Comments on: I’ll take one from Column A and two from Column B http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/ A (dry heated) group blog from Phoenix, Arizona on public relations, marketing and social media Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:05:13 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: skz http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/comment-page-1/#comment-9691 skz Sat, 18 Apr 2009 05:23:34 +0000 http://www.valleyprblog.com/?p=1769#comment-9691 I agree with Dan Wool's "If you are in PR and feel threatened by PR Store, then you shouldn’t be in this business". Designers went through this in the early nineties with "desk top publishing" and then with the web--"you want to charge what? I have a [friend or relative] who has a computer..." Photographers are still going through it with people thinking all you need are megapixels to make a good photo. It's unfortunate that some people will be "duped" but they were never going to be your clients anyway—because they too know someone with a computer who can type. ;-) I agree with Dan Wool’s “If you are in PR and feel threatened by PR Store, then you shouldn’t be in this business”.

Designers went through this in the early nineties with “desk top publishing” and then with the web–”you want to charge what? I have a [friend or relative] who has a computer…”

Photographers are still going through it with people thinking all you need are megapixels to make a good photo.

It’s unfortunate that some people will be “duped” but they were never going to be your clients anyway—because they too know someone with a computer who can type. ;-)

]]> By: Tony Felice http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/comment-page-1/#comment-9683 Tony Felice Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:12:40 +0000 http://www.valleyprblog.com/?p=1769#comment-9683 Don't get me wrong. I'm not slamming the Biz Journal. I think it would have been a great story if it was fleshed out and PR professionals had been interviewed for their reaction. To respond to Kathy's comments, I totally applaud those who strike out on their own, learn what they have to do for their PR by themselves. That's the sign of a real entrepreneur. However, to open a bricks and mortar location and call it the PR store which in and of itself is a huge branding mistake displaying naivete and offer nothing but some creative tactics with absolutely no strategy is misleading to the consumer. Why not just call it what it is ... collateral to go or something like that. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not slamming the Biz Journal. I think it would have been a great story if it was fleshed out and PR professionals had been interviewed for their reaction. To respond to Kathy’s comments, I totally applaud those who strike out on their own, learn what they have to do for their PR by themselves. That’s the sign of a real entrepreneur. However, to open a bricks and mortar location and call it the PR store which in and of itself is a huge branding mistake displaying naivete and offer nothing but some creative tactics with absolutely no strategy is misleading to the consumer. Why not just call it what it is … collateral to go or something like that.

]]> By: Paula Pedene http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/comment-page-1/#comment-9682 Paula Pedene Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:03:25 +0000 http://www.valleyprblog.com/?p=1769#comment-9682 Let's get "the rest of the story". How about Valley PR Blog interview them and ask them the following questions: 1. What credentials PR experience do you offer your clients? 2. What types of services do you offer and what are your price ranges? 3. Do you have a referral process in place for those clients who have larger needs than what you might be able to provide? 4. What do you see your company doing in the Phoenix community to give back now that you are in business here? Just some of these can help all of us gain more insight. Thanks. Let’s get “the rest of the story”. How about Valley PR Blog interview them and ask them the following questions:

1. What credentials PR experience do you offer your clients?

2. What types of services do you offer and what are your price ranges?

3. Do you have a referral process in place for those clients who have larger needs than what you might be able to provide?

4. What do you see your company doing in the Phoenix community to give back now that you are in business here?

Just some of these can help all of us gain more insight.

Thanks.

]]> By: rhonda http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/comment-page-1/#comment-9680 rhonda Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:30:12 +0000 http://www.valleyprblog.com/?p=1769#comment-9680 Let me tell you from an experiensed PRstore owner, now closed with 31 other store owner. PRstore is being sued! Why: It doesn't work! Is is a good idea with bad business franchisor's attached! Yes, it is not a PR firm. Actually, they write like 10 year olds. Ok, to use them to send your own article to the newswire, but to write it...we had to rewrite almost every piece that came back from them, or we usally lost the customer with a refund- Sorry, for the bad news; If a PRstore open near you, you'll see it close or change names soon! New owner's should have been warned with all the other stores closing down. The Franshisor's usally have an excuse or blame everyone else. 32 stores closed and most of them within the first 6 months!!! Let me tell you from an experiensed PRstore owner, now closed with 31 other store owner. PRstore is being sued!
Why: It doesn’t work! Is is a good idea with bad business franchisor’s attached!

Yes, it is not a PR firm. Actually, they write like 10 year olds. Ok, to use them to send your own article to the newswire, but to write it…we had to rewrite almost every piece that came back from them, or we usally lost the customer with a refund-

Sorry, for the bad news; If a PRstore open near you, you’ll see it close or change names soon! New owner’s should have been warned with all the other stores closing down. The Franshisor’s usally have an excuse or blame everyone else. 32 stores closed and most of them within the first 6 months!!!

]]> By: Marketing Sociologist http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/comment-page-1/#comment-9679 Marketing Sociologist Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:46:17 +0000 http://www.valleyprblog.com/?p=1769#comment-9679 Thank you, Tony Felice. You opened my eyes. Another free Business Journal ad (maybe it wasn't free - maybe they only get it if they advertise - anyone know for sure?). Kitchen Market Cafe begins breakfast catering http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/04/13/daily38.html?surround=lfn Thank you, Tony Felice. You opened my eyes. Another free Business Journal ad (maybe it wasn’t free – maybe they only get it if they advertise – anyone know for sure?).

Kitchen Market Cafe begins breakfast catering

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/04/13/daily38.html?surround=lfn

]]> By: Kathy Cano-Murillo http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/comment-page-1/#comment-9673 Kathy Cano-Murillo Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:35:18 +0000 http://www.valleyprblog.com/?p=1769#comment-9673 "cheesy little businesses with no money" Aw, this line totally offends me and breaks my heart. That is how I started my business and is it was people saying things like that that fueled my ambition. I couldn't afford to hire a fancy PR firm and did it all myself. Now I'm represented by The William Morris Agency, just published my seventh book, have a web series on Lifetime TV, a product line coming out at two national retail chains, plus profiles in the New York Times, USA Today, NPR among others. I had zero money, but a lot of heart, and worked on my business all through the night while my family slept. I'm glad I did! With all due respect - please, give some cred to "cheesy little businesses with no money"...you never know where they will end up! Peace, love, and glitter, Kathy :-) “cheesy little businesses with no money”

Aw, this line totally offends me and breaks my heart. That is how I started my business and is it was people saying things like that that fueled my ambition. I couldn’t afford to hire a fancy PR firm and did it all myself.

Now I’m represented by The William Morris Agency, just published my seventh book, have a web series on Lifetime TV, a product line coming out at two national retail chains, plus profiles in the New York Times, USA Today, NPR among others.

I had zero money, but a lot of heart, and worked on my business all through the night while my family slept. I’m glad I did!

With all due respect – please, give some cred to “cheesy little businesses with no money”…you never know where they will end up!

Peace, love, and glitter,
Kathy :-)

]]> By: Dan Wool http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/comment-page-1/#comment-9672 Dan Wool Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:55:49 +0000 http://www.valleyprblog.com/?p=1769#comment-9672 It's neither public relations nor marketing. It's publicity. They offer a mix of highly tactical elements, not necessarily interrelated as you suggest Len. That's just not smart. If you are in PR and feel threatened by PR Store, then you shouldn't be in this business. You've seen the enemy and it is yourself. Good PR people help build businesses and provide long-term value. This is entirely superficial and short-term. It is a get-rich-quick scheme that can be replicated in every market in the country. Abbie Fink had a great post about it last night <a href="http://hmatime.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/public-relations-is-not-a-commodity/" rel="nofollow">on the HMA blog</a>. Businesses wanting PR on the cheap would be much better off going <a href="http://cronkite.asu.edu/experience/prlab.php" rel="nofollow">here</a>. It’s neither public relations nor marketing. It’s publicity. They offer a mix of highly tactical elements, not necessarily interrelated as you suggest Len. That’s just not smart.

If you are in PR and feel threatened by PR Store, then you shouldn’t be in this business. You’ve seen the enemy and it is yourself. Good PR people help build businesses and provide long-term value. This is entirely superficial and short-term. It is a get-rich-quick scheme that can be replicated in every market in the country.

Abbie Fink had a great post about it last night on the HMA blog.

Businesses wanting PR on the cheap would be much better off going here.

]]> By: Sam Alpert http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/comment-page-1/#comment-9671 Sam Alpert Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:49:32 +0000 http://www.valleyprblog.com/?p=1769#comment-9671 I think it's a brilliant idea (in theory). I wish I would have thought of it myself. However, who knows how quality the work will actually be. We'll all have to wait and see. Sam I think it’s a brilliant idea (in theory). I wish I would have thought of it myself. However, who knows how quality the work will actually be. We’ll all have to wait and see.

Sam

]]> By: Pat Elliott http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/comment-page-1/#comment-9670 Pat Elliott Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:15:22 +0000 http://www.valleyprblog.com/?p=1769#comment-9670 The name of the company implies they provide PR services yet they're focused on marketing support and paid advertising.It's misleading and confusing, creating more difficulty for REAL PR professionals. The name of the company implies they provide PR services yet they’re focused on marketing support and paid advertising.It’s misleading and confusing, creating more difficulty for REAL PR professionals.

]]> By: Off the shelf PR « Cut Me Some Flack http://www.valleyprblog.com/agencies/ill-take-one-from-column-a-and-two-from-column-b/comment-page-1/#comment-9668 Off the shelf PR « Cut Me Some Flack Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:51:18 +0000 http://www.valleyprblog.com/?p=1769#comment-9668 [...] Gutman of Valley PR Blog: I really am not sure what to think. I can see where the centralization of graphic design, web [...] [...] Gutman of Valley PR Blog: I really am not sure what to think. I can see where the centralization of graphic design, web [...]

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