Yearly Archives: 2012

How I Work The Internet

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HWH PR Secured Three Storefront Windows At Dylan’s Candy Bar On 60th And Third Avenue For Our Client Bed Head Curlipops Hair Appliances During Fashion Week.
Photo By Russell Rowland

Many of my friends and family ask me how I can do my job as a PR person when I am not in the office. I keep telling them that most of my work is done online. However, unless your business life is involved in publishing, as mine is, you might not understand how the digital world is the centerpiece of everything I do. This is also true for many other professions as well.

A recent assignment was publicizing the fact that our client, Bed Head Curlipops hair styling tools, is being featured in three of the storefront windows of Dylan’s Candy Bar on East 60th St. and Third Avenue in New York City to celebrate Fashion Week. The details of the campaign are spelled out in the press release below. Our PR agency was responsible for connecting the two parties, helping to work out the promotion details, and then all of the intricacies in securing editorial ink.

I am going to simplify the tasks even though much more was involved. Other than a few conference calls, we accomplished everything online.

1-Creating the strategy and writing the pitch to Dylan’s promotional department via email.
2-Answering the questions from Dylan’s marketing department by email. Everyone likes to keep telephone conversations to a minimal. You may think that is a sad reality, but it does cut down on a lot of wasted time.
3-Creating online documents that spell out final plans.
4-Tons of emails going over the design of the storefront windows.
5-Creating the press release and getting client approval.
6-Creating targeted press lists.
7-Hiring a photographer who can capture the window displays despite glare and tight sidewalk space.
8-Selecting the photos of choice with client (back and forth emails).
9-Distributing release and photo to the press (1,063 writers).
10-Post the promo on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin and the Bed Head Curlipops website.
11-The next few days are totally focused on answering press questions, convincing them to cover the story and finally fact-checking.
12-Same thing for initiating dialog on social media platforms. If you want to be successful, you have to engage in conversation every time someone makes a comment. Give and take, give and take.

Not done yet! In order to prove your worth as a publicist, you have to search the Internet for editorial coverage. Most publications don’t necessarily tell you that they are going to actually write a story. Unless beauty journalists or bloggers have questions, they just write and issue. It is up to us to find the coverage.

The bad news is that I am in a 24-hour business. Writers are reaching out to us seven days a week, 365 days a year. If we are not easily accessible, they move on to another story and all of our efforts were in vain.

The good news is that most of my work is done in my muu muu. No more business suits, no more long drawn out meetings, and no more racing around town to meet and greet everyone face-to-face. Now when I meet with members of the press, it is much more casual and comfortable.

Be a buddy. If you see a Bed Head Curlipops and Dylan’s Candy Bar promo story, be sure to let me know.

Thanks partner.

Contact: Lois Whitman PRESS RELEASE
HWH Public Relations FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(917) 822-2591 September 2012
loisw@hwhpr.com

Dylan’s Candy Bar Partners With Bed Head® Curlipops™
Hair Appliances To Celebrate Fashion And Sweeten Up Your Style

Hi-res images available upon request

New York, NY— Dylan’s Candy Bar, along with Bed Head® Curlipops™, is providing a sweet, exciting twist to Fashion Week in New York City as the top designers begin to unveil their 2013 collections. Dylan’s Candy Bar, located at 60th Street and Third Avenue, is demonstrating how candy influences fashion by using the Bed Head Curlipops curling irons in attention-grabbing window displays that show the latest trends in hair styles. Dylan’s is one of the major New York destinations for tourism, entertainment and candy fanatics.

Bed Head Curlipops, known as the hair styling line that can satisfy your cravings without the calories, are sold in eye-catching, swirl lollipop-shaped package designs that pop because of its vibrant colors. The Curlipops feature unique barrel shapes that create fun textures, loose curls and waves. Each iron features Tourmaline Ceramic Technology, a clamp-free wrap and go design, high heat, and a heat protective styling glove for easy styling.

The line consists of:

1” Tourmaline Ceramic Reverse Conical Styling Iron (BH311) – $29.99 MSRP
Create tight curls at the roots and looser curls towards the bottom as seen on the latest fashion scene. This 1” reverse conical styling iron comes in a blue raspberry color and is sure to leave your hair full of delectable texture.

1” Tourmaline Ceramic Hourglass Styling Iron (BH312) – $29.99 MSRP
Can’t decide if you want tight or loose curls? Have them both. This 1” candy apple red hourglass styling iron creates loose curls at the ends and tight curls in the middle. The result is volume that just won’t quit.

1” Tourmaline Ceramic Styling Iron (BH313) – $29.99 MSRP
Creating loose curls and waves is now easier than ever. This 1” styling iron comes in a tangerine color and is sure to leave your hair with sweet shine and amazing body.

1” Tourmaline Ceramic Tapered Styling Iron (BH318) – $29.99 MSRP
Your hair has never looked so sweet! This 1” Cotton Candy pink tapered styling iron creates a curl that starts off loose and then is more defined towards the ends.

Dylan’s Candy Bar is already known as fashion trendsetters as more and more people wear their candy. As recently seen on Project Runway, Dylan’s was the theme of candy-style fashions. Dylan Lauren, one of the guest judges, helped to inspire designers to show how people love candy so much, they wear it. Dylan’s dream of combining a love of candy and a passion for art became a reality in 2001, when the first Dylan’s Candy Bar, located in New York City, opened for business. Since then, Dylan has expanded her stores to include locations in Houston, East Hampton and Los Angeles. Miami is coming soon.

In 2008, the New York City flagship store was renovated to include a third floor, growing from 10,000 to 15,000 square feet – and making it the world’s largest candy store. The third floor now houses a café, offering classic soda fountain favorites, over 100 ice cream and frozen yogurt flavors, 18 types of Belgian hot chocolate and a bakery full of sweet treats. Parties and events are also held on the third floor – check out the website for party packages or contact us at 1-866-939-5267 to create a custom-made celebration.

Dylan’s Candy Bar products are also carried in select Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sephora, Alice + Olivia, Urban Outfitters and Juicy Couture stores.

Exercise Or Anxiety–Have I Got A Button For You

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I am a hypochondriac. I used to be worse. When I was happy my heart raced. When I was upset my heart raced. I used to walk around feeling my pulse expecting my heartbeat to stop. I did this until something else came along to distract me. I had forgotten all about that part of my neuroses until I saw a runner on Lincoln Road in Miami the other day stop to take his pulse. He did it the old fashioned way by just applying his fingers on one hand to the pulse on his other. He saw me watching him so I struck up a conversation.

I remarked, “I thought you would wear a gadget for that?” He said he can’t stand wearing anything on his arms when he runs, but he does strap his iPhone to his waist. He looked like he was a mean, lean, running machine. I asked why it was so important for him to take his pulse. He said his doctor felt his “recovery rate” from the highest numbers he achieves per minute while running was too slow. In other words, it took longer than usual for his heart to return to his normal count. He told me that a lot of people have that problem but it is unusual for active folks who like to run, swim or play ball.

I was so proud of myself. I told him about Instant Heart Rate, an app that can quickly tell you how fast your heart is beating every minute. I demoed it on my iPhone. The runner was amazed, as are most people I show this app to. By simply placing the tip of your finger on the iPhone camera , your heart rate will be displayed, much like in Emergency Rooms. The same technique is used by medical pulse oximeters. The real time chart will show you every heartbeat. It looks like an EKG chart.

It is so difficult to fathom. The phone you use to make calls is now a heart monitor. What will they think of next? Don’t answer that!

The runner profusely thanked me and went jogging off. I got so excited that lazy old me showed someone of his caliber a cool tool, my heart started racing. My neurosis kicked in so I used the Heart Rate monitor to see if I had really worked myself up. The results? Only, 75 on the Heart Rate monitor. No need to worry!

Who Owns Your Online Music and Book Collection When You Die?

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Bruce Willis

While you were having your BBQ’s this weekend, music bloggers around the world were all busy talking about who owns the rights to our online music and book collections once we die. This may seem like a gruesome topic for such a pleasant holiday weekend, but it all started when one International writer reported that Bruce Willis, yes the actor, was going to challenge Apple about the rights to his iTunes account after his death.

Trade reporters wrote that the Die Hard actor has a huge online music collection. This issue recently came to light when he was updating his wills and trusts. He regards his music as one of his most valuable assets. It is not necessarily what the music costs, but the sentimental value of his personal picks. Rumor has that the collection is worth tens of thousands but it might be higher than that.

Being that social media is a place where everyone chimes in, Willis’s current wife, Emma Hemming, tweeted that her husband was not going after Apple. Don’t quote me but I think someone said she and Bruce have no idea how this rumor got started. No one can verify if that was the real Emma Hemming, but that is not what everyone is now concerned about. Americans want to know who actually owns the downloaded music collections from iTunes?

It is not easy getting an answer. All reporter and blogger inquiries into Apple have so far gone unanswered. Twitter can’t even tell if Emma Hemming is Emma Hemming. They have no real way of knowing. Most people I spoke to about this situation over the weekend and from what I have read, said the only way we are really going to get an answer is to have the actor, who plays big screen action roles, lead the way. Apple will more likely pay attention to Willis, than us.

A British newspaper reporter, one of the first to bring up the entire subject, said Willis was concerned that the rights to his music collection would be “passed back to Apple, entitling his children to nothing.” It was also mentioned that the actor wanted it definitely documented that his children hold the legal rights to his music.

Long time music writers noted that when you download a music track from the iTunes store, you are really renting the content under license. Your next question should be, “Does that apply to music and books from Amazon?” The legal community is sure to have a field day with post-mortem music and book rights as more intellectual property is purchased through online stores.

A Personal Invitation To Experience A Webinar

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Steve Greenberg, author of Gadget Nation, is inviting all Digidame readers to experience a webinar. Most of the time you need a special invitation to join an online conference. This could be a real treat for you.

All you have to do is click here Thursday evening at 8:00PM.

There is no learning curve. Everything is done for you.

Here is the formal invite

STEVE GREENBERG AUTHOR OF GADGET NATION PRESENTS: HOW TO GET YOUR PRODUCT ON TELEVISION
As seen on the Today Show, Dr. Oz, and Food Network’s Invention Hunters

THIS EVENT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THU 9/6 FROM 8:00PM – 9:00PM EDT

Steve Greenberg (stevegreenberg.tv, Facebook, Twitter @stevetv) is a product scout as well as the author of GADGET NATION: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE ECCENTRIC WORLD OF INVENTION and the co-host of Food Network’s Invention Hunters. Steve can be seen demonstrating innovative products routinely on NBC’s Today Show, The Dr Oz Show and various stations across the country.Steve is always looking for new innovative products to showcase on television and he is able to help inventors land licensing deals. Steve’s topic: “How to Get Your Product on TV.”

The webinar is a Shindig production. Shindig is committed to unleashing the unrealized potential of video chat through large-scale online events that mimic all the dynamics of physical events. In Shindig, not only can participants freely mingle with one another in private video chats, but the speaker presenting to the audience can share the stage enabling participants to ask their questions face to face in front of the audience as a whole. Already embraced by hundreds of best-selling authors and entertainers, Shindig is pioneering a new mode of robust online video interactivity. More information about Shindig and a schedule of their upcoming events can be found at http://www.shindig.com.

Park Your Car In Your Living Room

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Hamilton Scotts, one of the most lavish condos in Singapore.

I don’t know about you, but every time we park our car, a 23-year old 560SEL Mercedes, in the garage of our New York City apartment building, I get an eerie feeling. It’s like we are leaving an old friend who is defenseless to fend for himself. A few months ago, my worst fears came true when we discovered that someone took a key and scratched the entire driver’s side of the car. Our automobiles are among some of our most precious and expensive purchases, yet we are forced to park them in public places. We were very upset, but there was little we could do.

I was relating this story to a business friend the other day. He then told me about a new 30-story luxury apartment building in Singapore where billionaires park their Lamborghinis, Maseratis, and Ferraris in their living rooms. I had no idea what he was talking about, but my curiosity got the best of me so I went on a Google hunt to search for the answer. Sure enough, Google directed me to YouTube where several videos explained the entire story.

Apparently, Singapore is home to more luxury automobiles per capita than anywhere in the world. The problem is that they have no place to put them. Parking spaces are very limited in the city. Some very savvy condo developers came up with a solution. They built flats that cost anywhere from $6 million to $15 million that allow owners to activate a biometrically-controlled elevator (it reads fingerprints) that lifts their expensive automobiles from the ground floor right into their swanky living rooms, no matter what level they live on. The cars can practically have a seat at the dining room table. Some do. Watch the video.

All I have to say is that you may not want your mother-in-law living with you, but there is always room for a set of wheels.

The Mole Detective

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OMG there is an app for this too!

I know that I have your attention. You would be crazy not to read on.

We are all worried about Melanoma. There is no secret what happens if a Melanoma is discovered late. However, if it is caught early, there is a 95 per cent survival rate.

This app is what I call, “Miracle of miracles.” It takes a picture of your mole and gives you a diagnosis immediately.

That is why I love the tech business so much. Just when you think you have heard of everything, along comes another awesome invention.

The Mole Detective uses the universal ABCDE analysis combined with shape recognition software. The acronym means Asymmetry, Borders, Color, Diameter and Evolution. The basic idea is that you keep track of your moles at home and watch for changes. The Mole Detective is the first app to calculate symptoms of melanoma right on your phone. The app analyzes potentially cancerous skin moles, records and catalogs the mole evolution, and reminds you to recheck your moles at a pre-determined time.

I was going to write a lot of copy about my challenges with Basal Cell Carcinomas, but that is a harmless skin cancer that is easily removed. The fact that my legs look like rail road tracks is another story. I am grateful that I have a dermatologist who screens me carefully and knows when to dig deep. No pain, just a healing process.

Click here to visit The Mole Detective website.

Please watch the video. You will get an excellent demo of how the app works. I know that many of my readers rarely click on the videos. This is the one time that you absolutely should. This app is not intended to take the place of regular visits to your skin doctor. It is a supplement.

I Bought Myself A New Toy Today

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We are going to the Marlins game tonight at their new Miami stadium. They are playing the Mets. We do not know which team to root for. I will probably take some pictures with my new toy tonight, the olloclip, a 3-in-One photo lens clip for the iPhone 4 and 4S. Retails for $69.95. I just came from the Apple store on Lincoln Road.

The olloclip comes with a great microfiber lens cleaning cloth bag and lens caps for both ends. Good news, the ottoclip works with all of your favorite apps in both video and still modes. It takes seconds to attach the ottoclip to the iPhone.

I can now take fish eye, macro and wide angle pictures. Watch the video below.

I am now running out to get myself some peanuts and cracker jacks.

Two Historic Moments In Music

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Technology is advancing so fast that it never ceases to amaze. I just had to share these two stories with you.

The first one is about a famous hip hop/pop superstar, Will.i.am, whose new song premiered from Mars.

The second is about a 23-year old deaf filmmaker who heard music for the first time two weeks ago.

I became involved in these stories because of my work with iriver, a Korean company that will be debuting a new product which is slated to become a game changer in the music business. I am not allowed to say anything more.

1. Will.i.am is a famous and talented musician, performer and producer. You know him because he is a member of the singing group Black Eyed Peas, which also boasts the gorgeous and shapely Fergie.

Will.i.am will go down in history as being the first musician and performing artist to premiere a new single from Mars. The NASA rover Curiosity beamed his new song “Reach for the Stars” in the first music broadcast from another planet.

This was all arranged almost a year ago because Will.i.am is heavily involved in promoting math and science education

“Reach for the Stars” was uploaded to the rover which landed near the equator of Mars. The song was played back to Earth, a journey of approximately 700 million miles. That will definitely go down in the history books.

Will.i.am was among more than a dozen celebrities who were invited to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) to watch Curiosity’s landing last month. Others included Wil Wheaton, Seth Green and Morgan Freeman.

Click here to watch everyone at NASA plus an auditorium filled with students listen to the first musical concert from Mars.

2. Austin Chapman heard music for the first time earlier this month thanks to a new breakthrough in Phonak’s Naida S Premium hearing aids.

First time listening to music at age 23

Chapman was born profoundly deaf. Hearing aids helped with words, but music, with its full range of pitches and tones, could not be decoded. Chapman’s entry into the world of music is a fascinating one. A group of friends introduced him to Michael Jackson, Radiohead, and the Rolling Stones. He was blown away when he heard Mozart’s Lacrimosa. It was the first time he was able to appreciate music. Tears rolled down his face and he tried to hide it. But when he looked over at his friends, he didn’t see a dry eye on any of them.

Read his story here.

What Would You Ask A Dead Person?

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As far back as I can remember, I was always afraid of ghosts. I lost my grandfather Jake when I was 13. I slept with the lights on. I drove myself crazy. I thought he would suddenly appear in my room. One day I admitted this to my older brother who said he would be thrilled if that ever happened to him. I was stunned! “Wouldn’t you be scared?” He said it would be such a great opportunity to ask him many unanswered questions.

I thought about my brother’s reply for a long time. I still think about it today. As the years went by, we lost more and more family members. I became less afraid and started to hope that some of them would get in touch with me. Funny how life changes. When my mother died over seven years ago, I wanted her to give me a sign. She used to talk on the telephone all the time. I thought for sure she would call me. If anyone could do it, she would be the one. There have been a lot of things I can attribute to her watching over me, but I don’t have any definite proof.

All that might possibly change with a new app being secretly developed by a network of mediums who claim they have the skill to help us talk to our love ones that have passed to the other side. Now before you close this screen because you think I have gone mad, read on. There is nothing wrong with being open-minded. I am not a believer either. I will only believe when I personally communicate with someone who died. It has to be me with the dead person. No intermediaries.

I do, however, want to explore what these mediums are talking about, because I think it makes for an interesting post. The mediums don’t want to be identified because they feel my audience is not big enough for a debut. The Today Show or The New York Times is more their speed. Fair enough. The app is still in development and the only reason why I know about it is because we were approached to handle the PR.

By the way, the people we are talking to have been on TV many times and have a few million followers all around the world. I am at a point in my life where a medium doesn’t threaten me. If he or she is for real, great. If not, I have been scammed by lots of entrepreneurs who feel they have the next big thing. I am in good company. Most venture capitalists and angel investors get scammed every day of the week. They buy into someone else’s dream and write enormous checks to fund them. All I have to give is an hour or so of my time.

Back to the reason why I wrote this post. My question to you is, “Would you download this app if it was free?” At this point the app would allow you to check off who you wanted to ask a question to and then an answer would appear. There are going to be a lot of other options, but some may require face-to-face meetings with the medium. Another feature will be a dead person reaching out to a living loved one. The community has to help the mediums find that person.

It is going to be very interesting to see if Apple approves this app.

In the meantime, just think about it. If you had the opportunity to talk to someone you love who is deceased, wouldn’t you want to? I no longer sleep with the lights on. I am constantly looking for a sign!

The World Of Apps Should Thank Dr. Oz

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I am taking a chance talking about such a narrowly focused topic today, especially after I received many emails and comments on my widely- received Richard Schulze of Best Buy post yesterday. There could be many more eyeballs than usual watching to see what I will come up with next. While this next topic may seem a little unimportant to you, it is huge for anyone in the smartphone application business.

The Dr. Oz Show, a daily television program focusing on medical issues and personal health, is the first TV show I know of that is going to devote an entire segment to smartphone applications. Yes, they are health related, but that is not what this is about. TV talk shows have been reluctant to demonstrate apps because they do not show well on the TV screen.

I have been pitching apps for years to national and local TV shows and 99.9 per cent of the time I get a flat “No.” It doesn’t matter if the app is hugely popular or obscure, TV stations were not interested. In the last year or so, an app was mentioned on a TV talk show, but never, never, never, a full segment that will demo and detail how the applications work.

Leave it to Dr. Oz, a very tech savvy guy, not to be afraid to go beyond what is the norm.

It was so frustrating for me, that I finally did an email to each and every TV show producer asking them to reconsider because they were really cheating their audiences. I told them that apps played a very important part in the tech world and by not sharing the info, they weren’t giving their audiences what they wanted and needed. Very few wrote back, and those that did said, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

I was in shock when I heard from………..drum roll….. Steve Greenberg, the Innovation Insider and author of Gadget Nation, that Dr. Oz asked him to appear on his show just to focus on apps for Health and Wellness. We are actually going to see one whole segment where apps will be featured as the product showcase.

All I can say to that is…………….thank you Dr. Oz and Steve Greenberg. Steve taped the show this morning. He will let me know when it airs. The guest after Steve’s taped segment was Michelle Obama. Steve said when he left the studio, the building was surrounded by security. Everything and everyone was being searched.

Ah, show biz !

If you click on the highlighted Dr. Oz above, you will read all about him. I am concerned that many of you do not realize that you can do that. You will learn in time.

For those relunctant Digidame readers, here you go…….

Mehmet Cengiz Oz (Turkish: Öz, pronounced [mehˈmet dʒenˈɟiz øz], born June 11, 1960), also known as Dr. Oz, is a Turkish-American cardiothoracic surgeon, author, and television personality.

Oz first appeared on the The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2004, and later on Larry King Live and other TV programs. In 2009, Winfrey’s Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures launched The Dr. Oz Show, a daily television program focusing on medical issues and personal health.