So let’s say you’re out to get a bite to eat...
You go to McDonald’s, ask for a coke, and then stand there dumbfounded because you didn’t get a free Big Mac.
Sure, you’d like that free Big Mac with your coke, but you paid for a coke, so you don’t receive it. Unless, of course, it’s “Free Big Mac with the purchase of a Coke” day, which, presumably it isn’t.
If you’d asked for a Big Mac to go with your Coke, you would, of course, be expected to pay for it. They don’t make Big Macs for their health (or come to think of it, yours either,) but for your [paying] enjoyment.
If you request an added product or service of a company, whether it be hamburgers, plumbing or PR, it should be expected that said request is going to raise the price of your bill, not expected to be free.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Bad. Pitch.
Lately I’ve been a bad blogger. I haven’t had the time to keep my thoughts together, much less post the interesting happenings in our world of integrated marketing madness. We’re all entitled to moments of being ‘off our game’ even sometimes downright ‘bad.’
Today I experienced what can only be described as someone else having an incredibly ‘off ‘day…and that’s putting it nicely, because, well…this pitch was downright bad.
I had the unique opportunity to be on the other side of the table last week, and play journalist. So, as many do, I sent out a query through the appropriate channels and was suddenly inundated by pitches, stories and sometimes what could be construed as a short novel.
I’ve changed the guy’s name because I’m embarrassed for him.
“I have a great story for you
-Dave”
No contact info provided. No tease of a story. Nothing. Not even a subject in the subject line of the email! I sure hope this guy doesn’t do PR for a living.
Out of sheer curiosity, I responded (something no journalist is ever likely to do to such a query)…
“Hi Dave,
My deadline is Friday, I would love to hear your story if you could just type something up and send it over to me by then.”
His response [paraphrased]:
“I’m only able to tell the story by phone I’m [enter important job title/organization here] and simply can’t send you an email. You’ll love this story though. Send me your number, I’ll give you a call.”
Wow. Typically I have a pretty low tolerance for people with such toxic levels of self-importance, and this guy was all around baffling. He was too busy to pitch, but he pitched me anyway, sans contact info, subject or even a story for that matter, and then proceeds to try and impress me with his credentials after such a lackluster offering.
It’s because of people like that with [pardon my French] half-assed pitches that make PR people look bad.
Today I experienced what can only be described as someone else having an incredibly ‘off ‘day…and that’s putting it nicely, because, well…this pitch was downright bad.
I had the unique opportunity to be on the other side of the table last week, and play journalist. So, as many do, I sent out a query through the appropriate channels and was suddenly inundated by pitches, stories and sometimes what could be construed as a short novel.
I’ve changed the guy’s name because I’m embarrassed for him.
“I have a great story for you
-Dave”
No contact info provided. No tease of a story. Nothing. Not even a subject in the subject line of the email! I sure hope this guy doesn’t do PR for a living.
Out of sheer curiosity, I responded (something no journalist is ever likely to do to such a query)…
“Hi Dave,
My deadline is Friday, I would love to hear your story if you could just type something up and send it over to me by then.”
His response [paraphrased]:
“I’m only able to tell the story by phone I’m [enter important job title/organization here] and simply can’t send you an email. You’ll love this story though. Send me your number, I’ll give you a call.”
Wow. Typically I have a pretty low tolerance for people with such toxic levels of self-importance, and this guy was all around baffling. He was too busy to pitch, but he pitched me anyway, sans contact info, subject or even a story for that matter, and then proceeds to try and impress me with his credentials after such a lackluster offering.
It’s because of people like that with [pardon my French] half-assed pitches that make PR people look bad.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Super Bowl Dilemma: To Give a Day Off Or Not
Around these parts, football is practically a religious experience... why not take the extra step and make it an official holiday? Please find some humor about the fateful day after the superbowl by Barbara Poole, founder of www.employaid.com.
The Super Bowl Dilemma: To Give a Day Off Or Not
By Barbara Poole
www.Employaid.com
Few events during the year give us reason to wildly celebrate and let out our inner cave man (or cave gal) than the Super Bowl. Where else can you find hedonistic amounts of food and beer? When else do we go berserk over giant men getting the #%@& beat out of them on the field for the sake of control of a football? Yes, the Super Bowl has become a national obsession, and one of the biggest social occasions of the year. Unfortunately, the Super Bowl airs on Sunday evenings, leaving many bloated, burping, and hung over the next morning.
What is an employer to do about the newest holiday to confront our economy – The Morning after the Super Bowl? Let’s face it. There’s not going to be a lot of productivity that day anyhow. Here are the top ten reasons why bosses need to tell their employees to stay home on this new national holiday, simply known as “The Day After.”
10. Need time off to appropriately give thanks for a 6 month vacation from John Madden
9. Gives the guy in accounting a day to practice performing 1-man versions of all of his favorite beer commercials
8. So the entire nation, together, can find out what Regis thought of the game
7. Beer + chili + close cubicles. Do the math
6. It would be another sign that the terrorists aren't winning
5. Use the day off to reflect upon the moving halftime performance
4. Gives employees a chance to test-drive this "unemployment" thing
3. The After Super Bowl sale at Macy's!
2. Isn't it already a holiday?
And the number one reason…..
1. Two words: “guacamole detox”
Barbara Poole is the CEO and founder of Employaid and www.Employaid.com, the largest workforce and employee relations resource on the web.
The Super Bowl Dilemma: To Give a Day Off Or Not
By Barbara Poole
www.Employaid.com
Few events during the year give us reason to wildly celebrate and let out our inner cave man (or cave gal) than the Super Bowl. Where else can you find hedonistic amounts of food and beer? When else do we go berserk over giant men getting the #%@& beat out of them on the field for the sake of control of a football? Yes, the Super Bowl has become a national obsession, and one of the biggest social occasions of the year. Unfortunately, the Super Bowl airs on Sunday evenings, leaving many bloated, burping, and hung over the next morning.
What is an employer to do about the newest holiday to confront our economy – The Morning after the Super Bowl? Let’s face it. There’s not going to be a lot of productivity that day anyhow. Here are the top ten reasons why bosses need to tell their employees to stay home on this new national holiday, simply known as “The Day After.”
10. Need time off to appropriately give thanks for a 6 month vacation from John Madden
9. Gives the guy in accounting a day to practice performing 1-man versions of all of his favorite beer commercials
8. So the entire nation, together, can find out what Regis thought of the game
7. Beer + chili + close cubicles. Do the math
6. It would be another sign that the terrorists aren't winning
5. Use the day off to reflect upon the moving halftime performance
4. Gives employees a chance to test-drive this "unemployment" thing
3. The After Super Bowl sale at Macy's!
2. Isn't it already a holiday?
And the number one reason…..
1. Two words: “guacamole detox”
Barbara Poole is the CEO and founder of Employaid and www.Employaid.com, the largest workforce and employee relations resource on the web.
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