Comments on: Has Social Media Made Us Less Social? (and the death of the phone call) http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/ Media, Communcations and Public Relations Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:40:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kyle Austin http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/comment-page-1/#comment-6790 Kyle Austin Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:31:39 +0000 http://racetalkblog.com/?p=1790#comment-6790 I think it all comes back to the relationships you build. If you begin to build those relationships and can illustrate how you can act as a source / filter: prioritizing what you're bringing them, connecting and introducing them to the people they’re interested in, understanding what’s news to them, giving your own insight on the industries you work within. Phone calls become just another channel that they’re willing to connect with you through. I think it all comes back to the relationships you build. If you begin to build those relationships and can illustrate how you can act as a source / filter: prioritizing what you’re bringing them, connecting and introducing them to the people they’re interested in, understanding what’s news to them, giving your own insight on the industries you work within. Phone calls become just another channel that they’re willing to connect with you through.

]]> By: How Twitter Can Become The Best Pitching Platform Ever | racetalkblog.com http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/comment-page-1/#comment-6789 How Twitter Can Become The Best Pitching Platform Ever | racetalkblog.com Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:33:49 +0000 http://racetalkblog.com/?p=1790#comment-6789 [...] I recently wrote a post about how journalists were getting very tired of phone pitches and preferred receiving them via email or Twitter. In the post I mentioned how Twitter could become a great pitching platform if not for a few things holding it back.  So, here is how Twitter can make itself the best pitching platform for journalists and PR people. [...] [...] I recently wrote a post about how journalists were getting very tired of phone pitches and preferred receiving them via email or Twitter. In the post I mentioned how Twitter could become a great pitching platform if not for a few things holding it back.  So, here is how Twitter can make itself the best pitching platform for journalists and PR people. [...]

]]> By: Sarah Cunningham http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/comment-page-1/#comment-7715 Sarah Cunningham Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:34:27 +0000 http://racetalkblog.com/?p=1790#comment-7715 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">http://bit.ly/9JRj3 interesting post</span></span> http://bit.ly/9JRj3
interesting post

]]> By: Allison Wagda http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/comment-page-1/#comment-6787 Allison Wagda Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:00:36 +0000 http://racetalkblog.com/?p=1790#comment-6787 There's a big difference about calling a reporter regarding a pitch, and calling a (beat) reporter to share breaking news. A product launch is a pitch. A (reasonably sized and technologically important) acquisition is news. An exclusive executive profile is a pitch. An unreported cyber attack on the Pentagon is news. Use the phone very sparingly, and only when you know the reporter would want to *immediately* know what you know. My advice to fellow PR peeps - put yourself in their shoes. Understand the stories they prioritize, and those that are important to their editors (and of course, audience) too. And think about how crazy your day is, and how disruptive it is when those pesky vendors and sales people call, then multiply by 100 (because there are probably thousands of valley PR people all targeting the same 150 or so reporters). If you STILL think they would want your call, then do it. But if you're only calling because your boss told you to, or because your client expects it, push back. Your credibility with reporters will follow you long after your current job is gone. There’s a big difference about calling a reporter regarding a pitch, and calling a (beat) reporter to share breaking news.

A product launch is a pitch.

A (reasonably sized and technologically important) acquisition is news.

An exclusive executive profile is a pitch.

An unreported cyber attack on the Pentagon is news.

Use the phone very sparingly, and only when you know the reporter would want to *immediately* know what you know. My advice to fellow PR peeps – put yourself in their shoes. Understand the stories they prioritize, and those that are important to their editors (and of course, audience) too. And think about how crazy your day is, and how disruptive it is when those pesky vendors and sales people call, then multiply by 100 (because there are probably thousands of valley PR people all targeting the same 150 or so reporters). If you STILL think they would want your call, then do it.

But if you’re only calling because your boss told you to, or because your client expects it, push back. Your credibility with reporters will follow you long after your current job is gone.

]]> By: Michael Singer http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/comment-page-1/#comment-7716 Michael Singer Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:28:27 +0000 http://racetalkblog.com/?p=1790#comment-7716 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">#prusm - the journo-anti-phone conversation continues here: http://bit.ly/JXc4S</span></span> #prusm – the journo-anti-phone conversation continues here: http://bit.ly/JXc4S

]]> By: Michael Singer http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/comment-page-1/#comment-6786 Michael Singer Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:41:04 +0000 http://racetalkblog.com/?p=1790#comment-6786 Ben, While we were talking and you were taking notes, some of the reporters were monitoring the Twitter chatter about #PRUSM. The reporters all found it astounding that PR peeps jaw-dropped about the likes of Kara and Dan not answering their phones. I'm with Dylan on this. 99% of the non-coworker calls are the equivalent of those calls you get at 7 pm while you are eating dinner. But do not despair. I'd be happy to chat with you about your clients. Feel free to pitch me at msinger@gmail.com and we can have a meaningful conversation either on the phone or in person. Where's the next Tweet-Up? Ben,
While we were talking and you were taking notes, some of the reporters were monitoring the Twitter chatter about #PRUSM.
The reporters all found it astounding that PR peeps jaw-dropped about the likes of Kara and Dan not answering their phones.
I’m with Dylan on this. 99% of the non-coworker calls are the equivalent of those calls you get at 7 pm while you are eating dinner.
But do not despair. I’d be happy to chat with you about your clients. Feel free to pitch me at msinger@gmail.com and we can have a meaningful conversation either on the phone or in person.
Where’s the next Tweet-Up?

]]> By: Ben Haber http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/comment-page-1/#comment-6785 Ben Haber Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:13:33 +0000 http://racetalkblog.com/?p=1790#comment-6785 Hi Dylan, Thanks for the comment. I agree that relationship building can come in many different forms, I simply found it surprising that the phone was always a last resort. While I know it's much easier to communicate through email where you can read through it when you have time, my hope is that the phone does not become an endangered - or extinct - way of communication because it still holds tremendous value in connecting and strengthening relationships. Hi Dylan,

Thanks for the comment. I agree that relationship building can come in many different forms, I simply found it surprising that the phone was always a last resort. While I know it’s much easier to communicate through email where you can read through it when you have time, my hope is that the phone does not become an endangered – or extinct – way of communication because it still holds tremendous value in connecting and strengthening relationships.

]]> By: Dylan Tweney http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/comment-page-1/#comment-6783 Dylan Tweney Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:27:31 +0000 http://racetalkblog.com/?p=1790#comment-6783 Ben, journalists' aversion to phone calls predates "social media" by a long time. Most of us have preferred email for pitches ever since we've had email -- that's because they are easier to scan and vet, you can get more details immediately (if the email includes them), and you can read them when you have time to consider them. By contrast, phone calls are interruptive and often come when you're on deadline (and we're always on deadline, now). Sure, if you have something you know a journalist would be interested in and is truly newsworthy, a phone call is welcome. But 99% of the calls I get do not fall into that category. It's a far better rule of thumb for me to say "email only, no calls please." If you want to build a relationship (and get to the point where I will be happy to take your calls), there are lots of real world networking opportunities to do so, including tradeshows, conferences, schmoozy cocktail hour things, or PR agency sponsored dinners. You could also try building a relationship via email. It can work -- I know this from experience. Ben, journalists’ aversion to phone calls predates “social media” by a long time. Most of us have preferred email for pitches ever since we’ve had email — that’s because they are easier to scan and vet, you can get more details immediately (if the email includes them), and you can read them when you have time to consider them. By contrast, phone calls are interruptive and often come when you’re on deadline (and we’re always on deadline, now).

Sure, if you have something you know a journalist would be interested in and is truly newsworthy, a phone call is welcome. But 99% of the calls I get do not fall into that category. It’s a far better rule of thumb for me to say “email only, no calls please.”

If you want to build a relationship (and get to the point where I will be happy to take your calls), there are lots of real world networking opportunities to do so, including tradeshows, conferences, schmoozy cocktail hour things, or PR agency sponsored dinners.

You could also try building a relationship via email. It can work — I know this from experience.

]]> By: Parna Sarkar-Basu http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/comment-page-1/#comment-7717 Parna Sarkar-Basu Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:30:55 +0000 http://racetalkblog.com/?p=1790#comment-7717 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Great point. Balance social media tools with phone calls to communicate with journalists. RT @HeathClancy http://bit.ly/UfcTs #prusm</span></span> Great point. Balance social media tools with phone calls to communicate with journalists. RT @HeathClancy http://bit.ly/UfcTs #prusm

]]> By: RaceTalk http://racetalkblog.com/2009/07/09/has-social-media-made-us-less-social-and-the-dealth-of-the-phone-call/comment-page-1/#comment-7718 RaceTalk Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:00:40 +0000 http://racetalkblog.com/?p=1790#comment-7718 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Reporters prefer being contacted via email and Twitter, not happy with phone calls: http://bit.ly/UfcTs</span></span> Reporters prefer being contacted via email and Twitter, not happy with phone calls: http://bit.ly/UfcTs

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