INK PUBLIC RELATIONS

Long-time INK client Mike Foley of Bluetooth fame was a guest on Larry King Live last night.

I’m not sure who was more nervous of the two of us, but if it was him, he sure didn’t show it. In the last Fresh INK post, Kari mentioned Wilson Rothman as an excellent interviewee, doing all of the things we recommend to our clients re sound bites, staying on message, etc. Well this time, the shining example is our client – and we are so impressed and proud (though we certainly don’t claim his success, minus all of the practice he’s had over the years through the interviews we’ve set up for him ).

What did he do right? He smiled (engaging), he spoke in real language (sometimes hard for a tech guy – again, engaging), he spoke to what he knows and deferred topics on which he’s not an expert to someone else (staying on message), he shared information that was of interest to the audience, of interest to the reporter, and in his best interest (staying on message), and lastly he had a pretty memorable sound bite (Bluetooth headsets transmit 1/1000th of the power of a cell phone – go figure!). He was also extremely quick on his feet on this live show, which is hard for even the most seasoned spokespeople to do and he did it well.

Kudos to you Mike! You know me, I don’t mind giving the critiques when needed, but this time – not a critique to be had in the house. Check it out:

MICHAEL FOLEY, BLUETOOTH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP: Sure, these are two examples of wireless headsets that you wear in your ear to take phone calls. So then your phone can remain in your pocket, in your purse, in your briefcase, and then you don’t have to hold it to your head. Many new cars now have Bluetooth built in as well, where it uses your speakers for basically a hands-free kit in the car. Of course, everyone is not going to go out and buy a new car, so you can get aftermarket Bluetooth speaker phones as well to use in the car. These you can clip these on the dash right above your head. You can make the call and not, again, have to hold the mobile phone to your head while you’re driving. Of course, while you’re driving, that’s the law in many states and many countries around the world as well.

KING: What are your thoughts on the study released tomorrow?

FOLEY: I found it very interesting listening to the experts, and thought it was very confusing. I don’t think they really know right now. And the other thing I didn’t hear any of them talk about all of these were phones from 15 years ago, 10 years ago because they’re 10- year studies. Think of what your phone was like 10 years ago, Larry.

KING: I think I still have the same one.

FOLEY: You’re the exception. Most people in America in a ten-year period would go through four to ten cell phones. And they transmitted with a lot more power back then than they do now. Like everything, the technology changes over time. And how you fit that into the study is very interesting.

KING: What’s the difference in the power transmission between a cell phone and Bluetooth?

FOLEY: A bluetooth headset or speaker phone uses approximately one one thousandth of the power.

KING: One one thousandth?

FOLEY: Exactly. It does depends on your mobile phone and Bluetooth headset. But, give or take, that’s roughly the amount.

KING: I believe Dr. Ottis Brawley is still there. Are you there, Dr. Brawley?

BRAWLEY: Yes, I am.

KING: What do you think of the Bluetooth?

BRAWLEY: I think that for people who are concerned about cell phones concerning brain tumors, using a Bluetooth or a wired device is a very reasonable thing to do. I don’t want people to be panicked and not use their cell phones over all of this, or be confused. If you’re concerned, use a wireless device or a Bluetooth.

KING: Isn’t you safer? Wouldn’t you be safer using a Bluetooth?

FOLEY: It sounds like it. I’ll leave that up to the medical experts. But if you can use something that uses one one thousandth of the power, and it really doesn’t change your use patterns — just put this on and take the call like you normally do — why not do that. It seems prudent to me.

KING: Quickie, where did it get its name?

FOLEY: Bluetooth was a Danish king around the 900s. And he united the Scandinavian countries. The original concept with Bluetooth was it was a technology that would unite the mobile phone and personal computer. And Bluetooth was originally created by people in those countries at Eriksson and Nokia. So that was the code name and it stuck. It’s been the name for over a decade now.

KING: You can buy these anywhere?

FOLEY: Sure. Any electronic store, you mobile phone provider store, they all have headsets, car kits. Of course, as I mentioned, most new cars come with it now.

KING: One one thousandth?

FOLEY: Yes.

KING: Thanks, Mike. Thanks, Dr. Brawley. Thanks to all of our panel. We’re going to do a lot more on this.

This morning, Wilson Rothman, features editor for Gizmodo, was interviewed by NPR’s Renee Montagne about cloud computing and how Microsoft, Google, Facebook and others protect their customers’ online information. Pretty complex stuff, but Wilson nailed it. At INK, we do a lot of spokesperson training and a ton of messaging work to make complex technology easier to understand. We tell clients to know their audience, delete their database of knowledge, use examples, personal stories and numbers to illustrate the point and simplify the message. Wilson did all of this in an impressive interview that I will use as a “what TO DO” example in the future. Here are a few of the highlights. You can listen to the full interview here.

Can we begin with a definition of cloud computing? Cloud computing is the computing that happens on the Internet rather than on your computer.  A good example would be back in the day when we wanted to get on AOL, we had to load a bunch of software onto our computers. Now when we want to get on Facebook, we just open a web browser and Facebook is there. That’s the computer vs. the cloud right there.

With one’s personal data, if it’s not inside your own computer, it seems that you’re somewhat at the mercy of whatever cloud computing service you’re using to safeguard you’re privacy and even the security of that information. Absolutely, but the flip side is they’re better at keeping your data than you are. People at home lose data all the time.  I was shocked the other day, I heard a statistic that 5% of Americans use an extra hard drive to back up their computer. And hard drives die all the time, I had one die last Friday.

Even the best companies can’t stop hackers. The most high profile example that we’ve heard about lately was probably with Google.  It had some of its software code stolen and later said what was stolen was a code to the company’s global password  system. Now. . Doesn’t it suggest what could happen? I think the best analogy to that is that there’s a difference from stealing the blueprints to the castle and stealing the keys to the castle. You can look at a blueprint until your head spins, you still might not be able to figure out a way in.  As far as I know, user passwords were not stolen.  That would be the bad thing.

Since increasingly cloud computing is transforming the way we put data on the computer, whether at work or at home, do you have tips? The key to this whole thing is the password.  I dug up some numbers that are kind of startling. A hacker can use software to decode a four character password in one and a half minutes but if the password is eight characters, it would take two centuries.  Those extra four characters geometrically expand the difficulty of decrypting the password to a degree that the hacker wouldn’t even bother.

I was so tired last night after a quick business trip to Seattle that I couldn’t sleep. So I wrote this when I was semi-delirious.

Only read this with the Whoomp! song playing in the background (read the below over the lyrics). Otherwise it’s not as cool… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V6T0lJc3dU

Lo-Po back again
All Hands Meeting with the Bluetooth SIG
Party on SIG Members and make some noise
Mike Fo’s in the house jump jump rejoice
Chris Pirollo over here
Brier Dudley over there
Wave your BBooks in the air shake your derriere

These SIG Members are getting busyyyyyy

Whoomp! Bluetooth SIG, Whoomp Bluetooth SIG!

HTC to HTC
Gonna show what High Speed is all about
Now its time for Nike guy to get on the mic
And brag about how he’s always right
PH lingered and wasn’t cool but he’s an ol’ fool who’s not cool
If Brier gets lost, gonna show him the way

Whoomp! Bluetooth SIG, Whoomp! Bluetooth SIG!

(The shackalacka stuff….and this part isn’t as cool, but whatever)

Don’t blink! Our hotels haunted
Seattle’s great lots of peeps to thank
Fish stank
Uh
Not like lady
Who asked for coffee on the AA
She got it spilt it all over jlo
A double O O M G oh my
As the dude in front reclined reclined
Whoomp there it is I’m done.

I liked this post today from the Bad Pitch Blog re other ways to get your news across besides a press release. At INK, we firmly believe there ARE other alternatives – and sometimes it’s instead of, whereas others it’s in combination with. Either way, the point made at the end of the post conjures up a recurring theme, here on this blog, at INK and in the realm of PR – it’s QUALITY that matters. Go ahead, announce your new product via sky writer, spray paint it on a wall or silk screen it on a t-shirt. At the end of the day though, if it’s not good stuff, it’s just not. No lipsticks on pigs – can’t dress up what’s not able – this is my haiku. (HAHA, I think I’ll stick to press releases! But I told @laermer I’d give it a shot, so there you go.)

With just a little over a week until the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, the INK Public Relations running team is laying out the race day wardrobe, making a shopping list for their pre-race dinner and deciding where to have the post-race pint. OK…so maybe that applies to just me. Baby news, injuries and life’s other priorities have dwindled the “running” portion of our team to yours truly. Arguably, everyone ultimately pounds the pavement alone on race day, but it always takes a team of supporters, goals and inspiration to ensure every runner finishes strong. And that will certainly be the case with our running team, come February 14. Even though I may be the only INKer spotted on the marathon course, keep your eyes peeled for my “team mates” at the Blue Dog water stop and along the course cheering everyone on, especially those running for Blue Dog Rescue . And where will I look for inspiration? Of course, to of all the homeless dogs that will find forever homes because of the money raised in the marathon. To that end, INK has committed to match every dollar I secure up to $2,500. So help me out. I want to not only cross the finish line with a smile, but $2,500 richer for the wards of Blue Dog Rescue (you can donate under my name here: http://www.bluedogrescue.com/marathon.htm).

And I would be remiss to not give a special shout out to my original running buddy, the one who got me to lace up my sneakers in the first place and developed my soft spot for the canine kind…the only and only Luckstepper.

I’m proud to say that I‘ve been a loyal member of the “real world” for almost two years now. It seems like almost yesterday I was regularly eating ramen noodles for dinner while cramming for mid-terms and preparing for that ever-so-crucial PR presentation.

During my freshman year of college, I often wondered where I would be in the next 5 years. Well, here I am—working at a great job, with great people, for fun clients in a great city. How I got here can only be attributed to hard work, dedication, and a little stroke of luck. Nevertheless, I’m grateful.

It doesn’t seem to at the time, but college really does prepare you for the real world, as long as you’re open to it. Of course, working definitely comes with much more responsibility, but it was those years of hard work in school and internships that brought me to where I am today and made working seem to come naturally. I’ve listed out a few lessons I’ve learned in the classroom that have popped up in some of my real-world experiences. Enjoy.

Group Projects: Earlier this week, Julie and I completed our first successful presentation together, learning from each other while also sharing the stresses of meeting our deadline. It’s nice to work with someone who is just as motivated as I am to get the job done, where neither of us had to worry about pulling more weight than the other. This situation was all too familiar and reminded me of my PR Campaigns class, where my team and I created a PR campaign that was entered into the Bateman Case Study Competition. I forgot how many long hours, hard work, and great collaboration it takes to deliver a successful end result. Our team received Honorable Mention—but who’s bragging? J

Exams: The glory of the real world is that there are no more tests—in the literal form at least. However, we’re tested every day, in a different way. I studied hard for my exams, and made sure I always came out with the coveted A, but honestly didn’t see their importance until I ventured out on my own. Those exams in college were meant to enhance my critical thinking skills so that one day I could apply those skills without the help of a #2 pencil and a scantron. I’ve been tested every day since graduation— what’s the best answer to this question, how can I solve this problem with the resources that I have, who is the best contact to reach out to—all questions I’ve answered before and am still answering now. Sorry kids, the real world comes with tests—they just don’t contribute to your overall GPA anymore.

Homework: Ah, the infamous stresses of homework. I remember loathing professors who assigned homework over long weekends or term-papers over holidays. Then I remembered that I had weeks to write that 15-page research paper, but choosing to write it 3 days before seemed like the best idea at the time. I’ve learned from my many all-nighters and countless hours of homework that budgeting your time well is incredibly important and something that I’ve successfully applied to my real-world experiences. In truth, the working world doesn’t assign you homework—you assign it yourself. When days are busy, I still occasionally come home with work and that’s okay because I know that I’ve used my time wisely. In fact, I love having the option of knowing that if I need some extra time to meet a deadline outside of my 9-5, I have it. Let’s face it—college students are use to much worse: all nighters filled with bad food and strong coffee for an 8 a.m. test—not something I’d like to relive again.

Surprisingly, my transition from college to the real world happened smoothly, with few bumps and some great learning experiences. I wondered what I did to deserve such a great segue to the rest of my life and I realized that it wasn’t just that I deserved it—I was also well prepared.

Three years ago I laced up a pair of running shoes, connected to a Nike+ and decided to become a healthier version of myself.  In April of 2007, I could not complete a mile without collapsing, out of breath.  By July 1st, I could comfortably complete a 10k (6.2 miles) and on July 16th I ran my first 5k under 30 minutes. I signed up for the Austin marathon and a little less than a year after I started running, I completed my first marathon in the slow, but completely average and acceptable time of 4:43.

I was giddy after crossing the finish line.  I cannot explain the high.  I called my older sister, who has always been a runner, but had not completed a marathon, to tell her how fabulous it went, how great I felt, how I could run another five miles and I would be fine.

And her delightful (and predictable) response was, “Well, did you really run the whole thing?  Or did you walk some?”

“Well, I walked through some water stops – it is hard to drink water and run at the same time.  And there was this one hill that beat me, I had to walk a few steps there too, but…”

“So, yeah, you didn’t really run the marathon then, huh?”

Sibling rivalry at its best.

Earlier this year my sister completed her first marathon (and she did beat my time by about 20 minutes).  First thing I asked her when she crossed the finish line (I flew to Maryland to run the Frederick half while she was running the full) was, of course, “Did you run the whole thing?  Or did you walk some?”

“I walked – I was an ass.  And this was the dumbest thing I have EVER done in my life.”

She didn’t have the same positive experience I did with my first marathon – she could not have run five more miles – no way. But I had flown all the way to Maryland to run with her, so clearly, someone owes me a favor.  This year, for the Austin marathon, which I will have to sit out due to some family expansion (my little boy is due 3 weeks prior to the gun and I hear I won’t bounce back quickly enough to bust out 13.1 or 26.2), I have recruited a ghost runner.  Blake will be running for the INK team in my place, so I can help raise money for Blue Dog – I called in her debt.

What she doesn’t know is the Austin elevation is a beast – I guarantee you the same hill that bested me will annihilate her.

Blake and I prior to the gun at the Frederick Marathon.

I am pleased to officially introduce the INK running team. At INK, we continually strive to maximize efficiency. To that end, the idea for our running team was born at a company offsite many months ago and combines our love of the following:

Running: The love for running has spread virally among our group. I credit Blair Poloskey for introducing the bug. On her own will, she trained for the 2008 Austin Marathon. A self proclaimed “non-athlete,” she kicked that marathon’s booty and inspired yours truly to check out the pastime of putting one foot down in front of the other in a rapid fashion. The following year, I followed in Blair’s footsteps (pun intended) and bagged my first marathon medal in Austin. INK co-founder Kari Hernandez acquired a taste for the race with her first half at the same event. We continue to bring others into the fold.

Dogs: Blue Dog Rescue (BDR) is an Austin-based volunteer organization whose purpose is to end the needless killing of homeless dogs. To date, BDR has rescued 1,500 dogs including our own beloved Jack, who belongs to Blair. BDR dogs are fostered in private homes where they receive basic obedience lessons, house training and socialization skills until their permanent homes are found. Fosters receive full health exams, vaccinations and are spayed and neutered if necessary. Sadly, many dogs arrive with horrible and heartbreaking problems (heartworm positive, mange, burned or hit by cars). BDR covers the cost of needed medication, treatment and surgery. Funds are generated only through donations, fundraisers and adoption fees. Because of our love for dogs, the INK running team will pound the pavement to raise money for BDR. The team makes its debut at the 2010 Austin Marathon, but we plan on running in other races (like BDR’s own Run for the Rovers 5K) and supporting BDR in a variety of ways to generate much needed funds for the organization.

INK: To be honest, the running bug has not bitten quite EVERYBODY at INK but that does not mean we can’t throw our whole company’s support behind the BDR cause. Come February 14, 2010, expect to see Julie, Kari and myself on the Austin course. Who knows? We may recruit a few more colleagues yet. But those not lacing up their running shoes that day will be on hand volunteering at Blue Dog’s water stop and we will ALL be encouraging people to donate on our running team’s behalf. If you are interested in supporting our efforts in the 2010 Austin Marathon, please visit http://www.bluedogrescue.com/marathon.htm. There you will see our INK runners’ names and you can donate to any one of us. And certainly stay tuned to this blog to hear more from each of our runners about our training. We will have different perspectives as the experience will have unique meaning to each of us (more to come on that).

I’m a huge Food Network fan these days – ironic, since I don’t cook a lick. Hubby thinks it means I’m going to bust out with a gourmet meal any day now, but it really just means I find these people fascinating. Take for instance Duff Goldman, chef and owner of Charm City Cakes – and star of Ace of Cakes. Last night I caught his Chefography – fascinating stuff. Duff has found his calling in life and he didn’t do it by waking up and thinking “I want to decorate cakes when I grow up!” Instead, he cultivated the things in life that he loved to do – art in high school, cooking thereafter – worked hard, took internships and lower paying jobs to make sure he could spend his time doing what he loved, and then one day he made a cake for a friend’s wedding. And someone said, “Dude, you should really make cakes for a living.” And he thought, “Yep, I should!” and an entrepreneur, star and all-around happy guy in his chosen profession was born.

To me, doing what you love everyday is the key to happiness. Because man, if you’re spending 40 hours a week doing something you hate, you’re a miserable human being and who wants to be (or be around) that? And what I learned from Duff is that it’s a journey, not a destination, to find that thing. So get on it.

We believe in empowering each other, our clients and our community.
We believe in long-standing relationships.
We believe in quality over quantity, simple and direct messaging, and a balance of strategy, creativity and common sense.
We believe in loving our jobs, which can only come from work/life balance.
We believe in keeping an open mind and finding new ways to do things.
We believe in hard work and smart work.
We believe in giving more than you get.
We believe in Austin, dogs, babies, color, laughter, beer, Bluetooth, running, wine, sushi, queso, sustainability, gelato and pushing ourselves to be the best.