Why James Temple @jtemple at San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate.com is #FollowFriday Worthy

Always uncovering the realities of technology business and baggage

Our #FollowFriday Worthy recommendation this week is James Temple, who writes the Dot.commentary column for the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com.  On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays you will always find something new out of James’ column to chew on. He usually comments on the controversial technology issues that affect us and while it IS a commentary, James’ view on technology and its sensitive issues that come along with it are always delivered in an informative manner.  He expresses angles on the selected topics of the day that urge you to think on things as you read through his exposés.

I learn something new and useful each time I visit his column. A month ago, he wrote something about getting serious about fake fees on phone bills. It made me start reading the bills in the mail more closely. Since then, I have managed to save a buck or two after going over my bill with the customer service rep on the vendor side. Likewise, as a “technology power consumer,” I found the article regarding flash cookies both fascinating and alarming, so much so that my use and browsing of the Internet has become more conscious and guarded.

If you are a businessperson or an entrepreneur, you will also find James’ column enlightening. He often discusses the many trends and shifts in the technology world, where business is heading and how technology is making our lives more complicated or even overly consumed.  Whatever it is, James will tap into these sensitive tech issues with a curious poke and dissect it for his readers to ponder on deeply.

James’s style comes from being a business reporter in the San Francisco Bay Area for over a decade.  He has covered advertising, banking, real estate and retail for the San Francisco Business Times, Contra Costa Times and Bloomberg.  He also writes about food and travel and occasionally produces video for SFGate.com.

James shared a personal side of him in our questionnaire which I found endearing (I also crack my knuckles!).

Here’s his take on things:

Laughs at: Modern Family and the Winklevi, for slightly different reasons.

Hopes: That journalism finds its financial footing in the digital age (given the choice, I’d prefer to be paid).

Thinks: That robots will soon take over … our hearts.

Reveals: I crack my knuckles. There I said it.

Is Inspired By: Clever writing, deep reporting and beautiful time-lapse photography.

Dream Coffee Date: Bill Bryson or Natalie Portman, for slightly different reasons.

Three times a week, you will get a smart dose of tech biz and controversy. Daily, you will find him on Twitter sharing information and definitely always a clever comment on things. (Even the article about the grandma downloading porn made me think twice about my WiFi connection!)

Follow James Temple on Twitter: @jtemple

Read him at the San Francisco Chronicle (SFGate.com): http://www.sfgate.com/columns/dotcommentary/archive/

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Liz Estrella-Basilio is Elena Verlee’s San Francisco partner at Cross Border Communications. Together they work with start-up to multi-million dollar technology companies who want to get their story heard in traditional, digital and social media.

She recently revived her Twitter account and will be out on the prowl to find those who are truly #FollowFriday-worthy on Twitter. Follow her at @lizestrellab.

 

The Entrepreneur Time Out

It’s been a very busy summer for me. My PR company signed a bunch of new clients, ran several big campaigns and completely redesigned our website. Also, my 2 little kiddos have summer off from school so, in addition to running my company, it’s been a whirlwind of summer camps, soccer games and playdates.

Needless to say, I’ve been stressed out more than a few times since summer began.

I think one of the traits that all entrepreneurs share is the desire to accomplish as much as possible in one day. I know that I try to do as much as I can to make my family and my clients happy, but there does come a point where you need to step back before you burnout. I call this the “Entrepreneur Time Out.” Read more

Pitch Writing Lessons from Movie Blockbusters

I love to watch movies and this summer I noticed a lot of highly anticipated films. I find it amazing whenever a “summer blockbuster” not only breaks box office records, but also generates a huge buzz that gets people talking- sometimes months before the movie’s opening!

There are definitely more than a few PR and marketing lessons to be learned from the movies, but when it comes to writing your next media pitch, take special note of these ones:

Timing

Releasing a movie during the summer almost always guarantees more box office sales for that movie than any other time of year. Why? Because people have more free time during the summer to watch movies. Read more

Five Ways Newsletters Up Your PR Game

Newsletters not only help you attract new clients, but they can also help attract media to your business.

Think about it. You probably subscribe to someone’s newsletter because you want to receive their insider tips and be updated about any news on a regular basis. You want the latest scoop before everyone else who isn’t on their subscriber list.

The media are just like you: searching for the next big news item and trying to get it down in print before someone else does. When filled with the right content, your newsletter can be just the thing that a journalist needs to write their next article, or consider you as a source for their next story – leading to a possible media hit for you.

Here are five ways that newsletters can be used to your PR advantage:

1. Become the expert

Most newsletters have a “letter” section where you can talk to your subscribers about anything- insider tips, a hot button topic, etc. Use this section to talk about something that shows off your industry knowledge and establishes you as an expert in your niche.

2. Pitch the media…without pitching the media

Newsletters let you share company news on a regular basis without having to write a formal press release or pitch.

3. The long reach

You never really know who’s subscribed to your newsletter. It may be a journalist, a blogger or even a friend of a niche influencer who decides to pass on your newsletter one day.  A company I co-founded several years ago was included in someone else’s newsletter and a reporter from Maclean’s Magazine (a national magazine like the “Newsweek” of Canada) was subscribed.  The reporter then called us for a story and after the story appeared – we attracted a buyer and then sold the company!

4. Follow up, follow up

Newsletters are a great way to follow up with a reporter you’ve met and keep in touch with them. Send them an e-mail following your meeting, share with them your latest newsletter as a way to give them more information about you and mention why you’d think they’d find it handy.

5. Increase the number of eyes on your website

You always want to get more people looking at your website, which increases your chances of a sales or PR conversion. Pepper your newsletter with a few “go to my company site to learn more” links and get those eyeballs there.

 

How do you use your newsletter in your marketing or PR efforts? I’d love to hear your suggestions and experiences in the comments below or send me a message via Twitter or Facebook

Photo Credit: DTM Software

Why @JesusDiaz at @Gizmodo is #FollowFriday Worthy

King of Refreshing Posts & Unadulterated Commentary

Our #FollowFriday Worthy recommendation this week is Jesus Diaz, senior contributing editor and art director for Gizmodo. I came across Jesus one day when I wanted to see what gadgets Gizmodo was featuring.  Since then, whenever I needed a dose of something new and out-of-the-box (which is often), I would look in on what Jesus is posting.

Jesus is fearless with his ideas, thoughts and surely, his in-your-face approach which always leads to whetting your appetite for more edgy reading. Whether on Gizmodo or on Twitter, you will find Jesus’ posts a spicy treat for thought and surely a remedy for the bored spirit.  And if you are an electronic gadget freak, Jesus and his band of gadget gawking writers will always have something to check out on Gizmodo.

Jesus admits that he is in it for the fun and to grab more eyeballs than God.  He attests to the fact that he is the oldest guy there – the ‘lone wolf at Gizmodo, as in they let me do whatever I want…”  Well, he doesn’t sound like the oldest one there – he actually sounds pretty hip to me because of his no holds barred commentary and interesting posts. Read more

How Public Relations, Marketing and Sales Work Together

A question that entrepreneurs often ask me is “What should I focus on to make my business more successful: PR, Marketing or Sales?”

You probably think that I’d say PR without question, right? But the reality is a business would thrive better with all three elements working closely together.

Marketing works to communicate the value of your offerings to your customers, potential clients, employees and investors, through your own advertising, newsletters and website. It’s you talking about yourself.

Public Relations can be simply defined as activities that build awareness and credibility for your company, product or service through third-party influencers – such as the media and bloggers. It’s others talking about you. Read more

Review: The Billings Touch App

Have you ever had problems keeping track of multiple project hours or forgotten to record a client expense between meetings? Billings Touch is a neat iPhone application for tracking time and invoicing clients-right from your iPhone.

I find that it’s also useful for anyone looking to make the most of time blocking.

Read more

Using Social Media to Enhance your Next Event

One of the services that my PR company, Cross Border Communications, offers is event PR and marketing for small-scale events such as seminars to large-scale functions like conferences. In doing these events and also attending ones in the world of Web 2.0, I’ve noticed an increasing trend towards incorporating social media into event marketing strategies.

Social media can play a powerful role in the planning, promotion and execution of your event. Here are some ways you can integrate social media into your marketing activities: Read more

Why @StacyCowley at @CNNMoney is #FollowFriday Worthy

“A Relapsed Tech Journalist (I’m CNNMoney’s tech editor), Itinerant Personal-finance Blogger, General Literary Roustabout”

Our #FollowFriday-worthy recommendation this week is Stacy Cowley, tech editor and writer for CNNMoney, where she also oversees the site’s daily coverage of the industry’s top companies, personalities and events.

You will love this dynamo’s posts on CNN.  Stacy not only covers the tech and biz world. When she’s not posting a thought-provoking article on CNNMoney pages, you will find her sharing her IMs on CNNMoney’s Tech Tumbler (one of the most entertaining and interesting pages within the CNN website).

And once in a while, you will also find one of Stacy’s foodie ramblings on CNN’s Eatocracy page.

This versatile writer began covering the tech world during the dot-com days for Silicon Alley Reporter, and served as a New York-based correspondent for IDG News and CRN Magazine.  Stacy’s writing have appeared at publications including the Village Voice, Baltimore Sun, Bookslut and Edible Brooklyn.

Today, in addition to her work as editor at CNNMoney, Stacy also posts personal blogs at various websites.

Read more

PR in Your Pajamas Close Out Sale!

 

I’ve been thinking about my business a lot lately. So far, I’m really happy with the way things have been going. Business is growing faster than I can sometimes handle — and that’s a good thing.

However, it’s clear I need to prune some areas of my biz in order to let the other areas grow even more.

And so, I have decided to retire two of my products: How to Do Your Own PR: A Guide for Small Businesses and Social Media for Beginners: Generating Online Buzz.

Before I take them off the shelves, I’d like to give you the opportunity to buy them — at a huge discount.

From today until Friday, July 15, 2011, you can purchase How to Do Your Own PR and Social Media for Beginners for only $47 each.

That’s $150 off the regular price!

If you’re interested, grab these today, because after July 15, they will no longer be available — at any price.

Click here to check out this massive sale.

Or click on the ecovers below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember, these products will disappear after midnight this Friday, July 15. So don’t wait!

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