A Few Questions for the PR Minded
This is not intended to be a rant. At all.
Merely a question, or a conversation starter.
File this under Improving Blogger and Pr Relations.
Because I think the collective voice of the two sides is tremendously powerful. But there is still a gap in understanding. (note: this is not a blanket ‘this-applies-to-everyone’ statement)
I have worked with some amazing, fantastic PR individuals and firms. That goes without saying. And I would love to encourage that Blogger/PR Relationship. And yet, I am perplexed by something.
I receive emails like this a lot:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi Danielle,
Over the past few months, there has been anticipation around the release of XXXXXXXXXX in the U.S.… The wait is over! Your readers will be excited to know that XXXXXXX will be available for pre-sale, starting today at both XXXXX and XXXXX for $XXX.XX
The product will be available in-stores and for online shipment starting March 28. Please keep in mind that quantities are limited and are available while supplies last. Feel free to share the pre-sale information with your readers, or direct them to the below Web sites for more information on how to reserve a unit for themselves.: (links to sites)
Additionally, your readers will enjoy the new features on XXXXX including:
Best,
XXXXXX
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
I have to confess, I am perplexed. Here are my questions:
*Is the hope that I will just copy and paste the press release on to my site?
*That I will be so excited about the release that I will tweet the links? (Despite the fact that my family will NEVER be using this product)
*Does this mean that the sender does not know that I am NOT a Deal/Coupon site?
*Does this type of blind email work?
*What would be the most helpful feedback?
I get lots of what I call ‘news-type’ press releases: St. Patrick’s Day Party Ideas, 7 year old girl writes book, Ways to Combat H1N1, How to be smart on your taxes, etc. These make some sense to me - partially because I’ve done a few HARO requests looking for an ‘expert’ on a topic and now I’m on a few email lists. But just a straight, ‘your readers will love this/post it’ seems odd.
If I am misunderstanding, set me straight.
Also…..I don’t know if you got this email - I know some people who did, but really?
Hi,
I’m currently doing web promotion for my client. I was wondering if you’re
willing to do a blog post for them on extraordinarymommy.com. My client is
willing to offer $50 for this blog post. We can also provide the blog post
content according to your guidelines.
If you’re interested, payments are sent via paypal. Or if you have a different
proposal, let me know and let’s see how we could work things out.
Thanks in advance,
Iris
Are there people (Iris could be anyone - I’m not saying she is a PR gal) who believe I am so desperate to make $50 that I am willing to agree to post about an anonymous ‘client’? That I will potentially sacrifice content on my site for someone who clearly knows nothing about me?
I want to be clear about something. I am NOT questioning sponsored posts. I have done sponsored posts. I am not questioning anyone’s desire to make money from their site - in fact, I hope that you can. However, I don’t think it would be wise to agree to sponsored content without know what that content is. And I question this particular approach.
That would be a ‘no, thank you very much‘.
I would also like to address this from a, “what can bloggers do to improve relations’ standpoint. Post coming soon.
I would love to know your thoughts. Share away.
Bliss TV - Change that Morning Routine
BlissTV- Morning Routines from Blissful Media Group on Vimeo.
A five year old foot kicks me in the kidney - that’s how I am first roused. Then the small dude begs to let the dog out - Read More
Make a Difference Monday - We Are the World
I can hardly believe it has been 25 years. I remember this ‘moment’ so well. And now, the love, the giving - beautifully recaptured.
Talk Live - Distractions - Logos and such
St. Louis Children’s Photo Contest - Lace Images
A few years ago, when I was elbow deep in wedding planning, there was a local photographer who did everything she could to make my experience as seamless as possible. She went out of her way to hold my hand when necessary and also keep me smiling.
Since that first meeting, this photographer, Gina Kelly, has become a friend - she is responsible for dozens of amazing photos of my family, Christmas cards going back years and, of course, she took the picture that was stolen and used in a store window in Prague.
She, along with the amazing Arina of St. Louis Entertains Magazine, is holding a children’s photo contest.
Now, this isn’t your average ’submit-the-picture-you-love-the-most’ contest and hope someone else thinks your child is cute. This contest is FANTASTIC.
Why? Because everyone who enters gets a FREE SESSION with Gina….in the St. Louis area location of your choice. You also will get a FREE 8×10 of the photo Gina takes that is entered in the contest.
Can you stand it?
The contest runs the entire month of March - until the 31st and is open to kids and babies in the St. Louis area- age 12 and under. You will HAVE to call to make an appointment.
The Grand Prize Winner will be featured on the inside front copy of St. Louis Entertains Magazine, Spring / Summer issue, a 16×20 Gallery Wrap Wall portrait and $200 worth of photos from Gina Kelly/ Lace Images
Winners will be posted online at Lace Images.
The Prize Package is worth $2500.
Second, third and 2 honorable mentions will also be given wall portrait awards.
Your session with Gina will last 30-60 minutes - and you have a choice: she can come to you (and bring backgrounds) or you can go to her. She is taking appointments for every day in March except the 6th and 13th (she has weddings scheduled)
Be creative - if your child rides horses, is a ballerina, won’t go anywhere without their favorite teddy bear - that’s how they should be photographed.
The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges (including me) on April 1st.
Good luck! (and call Gina soon!)
Yo Gabba Gabba! - There’s a Party in St. Louis - Ticket Giveaway
Yo Gabba Gabba! makes me giggle.
It isn’t just that I love Biz Markie for the trip down Memory Lane - though I do.
And it isn’t that my small people have watched a bizillion (true number) episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba!, or that we have spent hours with our noses pressed to the computer screen belting out, “There’s a Party in My Tummy…so Yummy”.
Maybe it is that DJ Lance is from St. Louis that makes us feel connected.
Whatever the reason - I do feel compelled to share. And to give.
Here’s the deal: Yo Gabba Gabba! is coming to St. Louis. But only for ONE DAY. (though two shows)
Sunday, March 21st, DJ Lance and the whole crew (yep , all of them - Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex and Toodee) will descend upon the Fox Theater - first at 2pm and then again at 5pm. (and yes, Biz Markie will be there!)
Here is what you need to know:
Tickets are $29.50 and $34.50
Gold Gabba Party Packages are available for $99.00, which includes premium seats, a meet and greet with the Yo Gabba Gabba! characters, a special entrance to theater, and much more. These special Party Packages are available through Yogabbagabbalive.com or MetroTix.com. You can also purchase tickets at the Fox Theatre box office and all MetroTix locations. There is a $5.00 off discount for groups of 10 or more. Children under one year of age will be admitted free to sit on a parent’s lap.
Ok - now for the Super-Fun portion of this post. The part where YOU can win 4 tickets to the Sunday, March 21st, 2pm show. Comment here - tell me who you want to take to the show and what your child (or you) love most about Yo Gabba Gabba!
This contest will run until Saturday, March 13th. Winner will be chosen at random.
ExtraordinaryMommy.com is not responsible for prizes that are shipped from outside vendors or sponsors. All entries will be pooled together and one (1) winner will be drawn. The winner will have two calendar days to reply via email. Unclaimed prizes will be placed for availability to newly chosen winners after that time. Giveaway is open to all U.S. residents only, must be at least 18 years old to enter. One entry per person, entries accepted through March 13, 2010 ending at exactly 11:59pm CDT.
Academy Awards Inspired Recipes and Eats
(Raises hand)
I have a confession to make.
I love movies. LOVE THEM. Could watch them all day.
But I have kids.
And kids are time consuming. And at the end of the day, I’m simply too exhausted to start a movie.
A few times, we’ve attempted it and *gasp*, I’ve actually fallen asleep. Sacrilegious to a movie-lover.
And, yet, I will be glued to the Oscars on Sunday night. There is simply something about them - the Red Carpet, the Hollywood swagger, the fashions, the stars, the films themselves - I adore. Jeff knows it is my ‘World Series’ night - the only night of the year I am allowed to watch uninterrupted.
It pains me to tell you I have seen a record ONE of the Best Picture nominated films. (Can you guess which one? Hint - I’m a mom. Nice work, can’t put anything past you: Up.) Does it count that I really want to see The Blind Side? And Hurt Locker? And Precious? And District Nine? And Invictus? And Nine?
I haven’t even seen Julie and Julia. I had it recorded, but my DVR deleted it in favor of the Olympics. *sigh*
I used to have a fancy Academy Awards party - girls only. (This was when Delaney was just a baby) We’d eat, gab, dish about the fashions, eat some more and naturally predict the winners.
I’m afraid this year my predictions will be nothing but guesses based on what I *hope* I will like the best.
But I will still be eating.
If you are the Academy-Award-Watching-Love-to-snack-away kind, (especially if you are hosting a little party) here’s a little something to inspire you. The widget below, from Hyundai’s Facebook Fan Page, showcases some Movie Inspired Eats…. Enjoy. And happy predicting.
This post, while entirely based on my own experience, thoughts and love of movies, is sponsored by Media Needle on behalf of Hyundai.
Talk Live - Highlighting YOU.
I left my heart (or some of it) in Vancouver
Six days.
144 hours.
That is the extent of my official Olympic experience…but the love and lessons will stay with me so much longer.
If you’ve been following any of my Olympic coverage, you know I owe the experience to Procter & Gamble. They asked me to come to Vancouver to share, in my own words, the Olympic experience, as well as the beauty and gratitude that surround the P&G Family Home.
It may sound cliche to call this the opportunity of a life-time, but that really is just how it felt.
I could rattle on for hours about my thoughts on the Olympics Games, the 50 degree temperatures, the Canadian Pride, the aura surrounding an actual Olympic event (I went to Ice Dancing and Curling), the jolt I got from visiting the Getty Images crew, the Olympic Flame, those darn-cute Olympic mascots (my kids adore Muk-Muk), or the flashbacks to my Canadian Childhood (Canadian bacon, brown sugar and toast with butter and jam, anyone?)
But I promise to keep this shorter than that.
I have always loved the Olympics - even as a little girl I was mesmerized by the drama - the punch in the gut of a fall, the pride stretched across the faces and chests of the athletes wearing their country’s colors, the tears and sacrifice that combine for a win….a bronze, a silver, a gold.
I loved walking the streets of Vancouver…..the maple leaf decorated hats, store windows, cars and, of course, mittens. The volume would increase as Canada’s stakes in the medal count continued to climb. When Jon Montgomery won gold for skeleton, strangers high-fived in the dark, yelling, “did you hear?” And when Joannie Rochette’s mother passed away the Saturday before she was slated to compete…..Canada wasn’t the only nation crying for her. To say nothing of the fact that Joannie put her skates on and competed…..she skated for her mom - that was evident. And, wow….what a proud mom she must have right now.
Which brings me to Moms….and the true reason I spent time at the Olympic Games. You saw the P&G commercials, right? I stubbornly wiped my eyes every time I saw them….knowing my husband was preparing to tease me for over-active ‘mommy emotions’. But you know what? I can feel those commercials. They are right on when they say, ‘to their moms, they’ll always be kids’. That’s how I feel now and my small people are…well….small.
Every mom I met in the P&G Family Home.….every athlete I talked to recognized that bond. These moms stand in the rain for 10 hours to watch their kids ski down a mountain. They get up at 4am to get them to an early practice before school. They travel weeks out of the year, witnessing growth and setbacks from the sidelines. They feel the joy of a win and the pain of defeat.
And for all of that….this was a chance to say Thank You, Mom.
I now understand that willingness to sacrifice.
Given the opportunity, I’d do it too….my kids are my world.
A few Olympic highlights for me if you haven’t had a chance to see them:
Chatting with Bronze Medalist Shannon Bahrke and her brother (and fellow Olympian) Scotty.
Julie Chu - Silver Medalist for Women’s Hockey.
Speed Skater, Allison Baver.
Chad Hedrick and family after he won the Bronze Medal for Speed Skating.
Putting the spotlight on the Thank you, Mom Campaign.
Two of My Olympic Favorites - Shannon & Scotty Bahrke
You would have a hard time finding two Olympians with as much spunk, kindness and love of family as Shannon and Scotty Bahrke - I A.D.O.R.E.D talking to them….watch, you’ll see why.
