Pros and cons of how to use a social media press release
Greg Jarboe of SEO-PR started the trial over at Search Engine Watch, taking all proponents of the SMR to task and declaring that social media releases are a meatball sundae – a phrase from Seth Godin’s new book on marketing.
Tongue firmly in cheek Greg cites supporters of his claim that use of a social media press release is, well, useless.
There are always two sides to a story and any defendant in this justice system is innocent until proven guilty. Brian Solis of PR 2.0 stepped up to the plate as Defense Attorney.
Here’s what he had to say:
I propose for those who cast stones without New Media experience, that they are not punished at all.stop pretending to know what you’re talking about when you haven’t even experimented with the very things you bury without experience or intelligence.
Theory doesn’t count here. Especially when we’re already proving otherwise.
You’re opinion will only count when, as they say in anthropology, you’ve "gone native" and come back to tell the story.
If you wish to plead a case in front of your peers, then please call forth witnesses who have credible and legitimate experience in the field you’re spotlighting. Just because you refer to bloggers or "social" experts doesn’t mean they’re experienced in PR or Social Media Releases. Not one person you called to testify has ever releases one, so all of their testimony should be stricken from the record.
Good point.
The SMR grew out of journalists’ irritation with PR spin on a story. A journalist will always prefer ‘"just the facts, Jack.." After all, they are journalists. It’s their job to write the story.
In a social media environment, when you are engaging with your public directly, facts and bullet points may not be the best presentation of your content.
And some bloggers probably won’t want it that way either.
Our profession is called public relations. Make relationships with the people you are engaging with. and when you’ve figured out who you are talking to, and what they want, you can craft your content in the format best suited to meet those needs..
