Ask HN: Which books/blogs on PR would you recommend?

#1

Post by justliving » Sun, Oct 02, 2011, 7:32 PM UTC

I am currently trying to teach myself about the basics of "public relations". Could you recommend any good books to start with? What about good blogs on PR?

Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

Re: Ask HN: Which books/blogs on PR would you recommend?

#2

Post by michaelpinto » Sun, Oct 02, 2011, 7:45 PM UTC

Eons ago i was listening to a Jason Calacanis podcast and he gave an amazing insight: You should always do your own PR. At first I thought this was unfair as Jason is a genius at self promotion which is a gift few geeks have, but then he spelled out his technique which I actually wrote down:

1. Make friends in the press BEFORE you pitch

2. Is your story better than anything on techmeme?

3. ...then look for writers in your space

4. Leave a smart comment on a story (i.e. linkbait)

5. Do a blog to linkbait (take your comment and blow it up to a post) this is because journalists obsess over the comments

6. ...do the same with twitter

7. Learn from cluetrain manefesto, it's about a conversation

8. Journalists hate PR people

9. Obsess about your market, know EVERYTHING about your space with anything less is more (don't do a long press release), use a casual tone and just write 5 words (i.e. a ping mail)

Re: Ask HN: Which books/blogs on PR would you recommend?

#3

Post by justliving » Sun, Oct 02, 2011, 8:07 PM UTC

michaelpinto wrote: post #2

Eons ago i was listening to a Jason Calacanis podcast and he gave an amazing insight: You should always do your own PR. At first I thought this was unfair as Jason is a genius at self promotion which is a gift few geeks have, but then he spelled out his technique which I actually wrote down: 1. Make friends in the press BEFORE you pitch 2. Is your story better than anything on techmeme? 3. ...then look for writers in…

thanks a lot, very insightful. Had actually never heard about Jason Calacanis. Will check out his podcast and his blog, looks quite interesting :-) !

Would you remember any other blog/book/recommendation you read at the time ... ?

Re: Ask HN: Which books/blogs on PR would you recommend?

#4

Post by michaelpinto » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 12:03 AM UTC

justliving wrote: post #3

michaelpinto wrote: post #2

Eons ago i was listening to a Jason Calacanis podcast and he gave an amazing insight: You should always do your own PR. At first I thought this was unfair as Jason is a genius at self promotion which is a gift few geeks have, but then he spelled out his technique which I actually wrote down: 1. Make friends in the press BEFORE you pitch 2. Is your story better than anything on techmeme? 3. ...then look for writers in…

thanks a lot, very insightful. Had actually never heard about Jason Calacanis. Will check out his podcast and his blog, looks quite interesting :-) ! Would you remember any other blog/book/recommendation you read at the time ... ?

Here are my quick thoughts:

- Do a search on each big blog for "why I hate PR people" and learn from those mistakes (there is an infamous one on TechCrunch from Arrington)

- If you want to learn the basics just get a book like "PR for Dummies" to learn the 101

- In my own experience with PR you need to care about results: If that's the case unless you are willing to invest the time and have the skills there is actual value to hiring a PR pro. If you look at Apple back in the day Regis McKenna really helped to put them on the map (http://www.regis.com). When you hire a good PR person what they bring to the table is a good rolodex, not the ability to pump out press releases and the like. The rolodex and the doors that open are what you're paying for IMHO.

Re: Ask HN: Which books/blogs on PR would you recommend?

#5

Post by justliving » Mon, Oct 03, 2011, 7:29 AM UTC

michaelpinto wrote: post #4

justliving wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

thanks a lot, very insightful. Had actually never heard about Jason Calacanis. Will check out his podcast and his blog, looks quite interesting :-) ! Would you remember any other blog/book/recommendation you read at the time ... ?

Here are my quick thoughts: - Do a search on each big blog for "why I hate PR people" and learn from those mistakes (there is an infamous one on TechCrunch from Arrington) - If you want to learn the basics just get a book like "PR for Dummies" to learn the 101 - In my own experience with PR you need to care about results: If that's the case unless you are willing to invest the time and have the skills there is actual…

great advise! Thanks a lot!