re: PR Predicaments The basic problem is that nobody cares about trade shows except the analysts (financial and industry) and the press. They have virtually no relevance to customer relations - except as a convenient place to meet. This is not marketing Coke to the world, we are marketing highly technical products to highly technical consumers. Glitz will not really get you anywhere. Solid products, with attractive price points, and proper functionality will beat good Marcom everyday and twice on Sunday.
Again, the only reason to show up is to market the company to the financial and trade audience.
re: PR PredicamentsSounds reasonable. And makes that Telecommunications piece seem way off the mark.
Can't imagine any company, especially one with stockholders, would pass up a chance to make a big noise at any show meant to shine a light on the industry's accomplishments, etc.
We have to agree that announcements about every little widget, every new exec appointment, or even announcements that say "Xportos goes to OFC" (meaning we are attending the show, we have an exhibit, will you please come see us?), need to be ignored.
OTOH, there are certain announcements that are best timed with a show since they provide the biggest bang for the marketing buck and allow existing and new customers to get excited about new developments.
It IS the editors'/reporters' job to filter out what's newsworthy and what's not - if they cannot do that because 150 emails hit the inbox, I would recommend they find other jobs where there are no spikes in work-load and where there are no deadlines. (And where nobody cares what you do).
re: PR PredicamentsOK...I know that the following is going to sound patronizing, but I no longer work in the industry and don't really benefit from kissing butt... unless someone at LR wants to write an article promoting higher salaries for High School physics and logic teachers.
Marketing people just don't get it.
It is not a writers job to sort through crap to find the pony. It is their job to write interesting and informative stories for their readers. Marketing/PR people can do one of two things: make it easier for them to do their job, or make it harder.
Guess what? If you make it easier, you will get good coverage. Press people are, well, PEOPLE. Treat them like crap because you think it is their job to take it, and their natural tendency will be... well, the same as yours.
On the other hand, if you conciously think and act in a way that makes their job easier, you will get good coverage in general. Here are a few specifics:
1.Don't bring them a press release talking about how you believe your widget is the best widget in all of widgetdom. Bring them an interesting story, preferably with as much specifics as possible on how specific customers are using your product to solve specific problems. The product is not a story, the application is. If you think this is doing their job for them, great, now your starting to get it. 2.Help them out, even when there is nothing immediately in it for you. Yes, it is your job to promote your conmpany and products, but contributing to or even writing an article that doesn't promote your company once in a while as a favor to the press buys you a lot of goodwill. Most of my CEOs never go this one and complained that I was wasting my time, but they never complained when the press treated us well in return. 3.While you do have to push your agenda, you don't have to cram it down their throats. You may also want to LISTEN to them if they tell you it is a bad time to announce your product the week of the show. THey might know something that you don't that they can't tell you, like maybe the fact that Microsoft and Cisco have announcements that will dwarf yours and drown it out. THey might just keep you from wasting a big announcement. 4.In summary, follow the golden rule: treat them like you would want to be treated, and you may find your company and products getting better coverage.
LR writers and editors, please feel free to correct me if I have it all wrong.
P.S. I understand that marketing people all believe, rightly or wrongly, that a big announcement at a show is neccesary to drive traffic to a booth. THis is only partly true. An earlier announcemenbt followed by personal contact with customers closer to the show is much more effective, it just takes more work.
The basic problem is that nobody cares about trade shows except the analysts (financial and industry) and the press. They have virtually no relevance to customer relations - except as a convenient place to meet. This is not marketing Coke to the world, we are marketing highly technical products to highly technical consumers. Glitz will not really get you anywhere. Solid products, with attractive price points, and proper functionality will beat good Marcom everyday and twice on Sunday.
Again, the only reason to show up is to market the company to the financial and trade audience.
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