Alan Weinkrantz PR Web Log

How To Pitch

How to pitch?

I still find the best way to pitch is very simple: 

1.  Send an email.
2.  Make your pitch no more than 2 sentences long.
3.  Pitch why it makes sense for the publication
4.  If you have to send the press release, embed it in the email or send a URL from your press room on your web site.

Sometimes will do a follow up call AFTER hours.  Yes, after hours. The notion is just to say something like, "hi, Fred, I know you get tons of pitches, but here is mine: I sent you an email this afternoon about _____ and our _______.  The email is from ______.  If there is an interest, give me a call at ________.   Thanks for listening to my voice mail and considering this story idea.

Yup, this really works and even if they are not interested (this time) you will show that you understand and care about how to approach a journalist and the volume of noise they have to contend and deal with.

PodCamp San Antonio Takes Place This Coming Saturday, May 3

PodCamp San Antonio Takes Place This Coming Saturday, May 3

Free White Paper: The Art of Developing and Telling Your Company’s Story

Quite often when speaking to a prospective client, the first question I get is: “…so do you have the right connections in the media to get us coverage?” 

Are we connected?

Does our team have “good connections?”  Sure.  That’s the easy part of what we do. 

The Message.  The Story.  It’s The Hardest Part. 

Download the white paper here:

Download the_art_of_developing_and_telling_your_companys_story_ii.doc

In Honor of Israel's 60th Anniversary, I Am Helping to Sponsor Three Israeli Soldiers To Come to San Antonio For Community Events and Press Conference

In honor of the upcoming celebration of Israel's 60th Anniversary, I am helping to co-sponsor three Israel soldiers who will be coming to San Antonio, where I live.

On Monday, May 5, civic, military, religious leaders and members of the media will be invited to hear and interview the three Israelis – one with direct family ties to San Antonio - who will share their personal experiences as Israeli soldiers serving and protecting the State of Israel from the constant threat of war and terrorist attacks.

The Israelis will also offer their personal perspectives about their expectations and hopes for peace on this 60th anniversary of the re-birth of the State of Israel.

Background on the soldiers....

• Zvi Levine, who completed his 3 years of active duty in the IDF's last month in the Navy, has San Antonio roots.  His Dad, Charlie, is a good buddy of mine and like me, does PR, but in Jerusalem  Zvi was born in Jerusalem to a family of third-generation Texans, Zvi served as second-in-command on a "swift boat," a hi-tech Super-Devorah produced both for use by Israel and for export sales. He was considered one of the force's top Typhoon gunners, a hi-tech cannon. During his service he blocked smugglers and terrorists from entering or leaving Gaza by sea. He also served off the coast of Lebanon during the 2007 war. 

• Arye Edel completed his 3 years of active duty in the IDF last month.  He was born in Raanana. His parents emigrated from England in 1983.  He is a paratrooper and an expert sniper. He became the sniper’s High Commander of his unit and has served in Nablus, Hevron, Gaza , Ramalah, Ariel, Golan Heights , and the Hermon.

• First Lieutenant Ya’ara Ophir, 21 year-old, joined the Israeli army in October 2005.  She is an Instructor Officer in the Givati Brigade (an infantry brigade). She was a member in a youth delegation to Denmark and a youth counselor in an IDF orphans summer camp for 6-8 years old.  She trained reserve units during the Second Lebanon War.

When:  Monday, May 5 / 12 noon

Where: Campus of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio, 12500 N.W Military Hwy,

Contacts: Judy Lackritz, Director – Community Relations Council
               210-302-6962 / lackritzj@jfatx.org

              Bobbie Ghitis, Chair, Israel Public Action, Congregation Rodfei Sholom
              210-862-0704 / iparodfei@sbcglobal.net

My 3Screens Blog Scoops All National Media to Report on the First Starbucks in the U.S. with AT&T WiFi

In my other life, I have a blog called 3Screens.net.

It's a consumer facing blog about what it's like to be an AT&T three screens customer. 

In producing this blog, it makes me be my own client, having to stay on message, think about communications strategy, with an end game of  building authority and brand.

By three screens, it refers to the TV, the PC and my wireless device (and iPhone) -- all of which I have service from AT&T.

While my focus has been on IPTV, I am starting to write and cover stories about wireless.  I happened to be driving in between my home and my office, stopped at the Starbucks in my neighborhood, got a cup of Java and saw the AT&T crew there. 

I knew that AT&T and Starbucks had announced the switch from T-Mobile to AT&T, so putting 1 + 1 together, I ran to my office, got my computer, logged on, got on the AT&T (and not the T-Mobile network), blogged, sent some pitches out via email, and.....it just struck a chord.

I am going to start melding AT&T / Starbucks / Apple into my editorial mix.  Oh- yes, still do IPTV.  Once whole home DVR is real its yet another ball game.  And once I get U-verse Voice, then I have an all IP home.  There is plenty to do and more fun to come.

Breaking coverage included sites such as:

Engadget

Gizmodo

Gizmonews

Houston Chronicle (thanks, Dwight;)

InformationWeek

MacWorld (Glen Fleishman's syndicated story)

PC World (Glen Fleishman's syndicated story)

RV Internet (a news site for people who live in RVs, or are always on the road and need Internet access)

San Antonio Express News  (where AT&T is headquartered)

Seattle Post Intelligencer (where Starbucks is headquartered)

TMCNet

Washington Post (Glen Fleishman's syndicated story)

WiFiNetNews (Glen Fleishman's source story)

ZDNet

Engadget Gives Dell Latitude XT- Based on Client, N-trig's Duo Sense Technology, Editors Choice Award for Best Tablet PC of The Year

One of my personal favorite gadget blogs, Engadget, has awarded Dell Computer with its award as being the best Tablet PC of 2007.

Launched last November, Dell's Latitude XT, was the company's first entry into the tablet space.  The core Dual Mode technology for this computer comes from client, N-trig.

"Gotta Be Mobile" Innovates With With Its "InkShow" Review Series - And This Just In.... Bob Bushway Strips The Machine Down to Its Bare Bones...

Bob Bushway, over at GottaBeMobile, has an innovative approach to reviewing mobile related devices such as notebooks and tablet PC.s

In this episode, he reviews the pen and touch technology on the Dell Latitude Xt which is based on client, N-trig's Capacitive Touch technology, which he says has the best touch + pen experience on the market. "It is smooth, soft, and accurate, allowing for a more intuitive user experience than currently available in passive or other dual-mode offerings," says Bob.

Check this post, where he tears the unit down to see what's under the hood.  Well done!

Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Awards Client, CrossLink Media, Exclusive Contract to Deliver Mobile Coupons

Today at CTIA Wireless 2008, client, CrossLink Media, an interactive mobile software provider, announced that it was awarded an exclusive mobile contract with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to provide text-based mobile coupons across military installations throughout the United States.

AAFES is a multi-channel retailer offering quality merchandise and services via retail stores, catalogs and online to active duty, guard and reserve members, military retirees and their families at competitively low prices.

Download the press release here:

Download clm_aafes_press_release_40208.doc

Client, N-trig, Hires New Vice President

Client, N-trig, the provider of DuoSense™ technology combining pen and zero-pressure touch for mobile and fixed computers into a single device, announced today that Yaki Luzon has joined the company as its Vice President of Research, Development and Engineering. 

Mr. Luzon joins N-trig from Cisco Systems Israel, where he served as Director of SW Development and QA, managing development of Service Applications (security and service control) for the Service Provider market.  Prior to that, he was the Founder, Acting CEO and VP of Marketing of PacketLight Networks.  Before PacketLight, Mr. Luzon filled multiple roles at 3Com Design Center in Israel, including Design Center General Manager, Director of Marketing, and Program Manager.

Download the press release here:

Download ntrig_hires_vp_of_rd_final2.doc

 

GottaBeMobile Blog Innovates By Inviting Reader Participation for Article Development

GottaBeMobile.com's Internet News and Review website covers the fast paced and constantly changing mobile computing sector.

We've been working with their editor, Rob Bushway, on an on-going basis for client, N-trig.

His recent interview with client, Lenny Englehardt turned out to be in-depth and insightful on Rob's part.

While we have traditionally worked with journalists by pitching stories, news ideas and themes, Rob is showing how online media can innovate by inviting participation from his readers.

In doing so, Rob's readers are helping to shape the editorial fabric and tone of his site.

Coming soon.... more feedback from his readers and an upcoming Podcast with Lenny.