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Cision Partners with PitchEngine

09.08.2011- Lander, WY - PitchEngine, an online platform that makes it easy for people to package their news and promote their business online, today announced a partnership with Cision, the leading provider of PR software, services and tools for the marketing and public relations industry.

The partnership will integrate PitchEngine’s social publishing platform into Cision’s award-winning marketing and PR software solution, CisionPoint.

“As marketing has truly become a conversation, PR people are becoming earned and owned media experts with a new focus on publishing, corporate narratives and branded content and engaging in the dialogue of the social web”, says Peter Granat, COO of Cision, “Our partnership with PitchEngine uniquely positions us to assist our clients in participating in this conversation.”

"This partnership represents an incredible shift in the traditional PR mindset," said PitchEngine Founder and CEO, Jason Kintzler. "It's not enough to just write SEO press release anymore. Today's PR pro must be able to generate rich content for consumers and other influencers without paying each time they post like with the aging press release service models."

PitchEngine will be integrated within CisionPoint - a winner of the 2011 CODiE Award as 2011’s Best Marketing/PR Solution from the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA). CisionPoint is an on demand software platform that allows PR and Marketing professionals to plan campaigns, connect with audiences, monitor coverage globally, and analyze results. It has been adopted by over 30,000 users in more than 20 countries since its launch in October 2007. CisionPoint is available in eight languages and used by 49 of the top 50 PR agencies, corporations, nonprofits, universities and solo practitioners.

Read the full Pitch™: http://pitch.pe/170677

Last month, Wyoming became the first state government to go Google and now, we're going Gowalla.
The latest campaign, Road Trip Wyoming, was created by Wyoming Office of Tourism and includes a Gowalla Stamp collecting mission for visitors. So cool to see our state taking leaps ahead in online technology. With our budget consistently in the black, it does enable us to focus on driving things forward. However, it takes an independent mindset to do what isn't "proven" yet. I'm proud of the Cowboy State, home to PitchEngine. 

If you read my blog or follow my posts at all you know how proud I am to be from Wyoming and to be building PitchEngine here as well. We're working hard to make sure our state not only sees the value of our innovative space, but also benefits from the high tech jobs we'll bring. People here are very independent and, in my opinion, epidimize what it means to be entreprenuers. From in-state clinics to an open door policy, we're encouraging our residents to learn about social media and web technologies so they can be better businessmmen and women. 

Recently, Google announced that Wyoming has become the first state to use Google Apps for Governement making them 100% cloud based. That's pretty big.

Building a successful startup here comes with its challenges, afterall, PitchEngine the most remote in the lower 48 states! However, low taxes, an independent streak and a killer lifestyle make it well worth the journey. One day we'll look back and find we've discovered a new natural resource, and it too can drive an economy forward.

I've been diving into Google+ for the past 24 hours or so and I have to say I'm thouroughly impressed. I was among legions of social media types who have watched Google's attempt at "social" fail time and time again. But, this time is different. In the past day I've seen some interesting comments to my posts and tweets and I wanted to clarify a few things for those of you who haven't seen Google+ in person just yet. It isn't Facebook. In fact, It's a lot better. Here's why:

1. The functionality is superior
This is expected. Often times, it is easier to build from scratch than to build-on to something that wasn't designed to do everything (I know first hand :). Google+ feels super-stable. No dissapearing images, spinning wheels while I await uploads, etc., Google's devlopers have thought through many of the hangups with Facebook and capatilized. For example, to quote a Google+er, "It's not 1996 anymore, I can edit my posts!"

2. No Games, pokes or birthdays
Out of the gate, Google+ just feels more productive. This may be a turn-off for certain Facebook users, but it's also why the social media and tech savvy types are flocking (and begging for invites) to Google+. I'm certain there will be people trying to make a buck here soon, but right now, it's incredibly clean.

3. Circles, not squares
In Google+ you create circles or groups of your friends, professional contacts, industries, rugby teammates, whatever. It's a simple drag-and-drop process that takes seconds, not minutes. All of your circles make up your stream, which can be filtered in a click displaying only those posts from specific circles.

4. Like Twitter, but with comments
INstead of "friending" people, you just add them to your circle. So, just like "following" someone on Twitter, these people are added to your stream of content. They can add you to their circle (follow back) and then you become "friends" which is yet another stream you can exclusively follow.

5. Hangout with your peeps
This feature is incredibly cool, but I haven't had an opportunity to test it out much yet. You can instantly create a video chat room full of your friends. It's one of the best group video applications I've ever seen. Here's a video that explains it in more detail:

6. +1 is the dealio
Instead of a "like" on Facebook, the +1 has a much larger impact on content. +1 ties directly into Google search making it a much more valuable button-push than any like. The implications of +1 could obviously be huge.

7. No Businesses or Brands
I'm not sure if this will hold, but I kind of like that there are no businesses or brands vying for my affection. A Facebook friend posted a comment on my post that he'd like to get an invite to Google+ so that he could create a page for his client. I'm not sure if this is the place, at least not in this format, for brands and businesses, rather endorsements of them. I think Google has some tricks up their sleeves here that could be winners.

Will Google+ myspace Facebook? My gut says Google+ is here to stay and that Facebook is too. My parents won't be using Google+ anytime soon, but my social media savvy friends certainly will.

Gotta run, my G+ tattoo is calling. 

1. You don't have any relationships in your client's industry.

2. Your agency doesn't "do" social media.

3. Your client has a bottomless budget and they're happy just knowing their press release "went out." (See The "Magic" Behind PR Wire Distribution)

4. You are fired-up that you could be entered to win a "Free iPad." 

5. Corporate Compliance says, "This is how we do things," and you're cool with that. (See Google Drops PR Wire for Earnings)

6. You think journalists will tell the story better than you or your client - assuming you actually get through to one. (See Brand Journalism)

7. You think email attachments are "handy" and the Word Doc is an industry staple.

8. You just can't get enough webinars and whitepapers about engagement, influence and ROI.

9. You signify the end of your day with three hastags.

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Do yourself a favor and try PitchEngine.
The easiest way to package your news and promote your business online.

Follow Jason on Tweeter and The Face Machine.

The first time my dad hoisted me up into the saddle I was about three-years-old. I still remember the fear I had sitting atop that seemingly HUGE horse. I was just a kid that really wasn't all that into horses. I was raised around them, but never felt the need to get serious about them. My dad however, had a different idea.

For him, it wasn't about me being ready or comfortable getting on a horse. Instead, it was an early childhood lesson - a sort of trial by fire. 

I've always had an inclination that my "cowboy" upbringing would play a critical role in my life as an adult. I didn't exactly grow up with spurs on my boots, but I was branded with a sort of independence and self-reliance that's indicitive of the cowboy. My philosophy has always been that hard work pays off and no one owes me anything. I think this mentality can foster great entrepreneurs who aren't afraid to make the difficult decisions, take chances and be solely responsible.

Although there were many seeds of ideas and concepts, PitchEngine was my first startup. I had no experience in building a business, especially one without a roadmap or competitors. Of course, I had my reservations. It would be difficult to come up with enough money to begin production. And, I had to balance it with my current career and newly started family (I was married the summer before I launched PitchEngine). However, I knew that I was on to something. It was just a matter of pulling the trigger on an idea that had been keeping me awake for months. 

With eyes wide open, I rode up the mountain full speed. It didn't matter that there were huge risks. If I got bucked off - which I did several times along the way - I would get back on and ride thru it. I didn't take anyone's lead. Instead, made the rules up as I went. If I failed, it would be by my own doing. That, I could live with.

Today, now that I have two little buckaroos of my own, I'm reminded of those lessons that their cowboy grandpa gave to me. It's these lessons and this lifestyle that will contrbute to their success in life. 

If I could have a hand in breaking-in the entrepreneurs of tomorrow, I'd round them up and teach them the fundamentals and cowboy work ethic that I was fortunate enough to recieve - whether I liked it at the time or not. 

Cowboy Entrepreneur Lesson 1:

In Order to Ride You Must Risk Being Bucked Off.

 

For a limited time, readers who "like" the New Media Cowboy Facebook Page will have a chance to win a pair of Ariat Cowboy Boots, compliments of yours truly. Thanks for paying attention to my little blog! :)