Hello! Joy Scott here, writing this note from the PRSA (Public Relations Society of
America) Counselors’ Academy, an annual meeting where the most experienced
PR professionals from around the U.S. gather to share best practices, identify
trends, and stay a step ahead in our field.
In my experience, this gathering provides more “brain food” than all other
communications conferences combined.

Here are some highlights:
“Media agnostic” is not about religion; it’s a sound bite description of the
proliferation and integration of media, with online the clear leader in the
race to win eyeballs. Many of you have heard me talk about the importance
of creating your own content for releases and postings on the Internet; this
is but one of the major changes that we’re seeing in communication.

To read more, please access the full article at http:\\www.scottpublicrelations.com

Sales Expert Identifies Pitfalls for Entrepreneurs

The number one mistake that start-up companies make in sales is targeting the wrong person, according to Bill Behnke, a “serial sales manager” for entrepreneurial firms.

Behnke, a member of the Council of Experts for Scott Public Relations, a PR and marketing company specializing in the healthcare, insurance and technology industries, lists the top seven sales mistakes made by start-up companies,” in a new article, “Sales Savvy for Start-Ups: Seven Mistakes to Avoid,” posted on the SPR website, http://www.scottpublicrelations.com/.

“Structuring the sale function for a new company is especially challenging in fields like healthcare, where the different benefits of a product will appeal to different decision-makers. If there are multiple decision-makers, the account needs to be “saturated” to reach them with their respective compelling messages,” says Behnke. “Above all, attention must be focused on who will actually pay for the product – who can make the decision to write the check.”

Another common mistake is underestimating the power of public relations as a marketing tactic for new products and companies. “I’ve seen how powerful PR can fill an entire sales pipeline for new products and services,” noted Behnke. “For a new company especially, PR cost-effectively creates the “buzz” you need to get noticed.”

To read the entire article, go to: http://www.scottpublicrelations.com/A Step Ahead Articles/ART_SalesSavvy_06_12_08.pdf

The Wall Street Journal has long been the “Holy Grail” of business media for companies seeking high profile coverage. It’s also the pacesetter in how business and consumer reporters around the world report the news. For example, the Journal’s style of drawing a reader in with a personal story is now ubiquitous in print and broadcast media everywhere.

So when the Journal announces a major revamping of its content and its look, this is big news – not only for the implications for getting stories placed here but for what these changes mean for how other media will be reporting and writing as well.

To read the full article click HERE

Let us know what you think! Can you use this information? Agree/Disagree?