Walt Denny Inc. Blog

Conversation Starters: Boosting Interaction On Your Blog

While the medium itself is less than 20 years old, blogs, it seems, are everywhere today. The two most-used blogging platforms, WordPress and Tumblr, publish more than 70 million and 44 million blogs, respectively.

Blogs are easy for readers to "like" and "share" via social media, and the content increases (or strengthens) search engine optimization. Blogging creates positive exposure for businesses, increases visibility, and helps build solid relationships with prospects, customers and others.

The best business blogs engage readers with content that is relevant, interesting and meaningful.

Measuring Social Media: Tactics That Are Gathering Momentum

Arguably, one of the most-discussed topics among marketers over the last few years has been social media - in particular, how to quantify or otherwise measure the investment in blogging or participation on sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the new Google+. Measurement, it seems, has been a sticking point for many who hesitate to delve into social media.

However, as Bob Dylan famously sang, the times they are a-changin'. A recent study by Lenskold Group found that most marketers feel they are improving in their ability to measure overall marketing ROI, including certain elements of social media marketing.

Marketers are improving in their ability to measure investments in social media marketing, and are tracking metrics such as outcomes, influence and share of voice.

Don't Strike Out When Your News Release is Up to Bat

6 tips for winning news releases

Powerful news releases are both a proven marketing tool and a staple that editors need to perform their duties. Too often though, companies' news releases underperform, failing to connect with editors and reach base. By avoiding six common mistakes, companies can more easily help meet editors' needs and deliver a winning PR marketing effort.

You may have seen news releases that seem 'too light.' These have fallen victim to not having enough information; perhaps offering just four or five sentences of real, solid news and a similar amount of "about" information. To get your message across, it's better to show - with several facts, figures, benefits and differentiators - than to simply and insufficiently tell. If you're only sharing a few facts, you severely limit the coverage possibilities since you're distilling information into shallow content that best serves as short round-up coverage.

Thousands of news releases are sent out every day, but a company can't make news, connect with prospects and pump up its brand unless it successfully meets editorial requirements.

 

Scan Here for More: Linking the Physical and Digital World

 

As technology continues to evolve, public relations and advertising strategies are blending the physical and the digital world. In the past year you may have noticed an increasing amount of patterned squares and bar codes showing up in print and television advertising, or even on business cards and resumes. These squares are known as Quick Response codes, or QR codes. QR codes are quickly becoming the most popular business strategy for linking the real world with the digital world.

QR codes are open sourced codes that can be scanned with a multitude of free applications available on any smart phone. QR codes are also quickly generated for free through online programs like Kaywa, iCandy, Bit.ly and Stickybits. When scanned, the codes link directly to any online content you chose. QR codes appear as a barcode or a variation of the image at the top of this article. When scanned, this particular QR code links to our Internet Public Relations LinkedIn group. 

Be a Riveting Industry Source with a Focused Corporate Blog

Blogs come and go. It’s been well-documented how many corporate bloggers start off with a bang and then quickly fade, even after just a handful of entries. A well-directed, focused blog however, can achieve must-read status with influential industry heavyweights, customers and prospects.

Gain brand equity, recognition and influence with a focused, purpose-driven blog. 

The right mix of tactics boosts readership, builds and sustains momentum, and enhances leadership. Think of an effective blog as a digital soapbox that provides credibility, insight and meaningful discourse.

Recycling is Great, but not for News Release Copy

The vast differences between marketing copy & news release copy

When it comes to marketing copy and news release copy, one can’t substitute for the other. They are for two very different audiences. With news releases, some marketers make the mistake of confusing an editor for a paying customer.

It pays to be original with effective news release copy. Substituting marketing copy for news release copy turns editors off, assuring that these messages never get to prospects and customers.

Marketing copy is designed to woo an interested consumer. An editor’s job is to decide on, and be interested in, that which is newsworthy. That often includes a certain amount of skepticism. The mistake of recycling sales catalog, promotional or brochure copy doesn’t serve the purpose of a news release. A news release has to show ‘new.’ You can also tell ‘new,’ but superlatives and unsubstantiated claims of superiority will be met with skepticism. Worse yet, they won’t be met at all, because an editor can quickly recognize the content as regurgitated sales copy and ignore it.