Alan Weinkrantz PR Web Log

How I Combine Blogging, PR and Social Media To Get Results

Here's a good example of combining Blogging, Media Coverage and Social Media in order to promote a story on my 3Screens blog

1.  Blogging:  I did a post, including a YouTube video, which is a review of AT&T's new WholeHome Manager telephony platform on my other blog, 3Screens.net

2. Sent pitches to appropriate Media Oulets pointing them to my blog.

This resulted in coverage in leading blogs and news sites such as: DSL Reports, Electronic House, Engadget, TeleCompetitor.  Telephony Magazine, FierceTelecom, Zatsnotsofunny did some extensive quotes both from my blog and my video.

3.  Social Media:  It's on Digg, Delicious, Twitter, FaceBook, etc.

When I see a news story on the subject, I leave a comment like the one here in the LA Business Journal, inviting readers to come and see my post and video.

Yup, this really works.

Save the Date: September 16 for My First Live Seminar on Blogging & PR

Save the date:on September 16 / 11 AM CST (9 AM PST / 11 AM MST / 1 PM EST / 7 PM Israel time) I will be conducting a free online seminar which will be broadcast on UStream.TV.  BlogCatalog is sponsoring the event.

I'll be posting more information about this event later this week.

BlogCatalog - A Community of Conversations- The Lingua Franca of the Blogosphere

I 'm a huge believer in the power of Technorati and Google Blog Search. 

I use both as a benchmark to see where my business and my clients get covered.

It's also a great benchmark to understand what conversations are taking place, and what's on blogger's minds.

Now, enter BlogCatalog. 

Their position is that of being the premiere social blog directory on the Internet. Whether you're looking to promote your own blog, find blogs on various topics, or connect with other bloggers, they've developed a very elegant and easy to navigate site.

But unlike Technorati and GoogleBlog search, by its intent, BlogCatalog is a community of bloggers.  At first glance, I thought I could find like minded bloggers who have an interest in technology, PR, marketing, communications and new media. 

Yup- they are there.  But in the process of digging around the catalog, I started finding myself jumping over to other blogs-  particularly political ones that are not necessarily relevant to my business.

Of late, I am interested in politics and of course, the new presidential election cycle that will be on everyone's mind now, through November.  Yes, I do read Huffington Post and Politico, but here on BlogCatalog, I find more grassroots and more mainstream political viewpoints.

I may not agree with what's on people's minds in the vein of the written word, but that's not the point or why I am digging into and figuring out BlogCatalog. 

Aside from its community building focus, BlogCatalog is a good barometer for indexing and tuning into the lingua franca of the written word- in the language of the blogosphere.

Making Your Pitches to Bloggers and News Sites Short, To Point and Provide One Link for Background Info...

Pitching bloggers and news sites through their forms?

Make your pitches, short, to the point and provide a single link where they can find relevant information so they can make a decision to do a story and then actually write from it.

Here is an example of a pitch I made to a specific ZDNet blog.

What's A Blog? Common Craft Explains in Plain....Video

So, just what is a blog - as in this one you are on and my other blog- 3Screens.net?
I found this via Chris Brogan's blog.  The video from Common Craft tells it best.

Using FaceBook for Speedier Email and Messaging

Jeff Pulver recently had a post in his blog where he said that if you were trying to reach him, do so by FaceBook.

FaceBook?

Yes, send Jeff an email through FaceBook.

I am now finding myself doing the same.  I did not "get it" until I realized that in my small world that I travel in, its easier to communicate with very specific people I want to reach if I do so via FaceBook than through traditional email.

Look for me on FaceBook and send me an email. 

Just give it a try....

Photo by Alan Weinkrantz shot in NYC - (c) 2007

Free White Paper: The Art of Telling Your Story to the Media, Industry Analysts and Bloggers

Crafting a message that is compelling is much more an art than a mechanical process.

This was part of a message I recently took to current and potential clients in Israel, during my seminar held on July 8, hosted by BusinessWire / Israel.

The seminar was geared towards CEOs and VPs of Marketing at leading Israeli high-tech and bioscience companies and covered topics including how to create a message that resonates with a company’s many audiences, such as the media, customers, and industry analysts. 

Download the rest of the white paper below:

Download the_art_of_telling_and_selling_your_story_to_media.pdf

Photo of Tel Aviv by Alan Weinkrantz (c) 2007 All Rights Reserved

Blogging for the San Antonio Express News While on the Road

I am also blogging at our daily newspaper, The San Antonio Express News during my current travels to London, Moscow and Israel.

Free White Paper: How to Work With Bloggers as Part of Your Media Outreach Strategies

Do you have a blogging outreach strategy in place?

If not, you should.

Start thinking about a blogging strategy as you begin to enter the second half of 2007.

Download this free white paper to learn more.

Download working_with_bloggers.pdf

Recommended Reading: David Meerman Scott's "The New Rules of Marketing and PR"

Blogger buddy, Kami Watson Huyse, recommended David Meerman Scott's new book, "The New Rules of Marketing and PR." 

I just got it from Amazon, and it's on my airplane reading list.

Am posting from the SA airport en route to meetings in Dallas and will update will future posts once I get into and then complete the book.

My first impression is that it's practical and to the point- with a focus on looking at how companies, large and small, should think about being their own publishers of meaningful and engaging content for the media and of course, the company's publics.