1. Four Steps to Kick-Starting Buzz for your Mobile App
August 18, 2011

2. What This Preso is NOT
A how-to on using Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
Tips for writing a killer press release
A tutorial on technologies that get your “content” to every far reaching corner of the Internet

3. What This Preso IS
A guide to creating a story for your mobile application, and putting that story in the hands of the right people, in a way that will incent them, and their followers, to create credible “buzz” for your business.

4. The PR Landscape for Mobile Applications
Crowded
Noisy
Growing by the day
Lots of “me-too’s”

5. Getting Started: Are you Ready for PR?
Check list:
Product is tested and you have some customers who will talk to press (even beta customers)
Product attributes/benefits are identified (what does it do?)
Product has a name
You can easily describe the unique problem you solve in 1-2 sentences. (Hint: you do not solve many problems for many people)

6. Getting Started: Are you Ready for PR?
AllSport GPS
Fitness tracker
For outdoor enthusiasts who love running, walking, hiking, biking and more, and wish to track their activities with superior GPS
Easy to use, easy to share, fun, helps you reach your fitness goals
AllSport GPS helps you achieve your fitness goals whether that’s stepping up your workout routine, training for a 5K, or just having fun and capturing outdoor excursions.

7. Next Up: The Importance of a Message
Explaining what your mobile app does/who you are is just as important as the business itself
Great ideas + bad messages = missed opportunities
Bad ideas + great messages = bad business in the market place (and the press are the first to call you out on this)

8. Next Up: The Importance of a Message
FireHost
FireHost is the leading, secure cloud hosting company that protects high traffic, data-critical websites and applications, such as Ecommerce and Healthcare, from devastating cyber attacks. As the first cloud hosting solution to offer security and protection from hackers, FireHost delivers managed hosting with an affordable, usage-based model.

9. Step Three: Create the Visuals
Backgrounder & fact sheet
Deck
NextSlide, video, interactive content
Doesn’t matter what you choose -- they should all have the same thing:
A little company history
A little on leadership/funding
Application overview

10. Step Three: Create the Visuals
A few good screen shots, images or photos
High resolution is the norm
5-10 minute demo
Practice this – if it’s longer than 10 minutes it’s too long
Bonus: customer case study

11. Step Four: Get to the Influencers
Identify your top 10 industry influencers: bloggers, traditional press, analysts, evangelists
Get on their radar, repeatedly
Your industry matters most
Be realistic

12. Step Four: Get to the Influencers
FIREHOST – Official launch July 2009
50 articles by trade press and blogs
Write up in three leading security analyst report
Established columns in three industry news sites
Three major industry awards
Three speaker sessions at industry tradeshows
First conversation with Wall Street Journal: April 2011

13. Summary Make sure you’re ready for PR
Know your core value, focus, and communicate it effectively
Know your key influencers and talk to them often
Have happy customers ready to talk
And finally: Just like everything else in your business, be prepared to work hard!

14. Thank You
Questions?