Loic Le Meur - Latest Comments in PR secrets? bullshit.

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

drug rehab — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:34:15 -0000

he idea of connected lead, and skip the PR, getting right into community connectedness. He suggests that Brian Solis' recommendations are at least merely tactics, or at the best misleading

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

dominique — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:17:34 -0000

Loic,

I like the overall post, but your #4 is (to me) is just plainly wrong.

web2.0 or not, strategy is still key to build a product or a company. what if the people who react never would spend a $ for what you offer? or there are just not enough of them to support your infrastructure investment ?

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Jonathan Trenn — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:14:55 -0000

Loic

I pretty much disagree with what you say here because I disagree with the context. And you didn't seem to respond to those who challenged your thinking.

I could ask several questions, but I'll ask one...

Re participation is NOT marketing, you seem to hint that marketing is "artificial". That mentality seems to be evident in many of your points. Marketing, PR, etc. HAS to be contrived. Why is that?

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Kyla — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:15:07 -0000

Interesting post. I sit on the fence between both articles. As a student in a PR graduate program, perhaps I have a slight bias – I see the merit of PR. I do, however, find the term "PR secrets" a great annoyance. There are really no secrets!

We reviewed the original article in class and were asked to write a response. (http://cn235assignments.wor...

It was also suggested to read your response for perspective. It is encouraging to see the evolution in communications where we can quickly access perspective on nearly any matter, and I am happy to be able to learn, both as a new blogger and a PR student in such a diverse environment.

Thank you for your continued contributions to my learning!

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Daniel Vaarik — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:17:36 -0000

Hi Loic, here is a bit of an insider view on the same topic I wrote in last Dec (I have a background in pr).
http://distantsignal.blogsp...

Daniel

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Someong — Sat, 31 May 2008 13:41:53 -0000

I tried my luck in PR. I spent several hours on the phone calling journalists, but got no story. The guy next to me got several. He managed to find an angel that made the pitch interesting, and managed to turn the conversation while they talked.

I'm sorry, but I think you are plain wrong. So does business, and so does results. This is post writes what some people would like to think, but what you write is not true.

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

leigh — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:10:17 -0000

I totally hear you about PR. Same goes for marketing too. Actually if you think about it, start ups are also easy. I mean all you need is:

1. A good idea
2. Great team
3. Flawless execution
4. Customer uptake

Crap how hard is that?

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Yohan Yukiya 사요한 謝雪矢 — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:30:25 -0000

I like #4, #6, and #7. Though sadly, it is still a loooooooong battle here in Asia-Pacific. Only bloggers understand social media, long-tail marketing, etc. Companies here are still of the old style.

Many of us are doing our best to change things here ^_^

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Loic Le Meur — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:08:06 -0000

Great comment Tim, thank you. I did not say we do not need PR agencies I just think most CEOs rely too much of them. Like before blogs we only had the press to express ourselves, now we can do it direct too.
Sent from my BlackBerryÂ® wireless device

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

timhood — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:00:21 -0000

Loic,

Thanks for an important post- the level of comment suggests that you have started a very interesting conversation, which I hope will continue.

I accept your main point- focus on organic growth, use your friends' and users' feedback to get the product right and once it is right, then it will get attention. But to all this, I'd add the proviso, 'all things being equal'.

As a start up CEO, it pains me to admit that there is no disputing what you say- no on else can represent my company like myself and yes, I should be tending to the garden a lot more, instead of writing another PDF for another 'target segment' :)

But sadly, as some commentors here point out, all things are not equal. And it would be great to hear your views on this.

Some CEO's start from different bases: some are better funded than others, allowing them more time- as well as that crucial mental and emotional capacity- to focus on the product and network building, rather than desperately seeking the funds to keep going.

Some are better connected than others- their emails get answered, their name opens doors.
Some, names, such as Le Meur and Calcanis, bring more or less instant traction.

So what you say makes perfect sense, all things being equal. But what practical advice do you have for those unkown, under-resourced CEOs who are fighting to overcome overwhelming odds? The odds that say however original their innovation may be, that it will be the person who comes after them (better resourced, better connected) who will make it a financial success.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not disagreeing with your core argument. The limitations of outsourced PR have been proven by my own experience, as has the undeniable value of networking. But all things being equal, simply relying on your own PR and user-base does not seem to be enough for most start ups. Where are they going wrong? And is it inevitable that innovators will more often than not see their ideas taken forward by better resourced competitors?

Thanks

Tim

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Tom Nocera — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:12:48 -0000

I'd like to inject another perspective into th3 discussion. Traditional PR which Brian Solis has outlined in gilded and self-serving style - typical of a journeyman in the PR trade. You, suggest a different, more transparent approach perhaps better for seducing a younger segment that is more electronically interconnected networking in social communities. Both the old school and new school will continue to function for a while into the future. Both seek the magic of gaining traction sufficient to generate word of mouth success. No need to slam the old school so harshly. There is room enough for both at the trough of public influence peddlers.

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Bernard Moon — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:48:21 -0000

Yeah, I would have to agree with Jeremy and Allen. Not everyone has a foundation of your network or even skillset.

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

YouAreWhatYouBleat — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:07:23 -0000

What a wank. There's no earthshaking revelations from Brian Solis or you. Yes we need PR just like we need Advertising. But we need people who are good at it. He's old-school and you just seem to be some goofy ego-tripper - but fair play to you.

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

briansolis — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:05:35 -0000

Loic, Cathy, thank you for bringing much needed attention to the subject of helping startups succeed in PR.

Here's my response to comments across the web:
http://bub.blicio.us/?p=957

And, also, here's the unedited version of the original post. I think you'll see that we're practically on the same page (more importantly, it's very helpful for startups who need to learn about all of this in general):
http://www.briansolis.com/2...

Now let's talk about that coffee, perhaps at the seesmic cafe...?

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

JimBob — Tue, 27 May 2008 03:10:22 -0000

Spot On Jeremy. I'm one of the guys you're talking about (startup CEO with too much else going on to give PR the sort of attention Loic thinks is needed). He's a brilliant, charismatic guy who's also been very lucky in his career. That's a data point of exactly 1 - not quite a trend or a clear recipe for success or the rest of us.

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Virginia LaCrosse — Mon, 26 May 2008 14:18:39 -0000

But "PR Secrets" makes such good linkbait -- PR at it's best, right?

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Andrew J Scott — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:37:58 -0000

Seesmic video reply from Disqus.

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

DrSam — Mon, 26 May 2008 10:42:47 -0000

I love your post... Irreverent, common sense, wise, independent, no bull, on and on... What can I say... I love it!

Dr. Sam
www.drsam.tv

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Terry Heaton — Mon, 26 May 2008 10:07:54 -0000

Great post, Loic. But..."I took me 8 years since I started blogging in 2003..." Is there something wrong with my math, or have I been asleep for 3 years?"

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

shareme — Mon, 26 May 2008 09:57:21 -0000

These are the exact PR points I wanted a Start Up CEO/Original Founder in Chicago to get if that you worry and strive to get the best quality possible of the prototype and product and become spokes person for that process both to inside the company and outside the company you than have your ful pr/marketing strategies already developed into effective actions.

Unfortunately, the Chicago Start UP Founder I was conversing with is somewhat bull-headed in the illogical way and irrational way.

I look forward to using this post to being a new conversation with a new start up as this post ranks up with the Paul Graham Start Up essays in importance and value to every Start Up.

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

scottpurdie — Mon, 26 May 2008 08:33:41 -0000

Awesome, Loic. I think most people want to communicate like they would in a face to face conversation, minus the jargon and bollocks. Its adding fluff to a business or product, probably because its not good enough.

I admire that you get involved and are honest in your post and comment with people, it shows your listening. Its a habit il get addicted to i think.

Cheers

Scott

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Miiko Mentz — Mon, 26 May 2008 03:23:19 -0000

Loic, Your post makes some excellent points that other entrepreneurs can certainly learn from. And I agree with much of what you say when viewed through your lens. I also think that you and Brian are not too far off in your views on this issue, but the reason you are disagreeing on the surface is because you are looking at the issue from a different vantage point.

I think your view of this matter is one dimensional and self-centric. You are charismatic with an outgoing and engaging personality, funded by some very connected players, not to mention well connected yourself, and you're pimping a very sexy product (IMHO). Let's also not forget that you have Cathy Brooks on your team and she knows her game well and is a great asset to Seesmic. With that winning combination, you're right. No PR needed.

But come over to the other side of the fence for just a minute and you will see that there are other startup founders who are incredibly brilliant, but are not engaging, and frankly, are dry as toast when speaking, they get uncomfortable when they have to present, and they hate going to networking events.

But, they have created smart products that are highly useful and needed products that solve real problems. Some are products that are very niche and/or aren't exactly sexy, and in some cases downright boring to a journalist or blogger, but solve real business issues. And let's throw in that they are self-funded and not at all connected to the movers and shakers of Silicon Valley. And they don't understand social media because they've been too busy with their heads down building their product. Sorry, but PR has served these companies well, especially with ROI case studies, product reviews, community building, and other useful PR tactics that help show customers how a product can solve their pains.

PR is so much more than the hype-machine at launch, not that we don't love getting the big splash and the TechCrunch spike at launch, because we do love that, but PR goes way beyond a company launch and offers some real value to companies. If it didn't serve a purpose or offer any value, then Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Richard Branson wouldn't have PR teams handling anything from product reviews to crisis communications.

@centernetworks (Allen Stern) Thank you for pointing this out, too. And you're so right that Mahalo wouldn't garner the attention it does if it wasn't for Jason Calacanis and his fanboys and connections. Great example and well said.

Disclaimer: I work with Brian Solis and my comment here and at his TC post are solely my own opinion.

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Jean-Christophe — Mon, 26 May 2008 03:11:54 -0000

2 thumbs up for this great post. Building online communities and/or create passionate users is a CEO's job, not a PR company one.

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

Colin — Mon, 26 May 2008 02:45:29 -0000

nice refreshing post Loic ....

Re: PR secrets? bullshit.

fred2baro — Mon, 26 May 2008 02:38:49 -0000

You nailed it !!