October Tweets: Cultivate Key Contacts Or Lose Out to the Competition
Taking time to build solid industry connections is paying off for editors during convention coverage assignments. Gone are the days when they could simply roam conference halls collecting newsworthy quotes from readily available show attendees. Increasingly, one editorial director warns, “you have to call in advance to make appointments with authoritative sources.” Established connections are key, another director observes: “Staffs who took time to create editorial boards are in much better shape by still being able to touch base with reliable sources.”
In fact, anemic contact connections are just one example of shortcomings in the B2B journalism world. Here are just a few other problems noted in Editorial Solutions Inc.’s monthly Twitter report:
- Working from home may have welcome benefits, but there are still plenty of ways to go astray. “26 Tips for Maximum Productivity” is a reference readers will appreciate being offered via “The Ultimate Guide to Working From Home.”
- Trade show coverage is harder than ever before. Alert publishers are eagerly seeking weeker opponents who clearly are lagging behind when it comes to demonstrating enterprise reporting capability.
- Tech support gurus in a rush to offer super-streamlined new programs have either crashed prematurely or are clearly destined to follow suit.
- More marketers are insisting that editorial staffs provide monthly lists of important editorial topics competitors are covering poorly.
- Editors must battle efforts to weaken the strength of their editorial coverage. Corporate leadership must be disabused of the idea that full-time and freelance staff can be reduced while maintaining top editorial quality.
All these developments and more are presented regularly via ESI’s exclusive Twitter posts.
If covering retail field, have you noticed big stores cutting back on technical support services? In future, consumers may find difficult getting stuff fixed. Who’s going to fill that need? Worth a story in near future???
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 7, 2021
Likelihood that B2B editorial staff cuts may be proposed probably don’t have merit, considering already made slashing. Nevertheless, editorial managers must be prepared to quantitatively defend existing team size.
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 8, 2021
Learned the hard way that not all printer paper blockages are easily resolved. In my case, blockage fix would require taking apart the printer’s rear section. Considering the cost to get that done, buying a new printer seemed to be best solution.
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 8, 2021
Many B2B publications still are not quantitatively prepared to defend their content vs. possible invading competitors. Especially vulnerable are e-news sites that primarily fill space with PR announcement rewrites.
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 8, 2021
Every B2B editor should read this account of how Industry Dive got started — especially the opening section describing news-gathering philosophy. Then ask yourself: do I do as well!! https://t.co/UdHTmUGqi6
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 11, 2021
Use timely lists to match editorial strength vs. tough opposition. One B2B publisher created a 15-point list compared monthly. Another firm regularly eyeballs ten trendy topics that always must trounce competitors.
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 14, 2021
Use timely lists to match editorial strength vs. tough opposition. One B2B publisher created a 15-point list compared monthly. Another firm regularly eyeballs ten trendy topics that always must trounce competitors.
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 14, 2021
Feature story productivity report every six months is useful if you supervise large staff. What’s required is that you go through previous issues and count accurately contribution by each staff member.
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 17, 2021
Have you found many software program designers who manage to make new versions much more difficult than existing, more easy to use systems? This deficiency is especially annoying when technical support is required.
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 19, 2021
Anyone planning editorial competitive analysis review must be sure to examine trade show coverage. Asset worth bragging about more than in past is enterprise reporting. Gathering exclusive scoops is no cinch.
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 20, 2021
How do B2B editors cope with outburst of virtual events aimed at replacing usual convention activity? Staff also find regular story contacts becoming less than reliable. Will attempt to address dilemma in upcoming article.
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 29, 2021
Filling content space left vacant at convention time due to outburst of virtual events may be more doable for staffs having editorial board access. Formation will be tougher for staffs burdened by limited industry contacts
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 29, 2021
“The Ultimate Guide To Working From Home” definitely is a worthy read — even if you already have an effective system in play. Report itemizes 26 factors that work for the author: https://t.co/p1vzEBcxiZ
— Howard Rauch (@fogindex8) October 29, 2021