I recently discovered a site that makes micro-blogging (a form of blogging that allows users to write brief text updates (usually less than 200 characters) and publish them) much easier.
HelloTxt.com is an aggregate of micro-blogging services through which the user can insert their messages on all main micro-blogging services in a simple and simultaneous way. Now a single message can reach different services at the same time.
I use Hellotxt.com to share Bisson Barcelona's monthly events with readers on several sites, including Twitter, Pownce, Facebook, LinkedIn, Bebo and Tumblr. Hellotxt.com also links with Jaiku and Plaxo. The goal is to keep your posts short (Twitter and Jaiku will not show more then 140 characters) so visitors will take the time to read.
I often suggest micro-blogging to our experts as a starting point before diving into the world of blogging. I encourage consistency and educational content.
Authors should micro-blog about their events, book signings and books. Entrepreneurs should micro-blog about speaking engagements, seminars/workshops, products and services.
Remember to keep your posts short and informational in order to establish a following.
I was surfing YouTube.com and came across Jeff Crilley's tip on marketing through blogs. Bisson Barcelona along with Spiral Media is hosting blogging clinics beginning April 2008. Jeff offers some great stats on the number of people using and reading blogs. If you do not have a blog or if you are not maximizing exposure of your blog, then you need to check out our blogging clinics taking place in Barrington, New Hampshire. Visit http://www.bissonbarcelona.com/ for all the details.
E-mail interviews are on the rise for busy reporters
With several stories to write each day — each containing upwards of five sources — more and more journalists are turning to the e-mail interview to collect experts' thoughts in an accurate and effective manner.
For some, the concept of being able to take your time and provide thoughtful responses to a reporter's questions is appealing, but for others who find writing a daunting task, it can be a scary proposition. At Bisson Barcelona, we have some clients who feel as though they can provide more thorough, spur of the moment responses or that their personalities translate better via a phone interview, and that is OK.
Oftentimes, respectfully requesting a phone or in-person interview with a reporter will be well-received and he or she will be happy to oblige. That being said, however, you always want to be as accommodating as possible when dealing with the media and, if you refuse to do an e-mail interview with a busy writer at a high-end publication, you might just lose that opportunity. Remember, reporters were not put on this earth to help you promote your name, product or service. If you want the publicity, you need to help them.
I personally think e-mail interviews are the best thing since sliced bread. As a former newspaper reporter and editor, I fell into conducting e-mail interviews as a result of working with town and government officials who had been burned by reporters in the past and wanted documentation of the information they gave me. This can be a huge plus for experts in controversial industries or situations.
I soon learned that I didn't mind sending a few questions to sources, only to have them respond by a deadline I proposed. I didn't have to spend time interviewing them or transcribing my notes and, when it came time to write the story, I could fill in the blanks easily with a quick cut and paste. I always knew the information was accurate and if I had follow-up questions, a quick phone call resolved them.
So, the next time a reporter asks you to respond to some questions by e-mail, gladly accept.
Here are a few tips to help you be a great e-mail interviewee:
Copy and paste your questions into a Word document so you have the luxury of saving your responses, spell checking and formatting them.
Provide a description or bio of your expertise and company at the top of the document, along with your Web site and any additional contact information the writer might need. This does three things: ensures that you are being sourced correctly, gives your company and Web site a plug, and provides contact information in the event that the reporter needs to ask questions.
Draft detailed, lengthy responses. Remember, the purpose of an interview is to provide a reporter with information that she or he can use in a story. If you provide one-word answers or one-liners, you are doing both yourself and the reporter a disservice. Be as thorough as possible — you might even spark the reporter's interest in another story idea.
Use complete sentences. Think about how this information might be quoted and recognize that providing lead-in details with regard to the question at hand will help the reporter use your quotes, as well as help the reader understand what you are saying.
Spell check. Also have a friend or colleague read your responses. If you misspell a word or use incorrect grammar, some reporters will help you out and make the change. However, they are technically not supposed to edit a quote and some will choose to leave it as is.
Make deadline. Just because a reporter has put the interview in your hands, that doesn't mean you can deliver the goods when you please. Be respectful of the media's time, or they'll move on to the next expert.
Barrington, NH — Starting on April 8 and running for four sessions, Bisson Barcelona will be offering hands-on instructional clinics for building blogs and RSS feeds.
The clinics, which will continue on April 15, April 29 and May 1, will be taught by Ben Adams, owner of Spiral Media. They will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Barrington Middle School in Barrington, NH.
Each clinic will offer participants the opportunity to build a blog using Blogger, or a blogsite using the WordPress publishing platform, as well as an integrated RSS feed that will allow attendees to publicize their blog or blogsite throughout the online community.
Adams, an online promotion and search marketing expert, will explain blogs and RSS feeds in simple, layman terms. Participants will be taken through the process of building their own blogs and RSS feeds, and will be taught how to integrate the two facets to gain subscribers.
Bisson Barcelona is an independent, high-visibility public relations firm located in Barrington, NH. The company specializes in publicity and image management services for authors and entrepreneurs.
Each clinic is $125 per person and seating is limited to 24 participants per clinic. For more information, please contact Traci Bisson at (603) 664-5776 or visit our website.
Name: Traci Bisson Location: Barrington, New Hampshire, United States
Traci Bisson is President and Senior Publicist of Bisson Barcelona. She has over 12 years experience in marketing
and public relations, and has worked with individuals and companies in all stages of growth.
Traci earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire.
Traci is a popular blogger who supports other mom entrepreneurs through her online support group and blog,
The Mom Entrepreneur. She also advocates for family life in the state of NH through her blog, Kids in NH, which
highlights the reasons why families with young children should consider making New Hampshire their home. As a
creative employer, Traci has been recognized by many publications, including the National Federation of Independent
Business (NFIB), The Oregonian and the Associated Press, for her innovative employee benefits package. In 2008, she
was voted a Top 10 Boss by Women’s Business Boston Journal.
