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Bradley H. Smith

Boston

IR and PR product strategists and marketer. Director of Marketing at PR Newswire:

Interests: Investor Relations, Public Relations, social media, good humor and fair profit for all.

Recent Activity

High school jazz gig. Some good stuff. Some hep kats.

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Posted Mar 5, 2013 at Bradley H. Smith >

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This was a release they felt they had to send, and thus filled the page with jargon to strategically make it unreadable but be in compliance with RegFD. As soon as it was released, the were on the phone with The Street to tell the story. Of interest- share price rose 5%. Generally, pubic companies issue PR mitigate news, not communicate it.

Commented Sep 7, 2011 on Yahoo! vagues up leadership reorganization PR with cutting edge gobbledygook at Web Ink Now

Exactly. No web savvy credibility.

Commented Sep 3, 2011 on Typos are not fatal to your brand. Unless you are in makreting. at Bradley H. Smith >

Go to hell, Klout. I don't need your manufactured stress.

I know many people are digging Klout, but I am officially disengaging myself. It's a money maker for some company that is trying to feed on my vanity. Obviously, judging by this photo on my homepage, I have no vanity. What the final straw was it sent me an alert... Continue reading

Posted Sep 2, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Don't assume the power cable to the LCD projector is in the bag.

< sigh > Continue reading

Posted Sep 2, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Bottomline, my job is to make sure the prospect will take the call from sales.

RIIIIIIINNNGGGGGG.... "Hello. Oh, yes, I know of your company and have a strong impression that your solutions will help me. Come on in with your dogs and ponies." (Sales still needs tools for the close AND the client experience too ) Continue reading

Posted Sep 2, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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I'm in the best selling marketing book because I believe the author's base premise.

People (prospects) want to learn what your product will do FOR THEM - not what your company does. Every bit of content you present MUST address the prospect's question - "What's in it for me." Period. Congratulations on the 3rd Edition of The New Rules of Marketing & PR," David.... Continue reading

Posted Sep 2, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Don't block the faux followers... for now.

Yes they are stupid, distracting and some social media firm's "I will get you 10,000 followers" game. But they can help you build your REAL Twitter base of relationships. Twitter has a 2,000 follower cap - until you build up a ratio of people following you. Just leave the spam.... Continue reading

Posted Sep 2, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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How do you know if your product has become a commodity?

Long-time clients switch for a better price. You gave them no passionate reason to stay. Live free (and differentiate) or die. Continue reading

Posted Sep 2, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Twitter (and a sales person's good SoMe skills) drove my marketing automation choice.

I asked my Tweeps what they suggested for setting up a complete marketing automation process. I got a couple practical responses (thank you.) But of more interest, I got a call from a sales person who “saw my Tweet.” He got the sale even though his compnay was never discussed... Continue reading

Posted Sep 2, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Typos are not fatal to your brand. Unless you are in makreting.

Sorry if you are reading this guys, but you spammed a LinkedIn Group. No one is marketing is going to believe these folks know what they are doing. 2005? Update it gents. This says "old content." Continue reading

Posted Sep 2, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Don’t abuse your personal brand and place fans at financial risk.

Subjectively, I am not a fan of Glenn Beck at all – to be clear. Objectively, I think this (image below) sponsorship is an egregious use of “celebrity” to pump a product. Will he take responsibility for the product’s promise – or lack of performance? How much financial risk should... Continue reading

Posted Sep 2, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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You want to save something? Save jobs (not trees) by generating revenue. Use email real estate to promote a special campaign.

The little greenwashing bit in email signatures is very tired (so...like...last decade) and has become invisable noise. Except for lawyers, who prints emails UNLESS it is essential for a paper record? Every email your company sends is "marketing media." Use it as such. I really don't know how this fad... Continue reading

Posted Aug 24, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Forms are important for (traditional) lead generation, NOT for lead qualification!

This form truly angered me. They used the email address field to PRE-qualify leads - and since I used my "gmail" address, they DIS-qualified me. For a whitepaper PDF download? Ridiculous and insultive. You never know where your NEXT client may come from. Many people are out of work and... Continue reading

Posted Aug 24, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Get a wide variety of titles and perspectives when collecting professional recommendations.

Whether you create a personal CV site (like my site here) or use LinkedIn, be VERY strategic on who you ask for recommendations. Get a true blend of people you reported to, people that reported to you, people you were peer to and key business influencers. Ask folks for detailed... Continue reading

Posted Aug 22, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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If you use that little "View Online Version" in your email broadcasts, you may as well label your message "This Is Spam."

No one is going to look at the online version (web page) of your email. People buy from people so PLEASE don't draw emphasis to the fact you use an automated email / marketing system. Plus, the text is at the top of the email. It’s the first thing people... Continue reading

Posted Aug 21, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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It doesn't take much effort to thrill a follower (or a nutty fan) within social media. Cool kats and smart brands understand that.

The simple one-click "engagement" of Lou Read "liking" my joke on his Facebook page made my day. I then queued up a boatload of his songs AND went to his new website. His ROI? - a revitalized fan. Ohhh such a perfect day. I'm glad I spent it with Lou. Continue reading

Posted Aug 20, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Again...clean your lists BEFORE uploading them into your marketing automation system.

Apologies for the "shooting fish in a barrel" tone today but - three days, same vendor, same clumsiness. This time with a text only note. I would have had a salutation too -"Dear" or "Hello." And my first name :) Three days in a row is desperate marketing. Prospects pick... Continue reading

Posted Aug 19, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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HI ~ They are using an marketing email automation program that is calling me "Smith" instead of "Bradley." No one is checking the data "humanly" reviewing the data fields.

Commented Aug 18, 2011 on A simple misplaced field will ruin your marketing automation TWO DAYS IN A ROW? at Bradley H. Smith >

A simple misplaced field will ruin your marketing automation TWO DAYS IN A ROW?

Oh for poop's sake. Same firm, same database, same error. Different topic, different sender. At least they didn't say "Yo Smitty." Continue reading

Posted Aug 18, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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A simple misplaced field will ruin your marketing automation.

Without a clean list, your marketing automation prospecting will be counter-productive. Clean lists are everyone's responsibility - marketing, sales and client services. No excuses. And please, call me "Bradley." Ironic the firm is selling outreach communications. Continue reading

Posted Aug 18, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Compress your photos in PowerPoint if you are emailing the PPT file.

I have experienced this dozens of times at the conferences I have hosted. Presenters try to send in PPT files that are 50MB and larger. Quite often, this occurs with real estate, oil & gas and drilling firms. Their presentations tend to include many high-res arial photographs and maps. This... Continue reading

Posted Aug 18, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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My unsophisticated and uncomplicated guide to when to use GIF vs. JPG images in web communications.

Use GIF images for graphics, JPG for photos. That's it.. Graphics include illustrations, most icons and screen shots, etc. Photos: including this shot of the cup of coffee grounds I got while driving. A better photo would be of me trying to wipe grounds OFF my tongue with copier paper...... Continue reading

Posted Aug 18, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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Respect your prospects’ problems. Don’t belittle them to make a buck.

This is a shockingly insensitive ad for a real medical condition. It reaks of marketing desperation. I bet the ad agency’s first headline was “Man Up Will Ya.” And then they all had a good giggle. Continue reading

Posted Aug 14, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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There is no such thing as web privacy. So, what the hell...you may as well be yourself.

Embrace your authenticity and free your content. Not all content is pretty. Continue reading

Posted Aug 13, 2011 at Bradley H. Smith >

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