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Chris Anderson, the Editor in Chief at Wired magazine, this week posted in his blog about his frustration with PR people. He is tired of getting "spammed" by PR people - receiving hundreds of emails daily with announcements, press releases and product introductions that are not relevant to what he would ever include in a story. Fair enough. We've all heard this complaint before from various editors.
Where the post gets interesting is when Anderson posts a lengthy list of email addresses from people in the last month who he believes have spammed him. The list is long and includes mostly PR people, identifiable by their email address (@sspr, @5wpr, @webershandwick, etc), who are forever on his blocked email list. Obviously, publishing this list of spammers provides actual spammers with a new set of email addresses. Needless to say, the people on the list are having a bad week - complete with maxed-out inboxes and junk folders.
The comments to the post are varied - some agree with Anderson's retaliation and others find it childish. I don't want to comment on his actions, but I do want to comment on what caused him to post in the first place. As you will notice, BLASTmedia did not make the list. We rely on relationships over press release spamming. In fact, we rarely even send press releases. While we do use a PR database to identify media contacts, we do our research and verify that a specific editor does indeed cover a certain beat and read that editor's recent articles to get an idea of coverage trends.
However, I must admit that it is a challenge to consistently keeps tabs on editors when you are working with a consumer product that appeals to a broad audience. There is a ton of turnover in the media and it is difficult to keep up with changing beats and editor status when you are making outreach to everyone from the Today Show to the tech editor at the Albuquerque Journal. That being said, we have worked hard to form relationships with key members of the press in our respective client industries at BLAST and it this relationship-building that makes our career fun on a daily basis. I have built friendships over the years with members of the press, and it never would have happened if I initially approached the tech editor at Playboy with a calorie-counting book.
Take a look at Anderson's post - what are your thoughts?
As mentioned in an earlier post, football season is here. The time for upsets, underdogs, inspirational stories, and of course, the ever-present beat downs. Growing up outside of West Lafayette, IN, home of the Purdue University Boilermakers, I have always been aware of how the football team is doing, good or bad. We’ve had some of the football greats dig their spikes into the sod at Ross Ade Stadium – players like Bob Griese, Leroy Keyes, Mike Alsott, and Drew Brees. We’ve had some great seasons - 1929, 1931, 1932, 1943, 1952, 1967, 2000 to name a few. But I have to ask, “When the %&#$ are the Boilers going to win the ‘Big Game’?”
I am all for supporting teams through thick and thin. Take my Chicago Cubs for example, who have not won the World Series since 1908 and are annually labeled “the loveable losers.” But this weekend really got me thinking, why do we continue, year-in and year-out to get our hopes up for a great season. Not only did my beloved Cubbies get swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS, my alma mater, Purdue, was absolutely embarrassed on national television by the Ohio State Buckeyes. Now, some of you (Heidi & Katie) might be asking, “why did you think it was going to turn out any other way?” But, the truth is, we continue to think, “THIS year will be different.” Just like the Cubs seem to let you down at the end of the year, EVERY YEAR, Purdue football seems to always let you down in the big games. Over the last few years, we have started out great, demolished the teams we should beat, and glided through the first four or five weeks. But as soon as Purdue plays a “good” team, they buckle and exit the Top 25 polls as quickly as Coach Tiller goes through his cup of ice chips. Purdue’s last win over a ranked team was against No. 10 Iowa back in 2003, but lost to No. 4 Ohio State the very next week, to start the current string of losses to ranked teams.
Who knows, maybe they are another “loveable loser,” and I should just accept them for that. But as long as there is next year, I think I will continue think things will be different “next year.” Don’t we all root for those teams, or even those people who just continue to disappoint, but we love them just the same? Who are your loveable losers?
P.S. I was forced to write this blog post, as I lost a bet to the Buckeye fans at BLAST.
As I mentioned in a previous post, one of BLASTmedia’s specialties is going on the road to get our clients in front of the right crowd—whether we’re on a press tour making stops at major magazine publishers in NYC or showcasing our clients’ unique products at one of the thousands of conventions that take place every year in Las Vegas.
Last weekend, representatives from BabyPlus and I had a unique travel opportunity. Since several celebrities are fans of the BabyPlus prenatal curriculum, we jumped at the chance to exhibit at babyLOVE, an annual Beverly Hills fundraiser for the March of Dimes. Not only were we able to support a great cause— decreasing premature births, but we also told some of Hollywood’s hottest mamas-to-be about a great way they can help their children develop cognitively before birth. We love connecting our clients with charitable causes worthy of support, especially when they’re able to work toward their own business objectives at the same time! What are some of your favorite ways to support charities, either professionally or personally?
I came across an article today on the Yahoo! homepage that cracked my shizz up. It was an article that asked several recruiters to provide "tips" for dressing for an interview. Here it is:
"What is the one piece of fashion and/or grooming advice you wish more candidates would heed before going on an interview?
Get the Details Right
The night before the interview, lay out your wardrobe to make sure everything fits, is free of wrinkles and is current with today's styles. Also take the time to polish your shoes. While this may sound minor, showing up with scuffed shoes may signal to the employer you lack attention to detail. Finally, remember that the interview is not your time to make a fashion statement, so avoid tight clothing, limit your jewelry, and go easy on fragrances.
-- DeLynn Senna, executive director of North American permanent placement services, Robert Half International
Accessorize With Mints
I wish more candidates would take a strong breath mint before their interviews. It may sound silly, but you would be surprised how distracting bad breath can be during an interview! Gum also works, but remember to discard your gum BEFORE the interview.
-- Bob Hancock, independent staffing consultant
What Are Your Revealing?
Look in the mirror: If too much is showing, don't wear it! While low-cut blouses or shirts are in fashion, most are inappropriate for the workplace, including the initial interview. The interviewer could possibly be distracted by the inappropriateness of the candidate's attire and therefore not focused 100% on the interview. This is unfortunate for both parties; the candidate may not be getting the positive reaction to answers they want, and the interviewer may be less apt to probe for the information they need to make a solid hiring decision.
-- Joelle Thies, staffing specialist recruiter, Wells Fargo
The Smell of Success Is Scent-Free
If your perfume or cologne enters the room before you do, chances are your scent may be interfering with your chances of landing the job. You'll see subtle signs from the interviewer -- he'll lean away from you, she'll wrinkle her nose or open a window. If someone on the interview team has allergies or asthma, and if you're meeting with them in a small room, your strong scent will be just the excuse they need to leave the room quickly, without them getting a chance to hear the details about the brilliant marketing campaign you developed at your last company.
-- Cheryl Ferguson, recruiter, The Recruiter's Studio"
Seriously?
If you don't know the following when it comes to interviews:
That you shouldn't wear the same shoes you rocked at the bar last night, that you should brush your teeth daily, that certain body parts should not be exposed, and that you should go easy on the Stetson...
...then sorry, we're not currently hiring.
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