Alan Weinkrantz PR Web Log

HD Communications Summit To Explore Issues Associated With Widespread Deployment of HD VoIP

I'm pleased to be working again with VoiP  and Social Communications pioneer, Jeff Pulver on the The HD Communications  Summit, to bring forward the vision of HD VoIP.   Scheduled for Thursday, May 21, the one day conference will be held at New World Stages in New York City.

At the HD VoIP Summit there will be vendors demonstrating their products and their platforms and we will take a look at the issues and challenges for the transformation of the existing communications infrastructure into one which supports HD.

Speakers include:

·          Yehuda Herscovich, VP Systems, AudioCodes

·         Jeff Rodman, co-founder, CTO Voice Division, Polycom

·         Rod Keller, CEO, Gigaset

·         Rich Buchanan, CMO, Ooma and many others

Re  Registration, Location and Cost Information.

The HD Communications Summit will be held at New World Stages on Thursday, May 21, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, 340 West 50th Street New York, NY 10019, followed by a networking and cocktail reception.

Registration is $495 for the full day event.  Log on to www.hdcomms.com/ for further information and to register.  Members of the media are invited to attend by sending press credentials to: dan@danielberninger.com .

 

San Antonio Startup Blog Continues to Evolve

As the San Antonio Catalyst for San Antonio Startup Blog, I get to be part of a global network of Startup blogs from the U.S. and other parts of the world. 

It's part of the SpringStage Network, that puts me into the epicenter of our local startup community.

I get a chance to help promote local startups that need coverage and an independent voice in hopes of new deal flow for them.

If you know of a startup that is located anywhere between San Antonio, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley, please contact me at alan at weinkrantz dot com.

Personal Branding (good for your company and good for you!) - My Talk at IABC / San Antonio 2009

Today, I am speaking on the subject of Personal Branding at the IABC Meeting in San Antonio.  A special thanks to my pal, Brittany Tradup, from Robot Creative for inviting me.

IABC / San Antonio Personal Branding April 28 09

View more presentations from alanweinkrantz.

 

You may also download the presentation on Slideshare here.

PR Really Matters - and Works with Social Media - My Talk at InteractiveAustin 2009

Today I am speaking at InteractiveAustin 2009.  My talk is called "PR Really Matters and Works with Social Media."

PR and Social Media -Interactive Austin April 27, 2009

View more presentations from alanweinkrantz.

You may also download the presentation from SlideShare here 

More Personal Branding Opportunities - Now From Google Profiles

I've just completed my Google Profile which you may view here.

A Google profile is simply how you present yourself on Google products to other Google users. It allows you to control how you appear on Google and tell others a bit more about who you are. 

With a Google profile, you can easily share your web content on one central location. You can include, for example, links to your blog, online photos, and other profiles such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and more. You have control over what others see. Your profile won't display any private information unless you've explicitly added it.

You can also allow people to find you more easily by enabling your profile to be searched by your name. Simply set your existing profile to show your full name publicly.

If you've been writing reviews on Google Maps, creating articles on Google Knol, sharing Google Reader items, or adding books to your Google Book Search library, you may already have a profile. Click here to learn more about Google Profiles.

How (and why) I am Branding Myself via BlogCatalog

One of my New Year's resolutions was to be more purposeful in developing my personal brand.  I wrote about this subject in my January column in the San Antonio Express-News.

I have been following the sage advise of Personal Brand Master, Dan Schwabel, along these lines.

Aside from being present and actives on my blogs and on sites like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, etc. I've also tried to be more present on BlogCatalog, which is what this post is really about.

In looking at how to mash up, and best represent myself on the Social Web, I recently bought alanweinkrantz.tel which is the new domain for that purpose.  

While I really like the .tel concept, it does limit me in terms of graphically representing my brand.  If you look at my profile on BlogCatalog, you can see what not only my presence, but a graphically pleasing mash up of my activity on Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, etc.

If you are developing your own personal branding strategies, BlogCatalog should be part of your mix.  There is more to this site than just the blogosphere.

Disclosure:  I have done consulting work for BlogCatalog in the past, but they are currently not an active client.  

Want to Find Journalists on Twitter? Here's How. But Manage Your Expectations.

As more and more journalists are on Twitter, this might be a good way to follow and build relationships in your pitching efforts.

I just discovered Muck Rack, an online site that lists journalists who are active on Twitter.

The basic idea is good, but you still have to do your research:  is the journalist who is Tweeting away appropriate for your pitch?  If you are pitching technology, you probably won't want to pitch the travel Tweeter. 

My suggestion is that before you engage, much less pitch, you might try following the person at the appropriate news site you are hoping to gain coverage in.  Sometimes a simple phone call or brief email pitch (though somewhat old school) can still work and be very effective.

Your Tweeting (or Mileage) may vary.

Worth Watching: Facebook Manners and You

Why I Support Julian Castro for Mayor of San Antonio

For the last three months, I've been a volunteer to Mayoral Candidate, Julian Castro, helping his team on Social Media strategies.
Television Commercial from Castro For Mayor on Vimeo.

In working with the team, I had a chance to get to not only get to know Julian, but his team and most important, his supporters.

I am a firm believer that the company you keep says a lot about you and who you are. 

I could go on and on about the people I know, and got to know who are supporters of Julian. I found myself hard pressed to find someone I did not respect or admire in some way who supported him or was a volunteer on his campaign.  People of all ages were lining up at his headquarters to get involved in volunteer his time.  

Our web based Town Hall Meetings were a first in San Antonio.

When it comes down to it, I have two reasons I support Julian.

1.  He will get things done and serve our City's needs best.

2.  On the national and global stage, he can best represent our city for economic development.

Julian represents the next generation of our great City.  I have a personal theory that as the economic recovery takes place, we are going to see companies re-thinking their expansion and re-tooling plans.  I really think San Antonio is on the verge of an economic and intellectual renaissance.  

I really think that Julian is the right leader at the right time to lead and charge the way.

Note:  For the record, I live in Alamo Heights, so I can't "vote" for Julian.  But I can support him. And that is something that is so powerful about the social web.  You can voice your opinion, be heard, and hopefully, have influence.  

Early voting starts Monday, April 27.  

How To Write a News Release (Here's a Handy Form). And Yes, News Releases Still Matter

Whenever I talk about doing traditional press releases, I generally get a blank stare or a look of disbelief.  

Typical Responses I get to the notion of press releases and heaven forbid, using a Wire Service like BusinessWire or PR Newswire.

"Who reads news releases?"

"No one is going to just pick up a news release."

"Why can't we just announce what we have to say on the social web and count on others to spread the word?"

"Our fans on Twitter will Tweet this thing up."

"OMG- news releases are so.... Web 1.0"

Here's my belief:  when appropriate, news releases matter, have impact and actually work.  They are not a substitute for the social web, they are part of your overall communications strategy.

If you are publicly traded, then it's a no-brainer that you have to have traditional news releases for disclosure and compliance issues.  And if you are not, I still believe that select, strategic news merits the time and minor expense of a news news release.

Here's why:

1.  Writing a news release is more formal and makes you really think through what you are saying and how you want to reflect the written word about your company.

2.  Investors, partners, suppliers, and your other publics will still mosey on into your press room to see what's news, how you report your news, and the wording and editorial strategy you take.  

3.  The written word is very much a part of your overall brand experience.  How you write, the tone and choice of words is very much akin to the graphical image you project, the company culture you promote and the quality of customer service you aim for.

4.  News releases, if applied correctly, can be searched (and found) on Google.  They are also a platform which can easily be re-published and spread by your stakeholders on the social web.

5.  A well written and well crafted news release illustrates team work and common vision.  

There is more to a news release than just the mechanics of writing and pitching. 

Oh, and speaking of pitching, yes, I still do very traditional pitching.  And that's a whole other post in its own right.

Here's a hand form you can use to get the press release writing process going.

Any comments on you belief (or disbelief) in using press releases?  How do you and your team writing your press releases?

Download News Release Input Form