Two cultures divided by a common language

This quote has been stuck in my mind since I read Stuart Bruce’s post over the weekend. There are so many differences in the way PR is conducted in the UK and US, as I discovered during my stint in DC. 
American PRs spend less time writing copy than their UK counterparts. They spend more time [...]

Media Orchard’s obnoxious post

Is Media Orchard Really That Obnoxious and Self-Serving? Answer: Sadly, Yes!
The folks at Idea Grove are conducting a Technorati experiment.  This post is part of it.  Let us know how it all works out, Scott! 
 

Spring Bank Holiday & Memorial Day

I just wanted to send all you Strivers my best wishes for this long weekend. (Except the Canadians who will be toiling today, but had last Monday off instead).  Make the time to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs though.  Go Oilers Go!
Here in Britain the DIY stores and garden centres will do booming business as we struggle [...]

May 26th: This week’s top 5

Lots of blogs are focusing on conferences and events this week, but I found some posts that were pretty interesting.   Here’s what I enjoyed this week.

1. Is it time to eat some fruit?   
2.  How to get 53% more readers.  Well the headline hooked me! A good reminder of copywriting basics from Brian Clark.3. Should PRs [...]

Media news…CNET AP and Technorati

Associated Press and Technorati have announced a deal that will see Technorati providing links to blogs that cite AP stories.  Links to those postings will be available along with the original AP stories on 440 AP Hosted News member Websites. They will also highlight the “Five most blogged about”.  This is great example of blogging [...]

The news release is dead…long live…

Todd  Defren has posted a Web 2.0-based news release template on his blog.  Reaction seems to be generally positive, with some taking a “wait and see” attitude.
The idea is to ensure all new media needs are met with one document. It’s a good idea and should cut down on some to-ing and fro-ing during the [...]

How to use free data

Strivers…I want to be sure you all had a chance to read Steve Rubel’s post from yesterday where he gives a great explanation of how free data available online can inform our activities.  He pulls together a number of tools that, combined can give a lot of intelligence.  Check it out.

CIPR Prez Tony Bradley starts blog

The the CIPR President Tony Bradley launched his own blog, PR Voice, today.  He says:
“I struggle with believing that anyone out there is remotely interested in my musings, and I see my role as being more of a catalyst in raising issues on which the CIPR wants the views of members or simply flagging up [...]

CIM launches free podcasts for students

Online study and revision tips for people working towards the Chartered Institute of Marketing professional qualification are now available free online via podcast. The 30 minute recording will help students to find out exactly what examiners are expecting of them. I’m glad to see the CIM adopting new technologies to meet members’ needs.

Am I Saddam?!

I was surfing around yesterday and came across one of those online personality tests, What famous leader are you?  You get a choice of four questionnaires, depending on the number of questions you are prepared to answer.   So I did the shortest one and was pretty alarmed to find out I am SADDAM!
“People who don’t [...]

BCS Awards Dinner

The British Computer Society Isle of Man Section is holding its inaugural Dinner and Awards evening at the Hilton Hotel on Saturday 17th June 2006, starting at 19:30 for 20:00. Dress will be Black Tie. 
……. 
The cost will be £35 per head, covering drinks on arrival, a three course served meal, and coffee & mints.
During [...]

May 19th: This week’s top 5

There’s been some really funny blog posts along with thoughtful ones this week.  Here’s what I’ve been reading:
1.  Kami is talking about how the IT profession feels it gets no respect.  Just last night I was drafted into the British Computer Society’s Isle of Man Section committee to help out, so her timing is pretty [...]

All you need is love?

Is that so?  Well Strivers, you’ve probably already heard the news that Sir Paul & Lady Heather McCartney had announced that they will split after four years of marriage.  They have one child.  The reason for the split?  Media intrusion! 
But wait!  Wasn’t it only a few weeks ago that we saw these two perched with [...]

Media Moves for 18 May 2006

A quick update on some recent changes.
Connector Specifier has a new blood.  Patrick Mclauglin has been appointed editor-in-chief, Steve Smith is the new executive editor and Matt Vincent is senior editor.  According to Bacon’s, Connector Specifier’s audience is buyers, designers and manufacturing engineers using electronic and fiber optic components.
Ed Scannell has left VarBusiness and has [...]

Guest blogger: Rob Mercer

Today at Strive Notes,  we have our first ever guest blogger. Rob Mercer is managing director of kdrebusiness.com, an Isle of Man IT consultancy for SMEs.  Rob has kindly offered to explain blogging platform WordPress for those Strivers that might be a bit tech challenged.  So with no further adieu…heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere’s Rob:
“There are a great many blogging platforms all [...]

You can’t make this stuff up!

Yuk Yuk Yuk….did you hear the one about the BBC research assistant that put a cabbie on air instead of the ’subject expert’? Apparently the cab driver was waiting in the reception to pick the expert up after his interview.  Somehow the driver ended up on air giving his opinion on music downloading…  Hat tip [...]

buffet-leads creating new business? vox pop

OK folks in the PR world….I’m doing a little market research.  I’ve become aware of an online service called buffet-leads who provides first stage qualified business leads that are obtained via telephone research. 
The idea is that they sell the lead a limited number of times (say three to eight times) for a fee that ranges [...]

May 11th: This week’s top 5

I usually do a top 5 on Fridays, but I’m on the road most of the day tomorrow so I’m jumping the gun slightly this week. But here’s what I’ve been reading so far…
1. Sorting the fake from the real is where Kami Huyse looks at the different “types” of bloggers and their perceived crediblity.
2. Drew [...]

Measuring the value of PR…

It’s an age old question for those of us on the agency side….how can we prove the value of our services in hard terms.  I always try to sit down with a client and set ’smart goals’ from the outset. That way everyone is on the same page and I can be sure that Strive’s work [...]

Here in IT paradise

I’ve been pretty busy here in the Isle of Man getting out and meeting people in the IT sector.  Part of this includes getting to know the Island’s bloggers too.  I’ve recently hooked up with the authors of a couple of tech blogs.  One is Owen Cutajar who blogs at the Ugh!!’s Greymatter Honeypot.  In [...]

Corporates slow to react to blog credibility gains

A survey out last week shows that while Fortune 1000 companies are aware of blogs and blogosphere they are failing to recognise the growing credibility of blogs as a medium and few have blogging plans or policies in place. 
The Makovsky 2006 State of Corporate Blogging Survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, included a telephone survey of [...]

May 5th: This week’s top 5

Here’s what I’ve been reading this week, in no particular order:
1. Shel Holtz gives his take on the trust study I blogged about earlier this week.  He tells us who he trusts the most.
2. Scott at Media Orchard explains why they don’t publish a client list. I agree with everything he says here.  But you [...]

In blog we trust?

I wanted to point out story from the BBC that looks at the trust people put in media. It’s the findings of a study that found, on the whole, people tend to trust what the media tells them more than what their governments tell them. More than 10k people in 10 countries were surveyed.
Just three [...]

Media Moves for 3 May 2006

Some media-bods have moved this week:
In an internal move, Sara Goo takes on technology at The Washington Post from her former beat of aviation. Senior news editor at eWeek, Caron Carlson has moved on.  No word on where she landed or who’s filling in for her. CMP is moving Tim Wilson from Network Computing to [...]

Radio payola

Richard Strauss of Strauss Radio Strategies in DC has got himself in some very hot water. The New York Times reports that he offered $$$ to former labour secretary Robert Reich to make supportive comments about GM’s employee buyout program.  Strauss denies it, but has apologised to GM saying there was a misunderstanding.  “I may [...]

Targeting end-users in the enterprise software market

Over the past four weeks, I’ve met with reps from more than a dozen technology companies in the Isle of Man.  I learned that the Island boasts a broad offering of software, hosting, business continuity, telecom and other services.
But one theme that came up time and again, in these conversations, was the challenge of building business [...]