Pro PR Tips from CNET’s Rafe Needleman on Twitter

CNET’s Rafe Needleman occasionally posts “Pro PR Tips” on his Twitter account. If you’re a PR person who’s pitching Rafe, or who might someday, it would be a swell idea to follow him. (UPDATE 8/27: Rafe’s official archive of his PR tips is at http://www.proprtips.com.)

Here’s what he’s Twittered so far (yes, there are two #6s):

• Pro PR tip #8: Speakerphones suck.
• Pro PR tip #7: Put your email address in your direct Twitters!
• Pro PR tip #6: If a product reviewer contacts you with a criticism of something you just pitched, asking for an explanation, respond asap.
• PR tip #6 Twitter pitch? Ok, but direct only, and provide link and reply email in the Tweet.
  • Afterward he Twittered, “@TDefren points out that PR ppl can’t pitch via D msg if I’m not following them. Good!”
• Pro PR tip #5: A pitch on IM? Ugh. A least make sure I want to hear it before you start. Better yet: EMail (maybe this is just me).
• Pro PR tip #4: “Webinar?” Err, no.
• Pro PR Tip #3: You want me to do a 30-minute media audit on the phone? Bwahahaha.
• Pro PR tip: If you talk to me on the phone and I ask you to follow up by email, do so *immediately*, while our call is still on my mind.
• Pro PR tip: If you ask me what’s a good time to call, I will tell you a time when I know I am not available.

Another Tweet worth keeping in mind:

• Once again, on the prowl for actual *innovation* and *usefulness* in new Web apps.