New York Times (NYT) recently appointed 'futurist-in-residence' has claimed that young readers do not have an 'emotional attachment to paper'.
This is not just a US trend. It is true too in the UK. The impact on media relations is obvious and needs to be part of campaign plan development.
Last week the NYT announced the appointment of Michael Rogers as futurist-in-residence - to keep the organisation abreast of how technological developments will affect the newspaper industry notes Journalism.co.uk.
Rogers, a former new-media executive with the Washington Post who writes the Practical Futurist column for MSNBC, told I Want Media that despite great technological advancements newspapers would not disappear, to be replaced by mobile and internet editions, for some time.
For a long time the emotional relationship between print and its readers has been well understood and is based on the research of Guy Consterdine.
At present, it is holding up the circulation of consumer magazines. I see this being in danger as mobile starts to replace such magazines. The emotional attachment to the mobile device is an area of development that needs more research but is already apparent.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Are Publishers really 'idiots'
FoxNews has made YouTube remove an interview with Bill Clinton - drawing condemnation from media blogger Jeff Jarvis, reports Journalism.co.uk.
Instead of housing the interview the YouTube now carries the message:
"This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner Fox News Network, LLC because its content was used without permission."
Media commentator Jeff Jarvis was quick to condemn the act, in a posting to Buzzmachine titled 'Idiots', he wrote:
"FoxNews takes the Bill Clinton interview down from YouTube. Fools. They would be getting a whole new audience. They'd be even more part of the conversation.
Jeff is of course just talking sense. The news from publishing over the last month is one of just pure lack of understanding.
Instead of housing the interview the YouTube now carries the message:
"This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner Fox News Network, LLC because its content was used without permission."
Media commentator Jeff Jarvis was quick to condemn the act, in a posting to Buzzmachine titled 'Idiots', he wrote:
"FoxNews takes the Bill Clinton interview down from YouTube. Fools. They would be getting a whole new audience. They'd be even more part of the conversation.
Jeff is of course just talking sense. The news from publishing over the last month is one of just pure lack of understanding.
Blog PR for Charity
A GROUP of friends who banded together to help a businessman raise cash for Isabel Hospice are charting their progress with the help of the Welwyn and Hatfield Times website.
As reported in last week's WHT, Sam Ahmed, manager at The Pavillion Indian restaurant in WGC, decided he wanted to do something for the community as a thank you for them supporting his business.
He has organised a three-course meal with wine, followed by grand charity auction at his restaurant on Thursday, October 26.
This week his team of helpers set up their own blog through the WHT website.
It will chart their progress as the event draws near.
This is a great way to use social media the link up between a blog, a restaurant and a local newspaper is a nice model.
Telegraph takes readers into darkest corners
The Telegraph has launched a political blog, Commons Confidential, to provide daily updates of goings-on at Westminster, reports Journalism UK.
The blog promises to takes readers 'into parliament's darkest corners - and reveal what the politicians don't want you to hear
The blog promises to takes readers 'into parliament's darkest corners - and reveal what the politicians don't want you to hear
Are blog comments really a measure of popularity?
Nick Farrell writing at The Enquirer reports on an Australian blogger who discovered that spam is the best way to make friends and influence people.
On the bonus side, because BigBlog calculates popularity of a bog on the amount of comments it gets, Wardle is considered extremely popular.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Wardle forgot to switch on a comment verification system and has had his feedback section flooded with spam. Most of his recent posts have had about 1200 and 1600 comments each. Most of them were nonsensical spam messages.
The 8 Year Google experience
When I wrote the first edition of 'Online Public Relations' in 2000, Google was one of a handful of search engines that I mentions. This week Google is eight years old and a phenomenon.
Well done Google.
Now there are issues, largely because of its success.
Well done Google.
Now there are issues, largely because of its success.
Our approach to content at the Google Blog explains how it works with content owners and its desire to respect their rights.
The case is well put by Danny Sullivan at Search Engine Watch. He says:
In terms of copyright, Google stresses that it generally sticks to what's known as fair use, though the post doesn't use those words. The idea is that it shows very short summaries of stories, pages, thumbnails of images but doesn't reprint this material, requiring people to clickthrough to the actual material from places like Google News.
Of course, in the case of cached pages, many including myself would argue that Google goes beyond fair use. Cached pages are an example where content can be viewed without clicking through to the original site, and the opt-out approach for that doesn't feel appropriate at all.
Google also notes there are cases when it wants to go beyond fair use, to make broader use of content where permission would be required. The deal with the Associated Press is cited as one of several examples here.
To me, this is also a way for Google to help defuse the idea that some publications have, such as the Belgian newspapers recently, that Google can be bought off to avoid lawsuits. To me, this is Google stressing that it will do content deals in some cases, but that these content deals aren't necessarily being done to avoid lawsuits, especially when it feels it is acting within fair use guidelines. That's my speculation and take on this, of course. Google didn't comment when I asked if this was the reason for raising the AP deals.
Moving past Google saying it respects copyright, it then stresses that it allows people to opt-out, even if it feels it has fair use rights. In general, I agree with this method, which Google along with the other major search engines generally follow. Trying to get permission from each web site to index it would be an impossible task, and one that's not necessarily even legally required. Opt-out through things like robots.txt is an effective way to protect rights holders plus benefit the public as a whole. I do hope they'll change cached pages to opt-in, however.
I have commented before that blocking a search engine is a way of excluding people from finding your organisation. It reduces the digital footprint of the organisation for most people and, with the exception of the enthusiast, denies the organisation benefits available from its online asset.
Of course, whether Google caches a page or not does not mean it is not cached. It is and can be found. The Internet has a collective memory that means all content can be recovered anyway.
The 8 years Google experience has brought great benefits to us all. If some organisations want to throw it away, they will regret it.
Free online monitoring for lucky few
My friend Bill Comcowich at CyberAlert, the online media monitoring company, today announced that, for the fourth consecutive year, the company will award a minimum of 10 public relations grants to not-for-profit organisations. Each grant consists of one full year of free news monitoring / press clipping services, ranging in value from $2,700 to $3,900. The aggregate value of the grants is expected to total at least $25,000.
For a number of years I offered the CyberAlert service in the UK market which was fun but long before the PR industry realised that there are 8000 online publications publications on line that need to be monitored. Even to this day, most UK PR firms are limited to the range of publications they monitor on-line.
For a number of years I offered the CyberAlert service in the UK market which was fun but long before the PR industry realised that there are 8000 online publications publications on line that need to be monitored. Even to this day, most UK PR firms are limited to the range of publications they monitor on-line.
Time warp or moderne, the state of legal PR.
Legal Week has an article by Ronel Lehman which deals with a range of ways law firms can promote their services.
It is limited in scope and suggests that the legal profession is stuck in a 1970's promotional time warp.
This is not the case. Outlaw Radio, a weekly 10 minute podcast is an example of the use of new media and a fresher look at how the legal profession can engage with communities both local and global.
Almost all Social Media can be effectively deployed by law firms to good effect and the competitive advantage is available to the early adopters.
It is limited in scope and suggests that the legal profession is stuck in a 1970's promotional time warp.
This is not the case. Outlaw Radio, a weekly 10 minute podcast is an example of the use of new media and a fresher look at how the legal profession can engage with communities both local and global.
Almost all Social Media can be effectively deployed by law firms to good effect and the competitive advantage is available to the early adopters.
Retail narrowcast TV is a hit
There is a phenomena in UK stores that offers a channel for PR communication that is becoming really popular.
In addition there is the Samsung Screen Survey (see article in Clickpress) now in its fifth edition, which offers detailed analysis of the state of the market.
The application of the communication channel to engage the consumer using relationship building content (PR) in place of just screen exposure, offers new opportunities.
This should be a PR channel and practitioners may like to explore this emerging capability.
Narrowcast television has a proven record.
In this report, there are data to help understand what can be achieved in terms of exposure showing 85 per cent of visitors to stores equipped with Tesco TV see a screen during their visit, and that on average they see eight screens in total. The average recorded viewing time per exposure to a screen was three seconds. The group calculates viewing figures on the basis that stores have an average of fifty screens, of which 20 will be passed by any given shopper per visit.
JC Decaux group marketing director David McEvoy says. "These results prove beyond doubt that not only do consumers see the screens, but they also have a high frequency of exposure. The research provides us with real audience measurement for the very first time."
The alternatives such as the internet and electronic point of sale displays helps to remove uncertainty from communications in an era of fragmented media, according to a report into the consumer psychology aspects of digital media.
Digital Signage Networks: Theory, Psychology and Strategy has been produced by the Centre for Experimental Consumer Psychology, and by content creation group Pixel Inspiration.
In addition there is the Samsung Screen Survey (see article in Clickpress) now in its fifth edition, which offers detailed analysis of the state of the market.
The application of the communication channel to engage the consumer using relationship building content (PR) in place of just screen exposure, offers new opportunities.
This should be a PR channel and practitioners may like to explore this emerging capability.
Call Centres wreck relationships
A YouGov survey reveals just how bad the call centre experience really is. Commissioned by Callmedia and published in Net4Now, the UK’s leading developer of contact centre software reveals that only four per cent of people in the UK have had a favourable experience when dealing with a customer call centre, with 44 per cent complaining that their biggest gripe is contacting a call centre based overseas.
Commenting on this survey, Rufus Grig, managing director, Callmedia said:
“This research clearly indicates what customers do and don’t like.
Companies need to make quality customer service a priority and take steps to provide good, consistent and timely service in a bid to increase loyalty and reduce churn. The surprising find from this research is quite the strength of feeling felt by UK consumers against the outsourcing of contact centres overseas.”
The survey has revealed a number of other interesting facts:
* When a consumer wants to complain about a product or a service, 42 per cent of respondents prefer to use the phone to ensure that their point is heard
* However, 78 per cent of respondents prefer to buy products online rather than by telephone, email or post
* Respondents’ second biggest gripe is being passed from department to department until someone who can answer the specific query is found
Commenting on this survey, Rufus Grig, managing director, Callmedia said:
“This research clearly indicates what customers do and don’t like.
Companies need to make quality customer service a priority and take steps to provide good, consistent and timely service in a bid to increase loyalty and reduce churn. The surprising find from this research is quite the strength of feeling felt by UK consumers against the outsourcing of contact centres overseas.”
The survey has revealed a number of other interesting facts:
* When a consumer wants to complain about a product or a service, 42 per cent of respondents prefer to use the phone to ensure that their point is heard
* However, 78 per cent of respondents prefer to buy products online rather than by telephone, email or post
* Respondents’ second biggest gripe is being passed from department to department until someone who can answer the specific query is found
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Newspapers on paper are on the way out.
MICHAEL KINSLEY of Time asks the question and comes up with some pretty drab news.
The full article has implications for the Public Relations industry. If newspapers are on their way out, what are the pratitioner options. Michael offers some hope.
How can the newspaper industry survive the Internet? On the one hand, newspapers are expected to supply their content free on the Web. On the other hand, their most profitable advertising--classifieds--is being lost to sites like Craigslist. And display advertising is close behind. Meanwhile, there is the blog terror: people are getting their understanding of the world from random lunatics riffing in their underwear, rather than professional journalists with standards and passports.
The full article has implications for the Public Relations industry. If newspapers are on their way out, what are the pratitioner options. Michael offers some hope.
New Media courses are part of PR degree courses
In a straight rebutal of the PR Week story Derek Hodge makes these points:
Well, which do you think is the authentic voice?
Is this poor journalism or great blogging?Under the headline PR Colleges ill-prepared for new-media explosion the current issue of the UK trade magazine PR Week (22 September, 2006) reports what looks like a shockingly sloppy piece of “research by tech agency Lewis PR” and tells us that “Just seven out of the 27 CIPR approved higher-education PR and comms courses in the UK offer modules dedicated to new media”.
There’s a list of “Colleges offering new-media modules” at the top of the article which fails to mention the University of Stirling where we have a Public Relations and Technology option for students taking our full-time MSc Public Relations course and also the University of Central Lancashire where I used to teach a module on Strategic Communication Technology to students on their MSc in Strategic Communications. That’s two courses I know of that are missing from the list and I wonder if there’s any others that they’ve omitted.
No lecturer teaching on our PR courses here at Stirling was consulted during this “research” and information regarding this module has been on our website since March.
The PR Week article states “Just seven of the 27 CIPR-approved higher-education PR and Comms courses in the UK offer modules dedicated to new media”, while the CIPR website lists over forty such courses and provides full contact details for most course leaders.
Oh dear.
I did rather admire the brass neck of Patrick Barrow, Director General of the PRCA, who seems to think that a major reason why those of us teaching public relations in the university sector should add modules covering new media to our courses is to reduce the cost of doing business for his members.
Well, which do you think is the authentic voice?
A new approach to online conferencing
A first hand description of socil media conferening by Chris Rourke on e-consultancy.
He says:
He says:
The highly accessible and usable conference website (developed in Drupal) set the scene and allowed attendees (the cast) to start deciding the themes for discussion, uploading their profiles, blogging, and meeting each other online. As with most social conferences, the agenda was set through the pre-conference online discussion, providing a groundwork for further engagement at the actual conference.
David Milliband Interview on his Wiki ideas
From e-consultancy we are getting insights into David Miliband (Secretary of state for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and his ideas and reaction to this summer when he launched the government's first experiment with wikis, only for the move to be scrapped after the “accidental or malicious editing or removal of material” by pranksters.
The wiki is back up.
Good work and an interesting interview.
The wiki is back up.
Good work and an interesting interview.
Wireless in the Office and home
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are more tuned into the benefits of wireless than they were two years ago, with a 20 per cent surge in adoption, according to research published today.
More than three quarters (77 per cent) of this community are actively embracing this type of technology compared to just 57 per cent in 2004, claims the survey of 500 SMEs conducted by the Institute of Directors (IoD) and computer giant Dell.
Perhaps this is because so many SME owners have wireless at home.
China Blog
The number of blog sites in China reached 34 million last month, a 30-fold increase from four years ago.
ITPro
ITPro
Public Relations Evaluation - online
We are really getting there now.
Heather Hopkins at Hitwise is offering some serious metrics that can help in evaluation of on-line PR programmes.
She says:
Heather Hopkins at Hitwise is offering some serious metrics that can help in evaluation of on-line PR programmes.
She says:
This week I focussed on the issue of using online usage data (search term volume and content and site visits) to improve the measurability of offline advertising and brand awareness. This week, we published a research report with Yahoo! Search Marketing and i-level (a digital agency in the UK) on this very topic. The research uses three case studies (Orange Shop, Sky and The AA to compare ad spend, creatives and online activity with online behaviour using Hitwise data on search terms, clickstream and visits.
Business Wire get PRWeb
David McInnis of PRWeb dropped Lee Odden a quick note about a new strategic partnership between PRWeb parent, Vocus Communications and Business Wire that includes the licensing of a private label version of PRWeb for use by Business Wire clients.
Lee Oden says:
Now it is time for Business wire to stipulate data feed using XPRL so the data can be used across a wide range of PR tools and services.
Lee Oden says:
This will give Business Wire a leg up over other wire services looking into the optimized press release space. It will also give Business Wire clients the opportunity to take advantage of the new media press release features offered by PRWeb.
Now it is time for Business wire to stipulate data feed using XPRL so the data can be used across a wide range of PR tools and services.
Its spin if you don't validating sources and offer representative graphics.
Jim Horton stumbled on two lessons in ethics and accuracy that would be good for PR practitioners to imitate -- sourcing numbers for readers and production of accurate and ethical graphics. The first came from a critique of newspaper columnists who cite statistics but fail to let readers know where they come from. The second is the code of ethics for the Society of News Design. Both strike a chord because twisting numbers to make a point is a common failure and using jiggered graphics for the same reason is pervasive in PR.
New Media Release
The Press Release is getting a major makeover.
Phil Gomes, is working on it as well. It will be nice when we can welcome him to the XPRL initiative as well.
In the meantime, it is my belief that the traditional Press Release has a very limited life.
Phil Gomes, is working on it as well. It will be nice when we can welcome him to the XPRL initiative as well.
In the meantime, it is my belief that the traditional Press Release has a very limited life.
Mobile Co's have another idea
Mobile companies have been watching the rapid growth of networking and video-sharing websites such as MySpace and YouTube. They have realised that content created by users themselves might be just what they need to persuade their customers to do more with their phones than make calls and send text messages.
Another PR communication channel is on its way.
Another PR communication channel is on its way.
Facebook - a communications channel - is changing
US social networking website Facebook is to compete more directly with bigger rival MySpace by lifting registration restrictions in a move it hopes will attract millions of new users reveals the Guardian.
Until now Facebook, the second-largest social networking website in America after MySpace, has operated a relatively closed community, open only to members of schools, colleges and workplace networks.
Reading
Richard Bailey has an important post for PR people.
What are you reading? My question to all PR practitioners
Too many blank stares.
What are you reading? My question to all PR practitioners
Too many blank stares.
Seven in 10 arts professionals – many of whom have a role in marketing – said they believed their organisation could make more use of digital media.
One stumbling block is clearly the amount of money available, as budgets for digital marketing remain low; two-thirds of organisations currently allocate less than £10,000 per annum to digital technologies. While 98 per cent of organisations now have websites, 76 per cent say their website fails to meet all of the needs of their audiences. Many said they believed their organisation’s whole site needed redevelopment to function effectively.
Looks like there is another campaign that CIPR should get stuck into - Social Media work is not cheap!
PR is just not channel savvy
It comes as blow to learn that PR people just don't use the communications channels available to them.
From PRW (behind Michael Heseltine's skirts and other firewalls), we learn
From PRW (behind Michael Heseltine's skirts and other firewalls), we learn
SUBtv, the company that runs a network of screens in student unions and bars, has called on more PR executives to use the channel to reach the UK's growing student population.
Measuring a Blog's popularity
There are many ways to evaluate the popularity of your blog.
I offer this snippet. The full post from Smart Mobs is here.
I offer this snippet. The full post from Smart Mobs is here.
We've used the most popular feeds mined from bloglines subscribers with public profiles to do various kinds of analyses. We've also played with other influence models for the blogosphere. One thing that the Bloginfluence formula doesn't capture is that the importance of links from other blogs and their posts should be weighted by their importance.
Astroturf to get an early bath
Well would you believe it another astroturfer got fired.. When will they ever learn. Kevin Dugan reports.
A top aide to U.S. Rep. Charles Bass resigned Tuesday after disclosures that he posed as a supporter of the Republican's opponent in blog messages intended to convince people that the race was not competitive.
We don't want press releases.
This is something everyone in PR is going to have to understand and not just for this site.
(1) Read the site. (2) Understand what the hell we talk about (3) Maybe participate on the site in comments (4) Explain to us why whatever your pitching is really interesting to our audience, rather than just claiming its "exciting." Oh yeah, if you claim that the company you're representing is "the leading" company in whatever tiny market you've made up just so you can claim to be leading it... don't even bother.
(1) Read the site. (2) Understand what the hell we talk about (3) Maybe participate on the site in comments (4) Explain to us why whatever your pitching is really interesting to our audience, rather than just claiming its "exciting." Oh yeah, if you claim that the company you're representing is "the leading" company in whatever tiny market you've made up just so you can claim to be leading it... don't even bother.
The old folk aint old anymore
"Complete rejection of the status quo."
"Make it new. Make it different. Make it mine."
"65 isn’t old anymore."
"We don’t want to become old and just do nothing."
Looks like a light bulb went on somewhere.
"Make it new. Make it different. Make it mine."
"65 isn’t old anymore."
"We don’t want to become old and just do nothing."
"It’s all about me."
"Because I've earned it."
"I want it all."
"I’m moving forward, not backward."
Looks like a light bulb went on somewhere.
BT get a new Chief
JP Rangaswami, who bloggers will know as 'Confused of Calcutter' and an innovative thinker is to move from Dresdner Kleinwort to become CIO, Global Services, BT .
This is a serrious development and signals a new direction in social media for the UK's biggest telecoms giant.
This is a serrious development and signals a new direction in social media for the UK's biggest telecoms giant.
IBM bundles Social Media Tools
IBM announced new product and service “bundles” for small businesses. The initial bundles focus on hardware, software and related support services. Interestingley the services are in the areas of voice/data communications networking, digital surveillance and collaboration.
Sounds like social media tools.
Sounds like social media tools.
Compatible mobile
The problem of compatibility between wireless devices is being addressed at an international conference this week reports the BBC.
Scientists will be discussing what has been dubbed "Tower of Babel" technology - software that can converge different wireless gadgets into a single device.
This means that very soon it will be easier to re-purpose information for different cammunications platforms which will cut both production and distribution costs of new media programmes.The Internet never forgets
What you do online will always be visible and it is getting ever more accessible.
A tool that makes it easier to gather and store digital archives has been developed by the National Library of New Zealand and the British Library reports the BBC.
A tool that makes it easier to gather and store digital archives has been developed by the National Library of New Zealand and the British Library reports the BBC.
As more and more information goes online the race is on to create meaningful digital archives.
The web curator tool automates the process of collecting and storing information.
It will become a key part of the British Library's existing digital preservation programme.
Social Media drives retail visits in the USA
Google is top U.S. search engine responsible for 14.93 percent of U.S. upstream visits to the Shopping and Classifieds category, Yahoo! Search was the second and MySpace.com accounted for 2.53 percent according to Hitwise.
Social Media is beginning to drive traffic and at these levels, a lot of traffic.
"Search is a proven method of acquiring traffic and Google is the leader in driving online retail site traffic," said Bill Tancer, General Manager of Global Research at Hitwise. "With the growth of MySpace and others, online retailers should expand their focus beyond search to consider social networking sites as a source of additional traffic."
Social Media is figuring strongly as a candidate for inclusion in media programmes.
Social Media is beginning to drive traffic and at these levels, a lot of traffic.
"Search is a proven method of acquiring traffic and Google is the leader in driving online retail site traffic," said Bill Tancer, General Manager of Global Research at Hitwise. "With the growth of MySpace and others, online retailers should expand their focus beyond search to consider social networking sites as a source of additional traffic."
Social Media is figuring strongly as a candidate for inclusion in media programmes.
Tips on being creative from CIPR
From the CIPR 'Active Events' blog:
Top tips for injecting creativity into your PR
Top tips for injecting creativity into your PR
1. Create 'idea banks'. Why reinvent the wheel? Be comfortable in re-using used material and ideas that are not fully developed, or adapt them slightly to create a new dimension. Be masters of 'creative recycling'.
2. Make you and your team creatively accountable - don't just expect creativity to hang about in the ether around you and somehow happen. Inspect what you expect by demonstrating to your team you are alert to new opportunities, new ways of doing, or challenging the established or routine.
3. Know the ultimate creativity question: Are you asking the right questions? Challenge your assumptions and explore new dimensions by stretching your questions or breaking them down into multiple questions.
4. Harness your 'incubation' - as long as it is not an excuse for procrastination. Sleeping on a problem usually brings results. Even a walk to the photocopier and back is a mini incubation break.
Drapers gets a blog
EMAP - is getting further into new media.
Madgex, the specialists in B2B magazine websites and job board software solutions, have completed the design and development of a new blog website for Drapers.
Drapers is the leading weekly publication for the UK fashion industry and covers all fashion sectors from womenswear, menswear and childrenswear through to footwear and accessories.
For more see onrec.com.
Madgex, the specialists in B2B magazine websites and job board software solutions, have completed the design and development of a new blog website for Drapers.
Drapers is the leading weekly publication for the UK fashion industry and covers all fashion sectors from womenswear, menswear and childrenswear through to footwear and accessories.
For more see onrec.com.
Bloggers to help Charity SEO
Kent Air Ambulance has announced an innovative partnership with Spanish based niche company Hogtronix Ltd in order to climb the Search Engine ladder and be the organisation of choice for worldwide audiences seeking information on Emergency Helicopters. Reports Rotohub.
The charity is calling upon local Kent businesses and blogger’s to link to their website for the mutual benefit of all involved.
The charity is calling upon local Kent businesses and blogger’s to link to their website for the mutual benefit of all involved.
Local Governement adopts Mobile
The latest findings fromndl-metascybe's annual UK Council e-government survey, examining the different stages of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) implementation within local authorities across the UK are published today.
Benefits of the programme, the hurdles currently being faced and the specifics of chosen technologies formed the basis of the survey, which revealed some significant changes in findings from previous years. These included a new emphasis on the integration of emerging and mobile technologies, considered as part of the strategy for the delivery of improved citizen service.
Iain Pickering, Product Director, ndl-metascybe said, “The use of mobile devices plays a significant role in many council road maps, with over 68% planning to implement solutions utilising smart 'phones, PDAs, tablets or a combination. Urban councils in particular seem to be incorporating these technologies as part of their improved citizen service delivery.”
This would suggest that Wifi and Wimax applications for towns and cities may offer considerable economic advantages for municipal authorities.
Benefits of the programme, the hurdles currently being faced and the specifics of chosen technologies formed the basis of the survey, which revealed some significant changes in findings from previous years. These included a new emphasis on the integration of emerging and mobile technologies, considered as part of the strategy for the delivery of improved citizen service.
Iain Pickering, Product Director, ndl-metascybe said, “The use of mobile devices plays a significant role in many council road maps, with over 68% planning to implement solutions utilising smart 'phones, PDAs, tablets or a combination. Urban councils in particular seem to be incorporating these technologies as part of their improved citizen service delivery.”
This would suggest that Wifi and Wimax applications for towns and cities may offer considerable economic advantages for municipal authorities.
More by Mobile reports Wray
Mobile companies have been watching the rapid growth of networking and video-sharing websites such as MySpace and YouTube. They have realised that content created by users themselves might be just what they need to persuade their customers to do more with their phones than make calls and send text messages.
Early experiments certainly suggest there is a nascent market to be tapped. In August, Orange's "Buff or Rough" service, which allows people to vote on whether or not they think a particular victim willing to post a photo is worth a second look, notched up 1m votes in a week, double the previous month. So says Richard Wray Comminications Editor at the Guardian.
Early experiments certainly suggest there is a nascent market to be tapped. In August, Orange's "Buff or Rough" service, which allows people to vote on whether or not they think a particular victim willing to post a photo is worth a second look, notched up 1m votes in a week, double the previous month. So says Richard Wray Comminications Editor at the Guardian.
On line public relations more important in Manchester
Electronic public relations - is becoming an increasingly important part of the mix at agencies which have, until recently, relied exclusively on more traditional methods of getting their clients' messages across. Manchester's traditional public relations agencies are matering blogs, message boards, viral marketing and digital press releases are some of the new tools available to public relations agencies says Simon Donohue of the Manchester Evening News.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Publishers get a good gun - then aim it at their feet
The Automated Content Access Protocol (ACAP) technology, launched by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and various other groups, aims to calm publishers’ fears that they are getting a bad deal when their content is indexed online. Reports e-consultancy.
Tagging is ver good and helpful. It is an aid to finding stuff on-line.
They say that the system, set for launch later this year, will tell search engine’s crawlers how their material can be used, so that the likes of Google and Yahoo! can no longer claim ignorance of their copyright rules.
Ah... so now the publishers want to use it to hinder finding stuff online - why do that?
“This system is intended to remove completely any rights conflicts between publishers and search engines,” said Gavin O’Reilly, president of WAN and also the COO of Independent News & Media.
“This industry-wide initiative positively answers the growing frustration of publishers, who continue to invest heavily in generating content for online dissemination and use.”
The move follows a recent Belgian court ruling that Google had infringed on newspapers’ copyright by publishing sections of their articles.
So this is a copyright protection idea. Its so that publications can generate content and be paid for the content.
They have a problem. Millions of people create content (blogs, wikis, podcasts, vidcasts, lectures, papers ..........). Some of it is very very good content.
Content is cheap.
The idea that you are going to protect copyright is a fine idea. It means that if you have a monopoly, you can sell it.
But this is only true as long as you have the monolpoly and is only true if your monopoly is competitive. It is only true if you can innovate (generate original content) faster than your competitors.
And what do we know about this? We know that is not how it works.
When Bloomberg broke the story about Mrs Blair commenting about Gordon Brown's speech at the Labour Party Conference yesterday, it had no value until broadcast. At that point a frenzy of activity by journalists added to the story. They took the copyright and added value to it but it the value was in its presence on the newswires and Internet. The real value in conversations all over the world was well beyond the reach of the publishers. It was a topic of conversation in households pubs and bars all over the place. That is where the real value was.
And, if it had not been Carolin Lotter who spilled the beans, it could have been a blogger. The result would have been a firestorm just as potent.
All I say to the publishers is to be very careful what you wish for.
Online advertsing growth slows
This means that the rate of increase in the USA (and mirrored in the UK) is less but growth continues. Comment from e-consultancy says:
Research firm eMarketer has forecast that growth in US online ad spending will slow slightly this year as due to weaker consumer spending and as the market matures.
A report by the firm predicted internet ad revenues would rise 26.8% to $15.9bn this year – a move that may calm some fears in the industry after Yahoo!’s warning sent shares tumbling last week.
But that represents a slight cooling off from growth rates of 30% and above in the past two years, and is lower than eMarketer’s previous estimate of $16.7bn, the company said.
Microsoft have an ad strategy
Microsoft has launched of a set of services that firms can use to target consumers via PCs, game consoles, mobiles and PDAs reports e-consultancy.
Announced at Advertising Week, ‘Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions’ the company’s ad products and services now come under a single umbrella, assisting firms that want to reach customers across different digital platforms at a time when media continues to fragment.
Its hope is that consolidation of its ad platforms will persuade firms to move more of their marketing budgets online.On-line advatorials - who is going to read them?
Techmeme, the go-to site to find out what tech bloggers are talking about, is finally putting ads on its site, but with an RSS twist. The ads are a combination of sponsorship spots and paid placement. For between $3,000 to $4,500 per spot, you can deliver your message via a regular RSS feed straight to Techmeme's homepage, reports B2Day.
The conclusion from Erick Schonfeld is that "this kind of effort is that once you cross that line from content to advertising, you are going to turn a lot of readers off. It's like those 12-page advertorials in magazines that everybody skips over."
I agree.
However, I like the technical capability and that may offer a different opportunity which could be value related and that would be a different story.
The conclusion from Erick Schonfeld is that "this kind of effort is that once you cross that line from content to advertising, you are going to turn a lot of readers off. It's like those 12-page advertorials in magazines that everybody skips over."
I agree.
However, I like the technical capability and that may offer a different opportunity which could be value related and that would be a different story.
Wine + Blog + sales
Here is a case study about how one can use blogging to increase sales from B2Day:
While I am on the topic of blogs and marketing, I've been meaning to write a post about Stormhoek, a South African winery that is using blogs as its main marketing channel. Last year, it launched its blog marketing campaign in the UK by offering a free bottle of wine to about 85 bloggers there. Some of the bloggers then wrote about the wine, others wrote about the marketing campaign, but the buzz worked. (Yes, I got two free bottles myself—a pinot grigio that tasted more like a chardonnay and a red pinotage—and I've got to say they tasted quite good). Last year, Stormhoek doubled its exports of wine to the UK from 50,000 cases to 100,000 cases.
Friends are more than hyperlinks
I extract from Bernaise Sourse.
This is really about this acknowledgement of values and creation of relationships through mutually accepted values.
Berger King is a token with values and it will only have a relationship with its 120,000 'friends' in MySpace if it is able to find the values of those friends to which it can offer empathetic values. Otherwise its friends are unused hyperlinks.
He says: Apparently, competition for friends among the younger set can be fierce. Too few friends, and you are like way uncool.There is evidence elsewhere that the friends where there is a big numbers game going on are regarded differently to the friends in a social network where introductions are made at a very personal level. The interaction does count.
Apparently friending has become big business.
Rachael King recently reported in Business Week: "As companies try to build or keep relevancy among young people, they're increasingly tailoring marketing campaigns specifically to social networks. These go far beyond placing banner ads on a site, and involve interaction with users over time in what companies hope will be a memorable way...Burger King, for instance, created a MySpace page for the King, the weird character that appears in their commercials."
There are some who think it is no longer a matter of numbers anyway. There is an emerging school of thought that says - when it comes to social media -- the level of customer engagement is the more meaningful metric.
This is really about this acknowledgement of values and creation of relationships through mutually accepted values.
Berger King is a token with values and it will only have a relationship with its 120,000 'friends' in MySpace if it is able to find the values of those friends to which it can offer empathetic values. Otherwise its friends are unused hyperlinks.
B2B publishers embrace online
This is really importnat for PR practice and comes from Stuart Bruce.
He says:
He says:
I recomend you follow the linksUK Press Gazette has a great article on how B2B media is adapting to the increasing dominance of the internet...
But it's not just the technology B2B publishers that are embracing online and multimedia content......
The article is a good reminder of why PR professionals need to be looking at how they change and adapt the way they work...
Mobi domian - register yours
The mobile web is about to receive the biggest shake-up in years with the start of open registration for mobile phone-specific website addresses, says the BBC.
The general public can now register websites ending with .mobi (dotmobi) as the backers of the mobile net hope to overturn consumer apathy.
This means that you can now get your mobile domian names registered.
Only one in 10 mobile owners use their phones to surf the net due to concerns over cost, speed and poor content. Sites ending dotmobi are designed for phones and must meet agreed standards which will help.
Almost 13,000 companies have already registered dotmobi addresses as part of a pre-registration process open to trademark holders.
B L Ochman is on the button with
Her example is about video but it applies to all new media work
The cost of creating value from the long tail is huge but can be multiplied by a factor of three with good management.
I must have read and heard a hundred times that viral marketing is an inexpensive way to get a message across. Nice idea. But it's not true.To be good in the use of social media takes time, and costs money.
Her example is about video but it applies to all new media work
The cost of creating value from the long tail is huge but can be multiplied by a factor of three with good management.
Ad-Servers and splicing for PR
New markets for ad-servers and ad-splicing equipment promise dramatic near-term growth in North America, Western Europe, and Japan, report Always-On.
If one takes out the scream element and think in terms of being able to offer opportunities for interactivity and community building and there is a considerable opportunit for PR here.
A new study from ABI Research indicates that revenues from these new technologies will total $284 million in 2006, but that the equivalent figure for 2011 will be approximately $1.8 billion.
"Trials have shown that while many consumers don't mind paying a few dollars to download a movie, they are less willing to do so for TV programs," says principal analyst Michael Arden. "So cable companies and content providers want to generate revenue from their video-on-demand (VOD) and other services without having to charge a fee. In some trials, VOD viewer numbers increased dramatically when the service became advertising-based instead of fee-based."
What do these new technologies offer that older ones did not? Traditional ad insertion is a one-size-fits-all affair, while effective advertising is all about customizing the message for specific demographics. That is where the new generation of ad-splicers and VOD servers with ad-server capabilities shine.
If one takes out the scream element and think in terms of being able to offer opportunities for interactivity and community building and there is a considerable opportunit for PR here.
MySpace - tops YouTube
The social networking juggernaut MySpace, owned by News Co was the No. 1 video site in July, topping YouTube, seasoned Internet companies, like Yahoo and and older companies in this area like Viacom says MarketWatch.
This is pretty significant considering that YouTube and Google Video have considerable media coverage and are regarded to be leaders. But now that third-party figures are available for individual sites, we're beginning to see who's actually attracting those coveted eyeballs.
According to a new video report that comScore Media Metrix will begin offering starting Tuesday morning, 37.4 million unique individuals watched a video on MySpace in July.
This is pretty significant considering that YouTube and Google Video have considerable media coverage and are regarded to be leaders. But now that third-party figures are available for individual sites, we're beginning to see who's actually attracting those coveted eyeballs.
According to a new video report that comScore Media Metrix will begin offering starting Tuesday morning, 37.4 million unique individuals watched a video on MySpace in July.
Richard Branson get the buzz
Charles Pretzlik in his FT blog has been examining what the bloggersphere has been saying about the Branson announcement last week. He reports:
The first id that a journalist has not only looked but commeneted in depth and critically at what the bloggersphere is saying.
Secondly that the buzz created by the announcent has been of a dimention to make it newsworthy.
Third, is the acknowledgement that bloggers are making a serious contribution.
I also noted that the FT is using its blogs for informed comment. In many ways bringing the style of the Economist to FT blogs.
The web has been buzzing this weekend with discussion of Sir Richard Branson’s decision to devote $3bn to alternative energy, announced at the Clinton Global Initiative. Chris Hughes explained in Saturday’s FT how this “amounts to a massive ‘asset allocation’ switch out of transport and into green energy” and he went on to ask if this was wise. But the bloggers (see below) have been providing their own answers.There are a number of important outtakes from the article.
The first id that a journalist has not only looked but commeneted in depth and critically at what the bloggersphere is saying.
Secondly that the buzz created by the announcent has been of a dimention to make it newsworthy.
Third, is the acknowledgement that bloggers are making a serious contribution.
I also noted that the FT is using its blogs for informed comment. In many ways bringing the style of the Economist to FT blogs.
David Davis launches new PR training service
David Davis has extended his askdd service.
The service ( www.askddtraining.com ) from “agony uncle” and former vice chairman of Edelman, the world’s largest independent PR company, comprises:
* Training needs analyses & planning
* Customised in-company workshops which are practical and tailored to meet the needs of individuals and their employers
* Continuous post-workshop mentoring
* Quality support materials
* Confidential management reports
* 1-2-1 coaching
The askdd service has a single fee of just £245 for up to a maximum of eight delegates at an askdd training workshop with a guaranteed 100% refund if there is any dissatisfaction with the quality of the service.
“This is a fairer way to charge. It doesn’t mean any lowering of standards and most importantly it brings professional PR training into the reach of even the smallest agency or in-house department.” David said.
David said that currently there was a mixed picture of PR training in Britain. On the bright side universities and professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Public Relations successfully offer longer term PR training to achieve a qualification for those who had the time and money; at the same time the large companies with HR departments invest heavily in improving the skills of their own people.
However, he notes, it was a serious concern that many PR companies and their people were being left behind in the training stakes because the public workshops were not delivering what is needed.
He had, he says, received many complaints about PR training workshops which critics claimed were often:
* Irrelevant with excessive focus on theory
* Did not meet individual needs
* Provided no follow up support
* Too expensive
If some of the blogging courses we see are anything to go by, one can but agree. So many of them identify 'control' as a key outcome. Silly really.
The service ( www.askddtraining.com ) from “agony uncle” and former vice chairman of Edelman, the world’s largest independent PR company, comprises:
* Training needs analyses & planning
* Customised in-company workshops which are practical and tailored to meet the needs of individuals and their employers
* Continuous post-workshop mentoring
* Quality support materials
* Confidential management reports
* 1-2-1 coaching
The askdd service has a single fee of just £245 for up to a maximum of eight delegates at an askdd training workshop with a guaranteed 100% refund if there is any dissatisfaction with the quality of the service.
“This is a fairer way to charge. It doesn’t mean any lowering of standards and most importantly it brings professional PR training into the reach of even the smallest agency or in-house department.” David said.
David said that currently there was a mixed picture of PR training in Britain. On the bright side universities and professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Public Relations successfully offer longer term PR training to achieve a qualification for those who had the time and money; at the same time the large companies with HR departments invest heavily in improving the skills of their own people.
However, he notes, it was a serious concern that many PR companies and their people were being left behind in the training stakes because the public workshops were not delivering what is needed.
He had, he says, received many complaints about PR training workshops which critics claimed were often:
* Irrelevant with excessive focus on theory
* Did not meet individual needs
* Provided no follow up support
* Too expensive
If some of the blogging courses we see are anything to go by, one can but agree. So many of them identify 'control' as a key outcome. Silly really.
ANTHONY HARRINGTON
When a reporter is immoral or dissolute or prostitutes their trade, they deserve such just one epithet. The Scotland on Sunday reporter fits the bill well.
He writes:
CORPORATE social responsibility (CSR) may at one stage have been little more than a public relations exercise for a good section of corporates. Today, however, it is central to how many leading-edge companies do business.
Is it, I ask, moral to be the user of information from Public Relations people and yet call what they do as 'no more than an exercise'?
In the article he even reports what Public Relations people say and called them to get more information. There is no restraints in his use of the work of people who only do this as 'no more than an exercise'. The service is in one moment worthless and at another accepted as part of his work. Indeed, it s the primary route by which information is derived for the article.
Is this the proper conduct of a journalist in seeking the truth. Is the checking of fact so evidently outside the influence of despised pariah Public Relations?
Even more improper is his passing reference to the identification of publics without proper investigation of the truths and sciences behind them.
He airily notes that
In broad terms, CSR reporting is generally seen as having four facets or "impact areas" across which companies measure themselves. These are the marketplace, the workplace, the environment and the community.
His view is partial, Fredmanseque and lacks any depth, an unrestrained blurting opinion, based on peripheral knowledge of a dissipated who has lost any sense of journalistic rectitude.
Just spin then!
Vitues and Vices
Gideon Rachman of the FT reflects
"Over the summer a strange array of politicians started blogging. They included Hillary Clinton, who hopes to be the next president of America; Lionel Jospin, who hopes to be the next president of France; and Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, who is already president of Iran.
"Blogging as a medium has virtues: speed, spontaneity, interactivity and the vast array of information and expertise that millions of bloggers can bring together. But it also has its vices. The archetypal political blog favours instant response over reflection; commentary over original research; and stream-of-consciousness over structure.
"Was that last judgment fair? Does it really follow logically from the rest of the argument? I am not sure and I have no time to think about it further. I have to get back to my blog."
His references to some blogs are also helpful and include:
David Cameron: David Miliband: Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad: Lionel Jospin: ; Hillary Clinton: Segolene Royal: Ferenc Gyurcsany
How blogs and podcasts can give PR a human face
Steven Vass, Media Correspondent of the Sunday Herald reports and gets it wrong. Blogs will never give Public Relations a human face. PR can help organisations express themselves in human terms to publics.
But he starts off ok:
But he starts off ok:
THE Thomson holiday people have got it right. Guinness has got it wrong. L’Oréal started off badly but has made a good recovery. Most Scottish companies, on the other hand, are not even at the races.These are some of the conclusions delegates can expect at a conference about the business benefits of blogs, podcasts and other new media taking place in Edinburgh next week.....
JupiterResearch get into Social marketing Research
JupiterResearch has launched a new ‘Social Marketing research’ service which will specialise in online social networking and user-generated media, otherwise known as consumer-generated media or CGM.
The service aims to provide marketers and site owners with recommendations on how to profit from the use of consumer-generated content, blogs, podcasts, and other emerging media tools. The ‘Social Marketing’ offering will form part of the firm’s Marketing & Advertising suite of research products, which also includes Advertising & Branding, E-mail Marketing, Online Behavior & Demographics, Search Marketing, and SMB Marketing.
The service aims to provide marketers and site owners with recommendations on how to profit from the use of consumer-generated content, blogs, podcasts, and other emerging media tools. The ‘Social Marketing’ offering will form part of the firm’s Marketing & Advertising suite of research products, which also includes Advertising & Branding, E-mail Marketing, Online Behavior & Demographics, Search Marketing, and SMB Marketing.
Banks in social space
Financial services firms are exploring the use of 'social media' channels to connect with new customer markets, and in particular the youth market, says Finestra.
Dutch bank ING Direct, for instance, has launched a viral video marketing campaign that promotes its new 'orange mortgage' to renters and potential first time home buyers.
The backbone of the campaign is a new Web site which features content, video clips and games. ING says the site also features a hidden secret mortgage offer that effectively reduces the closing costs on the mortgage to zero.
ING says the campaign is designed to reach first time home buyers through creative, interactive activities and links with other Internet destinations most familiar to the majority of the audience.
dot cwm
icWales has this report about a Welsh domain. A little change which could unite all Welsh people and those who belong to the world-wide Welsh community. That thing is .cym
Yes, the campaign for a Top Level Domain (TLD) for the Welsh language and linguistic community is up and running and is gaining strength as Welsh and Welshness looks for status on the world wide web.
I am thinking of running one for Wiltshire. dot wilt would be useful. imagine a domain called www.thou.wilt or www.myroses.wilt.When pitching leave contact details
I talked about specialist vertical search engines yesterday and got a comment that was really a pitch.
It was anonymous. There is no evidence of who owns and runs the company, there is no contact address and it may easily be a scam from the Spanish Mafia without delving into the labyrinth of Companies House. The sites that are being promoted equally do not have contact information that helps so we do not know who this is and are expected to reveal our email address to them.
On yer Bike!
Of course I will not post spam comment especially if it could come from the man in the moon. But this serves as a lesson in how not to do online PR in the bloggersphere. Transparency is vitally important.
This is what the comment said:
As it happens, the site is registered to Enrique Dominguez of Rossello 277 6, BArcelona, 08034, Spain and was registered in March.
I still would not trust this site with my email address.
It was anonymous. There is no evidence of who owns and runs the company, there is no contact address and it may easily be a scam from the Spanish Mafia without delving into the labyrinth of Companies House. The sites that are being promoted equally do not have contact information that helps so we do not know who this is and are expected to reveal our email address to them.
On yer Bike!
Of course I will not post spam comment especially if it could come from the man in the moon. But this serves as a lesson in how not to do online PR in the bloggersphere. Transparency is vitally important.
This is what the comment said:
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Vertical Search":
Hi, David We would like you to check our vertical search sites: - Trovit Jobs - Trovit cars, second hand cars - Trovit Homes, real estate We hope you like them!
As it happens, the site is registered to Enrique Dominguez of Rossello 277 6, BArcelona, 08034, Spain and was registered in March.
I still would not trust this site with my email address.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Xanga have criminal tendancies
A social networking website has agreed to pay a $1m fine to settle with authorities over allegations that it collected, used and disclosed personal details of children under 13 says The Register.
The Xanga site stated that children under 13 could not join, but then allowed visitors to create Xanga accounts even if they provided a birth date indicating they were under 13, it said.
Xanga has 25m registered members (mostly in the USA).
Of course, it should be shut down. Marc Ginsberg and John Hiler, the founders, need to be exposed for what they are.
The Xanga site stated that children under 13 could not join, but then allowed visitors to create Xanga accounts even if they provided a birth date indicating they were under 13, it said.
Xanga has 25m registered members (mostly in the USA).
Of course, it should be shut down. Marc Ginsberg and John Hiler, the founders, need to be exposed for what they are.
Hype or Hip
Madgex, the UK market leader in B2B online publishing systems, today announces its new product Backnetwork, a revolutionary social networking tool ....
Oh Yea! This Second Life look alike may be interesting but would you want to partner an organisation that was soooo deep into scream marketing?
most comprehensive
function-rich
like never before
Well if you do want an online tool for delegates attending a conference, this could be interesting - but what ever you do, don't let the salesman in. You might end up with an iceberg in your coffee.
Oh Yea! This Second Life look alike may be interesting but would you want to partner an organisation that was soooo deep into scream marketing?
most comprehensive
function-rich
like never before
Well if you do want an online tool for delegates attending a conference, this could be interesting - but what ever you do, don't let the salesman in. You might end up with an iceberg in your coffee.
70,000 Freshers Get It
Univillage.com, the social networking website backed by lastminute.com founder Brent Hoberman, claims it is on target to sign 90% of all UK university first years, making student recruitment tough for US rival Facebook.
The site, which officially launched last month, is targeting the 400,000 freshers entering university and, ultimately, the 1.2 million full-time students in the UK.
"It is clear British is best when it comes to social networking, with freshers preferring a site dedicated to UK students to something adapted from a generic US model," said Mr Hoberman, a strategic adviser and non-executive director at the company.
Does your web site pass the eye test?
Nomensa, has been looking at web accessibility guidelines put in place to make it easier for people with disabilities such as sight impairments to use the internet. This affects an online population of 10 million disabled people in the UK who, according to the Disability Rights Commission, have a collective spending power of £80bn.
AAccordingto Nomensa, reported in Silicon.com
AAccordingto Nomensa, reported in Silicon.com
"The study of the top 30 retail websites found that not one homepage achieves single-A compliance, which is the minimum requirement by law for making websites more accessible for disabled people in accordance with the globally recognised Web Content Accessibility Guidelines3 version 1.0."
Vertical Search
There is a form of public relations that is quite powerful.
It is in the creation of vertical search engines. TechCrunch talks of the new Estate agent search engine Nestoria today which is an example. The application of the principle need not be so detailed and can be used in many applications from law to second hand cars.
It is in the creation of vertical search engines. TechCrunch talks of the new Estate agent search engine Nestoria today which is an example. The application of the principle need not be so detailed and can be used in many applications from law to second hand cars.
Considering the Internet
A major report of the future of the Internet is published today and is reported by the BBC.
For most people this is not of great interest. It is after all about what will be happening in 15 years time.
For policy makers, such as the CIPR, which is about to embark on policy making in relation to social media, this document is important calling, as it does, on 742 of the best informed experts world wide.
There will be 'bubbles' on the way but this report is about the long run. Its insights infest the core of organisation and the way we manage governance and defend our way of life. It has to be noted that this is about the Internet. Riding on this wave will be the communications platforms and multitude of channels for interaction (not just communication from now on) that will mediate all PR programmes.
If the institutions where to identify how these developments will be affecting organisations in 15 years time and were to put some goal posts between now and then, policies and plans for influence over the legislative regime, education institutions and so forth can be developed. It takes five years for legislation to be changed. Education programmes are just as unwieldy, investment cycles are still this long and so, using the agenda provided by the 742, we can see what has to be achieved over the next five years.
On the agenda:
Mobile
Application online not on computers
Luddite counter culture
Ownership of the network
Embedded/near field technologies
Interoperability
Regulation
Powerful will be less transparent
Privacy
Virtual worlds
This should lead to considerations as to what is sensible for future developments in education, practice, tools and technologies, business practice, risk assessment (and insurance).
For most people this is not of great interest. It is after all about what will be happening in 15 years time.
For policy makers, such as the CIPR, which is about to embark on policy making in relation to social media, this document is important calling, as it does, on 742 of the best informed experts world wide.
There will be 'bubbles' on the way but this report is about the long run. Its insights infest the core of organisation and the way we manage governance and defend our way of life. It has to be noted that this is about the Internet. Riding on this wave will be the communications platforms and multitude of channels for interaction (not just communication from now on) that will mediate all PR programmes.
If the institutions where to identify how these developments will be affecting organisations in 15 years time and were to put some goal posts between now and then, policies and plans for influence over the legislative regime, education institutions and so forth can be developed. It takes five years for legislation to be changed. Education programmes are just as unwieldy, investment cycles are still this long and so, using the agenda provided by the 742, we can see what has to be achieved over the next five years.
On the agenda:
Mobile
Application online not on computers
Luddite counter culture
Ownership of the network
Embedded/near field technologies
Interoperability
Regulation
Powerful will be less transparent
Privacy
Virtual worlds
This should lead to considerations as to what is sensible for future developments in education, practice, tools and technologies, business practice, risk assessment (and insurance).
One great reason for having a real voice
An article published today by the BBC Spam trail uncovers junk empire gives a clue about the size of some 'marketing programmes'.
This scam is about retailing pharmaceuticals using spam. The numbers are jaw dropping:
...Every day for 14 days the spammers behind the junk mail campaign pumped out more than 100m messages.
...there were more than 2,000 variations in the content of the messages making up the ... run.
....Over the course of the weeks when the spam was being sent a new variant of message was despatched every 12 minutes.
...more than 100,000 hijacked home computers spread across 119 nations had been used to despatch the junk mail.
This is one of the reasons why, even on a small scale, people have to be alert to spam tendencies whether it is spamming emails, blog posts, trackbacks, wikis and other forms of communication infrastructure.
It also emphasises the advantage of the 'real' and human voice.
A recommendation on a citizen blogger is useful and human. A recommendation from an organisation may be informative but if you mix up the two it is spam and the penalty when found out will get ever greater as the online community gets ever more fed up with being hijacked by 'marketing programmes'.
This scam is about retailing pharmaceuticals using spam. The numbers are jaw dropping:
...Every day for 14 days the spammers behind the junk mail campaign pumped out more than 100m messages.
...there were more than 2,000 variations in the content of the messages making up the ... run.
....Over the course of the weeks when the spam was being sent a new variant of message was despatched every 12 minutes.
...more than 100,000 hijacked home computers spread across 119 nations had been used to despatch the junk mail.
This is one of the reasons why, even on a small scale, people have to be alert to spam tendencies whether it is spamming emails, blog posts, trackbacks, wikis and other forms of communication infrastructure.
It also emphasises the advantage of the 'real' and human voice.
A recommendation on a citizen blogger is useful and human. A recommendation from an organisation may be informative but if you mix up the two it is spam and the penalty when found out will get ever greater as the online community gets ever more fed up with being hijacked by 'marketing programmes'.
The Google way of business
The Fortune magazine article reproduced on CNN Money about Google is fascinating.
It is about cultures and boundaries and how to have a fast moving company.
PR with Business studies students should see this and see how it fits in with the European ISO 9000 culture and working hours directives.
I guess its also about where the fun is.
This of the relationship between Google and Rupert Murdoch!
It is about cultures and boundaries and how to have a fast moving company.
PR with Business studies students should see this and see how it fits in with the European ISO 9000 culture and working hours directives.
I guess its also about where the fun is.
"He goes down there and sort of hangs with them for a while and comes back and says, 'You know, I'm really sure we should do this.' And it's not a numbers argument. It's a feeling of commitment."
This of the relationship between Google and Rupert Murdoch!
Geekier than thou
Via Andrew Lark I have come across another list of Social Media tools that may be useful or which might spark off a creative on-line PR idea. From Read/Write Web comes a list that is just full of new ideas.
Here is a small sample:
Here is a small sample:
| Data Security Systems | Internet authentication and security | DSSS, as a leader in the Authentication Security space, consistently strives to be in the frontier of the technology. Our state-of-art technology serves to provide enterprises and organisations from different arena protection against compromising of security |
 Eluma | Social marketing | Eluma is the only brandable desktop application that drives customer loyalty and incremental revenue through the power of communities. Eluma enables marketers to create an always-on connection to their users, and to leverage the best aspects of social networking in order to provide users with the ability to collaborate with their most trusted source of information - their peers. |
 eSnips | Online sharing | We created eSnips while thinking about how YOU would want to share your stuff. We believe that just like us, you have lots of things to share online. And just like us, you probably want to do it all in ONE place, to have the freedom to share ANY type of information, and to have control over what you share and how you share it. |
 EyeSpot | Video editing and sharing | We set out to build a site which makes it easy to upload, organize and share all that video, photos, and music. Interact with the community, collaborate, and get some great content to work with too. |
 Flurry | Email on any cell phone | Introducing flurry - free mobile email for everyone. With revolutionary ease of use, you can access your email from your mobile phone anywhere and anytime. |
So that will be £200m paid to publishers then
I do not recall a time when the media complained about the amount if money governments spend on press advertising.
I am getting fed up with hearing snide remarks from journalists, some anonymous as in the case of the Evening Standard who say:
Spin doctors are mostly journalists who like to put their own 'spin' on a news story. Public relations people are involved in building mutually beneficial relationships between organisations and their constituencies.
Ergo ...I wonder what sort of back-handers have been made to the anonymous journalists employed by the Evening Standard to spin ggovernment stories - or am I reading too much into this?
Judging by how well newspapers are doing, this may simply be a hidden subsidy to the publishers.
I am getting fed up with hearing snide remarks from journalists, some anonymous as in the case of the Evening Standard who say:
.....recent figures showed a vast rise in the Government's spending on spin doctors and public relations - up from £111million in 1997 to more than £300million last year.
Spin doctors are mostly journalists who like to put their own 'spin' on a news story. Public relations people are involved in building mutually beneficial relationships between organisations and their constituencies.
Ergo ...I wonder what sort of back-handers have been made to the anonymous journalists employed by the Evening Standard to spin ggovernment stories - or am I reading too much into this?
Judging by how well newspapers are doing, this may simply be a hidden subsidy to the publishers.
Get a job - get a blog
Matthew Wall of the Times explains how spending some time preparing online can give you a head start in the hunt for better employment.
In a run down of many facilities available and includes the idea that blogging can help prospective employees too.
A spin doctor's worst nightmare
Ian Dale in the Guardian examines the issus and opportunities for political parties in a blog mediated era.
It might also be said that this applies to a lot of companies as well.
Blogs are a spin doctor's worst nightmare come true - and then some. It would be understandable if political parties regarded them as uncontrolled, uncontrollable and sometimes downright troublesome. But if they did, they would be missing a huge opportunity to market their message without the filter of mainstream media reportage and comment. The political party that can harness blogs to its cause is the one that will win the internet campaigning war.
It might also be said that this applies to a lot of companies as well.
Politics gets online boost
In a week when UK politics gets political conference headlines, news from the USA show how powerful online politics is becoming.
Nearly one-fifth of American adult users of the Internet in August 2006 spent some time reading about politics or the coming U.S. election reports Monsters and Critics.
Nearly one-fifth of American adult users of the Internet in August 2006 spent some time reading about politics or the coming U.S. election reports Monsters and Critics.
Unmanned blog
A week in politics is said to be a long time (Harold Wilson) and a week in cyberspace is an eternity and for Lionel Zetter, the incoming president of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations combining both is going to be hard now that he has to take on the role of writing PRVoice the blog of the CIPR presidential incumbent.
Lionel will be busy this week and next at Party political conferences where his firm have big stands equipped with handouts and giveaways and 'manned' by some very earnest, some even glamorous, political lobbyists and trainees.
Lionel promises at least two people to man the stand all the time "Nothing looks sadder than an unmanned stand,” he said to the Times .
Soon, one hopes, he will be saying the same of PRVoice which has been unmanned for 14 Days.
It is interesting that in the deeply thought through and careful devined strategy for the 'President's blog' that it will only have intermittent content in an era when the evolution of social media is so rapid and so much is controvercial.
Lionel will be busy this week and next at Party political conferences where his firm have big stands equipped with handouts and giveaways and 'manned' by some very earnest, some even glamorous, political lobbyists and trainees.
Lionel promises at least two people to man the stand all the time "Nothing looks sadder than an unmanned stand,” he said to the Times .
Soon, one hopes, he will be saying the same of PRVoice which has been unmanned for 14 Days.
It is interesting that in the deeply thought through and careful devined strategy for the 'President's blog' that it will only have intermittent content in an era when the evolution of social media is so rapid and so much is controvercial.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Short of a quote? Use a blogger
"The National Day is a time of pride and joy, but it is also a time to read our history and think about the future," a blogger known as Saudi Jeans wrote on Saturday.
Now what is important about this is that it related to a Reuters story.
Saudi Arabians celebrated their National Day for only the second year on Saturday, an innovation in a country that has long discouraged national patriotism because of its commitment to Islam.
The festivities began on Friday and continued into the early hours of Saturday in the streets of Riyadh, which were jam-packed as men drove cars festooned with Saudi flags. State television celebrated the occasion all day long.
"Formerly there were religious strictures against celebrating National Day. There was a fear it would come to resemble religious festivals like Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha," said writer Hamza al-Mozainy.
These were the only two quotes for a heavy wight article.
Bloggers have a range of roles and being up there with the sources for journalists is one of them. A PR ambition if ever there was one.
Now what is important about this is that it related to a Reuters story.
Saudi Arabians celebrated their National Day for only the second year on Saturday, an innovation in a country that has long discouraged national patriotism because of its commitment to Islam.
The festivities began on Friday and continued into the early hours of Saturday in the streets of Riyadh, which were jam-packed as men drove cars festooned with Saudi flags. State television celebrated the occasion all day long.
"Formerly there were religious strictures against celebrating National Day. There was a fear it would come to resemble religious festivals like Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha," said writer Hamza al-Mozainy.
These were the only two quotes for a heavy wight article.
Bloggers have a range of roles and being up there with the sources for journalists is one of them. A PR ambition if ever there was one.
Round up
If David Tebbutt says have a look at something, you can bet it is worth the journey.
I am no expert on different blog platforms having only tried three but he says
Airport Monitoring System Combines RFID With Video
A consortium of European companies and a university is developing a system to track travelers inside airports.
Eight free things every web site should have
Here is a flavour:
I am no expert on different blog platforms having only tried three but he says
Socialtext, one of the business-flavoured blogs/wikis has just put out a new beta. If you've been turned off by its geekiness, take another look. It's nice.
he has written about it over on the Information World Review blog.
Airport Monitoring System Combines RFID With Video
A consortium of European companies and a university is developing a system to track travelers inside airports.
Eight free things every web site should have
Here is a flavour:
Rule #1: If you have a site, you want more traffic.
Rule #2: You don't have enough money to buy as much traffic as you need.
Rule #3: You've already made your site as compelling as you know how to.
The answers are revealing.
International service for folk abroad - a PR opportunity
If you are a British expat like then getting hold of Tetley teabags, Heinz Beanz and/or Marmite can prove difficult. Asking friends to send you food parcels every now and then maybe one solution. Another maybe to use UK2YOU, a new UK focused website with more than 200 shops ranging from Hamleys to Harrod’s to Thornton’s chocolates which delivers to all E.U. Member states plus most of North America and much further afield.
Thank you TechCrunch.
I wonder is there is similar site for service. For example, lawyers, estate agents, PR firms who can provide services for expats 'delivered to the door'.
No doubt there are a number of PR consultancies with such clients - and opportunities.
Thank you TechCrunch.
I wonder is there is similar site for service. For example, lawyers, estate agents, PR firms who can provide services for expats 'delivered to the door'.
No doubt there are a number of PR consultancies with such clients - and opportunities.
Fools only fool the foolish
I like this article by Nicola Natina. Is shows how a a corporation tries to fool people about its social policies using tricks and obfuscation.
The company is Disney and it is found out.
Its reputation has been further damaged.
From her post one will assume the company is a tricky customer. It is a sham. Would you trust your child to a person who was as devious as this. If you read Nicola's post what is your new relationship with Disney corp?
Does the reality match the rhetoric:
What I am saying is that transparency is a way of life. Its use is part of the strategic DNA of the organisation and if it runs contrary to the aims and mission of the organisation, it has immense power to destroy.
This is about reputation of course but much more powerful and much more damaging is the effect on relationships.
The company is Disney and it is found out.
Its reputation has been further damaged.
From her post one will assume the company is a tricky customer. It is a sham. Would you trust your child to a person who was as devious as this. If you read Nicola's post what is your new relationship with Disney corp?
Does the reality match the rhetoric:
The Walt Disney Company has remained faithful in its commitment to producing unparalleled entertainment experiences based on its rich legacy of quality creative content and exceptional storytelling.A cynic might say: Yup - its all exceptional storytelling.
What I am saying is that transparency is a way of life. Its use is part of the strategic DNA of the organisation and if it runs contrary to the aims and mission of the organisation, it has immense power to destroy.
This is about reputation of course but much more powerful and much more damaging is the effect on relationships.
Some rules for pitching to bloggers.
Niall Cook has some wise words for PR people who want bloggers to mention their products.
His points are here.
I like this one:
His points are here.
I like this one:
Assume that the vast majority won't ever mention it (NB. the propensity to not mention a product it is directly proportional to the influence of the blogger)Not to mention finding time to even open the package.
FT goes online 24/7
PR people now have to think about news delivery 24/7 and will need to be able to monitor online as well as print news non stop from now on.
The Financial Times' multimedia newsroom - the much-planned fusion of its print and online operations - will launch in 10 days' time, said editor Lionel Barber.
PR people now need really powerful tools that can complement the new digital newsrooms and they need the basic capabilities such as XPRL.
The FT project will see all print and online news desks integrate: the production system will come fully online and journalists will work an extended rota with more early morning shifts.
The Financial Times' multimedia newsroom - the much-planned fusion of its print and online operations - will launch in 10 days' time, said editor Lionel Barber.
PR people now need really powerful tools that can complement the new digital newsrooms and they need the basic capabilities such as XPRL.
The FT project will see all print and online news desks integrate: the production system will come fully online and journalists will work an extended rota with more early morning shifts.
"We will launch the new newsroom on October 1," Mr Barber told MediaGuardian.co.uk.
The FT Methode production system allows print and online stories to be edited off the same platform.Other newspapers are following the Financial Times' integration plans.
The Daily Telegraph has moved its City section into its multimedia complex in Victoria and hopes all of the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph to be in place by the end of October.
The Times has moved its online business staff into its print business section.
ITV making it online
Digital channels are set for a 33% surge in advertising income and are expected to contribute £10m more to ITV's coffers than they did last year. These early forecasts from media agencies are for the period from October to December from the Guradian.
The Long Tail up against the dead trees
You know you've hit the mainstream...
...when you make the newspaper comics page. Here's today's FoxTrot Well done Chris Anderson.
Teach flint knapping to PR students
Robyn Lewis, writing in PR Week (subscription required to read on-line) reports on a poll that has discovered that just seven of the 27 CIPR-approved higher-education PR and comms courses in the UK offer modules dedicated to new media.
Which say a lot for the CIPR; demonstrates PRWeek's 'new media' credentials in the UK and sloth among PR academics.
The target of 50% school leavers to get a degree education will create some stunning flint knappers. Hooray!
Which say a lot for the CIPR; demonstrates PRWeek's 'new media' credentials in the UK and sloth among PR academics.
The target of 50% school leavers to get a degree education will create some stunning flint knappers. Hooray!
Publishers putting shutters may get shattered
Global publishers, fearing that Web search engines such as Google are encroaching on their ability to generate revenue, plan to launch an automated system for granting permission on how to use their content, I glean from ITPro.
Of course, this is a quick way to commit suicide.Buoyed by a Belgian court ruling this week that Google was infringing on the copyright of French and German language newspapers by reproducing article snippets in search results, the publishers said on Friday they plan to start testing the service before the end of the year.
"This industry-wide initiative positively answers the growing frustration of publishers, who continue to invest heavily in generating content for online dissemination and use," said Gavin O'Reilly, chairman of the World Association of Newspapers, which is spearheading the initiative.
If people cannot get access to information, they seek other sources.
Of course, such a move would give blogs a gift. News blogs are gaining in popularity and would be a powerful alternative.
This means that PR people need to begin to identify the blogs and bloggers they want as information partners.
The face of old PR - its rubbish
Where do these people come from?
Talk about killing the goose...
An email from a PR, complaining about the fact that although his company advertised in a recent supplement I wrote some copy for, they were not mentioned in the editorial. “We advertise heavily in [name of publication]” he wrote, “and would therefore expect to get a mention.”
This folows a more detailed rant about so called PR people.
Talk about killing the goose...
An email from a PR, complaining about the fact that although his company advertised in a recent supplement I wrote some copy for, they were not mentioned in the editorial. “We advertise heavily in [name of publication]” he wrote, “and would therefore expect to get a mention.”
This folows a more detailed rant about so called PR people.
Why should you use Second Life
Text100 has a great video on YouTube (where else) explaining why an PR consultancy (or client) should use Second Life.
Shel Holtz gave me this link which also takes us (thanks to CC Chapman) to NMC' Second Life campus.
Virtual environments are not new. Architects have used them for years but SL is free and can be used for a wide range of application. Text 100 and NMC are real applications.
Shel Holtz gave me this link which also takes us (thanks to CC Chapman) to NMC' Second Life campus.
Virtual environments are not new. Architects have used them for years but SL is free and can be used for a wide range of application. Text 100 and NMC are real applications.
A new blog from the CIPR
Active Events is a new blog from the CIPR.
The opening post (20th September - oops that too me a long time) says:
The opening post (20th September - oops that too me a long time) says:
Looking for information on PR events and training? Want exclusive previews of CIPR events? Interested in getting PR tips from top practitioners and trainers? You've come to the right place!
activevents is a new site from the CIPR training and events team. We'll be announcing all our events here, with the latest additions to our programmes as they are confirmed. You'll also find tips on a range of PR hot topics, taster information from many of our conferences and workshops, and news and reviews after the events. Plus we'll be giving you the chance to take a peek into some of our sessions when we publish information live from the front row of selected events – more details on this to follow.
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