Dan Janal’s PR LEADS Blog

From my mailbag:

We just got reviewed (and it wasn’t that great)and I was wondering how much we should stress over this. We are in beta, so that accounts for some of the bugginess, but we have corrected the ones he mentioned.

Dan answers:

First off, congratulations on getting the media’s attention. It isn’t that easy to do and if you didn’t have a worthwhile concept, they wouldn’t have reviewed your product. So you are on the right track.

Secondly, every review will have negative points. There’s an unwritten rule in reviewers’ minds that they can’t like something 100 percent. They have to find something to complain about.

The other good news is that you have fixed the bugs. So here’s what to do:

1. Contact the reviewer, thank him and let him know that you appreciated his comments and have corrected the problems. He’ll feel like an owner now. Offer to let him review the next version.

2. Search the web to see if the review is posted anywhere. If it is, be sure to post a message saying the bugs have been fixed. Consider offering a free review copy to people who read the post.

3. If the review had good points, promote those on your website.

4. People will understand that bugs happen in beta. That’s why there’s a beta.

5. If appropriate, point out the bugs that you fixed as ‘enhancements’ and new features.

So, don’t sweat the small stuff — but be vigilant to stamp out any fires this review might have created.

I spoke at the NSA-Michigan chapter this weekend on publicity, article marketing, and video promotion for speakers.

The chapter treated me royally with a grand dinner at the Chop House in Ann Arbor and a ticket to the Michigan-Oregon college football game, as well as a book and gift card. They really showed a lot of class at every step of the way! Thanks, NSA-Michigan.

I also had a chance to visit with PR LEADERS April Callis (current NSA-Michigan chapter president) and Shawne Duperon. I also met a lot of great people there and heard a lot of great speakers. It is an excellent chapter!

I’ve spoken at these NSA chapters: Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego and New York State. I’ve also spoken to the Vancouver and Calgary chapters of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. If you’d like me to speak to your chapter, please call me at 952-380-1554.

By Dan Janal
Your Fearless PR LEADER

The blogs and the newspapers picked up many comments.

Apple’s response was to give a $100 (not $200) discount on products at iPhone stores.

This is a bad reaction for several reasons:
1. A $100 discount on products does not equal a $200 discount in real dollars.
2. Consider that if products are marked up 100 percent, then Apple is buying people off with $50 from its own pocket.
3. What can you buy in an iPhone store that costs $100 or less? Not much! So if you do buy something, chances are you’ll buy something that costs more than $100, so Apple wins again by getting more cash.

So, tell me Appple, how does this help consumers?