Really? This is my job?

oh, that is why i am in PR

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:01:00 +0000

"Strictly speaking, archaeologists only study the material remains left by humans while palaeontologists study the remains of all life forms. So, an archaeologist should not really set out to look for dinosaurs. But no archaeologist knows exactly what he or she is going to dig up, and archaeologists do sometimes stumble across much older remains, which they then pass on to their colleagues."

Look at your life, look at your choices...

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:58:00 +0000

I have been having quite a few, 'how in the hell did I get here?' moments over the past couple of weeks. I find myself in client meetings, sitting in airports, or driving across Canada and wondering to myself, seriously, how on earth did I end up in this situation?

When I was really little, I wanted to be an archaeologist. I really wanted to dig up dinosaur bones.

And yet, somehow, I ended up in PR. Just saying...

I'll admit it, I still like a show with Marc Summers - what of it?

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:57:00 +0000

One of the most interesting side effects of my job is that my child-like wonder with the world around me is rapidly diminishing. I am skeptical of pretty much everything.

For example, the entire time I was pregnant I REFUSED to get the H1N1 vaccine - because really, all the news stories covering the vaccine and the flu just seemed, hmmm, poorly orchestrated. They sounded like spin. They sounded like company message. And as a proud author of company message, I was bothered by the way they rolled out their 'life saving' campaign.

I have had countless conversations with my husband (who cannot even feign interest) in why some commercial or social media campaign is stupid - why they did it wrong, why it bugs me, how I would have done things differently. He nods along and as quickly as he can fast forwards through the commercials so as not to have to listen to me drone on about how asinine it is that the beginning of that anti-aging commercial says, "We didn't see this coming, but women picked us as the number one anti-aging skin product." You were shocked, you say? Why? Because you honestly kind of thought your product was crap?

Anyway, my last safe haven was the Food Network. I don't really watch much TV, but I can always have food television on as my white noise - I mean, I prefer the ACTUAL cooking shows more than the filler shows, and don't get me started on Food Network Challenge, I really can't handle that - but for the most part, everything on good ole' channel 32 makes me happy. But yesterday, I was watching this show called, "Kid in a Candy Store" which is supposed to be this random host roaming America finding unique desserts and candies. They highlighted pretzel M&Ms. I could see in my head the initial pitch the minute the segment started. I could visualize the PR team sitting around talking about how to better publicize the new flavors they were introducing. I could hear the little AAE saying, "Food Network has a call out for interesting desserts - I bet if we let them film the inside of the factory, we could be part of this show." And how unique are chocolate covered pretzels? UGH. Totally ruined.

Let me just say I can sympathize with reporters who want to speak directly with the source and have little use for me. I know I am a good guy, but I can see how they have been jaded. It has happened to me too.

I need a nap

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:46:00 +0000

I read a blog post the other day about the death of the blog post. It made me think about my sad, sad blog that has been woefully ignored for the past year. Here is the deal - I went to Germany, sold a house, bought a new house, worked my tail off, had a baby, taught that baby to sit up, worked a little bit more, tweeted a lot - did I mention I had a baby? those suckers are time consuming - started a baby blog, worked even more. Whatever. There is no excuse, but dude, I have been doing other things besides blogging about work. But I think I will start again.

Just so everyone is clear on what I am working on, I am leading Bluetooth and Gemalto, playing along on ACCIONA and Nuventix and crossing my fingers pretty tight on some new business I am excited about.

Btw - that last blog post I wrote - the one about never blogging again - that is a delightful blog post. I am so clever sometimes.

I'm never gonna blog again, guilty posts have got no rhythm...

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:15:00 +0000

That's right - if Seether can do it, so can I - I will 'cover' Careless Whisper to serve my own selfish purposes. That poor song just lends itself to mockery (hell, most Wham! falls into that category - but god I love it - hmmm, I wonder how many I can sneak in here...this blog post just took a very unplanned turn for the worst).

Do you have any idea how many FANTASTIC pictures of WHAM! are out there? Geez

So, last, last June, I gave you my heart - the very next day (two years later), you gave it away - so now I'm giving it to someone special. See, INK has started an official blog, freshINK, and I am now spread a little thin - and we all know I was such a posting fool to start with, huh? So now I am left to ask, if my best isn't good enough then how can it be good enough for two? I can't work any harder than I do. hmmm, that might lead you to believe I am not going to keep up both blogs, but I fully intend to. Really, just wanted to direct you over to my new baby. Plus, the rest of the INK girls are blogging (now you can meet the goofs that are always at the top of the page).

I just want to wake you up before I go-go -I am out of here kids. I know I have disappeared for more than two weeks before, but I am off on vacation and I am not tweeting, blogging, facebooking - I am taking a break from all of this social media hella-ballu. How do you know I will be back...well, you just gotta have faith. (I know, I know, that is George sans the WHAM!, but I couldn't help it)

card carrying member of NIMBY*

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:29:00 +0000

So, I have a little secret to tell you. I know I will be judged, hated, possibly shunned from the blogosphere - but I just have to come clean. I loathe SXSW. See how I didn't say hate? Hate isn't strong enough. I loathe it. I abhor it. I live in denial for 11 months out of the year that it even exists then I spend the majority of March with my fingers in my ears yelling, LALALALALALA!

-Picture is the stolen from Andrey Dorokhov's flickr page - this picture rocks - as do the rest of his shots.

Here is the deal, the conference, in and of itself, isn't the problem - the panels are interesting (usually), the networking is freaking incredible, and the music and film are like a little virtual cherry on top of my interactive conference sundae. But the damn thing is in my backyard. IT IS IN MY TOWN, and I therefore hate it. I like to run around Lady Bird Lake, but during SXSW it is like a punked out version of frogger - getting to the lake, dodging the hipsters, the unloading vans, the herds of folks walking to their tweet-up breakfast - it is a nightmare. I like eating at any number of Austin institutions, but the wait associated with the influx of conference attendees is more than I can bear. I like watching March Madness with Longhorn fans, not a plethora of out of town visitors determined to support their alma mater in between panel sessions and Japanese punk bands (Peelander-Z is actually kind of cool, I have to admit it). But more than all of that, I don't want to go have drinks at Scoble's party, find the show with the most celebs or gather the most foursquare points - because my husband and puppies are waiting for me at home. My desk, with all its ridiculous demands, is waiting at my office. My everyday life has to run concurrently with the show and that is a nearly impossible feat.

As usual, I whined my way through SXSW this year, missing more than I saw, participating by following along on twitter, thoroughly enjoying myself when I did venture out, but for the most part kicking and screaming the whole way. Peace out, SXSW - I'll see you next year. And I will try to work on my bad attitude in the down time.

*Not the wind one - I love clean energy

I bet lesbians love Bluetooth

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:18:00 +0000

I delight in Bluetooth references in pop culture - love them. Britney's horrific song Phonography (see previous post), keystone light commercials, and now, the freaking Big Bang theory is my new favorite (I can't embed the clip just yet, so you will have to click here to watch). As embarrassed as I am to admit it, I love me some Walowitz.

There are two other things about this that are interesting to me. 1) about three years ago I was facilitating an interview between Mike Foley, SIG executive director and Andy Ihnatko (Chicago Sun-Times tech journalist and all around very funny guy) when Andy announced that he felt "Bluetooth was just like Bacon - it makes everything better." Now I follow Andy on twitter, and I know he likes the big Bang Theory (seriously, how creepy for this poor guy - I swear I am not a stalker), so I am wondering if he a) remembers saying this and b) is at all pissed that this show stole his joke. I imagine he is kind of okay with it. 2) I love twitter. I really do. And I know I talked a lot of smack about hating twitter, but I have been converted - I love it now. And I loved watching all the other geeks that love twitter AND the Big Bang Theory re-quote the show last night. See here.

That's right. You gave it up. Now you gotta die. Those are the rules

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:50:00 +0000

Interestingly enough, I stumbled across the below quote on a CNET blog rather than actually on twitter (where it originated), but it is just too delightful not to share.

"Social media is like teen sex. Everyone wants to do it. No one actually knows how. When finally done, there is surprise it's not better."

Things like this make me proud to be the INK director for NEW MEDIA - not social media. Social Media sounds like it would leave you, uh, unfulfilled.

*Extra points to whoever names the movie the title quote is from.

If you light the fire, you can't then get rewarded for putting it out

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:16:00 +0000

I work with the Bluetooth SIG (a client of ours) - I have for what seems like forever (in actuality, it has *only* been a little over five years now, but feels like forever). The most frustrating thing I deal with working on SIG PR is this fabulous group of 'security' experts that dedicate time, money and develop specific technology to hack Bluetooth (the horribly over-rated Bluejacking is a perfect example), put out a press release and do a huge media push screaming that the sky is falling. CHICKEN LITTLE, CHICKEN LITTLE - THE SKY IS FALLING - IF YOU HAVE BLUETOOTH, YOU ARE CERTAIN TO LOSE YOUR IDENTITY! BEWARE, BEWARE. Then these guys come to the SIG, "Hey, if you pay us, we will handle this crisis for you." Thanks guys - I appreciate you offering to put out the fire you started. It has always infuriated me.

There is a similar situation going on with United Airlines and Jason Tryfon right now, and I am honestly curious - does this make anyone else uneasy? Brief background: Jason had a bad time with a United flight attendant, he tweeted it, his tweet kicked off a small firestorm of 'I hate united' tweets, Jason wrote a blog post about how United needs social media help, now he has his sales staff cold calling United offering their services. I do not know Jason Tryfon at all, but I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he didn't start this (post the initial tweet) just to pick a fight that he could later use to his benefit. In fact, I am pretty positive he just posted a tweet because that is what you do when you are getting on a plane - tweet, tweet, tweet. But regardless, would it hurt his reputation to bash a company, then turn around and start pimping them? Surely this isn't a good model of how to get new business? As I said, I am just curious what others think.

I will say though, if someone came up to me, pushed me down and rubbed my face in the dirt, then said, "Hot damn, looks like you have dirt on your face, let me show you how to get that off" - eh, I probably wouldn't be to keen.

Look folks, I have the SAD...

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:04:00 +0000

Lately, my online 'social' life is demanding more and more of my 'real' social life time. Tweet-ups, conferences, social media club breakfasts, happy hours, lunches - dear lord, the list is never ending and at all of these place I have to physically meet people that I had previously only 'known' through twitter or blog reading. It is really just too much for me. The beauty of all these new media/social media tools is that I don't ACTUALLY have to be social. My uncomfortableness doesn't translate in 140 characters, my unease does not come through in a blog comment - online I appear calm, collected, and aside from my obvious difficulty with simple spelling, pretty put together. I can be friends with you, without really having to be friends with you. Please note, my complaint has nothing to do with others - this is all about me - i have the social anxiety disorder through and through. Odd for someone working in PR.

Starr was hollering about how I needed to post - this is what I came up with. DAMNIT - I guess I am socially awkward online, too.

Home again, home again, jiggity-jig...

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:26:00 +0000

To market, to market to buy...a Pre?

Finally home and rested from an extremely long week at CES. But long certainly doesn't mean it wasn't good. Honestly, from start to finish, this will go down as my favorite CES to date. It was busy, my feet were killing me, I didn't get nearly enough sleep and I lost the charger to my laptop - but the positives outweigh my laundry list of negatives, by far.

All three of our clients at the show had a good time, talked to the right people and continued to tell their stories - can't ask for more than that.

I, however, had a little 'social media' heyday at this show. I sat in on the Social Media Jungle hosted by Jeff Pulver - it was amazing. Lots of smart people sharing their views on the how’s/what’s/when’s/why’s of the crazy online. Jeff Pulver crammed a ridiculous amount of talent into a one-day event. If you are in a city on his 2009 breakfast tour, I highly recommend taking part. My two favorite speakers were Chris Brogan and Warren Whitlock - Chris had a lot to say, but was summed up with "ignore the folks who don't 'get it'" ('get it' was over used to the point where I kind of wanted to pull out my hair), and to 'stop talking about talking' - I love this. I know it doesn't sit well for my blog (since pretty much all I do is write about 'talking'), but it still resonates with me - get out and DO, DO, DO. Also, his story on why he considers himself a pirate is delightful.

Warren Whitlock talked about giving - to always give more than you get. He chatted up an amazing study about a can of soda - I am hooked. I like to think that I approach PR this way - my goal is always to help journalists, bloggers, tweeters, whoever out - then if it benefits me (or my client) in the end, great - but I am going to make a point of 2009 being my year of giving. I have also been pushing to work this to the front of our communications with some of our clients - I think we get caught up in the 'what have you done for me lately' mentality or definitely the 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine'...but the point is, it should never be stipulated. From now on, my first question will be, "how can I help you?"

I also got to attend Robert Scoble's 'It won't stay in Vegas' party and I have to say, the folks at the Parnassus Group know how to put on a blogger event that is both fun and beneficial to the sponsors. I hate to see events like this explode in popularity, because inevitably they turn into junkets that are lacking on true networking and instead just table after table of demonstrations - but I am hoping the best for them, because this event was fantastic and a highlight to my time at CES. AND I won a Sonos multi-room music system - talk about great swag. The folks at Sonos are sending it this week and I cannot wait to try it out.

Last but not least, I am cautiously optimistic about the Pre. I won't just run out and get one the moment it is released, but I am pretty sure I am going to have to get one sooner rather than later.

Overall, killer time at CES this year. AND I DIDN'T GET SICK. It is like a little CES miracle.

Bring on 2009...and CES

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:19:00 +0000

Just zipped my suitcase and I am ready for my flight tomorrow - hooray for Vegas and CES. I have to watch my Horns from a sports book, rather than travel to the game, again - but I suppose, as far as places to watch football go, Vegas ain't a bad option.

Pretty excited about the show this year, as I have no booth duty whatsoever and instead will mostly be helping with parties (magicJack REVOLUTION on Wednesday, January 7th, Bluetooth SIG Best of CES 2009 at Tao Friday, January 9th - if you are interested in swinging by, let me know and I will get you on the list), attending the 'It Won't Stay In Vegas' blogger party and sitting in on the Social Media Jungle super session - where all of my little blogging heroes will be speaking - I might actually get to meet a couple of them (I'm talking about you, Toeman). I have several dinners with clients lined up, several interviews I have to facilitate - a busy, but as far as CES standards go, tame week.

OH - and I am going to be meeting up with Murray SawChuck, magicJack's magician of choice for the show. Hoping he teaches me some clever little trick I can use to shock and amaze all my friends.

See ya in Vegas!

the problem with just messing around...

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:42:00 +0000

...online is that I link to things, sign up for things, try things out, etc. and then forget how the hell I did what I did when I need to do it again. Annoying.

Hit me baby one more time

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:03:00 +0000

Britney has a new album out next week and I stumbled across the lyrics to one of her songs. I honestly have no words to express my joy here. Brit likes her Bluetooth and her hands-free. Apparently, Bluetooth is dead sexy.

15_Phonography.mp3 -

when opporutnity knocks

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:41:00 +0000

You have to open the door. Or, ya know, participate in the interview or send the product for review. I'm just saying...

just don't piss 'em off...

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:13:00 +0000

When things go wrong online, they go horribly wrong. Take the Motrin vs. Moms war that started on Twitter this weekend. Pretty crazy stuff.

When a product gets panned or someone possibly gets sick, or hell, when the bloggers all turn against each other...when the online world rallies, it gets, hmmm, out of hand pretty quick. I think this is one of the biggest problems I have when explaining social media, web 2.0, bloggers, whatever to clients. They want to know how to control millions of people voicing their opinion - I don't care how good I am at my job, I cannot control the entire blogosphere. And neither can they.

I am always encouraging clients to get involved, but I think they see these horrific meltdowns and they just shrink away. Then, the further away they get, the demands get more foolish. I had a client insisting we contact a forum and have them remove all negative feedback about their product - uh, okay...I'll get right on that.

And then I have another client who just posted anonymously on a NYT Bits blog post - in defense of this client, he wasn't astroturfing (if that is still what you crazy kids are calling it). Honestly, he was just trying to inform the journalist and the other readers of some information that had been left out of the initial post. I wish he hadn't posted anonymously - I am a firm believer in transparency. Post away...just claim your posts. I suggested as much, and I think the client is on board. But I understand his hesitation...the online is a scary place.

The deal is that old chant that it is all about participation is no joke. It really is all about participating – start with a facebook page or hell, just set up your Google home page to watch a few of your favorite sites. Make a comment or two, set up a profile on digg, go play around on Vanno (it is fairly new, but I think it has a lot of potential).

And yeah, sometimes the bottom drops out. So I guess the chant should be, "Participate, be transparent, but for the love of god, don't piss 'em off"

The light at the end of the tunnel...

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:21:00 +0000

I have been fairly disenchanted with work over the past couple of months. Actually, I would say pretty much Q2 and Q3 were the closest I have ever been (and will ever be) to thinking that bagging this whole PR thing and going back to work at the GAP might be the best idea.

Pretty sure my blog posts of late have mirrored my negativity.

But today I got some fabulous news. Things are looking up. I think I might actually be able to like my job again.

What a night!

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:34:00 +0000

OBAMA WINS!

I am not sure what else to say, but wow...just wow

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:46:00 +0000

Thanks to BigWideLogic for posting. horrifying. I wonder if she can hear herself or if the voices in her head are a drowning out everything else.

but I WAAAANT one NOOOOOW....

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:51:00 +0000

I have compared a-list bloggers to several things on this blog - Scoble was a high school quarterback, they were the cool kids at the lunch table, they were a fraternity - but I have never quite pegged them correctly.

Rafe Needleman has a micro-blog call Pro PR Tips, which is too damn funny. Read it from tip one all the way to the end - you will laugh the entire way through. But tip #29 sums up a-list bloggers better than anything I could have penned. LOVE IT.

"A-list bloggers are like angry, spoiled shoolgirls. Calibrate your pitches accordingly"

Best. PR. Advice. Ever.

Screw how many miles I ran...it's an election year

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:39:00 +0000

I read quite a few different types of blogs - I have my runners and triathletes, my boys who wax poetic about the demise of print media, of course all the usual 'social media' big boys (and girls) that have developed entire careers around web 2.0, my snarky social commentary bloggers, hell, on occasion, I read mommy blogs just to remind me why I haven't had kids yet.

However, even though my netvibes account has several different tabs for each genre, it seems they have all, in the last week, become political blogs. Folks who normally just update the web on their marathon training are suddenly leaving commentary on why McCain might not be the best choice. Scoble has a desperate plea to all Democrats to make this election matter. Spots (who, lets face it, always kind of covers politics) is calling Palin to task for trying to 'pray away the gay.' It is amazing.

Twitter, my new best friend, is suffering the same kind of single-minded stream of conversation. I am not complaining. I think it is great. It is exciting to see the web-savvy American public focus on one very important thing. It gives me hope.

UPDATE: My runner from the above link developed a whole new blog for his political views, therefore allowing his training blog to remain a training blog - all this means for me is I now have ANOTHER blog on my netvibes to follow.

With a tweet, tweet here and a tweet, tweet there...

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:02:00 +0000

I am usually behind the hype. I started my blog last year, not in 2002. I was so far behind on myspace, by the time I had a page, everyone else had moved on. I hated facebook (in fact, the jury would still be out if it weren't for Scrabulous AKA Wordscraper). I pretty much have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the wonderful world of Web 2.0, social media, new media, whatever you want to call it.

I think I might spend some time in the next week acquainting myself with twitter and friendfeed. Not a huge fan of twitter, so not sure how it will turn out, but you can only stick your fingers in your ears and sing for so long.

Damn you, blogosphere. Damn you, Facebook, Damn you, Twitter.

I swear to god, if I start posting tweets from my damn blackberry, I am going to sit myself down for a serious talking to.

UPDATE: Less then a week in and I have the TwitterBerry ridiculousness on my blackberry - twitter is FAR more addictive then facebook, myspace, blog writing/reading - all of it. I should really just jump on these bandwagons immediately, rather than dragging my feet. It is kind of like how I was with Spoon - I really wanted to dislike Spoon, but it in end, good music won out.

You can get the entire set, A to Z, for just 12 payments of $19.95...

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:41:00 +0000

PR is a funny profession. Essentially, I am in sales - and probably, if I sat down and tried to decide on the worst possible job for me, it would be sales - but none the less, that is what I do. I knock on doors and often have them shut in my face. Journalist are NOTORIOUSLY pissy about PR flacks, 'I get too many pitches, I get too many emails, I am too busy to take your call, etc.'.

For the most part, I sympathize. I, too, get a lot of email. I, too, hate it when my phone rings with unwanted, or god forbid, sales, calls. I don't want to hear about things I don't care about and I certainly don't want to hear about things that do not pertain to me or my job. But for the most part, I believe in the treat people the way you want to be treated rule and I reserve my crotchety attitude for my friends and husband - they love me regardless - and present a generally genteel/pleasing attitude to strangers/colleagues/sales people/etc.

So if a journalist I am pitching wants to ignore me, totally fine. I can take a hint and, for the most part, I won't pester. If someone doesn't have time for my call or to respond to my email, I am okay with that...just remember I am here if you need me. And boy, if they need me, I better come a running. Which is totally fine. That is, after all, my job. And there are very few things as satisfying to me as getting the right information to the right person. Not spin, not messaging or an 'angle' - just delivering the facts and educating an interested party.

But the new trend I am seeing, is to to not only hate the messenger, but to now say that PR is useless or that PR is the problem. While both of those examples are Scoble, he certainly isn't the only offender. I don't pitch Scoble much because he wouldn't be interested in the majority of my clients, so I don't bother him. But I take offense for those PR flacks that are pitching him. I like to think, with my rose colored glasses on, that the majority of the folks pitching him sincerely think he would be interested and/or sincerely believe in their client and the product they are pitching.

But even if they aren't good at their jobs and they are just blanketing pitches out and they don't have a great product or a great story, even if they are annoying to the extreme - I am quite sure that if Scoble needed anything from any of them, they would bend over backwards to make it happen.

It is like the popular football player and the geeky nerd. Football player is 'too cool for this and that', completely hating on the geeky nerd, dissing his style, music, and social activities - until he needs his homework done.

I am never going to escape high school. sigh.

(Please do not think the irony of Scoble being the football player in my little 'play' is lost on me - it is not at all)

I'm checking out for a few weeks - see my schedule below

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:23:00 +0000

Olympic Medal winners at NBC Olympics.com!

"Yeah, I showed this to my daughter, and she just didn't get it"

noreply@blogger.com (blair) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:30:00 +0000

Alright - I am having a few issues with the embed code, but this video is fabulous...