The year is almost done so let’s take a look back at what you wanted to know from us and a few tips to get you ready for 2013.

How is your technology? Mark Evans takes a look at when to upgrade your hardware. 

He also offers some tips on how to stay savvy with your social media plans.

Speaking of social media savvy, one of the best campaigns run in 2012 was  f the RedBull Stratos space jump with Felix Baumgartner.

How good was it? We used Sysomos’ MAP tool to track the worldwide response.

MAP was also used by Mark Blevis to track the social media buzz around the US Elections.

Also on our greatest hits’ list is our webinar on How to Get Journalists to Call You. Lisa Elia, founder and CEO of Lisa Elia Public Relations took us through tips on how to lay the proper groundwork so journalists and bloggers are motivated to call publicists.

Our top searches included how to write a boilerplate and how to use a boilerplate to tell your company’s story. Many people looked up how to write a press release, how to write a press release for journalists, and how to write a social  media press release.

Enjoy the last four days of 2012!

By Deborah Baum, Supervisor, Editorial US West

So you work for a great company and you make an awesome product that can do some really cool stuff, what’s your next step? Getting your name and brand out to the public and letting everyone know what it is your company can do, how you do it, and how remarkably well your products and services will fulfill an industry niche. But wait! Before you jump into all the technical specs of how many bits, bytes, downhole drill meters or parts per million, remember the golden rule of all writing: keep it simple. (more…)

We received amazing feedback on our last Sysomos Industry Insider which took a look at the fast food industry. Our second Sysomos Industry Insider takes a look at the more than one billion smartphones in use around the world. (more…)

By Ryan LeClaire

Your press release is not an ad. Don’t write it like one.

You’re probably guilty of doing this. If so, don’t feel bad. Most people try to write a news release, but end up writing an ad with a dateline. Thousands of them hit the wire every day. Most of them are promptly ignored by newsrooms, writers and social influencers who can see right through them. (more…)

By Jenalee Savage

What good is a press release if no one reads it? In order to make your release a reader’s dream come true (and perhaps an editor’s as well), there are a few approaches and design/layout elements that you should be taking advantage of. What if you just…

• Write a brief, but catchy, headline
• Use a few bullet points
• Utilize bolding, italics and underlines
• Cough up some quotes

Let me elaborate on the above recommendations.

(more…)

By Deborah Baum, Senior Editor

Journalists are well aware of the Man Bites Dog[1] phenomenon in public relations and journalistic writing. No one reports that all things are flowing smoothly and going as planned; all news is news because it is unusual and interesting. Just be careful — this technique tends to put journalists on their guard. It’s fine to report the news in an arresting manner, but be aware that the more inflammatory the copy, the more care your company will need to take in order to keep the reader at ease with the information. Using too much bait-and-switch verbiage will easily become confusing and repulse interest in your news.

Here are a few tips to eliminate confusing text and help keep the focus of a press release on the news announcement: (more…)