Anyways, one blogger turned the product down, the other two accepted it. One of those two was happy with it and the other was disappointed that he didn’t get a letter with an explanation of the company or even a business card of someone to contact if they had any questions.
Now, I’m a bit surprised how this all went down, but at the same time I guess this is not very uncommon. I have been lucky enough in the past to get some toys to test and they are sometimes accompanied by some additional information, at the bare minimum a business card of the person sending the product. I have received a tea bag each and every time Proporta has sent me anything, now that was a nice touch.
I am proposing a question to my blogger and PR friends. How would you like to be handled by PR people? Do you want a follow up call, a letter in the package, or to be left alone all together? What have you come to expect and how can the experience be any better?
I personally would like a note with contact info of the person sending me the package. In some cases I know who’s sending me something and I have a previous relationship with them. In that case nothing is necessary, but the first time I get a package I would really like to know how to contact the sender.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Ms. Jen // Dec 11, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Hi Jeb,
[Warning: Novella Alert!]
Before I started blogging in 2003, I was an editor for an online music magazine (1999-2003) and a music journalist for a variety of publications (1996-2005). I am used to and prefer the music PR way of doing things, which is/was as follows:
1) One receives a press packet not only with the cd of the band but also their bio & a press photo, along with all the contact info for the PR agency, and possibly the band record co & management.
2) If you have questions, you are actively encouraged to call/email the PR folk.
3) In music world, the PR folk also became friends over time due to attending the shows, going to SXSW, going to dinners & private shindigs with the bands. Even though I am retired, I am still friends with many of these folk.
Of course there was a hierarchy here Big Mags and Newspapers always had first dibs and got the best schwag, and I knew that by writing for Independents and online (except Allstar, which I did write for and it was high up on the hierarchy) that I was middle to low on the hierarchy.
On the other hand, in the last 5 years, I have participated in quite a few closed/private alpha or beta software testing processes. In this situation, one always has some sort of contact with the developers of the product, whether it is by email, mailing list, private forum, or bug tracking software.
Thus, my experiences in the last 4 years of participating with mobile pr folk and a few software testing events has at times bordered on the bizarre, as it has not acted fully like PR and not fully like software testing. There is little to no contact with the folks doing the developing so it has been hard to give bug reports or figure out who to tell things to and the PR folk don’t give any contact to their clients and at times won’t even tell you who it is. The business PR folk I have worked with in this world need to go take some serious lessons form some top of their game music pr folk on how to make everyone feel like they are worthy even if they are low on the totem pole (never know what someone’s next job is or who they may meet next week that will benefit your client).
The only exception to this was the first mobile project I participated in where the marketing manager from the mobile company worked directly with a youth/entertainment promotions/marketing agency and worked directly with the testers via a private blog and the 4 month project ran very smoothly. That person from the mobile company is now a valued friend.
All of this to say, I think that mobile companies need to suck it up and have a point person that works closely with the PR and is willing to communicate with the folks that they want to review/test their product. Other than the most overly excited blogger, most folks will not abuse the contact information.
I really hate non-transparent PR/client/journalist-blogger relations, it is lame. We are all professionals here, if you value my opinion enough to ask me to participate then open up communication.
[/Novella]
2 Ms. Jen // Dec 11, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Oops, I didn’t really answer the question… Sorry.
I would like the following in packages:
1) Point contact information for the PR person on the account.
2) Information on the company and product, even if only a few sentences, and why they would like me to review/ test the product.
3) If the product / software is an alpha or beta test, then also enclose the information on how to file bug reports / feature requests with the developers – be it a bug report system (such as FogBugz), mailing list, or private dev forum.
4) Also, please be clear on whether the product is a gift or to be returned after x date. And be clear if a blog review is expected or just hoped for.
3 mobiledan // Dec 11, 2008 at 2:27 pm
i liked jen’s responses… I am new to this, but my experiences have been getting better, and with each loan that i get, more is asked of me, but more support is given… I feel that this learning process is good to help the loaners weed thru their bloggers… Lately any questions i have had regarding trials have been answered promptly… Which goes back to, when i am asked, i receive an email on the campaign, what’s asked of me, and my point of contact should i need to reach someone… I’ve stayed in just phones so far, and would love to get into more, but i feel i’m building up my skills as a blogger, and the right things will come my way… By then i’ll have mastered my craft / hobby
4 Abul // Dec 12, 2008 at 5:26 pm
MsJen seems to have covered it pretty much (on the 2nd attempt anyway
)
We may not be referred to in the same sentence as the “press” although I have in recent times been mixing quite a lot with them in launches and press releases, which is progress in my opinion and welcomed, but for most bloggers including myself there are 2 fundamental things that all PR people need to consider:
A) for most of us, we do this out of joy and is not a business, we spend time posting about the content we like and it’s usually our opinion, so don’t try and force your product on us, and don’t get offended if we reject your product, it’s our choice whether we have the time or the interest in reviewing your product. Don’t ask as to highlight specific features of your product or try and do some promotional creative content with it, if your product is good enough to leave a lasting impression, those things will be done by us anyway by highlighting the features of the products and showing examples.
b) providing some information about the product itself (with press material if available) is welcomed, contact information and the specifics of the loan should be stated, i.e how long can we expect to have the product to test (adequate time of thorough testing should be taking into account), and return documents should be arranged, we are not loaded with money, and most of the time we have normal jobs which are priority over anything else.
Some special promotional discounts and freebies for the readership always helps, whether it be spreading the word of your product or keeping the readership listening all the time as they know there will be regular content.
A regular partnership with bloggers is always a good thing, and we always love exclusives so give us some!
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