Useful - But Blecch...

Hi, Maisie.

When nature calls, women don’t have it easy at public restrooms, campsites, hiking trails and rest stops! I think your readers will love this new tool for those uncomfortable situations.

Whiz freedom is a new device for women who are tired of stripping, squatting, bending, or wetting when trying to go to the bathroom with less than adequate facilities. The award-winning, world leading invention has been found to be the most comfortable female urine director. Hygienic, medical grade, convenient, comfortable, and easy to use; learn more at www.whizfreedomusa.com.

You know - in theory, this isn't a bad idea, especially for women who like to hike and camp (which doesn't describe ME). And you have to admire the way they described the product's benefits - before they tell you that the product is a "female urine director."

It’s the perfect solution for travelers, back packers, mountain climbers, skiers, golfers, cyclists, campers, etc.

And crazy ex-astronauts who need to drive through several states non-stop to carry out a vendetta against their boyfriends' wives? Imagine how much less press coverage she would have gotten had she been using a "female urine director" instead of "adult diapers."

I'm happy to send you a sample or further information about this quirky device!

I think I'll continue to put up with the inconvenience of peeing the old-fashioned way.

I Got Nuthin'...

Hi Maisie,

We all know not everything that comes out of our babies is as sweet as them. Introducing Poo-Pourri Jr., a diaper spray made of all-natural anti-bacterial essential oils such as bergamot, lemongrass and grapefruit.

Poo-Pourri Jr., from the makers of the popular Poo-Pourri adult spray, eliminates the source of odor causing bacteria and uses a secret formula that safely and effectively traps and diffuses odors in cloth and plastic diapers, leaving your home fresh and clean.

Simply spray Poo-Pourri Jr. on dirty diapers before disposal and there will be no reminder that your little angel was once a stinker. This convenient spray is also perfect to take with you on the go in your diaper bag – the formula contains a revolutionary odor counteractant to neutralize odors at the source and refresh air. The all-natural essential oils in Poo-Pourri Jr. trap odors and won’t leave any behind.

Poo-Pourri Jr. is available in a 4 oz. bottle for $12.96 and an 8 oz. bottle for $19.95. It is available for purchase at www.poopourri.com as well as through retailers nationwide.

For more information, local retailers, a high-res image or a sample, do not hesitate to contact me.

Yeah, That's Cool... BUT...

Hi Maisie,

While you're tucking your kids in bed, photos from today's adventures are being uploaded to the Web for your friends and family to see. The Eye-Fi Share Video lets you send photo and video memories straight from your camera, to your home computer or the Web, wirelessly. You don't even have to turn on your computer for the magic to happen.

This is a nice start. Yes, this sounds like a product my readers and I would be interested in. But then:

Goodyblog is giving away Eye-Fi cards to 2 lucky moms – a $79 value! After you snap photos of your kids' birthday or video from their soccer game, simply turn on your camera when you come home and photos – and videos - will automatically upload to your computer and to your Facebook, Kodak Gallery, Shutterfly, or Snapfish page. Eye-Fi has 25+ Web sites that you can choose from.

I thought I would send you the link in case your readers want to enter or tweet about it, http://www.goodyblog.com/. Let me know if I can send you more information.

Um, yeah - it's a contest with an intriguing prize. But both my time and blog real estate are limited. Tell me again why I'm being asked to give another website free publicity?

I understand that this pitch was not about giving me a product to review - I'm OK with that. But tell me again - what's in it for me? Not even an offer of a reciprocal link.

#PRFAIL

And You Think I'd Be Interested, WHY?

Dear Maisie:

I thought you'd be interested in this. Please contact me for high res image of the Phillip Stein watch.

First Lady Michelle Obama sits with fellow honoree Oprah Winfrey, who exudes elegance and style with her Signature Philip Stein watch, at last night’s TIME 100 gala celebrating TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. Winfrey is a big supporter of Philip Stein timepieces, whose wearers attest to feeling less stressed and more relaxed, enhancing their sense of focus and concentration.

You know, I am a big fan of our First Lady, and I wouldn't dare say a mean word about Oprah. But perhaps the wearers of Philip Stein watches feel less stressed and more relaxed because they're not living from paycheck to paycheck (or worried about the end of those paychecks?) like the rest of us. Those watches are not cheap!

Fatal Flaw

I thought this press release was kind of interesting:

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS OFFERS ONE LUCKY COUPLE A WEDDING OF A LIFETIME IN LAS VEGAS

March 9, 2009 (Culver City, CA) – THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, television’s #1 daytime drama series produced by Sony Pictures Television for CBS, is awarding one lucky couple a wedding, vow renewal or commitment ceremony in one of the most exciting destinations in the world, Las Vegas! The wedding will be witnessed by THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS’ Christian LeBlanc (“Michael Baldwin”) and Tracey E. Bregman (“Lauren Baldwin”) with Grand Prize packaging provided by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority and MGM Grand Las Vegas.

From March 9th- April 13th eligible couples can log on to www.theyoungandtherestless.com/lasvegaswedding to enter the contest by submitting a photograph and answering a question about their relationship. Twenty-five semi-finalists will then be selected by a third party judge, notified on April 17th and announced on...April 20th. Those semi-finalists will then be asked to film.

This email was sent out to me on April 16.

Oops.

I guess they only cared about my readers finding out who the semi-finalists were - not actually entering the competition (which I think of as the really FUN part of the story).

Worst Practices: Ginormous Attachments

I had just one email to pull in and it was taking a really long time. Sure enough, I saw that it included a 17.5 MB file.

"Sounds like your aunt is emailing us a bunch more photos," I groused to my husband.

But no - he didn't have a similar email coming.

Instead, it was a pitch - with a full press kit Word 11-page attachment that included several embedded photos.

People: This is why God created WEBSITES. Put it up, include a link in your pitch and send it off.

The ONLY reason I opened that attachment was so I could find out why it was so huge and then report about it here. Normally, receiving a pitch with an attachment that's more than 1 MB will go straight into my trash folder, because obviously - the person who sent it to me is an amateur.

#PRFAIL.

Either some PR professionals are listening, or they are just uber talented

I admit when I opened this PR pitch I was already rolling my eyes. The subject was less than enticing, "Does Maisie have THE CUTEST KID?" Also I had just read through a string of annoying pitches, including one that wanted me to run a completely inappropriate "news" article about their little event. So when I tell you this was a well-done pitch, you should know that I had to make a total mind turnaround and that it was really a really good pitch.

What made it good?

#1: TARGETING APPROPRIATELY

I don't know if I can emphasize that enough!

If you blanket a pitch to every address for a blogger that you have, you've failed. Go back to postcards in the mail.

#2: PERSONALIZATION

Send the right pitch to the right blogger, and they will in turn reach out to the right audience for you.

That's how you use social media marketing.

#3: ALL INCLUSIVE INFORMATION with the BIG SELL to me and all info I need

As bad as this might sound, don't make me think. Brevity is the soul of wit and good pitches, but too brief and you don't sell this to me or make it easy for me to pass it along. I need the who, what, where, when why and how, as this pitch includes.

So let's dissect this pitch (this time my comments are italics):

Dear Maisie,

I have been in contact with you before about Parents Magazine 'Cutest Daddy Contest', and now we have something else in the works. By the way I love your latest post, [insert sincere comment here that references my actual last post and details within it, proving this person at least honestly scanned my most recent post. That, for the record, is a PASS!] :)

Anyways getting back to my point here......

You and your readers can upload up to six photos for the Parents magazine cover contest. This year Parents has two age categories for entries: Parents Magazine Cover Contest (3 mos - 2 yrs) and Parents Magazine Cover Contest (2 - 6 yrs). The two cutest kid winners will appear on the dual cover of the November 2009 issue.

[This is SUBJECT MATTER APPROPRIATE for my mommy blog. Me and my readers are moms, we all take photos and some of us are avid photography hobbyists. Plus, in general, we like Parents Magazine. This sounds like fun. Also sounds like something my readers will be interested in.]

Once photos are uploaded, you can use a template to create your own Parents magazine cover featuring your own cute child, and you and your readers will automatically be entered into a cash sweepstakes that will award a $10,000 cash prize to a lucky winner. The deadline for entries is June 24. To thank you for helping us spread the word about the Parents cover contest, Parents.com’s Goody Blog will link back to your site at the end of the contest.

[Okay that's cool. We can create a little cover, so even if we don't win, we get to do something fun. Ooh and link love. That adds value for me. Plus, little to no work because this pitch clearly explains where to go, what to do, and why you want to do it.]

I’m attaching some photos of last year’s contest winner, if you want to include them in your blog post. Please let me know if you would like anything else.

[Includes visuals with permission to use, plus HA we see what they like, which helps when we choose. Good!]

Best regards,

Sergei Fyodorov
for Parents.com

[Well done, Sergei. Well done. You should teach a class...or let us in on the secret of the class you attended.]