Chip Tarver's Public Relations Tip #64 - Amazon Attacks Google

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Public Relations Tip #64 - Amazon Attacks Google Big Time
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According to WebProNews today (article by David Utter) - Amazon is jumping into the contextual ad game, and has Google right in its crosshairs (as if we didn't already know that Google always has a target on its back.)

But ... ummmm ... there seems to be a wrench in the works ...

To employ Amazon's ad program, apparently you have to dump Google.

Seems to me that's a bit like betting on Any College USA going up against the Steelers in the Superbowl - (betting against the Big Boys.)

What do you think?

More soon -
Chip Tarver
chip at firstcontactsecrets dot com

Chip Tarver's Public Relations Tip #63 - ABC SPORTS Crappy PR

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ABC SPORTS Crappy Public Relations Here ...
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Just for fun, I just sent ABC Sports an email about the Superbowl. Below in its entirety is their canned, boilerplate, ridiculous response ...

Would YOU write them again? (Or is that their REAL plan?) Here it is ... (emphasis mine) ...

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As you can imagine, we receive thousands of messages a day from our viewers and while we appreciate you taking the time to provide feedback regarding our ABC Sports programming, we are not able to respond to each one directly.

We encourage you to continue to communicate with us! (NOTE: Why would I want to do that again?)

ABC TV Network Sports Programming:
Go to ABC.com
Go to the bottom of the screen and click on ABC SPORTS.
All programming information can be found on this website.

--Answers to other questions such as show addresses, internships, etc. can be found in our "FAQ" section:
Go to ABC.com
Go to the bottom of the screen and click on "FAQ"

VIDEOS:
The ABC Television network does not sell any transcripts, videos or DVDs of sports aired on the ABC TV network.

U.S. Mail address:

ABC Sports
47 West 66th St, 13th Floor
New York, NY 10023

Note: The Company's long-established policy does not allow us to accept for review or consideration any ideas, suggestions, or creative materials not solicited by us or our subsidiaries. Therefore, in the event that you have submitted such content, please be advised that the submission has been forwarded to the Company's legal department for handling.

This email has been sent to you from an outbound email account that will not accept inbound mail. Therefore, please do not respond to this email.

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So - they 'encourage you' to send them email that they WON'T acknowledge, are NOT interested in receiving, do NOT accept, and they have ZERO intention of responding to you ...

Oh, Yeah - I'm gonna do that a lot from now on ... (NOTE - so get it through your thick head that like most big companies - ABC does not give a rat's patootie about what you think. Now that's truly excellent customer relations - as well as excellent public relations - right?)

Is this the height of corporate and beaurocratic BS or what?

Why do they even have an email link? (You decide ...)

What a joke ...

Chip Tarver

Chip Tarver's Public Relations Tip #62 - Yahoo and AOL Exhibit Stupidity at the Top

Yahoo and AOL Exhibit Stupidity at the Top ...

Yahoo and AOL = REALLY bad PR .

Believe it or not, Yahoo and AOL intend to start charging you to send email. Talk about BAD PR - and a great reason for you to get a real email account ... this is it, boys and girls.

Time for you to move away from these kindergarten-level email providers and find a real email provider that understands the big picture without the over-emphasis both on controlling you ...

... and on GREED.

My bet is that Google is rolling all over the floor laughing ... and buying another thousand servers for its gmail email system ... and ordering champagne by the truckload. Yahoo and AOL are handing Google the proverbial Golden Goose on the proverbial Silver Platter ...

Google gets another awesome business break ... ? You decide ...

The story is at this crazy-long link if you want to read it ... http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/technology/05AOL.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5090&en=6efb03c8cbfac79e&ex=1296795600&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

More soon -
Chip Tarver
chip at firstcontactsecrets dot com