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'.
Monday, September 25, 2006
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.
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