Hot off the production line, here’s our promo video for our version of the social media news release we recently launched. Disclosure: Yes this is how I actually pronounce ‘audio’ and ‘video’. 
It contains both webitpr’s chief exec, Adam, and myself explaining a little background history and purpose of the SMNR, webitpr’s take on it and also includes a blurb by Mark Burgess, creative director of Big Button Media, webitpr’s multimedia partner.
I think it’s great and it serves as a good educational tool for those wanting to know more about the SMNR and how it works. Sometimes it’s hard trying to explain in conversation exactly what the SMNR is and does – I think this will help. Well, it’ll help me at least.
Would love your thoughts, particularly Todd Defren’s as we reference his template in the video itself.
It’s also viewable on the webitpr website btw.
Here’s the social media news release video on YouTube.
Stephen is a communications consultant based out of the UK. You can connect with him on Twitter or check out his LinkedIn profile. | Email Stephen
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Robert French
Stephen, enjoyed the videos very much. Excited to see all the work you and your colleagues are doing.
I’m going to ask, although I don’t know if you can do it… how about a live demo of realwire for one of my classes?
It would be wonderful for them to see what you’re doing. We meet on either Mon. & Wed. at 4:00 p.m. or Tues. & Thurs. at 5:30 p.m. (CDT). I’m guessing that’s about 10 or 11 p.m. your time. So, I’ll certainly understand if you can’t do it.
Let me know if you’re able and willing.
Take care.
Tim Hood
Hi Stephen
I spoke to one of your colleagues about this on Friday and we’ll be one of your first clients for this product, it seems. It looks good, but the big question will always be: how can you be sure the that the SMNR will be read? As you’ve commented yourself, the amount of e-mail serious bloggers get is insane -I recall the phrase ‘doing my head in’
Cheers
Tim
Antony Mayfield
Top job, Mr Davies – that sells the concept in no time – very nice.
Stephen
Hi Robert,
Thanks for the kind words.
Even though there’s a time difference I’m sure we could arrange something. We use Go ToMeeting so perhaps we could do it over that? Let me check the specifics and I’ll get back to you. But definitely up for doing it.
Hi Tim,
Yes, the amount of messages I (we) receive in a day can do one’s head in.
But we don’t just host the SMNR, we distribute it too – to our online editorial contacts, the wires and also to bloggers who have opted in to our service. And to satisfy the Long Tail effect, it’s archived and thus search-able.
Glad you’re taking it for a spin! Had a good look around Yoosk last night and the redesign is looking great.
Hi Antony,
As always, thank you, sir.
Tim Hoang
definately better than Lewis’ New Media Team video
Wayne Smallman
I just can’t see any benefits to a service like this.
Why, after writing a ‘blog article, would I want to ‘re-purpose’ all of that content (which is essentially amounts to nothing more than just moving the furniture around) for a press release?
Why not just make a venue for promoting content taken from feeds sources?
Everything being mentioned is entirely do-able on a ‘blog.
Needless to say, I’m not sold…
Stephen
Hi Wayne,
First off let me state that the social media news release is not a replacement for a blog. Nor is a blog a replacement for a SMNR or a traditional press release in my humble opinion.
Press releases/news releases (whatever you want to called them) will continually be used by the PR industry for the foreseeable future, both online and offline.
However, the point of the SMNR is to replace the standard ‘text’ press release to something which is catered far more to the online world with the inclusion of multimedia and the exclusion of spin and bull sh*t, which is often associated with the PR profession.
Why can you not include the bull sh*t? Well, quite simply, the blogosphere won’t put up with it. It’s not personal. It’s not real. It’s not transparent. Whereas the blogosphere is all three of these things… and then some.
Wayne said: “Why, after writing a ‘blog article, would I want to ‘re-purpose’ all of that content (which is essentially amounts to nothing more than just moving the furniture around) for a press release?”
Sure, if you’ve got every person (bloggers and journalists) you want to target with your news subscribing to your blog then fine. Chances are they aren’t though.
We’re a distribution company. We don’t just stick up a SMNR and say that’s that. We also distribute to both bloggers and online editorial journalists.
You’ve got to remember that news releases are an organisation’s statement of fact. In other words, they’ve had to go through an approval process by both the managerial and legal departments. Can you do that with a blog post? Is that the nature of blogging?
Not everyone or organisation is going to blog either. Blogging isn’t for everyone.
Wayne said: “Needless to say, I’m not sold…”
That’s fine. Wouldn’t it be boring if we all had the same opinions? The blogosphere needs discussions like this and it needs people like yourself to call bullsh*t on things they don’t see right. However, I’m certain on this and am more than happy to debate it.
Cheers
Wayne Smallman
Hi Stephen and thanks for the response.
I wasn’t sold because I just didn’t get it. Now that I do get it, I still don’t think it’s sufficiently different to get any traction.
If your angle is that of transactional, vetted content, then the people you’re pitching at will already have the people and the resources in place to deal with this kind of thing, surely?
I mean, this is just good Landing Page design, which isn’t rocket science these days.
For the likes of me, who may have benefited from some kind of press release a while ago (article included with this comment) I’m not going to be able to afford your services.
So who’s / where’s your target market?
Stephen
HI Wayne,
Sorry that you aren’t convinced on the SMNR and sorry it’s taken me this long to reply. It’s a bit manic lately. Here’s a scenario that maybe might make sense:
Imagine you’re an automobile blogger. In other words you blog about cars. Your blog’s content probably covers topics such as industry news and new vehicle releases. Your blog’s content thrives on receiving information usually in the form of press releases from motor industry insiders.
You’re not the only blogger who covers the motor industry either. According to Technorati there are at least over 6,000.
So, for example, imagine I work for Audi and we’re releasing a new model next week. As a motor industry blogger what would you rather receive from me from these two options?
A standard text press release written in a narrative (maybe including spin but doubtful if it’s a product launch) with a few product shots (images).
Or a SMNR which will have
All the content deconstructed so you can easily pull out the content that matters to you most.
As well as the product shots you could have actual video of the car demonstrating its speed on a race track and perhaps a podcast of the car’s designers discussing its design an aerodynamics. (Both of which you can embed in your blog post)
The ability to allow you and your fellow motor industry bloggers to leave comments which are monitored and answered by the design team for a specified period of time.
A function to see all of the coverage it has generated to date, allowing you as a blogger to find out what your fellow bloggers and motor industry publications are saying about it.
————————–
It’s not about the design, it’s about the function. We’re not claiming we’ve invented some new technology either but as a distribution company who works with a number PR agency and corporate clients in the UK and Europe this is a powerful thing.
“If your angle is that of transactional, vetted content, then the people you’re pitching at will already have the people and the resources in place to deal with this kind of thing, surely?”
You’d be surprised.
P.S. You didn’t include the link to your press coverage.
Cheers,
Rax Lakhani
Stephen – this is awesome. I’ve already sent it to all of my clients who have expressed an interest in SMNRs… so expect a few calls!
You guys really sum up the essence of social media releases in a simplistic and understandable way.
We want more vids like this!
Rax
Stephen
Hey Rax,
Glad you liked it.
Wayne Smallman
Hi Stephen, what you describe in your comment is totally different to what’s mentioned on the video.
Either that, or both a friend and myself missed that part.
I had to get someone else to watch the video to make sure I hadn’t missed something!
What you’re talking about is publishing houses and content distributors disseminating their stuff down the food chain.
But with this being Social Media, I thought you were talking about PR for the greater unwashed like myself, looking for an edge.
BTW, the link is there, you just need to click on my name…
Stephen
Hi Wayne
“Hi Stephen, what you describe in your comment is totally different to what’s mentioned on the video.”
I’m not sure how it does. The video is the concept of the SMNR; explaining the history to it while the example I gave was to illustrate how it could be used.
“What you’re talking about is publishing houses and content distributors disseminating their stuff down the food chain.”
With reference to my example, Audi isn’t a publishing house or content distributor. They’re a commercial organisation and like most commercial organisations have PR, advertising and marketing strategies.
(This was just an example btw. Audi isn’t a client.)
“But with this being Social Media, I thought you were talking about PR for the greater unwashed like myself, looking for an edge.”
The SMNR is open to anyone who believes they have news relevant to the blogosphere. It’s not exclusive to anyone or any organisation.
“BTW, the link is there, you just need to click on my name…”
Didn’t notice that before. But I’ve read the article you linked to in your sig and there’s no reference to a press release at all. It’s an article on advertising.