Comments on: Ah-Hah Catalysts

By: Lindsay_J

Lindsay_J — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 05:44:15 +0000

I like being on the forefront of such cutting-edge technology. I am excited about my internship this summer and the chance to see how much technologically advanced media they are using, given the magnitude of the firm and the diversity of their clients.
Several of us were part of an “ah-hah” moment at the PRSA Summit in Birmingham. Aren’t those moments fun?
Thanks for the post, Dave! And the welcome back

By: Jonathan H

Jonathan H — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 22:52:26 +0000

Recently one of my friends, who works at a record company in Nashville, posted in my blog. This was shocking for a few reasons. One, he is from Robbinsville, NC (not exactly on the cutting edge of tech.) ; two he works for a small Christian label in publicity. In his post he seemed shocked that I had a blog, but I think I was more shocked that my rural North Carolina friend had even heard of a blog. Blogs seem to be larger than I (and some of my classmates) thought.If a small Christian record label with 100 employees (one of which is from the middle of nowhere) has a blog then I’m convinced. Maybe all companies won’t use blogs but that does’nt detract from their potential impact and usefulness.

By: Marcom Blog » Blogs: A Fad Like Pet Rocks

Marcom Blog » Blogs: A Fad Like Pet Rocks — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 19:17:10 +0000

[…] ansparency, instant awareness, timeliness, chaos and bad information. To that end, unlike Dave’s viewpoint, I predict that all companies will have to embrace blogging at some point. Bl […]

By: Dave Forstrom

Dave Forstrom — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 16:28:28 +0000

Allison, with regards to pitching clients, the one thing we have to keep in mind is that blogs aren’t a PR cure-all or panacea. One of my predictions for 2005 was that there would be those on the agency side that would get a little too tipsy on the Kool-Aid and push blogs as a solution for every client. It just doesn’t work that way–they’re not right for everyone.
We know from demographic studies that there are groups/niches (generations) that won’t engage in this, let alone engage with technology advances (i.e. email–my dad has never sent an email and I doubt he ever will).:)
That being said, I have several clients right now where blogging really makes sense for them, both from an internal and external perspective. Several of them are in the process of developing and launching blogs. Questions that they had to consider upfront were: Is there a community that would be interested in what we have to say? Does our culture permit an open and authentic dialogue? Will we engage with this community and accept and respond to feedback? How will we benefit from such an open dialogue?
And while blogging may not be for everyone, I do think the onus falls on us as communicators to be educated on these new communications channels (props to Robert and all of you for the integration of this medium into your curriculum–that’s what I call exposure) and to share how they may or may not be of benefit to our clients.
As with new ideas and advances, we have to begin with exposure. There are many examples now that can be referenced as case studies to clients. That coupled with additional homework and some strategic planning can demonstrate how blogs can be implemented as a tool to complement communications efforts. I’m bullish on making sure my clients/colleagues are exposed first–1)Listen first (monitor the blogs that are out there to get a feel for the medium/conversations), 2) Connect by reaching out and commenting on blogs or sending an email with genuine feedback, and if it makes sense 3)Participate by starting a blog, etc.
And you’re right, it does take one person at a time–education is key. One interesting note…I Googled ‘lawyer blogs,’ and it produced 650,000 results. Kevin O’Keefe has a great blog/company in lexBlog that focuses on how blogs can be used to market law firms.

By: Ashley C

Ashley C — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 01:54:36 +0000

It really is suprising how many people have never heard of blogging. I can say that now because I am up-to-date on the technology world (since taking Robert’s class), but if you had asked me last semester what a blog was, I would have had no idea. I posted about this in my personal blog a few weeks ago. Whenever I talk about blogging to my non-pr friends, they look at me like I am crazy. Several of them have questioned whether “blog” is really a word.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 18:09:52 +0000

It’s so funny that you mentioned your experience of feeling like you were introducing something alien and unheard of to your audience while discussing blogging. The same thing happened at a PRSSA event in Birmingham about a month ago… The speaker from PRSA in New York was lecturing over lunch to both students and members of the local PRSA chapter. He hardly mentioned blogging, and definitely brushed over the concept. A lot of the professionals in the audience were intrigued and wanted to talk more abou the topic, but he pretty much glossed over it. The gears in these peoples’ heads were turning as well. Too bad corporate headquarters of the main PR society didn’t have any decent answers…

By: Allison_p_c

Allison_p_c — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 15:46:08 +0000

That has always been one of my concerns in our classes attempt to learn the blogging world and all that goes along with it. I believe I posted about it on my blog earlier in the semester.
My main concern was how to pitch a blog to clients who know nothing of the new phenomenon, if you will? Where do you even begin explaining what this could do for a company?
My other concern was in dealing with different generations of clients and getting them all on the same page. Take my father for example. He knows nothing about computers. In fact, I recieved my first email ever from him about two weeks ago. It was in all capital letters because he had yet to find the shift key. Although he is finally attempting to shift gears into technology, it would be impossible for him to see the benefits of a blog to his company. Especially since he has had a successful law practice with practically no use of technology.
I guess it takes one person at a time, but how do we overcome the past generations? If we as practitioners are still learning, how do we successfully pitch it to a client?