PRNewswire has added a Digital Center to their social media press releases (they call MultiVu). Basically, it’s a CMS (content management system) to hold your video, audio and digital photo content for your news stories.

“As more organizations create digital content, there is an increasing need for multimedia portals to archive, manage and make that information available, 24/7, to anyone, anywhere in a format that is easy to download. With The Digital Center’s online platform, storing, sharing and distributing multimedia materials is a seamless process.”

Here’s what you can do:

1. Upload your video, photos and logos into one place to store and manage them.
2. Download content in multiple formats that cater to journalists in the US and Internationally.
3. Distribute an advisory to PR Newswire’s vast communications network reaching thousands of media points and Web sites, and to the tens of thousands of members of PR Newswire for Journalists each time new content is uploaded.
4. Make your information public or password-protected so you control the media, bloggers and websites that can access the digital assets.
5. Comment and rating system that enables consumer and media to provide feedback on videos and other promotional materials.
6. Reporting and tracking so you can see how many times a video is streamed and what is downloaded.

You can upload existing video “or enlist MultiVu to produce new video, audio or other multimedia assets.” I’m not really sure what they mean by this – if they will produce content for you or if they have a DIY system.

Recently PRNewswire added a package that lets you display photos on billboards in Times Square and Las Vegas. They also have direct-to-blogger distribution and SEO capabilities (though I’m not sure what they are specifically). What I like is that you can grab video (either singly or by RSS feed) to go along with a news story you want to blog about.

Example of a multimedia press release on MultiVu: I saw a story on MultiVu from Google.org about geothermal energy – something I’m really interested in after watching 60 Minutes last Sunday and being reminded of the mess we’re in because of global warming. If I click on the video title I can download or insert the video onto my blog. Pretty slick. It’s much easier for Google.org to store and manage those videos as well as control who gets them.

Here’s more information about pricing and services from PRNewswire: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/multivu/37897/docs/37897-PRN_Digital_Center_FINAL.pdf

This is a sponsored review.

John Kremer just tweeted about various Twitter services to help you manage multiple Twitter accounts, schedule tweets, and other helpful activities. The post is helpful because it gives just enough information. Not in-depth reviews or just a list but a short summary of useful points.

I’ve used TweetLater (not sure I like the auto-follow so I need to turn it off but it would be great for contests and special timely news). I’m going to probably switch to EasyTweets. I don’t know how any of the programs for a PC help with the SMS side of Twitter. My short experiment was a disaster. I got so many text messages. I need to figure that one out.

I love how the tech community builds around applications to improve them. They do this from Twitter to the iPhone. There’s a generosity and innovation that I appreciate. Apple brilliantly made a marketplace which builds an incentive for people not only to extend the iPhone with custom apps, but an incentive to maintain and improve them. Too bad WordPress doesn’t have something like that! Free is great but charging a little helps the quality and sustainability go up. It would be cool if Twitter had a marketplace too.

UPDATE: My friend Jesse pointed out that I didn’t include his site SocialToo. It has auto-follow, managing features and you can create surveys not just on Twitter but on Facebook.

Dooce (Heather Armstrong) read from her new book in Salt Lake City Utah tonight. Even though she lives in Utah and I do too I’ve never seen her in real life until today. I heard about her maybe 3 years ago when I was so obsessed with blogging that I blogged at work a lot and started getting in trouble for it. My then boss said he knew Heather and how she’s a famous blogger. 

You’d think living in Utah I’d sometimes run into Dooce at events or something but I haven’t. She doesn’t show up for blogger’s conferences or talk about how to monetize your blog. Did you know she’s been blogging for over 8 years?

I also fell for thinking that her ring was an expensive designer ring and admired it as she tucked her hair behind her ear while she talked. Here’s the story on that. I kept thinking how great it would be to make money writing about your everyday life. You’re always the expert on that topic!

Her mom and dad were there. She mentioned feeling a bit uncomfortable talking about sex in front of them (they were on the front row). So Dooce said she was going to have to censor her language. That didn’t stop her from declaring that her “vagina can’t fold sheets.” (This is the only time I’ll deliberately say these words on my blog because 1- that’s not what this is about (low shock value blog) 2- my blog has already attracted its share of viagra and x-rated links and those Google alerts still traumatize me).

I asked her which blogs she reads after she admitted she doesn’t read many books. Here are the blogs she cited (I don’t read any of them):

MetaFilter
Go Fug Yourself
Something like kota.org?? [NOTE: thanks to the comments I’ve learned it’s http://kottke.org
design blogs

I asked her to tell the story of how she got dooced, which was my favorite story because it’s what launched everything.

On negative comments: It’s a hazard of the job you learn to ignore. On writing about people in your life: “I won’t write it unless I’d say it to their faces in front of a group of people.” Pure wisdom.

What’s next for Dooce (who looks really pregnant, not fake pregnant like some have asserted). She’s going to say no to everything for the next year because in two months she’ll have a new baby. And here’s the most ironic part of the night. She actually said, after reading from a book about how tough motherhood is (which I haven’t read).

Why?

“I’m going to enjoy having a newborn in my house – that’s all I want to think about.”

I guess we’ll find out just how much she enjoys that experience on her blog this summer. Somehow I think it’ll be a mixed bag.

Stephen (my husband) got two free tickets to see Art Garfunkel in concert in Wendover Nevada. So it made a great date night. Art has got to be in his 70s now and the crowd (no surprise here) was older too. No doubt there to hear the classics. When Art came on stage for the first song he mentioned being nervous.

The first few songs were so bad that I wanted to leave. Art simply doesn’t have the tone and strength that his voice once had. I found myself feeling sorry for him and then for myself and the inevitable effects of aging. I’ve never liked the idea of old age at all but my genes say I’ll live a long long life.

The set was a walk through the major eras of his career. Only when he got to the 60s the crowd got behind him. We started caring and the entire mood changed. I stopped wishing it was over.

One guy shouted a request (or plea): “stay in the 60s!” and here’s where the marketing went all wrong.

Art shot back at the guy: I hope you’re not a parent because you don’t believe in growth and development!

Shock.

It felt like a stinging slap on the face – he insulted his audience when he didn’t like the feedback he got. Because that guy was just voicing what we were all thinking.

Next mistake: bitterness. Bitterness doesn’t sit well with me – whether from a holocaust survivor, Guy Kawasaki or Art Garfunkel. It’s unflattering. It says more about you than the subject. It says I haven’t forgiven yet, I’m still holding on to anger or resentment.

When I sense bitterness I don’t remember anything else but that feeling – not specifically what brought it on. And somehow it ages people to me. Not that bitterness was strong this time around, but it was an undercurrent when he spoke about he and Paul Simon breaking up. He made light of it but it was there. He doesn’t like that people prefer his songs with Paul Simon over his solo work.

We came to hear “Bridge over Troubled Water” and the classics with Paul Simon. He wanted to share his new work. A marketer or great performer realizes it’s not about them but about the audience. The other musicians seemed to get this and I loved their contributions.

People still gave Art a standing ovation but I sat in my seat. There’s a certain amount of generosity there that I didn’t feel. I clapped for what he was for what I heard on the radio. Not as much for what he is. Even though in some ways he’d redeemed himself. As his confidence grew so did his connection with us and I don’t think I imagined that his voice got stronger too.

Anything done well over time, mastered – even programming – can evolve into art. His reading was art but his singing was not. Not the Art I knew about.

I have a suggestion for the next concert (who am I to suggest anything). Make it a sing-a-long and only play the most popular hits. That will cover for your voice and we’ll have more fun. Put in more poetry reading and stories (those were excellent).

I’m sorry to admit that we didn’t really go for you Art, we came for nostalgia – for our memories – the memories we have because of you.

And for that, I thank you.

I’m going to start blogging more about local stuff, if you’re not in Utah, feel free to skip. I’m really interested in my local community, wherever that happens to be. I realize that my audience is not local so I’ve shied away from writing this type of content. But now I figure what the hell. I love to write and I write about what I’m experiencing…which yesterday was a meeting of the North Front Entrepreneur Alliance.

This also brings out the reporter side of me which I’d do more of if I could get paid decently to do it.

North Front is for entrepreneurs who live in Davis and surrounding North Utah counties. This was their 2nd ever meeting and it gave me a chance to check out the DATC (Davis Applied Technology Center) and their very nice entrepreneurial center. I’ve lived in Davis for about 9 months now and I’m still looking for my community. I found it here. Finally.

“If you’re in business, you’re in politics whether you know it or not”

“If you want to make an impact, “pick a battle you’re not expected to win and win it”

- Rich Nelson, CEO of Utah Technology Council

Rich was fascinating – I get email from UTC but haven’t ever gotten involved. I had no idea what they were doing from an advocacy perspective. I’d like to accompany them on a trip to Washington. They build local coalitions and take powerful business leaders to Washington to impact legistlation. They were instrumental in stopping a dumb bill about trademarks online.

I only wish he couldn’t slowed down and explained more (give more background information) but now I guess I better start reading the emails. I felt like he started assuming we were informed when at least I wasn’t. I want to learn more about the TechAmerica affiliatation and Singapore Math.

Majority leader, Utah Senate Sheldon Killpack spoke also. Killpack shocked me because he’s admits he loves roads. As an environmentalist I tried to prevent them. However, I see his point. He gave a stat I wish I’d gotten about how much revenue we get back when we invest in road projects. He talked about all of the good things he and Jason Perry (who I had as a teacher when I was 21) are doing to draw tech firms to Utah.

He also talked about health care in the state, a big issue for the growing ranks of the uninsured. It’s expensive to do universal coverage – some countries do national healthcare but if you’re over 70 you probably won’t get served. He summed up this way:

“It’s easy to control costs if you’re willing to let people die”

Other News/Tidbits:

Northern Utah Business and Economic Summit May 7 all day. Following will be a meeting for NorthFront. Don’t know the location.

Centerville Business Incubator – executives who are transitioning meet to discuss starting businesses. 1-3 pm Thursday afternoon. Didn’t give exact directions (frustrating) but it’s near Pages Lane.

I met Curtis Funk of Funeralrecording.com who webcasts funerals and talked about UtahTributes. He says sell then build, which I think is crazy, but some people have more guts than I do. He told me about eternalspace.com where you can have a online memorial and purchase virtual pieces to enhance it. This is interesting because the only physical product I’ve ever wanted to make has to do with the funeral industry (one niche). I stopped when I couldn’t find frames at a cost that would make the entire thing profitable. Might do downloadables instead. Need good designer to partner with who is skilled in typography design. Might consult with folks at entreprenur center. Also think Paul Allen should incorporate the death piece into his geneology sites.

Food of the Gods Chocolatier had amazing chocolate dipped strawberries on hand. No web site on card but in Kaysville.

I finally got to meet Roxy I know from Twitter who heads local tweetups and seems well-connected. She was great. We were two of about 5 women total.

Good folks, good food and ideas = fun times.

As I was writing my last post about forums I realized in the approximately 4 years I’ve been actively online as a marketer I’ve been banned from various sites a few times. Before that I was an HTML programmer when that was a marketable job skill. I used the internet for entertainment and socializing – not business. As a newbie I made mistakes and learned. I’m still learning all the time – which is why I love what I do.

However, I’ve had somewhat painful lessons along the way (as I’m sure we all have).

Sites I’ve been banned from:

1. My WordPress hosted blog got banned. I found a personal contact and begged. I got it back. Then a few months later it was banned again. For ONE LINK that they considered spam. I learned to get my own host. I gave up on getting it back ever again (and I haven’t).
2. 3 years ago I was kicked off Google Adsense. I got back on. I’ve been making a bit on it since.
3. Probably about the same time I was kicked off Commission Junction. 6 months no commissions. When you’re doing SEO it takes time to see results. Plus I had no idea what I was doing. Luckily they were friendly and I got right back on and started making money not long after.

That’s all I can remember. My friend Paul got kicked off Digital Point this week which is maddening because he ran some design contests for me. Including one that resulted in this blog design. If you have two accounts you’ll get banned for 6 months. If you complain they’ll hate you and it won’t get you anywhere. Replies are generally 1-3 curt sentences. Doesn’t matter why you had two accounts. No warnings and it’s not negotiable. And that’s the problem.

I would say, too bad, it’s free to you. To that I’d say: too bad you don’t have the option to pay for some better service or a pro account where they’d work with you. Luckily with WordPress I had migrated my content and could buy hosting and prevent that from happening on my own domain.

Consultation – it has happened to the best of us – even Scoble got kicked off Facebook

Any stories you want to share about getting banned from a web site?

I’m usually upbeat but I’m on one today…

I’ve never been a fan of forums. To me they seem to be the most unfriendly communities. Facebook and Twitter are inviting and people are friendly. Places like Wikipedia, most forums I’ve been on, Digg and others aren’t. Which is why I gravitate towards Kirtsy.

People with large egos or power on these site get ruthless. They have something to protect. Maybe they don’t actually like dealing with people in real life or virtually.

Antisocials running social sites.

From what I’ve seen they don’t show a lot of tact – especially to marketers (thanks to the marketers who spam who we all pay penance for). They ban people. They seem to feel everything should be done out of the goodness of your heart – failing to recognize that people who contribute have a reason to. Even if that reason is for fame or the exposure of their ideas (something I know a lot about!). If you get banned from these communities (heck, even if you get banned from Google) forget democracy because you have little recourse. Unless you’re lucky (which I was once – I was banned from AdSense when I was new. I was kicked off of Commission Junction for not making any commissions in 6 months – but they let me back on and I have made money ever since). To me they act like you should be put in prision for breaking one of their rules. And the rules are paragraphs and paragraphs that no one ever reads.

If I could break down the rules for a community it should be not to dominate or harm the community. If what you do doesn’t violate that you should be given some leeway. Perhaps be treated like something besides a criminal.

I suppose I’m grouchy about mean-spiritedness – I’ve been watching and reading too many stories that show disregard for others in one form or another. I like people and socializing. I take a stand for treating people with dignity and respect – even online – and even when they’ve broken the rules.

I didn’t start out the day feeling great. Then I read Facebook’s trial they’re testing to have friends rate each other on the value of their status updates. Facebook is trying out an idea where your friends can give you credits if they like your update. It’s like a reward system or leaving a tip that can be traded for virtual gifts.

Sure people spontaneously send you gifts or give favors if you provide them value (I was given a domain name once). But to have it built into the system so that there is competition bothers me. There’s already competition about how many friends you have – but now it will also be on the value people find in what you say.

It’s not just an update, it’s a judgement?!
I’m not big on the idea of tipping my friends whose updates I like. I wouldn’t mind the idea of earning and sending Facebook “gifts” for other things. Like birthdays. And making it easier to do that. But isn’t there already a built-in feature to weed out people who status updates you don’t like (unfriend them or ignor them). When you respond to their updates, isn’t that feedback enough?

“Credits can also show Facebook much deeper information about what people think of each other. If you’re constantly crediting back and forth with a few friends, for example, Facebook would learn that you all care a lot about what each other have to say.”

I like friends and relatives on Facebook regardless if their updates are interesting, entertaining, or valuable to me beyond that. This seems a bit like rating people which is outside of the definition of friendship to me. At work and in other areas of life we have competition but Facebook is a place where we can let our hair down a little (and for some, too much so). I value friends that I can be myself with. I also sense that this has an alterior motive – a way for Facebook to market better.

Ideas for Facebook

As I mentioned Facebook could get more into gift giving (virtual and in real life) by integrating this into times when it’s natural to give gifts. Mother’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, new babies, weddings, etc. I might not send a friend on Facebook an actual wedding present, but I might be willing to give send them a Facebook wedding gift (some rice throwing, an e-card, etc. as a way to acknowledge the event). People are congratulated just about any time they go from single to “in a relationship” or “married” — even if they’ve been married for years. So Facebook could actually help people celebrate with vow renewals or a section that recognizes newlyweds.

While I’m brainstorming…why not have a button that says “promote this update” or a Digg-type voting system? The most valuable updates could be voted on and be promoted to the home page.

Faciliate Fun

Facebook is about fun – and the more they can encourage that part of it the better the experience. People will pay a lot to have fun or be entertained (look at sports, concerts and Disney). As far as online worlds – Second Life does a good job at enabling fun and making money doing it. At some point it stops being fun – and to me that’s when it becomes too competitive. And if that’s what Facebook becomes I’m unfriending it.

I just bought Thesis WordPress theme – and the point is that it makes it easy to modify a WordPress theme so that it’s customized to what you need. I bought the programmer’s version. You can customize the column widths, change out the header for different pages, use different themes for each page (such as pages without sidebars that you can use as a home page) and other features. This should make it easier to use a blog for a web page and a blog. Once you buy the theme you get access to the forums and the tutorials.

One of the big selling points is that you can add different styles to paragraphs. As I’ve complained about before, WordPress makes it tough to make nice-looking text. Also, you can star content, add colored boxes, etc. to add variation to your blog posts. I found this plugin that makes customizing your CSS easier – and you can do it within your dashboard.

I had issues with viruses on my sites that I finally got rid of. I found a blog whisperer who is amazing at this – ping me if you need his contact information. I’m also reading about how to use Facebook groups to get more traffic to your blog – from Problogger.

Next up: try Thesis and see exactly how easy it is to use. If you’re ahead of me I’d like to hear your feedback.

First, I apologize for the delay on the book contest! I had to contact my publisher and the director who is overseeing my book. Both are busy! I learned that my book already has a certain format that I need to follow…it’s part of the NOW WHAT? series. So it needs to end with NOW WHAT? The follow-up to the book would be: I have a press release, now what?

EXAMPLE book title: I Want a Killer Press Release…Now What?

Thanks for your submissions – I still love a lot of them. Future books…from this press release writer (me).