news from farrell kramer communications

'in difficult times' newsletter launching

farrell kramer — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:16:15 -0800

How can we carry on PR and communications when budgets are being cut and resources tight? Why not just put the whole thing on hold until business improves?

Tough times like we're experiencing now have always been a challenge for PR and marketing -- which are often the first to experience budget cuts. But take heart. Good communications can continue.

That's why we're launching the free newsletter, "In Difficult Times." In it, we will show readers how to do more with less. In some cases, it's a thoughtful approach to existing tools and workflow.

In other cases, it's embracing Web 2.0 distribution channels, which tend to be far cheaper than their traditional media brethren.

The first issue should be out this week, so go ahead and subscribe now. Just visit the newsletter homepage or use the form on the sidebar to your right. And please, share any ideas for future topics via comment or our contact form.

Happy Holidays

farrell kramer — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:49:53 -0800

Friends,
All of us at farrell kramer communications want to wish you a happy Holiday Season and a great 2008!
Please follow this link (fkcblog) to hear our holiday greeting to all of you!
Best,
-Farrell

new podcast episode available

farrell kramer — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:38:49 -0700

I've just posted Episode 21 of the Talking Communications with Farrell Kramer podcast, titled "Press Release Video."

It looks at a feature just launched by PRWeb that allows customers to embed video in their press releases after uploading it to YouTube, Google Video or Yahoo! Video. My guest is Jiyan Wei, the PRWeb Product Manager at Vocus, the parent of PRWeb.

This is a neat new feature and opens a world of possibilities for communicators looking to use video as part of the overall marketing/PR mix.

farrell kramer speaking at cable show '07 conference

farrell kramer — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:53:34 -0700

Just a quick note to let you know I'll be speaking Monday at The Cable Show '07, a major cable industry conference in Las Vegas, on the topic of new media and communications.

Specifically, I will be participating in a panel called "Thoroughly Modern Messaging: Reaching Customers in the Digital Age." The topic:

Now that new media is the reality, digital communications tools are indispensable assets for reaching out to customers, leveraging media coverage, channeling employee messages and projecting your company's ideas and image to the outside world. Gain new perspectives from a panel of professional communicators on what to do -- and what to avoid -- in applying new media digital communications strategies.

It should be a good panel. If any fkcblog readers are attending, please stop by and say hello.

Technorati Tags: farrell kramer, cable, web 2.0

New Podcast Episode

farrell kramer — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:33:31 -0700

I've just posted Episode 20 of our talking communications with farrell kramer podcast.

My guest is PR practitioner Linda VandeVrede, who has just come out with the second edition of her book, Press Releases Are Not a PR Strategy.

VandeVrede discusses some misconceptions about what PR is and how it should be handled as well as pointing out the right way to bring PR into an organization. It is an interesting interview, particularly for anyone considering the adoption of a PR strategy.

farrell kramer speaking at social media 2007 in chicago

farrell kramer — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 08:30:55 -0700

Just a quick note to mention that I'll be speaking at the Social Media 2007 conference in Chicago this week.

My topic: How To Pod-ergize Your PR! I'll be presenting on Friday afternoon.

I spoke at this event in Atlanta in January, and can say that for any organization interested in getting into blogging and/or podcasting it should be quite useful. I'll try to do a blog post or podcast episode based on new ideas from the conference once I get back.

fkc site redesign launched today

farrell kramer — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 10:43:23 -0700

I wanted to let you all know that this morning we launched a major redesign of our website that offers a number of new features that may be of interest.

Here's a sampling:

all areas of the site are now fully integrated, including our blog, podcast and podcasting service. This means you can search them all on a variety of communications topics.
tags have been introduced in a new way, with tag clouds providing a visual representation of what's been written/recorded.
our main text is larger and easier to read, emphasizing the ideas and writing above the design itself.
discussion forums have been introduced for the entire site, meaning readers have a place to join an ongoing, threaded conversation.
there are more service-link choices for those who want to use online bookmarks to keep track of posts on topics of interest.
there is a new reading room feed on the homepage that aggregates our blog and podcast posts.
we have tied our mailing list to a new "news" feed available on the site as well.

Please visit when you have a chance and let us know what you think.

You can join our forums by clicking on the register link -- and jump right into the conversation.

Technorati Tags: farrell kramer, site, blog, web 2.0

Redesigned Site Launched Today

farrell kramer — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 05:48:55 -0700

Today, we launched a new version of the fkcblog site. If you are reading this through a feedreader, I urge you to come visit.

There are a number of new features on the site in addition to a new, more modern look. Here are a few:

fkcblog is now fully integrated with all the main sites of our firm, including farrell kramer communications, the talking communications with farrell kramer podcast and the fkc newsmaker interviews podcasting service. This means you can search all of our combined posts and episodes on communications together!
tags have been introduced in a new way, with a tag cloud on the sidebar of the blog. You can see what's been written about and, of course, click on a category and read all the relevant entries.
the main blog page is now comprised of teaser-length entries with "read more" links for easier browsing.
our main text is larger and easier to read, emphasizing the ideas and writing more than the design.
discussion forums have been introduced for the entire site, meaning fkcblog readers have a place to join an ongoing, threaded conversation as well as commenting on blog posts. (To post to the forum, you need to register -- which is a simple and very quick process you can accomplish right from the blog site.)
there are more service-link choices for those who want to use online bookmarks to keep track of particular posts.
a new help section has been added with FAQs to guide you in using the site.

This redesign has taken some time to complete but I think it's been worth the effort. It integrates all our content together in a seamless manner that very much underscores the way communicators can take full advantage of just what the web 2.0 world has to offer.

Please visit and let me know what you think. You can comment on this post or join our forums and discuss the site there.

Technorati Tags: pr, blog, farrell kramer, web2.0

Blog Writing for Business -- Not as Hard as You Think

farrell kramer — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 08:14:44 -0800

I wanted to share a story I just had published in the February issue of PR Tactics titled "Blog basics: Writing online is much easier -- and enjoyable -- than you might imagine."

In it, I address the concern of many businesspeople that blogging sounds like a great idea ... but they're worried about the writing process. Here's an except:

The point these folks are missing is that blog posts are not newspaper articles, magazine pieces or essays. Blogging is its own medium, less demanding in terms of the written word, yet perhaps more powerful in the conversations it can create. It's worth examining the differences.

You can read the whole story here (PDF).

In short, if you can write an e-mail, memo or other simple written communication, you can blog. And since blogging is such a powerful tool for business communications, it's well worth giving it a shot.

Technorati Tags: blogosphere, communications, media, PR, public relations

story by farrell kramer published in "pr tactics"

farrell kramer — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 03:00:00 -0800

PR Tactics publishes a story by Farrell Kramer about writing for blogs -- why it's easier than many businesspeople think.

To read story, open attached PDF.