Alan Weinkrantz PR Web Log

Yes, Social Media Principles Apply to Musicians Too...

As an amateur musician, I think hard about social media applications for what I do with my love of music.  

I have been fortunate to help my guitar teacher, Steve Owens and have been given the opportunity to shoot videos of product reviews for my friends over at Red Bone Guitar Boutique in San Antonio.

Today, I am speaking to the Texas Music Coalition on Social Media for.... musicians.

Here is my presentation...

Texas Music Coalition 2009

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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

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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

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You may also download the presentation from SlideShare here 

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

Here's My Presentation from Today's PRSA Discussion on PR and Social Media

Today, I presented a discussion on combining PR Methods for Social Media Initiatives at the PRSA San Antonio event.

You may download the presentation here:

Download PRSA - April 09 

Or you may view the presentation here on SlideShare.

BloggersUnite's Tony Berkman Helps Foster the Political Conversation. SA4Mayor's Patricio Espinoza Captures the Story...

I'm a volunteer for the Julian Castro for Mayor of San Antonio Campaign, pitching in with some social media strategies.

Tony Berkman, CEO of San Antonio-based BlogCatalog and BloggersUnite articulates the role of social media and how his BloggersUnite site helps causes join together through the power of the blogosphere, while remaining political neutral.  Kudos to Patricio Espinoza, who is doing a great job of reporting on and more importantly, telling a fair and balanced story about the Mayoral race in our town via his SA4Mayor site.

Here's the interview:

Advise from Jason Calacanis: “What to do if your startup is about to fail (or “Don’t Stop Believing”)

I’ve followed Jason Calacanis, CEO and President of Mahalo, for umpteen years and admire not only his approach to entrepreneurship, but the fact that he’s lasted through good times and bad.   I’m on his email newsletter list and admire his writings and sound advise.  He gave me an OK to re-publish a very good post on my San Antonio Startups Blog where you can read here in regards to scenario which is becoming more and more real every day.  

Speaking Today at IABC / San Antonio (here's my presentation)

 

I am speaking today at the IABC San Antonio event where I will be speaking on the subject of Social Media Strategies. 

As I was developing my presentation, I decided to shift the focus of the talk to be more broad and in the vein of the Social Web.

You can download the presentation here: Download IABC Feb 09 Presentation  or on Slideshare.

San Antonio Startup Blog is Up and Going

The San Antonio Startup Blog is up and going.

I’m serving as the local editor and am thrilled to be part of the SpringStage network of community catalysts who are in tune with their local entrepreneurship and startup scenes.

The network is just now launching in early 2009 as a blog network. This is the first step in ensuring that there is a visible resource in every community for early stage entrepreneurs.

Today, if you’re new to a city and you want to be involved in the startup scene there, there is no clear cut way to get involved. Springstage hopes to fix that by identifying and promoting credible catalysts in each community. David Cohen and Alexander Muse are providing the infrastructure for those catalysts to begin promoting their location entrepreneurship scene immediately.

I am looking for content, so pitch me:  alan at weinkrantz dot com. I'm just getting this off the ground, so please spread the word.

2nd in a Series... My Personal Best of 2008: Becoming a Contributing Columnist for the San Antonio "Express-News."

Thanks to San Antonio "Express-News" Editor, Bob Rivard, he gave me a shot at something new:  being a monthly Contributing Columnist to the San Antonio "Express-News."

I got a chance to work under now Sports Editor, Brad Lehman, and now work with Business Editor, Craig Thomason.

My column appears on the first Tuesday of each month and rotates coverage between my take on AT&T's three-screen strategy (see my blog- 3Screens.net) and PR & Social Media.

Here are some sample columns:

December - A Few Suggestions for AT&T to Consider

November - San Antonio Social Media Types Breaking New Ground

October - AT&T Brings The Enterprise Network Home

September - Web Sites and Blogs Great Supplements to Newspapers