Communication Breakdown
Communications from the world of, er, communications. And other stuff.
Tuesday 22 July 2008, 2:12 PM
Bad PR mojo
I'm a hack. I get lots of press releases. Many are cheeky. That can usually be blamed on the PR's client being cheeky in its claims, or something to that effect. As opposed to this unctuous missive, from a PR I've never met before:
Hi David,
I hope you had a good weekend,
I am just mailing to see if you would be so kind as to list a few dates you are free in order for me to set up a demo with [some company I've never heard of] for you.
Please let me know, even if you are too busy, so I can plan ahead,
Thank you,
Regards,
[The PR]
Nauseating chumminess from a stranger? Check. Complete lack of explanation as to who or why the client/product is? Check. Railroading attempt? Check.
My response, suffice to say, was brief and instructive.
PreviousComments on this post
My Mojo is already rattled in the same direction senor Meyer:
From Friday's mailbag :-
Dear Adrian,
Would you have time to set up a general briefing with my client's spokespeople who will largely sit in the sales and product marketing side of the business and therefore not be able to properly deliver you the application development messages that I haven't bothered to research are your core areas of interest.
Oh, did I also mention that I know you have recently covered my client so I am just taking this opportunity to be familiar and push some stale news at you that won't add to the half-baked story that you turned into something more palatable the other week?
Regards - PeeArr Person
(ok, I may be paraphrasing slightly - sorry)
