During Game 4 of the Jazz and Lakers series, I came across a great Pizza Hut ad (below) that I thought was extremely well done.


As you’ll see, this was down with real people and hidden cameras.





Pizza Hut nailed this one, because, and this is my opinion, this ad will probably net them some ink. Not all ad campaigns create such a creative result that the media ends up following it. I haven’t checked to see if this has been written about yet, but the ad team definitely provided the PR team with some great pitching fodder.


Locally, Nationwide Auto Insurance’s unique ad campaign by putting their logo on parking stall lines netted some ink in a local paper here (sorry I can’t find the story).


As a PR guy, I tend to think PR rules the world (stole that line from Cheryl) but if you are going to do an ad, try and make it creative enough the notice will take notice of it so it has a longer shelf life.

On March 26, Footnote.com released an interactive version of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial. As a way to drive more interest for the story, Footnote choose to make the announcement on a day that already held important significance – March 26 was groundbreaking date of the actual Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.

Interestingly enough, “…the day of the launch was also the 26th anniversary of the groundbreaking for construction of the memorial, more commonly known as "the Wall.'" — ComputerWorld

Making the announcement on that date didn't guarantee coverage or publicity; however, it provided a news angle that was easily relatable and could be used as launch point for other stories. It also provided an excellent platform for a unique pitch.

While it's not always appropriate, using dates and anniversaries is a great way to make your pitch or story more relatable to a specific audience.

A lot of details go into launching a new product/service, or even making the “big" announcement. On the PR side those can include (but not limited to) briefing analysts, reviewing messaging, developing collateral and even drafting a press release.

However with all the preparation that takes place beforehand, you cannot neglect having key executive spokespersons available for media when the calls start coming in.

A perfect example of everything working like clockwork is Cemaphore's MailShadowG launch, which took place yesterday. This is an announcement that broke in the NY Times, in a Scobleizer blog by Robert Scoble, and subsequently by more than 31 additional editors and publications in the space of the announcement's first 24 hours.

All prep work was done well in advance, and after the press release went out the phones started ringing. Having discussed availability prior to the launch made it easy for the Snapp Conner PR team to reach key executives immediately and secure interviews.

Congratulations Cemaphore for a successful launch of MailShadowG. We'll be sharing much more about this PR launch within the next several days.

This morning, we'd like to congratulate our client DirectPointe on their #1 ranking on the first-ever MSPMentor 100 list, a ranking of the world's most progressive Managed Service Providers (MSPs). More than 500 MSPs had entered this ranking. Based on a number of metrics comparing fiscal 2007 to fiscal 2006, DirectPointe clearly wins.

Where does social media play into this equation? The MSPMentor 100 project is the outgrowth of a new brainchild by leading IT and channel editor Joe Panettieri. Joe has been a renown editor for 16 years for publications including Informationweek, CMP and Ziff Davis Media. However, the MSPMentor multimedia platform and its accompanying publications and programs are new.

You won't find his editorial calendar on Bacons (Yes, we subscribe. As everyone should!)

We found out about Joe's new project through a posting he made on LinkedIn in early January. SCPR became DirectPointe's PR agency of record on January 15; Joe's deadline for submission was December 28. I know Joe well enough from his prior engagements that I jumped in and begged him for a slight extension. He agreed – and based on DirectPointe's breakout performance in 2007, today we are able to announce the company's win.

What if the world's top MSP had missed this opportunity entirely? Clearly, social networking is a force today's PR professionals can no longer afford to ignore.

Cheryl Snapp Conner

Managing Partner

Like every form of business, Public Relations has its share of the good, the bad and the downright ugly. In the spirit of the season, Snapp Conner PR would hereby like to share a few of Utah's best and worst examples of technology PR.

To read more of the Hall of Fame and the Wall of Shame, click here.

Snapp Conner Team

Once you've begun a public relations initiative, it is important to maintain a steady flow of news. Communicatively speaking, nothing could be more detrimental to your business than to go quiet.

Regardless of extreme optimisms, human nature tends to gravitate toward the negative; and when your company stops making noise, the media began to wonder what is going on behind the closed doors. Or worse… they forget about you.

This is why it is imperative to continue sending out regular press releases, and conducting outreach. If you feel that there is little or no news to share, take a look back at where you've been and what has been completed. Is there something you could share about the growth your company has experienced? Is there an anniversary coming up? How do you compare with where you were last year this time?

Be creative about the news you share. You may not get the intended coverage as with the launch of a new product; however, simply continuing the conversation helps the media know they are working with a company that is more than just a “flash in the pan."

Don Osmond

Senior Associate

Public relations play a vital role in a company's success. It is not a function handled exclusively by the internal PR department or the agency of record. Every company should implement a PR policy and regularly review the policy with employees to ensure that it is understood and followed.

The following are tips each employee should follow to assist with PR:

• Know and understand the company PR policy. If you aren't told about a policy when hired ask if one exists and if you can get a copy of it.

• Make sure you know who you're talking to at all times. If somebody calls asking questions don't be afraid to ask whose calling and what the purpose of the call is.

• Know who is in earshot. Be careful what you say in the company lobby, bathroom or when traveling while at an airport, hotel, restaurant, or trade show. If somebody overhears a confidential conversation, particularly the media it is now public information.

• If a reporter calls and wants information transfer him to the appropriate PR contact. Find out what his deadline is and what specifically it is they need. Once you have this information turn them over to the PR contact.

• Never give out cell phone or personal phone numbers to a reporter. Always take their information and pass it along to the proper PR contact for follow-up.

Jeremy Kartchner

Senior Accounts Director

Broadcast media (TV, radio, streaming online) can be a very effective outlet for creating awareness for your business, generating public support, building investor relations and simply getting customers. But while just sending a press release to an assignment editor or producer will sometimes land you a spot, there are several ways of increasing your success when pitching to a broadcast outlet.

Know the show

Knowing a little out a particular show or segment will go a long way when making a pitch. If you already know who the show is targeting, what their goals are and what the general viewer/listener is looking for, you can include that in your pitch.

Why they care

One of the most common phrases you'll hear in story idea meetings is, “Why do I care?" Simply announcing something in a press release usually won't be enough to get them interested. Take a minute to tailor a message to their particular programming. If it's a news show, tell them how it will benefit their viewers/listeners.

Cut the fluff

Assignment editors and producers are extremely busy. They don't have time to sift through all of the information in every press release they receive (usually hundreds per day). Get to the point as soon as you can and leave out information that isn't particularly important. Make sure to include contact information, times, dates and addresses.

While there are many ways to generate interest from broadcast outlets simply taking a few extra minutes to find out who you are dealing with will go along way.

Matt Stubbs

PR Associate