By Hazel Butters

June 17th, 2013

Prompt’s virtual technology PR trek: Around the tech world in 80 days

Prompt’s virtual technology PR trek: Around the tech world in 80 days

In 1873 author Jules Verne published ‘Around the World in 80 Days’, an adventure novel in which wealthy British bachelor Phileas Fogg sets off to win a wager and prove that it is possible to travel around the world in just 80 days. Accompanied by trusty French valet Passepartout, his pocket watch, carpet bag, and timetables for trains and steamboats, Fogg battles fate and fortunes in the attempt to win the bet (along with the hand of a women he rescues en route).

While Prompt’s technology PR consultants will not be getting on any cross-Atlantic steamers, transcontinental trains, friendly elephants or even the local bus, our team – which includes American, French, German, Austrian, Portuguese, Scottish, Welsh and English consultants – has become increasingly curious about which technologies characterise which countries. So we thought we would launch our own blog adventure, virtually travelling ‘Around the Technology World in 80 Days’ while mapping notable inventions, exciting innovations and indispensable ideas from each country that we pass through.

Just like Phileas Fogg, we’re going to start out in Great Britain before looking windward and travelling east in a happenchance route around the globe. We’re not going to follow Fogg’s route (which had the first port of Egypt), and at times we may strike out at tangents in pursuit of technology gems off of the beaten track. But we’ll be spending each day in a fresh country, just as soon as we manage to leave Prompt London’s headquarters…

Tomorrow we start our tech journey. Our starting point? London!

By PromptBoston

June 7th, 2013

Prompt Boston hosts successful ‘Office Hours’ at Venture Café

Prompt Boston hosts successful ‘Office Hours’ at Venture Café

At Prompt Boston, we’re fortunate to work near the hub of technology and innovation, with our offices being walking distance from MIT, Harvard and more. In fact, right in our office building, the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), these techies come together every Thursday night for a networking social better known as Venture Café.

Last month, Prompt CEO Hazel Butters hosted ‘Office Hours’ at Venture Café, where an array of technology start-ups stopped by to discuss future goals, technology PR strategy, thought leadership and the nature of the press with us. Meanwhile, other Prompt team members hit the event floor – with surveys in hand to ask some of the latest hard-hitting questions in tech and PR.

With Prompt specializing in media relations and press training, we thought we’d start our round of questioning by asking attendees, ‘Who is the greatest tech spokesperson of all time?’ Not surprisingly, the most popular response was the legendary Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple. Other notable mentions included Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle Corporation, and Nikola Tesla, Croatian inventor, engineer and physicist best known for his contributions to air conditioning.

Our next question was even tougher. As part of our media outreach and news pipeline creation, we’re constantly reading the latest trends and news in technology. With so many outlets in publication, it’s hard to pinpoint our all-time favorite newspaper or magazine. But we just had to ask, ‘If you were stranded on a desert island with access to only one source of technology news, what would you choose?’  The New York Times topped the list, but a slew of other well-known publications also caught our attention, including Mashable, Engadget, VentureBeat, TechCrunch, the Wall Street Journal, and perhaps the most resourceful in real-time, Twitter.

What we really wanted to know, though, was how these technology-invested, business-minded individuals would rate themselves on their own spokesperson skills. At Prompt, we ensure our newly-acquired clients go through media training, to get company representatives press-ready and confident. Intimately, it comes down to the age-old PR question: If the Wall Street Journal called you tomorrow, would you know what to say? So we asked Venture Café guests, ‘How good of a media spokesperson do you think you are?’

Nearly two-thirds of respondents (61%) expressed an air of confidence when speaking to the press, despite the nerves that accompany such certainty. Others believed they could handle a press interview, just as long as any “trick questions” aren’t thrown into the mix.

No matter where you fall on the spectrum, media training fortifies your public speaking abilities, which is crucial when jumping on the phone line with a journalist. Even seasoned speakers go through such training, to avoid any ‘oh no’ moments or damaging blunders. If you’re interested in media training, and transforming your company representatives into properly trained press spokespeople, please contact a Prompt consultant today.

Interested in attending the next Venture Café? Take a look at the upcoming event and speaker schedule – we hope to see you there!

By Helpful Hints, Prompt Technology PR

June 3rd, 2013

Extra, extra read all about it: Software testing and regional newspapers

Extra, extra read all about it: Software testing and regional newspapers

Part five of six in the blog series,
Prompt Technology PR Snapshot: Software Testing

Whether you’re in the check-out line of a grocery store, hopping aboard the metro, or spending the morning at a local coffee shop, newspapers and national media outlets are readily available and easily found.

Coverage in the regional and national press are considered a great hit – just think of the large audience, broad reach and public familiarity of such publications. And although a piece in the New York Times or Daily Record would certainly be something to frame, what if more of your sales prospects read a niche outlet like Computer Weekly instead? This is something to consider as you begin evaluating your PR goals and objectives – always aim for the target, despite how tempting a more wide-scale placement can be.

Now, back to the newspaper press – exactly how can a software testing firm land such a hit? That’s where the Prompt team comes in with the following insider tips:

-       Follow the national newsbeat: Stay on top of the latest news trends and topics. Are journalists discussing the flat economy and pending budget-cuts across enterprises? Offer your commentary on how software testing services, such as automation or outsourcing, can deliver efficiencies to companies, large and small, freeing up budgets.

-       Partner with customers: Customers that are well known will catch the eye of technology- and business-beat editors. If you’ve won such a contract recently, create a unique angle to market your company and be ready to pitch it to the press.

-       Think regional: Any software firm can be regional – just think of where your customers are based and emphasize the location along with any involvement in local initiatives.

If your goal is to make it into the Wall Street Journal, don’t lose hope. With key PR strategies, a great hook, and persistence (if at first you don’t succeed, try again), your software testing firm can land a spot in a well-known regional newspaper.

Tune in next week on our blog for a full round-up of all our software testing PR tactics, including a free download to share with your marketing team. Until then, let us know your comments, thoughts or questions by tweeting at us today: @PromptBoston or @PromptLondon.

By PromptLondon

May 31st, 2013

Remembering London’s colourful past

Remembering London’s colourful past

Londoner Claude Friese-Greene was the inventor of an additive colour film process called Biocolour, or the Fries-Green Colour Process. In 1927 he filmed one of the first coloured motion pictures ever made, documenting London life when the city wasn’t just capital of England, but remained the centre an enduring British Empire accounting for more than a fifth of the world’s population.

This remarkable film captures a snapshot of hatted Londoners enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the city between the wars. Interstitial captions point out that more than ‘4000 motor busses’ now patrol London’s streets, and that “more than one American has offered to buy our Tower and erect it on Palm Beach as a bungalow!”

By exposing alternate frames of black and white film through a different-coloured filter, then staining the resulting prints either red or green, Friese-Greene was able to project an illusion of genuine colour. The British Film Institute (BFI) has now used the very latest computer techniques to clean up the nostalgic film and reduce flickering so it can be enjoyed by a modern audience.

The results, which we first viewed courtesy of PetaPixel, are fascinating for anyone like us here at Prompt London who work in the city daily, and still walk the same streets, only with very different views. Still, some things haven’t changed – Petticoat Lane market is still impossibly busy, Hyde Park and St. James look just as inviting on a sunny afternoon, and we’re still winning Cricket test matches!

By Media Team

May 22nd, 2013

Prompt Communications appointed by Integralis to drive US media relations

Prompt Communications appointed by Integralis to drive US media relations

 Prompt leads North American public relations program for a leading provider of IT security and information risk management solutions 

Boston, MA – Prompt Communications, a transatlantic public relations and digital communications agency with experience in the high-tech, sustainability and healthcare markets, has been selected by Integralis Inc. to lead its North American media outreach program.

Headquartered in Ismaning, Germany, Integralis offers IT security and information risk management solutions to clients around the world. Integralis provides a complete end-to-end security solution that incorporates initial assessments, policy planning and hands-on deployment with 24×7 management and support.

The company has a rich portfolio of managed security, business infrastructure, consulting and technology integration services, combining to reduce overall business costs and risk. Integralis solutions address the needs of customers spanning every vertical sector, focusing on multinational enterprise clients. 

Heather Antoinetti, director of marketing for Integralis said: “As a global provider of IT security services with a growing presence in North America, we wanted a communications agency that both specialized in high-tech and had a dynamic presence in the US and overseas. Prompt has a proven track record in these areas, and we look forward to expanding our brand presence and thought leadership through a US-based public relations campaign built around quality press outreach and rich customer relationships.”

Prompt’s CEO Hazel Butters said: “Prompt is thrilled to partner with Integralis to further its brand reputation in North America and beyond. Integralis delivers end-to-end offerings that provide enterprises in every sector with intelligent ways to manage risk. Inevitable trends in cloud, social, mobile and BYOD technology models are challenging all modern businesses to meet new and intricate security challenges with smarter solutions. It is our pleasure to be appointed by a company that addresses the complex risks associated with fresh trends in every market.”

About Integralis

Integralis provides IT Security and Information Risk Management solutions on a global basis. The company delivers a portfolio of managed security, business infrastructure, consulting and technology integration services. Integralis’ solutions help organizations lower IT costs and increase the depth of security protection, compliance and service availability. Integralis is headquartered in Ismaning, Germany and part of the NTT Communications Group, owned by NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation), one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. www.integralis.com

About Prompt Communications

Prompt is a communications agency that enables marketers to increase their sales and marketing effectiveness.  Specializing in innovative markets including sustainability, technology and healthcare, Prompt helps its clients communicate authentically with core audiences online and offline through PR, media relations, copywriting, market and industry analysis, social media, video content and customer reference programs. Founded in 2002, Prompt has US offices in Boston and San Francisco, and European offices in London. Prompt’s current and former clients include Adeptra, Adobe Systems Incorporated, Corizon, Dell|Compellent, Foviance,  GenSight, Grouptree, IBM, Ipswitch File Transfer, jovoto, KANA, Oracle Corporation, smartFOCUS and Webtide. www.prompt-communications.com

By Helpful Hints, Prompt Technology PR

May 20th, 2013

How software testing scores big in business publications

How software testing scores big in business publications

Part four of six in our new blog series,
Prompt PR Snapshot: Software Testing

Over the past month, the consultants here at Prompt Communications have been working hard to provide software testing firms with the resources necessary to obtain the media coverage your company needs and deserves.

With years of experience in the field of high technology PR, including work with software testers, QA firms, apps and more, you can rest assured our how-to will pave the way towards effective public relations.

We’ve walked you through the basics of press outreach, and the specifics behind the specialist press and the IT press thus far. Now, we’d like to introduce you to a whole different breed – the business publications. Although it may not sound relevant, this type of press is a significant target for your firm since business journalists are required to understand the challenges, opportunities, trends and potential business impacts brought on by software testing today.

However, the nitty-gritty details will rarely be what these journalists are writing, and even if so, any copy that is too technical will surely be cut or ‘dumbed down’ by business editors. Here, as the spokesperson for your software testing firm, you need to think of the ‘bigger picture’. By discussing the technicalities of software testing in a wider context, you are allowing yourself to be clearly understood while reaching a far broader audience – an ideal niche for any brand.

Some angles to get you started can include:

- Differentiation – how will your approach help businesses stand out?

- Global – how are other countries benefitting from software testing and QA, and how can we do the same?

- Success – how can a company easily emulate your successes, and how can they avoid potential disasters?

- Innovation – flaunt the ROI and early-adoption of your software testing services to turn heads.

We know that business angles can be hard to grasp, so here’s some to try on for size:

- Measurable business benefits – Be sure to highlight how your tool will affect the bottom line; business owners will be interested in anything that promises a healthy return on ROI

- Disaster avoidance – Use hooks that will make business owners pause to consider the financial, legal and brand implications of poorly tested software

- Use cases – To make business owners better understand your industry and its importance, utilize existing use cases or showcase new studies of customers that fit the profile of an average reader

- Relevancy – Make your case to a specific industry, one at a time. Target a bank, university or telecoms company discussing what software testing can do for them, specifically to curate new customers

- Problem solving – Demonstrate an understanding of the software testing related problems business owners face day-to-day, and be the one to offer the solution

Next Monday, we will continue our PR lesson by teaching you exactly what it takes to land coverage in regional newspapers and the national press, so be sure to check back.

To discuss your specific situation, targets and how to gain valuable traction with relevant press as a software testing thought leader, please email us today. We look forward to working with you, and getting on the fast-track to PR success.

By Jackie Fraser

May 17th, 2013

Dr. Who becomes a new kind of practitioner (the PR kind)

Dr. Who becomes a new kind of practitioner (the PR kind)

Good PR stories are not hard to find – whether it’s a great crisis management strategy or a dreaded PR fail, they are all out there. Every day, companies, organizations, celebrities and public figures coordinate with consultants to ensure they’re putting their best foot forward, in PR terms of course. This week, we’re taking a look at Dr. Who’s PR footsteps, and why there’s no need to backtrack.

It’s no secret that Dr. Who’s fan base is gigantic – the hit BBC science fiction program is broadcast in 48 different countries. Given the large international fan base, Dr. Who’s producers and PR team pulled off an impressive campaign after a pre-order crisis. Essentially, the problem boiled over when this season’s DVD compilation was sent out too early to pre-order customers, and included the not-yet-aired finale (oops!).

Now, as this finale is set to unveil some pretty heavy plot-twists, you can imagine the crew’s horror at the mass effect of today’s social media driven world. All of the secrets would be revealed before the finale, resulting in dangerously low ratings for the long-standing hit show.

In a swift effort to combat the problem, Dr. Who successfully turned the crisis into an opportunity. Using social media to reach fans, the television program’s producer has urged viewers to hold off watching, or to at least keep quiet, about what they’ve seen. In return, they will be rewarded with special clips featuring appearances by past Doctors, which to ‘Whovians’ is a pretty big deal.

The true genius behind the plan is this: it doesn’t matter if the producer’s plea succeeds or fails. The full finale could be bootlegged and put onto YouTube for the world to see but the show, regardless, has gained significant engagement and respect for not only owning, but compensating for, its mistakes.

Not to mention, those who have never watched Dr. Who want to know what all the fuss is about, and that already-aired finale will have more viewers than it would have sans-crisis.

To find out a bit more about how Prompt Communications can offer you this kind of effective PR, but without the need for a crisis,  visit our website today. Better yet, let one of our high-tech clients, Ipswitch File Transfer, tell you by reading our latest testimonial.

Will you be one of the many Whovians watching the ‘finale that will change everything’ on Saturday? Let us know – tweet us @PromptBoston or @PromptLondon!

By PromptBoston

May 16th, 2013

Pitch it perfectly with Prompt: Come visit us at CIC’s Venture Café Office Hours

Pitch it perfectly with Prompt: Come visit us at CIC’s Venture Café Office Hours

Are you looking to spark genuine, valuable, press interest and conversation around your technology product, app or service? It’s certainly not an easy task, but we’re here to help.

On Thursday, May 23, 2013 Prompt Communications will be hosting ‘Office Hours’ at the Cambridge Innovation Center’s Venture Café event, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. We’ll be ready to discuss what you need to do to gain the media and audience visibility that your company deserves. Come along for a 20-minute tech PR consulting session with Prompt CEO Hazel Butters and get to grips with the objectives, strategies, and tactics that work best for catching the eyes of the press.

With years of experience in the technology sector, Prompt consultants know how to perfectly tailor your PR approach to garner the best results. Are you struggling to identify your target audience? No problem. Would you like to ramp up your core messaging? We’ve got you covered. Simply don’t know where to start? We’ll help you take those first steps.

After just 20 minutes you will walk away with valuable resources from our very own tech PR toolkit, which you can then customize to fit your exact PR needs. Please come equipped with any and all questions you can think of – we can’t wait to answer them!

To put us on your calendar or to learn more information about the Prompt Communications office hours, please visit the Venture Café website.

*This event will take place at the Venture Café, located at the Cambridge Innovation Center, One Broadway, 4th Floor. Visitors must comply with Venture Cafe attendance policies (see http://bit.ly/vc-credo for more details).

By Helpful Hints, Prompt Technology PR

May 13th, 2013

Introducing the IT press

Introducing the IT press

Part three of six in our new blog series,

Prompt PR Snapshot: Software Testing

At Prompt Communications, each of our PR consultants and copywriters is passionate about technology and, thanks to our work with industry leaders such as Sogeti UK, well versed in the realm of software testing. Inspired by our successful media outreach, we’ve fashioned a six part blog series highlighting the best practices for securing targeted coverage as a software testing firm.

In our most recent update, we stressed the importance of appealing to your niche and recapped the quirks, angles and spokespeople that most appeal to the specialist press. This week in ‘Prompt PR Snapshot: Software Testing’, we broaden the scope a bit and welcome a different kind of press: the IT outlets.

IT publications, such as Computer Weekly, Computing and Information Week, have a readership encompassing all those within the technology and IT industry, expanding far beyond the software testing professionals. Therefore, the articles tend to take a somewhat different, less detail-oriented form than would a specialist placement. However, procurement of coverage within these publications is vital, as more IT managers who hold the buying power are reading them. In many ways, getting in front this audience can be the first step in turning passive readers into promising prospects.

To land coverage in IT outlets, you must know what will attract your new-found readership and tailor your pitch accordingly. Successful angles would include broad topics such as news, analysis and opinions relevant and of interest to the global and national IT community, all subtly relating back to your expertise: software testing. Inform IT professionals and users of the role that software testing and Quality Assurance (QA) can play in improving their own fields.

While immersed in your industry, it may seem difficult to get a firm grasp on the broader picture. When planning your IT press pitches, just be sure to keep these topics in mind:

- New tools, product and services

- Customer wins, especially those big name, household names

- The benefits of thoroughly tested software for IT managers, administrators, and end-users – all of whom will be reading

- Fear, uncertainty and doubt related to poor software testing and QA

- Fresh developments and trends in the software testing industry

- Dead-ends, obsolescence, misunderstandings and failures in the world of software testing

- Expert insights that improve the software testing knowledge of IT professionals in broad roles

- Further insights that enable IT managers to improve planning, strategy, and purchasing decisions

- Innovations in the world of software testing, and an understanding and empathy with the challenges and pain-points facing IT professionals today

Stop back next Monday for another informational round-up – where we’ll cover the benefits of the even broader business press.

To discuss your specific situation, targets and how to gain valuable traction with relevant press as a software testing thought leader, please email us today. To speak directly with one of our tech PR consultants, please feel free to dial us at (US) +1 617-401-2717 or (UK) +44 20 8 996 1650. Let us help you get in front of the press – and gain the momentum you need to advance in the software industry.

By Jackie Fraser

May 10th, 2013

Technology PR with Prompt: An interview with Ipswitch File Transfer’s Sophie Pellissier

Technology PR with Prompt: An interview with Ipswitch File Transfer’s Sophie Pellissier

Earlier this year, Ipswitch File Transfer, a provider of trusted Managed File Transfer solutions, had the task of finding a public relations firm that would accelerate media outreach, coordinate and streamline an effective customer communications programme, and enhance the company’s thought leadership within the industry for its international region, starting with a focus in its UK and DACH markets. Ipswitch File Transfer chose Prompt to drive such momentum.  We caught up with Sophie Pellissier, Director of International Marketing for Ipswitch File Transfer, to find out what her experience of working with Prompt has been to date, and the changing role of the marketing manager. 

Thanks for working with the Prompt team!  Can you share some of reasons that made you choose Prompt for technology PR?

SP: We needed a comms team that held a firm understanding of the IT industry and one that could accurately grasp the types of services we provide and Prompt proved to deliver with over a decade of experience working with high tech clients. Being a global company, we also sought an agency with international expertise to help cater to the EMEA, APAC and Latin America regions. With offices in the US and the UK, and native German speaking consultants, it was clear to us that Prompt was the perfect fit.

You’re still in the first quarter of your new contract with Prompt – what’s it been like?

SP: Right from the start, Prompt quickly jumped on board, suggesting activities and driving a PR plan that consisted of press releases, bylined articles, media pitching, case studies, and the launch of an international customer communication programme and more. They introduced great ideas, pace and momentum –  they’re strong and skilled across the board: copywriting, generating ideas, story communicating with customers, coming up with ideas, pitching and securing opportunities. They’ve been a great addition to our team. I know they have my back.

What are some of the challenges facing international marketing managers today?

SP: Every marketing manager, whether local or global, faces a challenging competitive landscape and has to work quickly and effectively to meet timely news and trends.  The number of communications channels available demands careful planning of how to approach different audiences, and prioritize activities in line with the overall business objectives. As an international marketing director, you face all those challenges, and you have to take into account varying political and legal policies, along with differing customs and culture. You need a good support team, which is why I work with Prompt.

For more information on Ipswitch File Transfer, please visit the company’s website. If you’d like to discuss maximising your own PR efforts, please contact a Prompt consultant at info@prompt-communications.com or (US) +1 617 401 2717, (UK) +44 20 8 996 1650.