As we move into our second year of business – it’s not lost on me that our clients have made our company successful!  My associates and I deeply appreciate you trust and loyalty.  I have included the logos from our 2010 clients below.

For our supportive readers and those of you who summit comments to this blog — WOW! When I started blogging one year ago I could not have imagined that I would have grown such a super group of followers.  We have nearly 500 of  you who follow us monthly and I have posted nearly 1,000 comments.  Again, thanks for your time and commitment.

As a result of the interest to our posts, we have started a second blog on “tumblr.” the fastest growing site for blogging. You will find different items so please try us out.  Can’t wait?  Click here for a preview! I am very interested in hearing from you as to what you would like for me to discuss during 2011.  So, please share.  Tell others about the value of the blog(s) to your business, event or issue.

For prospective clients, we ask that you check us out.  We are a full service public relations firm ready to help event organizers;  businesses, small or large; non-profits; local, state and federal agencies.  We have the experience. We are creative.  I promise that we will listen to you!

I believe that 2011 will continue a growing trend for faster and more value-added communications.  As a result, more specialized communication methods are required to be successful in maintaining and enhancing relationships.  Public relations needs to be more personal.  Focused.  Cross integrated with traditional approaches.  We can successfully chart a course for you during this difficult time.

Let us take public relations to new levels in the New Year!

Sincerely,

Michael Perini, ABC
Perini & Associates

A Salute to our 2010 Clients -- thanks!

Occasionally, I will recommend a  news article, book, blog post or a short video clip to view. This “eperini Readview” references the internet…Please comment. mbp, perini & associates.

In a world where the internet has become as integrated to our daily lives as our cell phone, answering machines and TV recorders it is mindful that we pause and remember just what has been lost in our lifes as a result of all these technological wonders.  This NEWSWEEK article captures the “casualties due to our constant mobile and internet connections”.

I would like you to comment on other changes you have noticed as a result of the new age of instant and constant communications.

What the Internet Killed
NEWSWEEK

What else was "killed"?

by Michael B. Perini, ABC
perini & associates

500 billion. That’s the number of impressions that consumers share with others online about products and services annually, say Josh Bernoff and Ted Schadler, Forrester Research analysts and the authors of Empowered, as reported in the December issue, Harvard Business Review.

More than 60% of those impressions are shared on Facebook, and 16% of users generate 80% of messages and posts about products and services.

“Despite the headaches they can cause, sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are powerful tools for spotting trends and communicating with employees and customers,” according to Brian J. Dunn, CEO of Best Buy.

More and more the key lesson about social media: Your message has to be where people are.  Today, that means being on social networks.

“Since 1995 the internet has become a utility, much like electricity,” Dunn says.  ”People no longer view it as a discretionary expense, even in tough times: It’s essential.”

So here is a quick tutorial, “Social Media 101″.

What is social media? Basically, it is media designed to be disseminated through social interaction, created using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. In other words, media that is created to be shared freely.  Yes, primarily Internet-and mobile-based tools are used for sharing and discussing information among people.

What are some examples? BLOGS, CHAT ROOMS, PODCASTS, VIRTUAL WORLDS, SOCIAL NETWORKS, SOCIAL NEWS, WIKI  (A collaborative website which can be directly edited by anyone with access to it), VIDEO SHARING, AUDIO SHARING, PHOTO SHARING and MOBILE.

Why is social media scary? Reasons for the anxiety I have heard:  ”It breaks down walls.”  ”It’s filled with moving targets.”  ”There are still a lot more questions than answers.” “Can be confusing.”

Why do I care? This is what people are doing!

• 83% watching videos
• 73% reading blogs
• 63% viewing shared photos
• 57% using a social network
• 55% commenting on blogs

Social media tools are changing how marketing works.  I’m not saying this development is right or wrong.  The fact of the matter is that IT IS!  Here is some more information from Forrester Research, The Broad Reach of Social Technologies.

1. 77 million + Americans visit blogs
2. 346 million blog readers world wide
3. 80%+ of Americans use social media monthly with 50%+ (35-44 signed up in social networks).  70% of seniors (age 55+) use social tools monthly.

I don’t see social media leveling off any time soon.  It’s a necessary tool in your “PR tool kit”.  The key is understanding social media and integrating it with other more traditional marketing techniques.  For six possible social media trends for 2011 check out David Armano’s comments in The Conversation – Harvard Business Review.

Remember, getting into social media is easer than you think.  Education erases fear. Practice makes perfect.  We can help.

Watch this video and then Tweet or video us!

New Survey Report

by Michael B. Perini, ABC
perini & associates

I think it’s important with this being the week that our nation was attacked at Pearl Harbor (7 December) that we review where the public stands on terrorism.

A recent national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Nov. 4-7, details what major attacks to our nation have done to the public mindset.

According to the study, there is little evidence that close calls in this country or terrorist attacks overseas have led to a fundamental change in the public’s worries about terrorism.

The survey finds the public is divided over whether the U.S. is winning or losing its campaign against terrorism around the world: 38% say the United States is winning, while about the same number (43%) say it is losing.

This also is little changed from 2007, according to the survey.  For more…

Let me know what if you think about what the public relations challenges are to communicating the terrorism threat. It’s real in my view. We need to continue to be mindful of that.

Here is a list of terrorist incidents, 2010.

Online video is the fastest growing medium. It’s going to be how we communicate. New series captures the best examples of public relations humor, information and education.

"pclips" a new video series about public relations

A new series of online videos, titled “pclips” debuts this week initially on the Perini & Associates facebook page and then later on the company website, according to Michael Perini, company founder.

“Online video has seen tremendous growth in recent years,” Perini said.  ”We wanted to use this medium to help inform, educate and yes even laugh at the public relations discipline,” he said.

Video is being produced for internal communications, training, social media, events, marketing, online advertising, contests, media relations, external communications, awareness, education, and reports, according to industry sources.

Video clips will be selected from the internet and posted on the company’s facebook page weekly.  Producers can also email their public relations-related videos to” customerservice@perinassociates.com.  ”Eventually we will produce our own clips,” Perini said.

Why this new effort now?  ”People react more to visuals than text and we need to use this human characteristic to engage with current clients, company fans and potential customers,” he said. “We  have been building our company during the past year and I thought the time was finally right to go to the next level in demonstrating our ability to use this powerful medium of influence,” Perini said.

The first video posts this week and will be followed by a mix of content found from a variety of sources.  ”Our picking an online video will increase viewership for the producer as well as showcase some of the best and worst public relations practices,” he said.  ”Using these video case studies we will reinforce what we tell clients about how to tell and not tell their story.”

“In the end it’s all about being able to engage and online videos are the new “handshake” for our society,” he said.

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About Perini & Associates: We provide world class public relations counsel based on years of experience, satisfied clients and innovative approaches that produce results. We know it’s a tough time but now more than ever you need to manage conversations. Let’s reach new levels!

For more information: http://www.periniassociates.com

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