




- Security grammar: Are you insecure when writing about unsecure technology?
- Crowdfunding scientific research: Interview with Experiment
- Is the all or nothing crowdfunding approach a good thing, or seriously flawed?
- Crowdfunding Campaign PR: An Interview with Mitch Rosenberg, KinderLab Robotics
- New enrollment period now open: Launch your First Crowdfunding Campaign Success Blueprint Program
- Free online event: How to drive enterprise technology sales with PR
- Myth #10: Prompt’s ten technology sales myths
- Myth #9: Prompt’s ten technology sales myths
- Myth #8: Prompt’s ten technology sales myths
- 8945

- Ars Technica
- BBC News Technology
- BoingBoing
- Boston Globe Technology
- Business Insider Tech
- CNET
- Computer Weekly
- Crave
- Econsultancy
- Engadget
- GigaOm
- HuffPost Tech
- Lifehacker
- Mashable
- Mass High Tech TechFlash
- MIT Technology Review
- New Scientist Tech
- NY Times Technology
- SC Magazine UK
- SC Magazine US
- TechCrunch
- TechRadar
- TED Technology
- The Guardian Technology
- The Register
- VentureBeat
- Wired
- Wired UK
- ZDNet
- ZDNet UK

- March 2020
- May 2019
- May 2016
- March 2016
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005

Archive for January, 2015
January 30th, 2015
The Prompt Byte: January 30, 2014
The Prompt Byte: January 30, 2014
![]() |
![]() The how-to newsletter from Prompt PR |
![]() |
|
![]() |
|||||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|||||||||||||
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
||||||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|||||||||||||
![]() |
![]() Copyright Prompt Communications 2015. All Rights Reserved. |
![]() |
This email was sent to ~Contact.Email~. or if you want to unsubscribe from all emails from Prompt Communications, Prompt PR, Prompt Ed and Prompt Social then please click on this link: ~OptOut_0~
This email was sent by Prompt Communications |
By PromptBoston
January 30th, 2015
The Prompt Byte: Rising stars – Mobco
The Prompt Byte: Rising stars – Mobco
Working in technology hubs on both side of the Atlantic, we’re always keen to know more about the innovators nearby. Each week in our newsletter – The Prompt Byte – we interview a local innovator to learn more about technology and inspiration on both sides of the Atlantic.
This week, we talked with Ulrik Van Schepdael, the founder of Belgium-based Mobco. Mobco is helping companies mobilize their IT infrastructure with secure device management and mobilizing applications.
- What does innovation mean to you?
Innovation is for me the practical application of an invention (technology, process, ….). One of the key roles of our company is just to do that for our customers. We scan the mobile technology, apps and possibilities and translate that into practical and applicable “tools” for our customers businesses.
An iPad in business is not an innovation as such, but the fact we can remotely configure those devices and enable mobile sales or field force to do their job more efficiently, that’s innovation.
- Tell us about Mobco’s vision:
There is an evolution ongoing where the IT department gradually no longer
‘purchases’ employee hardware. Focus now goes to the management of the Corporate Data and Apps on those devices. That’s certainly true for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, but this is also the trend we see happening with Macbooks and Windows 8.1/10. In our vision we see IT evolving from controlling hardware to controlling data. Our job, our mission, is to support the business in that transition, hence our baseline: ‘we mobilize your business’.
- What do you predict or look forward to in 2015 with regards to Belgium’s innovation culture?
When we started 5 years ago with Mobile Device Management people looked at us and asked us ‘why’? Today, we see that every IT integrator has a mobile offering, and that’s great. Mobile is generally accepted in the business, no doubt about that. For 2015 and beyond, this mobile innovation trend is becoming more
important than ever before: companies are actually thinking mobile first. Or better – they’re basically thinking out of the (PC) box. This opens new opportunities and new possibilities. Doing business in Belgium is typically only possible on a small scale given the size of the market, the language. With the rise in importance of mobile technology, it’s no longer an issue and the market is global.
Nobody in our region should feel like “if I’m not in Silicon Valley, I will fail.” On the contrary, you’re better of NOT being in SiliconValley – the talent you need might live next door and you will not suffer from fierce HR competition to get it. Traditional businesses need to re-invent themselves (see the rise of online sales versus traditional sales) and new technology brings new opportunities for innovation, also on a small scale.
This is for me the trend forward, it’s smaller IT companies, innovative companies with in-house expertise. Companies with a focus. You could basically compare it with the trend we’ve seen in retail, we all saw the small shops disappearing in favor of the oversized supermarkets.
The consumers are turning their back to supermarkets if they want special advice, but for fast shopping of the basics the supermarket is fine. Bottom line; in IT we see the large integrators and operators suffering from cloud services which are providing the ‘basics’ and we see small expert companies providing the ‘top value’ the business needs
- What are some of the trends and challenges you’ve seen in the Belgium technology scene?
The challenge in Belgium is currently no different than anywhere else. I believe we have just as much talent as anywhere else. This makes the challenge universal.
Business apps that are specific to the local economy and focused on the business are the 2015 opportunity.
- If you could meet any single innovator (alive or dead) over a coffee, who would you want to meet?
Steve Jobs would be top of mind. I admire the way he built values that are used today to create new products and the way he took the computer industry from “look how fast this PC is” to “look what you can do with this device” – an innovation on its own.
- Name a piece of technology you’ve bought personally that you really wanted (recently or a past purchase) and why you bought it.
I buy a lot of stuff and not all experiences are brilliant I must admit… but there is one I want to share with you and that’s the Harmony Home Hub. This ‘hub’ is simple to set-up, simple to use and combines basic technologies to deliver a user experience you’re looking for.
It combines Bluetooth for your remote control, no more point and shoot to reach the TV or amp, it interprets your commands into signals IR to different devices at once and you control the whole set-up over Wi-Fi via a web interface that knows just about any brand and device out there.
It comes for 100 USD and solved all my home remote problems. I’m not saying we’re doing the same in our business, but we do simplify the life of the IT admin and take away the mobile complexity. At the same time we enable more functionalities on the mobile devices and we do bring a brilliant user experience to the employee!
Posted in Technology | Comments Off on The Prompt Byte: Rising stars – Mobco
January 29th, 2015
Make 2015 about growing (and appreciating) technology sales
Make 2015 about growing (and appreciating) technology sales
I’ve worked in technology marketing for, well, a long time. I remember America Online, AltaVista, Sun Microsystems and paper press releases. I’ve written case studies by hearing IT directors enthuse about water-cooled mainframes.
I was never originally headed for a career in technology, sales or marketing. It was originally more dinosaurs and journalism. It’s funny how things work out. But fro 16 years I have worked in a business that I love covering a sector that constantly fascinates me. And yet while technology changes at break-neck speed, I sometimes find that marketing is constantly playing catch-up in order to connect more directly to sales. I understand and appreciate the value of sharing a vision, showcasing a product, demonstrating business benefits through customer case studies and testimonials. But I still feel that marketing in all its form needs to have stronger links with sales.
Some sales professionals seem to have developed a fixed perception of marketing people, and it’s fair to say there is a similarly skewed perception in the opposite direction. I’ve worked in technology sales cold-calling and loved everything about the sales process. But I think many people have an under-appreciation for sales and misguidedly think of it as pushy. I realize that sales involves, well, selling – but it’s so much more than that. It’s also about solving problems, and having the right answer for the right people at the right times. Whatever business you work for, dig deep enough and they are certain to be selling – a product, a service, a notion, a principle, or maybe just a new way to do something.
Marketing needs a much firmer foothold in sales. It should link back to sales, be tracked in relation to sales, and connect more directly with the leads and prospects which ultimately contribute to any organizations’ success. This is why we have launched PRISM, our PR and Insight Sales-based Marketing methodology. PRISM outlines steps and processes to help technology companies to target, plan and execute sales-guided marketing. While whitepapers, messaging documents, visibility, understanding, engaging influencers and securing column inches remains very valuable, for many businesses sales is the most important metric.
Want to hear some of the things that we know work? Register now for a free Friday webinar that is all about how to communicate, connect and sell: ‘Get more customers: A sales workshop for technology startups‘. Meanwhile, happy selling!
Posted in Technology sales | Comments Off on Make 2015 about growing (and appreciating) technology sales
January 23rd, 2015
Crowdfunding platforms A-Z (part three): Examples from Quirky to ZIIBRA
Crowdfunding platforms A-Z (part three): Examples from Quirky to ZIIBRA
Over the past week we’ve been counting down the crowdfunding options A-Z. If you missed A-P, be sure to scroll back through this week’s blog posts here. As for Q-Z, here we go:
- Quirky. A site geared to support inventors of new gadgets, Quirky provides community collaboration, as well as funding for selected projects. It then manufactures and sells the products. quirky.com
- Razoo. This site offers donation-based crowdfunding for ‘causes that make a difference’. It provides widgets, social media integration and an iPhone app to help publicize campaigns. razoo.com
- RocketHub. Calling itself “the world’s crowdfunding machine,” this site offers donation-based crowdfunding for social, charitable, business and creative projects. rockethub.com
- SellaBand. Another donation-based site helping musicians to raise funds from fans. Customize your funding page or create your own stand-alone pages to embed on other websites. sellaband.com
- SelfStarter. Started by a group that was turned down by Kickstarter, this open source solution lets self-starters build their own crowdfunding platform. It’s low cost, but takes some work. selfstarter.us
- Somolend. A debt-based crowdfunding site helping small, established bricks-and-mortar US businesses raise funds from friends, family, customers and accredited investors. somolend.com
- StartupCrowdfunding. Connects startup companies with funding from investors and angels worldwide. startupcrowdfunding.com
- ZIIBRA. Just as farmers markets bring ethical food producers and discerning consumers closer together to share the things they enjoy, ZIIBRA helps artists and other creative types get closer to the people that love, support and buy the products they make. ziibra.com/
Remember, that we know there are many options to consider before launching your own crowdfunding project and it can be daunting – so sign up for one of our Sunday ’15 Ways to Increase your Crowdfunding Campaign Success’ webinars, which run live every Sunday at 11am ET/ 4pm GMT. To your crowdfunding campaign success!
Posted in Crowdfunding | Comments Off on Crowdfunding platforms A-Z (part three): Examples from Quirky to ZIIBRA
January 21st, 2015
Crowdfunding platforms A-Z (part two): Examples from IgnitionDeck to PledgeMusic
Crowdfunding platforms A-Z (part two): Examples from IgnitionDeck to PledgeMusic
If you were here earlier this week, then you know that there are thousands of crowdfunding sites to choose from. On Monday, we went over A-H and today we’re making it all the way to P. Be sure to check back Friday for all your options A-Z.
- IgnitionDeck. Provides all the tools to run your own crowdfunding campaign on your own WordPress website. You get a plugin with widgets, in-depth admin panels, customizable themes and e-mail integration. ignitiondeck.com
- Indiegogo. One of the most popular donation-based general crowdfunding sites, Indiegogo supports product development, music or film projects and charitable causes. indiegogo.com
- Invested.in. Create your own donation-based crowdfunding site using this platform. It works with a range of businesses, charities and individuals. invested.in
- Kickstarter. Still the best-known crowdfunding site, Kickstarter is focused on donation-based funding for technology and innovation products, as well as creative projects including art, music and film. It does not allow charitable or personal causes. kickstarter.com
- Kiva. A debt-based crowdfunding site that provides microfinance loans for people in third-world countries without access to bank loans. Help a farmer in Rwanda buy seeds. kiva.com
- MicroVentures. An equity-based site helping startups raise money from angel investors. It performs due diligence on all startups, and lets contributors invest as little as $3,000. microventures.com
- PeerBackers. Funding big ideas including entrepreneurial, civic and creative projects, PeerBackers works with businesses at all stages to provide consultancy and education. peerbackers.com
- PledgeMusic. Helping “fans become part of the music-making experience” by using donation and reward-based crowdfunding to fund the careers of musicians. pledgemusic.com
If you’d like to talk more about crowdfunding, what makes a campaign successful and to pick up hints and tips from our team, then sign up for one of our Sunday ’15 Ways to Increase your Crowdfunding Campaign Success’ webinars, which run at 11am ET/ 4pm GMT.
Posted in Crowdfunding | Comments Off on Crowdfunding platforms A-Z (part two): Examples from IgnitionDeck to PledgeMusic
By PromptBoston
January 19th, 2015
Crowdfunding platforms A-Z (part one): Examples from AngelList to GoGetFunding
Crowdfunding platforms A-Z (part one): Examples from AngelList to GoGetFunding
There are thousands of crowdfunding sites out there. New ones appear every week, while others melt into the background or simply evaporate. So we thought we’d compose an alphabetical snapshot of some of the best of the current batch of platforms available. We’ve covered a wide variety of business models, including equity, reward and some original approaches for owners and backers. Come back later this week for more.
If you’d like to talk more about crowdfunding, what makes a campaign successful and to pick up hints and tips from our team, then sign up for one of our Sunday ’15 Ways to Increase your Crowdfunding Campaign Success’ webinars, which run at 11am ET/ 4pm GMT.
Meanwhile, here’s some ideas of different platforms out of the hundreds and hundreds out there:
- AngelList. An equity-based crowdfunding site focused on technology startups that have already raised at least $100,000 in seed funding. Contributors, aka angel investors, are accredited investors and institutions. angel.com
- CircleUp. Planned as one of the first JOBS Act sites this equity site handles angel investing, mostly for small businesses in the food industry or consumer products. circleup.com
- CrowdFunder. With a large network of accredited and angel investors, this equity-based site was a leading backer of the JOBS act. It focuses on small businesses and startup companies. crowdfunder.com
- CrowdRise. Helping charities raise donation funding, CrowdRise primarily helps non-profit groups dealing with issues of disease and inadequate education, as well as more personal causes. crowdrise.com
- CrowdSupply. If your project makes a physical, shippable product then CrowdSupply can help you raise funds via pre-orders, as well as sales in its e-commerce store once manufacture is complete. crowdsupply.com
- FundingCircle. A debt-based site helping small businesses looking to raise up to $500,000. It connects them with non-traditional lenders such as accredited investors seeking investment opportunities. fundingcircle.com
- Fundable. Another leading backer of the JOBS act, this site has a strong technology focus and uses both donation and equity models to get your campaign moving. fundable.com
- Fundly. This site lets you raise money for pretty much anything. Set up a custom donation web page that works on its mobile app and integrates with Facebook to help spread the social word. fundly.com
- Gambitious. Focused on game creation, this site requires developers to submit a business plan. Contributors can donate for perks or get equity if both they and the company are located within the EU. gambitious.com
- GoFundMe. This donation-based site helps you raise money for a charitable cause, or for personal campaigns such as medical bills, funeral expenses or education. It offers plenty of social media integration to help with social word-of-mouth. gofundme.com
- GoGetFunding. A UK-based site developed to raise donated funds for local charities and personal causes, such as medical bills or legal funds. gogetfunding.com
Posted in Crowdfunding | Comments Off on Crowdfunding platforms A-Z (part one): Examples from AngelList to GoGetFunding
January 11th, 2015
Hazel Butters – come and join our crowdfunding webinar:
Hazel Butters – come and join our crowdfunding webinar:
Please join us to learn how to increase the success of your crowdfunding campaign and register for the crowdfunding webinar on Sunday at 4pm ET (11am GMT) by clicking here
By PromptBoston
January 8th, 2015
The Prompt Byte: Rising stars – ARTReader
The Prompt Byte: Rising stars – ARTReader
Working in technology hubs on both side of the Atlantic, we’re always keen to know more about the innovators on our doorsteps in Boston and London. Each week in our newsletter – The Prompt Byte – we interview a local startup to learn more about technology and inspiration that can be found at home.
This week, we garnered some great insights from Mark Loughran, creator of ARTReader – an appthat will enable you to read faster, work harder and be smarter.
- Tell us a bit about what the app is all about and how it got started.
ARTReader was born out of the idea that digital reading could be improved. The existing speed-reading apps out there all made a strong focus on increasing Word Per Minute rates and nothing else. I wanted to see a program that was variable and responded to the changes of the user. Rather than something that improved speed, I wanted a program that simply helped the reader stay focused and engaged. By adding controls for speed and position that could be adjusted in real time, it started to take on the feel of playing a videogame as you read. Reading feels like it can be benefitted so much by data and I didn’t see it out in the market. The idea bounced around in my head and then while through hiking the Appalachian Trail I met another hiker who was interested in working with me. A year passed before we started work with the aim of creating a reading app that could help everyone. We’ve had to work remotely which has its benefits and detriments, but has been a great partnership.
- What does innovation mean to you?
To me innovation is simply doing the grunt work that others won’t. The risk element involved with applying resources to an idea that may or may not be profitable. Before I began I seriously considered the question of why didn’t my idea already exist? For the entrepreneur, I think there is a personal rejection of the established hypothesis. At some point all the spreadsheets and MBA’s said it wouldn’t work or wasn’t cost effective, and the innovator is the one attempting to validate a contrarian hypothesis.
- Why is New England such a hotbed for innovation?
Having grown up here, I think a lot of it comes from the Puritan work ethic and the winter. People in Boston know how to work hard. Between the education and financial competitiveness, you don’t find any lazy entrepreneurs, and the same goes for Angels or VC’s. A good idea doesn’t cut it in the Northeast, you need to prove you can execute. Out west there seems to be more of a prospector’s mentality, and NYC has some pretension to it. The second factor is the winter or rather the harsh high cost of living. If you don’t make it in Boston, you can’t just float, you have to keep moving. The successes of Boston’s innovative companies are usually not ground breaking, but practical, built on solid foundations and backed by sober investors. What we lack in imagination we make up for in feasibility.
- Do you have any concerns about New England growth and innovation culture?
Too much a fear of making a mistake over missing out on an opportunity. This applies both to the culture at large, but on a micro level to finding talented people. I can’t blame anyone just graduating for not taking a steady paycheck right out the gate, but that’s usually the best time to try out a startup. The big companies snatch up talent and incentivize them to stay; it’s hard with a limited budget to convince talented people of taking a chance. Especially when the winter comes, no one wants to be left without heat so to speak.
- What are some of the trends and challenges you’ve seen in the New England tech scene?
The trends I’ve seen most recently involve the resurgence of hardware-based startups. Considering all the phenomenal engineering minds and programs out here it is to be expected, but for a few years prior it felt like all the press and attention was going towards social and healthcare. Now there’s a major focus on building things and companies that make improvements on real products. The marriage of software and hardware in its new form, the Internet of things, is going to bring some really cool innovations in the next decade
- If you weren’t based in New England, which city and/or country would you want to be based in and why?
Boulder, CO / Denver, CO. The culture out there is amazingly enthusiastic about changing the world both culturally and practically. The cost of living is lower, and there’s definitely a sense of secondary entrepreneurs; people who work and collectively contribute to their efforts before or after work and on the weekends. The last time I was out there, I met a group starting a business renting out a house as an office, and the cost had me jealous about my own rent. It has that early silicon feel to it, people brimming with potential. The downside was seeing how much of that energy being spent on Ping-Pong and other activities.
- Name a piece of technology you’ve bought personally that you love – either recently or in the past – and why you bought it.
To this day, the original iPhone I bought still feels special. The whole smart phone thing coming together in the touch screen medium, looking like a miniature monolith, made me feel like I was surfing the cultural crest of the wave. To have access to the worlds information in your hand is still having ripple effects through culture that will continue for the next 20 years. I can remember using my iPhone for the first time and really feeling like the Star Trek era had begun.
Posted in Rising Stars | Comments Off on The Prompt Byte: Rising stars – ARTReader
By PromptBoston
January 5th, 2015
The Prompt Byte: December 19, 2014
The Prompt Byte: December 19, 2014
![]() |
![]() The how-to newsletter from Prompt PR |
![]() |
|
![]() |
|||||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|||||||||||||
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
||||||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|||||||||||||
![]() |
![]() Copyright Prompt Communications 2014. All Rights Reserved. |
![]() |
This email was sent to ~Contact.Email~. or if you want to unsubscribe from all emails from Prompt Communications, Prompt PR, Prompt Ed and Prompt Social then please click on this link: ~OptOut_0~
This email was sent by Prompt Communications |
January 3rd, 2015
PRISM PR Insight Sales-based Marketing methodology
PRISM PR Insight Sales-based Marketing methodology
Prompt PR’s PRISM methodology delivers the steps and processes that are necessary to plan and execute sales-guided PR in alignment with your sales objectives. PRISM tracks specific engagement and interest from target audiences so that PR has a demonstrable return on investment and a set of metrics that is relevant to your business-level objectives.
Prompt’s PRISMSM methodology consists of planning, execution and online tools that gives technology marketers the basis to understand, plan and use PR to help drive sales and to measure the impact of PR and marketing from the most important metric to any business: sales.
Now you can measure your PR spend against the leads and sales that it generates.
The PRISM framework consists of several steps:
- Scope analysis: sales and marketing review and revenue goals
- Internal process review: including PR pipeline/plan, target audiences, sales processes, need-discovery conversations (based on SPIN Methodology)
- External process review: including prospect-base perception
- Lead generation triggers: adding lead-generation context to PR and content
- PR and sales messages: synching up sales conversations with PR and insight content
- Campaign and content creation: setting up the underlying technology, mapping out lead generation flow, preparing content in line with the PR plan, writing insight content
- Triggers, entry points and feedback points: linking PRISM to existing systems, internal sales, and corporate databases
- Reporting: including metrics, lead generation statistics, sales-focused reports and ROI
To find out more about PRISM and sales-based marketing, contact us today via prism@prompt-pr.com.