Introducing MicroPR, A PR Resource for Journalists, Analysts and Bloggers on Twitter
By Brian Solis, blogger at PR 2.0 and principal of FutureWorks PR, Co-Author Putting the Public Back in Public Relations and Now Is Gone
In the era of the Social Web, transparency, engagement, and a commitment to authentically connect people to your story are essential principles for practicing successful and meaningful Public Relations.
Concurrently, the socialization of media is creating new communities and communications channels that are empowering journalists, bloggers, analysts, as well as everyday people, to actively and passionately contribute, share, and discover the stories around us. It's changing the information ecosystem.
Media and communications professionals must stay connected and work together now more than ever to compete against the amplifying volume and frequency of information.
Stowe Boyd and I, in development with Christopher Peri, are contributing to the improvement of communications and relationships between media and PR.
PR + Media + Twitter = @MicroPR
If you don't have time to read the entire post, here's a quickstart guide:
Journalists, bloggers, and analysts, send a tweet to @micropr (www.twitter.com/micropr) with what you need help with. The PR subscribers will read it and only those who can help will respond. Always start your message with @micropr.
PR, follow @micropr to monitor the inbound reqests from the media and to determine how you can help. This is a listening and response service for you, not a broadcast channel. Do not send a message to @micropr unless you need the assistance of the PR community.
If you want to refer to micropr on Twtter please use the hashtag, #micropr.
Remember, this is BETA, so if something goes wrong or if you have suggestions, please send me a message via @ or DM.
For those who wish to learn more about MicroPR, please continue...
PR As PR professionals, we’re driven to proactively identify relevant editorial and publicity opportunities to link our respective companies to the stories currently in progress. Today, we most likely use a combination of direct editorial calendars and services such as MyEdCals.com, Profnet, HARO (HelpaReporterOut.com), Vocus, among maintaining day-to-day relations with our contacts to stay in sync.
Media
Journalists, analysts, and bloggers face constant deadlines and experience practically impossible tasks of managing expansive networks of PR representatives, experts, and spokespeople who represent particular industries.
Twitter
Twitter is nothing short of phenomenal and it only continues to experience incredible growth in both traffic and users – currently at six million registered people. It has created a dedicated, vibrant community that will fundamentally change and improve the communications channel between media and PR.
@MicroPR
Introducing MicroPR (@micropr on twitter) a new, free service on Twitter that advocates the shift from Public Relations’ traditional broadcast pitch methodology to one of listening and individual response.
Through Twitter, MicroPR connects journalists and bloggers to qualified, targeted PR professionals who can help you with the stories you’re currently writing.
How MicroPR Works
MicroPR is an automated, solution designed for simplicity.
For Bloggers, journalists, analysts, when you need help with a story:
1. Send a public message on twitter to @MicroPR.
2. Your tweet will automatically retweet from the MicroPR account to the PR and communications professionals monitoring the stream or the feed.
3. A knowledgeable PR person following the #MicroPR feed will see your individual request and respond directly via your preferred channel. Basically, you’re inviting the community to help crowdsource elements of your story to streamline the process of story development, reducing research time and
improving its quality and accuracy.
Tip: try to keep your request under 140 characters as the Twitter community may also retweet your request through their personal accounts.
Tip #2: Share @micropr with your entire editorial department and community. The process will only improve the more you use it.
For Public Relations Professionals, either follow MicroPR or subscribe to the RSS feed on Twitter. You can also run active searches for “@MicroPR” on Search.Twitter.com or TweetScan.
Examples for Journalist, Bloggers, Analysts: - Writers looking for help with on story development can send a tweet, “@micropr Need startup recommendations for story on new micromedia tools. Reply via public tweet to @reportername” (112 characters).
- Journalists, analysts and bloggers can share that they do or do not want to be pitched via Twitter and other micromedia tools. They can also announce their specific preferences for contact.
- They could declare what sorts of microPR they want (or don't want) to receive, and in what mode -- @public messages or direct/private.
- A writer can share relevant beats @micropr beats = #social #web #networks #automotive #environment #politics.
- Conference and awards organizers can call for speakers or submissions.
- Media can also block certain PR people who are doing it wrong.
- Other services could include scheduling calls and or meetings, etc.
Examples for PR and Marketing Professionals: - This is mostly a tool for media to reach out to you, so please don’t abuse the @micropr channel. - If you’re looking for strategic partners or information from the PR community, feel free to send a tweet to @micropr.
- Do not use MicroPR to proactively pitch media on Twitter. Stowe Boyd and I will be introducing TwitPitch shortly. Tip: if you want to talk about MicroPR on Twitter and don’t wish for it to appear in the stream, use the Hash Tag, #MicroPR. For example, “I really love #MicroPR because it helps me build new relationships.”
M1cr0PR.com - A Wiki to Support the Refinement of @MicroPR
First, bookmark www.m1cr0pr.com.
M1cr0PR.com is a central resource for communications professionals to learn more about the principles, methodologies, and tools to enhance your relationships through brevity, fidelity, and clarity.
It is a community-powered wiki that features: - A list of journalists, bloggers, and analysts on Twitter and their Twitter IDs - A directory of Micromedia Tools for PR - Links to helpful discussions on improving PR - In the future, we’ll also feature an FAQ page (feel free to start one)
A Draft List of Media Currently on Twitter v2.0
Hopefully, this list triggered a Google Alert. This is your invitation to use @micropr to help you source information from the PR community without getting inundated with irrelevant pitches and responses.
Please note that this list is in the process of being updated and corrected over at www.m1cr0pr.com.
Adam Boulton, Sky News UK, Allen Stern, CenterNetworks Amanda Congdon, AmandaCongdon.com Ana Marie Cox, Time.com Anthony Ha, VentureBeat Arthur Germain , Brand Telling Bicyclemark, Citizen Reporter Brent Terrazas, Brentter.com Brian Morrissey, Adweek C Kirkham, Times-Picayune Carlo Longino, MobHappy Caroline McCarthy, News.com Chris Shipley Chris Ziegler, Engadget D Sarno, L.A. Times Dan Farber, CNET Dan Kaplan, VentureBeat Dan Thomas, WSJ Daniel Terdiman, Cnet Darren Waters, BBC News Dave Slusher, Evil Genius Chronicles
Dave Winer, Media Hacker David Griner, Luckie.com David Kirkpatric, Fortune David Lidsky, Fast Company David Wescott, Its Not A Lecture Blog Dawn Foster, Fast Wonder Dean Takahashi, Venture Beat Doc Searls, Dwight Silverman, Houston Chronicle Dwight Silverman, Houston Chronicle Dylan Tweeny, Wired.com Elisabeth Lewin, PodcastingNews Eric Schonfeld, TechCrunch Eric Zeman, PhoneScoop Etan Horowitz, Orlando Sentinel Ginny Skal, NBC 17 Raleigh Graeme Thickins, Tech~Surf~Blog Harry McCracken, Technologizer Heather Green, BusinessWeek Henry Blodget, Silicon Alley Insider Houston Chronicle, Houston Chronicle Hugh MacLeod, Gaping Void Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica Jason Calacanis, Mahalo Jeff Pulver, Pulver Blog Jemima Kiss, JemimaKiss.com + The Gaurdian Jim Long, NBC Jim Louderback, Revision3 Joel Johnson, BoingBoing John Dickerson, Slate John Dvorak, Dvorak Blog
John Markoff, NYT Bits Blog John Paczkowski, AllThingsD Jonathan Fingas, Electronista Justin Beck, SF Chronicle Justine Ezerik, Tasty Blog Snack Kara Andrade, Maynard Institute Kara Swisher, AllThingsD.com Katie Fehrenbacher, Earth 2 Tech Kevin Allison, Financial Times Kristen Nicole, VentureBeat Laura Lorek, My San Antonio Blog Leo Laporte, Leoville.com Lisa Picarille, Revenue Magazine Liz Gannes, GigaOm Loren Steffy, HoustonChronicle Louis Gray, LouisGray.com Marc Canter, Mark Glaser, PBS Mark Hopkins, Mashable Mark Krynsky, Lifestream Blog Marshall Kirkpatrick, Read Write Web Mathew Ingram, MathewIngramBlog Matt Buchanan, Gizmodo MG Siegler, Paris Lemon + VentureBeat Michael Banovsky, Banovsky Blog Michael Singer, InformationWeek Mike Arrington, TechCrunch Mike Butcher, TechCrunch UK Mike Cassidy, SJ MercNews Molly Wood, CNET Natali del Conte, CNET
Om Malik, GigaOM Owen Thomas, Valleywag Pete Cashmore, Mashable Peter Ha, CrunchGear Peter Rojas, Engadget Rafe Needleman, Webware Richard MacManus, ReadWriteWeb Robert Hof, BusinessWeek Robert Scoble, Fast Company Robert W. Anderson, Expert Texture Ryan Block Saleem Kahn, tech journalist Sam Whitmore, Media Survey Sarah Lacy, BusinessWeek Sarah Perez, Read Write Web Saul Hansell, NY Times Steve Baker, BusinessWeek Steve Gillmor, Steve Spaulding, How to Split an Atom Stewart Alsop, StewartAlsop.com Stowe Boyd, /Message Tannette Elie, Milwaukee Journal The Guy Report, ESPN &Playboy Tod Maffin, CBC Tom Foremski, Silicon Valley Watcher Tom Merritt, CNET Tricia Dureyee, MoCoNews Veronica Belmont, Revision3 Walt Mossberg, AllThingsD/WJS Wayne Sutton, NBC 17 Raleigh
Warning to PR: Only contact reporters and bloggers using their preferred methods and channels. Do not send spam. Doing so will not only get you blacklisted, but will also get you blocked on Twitter.
Stowe says it best, "On Twitter, I will simply block people that abuse my willingness to have an open dialog about products with PR folks, or basically anyone else, for that matter."
--Special thanks to Brad Mays and Evan Solomon for their priceless participation and advice.
Brian Solis is globally recognized for his views and insights on the convergence of PR, Traditional Media and Social Media. He actively contributes his thoughts and experiences through speaking appearances, books, articles and essays as a way of helping the marketing industry understand and embrace the new dynamics fueling new communications, marketing, and content creation. Solis is Principal of FutureWorks, an award-winning PR agency in Silicon Valley. Solis blogs at PR2.0, bub.blicio.us, TechCrunch, and BrandWeek. Solis is cofounder of the Social Media Club, is an original member of the Media 2.0 Workgroup, and also is a contributor to the Social Media Collective. Solis has been actively writing about new PR since the mid 90s to dis cuss how the Web was redefining the communications industry – he coined PR 2.0 along the way. Solis is considered an expert in traditional PR, media relations, and Social Media. He has dedicated his free time to helping PR professionals adapt to the new fusion of PR, Web marketing, and community relations. PR 2.0 is a top 10,000 Technorati blog and is ranked in the Ad Age Power 150 index of leading marketing bloggers. Working with Geoff Livingston, Solis was co-author of “Now is Gone,” a new book that helps businesses learn how to engage in Social Media. He has also written several ebooks on the subjects of Social Media, New PR, and Blogger Relations. His next book, co-author Deirdre Breakenridge, “Putting the Public back in Public Relations,” will be released by Pearson by Q1 2009. Connect with Solis on: Twitter, FriendFeed, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Pownce, Plaxo, Plurk, Identi.ca, BackType, Jaiku, Social Median, or Facebook --Subscribe to the PR 2.0 RSS Feed