Doing PR the Wrong Way
In the interest of continuing conversation around good PR, and the companies who excel, today I’m compelled to point out a company who just seems to get it all wrong time after time. I’m fed up and just dumped them into the blacklist here.
And to the poor folks at ORecX, I hope you see this and some of the other commentary that will doubtless follow. I could say more, but I’ll try to let SSPR simply slink away rather than blast them with details on just how badly I think of them.
Here’s the email exchange:
Dana,
Please remove this email address from your mailing list.
SSPR has repeatedly sent messages like this couched with phrasing like “you were in contact” and such. I have not. I have never expressed any interest in this product, nor do I have working relationships with you or your firm. Nor, based on the methds used by SSPR and the documentation about the company reputation, will I use anything you ever send. I’ve actually just blacklisted your domain, so you needn’t reply.
I will post your email, and this reply in a public blog post, alerting my colleagues to my position on SSPR. If you feel the need to comment, you may do so in public, in full open view. Email from your domain now goes into the blacklist abyss.
Ken Camp
——————————————————————————–
From: Dana Nelson [mailto:dnelson@sspr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 1:21 PM
Subject: Re: Open Source VOIP call recording program cuts costs for SMBsHi Ken,
I was just notified that you were in contact with one of my former colleagues regarding OrecX’s open source call recording software, Oreka TR.
I apologize for the delay in getting back to you and I hope I can be of some assistance to your needs. Please let me know if you would like more information (case studies, white papers, demo press release, etc.) or to arrange an interview with Bruce Kaskey, CEO and cofounder of OrecX.
Since it has been a long time, here is a brief description:
Oreka TR is the first open source based VoIP and TDM call recording system for SMBs. It allows organizations to improve customer service by recording and retrieving phone calls without disrupting operations, exhausting annual budgets, or paying for extra implementation services that never get used.
The open source platform allows for all-call, on-demand or selective recording while providing managers with options for live call monitoring. Because it is open source, it can be modified to fit any business needs.
Again, I apologize for not getting back to you sooner.
Best wishes,
Dana Nelson
SS|PR
(847) 415-9322
dnelson@sspr.com
on September 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Hah, I got that email today, too.
on September 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
[...] SSPR pulled the same stunt on me as they did on Ken, for exactly the same company that Ken got spammed, I might add. I am not going to bother reprinting the email–it’s the same as Ken’s for the most part–sending them an email about it, nor give the company they emailed about any bits on my page. Or any other company they represent for that matter. At least not any more. Pity, because VoSKY, a.k.a. ActionTec has some decent products. [...]
on September 4th, 2008 at 6:21 am
typical… I have the same issue going on with an IBM training company right now. I’ve sent no less than 10 emails asking them to remove any and all of my work email addresses, this has been going on for over a year now… in fact I have a message in my box from them right now, maybe I’ll spam them back (just kidding).
on September 9th, 2008 at 12:53 am
I received the same email. These guys have much to learn on how to do PR properly.The best part is this one:
“I apologize for the delay in getting back to you..”
Very bad.
Luca
on September 11th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I am the president of SSPR and I feel it is important that I chime in regarding your post about Dana’s tactics. Dana received a list of contacts from an employee at the end of his tenure with us and he indicated to her they were all active interests. She took him on his word and wanted to make sure each contact received a follow up note as not to let anyone drop off the radar. I assure you it was not a PR stunt or subversive tactic.
on September 12th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I have been contacted by this company numerous times and a friend of mine is a current employee there, from what I have been told, most of the employees are aware that they are basically a glorified spamming company. SS|PR sounds like it is run by a very small group of people who have little experience outside of SSPR and think that the way things are done is just fine. It sounds like management concentrates power in an effort to ensure that no dissenting voices are heard, hence the attempt to push all blame off of the company in ‘Heather’s’ most recent response. Turnover at this place is out of control (and I know of a mass exodus is being planned) and that every employee is basically biding their time until they can get out of the place. I’d advise anyone reading to blacklist this place and avoid them like the plague. unless you like getting spammed all day long and then blamed when you have a problem with it.
on September 12th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
John–you are absolutely correct. As a former employee, your statements are dead on and it’s too bad that a company like this identifies itself as public relations.
on December 5th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I know I’m a bit late on this — or perhaps I should use SSPR speak and “apologize for the delay” — but I also am a former employee of this spam factory and felt the need to comment.
M, it’s too bad I don’t know your true identity. Would love to trade stories of the executive stupidity that takes place daily at this “public relations” firm. Stupidity which is exemplified by Heather’s comment on this post.
John, you are absolutely correct when you say SSPR’s management concentrates power and does not tolerate dissenting voices. The same three people (most of whom have never had PR experience outside of SSPR) have been running the company for years, led by the trainwreck CEO, Steve Simon. Steve is the worst kind of asshole — an unrepentant asshole who considers himself a PR genius.
I do feel bad for Dana, as she most likely is a naive intern who didn’t know better and was simply following Steve’s tactic of favoriting quantity of pitches over quality pitches.
That place is a joke — Steve and Heather, especially. Would love to hear how the mass exodus went.
on December 10th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I didn’t intend, nor do I wish to provide a forum for disgruntled former SSPR employees to vent. I no longer deal with this firm, and am happy to leave it at that. I’m closing comments on this post.
Ken