The ROI of Tech PR and Why Most PR Firms Fail | Barokas PR ? PR ...

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More often than not, when clients come to us from another PR firm they complain about 3 things:

a)?? Lack of results or way to measure success

b)?? Bad writing

c)??? Inability to understand and pitch their technology

Since this is my first official blog, I?m going to keep it short by focusing on the first topic, measuring PR success. ?If you like what you read, tell me, and I?ll share my thoughts on the topic of writing and pitching at a later date.

Before we begin, let me be clear. If you?ve hired an agency or have an in-house PR manager that doesn?t already use metrics to measure success, they should be fired.? Given how much your company is spending on PR, you might also ponder the question of why you haven?t been fired by now. ?Good news is, it?s never too late to start.

Despite the very real differences between PR and other lead gen types of activities, they do have one thing common ? mapping back to business goals.? This is where I think it?s worth pointing out what a PR goal should and shouldn?t be.? If you come to us wanting PR to drive 10,000 downloads of a new widget, then you?ve come to the wrong place.? However, if you want PR to help raise awareness of your brand among small business owners with the hope they?ll download your widget once they visit your site, that?s more realistic.

Which leads to another popular misconception (rant warning).? Getting an article in TechCrunch isn?t necessarily the Holy Grail.? Sure, TechCrunch might make sense if you?re trying to secure funding or reach consumer audiences. But, for most of our clients (especially enterprise software ones), they?d much rather get a story in ZDNet. Hands down, the caliber and quality of reader is way more qualified and less transient than the TechCrunch audience.? And, since we?re talking about measuring the success of PR, converting leads to sales far outweighs driving low quality traffic to your site.

Because I promised to keep this short, I?m going to stop ranting and offer up a few ways to measure the value of PR.? This list is by no means complete but it?s enough to get you thinking.

1. As we touched on earlier, good PR usually maps back to business goals.? For example, if you are trying to reach C-level tech buyers, ask your agency to specify which outlets they are targeting (CIO Magazine, SearchCIO, etc.) and map the metrics accordingly.? This may be something like ?Secure briefings with (3) tier-1 and (4) tier-2 outlets.? ?Make sure everyone is on the same page with how the tiers are aligned.
2. Despite how vague a buzzword like thought leadership can be, it is possible to assign a value to it. For example, let?s say you have a customer who talks to peers about how great your product is, but won?t talk to reporters or do a press release or case study.? A Speaker Program can be a great, measureable category of thought leadership. ?Ask PR to come up with a short list of qualified conferences to submit for (SXSW, AdTech, Interop, whatever) and assign metrics. ?This could be ?Research and track top-15 conferences. Draft and submit 3 abstracts.?
3. Recaps.? Go back every month or quarter to see how well PR performed.? In the case of briefings, is the number being reached? If not, why not? Are you, the client, falling short on promised deliverables (a customer, not making time for the briefing)? If so, did PR make recommendations to readjust and keep the coverage pipeline full? In the case of speaking, are abstracts getting consistently being declined and in need of a refresh?? Take time to course correct.

By applying critical thinking, it becomes much easier to assess the value of what might otherwise be seen as elusive and intangible.

Frances

Source: http://www.barokas.com/2013/07/the-roi-of-tech-pr-and-why-most-pr-firms-fail/

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Pope, at Brazil shrine, urges youth to embrace traditional values

By Philip Pullella and Esteban Israel

APARECIDA, Brazil (Reuters) - Pope Francis, receiving another rapturous welcome in Brazil, on Wednesday urged young people to shun the "ephemeral idols" of money and pleasure and cherish traditional values to help build a better world.

On the third day of his week-long visit for World Youth Day, a biennial Church gathering being celebrated in and around Rio de Janeiro, he landed by helicopter in Aparecida, 260 kilometers (161 miles) west of the coastal metropolis.

The city houses a shrine of the Virgin Mary that is venerated as the patroness of Brazil, home to the biggest Roman Catholic population in the world. It is also the site where Francis, then a cardinal in Argentina, cemented his place as a leader of the Church during a 2007 conference attended by Pope Benedict XVI.

The ongoing World Youth Day events, which are expected to attract more than 1 million people from around the world, are an effort by the Vatican to galvanize young Catholics at a time when rival denominations, secularism and distaste over sexual and financial scandals continue to lead some faithful to abandon the Church.

Security around the pope on Wednesday appeared much more organized than upon his Monday arrival in Rio, where adoring crowds at one point surrounded his car.

In Aparecida, where tens of thousands gathered for the pope's first public mass of the visit, Francis rode in a white popemobile with open sides and a transparent top. Security squads kept the vehicle safely within barriers behind which tens of thousands of ecstatic faithful cheered, sang and waved flags.

The pope's desire to remain simple and close to his flock has complicated security around his visit, especially after he used a modest Fiat hatchback for his ride into Rio from the airport.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said Vatican and Brazilian officials held what he called "a routine meeting" to discuss how the trip was going and made one change - that Francis would ride in a closed car from Rio airport to a hospital when he returns from Aparecida on Wednesday afternoon.

At the indoor Mass in Aparecida, one of Latin America's most popular pilgrimage sites, Francis urged worshippers to embody the faith of their ancestors and trust in God.

"Let us never lose hope! Let us never allow it to die in our hearts!" the pope said in Portuguese.

MONEY, SUCCESS, POWER, PLEASURE

In his sermon, the 76-year-old pope warned the youth of his continent to avoid the snares of modern life.

"It is true that nowadays, to some extent, everyone, including our young people, feels attracted by the many idols which take the place of God and appear to offer hope: money, success, power, pleasure," he said.

"Often a growing sense of loneliness and emptiness in the hearts of many people leads them to seek satisfaction in these ephemeral idols," he said, speaking from a modern marble pulpit.

The pope's message of humility and rejection of the luxurious trappings of the papacy have endeared him to many Catholics and his first trip abroad has proved to be another boom to his image.

Young people, he said in his Aparecida homily, should be "a powerful engine for the Church and for society" and be given the conditions allowing them to "work actively in building a better world."

At the end of the Mass, as worshippers chanted, "Francisco, Francisco, Francisco," he walked around the basilica and comforted sick people in wheelchairs. He hugged several people, apparently old friends.

He later joked with the crowd outside, asking their permission to speak Spanish instead of "Brazilian" and led the crowd, as he held the statue of the Virgin, in a prayer.

More than 5,000 police and other security officials were on hand in Aparecida, where young pilgrims, many draped in the flags of Brazil, Argentina, and other countries, endured rain and unseasonably low temperatures to ensure spots for the service.

Still, most had to follow the mass from outside the massive, modern basilica.

"I got here with my family at 2 in the morning," said Antonio Carlos da Silva, a drenched prison guard from Sao Paulo. "I am so happy to come and see the pope."

Aparecida is the place where Francis, then known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, authored an influential statement during Benedict's visit that espoused many of the same values he has placed front and center during his five months as pope. The document called on the Church to return to the principles of humility and charity.

From Aparecida, Francis is scheduled to fly back to Rio and tour a drug treatment ward at a hospital run by Franciscan monks. Later in the week, he will visit a Rio slum, preside over services on Copacabana beach and over the weekend give mass at a pasture outside the city.

Francis is scheduled to leave Brazil on Sunday.

On Monday, police said they safely detonated a small, homemade explosive they found in the bathroom of a parking garage in Aparecida. It was unclear if the device, made with a plastic pipe wrapped in tape, was related to the pope's visit.

(Editing by Paulo Prada, Paul Simao and Cynthia Osterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bikinis-way-rosaries-brazil-beach-youths-await-pope-014304834.html

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Original ?Madden NFL? programmer wins $11 million judgment from Electronic Arts

Bloomberg

EA is being ordered to pay $11 million in damages to the programmer who built the original Madden NFL football game.

The man who programmed the football video game that eventually became ?Madden NFL? this week won an $11 million judgment from Electronic Arts, over claims the Redwood City-based game maker stole his intellectual property and refused to pay him millions of dollars in royalties.

His lawyers say they?ll continue pursuing related lawsuits against EA, with the possibility of bigger civil settlements in the future. EA did not immediately say if it planned to appeal the case.

Programmer Robin Antonick signed a series of agreements with EA in the mid-1980s that required the company to pay him royalties on any derivative works built on his original football video game. Eventually those royalty checks dried up, as EA built successive football games without relying on Antonick?s rudimentary codebase.

However, Antonick argued that some of the fundamental concepts he initially programmed?such as an offensive player automatically tackling within a certain distance to the ball carrier?formed the bedrock of EA?s $3 billion football franchise.

?This is a tremendous victory,? Antonick?s lawyer, Rob Carey, said in a statement. ?In many ways, this trial was a test of each party?s version of events. The jury uniformly rejected the idea that this game was developed without Robin?s work.?

In other EA news, shares surged more than 9 percent in early trading today after the company revealed quarterly earnings that beat analyst?s low expectations. EA lost roughly 40 cents per share last quarter. Analysts forecasted a loss of 60 cents per share.

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NASDAQ: EA

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bizj_national/~3/dss5StdWRHc/original-madden-nfl-programmer-wins.html

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New Office 365 subscriptions get 12 months of free Xbox Live Gold (but not in the US)

Sweetening the deal on its cloud-based Office 365 suite, Microsoft will start bundling a year of Xbox Live Gold with any purchases of Office 365 Home Premium or Office 365 University made before September 28th. You'll then pick up an Xbox Live code as you sign in during the initial Office setup. Unfortunately, US customers aren't eligible for this promotion, but the majority of Europe, plus Australia, Canada and parts of Asia are all included. Alongside the recent promise of two free games a month, Microsoft's made this bundled subscription a pretty tempting proposition.

Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Software, Microsoft

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Via: TNW

Source: Microsoft Office, Microsoft (German)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/QPsp5_uzJ78/

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How to Safely Entertain Guests in Your Home @ Paragon Certified ...

Summer is always a popular time to entertain friends, neighbors, and visitors at home. Entertaining is a fun way to spend time with friends, family, or co-workers. However, without the right safety precautions, you would be surprised how easily guests can hurt themselves. Here are some tips to prevent any possible incidents when entertaining guests in your home.

1. Secure All Electrical Devices

You would be amazed how many times guests have accidentally knocked that plasma screen off the TV stand, or accidentally knock something off the table into the fish tank. Before having guests over, be sure to secure all electrical devices that could possibly be knocked over or damaged. This includes televisions, stereos, iPod docks, telephones, speakers, and many more.

2. Secure All of Your Furniture

If you have furniture that is not stable, make sure it is before inviting guests, especially if they are bringing children. They have a tendency to climb up on shelves, tables, and other furniture and knock things over, or worse, damage the actual furniture itself by scratching it, tearing it, or knocking unstable furniture over. Always anchor your furniture and make sure it is securely in place before having anyone over.

3. Be Aware of Your Electrical Cords

A lot of people like to run extension cords under rugs and carpets to avoid people tripping over them or kids from messing with them. However, over time extension cords can become worn and could overheat, which will create a fire hazard. A better idea is to get a longer cord and route it along walls and outside of high traffic areas in your home. Be especially mindful to keep these cords out of the reach of children or pets. NEVER use cords that are damaged or cut.

4. Be Smart With Your Outlets

Don?t overload your outlets with a ton of plugs and wires. It sounds like a good idea to get extra lighting, plug that new blender in, and wire a lamp from across the room until the electrical breaker flips and a fire is ignited. This also applies to power strips. Always follow manufacturer?s instructions for any electrical equipment or appliances you use in the home, whether you are having visitors or not.

5. Be Smart With Your Grill

If you are having people over for a summer cookout, or you?re braving the cold to cook dinner in the winter, you always want to have the grill a safe distance from the house. The recommended distance is around 10 feet. Your grill is an obvious fire hazard, so you don?t want it near any flammable materials either. Grilling indoors can also pose a fire risk. If you?re doing this, always be sure there is enough room for the grill smoke to clear and that there are no flammable materials near the grill.

6. Never Leave Anything Alone That Is Cooking

If you are cooking something, stay by it until you are done cooking it. A majority of home kitchen fires start because they were left unattended. If you have to leave for whatever reason, carry a cooking utensil like an oven mitt or spatula to remind yourself that you need to get back to the kitchen as soon as possible.

7. Have Established Safe Areas

The first thing to remember is not to invite too many people over. If you have a high volume of people in your house, the odds of an accident happening rises significantly. Once you have a manageable number of people in your home, make sure to keep a limited number of them in high-risk areas such as the kitchen or near the grill. Be especially mindful if children are coming over.

8. Kids

When kids are present at your home, it creates a whole new set of challenges to keep them safe. Be sure to reduce their temptation to play with things by removing items that tempt them to climb, or remote controls or toys that are sitting on top of furniture. Kids are imaginative, don?t put anything past them. Sharp corners, small objects, and cluttered pathways in your home are all recipes for disaster.

9. Think Safety

We don?t want to hinder your gathering with all of these rules, but it is important to keep these tips in mind when having company. A majority of the time, guests get hurt or furniture gets damaged because of simple things that could?ve been prevented. Don?t let something that you could have?prevented in the first place become something disastrous.

Source: http://paragonstl.com/how-to-safely-entertain-guests-in-your-home

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Walmart Employee Punches Out Manager After Heated Confrontation

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/07/walmart-employee-punches-out-manager-after-heated-confrontation/

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Italy politician under fire for racist slur

ROME (AP) ? Calls mounted Monday for the Senate vice president to resign after he compared Italy's first black Cabinet minister to an orangutan, with the Italian premier lamenting that the country had been "shamed" by such insults and demanding they stop immediately.

Roberto Calderoli, a leader of the anti -immigrant Northern League, has insisted he was only joking when he made the "aesthetic" comment about Cecile Kyenge at a League rally last weekend. He told the Corriere della Sera newspaper on Monday that he compares all his colleagues to animals and that what he says at a political rally shouldn't have any bearing on his work as the Senate No. 2.

Kyenge, a Congolese-born eye doctor, has been insulted with racist slurs from the Northern League ever since she was named integration minister in April. One Northern League politician has called her a Congolese "monkey," while another has said she deserved to be raped.

Kyenge responded to Calderoli's latest insult by saying it's not for her to demand his resignation but for Italians to reflect on the merits of public office-holders.

"We have to use messages that don't instigate violence," the ANSA news agency quoted Kyenge as telling a rally in Pescara. "Surely it's not my job to respond to violence with violence."

Premier Enrico Letta, though, told League leader Roberto Maroni to put an end to the slurs from within his party ranks.

"I think we've had enough shame so far," Letta said, noting how the story has been playing internationally.

Letta's Democratic Party has called for Calderoli's resignation, as have a few ministers. The president of the Senate, anti-Mafia prosecutor Pietro Grasso, has called Calderoli's comments "racist verbal aggression."

Letta was particularly irked that another League official, Matteo Salvini, had chastised Italy's respected president for coming to Kyenge's defense after Calderoli's insult.

On his Facebook page, Salvini essentially told President Giorgio Napolitano to keep quiet. By Monday afternoon, the comment had received more than 850 "likes."

"What Italy has been going through since yesterday on such issues is a page of shame which is absolutely unbearable," Letta said at a news conference with the visiting Maltese prime minister. He issued what he called a "sincere appeal" to Maroni to put a stop to it.

"Please close this episode as soon as possible," he said.

The Northern League, which helped author Italy's strict immigration law, is vehemently opposed to Kyenge's call for children born in Italy to immigrants to be able to gain Italian citizenship. Currently, such children must wait until they are 18 to apply, and often bureaucratic snafus interfere.

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/italy-politician-under-fire-racist-slur-140533274.html

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