Scobleizer - Latest Comments in What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Club Penguin Cheats — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:19:34 -0000

These past few weeks I've been trying to keep up with your various pursuits and discoveries, which hasn't been easy. From discussing eGoverment to the behind the scenes look at the NBC Olympic site, you've put these encounters in true focus- your experience as an explorer. We tend to believe you because you live life in an open stream.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Yuhong Bao — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:48:40 -0000

gui ambros: Though it is unlikely that the good guys will stop blogging altogether, you do have a point. The problem is this, making money based on a flawed metric will only encourage people to exploit the flaws.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Pam Miller — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:42:08 -0000

Robert, this same discussion/debate has been going on forever and not just between PR and bloggers but with "mainstream" journalists as well. Will it never end? Probably not, because there are poor practioners, pissed off bloggers and journalists, clients/corporate executives who want what they can't have, bad journalists, bloggers who are bad are their job, etc.. In the end no one is happy. But that's just a few bad applies in the barrell while the rest are pretty darned good, or really cool to work with.

I've been a PR practioner since what seems like the beginning of time and the cycle just repeats itself.

BTW, like everyone else I get shitty pitches from all angles. The other day I got an ad from PR Week (note the irony everyone) to advertise in their issue featuring boutique PR agencies. I'm a sole practioner and not even a boutique. I haven't talked to their editorial staff in years, and I assure you their ad group knows nothing about me or my business. I also get pitches from local and national marketing and business publications whose ad sales staff are just as clueless.

The real problem is that so many sales, marketing and PR people are flat out lazy and unfocused. They have their quote (whatever measurement that may be) to work from, with outdated lists and they just go for it. It's really awful and everyone suffers.

Robert, good to see you at the FORTUNE Brainstorm Tech Conference.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Bill — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:37:35 -0000

Jesus. What horse shit. You lament the crush of PR pitches, but yet you dedicate God knows how many poorly chosen words to, I presume, teach all of the folks that "don't get it" how to "properly" pitch you. You're a public figure, for some reason. Because of that, you'll get what you get. If some PRs do abide by your rules, then you're getting what you want. If they don't then why don't YOU build the relationships with the PRs that refuse. Clearly that's what you want - the "relationships." Because that's all you blowhards seem to be crying for, which of course is ludicrous.

How many of these groundbreaking, "life improving" products can any of us even name? Any? Really? Life changing? Clearly you think they're out there in abundance, otherwise you wouldn't waste your breath detailing how all these PRs should contact you about the life altering products they represent. They're doing their job, some better than others, of course. What is your job, exactly?

You realize that this isn't rocket science, right? Eventually, they'll figure out how you prefer to be pitched and they'll do it. But at that time your argument du jour (which you won't craft yourself, but rather rip off from two years worth of new complaints against PR pros) will be some other facade. And then you'll still complain about it because this is a fabricated problem that you use for content fodder.

The fact is, as unbelievable as it is, that this rehashed argument still generates page views. What can I say, we're sheep.

If you must complain, at least start following your own advice and make it original.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Guest — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:51:06 -0000

People come to you and to your blog because we like you and your blog . And that is all. So, get back to blogging and dont worry about the R :)

Cheers
Olga lednichenko

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Ruth Bazinet — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:18:11 -0000

Hey Robert.

Interesting post. I wish more bloggers would vent about this topic. It would be enlightening for everyone involved- you, me and the client.

As Scott Fox pointed out on an earlier reply: "If you don’t like all the attention, be more selective about the stories you cover. More importantly, turn off the faucet of incoming pitches entirely and do your own research."

This is a really great point. Why bother having pr people anyway? Why not suck up most of your time researching the hottest and latest tech. As I am sure you know, there are some writers (bloggers, editors, print journalists) doing this already.

Why close yourself to the possibility of a good story? Aren't we pr people conduits (no pun, Robert) for this type of information? Otherwise, you will likely be hearing from users or looking this information up from other Web sources.
Hey wait-
If you are hearing from other users for news topics, it's already out there and what fun is that to your readers? Rehashing old news.
If you are getting it from other Web sources, again, news that's already out there. These sources you are getting this information from are likely the ones who are taking advantage of what pr people can do for the collective knowledge base.

We can get quick answers (most of the time) to your questions, we can get the meetings with C-level execs you desire (most of the time) and we can get you in front of the tech your readers want (most of the time). Did I mention nobody or anything is absolutely perfect? Not even the bloggers- which is what makes this exchange of information so great! Isn't this what Web 2.0 is all about? I say, don't undervalue what pr people can do for the collective knowledge base. Let the good pr people get to the top of your list of e-mails to read and open the channels of communication.

Otherwise, you and your readers/viewers might miss out on a really great story.

Thanks for the ear Robert. I'd love to see more exchanges on this topic across the blogosphere. Maybe it will help to encourage more discourse among pr people. As an industry, we pr folks need to work together to better serve both our clients and our media contacts.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

@JoeHobot — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:30:48 -0000

Mannnnnnnnnnnn Robert , you do write a lot. Took me 6 minutes to read the whole thing while Plurking, Twittering and Working at the same time. Anyways I like the opinions for PR, just now watch your self from those you mentioned above. They are all backstabber's anyways...as u know already....

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Jerry — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:28:42 -0000

Scoble, you've now had two rants on how PR sucks. The only conclusion I can draw is that it appears you don't have the proper level of influence that PR firms value. Otherwise, you would not be pitched by them over email, or other random methods. Good PR firms know the influencers their clients can best utilize. As such, they know how to reach out to them effectively. It appears you are getting hit up by rank amateur PR firms. Or, these PR firms don't see the value in investing time in you. Good PR firms invest time and energy into building relationships with key "influencers". If they aren't investing in you beyond random phone calls and emails, they are either a) rookies or b) don't view you as all the critical to the success of their client's product.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Christopher Coulter — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:00:40 -0000

Chris, you’re rambling, why did you get into blog comments?>

Because I love to talk about myself even in the third person. Asking questions, that I answer myself.

Why so much noise, both pro and con, about the current state of this or that?

By commenting on Scobles blog I can vicariously live his life, making my insignificant pointless unconnected non-early adopter god-forsaken out-of-Silicon-Valley wasteland of a Midwestern life seem that much more exciting. Drama for drama's sake. A psychological projection defense mechanism. (note sarcasm).

OK, Chris, wrap it up. What are some things that you blogger commenting types want?

Lots of folding green stuff and airline tickets, that will work. And the Swedish Volleyball Team as an personal entourage, would be a nice touch.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Jeremy — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:50:03 -0000

Scoble, you rule!!!

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

twatter — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:15:52 -0000

Way to throw your brother under the bus, there, Scoble.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Chris Clayton — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:46:14 -0000

Robert, couldnt you fit any more words in?
HAHA lmfao! jkz

Thanks for sharing your passion - interesting read!

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Adam Isserlis — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:38:29 -0000

Fantastic post Robert, I think you crystallize the situation very well and I love that you bring all the posts and commentary together. The one thing that gets me in all of this is that while the tools and communication methods have changed, I don't see it as a fundamental change that will rock the PR industry. PR has always been about taking products and ideas and using the proper channels to distribute that information. Good PR people build relationships - that's the basis for a good career and being effective for your clients.

Know your niche, that's always been the rule. Today, the niche is just a lot deeper, and it's made some people lazy. Good people will always find and be part of the conversation, and they'll be respected for it.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

vinnie mirchandani — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:54:43 -0000

As an enterprise focused blogger, as a PR person I want you to know: Offer me interviews with 2 CIOs who have implemented your product as early adopters and I will listen to them, then write about your product. Don't expect me to write about a beta product without customer validation.

And on the other end of the bell curve don't send me PR about the 500th customer on release 12 of your product.

Finally, if you are really passionate about your vendor and its products, send me a personalized email or call me and show your passion.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Lyle Closs — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:02:59 -0000

Two paragraphs really struck me here:

"I got into blogging to celebrate the people who are improving our lives through technology and to hear their stories about how they developed it, so that we’d encourage other developers to bring us even more useful technologies.

Scratch that. I got into blogging because Dori Smith and Dave Winer wanted to know what was happening behind the scenes while working at a computer magazine/conference company."

The first paragraph is how corporations write, the second is how real people communicate (and I know you intended both).

Anything that can help us move from a to b has to be a good thing.

All those awful corporate communications that read like they were written by robots that still haven't grasped how human beings use words in normal conversation. And no-one actually believes words that are written like that - so why do companies always write that way?

Blogging is enabling companies to communicate as if they were humans talking to other humans. I hope it continues to help make that change, to humanise the way businesses talk to people. Keep it up Robert.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

JDeragon — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:58:31 -0000

Even with all the ranting and raving the market isn't yet listening to the conversations about "the methods" and the "means" of having real conversations. Rather the old school continues to look at all the "social stuff" as just an extension of what they've been doing for decades.

Great post Robert, enjoyed it and will reference it.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

My Awesome Blog — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:20:49 -0000

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm honestly tired of over inflated egos that many of the tech "a listers" have.

An example... having 483,300 followers and using them to get an answer to a question. I suppose this is called crowdsourcing... but, what's in it for us? Usually nothing.

I think most of us appreciate all the hard work the "a listers" do but maybe it would be nice to see less self absorption, more fun and carefree like attitudes. I dunno... this is just off the top of my head. At 3:17 a.m.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:16:21 -0000

"I was the director of marketing and I used to think that if only Walt Mossberg..."

"...made me focus and come up with innovative ways to get the word out about our products. Same thing I did at NEC, "

"Every time I get an email pitch it reminds me that I’m being treated like cattle. "

Man (FTLOFG), I have never seen so many extra I's used in a piece. I get it, Robert. I understand its about you (I). Please value your readers' time by learning how to edit (unedited videos are boring, too). I gave up on your point after two page scrolls. I hope you take some writing classes. I fear not. I.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Dick Carlson — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:03:26 -0000

So Scoble -- You Ask: 'What Do Tech Bloggers Want?' "

"Dick, You're Talking To Yourself In Bold Face, Just Like Robert. Why?"

It's a rhetorical artifice I'm using to break up this wall of text, to indicate that even I'm overwhelmed with the sheer volume of words and am at risk of nodding off. Much like little cartoons, sub-heads or line drawings of fruit that can be colored in by children, they are merely guides to the reader that they may take a breath and then continue.

"Thanks, Dick! You're Always So Helpful And Giving!

I learned it all from Robert. Now if he'll just tell me what he wants...

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

c4chaos — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:33:17 -0000

i read the whole thing too. i follow a lot of blogs but only a few long blog posts get my attention. this one got mine. thanks for sharing your passion, Robert. keep it up.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Brian Wilson — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:02:47 -0000

@ Coturnix --I read the whole thing too. It was actually kinda fun to read, since I was thinking of moving on to something else a couple of times right when Scoble noticed his readers attention was waning a little bit.

BTW--I think a self-imposed FriendFeed or Facebook hiatus would work just as well as not blogging much for a whole month. I ditched Facebook and had the same sort of thing happen.

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Christopher Coulter — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:10:51 -0000

Geesh, a whole spew, in what could be summed up in a sentence. What do tech bloggers want? Access/Party invites, Freebies, Power (when they blog the earth should move), and constant ego-stroking, every single half millisecond. The fact of PR being broken, is so obvious, as to being redundant even stating such. It was broken, then, it's broken now, and it will be broken in the future, nature of that beast, blogger snot-nose wipers notwithstanding.

The good ones are invaluable to my mission.

Your MISSION?? If that ain't the height of hubris. You point video/cell phone cameras at people, badly. Well, I guess paying off mortgage's could be your mission, just like everyone else. ;)

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Anthony Farrior — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:50:49 -0000

Thanx for taking responsibility for the current PR mess. LOL I'm sure it's not your fault, totally. I am glad out this though, comes great tips for the next level of PR. Maybe new companies and products won't rely exclusively on Techmeme juice but on bloggers who actually have time to test and thoroughly review one product at a time ...

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Ramin Ekhtiar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:41:49 -0000

Robert -

Thanks for not posting a PR shame list -and instead pointing out what things EXACTLY turn you off. I know everyone at our office reads your blog (probably because they want to pitch you!) and the things you have mentioned here are exactly the things that people practicing the dark art of PR need!

Thanks!

Re: What do the freaking tech bloggers want?

Ryan — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:39:57 -0000

I particularly liked Mr. Howlett's comment, "The real stories are the ones the companies don’t want us to write." Those may be the real (read: interesting, insightful, important) stories, but are they the stories that generate traffic? Or, do canned press release stories like "Company A proudly released version B of product C which will revolutionize industry D!!" generate more traffic?

I'd love to write a tech blog without any PR stories. I always thought if I DID start writing, I'd have a "No Press Releases" rule. But would anyone read it? Dunno.