carrie*connects

Check Out The New Blog!

After 4 long years of having this blog on typepad we're moving over to a different platform at http://leberpr.com/blog/ ~ I think you'll notice immediately what a fresh look the new site has as well as many other features that will make cataloging and presenting relevant information about our company and clients much more organized.  

Links | Now On Our Other Blogs

Now on our other blogs, these scintillating stories that I know you won't want to miss!

On Bloomacious: 

Bebe's New Fall Ad Campaign is inspired by The Tudors

Chrisitian Siriano Rolls Out a New Collection (of color!) with Victoria's Secret

The US v. John Lennon ~  a VH1 Documentary you'll want to see

Basking in the Dog Days of Summer ~ some end of Summer ideas to max out the fun!

on Bloomacious Digs:

Monte Design has a very cool glider for the nursery ~ rockers have never been this cool.

on Bloomacious Cafe:

Member Pooja Renee Motl discusses the new film, Julia & Julia

and offers a recipe for Heirloom Tomato Salad that looks just scrumptious!

Social Media Marketing ~ How To Infuriate Your Fans & Friends on Facebook pt. 1

About a year ago if I mentioned the concept of harnessing the power of Facebook and Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, ect as a realistic strategy for marketing a brand, I would generally get a very long "hmmmmmm ....." followed by a very pregnant pause from many of the people I talked to.   A massive question mark would float over their heads as, more often than not, they just couldn't grasp the concept. 

Magically within the past six months however all that's changed with virtually every person I've ever known jumping on (at least) the Facebook bandwagon.  Unfortunately, rather than adopting the evolving norms of social media into the platform, which BTW are based on (1) actual human contact (2) original and interesting ideas (3) reciprocation ~ most Facebook newbies have attached dusty old marketing ideas to their shiny "new media" programs.  

As a result Facebook in particular is being used in some very annoying ways.  I thought I'd start tracking the most insidious behaviors and note them down here (mostly as a venue for venting my angst about the situation)....if you want to annoy on Facebook, here are some ideas:

1)  Businesses who want to really tick off their Facebook fans should be sure to send incessant group emails announcing minor sales, bland product announcements, and other information that is of interest only to their internal sales staff.  As a blogger, I'm used to getting press releases from other PR firms emailed rapid fire via specific email accounts, as such I really have little patience for this type of information sent to my Facebook in-box ~ and I'll lay you odds that I'm not in the minority here.  Even the most casual Facebook user is most likely not interested in being spammed about your 5% off sale once a day - if they are they'll visit your page to see it.  Facebook by definition is a "FACEBOOK" ie: people attached to faces, and personalized messages should only be sent this way. 

2) Keep requesting your friends "fan", join a group, or attend an event 0ver and over and over - even though they've probably repeatedly chosen to ignore your previous attempts for a reason.   Once is more than enough.

3)  Repeatedly poke, send game requests, gift requests, and all manner of the embeddable widget nature to people you've never had any sort of correspondence with and to whom you're a complete stranger - they love that.

4) Post only the dullest and most narrowly defined product photos and information about your company on your Facebook page so that instead of a lively interactive forum with an array of accessible ideas and information, it resembles a yellow page ad.

5) Never correspond with your fans or friends when they post info of their own (you know - the stuff that comes through on your homepage news-feed from them) ~ we know you're the only one that matters!  And when they comment on your posts or go so far as to post items to your page or wall, be sure to ignore them.  People love being treated solely as "consumers" and not individuals - isn't that what "social" means?  Oh it doesn't??  It means engaging and talking??  Whoa ....

Oh....there will be more .... stay tuned.   Yes, the Medium is the Message, but only if you know how to use it.  Otherwise it's just another cyber-armload of junk-mail to toss in the trash unopened.

Bloggers Beware ~ The FTC is Watching.

 
In an announcement that will surely send a ripple of terror through the mom and beauty blogging business in particular, the Federal Trade Commission has accounced it will soon be cracking down on blogs that offer "reviews" in exchange for free merchandise, as well as those that make affiliate commissions without revealing the arrangement.

Troubled by what seems to be a lack of journalistic ethics, the FTC cites the practice that many bloggers employ in which free merchandise is exchanged for positive reviews. 

"If you walk into a department store, you know the (sales) clerk is a clerk," Rich Cleland, assistant director in the FTC's division of advertising practices told the Associated Press recently. "Online, if you think that somebody is providing you with independent advice and ... they have an economic motive for what they're saying, that's information a consumer should know."

"Journalists who work for newspapers and broadcasters are held accountable by their employers, and they generally cannot receive payments from marketers and must return free products after they finish reviewing them," the AP article continues...

"If the guidelines are approved, bloggers would have to back up claims and disclose if they're being compensated — the FTC doesn't currently plan to specify how. The FTC could order violators to stop and pay restitution to customers, and it could ask the Justice Department to sue for civil penalties."

The situation does remind of the Napster flap up a few years back and I predict that a few specific violators may find themselves being held up as unfortunate examples.

Read more about it here>>

Events | Sean Combs White Party Move to Los Angeles

Find more photos like this on Bloomacious Cafe
Sean Combs and Ashton Kutcher teamed up to throw the annual White Party over the weekend - this year the event was in support of "Malaria No More".  It was also the first time the iconic party was hosted in Los Angeles - and the location, a private residence in the hills really was a lovely one. 

A lavish swimming pool was the perfect place for performers to create a sense of celebration by swinging over the water and dancing in giant plastic bubbles.

There was also no end of branding and promotional opportunities as companies like Ciroc, Georges Duboeuf, Lab Series Skincare, Starbucks, Lia Sophia, Sean John and more offered celebrity gifting areas.

In keeping with the theme white furniture and draping was used to create a sense of drama, while white food that included white cupcakes, white wine, even white candy was offered to guest.

Food PR | Appleton Estate's Drink Generator

 
I thought this online drink generator from Appleton Estate was pretty nifty when I saw it this morning.  I was cruising the site after Forbes emailed me with a recipe for a Royal Apertif which is a blend of Appleton's Rum, syrup, lemon juice, and champagne.  It looked good but I was hoping for a larger picture - and then I found the impressive drink generator - sort of a fun mood ring for partiers. 

 

Basically you click on the site, and then pull levers in answer to questions like: 1) How are you feeling right now?  2) What are your plans for the evening? 3) what smells and tastes attract you? 4) How would someone describe you? 5) How do you deal with a rainy day?  and so on ... my answer the first time was the Planter's Punch shown above, which does indeed look like something I would enjoy. 

The Appleton Estate Drink Generator is an interesting, unilaterally accessible version of the personalized cocktail creation service from Liquid Relations that I wrote about a couple weeks back.  It gets consumers involved with the brand in a way that informs them about choices and asks questions in a conversational manner.

This is a great concept for cocktails, but it could also successfully be applied to a range of consumer goods, such as customized fragrances, salad dressings, candles, room fragrances, floral arrangements, china patterns, art work, cake flavors, ect. ect...!  Great concept!

Technology Trendcaster | Become a Sociopath ~ It's the Latest Thing!

I recieved an invitation this morning to join the new social network StyleCaster (which sounds suspiciously like a column that I write called Trendcaster on Bloomacious.com) - naturally I immediately zoomed over to take a look and post my mug on my own page.  

While the site doesn't seem all that different from our own network Bloomacious Cafe it apparently is embedded with lots of watching and listening devices that when explained in the video below makes me yearn for a nice long nap. 

Terms like "associated neuro network"  and "associative dynamics" are a far cry from my favorite phrase "me likey!"  but they mean similar things.

If there's any doubt after listening to this explanation that networks are the new blogs (which are the new magazines) then take a sneak peek at Fashionair which is girding up to launch soon.

Broken down gently, networks allow companies to watch the patterns and flows of their members - whom they friend, what they comment on.  We've done the same thing for the past 6 months through our networks and it's not quite as scientific or reliable as the Sociocast guys would like you to believe. 

Networks do provide a venue in which individuals can enjoy a club-like camaraderie- they also can serve as a TV station, a community blog, a messaging system and a newsletter - and are the next step beyond Facebook and Twitter.

A Fashion PR Don't ~ Hawking Rihanna's Courtroom Clothes

Not too long ago (well actually a few years ago now) I started reading about horrendous pitches that some publicists have been serving up to the masses.  The Bad Pitch Blog on Media Bistro has a detail of many - but these are usually reported without naming names.   The word "flack" is used so many times it looses its meaning.  And we've gotten quite a few doozies over on the Bloomacious desk from publicists who clearly didn't put a lot of thought into what they were circulating on their client's behalf. 

Now the highly read Gawker is throwing a cyber-fit over a press release (of all things in this day and age) they received hawking the clothing worn by singer Rihanna to the Chris Brown hearing.  And when Gawker speaks the universe listens - repostings of the PR misstep are circulating the blogosphere like wet hornets around a nest. 

Sometimes in PR it's not what you say on your client's behalf - it's what you don't allow to be said.

Beauty PR | Now Playing On Facebook ~ Philosophy's Summer of Love Campaign

The innovative beauty brand Philosophy has a very cool promo going at the moment on Facebook aimed at users and bloggers looking to expand their reader base.

Called The Summer of Love, the campaign involves Facebookers becoming a fan of the Philosophy page and then posting a note on their wall espousing their "philosophy of love". 

Five philosophers, or inspirational fans, will be chosen to serve as guest bloggers on the site PhilosophyGivesLove.com.

You can also share a story on PhilosophyGivesLove.com and receive free samples of Philosophy products.  To date, posting and participation has been robust.

It's a wonderful use of both Facebook and the alternate Philosophy site, giving them direct access to 10's of thousands of Facebookers, as well as enriching their homespun, community oriented image. 

We have a fabulous giveaway of Philosophy's Eye Hope, an eye treatment the company recently released that we just posted on our sister site, Bloomacious.com.

Big Announcement ~ CLPR is Now: Leber Media Group!

We researched, we tested, we pitched, we were pitched to, we blogged, we commented, we sent out thousands of emails, we tracked incoming traffic, we sent traffic,  ... and through it all we came up with a new formula for beauty, fashion, design, and baby PR that is unique to the industry. 

We've devised a PR strategy that directly harnesses Conversational Marketing - one that capitalizes on the much celebrated "social media" (which is now really "the media") and builds discussions with an interested audience.  This blended with a very old fashioned approach - one that involves well honed relationships and straight talk, together with superlatively designed tools - makes for a PR and marketing product that is second to none. 

Our company has added a variety of blogs, link galleries and a social network and a myriad of pages around the web of our own to create what is now Leber Media Group. 

Sounds like a big organization, but we're really the same small, friendly group as before - just now we have some unique tools in our arsenal that the average PR firm really doesn't.  The new name is a more accurate depiction of what we do: We work with media of all types and in various functions to get the maximum exposure and positive branding for our clients. 

Our specialties are still fashion, design and architecture, food, baby, lifestyle, and beauty PR.

Want to know more?  Email me at carrie@lebermedia.com or call me at 646.706.7761 and we'll discuss!  You can also get a feel from our newly refreshed website at www.lebermedia.com.

Beauty PR | Pretty Package: Q-Tips' Fancy New Dispensers

I'm a sucker for lovely graphic design, so I couldn't help but fall a little bit in love with these new vanity top dispensers from Q-Tips when the company sent them over last week.  Beauty publicists just adore a well designed package - it eases the way for print editorials as well as being a great drop in for film and TV placements. 

Bold and evocative, the Q-Tip boxes measure about 3 inches on each side and have a nifty drawer that slides open to reveal a good amount of the product.  The colors are shown here: turquoise and gray, orange and yellow, red and grey, and purple and grey. 

Beauty PR | Paris Releases Siren ~ But Can She Still Connect With Consumers?

Another day, another meandering post about Paris Hilton.  OK I'm not obsessed with the celebutant, she just keeps cropping up with things that make you look ~ sort of like that boy in Jr. high math class who keeps throwing spit bombs at you because he can't stand to not be the center of attention. 

Our subject today is the release of another fragrance from Paris, this one called Siren (which as we can see is meant to conjure images of mermaids and ships crashing onto rocks).  Licensee Parlux Fragrances is hoping to grab about $200 million in global sales from the product which will be in stores next month.   About 2000 doors will carry Siren - Macy's, Belk, Bon-Ton, Boscov’s and Stage Stores among them.

What is rather interesting about this particular fragrance is the statement that Neil Katz, CEO of Parlux released the other day. 

He said, "[Paris is] head and shoulders above so many other celebrities because of her connection with consumers, but also her connection with the paparazzi,” said Katz. “They appreciate that she takes the time to answer their questions, and pose for them. Paris understands the role they play in her business.”

While many of us in the beauty and fashion PR trade don't like to admit it, we more or less count on paparazzi to get shots of celebs wearing or using our client's products in public (just take a look through back posts on this blog of the amazing array of celebrities pushing our client Orbit Baby's stroller - all pap shots for the most part).  But to my memory this is one of the first times that a cosmetics brand has publicly mentioned paparazzi shots as a marketing plan.  Yes, we know the conversation goes on beyond the camera, but the public acknowledgment is the part that makes my ears perk up. 

This matched with the comment that Paris "connects" with consumers makes me take pause.  There are a growing number of celebrities who really do connect with consumers - they actually correspond with them on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter with endearing regularity like Isaac Mizrahi, Steven Cojocaro, Rachel Zoe, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Tina Fey and many more.  By correspond I don't mean they hit and run by posting a link about a product coming out or a show they're headlining and then head out for a shopping trip - they spend time writing back and forth with their fans who follow them - discussing a range of topics and commenting back. 

Yes, it's a new age in PR - one of access and two way conversations - not so much staged photo ops any longer (although photos play strongly in the mix as well, but usually they're candids taken by the stars themselves).

As they say, consumers vote with their feet - I'm excited to see how this marketing strategy pans out - at least here in the US.

The print campaign for Siren was shot by Mark Liddell in Los Angeles - advertising is scheduled to start in major titles next month.

WWD describes Siren as having "top notes of juicy mandarin, apricot nectar, and frangipani, with a heart of honeysuckle, coconut orchid and water lily. The drydown consists of vanilla beans, sandalwood and creamy musk. The sculpted glass bottle is designed to represent the tail of a mermaid with pleats that twist around to mimic a splash."

Siren was created by Honorine Blanc with Firmenich and will be available in two sizes of eau de parfum, 1.7 oz. and 3.4 oz., priced $45 and $55, respectively. There will also be a 6.7-oz. body lotion for $28.

source: WWD

Irresistable Squib ~ Paris Hilton Breaks Up With Doug Reinhardt Via Publicist

I seem to find myself writing about Paris Hilton a lot lately.  Over on Bloomacious.com we conducted a hotness poll last week about the celebutant's image to see if she's still in - the result to date:  about 83% of our readers don't think Paris still has it - but they were envious of her fantastic closet (Paris provided a video tour for MySpace recently that is mighty impressive).

Whether she's still red hot or not, she always seems to keep cropping up in the news, leaving us to believe that her publicist, Dawn Miller, has her work cut out for her on a fairly consistent basis.

Last week, I, and many in the PR world, were mighty amused by this squib which ran in SFGate's The Dish, and gives an overview of correspondence between Paris' representatives and People Magazine. 

Paris started dating Doug Reinhardt (from The Hills) last year and has made quite a show of their relationship - even holding a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival in which photographers were obliged to snap the two in various stages of lip-lock (or pre-lock as above, taken just a few short weeks ago).

Of the relationship The Gate writes:

"...Hilton made it clear the romance is over on Wednesday, announcing through her representative that she is no longer in a relationship with Reinhardt.

The spokesperson told People.com, "In response to the inquiry on whether Paris Hilton has split up with Doug Reinhardt, yes, this is true they are no longer together. They remain friends and ask that you please respect their privacy."

However, despite the public confirmation of a split, it looks as though Hilton forgot to tell the most important person -- her boyfriend.

When quizzed about the break-up by E! Online, Reinhardt replied, "No, that's not true. Everything is OK between us.""

Yikes ... but this brings to mind another public dumping a few years back when Matt Damon announced he'd stopped seeing Minnie Driver on Oprah - without telling poor Minnie. 

Oh well, that news is so last week, the Paris PR train has chugged into yet another station as she offers another (revealing) house tour via our pals over at Access Hollywood that has many buzzing: