, maybe up-to-date (if
you can fill in any new information, that would be appreciated!)

Here's da link:

www.sfprn.com/Directories/Natl_MEDIAdirectory.htm

Linda Hamburger
@ oncallpr.com

I have not been getting any emails from Yahoo groups in I don't know how many
weeks. I am trying to sort it out.

Meanwhile...

I am creating a working document for myself and clients to help them maximize
clippings, news releases, and self-created content like blog posts. Maybe it's
something we'd all benefit from having in the files section, so I thought I'd
throw out the idea and others could pitch in.

So it goes a little sumthin' like this...

Article or audio appears online
Post to company media page
Post to company blog
Tweet link
Share on group Facebook page
Share on individual FB profiles
(etc.)

Press release appears on wire service
Add to Digg/Delicious/other bookmark sites
Upload to Docstoc
(etc.)

Video appears on web
Post to company media page
Post to company blog
Tweet link
Share on Facebook
Add to YouTube channel (if you have original file and if permitted)
(etc.)

Costco Stops carrying coke products http://tinyurl.com/yhmcady in a price
dispute - Lynn says, "just lost our business" - no kidding.  Dumb!



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Apparently it was all my fault.  When I (politely) raised the issue of my
dissatisfaction with Anne Howard, head honcho at RushPRNews, she said,



"I think that you are misunderstanding the scope of our services and what
being listed on Google News meant."



I guess it's time for me to go back to PR school and realize how important
it is that, if someone searches Google News with the release title, they'll
find it posted on the RushPRNews website.  Whew, now THAT is PR you can
believe in.



The full text of our exchange is below (just in case you don't believe that
I know how to be polite <g>).  Use these folks at your peril, and be sure to
know that they'll "stand behind" their product . by blaming you (if you're
not happy).



Ned



***

On Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 1:47 PM, Ned Barnett <ned@...> wrote:

Perhaps it is all my fault for not reading the fine print carefully or
understanding fully the limited nature of the online release, but I am very
disappointed in this service.  The fact that my client is unhappy because of
the very limited appearance on the web is part of the factor, but if I'd
realized that the release is not posted anywhere but your site (and can only
be found there by searching the title on MSN Search, Yahoo Search or Google
Search), I would have passed.

And yes, I know you promise 24 hour service on release distribution, but I
foolishly assumed that was a protection against some kind of techno-glitch.
Knowing how easy it is to distribute something via email, and taking the
Rush part of your name (RushPRNews) at face value, I didn't really think you
intended to take 24 hours. Again, my bad.

  Anyway, as I said, perhaps the fault is all mine for not reading and
questioning you more carefully, but nonetheless, I feel as if I've been
burned - more specifically, I feel that I wasted $80 (which I cannot, in
good conscience, bill my client for) while at the same time angering my
client, and I won't be using your services again.

Anne's prompt reply (seven minutes later) reads (complete with spelling
errors):



Dear Ned,
the broadcasting to Florida was completed an hour ago.  The report will get
to you within 24 hours.  You did not pay $80 just to be published at
RushPRnews.com .  I have already sent you multiple links where the release
has been republished.

We are sorry that you weren't happy with our services... if you compare our
pricing with PR web and other similar newswire with similar services, you
will see that $80 to be published online, have the release be picked up by
multiple additional rss feeds and be emailed to the state of Florida is
extremely affordbable and much cheapter than what you could have obtained
anywhere else.

I think that you are misunderstanding the scope of our services and what
being listed on Google News meant.

As far as what the newspapers in Florida will choose to do, we have no
control over their decision.

If we can be of further help, please contact Andrea or myself.

Best,

Anne

***



We report, you decide (if you want to use them) .



Ned



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: Ned Barnett [mailto:ned@...]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:33 AM
To: 'PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com'; 'prquorum@yahoogroups.com';
'prbytes@yahoogroups.com'; 'SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: XP - Bad Review - RushPRNews



I placed a release last night with RushPRNews, hoping to find a lower-cost
way of getting IR-related news out (in compliance with SEC regs).  My
results were so disappointing that I had to re-release it on BusinessWire
(which got immediate results).



Concerned that I wasn't seeing the release anywhere (neither was my client)
I just spoke to their head honcho, Anne Howard, and found out this:



A posting on RushPRNews' website, because it gets searched (if you do a
Google News search), counts.  Ditto for Yahoo News, MSN News, etc.  In
short, it's not republished on their site - but if you go to Google search
(or Yahoo search, or MSN search), you'll find it.


If you read the fine print while already understanding what they're saying,
then you'll see that this is all they're promising:



"Online Publishing:  Google News, MSN News, Yahoo! News, Twitter,
Technoratti, Zimbio, RPRN Front Page, RPRN Media Network,& more"



However, if you don't have that going-in understanding, you might suspect
that the release would be republished on MSN and Yahoo the way it is when
BizWire or PRNewswire releases it.  I don't know if this RushPRNews
placement qualifies for SEC RegFD compliance, but I kind of doubt it.



If you look at their name, RushPRNews, you might be forgiven for thinking
that this service is fast - you know, "Rush."  In that, you'd be mistaken.
Again, if you read the fine print carefully, you'll see that they allow
themselves 24 hours to place your release (I bought a statewide distribution
in Florida, as well as the Basic package of online publishing) - and they
take this seriously.  In this day of instant internet and email
distribution, I'm not sure why they take 24 hours, but they do.



So I kissed $80 down the drain, and the results are so bad that I'm not
going to bill my client.  I'm eating it. Fortunately, I just won MegaBucks,
so I can afford to piss away $80.



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Update



I just got a call from a high-energy (bowl-me-over) Anne Howard at
RushPRNews, who tried to persuade me that what I'd gotten was what I wanted
(or should have).  She focused on side issues, and refused to come to grips
with her distorted service offering.  When I finally got her attention and
pointed out that she had indeed offered something she didn't deliver, she
immediately went and changed her website (or said she did), removing that
offer - but not offering me a make-good and still defending the value of her
value-proposition.  She is clueless.



She also doesn't understand that she is being penny-wise and pound-foolish.
If you use her service, RushPRNews, you are the one who becomes foolish.
But at least you'll have the pleasure of hearing her explain to you why you
are wrong for being unhappy with her service.  And that's a treat not to be
missed.



Ned



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: Ned Barnett [mailto:ned@...]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:55 AM
To: 'Ned Barnett'; PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com; prquorum@yahoogroups.com;
prbytes@yahoogroups.com; SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: XP - Bad Review - RushPRNews



Apparently it was all my fault.  When I (politely) raised the issue of my
dissatisfaction with Anne Howard, head honcho at RushPRNews, she said,



"I think that you are misunderstanding the scope of our services and what
being listed on Google News meant."

I guess it's time for me to go back to PR school and realize how important
it is that, if someone searches Google News with the release title, they'll
find it posted on the RushPRNews website.  Whew, now THAT is PR you can
believe in.



The full text of our exchange is below (just in case you don't believe that
I know how to be polite <g>).  Use these folks at your peril, and be sure to
know that they'll "stand behind" their product ... by blaming you (if you're
not happy).



Ned



***

On Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 1:47 PM, Ned Barnett <ned@...> wrote:

Perhaps it is all my fault for not reading the fine print carefully or
understanding fully the limited nature of the online release, but I am very
disappointed in this service.  The fact that my client is unhappy because of
the very limited appearance on the web is part of the factor, but if I'd
realized that the release is not posted anywhere but your site (and can only
be found there by searching the title on MSN Search, Yahoo Search or Google
Search), I would have passed.

And yes, I know you promise 24 hour service on release distribution, but I
foolishly assumed that was a protection against some kind of techno-glitch.
Knowing how easy it is to distribute something via email, and taking the
Rush part of your name (RushPRNews) at face value, I didn't really think you
intended to take 24 hours. Again, my bad.

  Anyway, as I said, perhaps the fault is all mine for not reading and
questioning you more carefully, but nonetheless, I feel as if I've been
burned - more specifically, I feel that I wasted $80 (which I cannot, in
good conscience, bill my client for) while at the same time angering my
client, and I won't be using your services again.

Anne's prompt reply (seven minutes later) reads (complete with spelling
errors):



Dear Ned,
the broadcasting to Florida was completed an hour ago.  The report will get
to you within 24 hours.  You did not pay $80 just to be published at
RushPRnews.com .  I have already sent you multiple links where the release
has been republished.

We are sorry that you weren't happy with our services... if you compare our
pricing with PR web and other similar newswire with similar services, you
will see that $80 to be published online, have the release be picked up by
multiple additional rss feeds and be emailed to the state of Florida is
extremely affordbable and much cheapter than what you could have obtained
anywhere else.

I think that you are misunderstanding the scope of our services and what
being listed on Google News meant.

As far as what the newspapers in Florida will choose to do, we have no
control over their decision.

If we can be of further help, please contact Andrea or myself.

Best,

Anne

***



We report, you decide (if you want to use them) ...



Ned



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: Ned Barnett [mailto:ned@...]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:33 AM
To: 'PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com'; 'prquorum@yahoogroups.com';
'prbytes@yahoogroups.com'; 'SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: XP - Bad Review - RushPRNews



I placed a release last night with RushPRNews, hoping to find a lower-cost
way of getting IR-related news out (in compliance with SEC regs).  My
results were so disappointing that I had to re-release it on BusinessWire
(which got immediate results).



Concerned that I wasn't seeing the release anywhere (neither was my client)
I just spoke to their head honcho, Anne Howard, and found out this:



A posting on RushPRNews' website, because it gets searched (if you do a
Google News search), counts.  Ditto for Yahoo News, MSN News, etc.  In
short, it's not republished on their site - but if you go to Google search
(or Yahoo search, or MSN search), you'll find it.


If you read the fine print while already understanding what they're saying,
then you'll see that this is all they're promising:



"Online Publishing:  Google News, MSN News, Yahoo! News, Twitter,
Technoratti, Zimbio, RPRN Front Page, RPRN Media Network,& more"



However, if you don't have that going-in understanding, you might suspect
that the release would be republished on MSN and Yahoo the way it is when
BizWire or PRNewswire releases it.  I don't know if this RushPRNews
placement qualifies for SEC RegFD compliance, but I kind of doubt it.



If you look at their name, RushPRNews, you might be forgiven for thinking
that this service is fast - you know, "Rush."  In that, you'd be mistaken.
Again, if you read the fine print carefully, you'll see that they allow
themselves 24 hours to place your release (I bought a statewide distribution
in Florida, as well as the Basic package of online publishing) - and they
take this seriously.  In this day of instant internet and email
distribution, I'm not sure why they take 24 hours, but they do.



So I kissed $80 down the drain, and the results are so bad that I'm not
going to bill my client.  I'm eating it. Fortunately, I just won MegaBucks,
so I can afford to piss away $80.



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I placed a release last night with RushPRNews, hoping to find a lower-cost
way of getting IR-related news out (in compliance with SEC regs).  My
results were so disappointing that I had to re-release it on BusinessWire
(which got immediate results).



Concerned that I wasn't seeing the release anywhere (neither was my client)
I just spoke to their head honcho, Anne Howard, and found out this:



A posting on RushPRNews' website, because it gets searched (if you do a
Google News search), counts.  Ditto for Yahoo News, MSN News, etc.  In
short, it's not republished on their site - but if you go to Google search
(or Yahoo search, or MSN search), you'll find it.


If you read the fine print while already understanding what they're saying,
then you'll see that this is all they're promising:



"Online Publishing:  Google News, MSN News, Yahoo! News, Twitter,
Technoratti, Zimbio, RPRN Front Page, RPRN Media Network,& more"



However, if you don't have that going-in understanding, you might suspect
that the release would be republished on MSN and Yahoo the way it is when
BizWire or PRNewswire releases it.  I don't know if this RushPRNews
placement qualifies for SEC RegFD compliance, but I kind of doubt it.



If you look at their name, RushPRNews, you might be forgiven for thinking
that this service is fast - you know, "Rush."  In that, you'd be mistaken.
Again, if you read the fine print carefully, you'll see that they allow
themselves 24 hours to place your release (I bought a statewide distribution
in Florida, as well as the Basic package of online publishing) - and they
take this seriously.  In this day of instant internet and email
distribution, I'm not sure why they take 24 hours, but they do.



So I kissed $80 down the drain, and the results are so bad that I'm not
going to bill my client.  I'm eating it. Fortunately, I just won MegaBucks,
so I can afford to piss away $80.



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks, Rob - your insights are always helpful; I'll play it by ear when I
meet with this investing group prospect next week - I'm sure I can spin it,
I just would feel better with input.  Your consensus-leading views might be
exactly the right answer here . (perhaps I'm too close to it).



Ned



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob Frankel
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 11:20 AM
To: SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com; PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com;
prbytes@yahoogroups.com; prquorum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [SmallShopNetwork] XP - new product PR disaster





At 10:16 AM -0800 11/12/09, Ned Barnett wrote thusly:
>Rob
>
>I can see I can't budge you from your position, and I see several others on
>your bandwagon. Perhaps I'm wrong.
>

I think it depends on to whom you're talking. Clearly, as a "gun
outsider" the issue affects me way differently than a gun aficionado.
I can totally see that. I'm just telling it from my own perspective
-- which may be inappropriate for your audience.

--
Rob Frankel, Branding Expert
Twitter: @brandingexpert http://www.RobFrankel.com
http://www.PeerMailing.com http://www.i-legions.com
http://www.FrankelAnderson.com
Yes, there's an RSS feed blog, if you can handle it:
http://www.robfrankelblog.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Absolutely - I'm not sure about this "shout-out" thing (I'm still trying to
figure out when to do a fist bump, and how to avoid popping someone in the
nose), but Linda Hamburger came through in amazing style. Thank you,
Linda!!!  You can't believe how timely and on-target your contribution is.



Folks, this just proves what these lists can do.  Andy is the world's great
networker and researcher, and his realm of contacts is apparently unlimited
(as is his willingness to help out colleagues) and clearly, Linda Hamburger
is cut from the same generous cloth.  Thanks, Linda - you're a (ahem)-saver
.



When we've got a chance (after this fire-storm has died down), I'd like to
talk to you about your Network - with a couple of clients in Boca, I'd be
glad to know what it is and how I can participate or access it or whatever.



All the best

Ned



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com [mailto:PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Andy Russell
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 2:21 PM
To: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com; SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com;
prquorum@yahoogroups.com; prbytes@yahoogroups.com
Cc: oncallpr@...
Subject: RE: [PRMindshare] XP URGENT - TIME SENSITIVE - HELP (please) -
Media Coverage/ Media Lists (fast)





Ned: A big shout-out / thank-you to Linda Hamburger of On Call PR in South
Florida & founder of the South Florida Public Relations Network (SFPRN), who
just came through for Ned by sending him [at my urging] some off-list media
spreadsheets that should help answer his urgent request.

Ned: An additional link for you . . .

-- a short, non-comprehensive list of Florida Media Organizations [phone #s
& websites, not specific folks] -->
http://spjsofla.net/resources/florida-media-organizations/
-- Since this is likely a business story, you'll see on that list the South
Florida Biz Jouunal. Kevin Gale is the editor...
kgale@... <mailto:kgale%40bizjournals.com>  ....954-949-7520.
[see Linda's off-list spreadsheet
for more contacts there.] This could be a "quick hit" for you to make the
client take a nap, as they have a 24x7 website that publishes news items.

I guess this networking / list thing works.

Andy

From: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com> ]
On
Behalf Of Ned Barnett
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 2:36 PM
To: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com> ;
SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com <mailto:SmallShopNetwork%40yahoogroups.com>
;
prquorum@yahoogroups.com <mailto:prquorum%40yahoogroups.com> ;
prbytes@yahoogroups.com <mailto:prbytes%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [PRMindshare] XP URGENT - TIME SENSITIVE - HELP (please) - Media
Coverage/ Media Lists (fast)

I've got a client who's gone ballistic because a competitor got some press
coverage (and he felt HE should have gotten that coverage - of course) and
he wants press coverage like yesterday, if not last week. He wants to be
interviewed (there are several decent topics out there he'd be good at).
And it appears that my contract may be on the line (which sucks on toast, as
I don't have any contracts to waste - especially in this economy).

So I'm asking two favors of my friends and colleagues on this list:

1. If you have a business editor/reporter friend, colleague, ex-lover,
etc., who could do an interview with this guy (and actually publish it), I
could show immediate action and take some of the heat off . he thinks I have
"friends" in the media (hell, I don't have friends, period, let alone in the
media <g>) and can call in favors, but that's not how I have worked . so .
help

2. I need media lists (name/title, media, phone, email is sufficient) in
any or all of the following areas:

a. South Florida business media

b. Investor Relations/entrepreneurial/start-up business media

c. Business Talk Radio programs (local, national, syndicated)

d. Cable & syndicated & national/major regional business TV news programs

e. Direct Marketing media (media covering the DM industry)

I've been waiting on the client to approve a lot of ideas I've submitted and
such, and waiting on the client to invest in a few tools (media databases, a
wire service kind of thing) and so I've been waiting - now he's taking the
position that I should have been producing without any of that (I know it's
not logical, but he's a client, for heaven's sake). And he's on a wild
(ahem) rampage and I've got to produce. PS - Monday is "Payday" and not
only is the writing scribbled on the wall, but time is non-existent.

So, anybody got anything on the shelf they can use to help me out?

Thanks

Ned

Ned Barnett, APR
Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association
Barnett Marketing Communications
420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276
Las Vegas NV 89110
702-696-1200 - ned@... <mailto:ned%40barnettmarcom.com>
http://www.barnettmarcom.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It might if the market was made up of brand-conscious buyers who were driven
to select products by emotion, image and ego as much as by practical terms.



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: prbytes@yahoogroups.com [mailto:prbytes@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Stephen Rafe
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 7:21 AM
To: prbytes@yahoogroups.com; SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com;
PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com; prquorum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [prbytes] Re: [SmallShopNetwork] XP - new product PR disaster





<QUOTE>
"GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE: PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE"
<END QUOTE>
If it were a stabbing with a steak knife, the manufacturer wouldn't be
concerned about "bad PR."

Stephen
STEPHEN RAFE
RAPPORT COMMUNICATIONS
----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Frankel
To: SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:SmallShopNetwork%40yahoogroups.com>  ; PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com>  ; prbytes@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:prbytes%40yahoogroups.com>  ; prquorum@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:prquorum%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 12:42 AM
Subject: [prbytes] Re: [SmallShopNetwork] XP - new product PR disaster

At 5:10 AM +0000 11/12/09, ned@...
<mailto:ned%40barnettmarcom.com>  wrote thusly:
>There is a fairly new police and self-defense pistol on the market,
>a Belgian design, the Five-seveN. It has been featured as a
>good-guy gun in books by Clancy and Flynn, and has been getting good
>reviews in popular gun and self-defense magazines.
>
>Police departments and security companies have begun to adopt it for
>its accuracy, light weight, high capacity and its military origins
>(which means quality and stopping power).
>
>In short, this was a growing success story. Until ...
>
>Though it hasn't been widely reported (but its out there), the Ft.
>Hood terrorist used this gun in executing 13 soldiers and wounding
>30 more.
>
>Clearly, this is a PR nightmare for the US branch of the Belgian
manufacturer.
>
>If you were FN's crisis PR manager, what would you advise your client.
>
>No politics, please. Just PR.
>
>Ned
>Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
>

I gotta tell ya, I don't see ANY negative PR issues here, as all the
media I've seen on this issue has focused entirely on the man, his
background, Islam and the Army.

As far back as I can recall, I don't ever remember a specific gun
company singled out for an occurrence like the Fort Hood incident.
Guns in general, yes. A call for more laws, regulation, sure.

I could be wrong, but I don't know that John Q. Public can even name
more than two gun companies, nor the weapons used by Lee Harvey
Oswald, Jack Ruby, Mark David Chapman or John Hinckley.

--
Rob Frankel, Branding Expert
Twitter: @brandingexpert http://www.RobFrankel.com
http://www.PeerMailing.com http://www.i-legions.com
http://www.FrankelAnderson.com
Yes, there's an RSS feed blog, if you can handle it:
http://www.robfrankelblog.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've got a client who's gone ballistic because a competitor got some press
coverage (and he felt HE should have gotten that coverage - of course) and
he wants press coverage like yesterday, if not last week.  He wants to be
interviewed (there are several decent topics out there he'd be good at).
And it appears that my contract may be on the line (which sucks on toast, as
I don't have any contracts to waste - especially in this economy).



So I'm asking two favors of my friends and colleagues on this list:



1.    If you have a business editor/reporter friend, colleague, ex-lover,
etc., who could do an interview with this guy (and actually publish it), I
could show immediate action and take some of the heat off . he thinks I have
"friends" in the media (hell, I don't have friends, period, let alone in the
media <g>) and can call in favors, but that's not how I have worked . so .
help



2.    I need media lists (name/title, media, phone, email is sufficient) in
any or all of the following areas:



a.    South Florida business media



b.    Investor Relations/entrepreneurial/start-up business media



c.    Business Talk Radio programs (local, national, syndicated)



d.    Cable & syndicated & national/major regional business TV news programs




e.    Direct Marketing media (media covering the DM industry)



I've been waiting on the client to approve a lot of ideas I've submitted and
such, and waiting on the client to invest in a few tools (media databases, a
wire service kind of thing) and so I've been waiting - now he's taking the
position that I should have been producing without any of that (I know it's
not logical, but he's a client, for heaven's sake).  And he's on a wild
(ahem) rampage and I've got to produce.  PS - Monday is "Payday" and not
only is the writing scribbled on the wall, but time is non-existent.



So, anybody got anything on the shelf they can use to help me out?


Thanks

Ned







Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Rob


I can see I can't budge you from your position, and I see several others on
your bandwagon.  Perhaps I'm wrong.


However, an awful lot of the personal self-defense (including police,
security firm) market is driven by emotion - which is why so many successful
guns "look" bad but are plain-jane vanilla under the skin (and one is
successful because it looks plain-jane but is actually a semi-auto version
of today's Army combat rifle - which just goes to show you .).


Like all new guns in new calibers, the Five-seveN was and has been and
probably still is at the center of controversy between and among gun
aficionados since it's debut.  Tying this controversial weapon with its
controversial new bullet/cartridge design (controversial in an
"inside-baseball" fashion, not controversial as if there's something wrong
with the design as a functional piece of machinery).  Designed for the
military, it was created to breach personal body armor but NOT to mushroom
(the way hollow-points do . there are international conventions against
military use of hollow-points - apparently, there is a "good way" to shoot
someone to death and a "bad way" - at least in a military context).  It does
something else to kill people (as does the .556 round used by the venerable
M16 - upon entry, it "tumbles," which to me is a lot worse than mushrooming,
but that's a side issue.  Clearly, the terrorist at Fort Hood proved that
the round could be fatal nearly 30% of the time and incapacitating at least
another 30% of the time.  So in a sick, sad way, this shooting validated the
gun's and the bullet's effectiveness.


HOWEVER, for those who care about such things, having such a weapon could
become an emotional black-eye - which WILL impact sales, and negatively
(just as having it featured in novels by Clancy and Flynn added panache, the
way that "James Bond's" use of the Walther PPK made that a glamorous weapon
(it's also a damned fine pistol, but that's almost beside the point, as
there are a lot of damned fine pistols).  "Dirty Harry" did wonders for the
sale of .44 Magnum revolvers, again for the same reason. With so many
excellent self-defense pistols on the market, "image" is often a deciding
factor, and shooters tend to be very brand-loyal (for years, almost all I
shot were pistols and rifles by Sturm-Ruger, because of their exceptional
quality and reasonable cost, and I still own and target shoot with several
of those - and would trust that brand name any time).



All that to say this - because of my understanding of this distinct market
share (one not known to outsiders but remarkably large in $$$ terms and with
distinct mind-set and brand-loyalty psychographics), I think this is a real
PR disaster.  However, I'm guessing that the market is too far off the
"standard" for those not into that market in some way or other don't "get
it."



I actually raised this question because I'll be talking next week with an
investment group tied to this industry (as a potential client) and I wanted
to pick your brains on strategies.  Since "do nothing" is not an option to
those who understand the market, I'll have to use my own brains to figure it
out. Damn.



What do I pay you people for, anyway?


Ned



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob Frankel
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:41 AM
To: SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com; PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com;
prbytes@yahoogroups.com; prquorum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [SmallShopNetwork] XP - new product PR disaster





At 12:15 AM -0800 11/12/09, Ned Barnett wrote thusly:

SNIP

>
>So I'm in tune with this market - at least a bit - and because of that, I
>think this has the potential to be an "insider" PR disaster - not a
>mainstream media one (as you pointed out, they don't know one gun from
>another, but merely want to regulate them all, potentially out of existence
>- depends on the media - but they could care about brands .).
>
>
>Given that, you're the brand master of these kinds of things (nice pun,
eh?)
>- given that it is a PR disaster, how would you advise FN to handle it?
>

Okay, let's say the market is NOT John Q. Public, but is the smaller,
more knowledgeable group. Especially in that case, given that
they're more sophisticated about real issues (as opposed to
media-worn sensationalism), I'd still hold back until the issue were
directed specifically at the brand.

After all, this is clearly a case of consumer misuse, not product
defect. Unfortunately, in fact, the product worked exactly as
advertised. The brand would suffer if it veered from its usual
course, which I assume is something along the lines of "this is one
of the finest made, be responsible with its use."

You don't see a car company pro-actively involved when a driver goes
nuts and plows through a Farmers Market. They respond accordingly --
but they respond, they don't initiate.

--
Rob Frankel, Branding Expert
Twitter: @brandingexpert http://www.RobFrankel.com
http://www.PeerMailing.com http://www.i-legions.com
http://www.FrankelAnderson.com
Yes, there's an RSS feed blog, if you can handle it:
http://www.robfrankelblog.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Just found this tonight.  This is a very creative approach.  I'm impressed.
Can't wait to see if they really find who they dream of finding and how this
book does.  Here is a real Craigslist Job Listing for a Book Publicist (link
below):

-------------

Book: Marketing /Promotions & Social Media

This is a very exciting and unique marketing opportunity!

We are searching for someone who will help market and promote a soon to be,
nationally acclaimed book entitled "Lead With Love", written for managers
and leaders who are looking to transform their leadership skills and style!
This person will be responsible for providing all of the support necessary
in the marketing initiatives that will carry out and execute a comprehensive
promotional launch of a book, due to release in April 2010. The Book
Marketing Manager will focus on targeting best seller lists with national
recognition, and will have a strong focus on generating bulk book sales.

Individuals will maintain our CRM and initiate email campaigns, all while
maintaining Blogs and newsletters as well as press releases; therefore
exceptional writing skills are necessary! Additionally, this position will
require extensive use of Social media meaning that the selected candidate
will need to demonstrate experience with and utilization of : Twitter,
Squiddo, Facebook, Linkedin, Digg, YouTube and more! Ideally, candidates
with SEO experience are desired. Lastly, the selected candidate will have
knowledge and experience with radio , media, TV and news sites regarding the
promotion of this book and its author.

This position will report directly to our Marketing and Public Relations
Director who has carefully crafted the marketing plan for this book launch!

If you are thirsty for executing and launching this nationally acclaimed
book, we want to hear from you today!

Duties & Responsibilities:
. Carry out a strategic marketing plan and action items for the pre-pub,
lunch and post-pub of the book release
. Execute and maintain an extensive online social media campaign through
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Squidoo, YouTube, Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon
and a blog site
. Write online press releases to promote the author and the upcoming book
. Distribute press releases through the various online platforms
. Write and send out weekly and monthly newsletters (content provided by
author).
. Update, work with and maintain an internal CRM system
. Reach out to online blogger communities and potential affiliates for
online exposure
. Reach out and set-up speaking events and presentation opportunities.
. Work with PR Company to reach out and promote media exposure through radio
shows, TV shows and book review opportunities
. Lunch and carry out a digital marketing campaign around the book
publication date
. Create WOM, Buzz and enticement around the book and author through the
online world
. Assist with video productions when needed for multimedia initiatives

Qualifications:

. Must be able to demonstrate complete familiarity with, and active
involvement with: Top social networking sites and Different online marketing
methods and platforms
. Excellent writing and communications skills; Proactive thinking
. Ability to connect to people online and via phone
. Undergraduate degree highly desirable-with a specialization in Marketing.

Please send your cover letter, resume and salary expectations to
RobynL@.... We sincerely look forward to hearing from you!
Location: Pompano Beach, FL

* Compensation: $40-$50,000 dependent upon experience
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or
commercial interests.

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/mar/1455398092.html





My personal comment:  The pay is way too low.



;)



Paul J. Krupin, Direct Contact PR

Reach the Right Media in the Right Market with the Right Message

  <http://www.directcontactpr.com/> http://www.DirectContactPR.com
<mailto:Paul@...> Paul@...

800-457-8746  (TF US) 509-531-8390  (Cell)  509-582-5174 (Direct)

Blog.DirectContactPR.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

At 10:16 AM -0800 11/12/09, Ned Barnett wrote thusly:
>Rob
>
>I can see I can't budge you from your position, and I see several others on
>your bandwagon.  Perhaps I'm wrong.
>

I think it depends on to whom you're talking.  Clearly, as a "gun
outsider" the issue affects me way differently than a gun aficionado.
I can totally see that.  I'm just telling it from my own perspective
-- which may be inappropriate for your audience.

--
Rob Frankel, Branding Expert
Twitter: @brandingexpert   http://www.RobFrankel.com
http://www.PeerMailing.com  http://www.i-legions.com
http://www.FrankelAnderson.com
Yes, there's an RSS feed blog, if you can handle it:
http://www.robfrankelblog.com

If there enough people who would be willing to pay $20 for a half-day
program on job search techniques to cover my costs of offering the program,
I'd be glad to help out by offering the program to professional
communicators only -- on a pro bono basis. (We'd need about 25 participants
to break even.)

It would include a copy of my book, "Get Hired: It's Your Job"
(HarperBusiness) for each person. The content would include a quick review
of types of resumes (with my proven twists) and prospecting (again with my
concepts that folks in my paid seminars have used successfully). Much of the
time would be devoted to the interview process (from a behavioral
perspective) and would include preparing for the interview, arrival,
greetings, discussions (handling the tough questions and asking questions
that show your interest in the organization), closing the interview, and
follow-up.

I have conducted comparable programs for NOW, National Urban League, women's
and other minority groups, and various non-profit organizations. I would
hold this in Falls Church, VA, on a Saturday afternoon that is convenient to
participants. Please contact me privately and have others do so.

In the interest of service to others -- Pay It Forward --

Stephen
STEPHEN RAFE
RAPPORT COMJMUNICATIONS

Thanks, Stephen - that's new to me, and very helpful.


Ned



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: prbytes@yahoogroups.com [mailto:prbytes@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Stephen Rafe
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:53 AM
To: prbytes@yahoogroups.com; PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com;
prquorum@yahoogroups.com; Network SmallShop
Subject: Re: [prbytes] XP - publication convention / trade show





How about "Exhibitor" magazine?

Stephen
STEPHEN RAFE

----- Original Message -----
From: <ned@... <mailto:ned%40barnettmarcom.com> >
To: <PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com> >;
<prbytes@yahoogroups.com <mailto:prbytes%40yahoogroups.com> >;
<prquorum@yahoogroups.com <mailto:prquorum%40yahoogroups.com> >; "Network
SmallShop"
<SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:SmallShopNetwork%40yahoogroups.com> >
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 4:54 PM
Subject: [prbytes] XP - publication convention / trade show

In meeting - need help

Is there a central trade show that reaches consumer, trade & niche market
magazines?

If not, which combo of events / groups would reach them?

Thanks





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The South Florida Public Relations Network (SFPRN) is pleased to announce that
O'Dwyer's, one of the leading resources for public relations professionals, is a
new sponsor.

Additional corporate sponsors include: Business Wire; Partyline; Market Wire;
and PR News.

If you are a So. Flo. PR pro, find out more at www.sfprn.com

Have a great day everyone! -- linda @ sfprn.com

<QUOTE>
"GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE: PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE"
<END QUOTE>
If it were a stabbing with a steak knife, the manufacturer wouldn't be concerned
about "bad PR."

Stephen
STEPHEN RAFE
RAPPORT COMMUNICATIONS
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Rob Frankel
   To: SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com ; PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com ;
prbytes@yahoogroups.com ; prquorum@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 12:42 AM
   Subject: [prbytes] Re: [SmallShopNetwork] XP - new product PR disaster



   At 5:10 AM +0000 11/12/09, ned@... wrote thusly:
   >There is a fairly new police and self-defense pistol on the market,
   >a Belgian design, the Five-seveN. It has been featured as a
   >good-guy gun in books by Clancy and Flynn, and has been getting good
   >reviews in popular gun and self-defense magazines.
   >
   >Police departments and security companies have begun to adopt it for
   >its accuracy, light weight, high capacity and its military origins
   >(which means quality and stopping power).
   >
   >In short, this was a growing success story. Until ...
   >
   >Though it hasn't been widely reported (but its out there), the Ft.
   >Hood terrorist used this gun in executing 13 soldiers and wounding
   >30 more.
   >
   >Clearly, this is a PR nightmare for the US branch of the Belgian
manufacturer.
   >
   >If you were FN's crisis PR manager, what would you advise your client.
   >
   >No politics, please. Just PR.
   >
   >Ned
   >Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
   >

   I gotta tell ya, I don't see ANY negative PR issues here, as all the
   media I've seen on this issue has focused entirely on the man, his
   background, Islam and the Army.

   As far back as I can recall, I don't ever remember a specific gun
   company singled out for an occurrence like the Fort Hood incident.
   Guns in general, yes. A call for more laws, regulation, sure.

   I could be wrong, but I don't know that John Q. Public can even name
   more than two gun companies, nor the weapons used by Lee Harvey
   Oswald, Jack Ruby, Mark David Chapman or John Hinckley.

   --
   Rob Frankel, Branding Expert
   Twitter: @brandingexpert http://www.RobFrankel.com
   http://www.PeerMailing.com http://www.i-legions.com
   http://www.FrankelAnderson.com
   Yes, there's an RSS feed blog, if you can handle it:
   http://www.robfrankelblog.com




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

How about "Exhibitor" magazine?

Stephen
STEPHEN RAFE

----- Original Message -----
From: <ned@...>
To: <PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com>; <prbytes@yahoogroups.com>;
<prquorum@yahoogroups.com>; "Network SmallShop"
<SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 4:54 PM
Subject: [prbytes] XP - publication convention / trade show


In meeting - need help

Is there a central trade show that reaches consumer, trade & niche market
magazines?

If not, which combo of events / groups would reach them?

Thanks

At 12:15 AM -0800 11/12/09, Ned Barnett wrote thusly:

SNIP

>
>So I'm in tune with this market - at least a bit - and because of that, I
>think this has the potential to be an "insider" PR disaster - not a
>mainstream media one (as you pointed out, they don't know one gun from
>another, but merely want to regulate them all, potentially out of existence
>- depends on the media - but they could care about brands .).
>
>
>Given that, you're the brand master of these kinds of things (nice pun, eh?)
>- given that it is a PR disaster, how would you advise FN to handle it?
>

Okay, let's say the market is NOT John Q. Public, but is the smaller,
more knowledgeable group.  Especially in that case, given that
they're more sophisticated about real issues (as opposed to
media-worn sensationalism), I'd still hold back until the issue were
directed specifically at the brand.

After all, this is clearly a case of consumer misuse, not product
defect.  Unfortunately, in fact, the product worked exactly as
advertised.  The brand would suffer if it veered from its usual
course, which I assume is something along the lines of  "this is one
of the finest made, be responsible with its use."

You don't see a car company pro-actively involved when a driver goes
nuts and plows through a Farmers Market.  They respond accordingly --
but they respond, they don't initiate.

--
Rob Frankel, Branding Expert
Twitter: @brandingexpert   http://www.RobFrankel.com
http://www.PeerMailing.com  http://www.i-legions.com
http://www.FrankelAnderson.com
Yes, there's an RSS feed blog, if you can handle it:
http://www.robfrankelblog.com

At 5:10 AM +0000 11/12/09, ned@... wrote thusly:
>There is a fairly new police and self-defense pistol on the market,
>a Belgian design, the Five-seveN.  It has been featured as a
>good-guy gun in books by Clancy and Flynn, and has been getting good
>reviews in popular gun and self-defense magazines.
>
>Police departments and security companies have begun to adopt it for
>its accuracy, light weight, high capacity and its military origins
>(which means quality and stopping power).
>
>In short, this was a growing success story. Until ...
>
>Though it hasn't been widely reported (but its out there), the Ft.
>Hood terrorist used this gun in executing 13 soldiers and wounding
>30 more.
>
>Clearly, this is a PR nightmare for the US branch of the Belgian manufacturer.
>
>If you were FN's crisis PR manager, what would you advise your client.
>
>No politics, please. Just PR.
>
>Ned
>Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
>

I gotta tell ya, I don't see ANY negative PR issues here, as all the
media I've seen on this issue has focused entirely on the man, his
background, Islam and the Army.

As far back as I can recall, I don't ever remember a specific gun
company singled out for an occurrence like the Fort Hood incident.
Guns in general, yes.  A call for more laws, regulation, sure.

I could be wrong, but I don't know that John Q. Public can even name
more than two gun companies, nor the weapons used by Lee Harvey
Oswald, Jack Ruby, Mark David Chapman or John Hinckley.

--
Rob Frankel, Branding Expert
Twitter: @brandingexpert   http://www.RobFrankel.com
http://www.PeerMailing.com  http://www.i-legions.com
http://www.FrankelAnderson.com
Yes, there's an RSS feed blog, if you can handle it:
http://www.robfrankelblog.com

There is a fairly new police and self-defense pistol on the market, a Belgian
design, the Five-seveN.  It has been featured as a good-guy gun in books by
Clancy and Flynn, and has been getting good reviews in popular gun and
self-defense magazines.

Police departments and security companies have begun to adopt it for its
accuracy, light weight, high capacity and its military origins (which means
quality and stopping power).

In short, this was a growing success story. Until ...

Though it hasn't been widely reported (but its out there), the Ft. Hood
terrorist used this gun in executing 13 soldiers and wounding 30 more.

Clearly, this is a PR nightmare for the US branch of the Belgian manufacturer.

If you were FN's crisis PR manager, what would you advise your client.

No politics, please. Just PR.

Ned
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

L H Oswald used a Carcano rifle, sometimes referred to as a
Manlicher-Carcano M19/38 (meaning it was designed in 1891 and updated in
1938) - a 6.5 mm caliber (a bit smaller than .30 caliber) bolt-action
Italian Army rifle - he used a Smith & Wessen "Victory" Model .38 special
(the caliber is called ".38 special") revolver to shoot Officer Tippit -
Ruby also used a revolver - a Colt Cobra .38 caliber revolver - to murder
Oswald on live TV.  The others I don't know about, but I did know about the
JFK shooting.



Back to my question:



However, considering the market for this Five-seveN pistol (police,
security, self-defense) and the fact that there has been some publicity
(I've seen it in an article I found on Drudge from one of the major
newspapers or TV networks - not Fox) suggests that those in the market might
be impacted. This came to me because I'd been planning to buy one, now I'm
not so sure.


John Q Public was never the market for this specialist
military/police/self-defense pistol - but those who are the market care
about such things, or might.  Brushing this off as a non-event would, IMO,
be a mistake, but perhaps I feel that way because I understand something
about the market, Rob.  My brother-in-law just retired as a detective in
Atlanta; my son plans to be a police officer, ultimately a SWAT Team Hostage
Rescue Team sniper, when he graduates from college in June.  One of my best
friends is a gunsmith.  I collect historical firearms and have a CCW (so I'm
licensed to carry a weapon like the Five-seveN), and I've written for gun
magazines and discussed firearms on some of my history channel appearances.




So I'm in tune with this market - at least a bit - and because of that, I
think this has the potential to be an "insider" PR disaster - not a
mainstream media one (as you pointed out, they don't know one gun from
another, but merely want to regulate them all, potentially out of existence
- depends on the media - but they could care about brands .).


Given that, you're the brand master of these kinds of things (nice pun, eh?)
- given that it is a PR disaster, how would you advise FN to handle it?



Ned



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob Frankel
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 9:43 PM
To: SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com; PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com;
prbytes@yahoogroups.com; prquorum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [SmallShopNetwork] XP - new product PR disaster





At 5:10 AM +0000 11/12/09, ned@...
<mailto:ned%40barnettmarcom.com>  wrote thusly:
>There is a fairly new police and self-defense pistol on the market,
>a Belgian design, the Five-seveN. It has been featured as a
>good-guy gun in books by Clancy and Flynn, and has been getting good
>reviews in popular gun and self-defense magazines.
>
>Police departments and security companies have begun to adopt it for
>its accuracy, light weight, high capacity and its military origins
>(which means quality and stopping power).
>
>In short, this was a growing success story. Until ...
>
>Though it hasn't been widely reported (but its out there), the Ft.
>Hood terrorist used this gun in executing 13 soldiers and wounding
>30 more.
>
>Clearly, this is a PR nightmare for the US branch of the Belgian
manufacturer.
>
>If you were FN's crisis PR manager, what would you advise your client.
>
>No politics, please. Just PR.
>
>Ned
>Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
>

I gotta tell ya, I don't see ANY negative PR issues here, as all the
media I've seen on this issue has focused entirely on the man, his
background, Islam and the Army.

As far back as I can recall, I don't ever remember a specific gun
company singled out for an occurrence like the Fort Hood incident.
Guns in general, yes. A call for more laws, regulation, sure.

I could be wrong, but I don't know that John Q. Public can even name
more than two gun companies, nor the weapons used by Lee Harvey
Oswald, Jack Ruby, Mark David Chapman or John Hinckley.

--
Rob Frankel, Branding Expert
Twitter: @brandingexpert http://www.RobFrankel.com
http://www.PeerMailing.com http://www.i-legions.com
http://www.FrankelAnderson.com
Yes, there's an RSS feed blog, if you can handle it:
http://www.robfrankelblog.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In meeting - need help

Is there a central trade show that reaches consumer, trade & niche market
magazines?

If not, which combo of events / groups would reach them?

Thanks

Ned
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Russell <andy@...>
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:03:42
To: <PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com>; <prbytes@yahoogroups.com>;
<prquorum@yahoogroups.com>; <SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [PRMindshare] RE: XP - Cable Networks?

Ned:  Plum TV -->
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_TV
-- is a niche TV lifestyle cable channel that is locally viewed / produced
in  the following resort communities . . .
-- Aspen
-- Martha's Vineyard
-- The Hamptons
-- Miami Beach
-- Nantucket
-- Sun Valley
-- Teluride
-- Vail

Who knows, you might interest them in opening up shop in the Caribbean
locale you're asking about.

It's both a television network and internet destination that has become the
lifestyle channel of choice for millions of the most prized and elusive
viewers. Full disclosure: My daughter, the TV / video producer, knows them
and did some work for them.

Hit me off-list for more info.

Andy

From: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com [mailto:PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Ned Barnett
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 2:37 PM
To: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com; prbytes@yahoogroups.com;
prquorum@yahoogroups.com; SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [PRMindshare] XP - Cable Networks?
 
There are so many cable channels anymore, I have a hard time keeping up.
Right now, I'm putting together a proposal for a Caribbean resort that
includes a destination resort TV program for their affiliated travel
magazine. My first thought was Travel Channel, but I understand they're in
the process of being bought by Scripps. Then I thought about E! because of
the entertainment overlay of resorts. But who else? I don't want to put in
a lot of time developing a project with a single potential prospect - too
much risk. But who else would want to consider a program tied to travel and
entertainment, high-end lifestyle (yachts, six-star resorts, great food and
wine, superb entertainment, etc.)?

Suggestions?

Ned Barnett, APR
Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association
Barnett Marketing Communications
420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276
Las Vegas NV 89110
702-696-1200 - ned@...
http://www.barnettmarcom.com




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

At 11:36 AM -0800 11/11/09, Ned Barnett wrote thusly:
>There are so many cable channels anymore, I have a hard time keeping up.
>Right now, I'm putting together a proposal for a Caribbean resort that
>includes a destination resort TV program for their affiliated travel
>magazine.  My first thought was Travel Channel, but I understand they're in
>the process of being bought by Scripps.  Then I thought about E! because of
>the entertainment overlay of resorts.  But who else? I don't want to put in
>a lot of time developing a project with a single potential prospect - too
>much risk.  But who else would want to consider a program tied to travel and
>entertainment, high-end lifestyle (yachts, six-star resorts, great food and
>wine, superb entertainment, etc.)?
>
>

These sound like fantasy/romance spots.  Women's channels?  Oxygen?

--
Rob Frankel, Branding Expert
Twitter: @brandingexpert   http://www.RobFrankel.com
http://www.PeerMailing.com  http://www.i-legions.com
http://www.FrankelAnderson.com
Yes, there's an RSS feed blog, if you can handle it:
http://www.robfrankelblog.com

"Using Social Media to Engage Your Stakeholders," your target audience(s),
was the headline - and the bottom line - of the International Conference of
PRSA that ended yesterday in San Diego, from which I've just returned.  I
felt like I got my PhD in Social Media, although we'd already been working
on upgrading our usage of it, beyond groups on Facebook.  It's not about the
"news," it's about the relationship, and increasing the quality of the
relationships.



  <http://www.CommunitiesOnLine.com> www.CommunitiesOnLine.com (COL),
610.842.4238, Kevin McCann, who I've cc'd, chat with Kevin.  We're building
in COL to some projects to "build Social Capital," to improve how we engage
"members" and others who may be interested.  Think of COL as a "private
network" Facebook, where in a Members Only environment, customers, members,
centers of influence, others can create what Seth Godin called Tribes, for
all practical purposes, their own private group, or even one more open, by
invitation, to people who share their interests.



Disclosure, COL has become a client, and is located in same suburban office
complex where we are.  COL holds the USA Master License for technology that
was developed by $4MM in Venture Capital from Philadelphia.



Sam



=======================================

Samuel L. Waltz Jr., Counselor to LeadersT

Sam Waltz & Associates LLC Counsel



302 . 777 . 4774  office

302 . 777 . 7774  mobile

  <mailto:SamWaltz@...> SamWaltz@...

  <http://www.SamWaltz.com> www.SamWaltz.com   <http://www.RLSassociates.com>
www.RLSassociates.com

  <http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/SamWaltz> http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/SamWaltz

http://www.Facebook.com/

cid:image001.jpg@...

Helping Leaders & Organizations Navigate

Difficult Events, Trends, Times, People & Issues

to Achieve Their Goals!



HQs / Office / Meeting Address:

1521 Concord Pike, Suite 301, Brandywine West Bldg

(1st Bldg on R @ US Route 202 @ Foulk Road / DE 261)

Wilmington, DE  19803.3642



Postal Mailing Address:

110 Ponds Lane, Ponds at Greenville

Wilmington, DE  19807.2129

=======================================



From: prbytes@yahoogroups.com [mailto:prbytes@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Ned Barnett
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 2:37 PM
To: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com; prbytes@yahoogroups.com;
prquorum@yahoogroups.com; SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [prbytes] XP - Cable Networks?





There are so many cable channels anymore, I have a hard time keeping up.
Right now, I'm putting together a proposal for a Caribbean resort that
includes a destination resort TV program for their affiliated travel
magazine. My first thought was Travel Channel, but I understand they're in
the process of being bought by Scripps. Then I thought about E! because of
the entertainment overlay of resorts. But who else? I don't want to put in
a lot of time developing a project with a single potential prospect - too
much risk. But who else would want to consider a program tied to travel and
entertainment, high-end lifestyle (yachts, six-star resorts, great food and
wine, superb entertainment, etc.)?

Suggestions?

Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association

Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110

702-696-1200 - ned@... <mailto:ned%40barnettmarcom.com>

http://www.barnettmarcom.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There are so many cable channels anymore, I have a hard time keeping up.
Right now, I'm putting together a proposal for a Caribbean resort that
includes a destination resort TV program for their affiliated travel
magazine.  My first thought was Travel Channel, but I understand they're in
the process of being bought by Scripps.  Then I thought about E! because of
the entertainment overlay of resorts.  But who else? I don't want to put in
a lot of time developing a project with a single potential prospect - too
much risk.  But who else would want to consider a program tied to travel and
entertainment, high-end lifestyle (yachts, six-star resorts, great food and
wine, superb entertainment, etc.)?



Suggestions?



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Andy



You da' man, dude!



I can't tell you how much I appreciate this.  I'm swamped with massive
overload, and am at the same time trying to land something new, and this is
truly helpful.



I've got some things cooking and I'd like to talk to you off-list or on the
phone about one of them that you might find interesting and potentially
profitable.  I also have a deal cooking that might profitably involve your
daughter the video production expert (combination of new technology and new
market); that's still coming together, but the first one is a for-real deal
(or as for-real as anything can be pre-funding).



All the best

Ned



Ned Barnett, APR

Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association



Barnett Marketing Communications

420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276

Las Vegas NV 89110



702-696-1200 - ned@...

http://www.barnettmarcom.com



From: SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andy Russell
Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 8:10 PM
To: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com; prquorum@yahoogroups.com;
prbytes@yahoogroups.com; SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SmallShopNetwork] RE: XP - HELP - Magazine Circulation and Ad Data





Ned: Good luck with the new venture. Some links for you . . .

-- search ABC's eCirc service at no charge [which also provides a no-charge
SRDS search by publication category] -->
http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/index.html
-- Circulation Verification Council (CVC) is a respected, independent 3rd
party you can sign up for [no charge] & search for pubs' audited circ [e.g.,
enter the word "lifestyle" here] -->
http://www.cvcaudit.com/media/
-- an MPA tutorial on the basics to understanding the language of
circulation -->
http://tinyurl.com/ydqx9r8
-- this article says early first half 2009 magazine circulation numbers were
a mixed bag [& it names specific lifestyle pubs] -->
http://tinyurl.com/m8wnl3
-- The first three quarters of the year saw 383 magazine closures and 259
new launches according to a new report from MediaFinder.com -->
http://tinyurl.com/yaf6794
-- why consumers still value magazines (MPA white paper w/ trend statistics)
-->
http://www.magazine.org/advertising/advertising-white-paper.aspx
-- more very recent MPA white papers [reflecting positively on the outlook
for magazines] here -->
http://www.magazine.org/advertising/index.aspx
-- Research & Markets did a study in March on the outlook for magazines --
Consumer Magazines: Rethinking Paper and Pixels [see all three tabs here ]
-->
http://tinyurl.com/y8bzegg
-- press release on the above here -->
http://tinyurl.com/ycx88j4
-- Magazine ad spend is being helped by a new trend -- the movement of
magazine ads to iPhones & other mobile phones -->
http://tinyurl.com/mbzuue

Andy

From: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com> ]
On
Behalf Of Ned Barnett
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 1:55 PM
To: PRMindshare@yahoogroups.com <mailto:PRMindshare%40yahoogroups.com> ;
prquorum@yahoogroups.com <mailto:prquorum%40yahoogroups.com> ;
prbytes@yahoogroups.com <mailto:prbytes%40yahoogroups.com> ;
SmallShopNetwork@yahoogroups.com <mailto:SmallShopNetwork%40yahoogroups.com>

Subject: [PRMindshare] XP - HELP - Magazine Circulation and Ad Data

I've got a new client (prospect, but I expect to close today or early next
week) that's looking to launch a high-end lifestyle magazine, with my help,
and I'll take over the marketing (it's almost more a partnership than a
client, but I'll get paid and that's all that counts <g>).

Anyway, in a meeting yesterday, I realized that the data they had was from a
mid 2000s launch of a similar magazine to a different market - dated at the
very least.

So I'm looking for some information I hope one or more of you can provide on
a fast track.

MPA and/or ABC numbers of audited circulation and paid subscriptions - I'm
looking for current numbers and any trends or trend-lines (I know it's
headed South, but how deep and how fast?).

Advertising spends in magazines, current and trends.

Anything of a related nature that would give an investor reason to say,
"yeah, that's the ticket."

I'm not afraid of competition and I've launched publications (successfully)
in down markets before, or I wouldn't be doing this. But I need data, and
fast, and I'm hoping someone with better skills than my limited Google
abilities can come through for me.

Thanks

Ned

Ned Barnett, APR
Marketing/PR Fellow, American Hospital Association
Barnett Marketing Communications
420 N. Nellis Blvd. A3-276
Las Vegas NV 89110
702-696-1200 - ned@... <mailto:ned%40barnettmarcom.com>
http://www.barnettmarcom.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]