Good Fundamentals for an Agency RFP Process

The Request for Proposal (RFP) has been a time honored step in the process of selecting an agency partner. Over the course of my career I've completed hundreds of RFPs. They've run the gamut of short, long, specific, vague and every combination therein. While the general intent of the RFP is understood by the participants in the process, the actual execution can be extremely frustrating with the outcome not necessarily delivering the desired result -- partnering with the best team....

Work friends can be real friends…. and nine other things I learned at LPP

Ten years ago, I started at Lois Paul and Partners in Austin as a bright eyed, yet terrified, account rep. One of my first assignments was to fax a press release and keep track of “clippings” to build a clip book for the client. The list of trade publications was endless, and I remember tracking speaking opportunities kept me busy all week. How things have changed! While we might not be faxing anymore, I learned so much in those first...

Gearing up for RSA 2013

While I admit, I’ve walked many a show floor for clients over the years this is a first – I’m headed to RSA 2013 in San Francisco next week. Emails about conference details have steadily filled my inbox over the past month, and I have to say the show organizers have done a really nice job of laying out the agenda. There are more angles on security than I would have thought possible – and certainly more than a few...

Not blogging? Well, your company should consider it

If you’re reading this blog, then you’re part of the 65 percent of B2B marketers who support blogging as their content creation vehicle. You’re probably also part of the 41 percent of companies that are, wisely, spending more money on social media this year. These stats were part of a report examining the advantages of social media for marketers. LPP understands the upside social media creates for our clients, as we have been working with many of them to help...

LPP Pros Discuss Passion for Technology and Favorite PR Launches

Recently, LPP's Carol Hanko, Phoebe Francis and Jamie Anderson sat down to talk about their passion for technology, public relations and some of their favorite launch projects of 2012. Without giving away too many of the highlights, some of their favorite launches include Freescale's T Series Multicore Processor and Skyonic's recent funding announcement!

LPP Wins Gold Bulldog Award for Best Use of Digital in a B2B Technology Campaign

Most of us hate email blasts, but one of my favorite things at Lois Paul and Partners is sending or receiving an “ALL AGENCY” email with news about successful launches, team accomplishments and what brings me here today -- winning awards, and taking names. For several years, LPP had helped Freescale break through the noise at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). But personal technology has moved on from headphones and CD players that debuted at the show many decades ago....

What do clothes communicate?

As he so often does, my middle child Tyler gave me some food for thought regarding social mores regarding appropriate dress for business. We had a friendly debate about why it is important to show respect for people you are meeting in a business setting. Our discussion included differing views on Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg's decision to wear his traditional hoodie when he was doing an IPO road show to investors. I believe that shows disrespect to your audience and is...

Gartner Symposium isn't just about IT

While the annual Gartner Symposium/ITXPO 2013 is a great opportunity for CIO’s to network with one another and learn about technology initiatives for the upcoming year, among its 12,000 attendees you will also find a small group of Analyst Relations professionals. The annual event is a perfect time for these AR representatives to congregate with one another and discuss their relationships with one of the largest influencer groups in their space. Embracing this idea, Gartner holds a special AR Forum...

What Makes Austin Perfect for Tech? Austinites Speak Out! #LPPOH

This week is the week! Our LPP Austin Open House is this Thursday, and we're looking forward to seeing LPP alumni, LPP clients, high-tech professionals and Austin-area tech influencers gather under our brand new roof on West 6th Street. Not only is our space more decked out, but we're stepping up our game to make sure our guests get the chance to participate in some fun activities (one of which may or may not involve a bingo-scavenger hunt hybrid), pose...

What Makes Tech PR So Unique? The Pros Speak Out! #LPPOH

Our LPP Austin Open House is next week, but we have been celebrating the high-tech industry and tech PR all week long on the #LPPOH Twitter hashtag. But no one knows the field more than those of us who live and breathe tech 24/7 – at the office, on our mobiles while we wait for the train, on our tablets while we wait for dinner to pop out of the microwave oven, and some of us even in our sleep....