Comments on: Why Aren’t PR Firms Leading on Video Conferencing.

By: Murphy’s Law » Why is everyone surprised about bad blog relations?

Murphy’s Law » Why is everyone surprised about bad blog relations? — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:01:34 +0000

[...] Why aren’t PR firms leading on video conferencing? [Stuart Henshall] [...]

By: B.L Ochman

B.L Ochman — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:05:19 +0000

Today’s Google announcement mainstreams social media to the point where no company and certainly no agency can ignore social media for one minute more.

IMO, PR firms are dinosaurs. I stopped doing PR 10 years ago because I had lost respect for the way it is practiced.

Any company that is listening to old-school advice is in deep trouble today.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:19:24 +0000

BL,
I totally agree and I believe more and more PR firms are failing their clients. Relationship building, real relationships has never been more important. Clippings! What an obsolete method that is today. Can I have it as RSS?

I’ve found myself wading into this space as a marketer and researcher who’s convinced that companies will be blindsided and PR companies aren’t mastering the tools they need to use. I set out to “run” programs for marketers / brand managers. I see PR firms as a co-collaborator in building this conversation.

I’d suggest a comparison. Company crisis… traditional response (think Mattel recently) vs what a company and PR firm could do if they really understood Twitter, YouTube, Video Messaging etc. When it gets to the next corporate PR crisis with the client have the skills? Will the agency? Video is now a key element.

I’ll add that there still isn’t a really good video product. Sightspeed is closer, Skype is ok / not bad. Both don’t provide what business really needs yet.

Thanks for the comment. I think many of us have the opportunity to really change the conversation.. and the criteria used for hiring the PR firm.

By: B.L Ochman

B.L Ochman — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:26:02 +0000

PR firms don’t lead on video conferencing for the same reason they still don’t understand blogging, or for that matter,the Internet. They are too focused on pushing out a message. Not entirely their fault - their clients are still focused on MSM clippings.

I still meet PR pros who don’t understand or read blogs. I still get press releases in email attachments. I still get “Dear Blogger” emails.

PR people need to 1- educate themselves about new media; 2- educate their clients.

and i have to say, the last thing i want is a video message from a clueless flak.