Holtz Communications + Technology

One funny viral video can establish a reputation. I had never heard of Accolo, an executive seach firm. But word seems to be spreading pretty quickly about a short video they’ve produced and made available from their site. “What’s Hot” is a parody of the Paris Hilton/Carl’s Jr. television commercial that has generated so much controversy. It’s pretty much the same commercial, but it isn’t exactly…

I read a few posts that dismissed my argument that press releases still serve an important function: Complying with regulatory requirements for disclosing any news that could affect an organization’s share price. One of these comments, I recall, noted that failure to comply would be a small price to pay in return for the benefits that accrue to companies that switch…

The Globe & Mail is reporting today that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has laid off 35 employees from its communications group—mostly publicists—as part of an effort to cut $1.7 million from the department’s annual budget.

The employees—based in Halifax, Toronto and Vancouver—were told their work would be shifted to outside PR agencies, although the CBC will hire five “promotions managers” who will serve as a liaison between the network…

Marketers salivate over new communication technologies that provide new opportunities to reach customers. The idea of blasting out hundreds of text messages over a cell phone SMS system must have seemed particularly appealing to the folks at carsales.com.au. The company harvested the phone numbers from newspaper classified ads and sent messages pitching the company’s services.

I don’t know if they got any business…

Businesses, take note. The voice of the customer has gotten a little louder.

Michael Kremer was one unhappy customer. He went to Bosley Medical Institute in Seattle for hair restoration and, while pictures aren’t available, he couldn’t have been too pleased with the result. Shortly afterward, he opened a Web site at http://www.bosleymedical.com which he used to alert the public to the…

Burson Marsteller, the PR agency that initially identified “e-fluentials,” has release a study focusing on a new e-fluential subcategory, “tech-fluentials.” According to the agency’s press release, tech-fluentials are…

a new breed of influential, technology-driven opinion leaders who seamlessly connect their work and personal lives while transmitting information about companies, brands and products. All-powerful chat rooms, web sites, digital cameras, discussion boards and blogs are the tools of the trade…