Chris Bechtel

Chris Bechtel, iPressroom

Why do you blog?

I have used dynamic web content management tools for both corporate and client public relations for that last 4 years. As a PR professional, the ability to instantly and easily create and distribute (through RSS and other means) communications to influence key audiences is my primary interest. After being frustrated by the lack of tools and increased dependence on IT, I co-founded a software company devoted to providing dynamic communications, Internet Pressrooms, content management and web publishing tools to agencies and corporate clients. You can read more about my firm by visiting our website at http://www.ipressroom.com.

Why is blogging important for PR?

Blogging, in addition to other dynamic content management tools, provides PR practitioners with the easy ability to provide relevent, up to date and credible information to the media and other key audiences directly and immediately. With the right set of web-based PR Tools it's entirely possible to create, manage and distribute news directly to the media and the public and measure the results.

What do you see coming out of this event?

Most importantly, increased education of the marketplace. We are - it seems - on the bleeding edge. Though Blogs have been around for some years now - mainstream adoption is low. The more we work as evangelists - the more our clients and the industry will see the value of dynamic web publishing as a valuable promotional and communications vehicle.

What issue(s) will you be focusing on in your contribution and why?

I will focusing on the need for more PR professionals - both on the agency side and the client side - to utilize technology as a means of improving productivity, increasing revenue per employee, and building more awareness and most importantly understanding. For various reasons - the PR industry as a whole is incredibly slow in its adoption of technology. Many practitioners still mail press kits and fax press releases. Even those who have created or manage Internet Pressrooms for clients tend to post only press releases and perhaps some news clippings. But, we all know the media want much more than just a press release. As a result, I will be focusing on 1) why it's important to make a comprehensive set of press materials available - including high-resolution photos and artwork, streaming audio/video, speakers bureaus, and Blog content and 2) that the technology is available.

Comments

About: The Global PR Blog Week 1.0 is an online event that will engage PR, marketing and business bloggers from around the globe in a discussion about blogging and communications. The event is scheduled for July 12 - 16, 2004.

Links: The New PR Wiki

Recent Entries: Looking forward to 2.0; Site Statistics and Trends; A participant’s final thoughts; Traditional PR is dead - Long Live DIY PR; Quiet is the new loud

Recent Comments: Rick Barry on A Very Brief Look at Blogging for the Uninitiated Executive; George Mc Quade on The Battle Over PR; Duncan Adams on Robert Scoble interviewed on Corporate Blogging; Kevin O'Keefe on How to launch a corporate blog for a professional services organization; William Luu on Site Statistics and Trends