Amanda Palmer IS Paying Her Musicians

In the music world, there was big controversy over Amanda Palmer’s invitation to musicians to play with her, onstage, during her tour, gratis — beer and high-fives aside.  Roundly criticized by some, local musicians (including my husband), signed up in droves, hoping for the chance to add to the “big noise”.  (She’s since rethought her stance and is now offering pay. I hope budget considerations don’t limit how widespread the opportunity will be.)

How to Get Major Media Coverage for Your Startup

If I had a dime for every startup who told me they wanted to “get major media coverage for their launch”, I wouldn’t be working for a living.  In general, major media coverage comes from a sizable investment in marketing, public relations, and product development.  You get major media coverage when you deserve it.  However, here are just a few tricks and tips to try.

Mass Innovation Nights- Pizza, IZZE and Plenty of Innovation

Jen Kaye is a PR, marketing and social media professional. At Carlton PR and Marketing, Jen specializes in using both traditional and social media marketing techniques to gain coverage and spread awareness for companies and their products.  Can you believe last week was the 40th Mass Innovation Night on the books? Age sure isn’t slowing the event down as the IBM Innovation Center in Waltham was abuzz with excitement surrounding the local innovation on display. As always there was a great […]

Internet Marketing Boot Camp

Today (Saturday, March 3, 2012) the Microsoft NERD is playing host to a big crowd of entrepreneurs taking advantage of an Internet Marketing Boot Camp.  The event, organized by our friends at Boston SEO Experts, is a free event and offers presentations on Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing and Public Relations, and then a series of workshops.

Mass Innovation Nights – NERD style

Last night marked Mass Innovation Night’s 35th event (one more and it turns 3!) and this one, like the many before, was an evening full of networking and creating buzz about local innovation! The Microsoft NERD Center hosted last night’s event and gave guests a direct view of Boston’s shimmering skyline. There was a great turnout and a lot of excitement generated about the ten companies featured! People were continuing to file in as the presentation began. The top four […]

Seriously folks: Serious marketing for serious people

Or, conversely, funny marketing for funny people? Last week I participated in a pitch contest event run by The Capital Network. Like most pitch events, most of the startup entrepreneurs were there for the connections and not really interested in the $100 gift card and bottles of wine prizes.  (Although nice…) But one entrepreneur took the pitch to a whole different level with a song he composed and sang himself.  Amusing and well done, it didn’t land him in the […]

The Secret Sauce

Every PR and Marketing firm has their own secret sauce.  Their own special way of doing things.  I was recently told that part of our secret sauce is that we ask really good questions.  As part of the initial “getting to know you” process, we ask a lot of questions as we prepare to represent a company.  And while this list may look long, this isn’t exhaustive.

What drives you to work? And I’m not talking about transportation…

I remember graduating from college in 1991 and walking the streets of New York City looking for a job because I was convinced New York was where I belonged.  I’d open newspaper after newspaper hoping to find anything that would pay a reasonable salary – which at that time hovered under $20,000/year.  Imagine. Living in Manhattan and making less than $20,000/year.  I sound like your grandmother, right? I didn’t last long in Manhattan – Boston beckoned me home.