Business Wire Announces New Website Design, SEO, and Multimedia Features

  

Following a successful soft launch in December, we are glad to officially announce our new website upgrade. Over the next few blog posts we’ll discuss the changes we made on our site. The overarching theme of all these updates is making the content we distribute on behalf of our clients as accessible as possible to all the different user groups who look for it, and in the ways they look for it. First, our new and improved website design and accessibility. 

So how is the new website design different and better now? Here’s what we did:

Redesign: 

After successfully introducing a few new international websites in 2007, we were ready to shower our main website with some additional attention as well. So in order to make the site look more up-to-date we decided to make it a bit cleaner, less cluttered, and make more effective use of white space. We’ve also reorganized some of our pages in a way that makes important content visible to those looking for it, and in a way that fits the ways in which they look for it. Below is a screen grab of the new homepage design:

  

    

In addition to the improved look-and-feel, the new homepage structure strikes a good balance between offering news content and highlighting Business Wire’s key products and services. It highlights various important products such as our PR, IR, and Media services, while still displaying our news feed in a visible place on the page. It also highlights more clearly many important features such as our RSS links, tradeshow news, Business Wire’s own news, and more. This updated look and structure extends to our internal pages as well. Here is a screenshot of our new Products and Services section: 

 

 

Search and User Visibility: 

On the accessibility front, we’ve updated our website code to include improved labeling and tagging of different parts of our pages, in order to make it easier for search engines to spider our content; made it simpler and leaner under the hood so that pages load faster; optimized the site for some newer versions of web browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari; and switched to a unified URL structure that also makes our content more search friendly and enables more accurate traffic measurement. All these increase the likelihood of our clients’ press releases showing up higher in search results, and of users being able to more easily and quickly access our clients’ releases.

Search Engine Optimization is a moving target, and there are no silver bullets. However, we continuously enhance our SEO efforts. Examples of this include offering our EON: Enhanced Online News search and social-media-ready platform; continuously providing our clients with tips and best practices on how to better communicate in the new media landscape and make their content as web-friendly as possible; and helping clients understand how to combine SEO efforts across press releases, new online services, and their own websites. Our continuous upgrades, like the one we’ve announced today, is another example of how keep making our content as accessible as possible.  We encourage you to check out our new site design, and as usual, feel free to let us know what you think.

The official press release is here. Stay tuned for more on our multimedia and sharing updates.

Lost in MySpace? Our free webinar series offers tips and hints to help you navigate the maze

We have just posted the dates and times in January and February so you can register for our free webinar series which you can find on the Business Wire Events section of the Business Wire website.

This popular webinar series has provided thousands of Business Wire members with tips and hints on how to use the wire and EON: Enhanced Online News to morph the press release from a straight-up media relations tool to a well-integrated web page which is widely available online and which can be found by search engines and viewed directly by consumers and investors in addition to reaching journalists and bloggers. 

In our January and February 2008 webinar series, we continue our ongoing webinar called Optimizing Your Press Release for Search Engines: Demo of EON: Enhanced Online News Optimization Tool powered by Newsforce showing you how to conduct keyword analysis and research and then write those search terms and links into your press release.  

We have also scheduled new dates for our very popular webinar EON: Enhanced Online News - The Importance of SEO and Social Media for Press Releases which shows you how to use the press release that you send on the wire or on our EON: Enhanced Online News platform powered by PR Web, to put the public  back in your public relations efforts by extending the reach and relevancy of your press release online. 

Our brand new webinar series is called Lost in MySpace? It was created to answer the most frequently asked questions from our EON: Enhanced Online News webinar. We demystify the jargon associated with SEO and Social Media and start from the beginning clearly explaining the various tools, technologies in plain English and tour you through the sites that are most often referenced showing you how you can get involved with them quickly and painlessly.  

Register for one or all of these free webinars and in an hour, you will have learned a new trick or two to expand the reach of your news to reach new audiences online.

New Surveys and Rankings Show Business Wire’s Strong Presence in Both Traditional and New Media

 

As the blogsphere establishes itself as a meaningful and reliable source of information — with some tech, media, and political blogs wielding as much influence as, if not more than, some traditional media outlets in certain areas — we at Business Wire are happy to see that we are still able to continually serve both worlds well.  

A recent journalist survey by the Arketi Group found that news releases are used by 90% of business journalists as sources for story ideas, sharing the top spot with industry sources. 54% of journalists mentioned they currently use blogs for story ideas, while 84% said they may report on stories that originated from blogs.  

A larger survey with a slightly different focus, conducted by PR industry news site Bulldog Reporter and online newsroom provider TEKGroup (fair disclosure: all the above mentioned companies have ties with Business Wire), shows that 69% of journalists follow at least one blog regularly, 44% visit social media sites at least monthly, 37% are subscribed to at least one RSS feed, and 20% actively seek multimedia content from companies at least once a month. (this survey also shows some different data on commercial wire services. Michael Tangeman of Media Mindshare makes a few interesting observations on methodology and findings).

Finally, the recently published Techmeme Leaderboard, which ranks websites based on how frequently their stories appear on Techmeme’s increasingly popular technology news application, places Business Wire as its 24th highest source for news (as of the writing of this post), with similar ranking to traditional news organizations as the Wall Street Journal and the BBC, and blogs such as Search Engine Land and PaidContent.org.  

In recent years Business Wire has put substantial effort into enhancing our multimedia capabilities for video, audio, and photo distribution; enabling our EON: Enhanced Online News search-optimized platform; introducing social media sharing features; reaching new-media sites and platforms; and creating robust RSS offerings. These initiatives are intended to help our clients reach end-consumers directly, interact with the blogsphere, and reach the young and young-at-heart generations of journalists who use new technologies and new media as tools and resources for their work.  We are thrilled to see that these efforts are paying off with both new and traditional media, as indicated by the Arketi and Bulldog Reporter/TEKGroup surveys and Techmeme’s Leaderboard. 

Malcolm Atherton, our eloquent and new-media-savvy account executive, who is one of the strong proponents of our digital media offerings, provides some great info in an interview with podcast site Rocky Mountain Voices during the recent Blogging for Business conference in Salt Lake City. Malcolm sums it all up fantastically. Check it out:

Posted by Ken Zamkow, Director of Product Development, Business Wire

Google Comments Offers New Opportunities for Communicators

  

One of the goals of our Business Wired blog is to provide readers with better tools for communicating their messages in the ever-changing media landscape. Today we are happy to highlight a service we’ve been following with much interest that we and our friends in Google News thought would be of value to Business Wire clients.  

Earlier this year Google News launched a comments feature that allows individuals or organizations that are mentioned in news articles to add their own comments. Comments are then served up alongside those articles on Google News.  

Josh Cohen, Google News’ Product Manager explains: “Google News has always tried to present as many sources as possible to give our users a wide spectrum of views on the news.  Comments is an experimental feature that we believe will continue this goal by letting readers see exactly what people in a story think about current news.  We think this will help us increase the number of diverse and meaningful points of view on the news.”  

So how is this different from any comment section or discussion board? Well, on Google News only persons or organizations who are specifically mentioned in the story can comment. Google News then contacts the person submitting the comment or others in their organization to verify their identity. As a result, each story is expected to have only a handful of highly relevant comments that give readers a more in-depth look at topics in the news. Cohen adds: “their insight will both help readers understand the news, and cover views that may not be well-published or well-understood within the current coverage”. 

For PR professionals and marketers, this is an excellent opportunity to provide greater detail or clarifications when their press releases receive media pick-up. Also, it creates a new channel to follow-up on a press release with updates, success stories, or links to other relevant stories. Finally, it is another form of reaching out to your audience and participating in the conversation. While these comments differ from commenting on blogs or engaging in social networks, they can be a valuable part of the new communications mix.  

So how can you comment on a story that is relevant to your company or client?  According to the instructions on Google News you should send an email to news-comments@google.com containing the following information:

1. Your comment (hyperlinks allowed, but no attachments)
2. A link to the story you are commenting on
3. Your contact details: name, title, and organization
4. A way to verify your email address

Verification is one of the central components of Google’s comments feature. Therefore it is highly recommended to provide as much information that Google News staff can use (for example adding contact details of persons who can verify your credentials, or, if you are submitting a comment on behalf of a client, demonstrating that you are indeed authorized to speak for them). Keep in mind that Google News will not edit comments once the sender is verified, so they will be posted exactly as you emailed them. 

So the next time your press release or related articles are shown on Google News and you feel you have more valuable input to share, this can be a great new outlet. Please look at the Google Comments instructions page for more details. 

As usual, we’re happy to hear what you think. If you’ve already used Google Comments or would like to share your own thoughts about it, feel free to comment below.

Business Wire debuts German language website… local presence with global reach

As a major player on the worldwide scene and responding to the specific needs and nuances of German-speaking clients in the D/A/CH region, Business Wire unveiled www.businesswire.de , the first in a planned series of European and Asian language-specific websites tailored to meet the specialized requirements of local audiences.

The site reflects Business Wire’s unique commitment among global commercial news providers. We singularly offer a full-range of local disclosure and news distribution options, coupled with a decentralized approach to editorial operations and customer service, including 22 newsrooms worldwide.

The new German site illustrates our emergence as the industry’s premier global communications platform, offering multinational companies a totally integrated multilingual solution for reaching international markets.

Our patented NX news delivery system currently transmits releases in 14 languages, simultaneously and in real-time, resulting in client releases appearing in multiple languages on major market-moving newswires and desktop terminals. Business Wire’s main website, www.BusinessWire.com, displays copy in 17 languages. Both capabilities are industry benchmarks.

The German-language site underscores our strategy of providing clients with a full-suite of services, supported by worldwide media and investor relations networks. In Germany, Business Wire’s multi-channel platform includes vwd, ddp, the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, an exclusive cross-section of leading international news services, national news agencies, and prestigious financial information providers.

In February, Business Wire announced a complete portfolio of compliance services for German-listed companies, enabling public companies to meet the strictly defined disclosure requrements of the BaFin, Germany’s financial regulator.

Cathy Baron Tamraz, the company’s president and CEO said “Germany provides a classic case study of Business Wire’s two-tier approach to international expansion. Our primary goal is to be sensitive to local cultures, customs, and client needs, while simultaneously providing companies with seamless access to the world’s major financial and consumer markets. Our message is clearly resonating, as evidenced by our growing ranks of major European companies that have joined our fast-growing client base during the past year.”

Local Newsrooms, Better Service.

At the just-concluded NIRI Annual Conference our focus was “Local Newsrooms, Better Service“. We used this to emphasize that while our competitors use a centralized call-center approach, Business Wire has nearly two dozen full-service bureaus.

But it’s more than that. Behind each newsroom is a staff of seasoned professionals with an unmatched attention to detail. In today’s world I think it’s pretty rare to find so many long-term employees. Does that benefit our customers? Clearly. Our editors get to know our clients and the intricacies of their needs and preferences. Over time, they are able to spot when something isn’t quite right - a misspelling, receiving a draft instead of a final press release, earnings numbers that are out of order or missing characters, a missed email or fax list on an order.

Every day our newsroom pros take hundreds of incoming press releases and process, electronically code, properly format for web and editorial systems, coordinate translations, photos, multimedia, special fax lists, custom requests and more and then ensure the releases go out without error at the exact moment requested. I think it’s amazing, but it’s second nature to them.

I wonder, though, with all of our competitors moving to central call-center approaches are we missing something? I feel strongly that local people and local relationships are the way to go, but do you? What are your thoughts?

By the way, here’s a list of some of our senior editorial/operations folks and their years of service as well as editors with 9+ years at BW. This doesn’t even include the many in sales, billings, tech, web, media relations and other critical departments that have been here as long or longer. Impressive, don’t you think?

ATLANTA:
Laura Kahn, Newsroom Supervisor, 8 years

Yasmine Holmes, Client Services, 12 years

BOSTON:
Greg Kasabian, Newsroom Supervisor, 9 years
Mike Poirier, National Operations Trainer, 10 years

CHARLOTTE:
Penny Sowards, Newsroom Supervisor, 21 years

CHICAGO:
Chelsea Earnhardt, Newsroom Supervisor, 7 years
Yvonne Moy, Senior Editor, 9 years

CLEVELAND:
Jill Williams, Midwest Regional Newsroom Supervisor, 19 years
Dennis Lynch, Assistant Newsroom Supervisor, 11 years

DALLAS:
Lynn Rushlau, Newsroom Supervisor, 9 years
Alex Eno, Senior Editor, 16 years

DENVER:
Dan Murphy, Newsroom Supervisor, 9 years
JoAnne Hirsch, Client Services, 14 years

HOUSTON:
Amber Agan, Newsroom Supervisor, 6 years

LONDON:
Adam Channell, European Regional Newsroom Supervisor, 4 years
Nigel Egan, London Newsroom Supervisor, 4 years

LOS ANGELES:
Teri Johnson, Southern California Regional Newsroom Supervisor, 16 years
April Petross, Newsroom Supervisor, 9 years
James Chong, Newsroom Supervisor, 7 years
Mary Bullock, Assistant Newsroom Supervisor, 10 years
Roger Johnson, Senior Editor, 10 years
Bill Mikulak, Senior Editor, 9 years
Terence Monika, Assistant Newsroom Supervisor, 9 years

MIAMI:
Janet Duncan, Newsroom Supervisor, 18 years
Gillian Adam, Newsroom Supervisor, 17 years
Neil Bardach, Client Services, 11 years
Claudia Perez-Bonilla, Senior Editor, 10 years
Pilar Portela-Webb, Senior Editor, 11 years

MINNEAPOLIS:
Shannon Hysjulien, Newsroom Supervisor, 7 years

NASHVILLE:
Cathy Dunn, VP, National Operations, 21 years
Loree Cannon, Southeast Regional Newsroom Supervisor, 9 years
Adam Click, Newsroom Supervisor, 7 years
Andrew Guinn, Newsroom Supervisor, 6 years
Donnie Rogers, Doc Editor, 19 years

NEWPORT BEACH:
Kasey Greek, Newsroom Supervisor, 3 years
Kathy Tomasino, Client Services, 10 years

NEW YORK:
Mike Maguire, National Editorial Supervisor, 17 years
Karen Ball, Senior Newsroom Supervisor, 8 years
Skip Walsh, Newsroom Supervisor, 10 years
Anthony Coloneri, Newsroom Supervisor, 8 years
Sean Murphy, International Desk Supervisor, 12 years
Scott Goll, EDGAR Desk Supervisor, 12 years
Jeff Abelson, Photo Desk Supervisor, 11 years
Dan Blue, Senior International Desk Editor, 9 years
Frank Brunett, FCS Editor, 9 years
Richie Crippen, Senior Editor, 13 years
Stephanie Graham, Special Services, 11 years
Bob Grochowski, Senior Editor, 12 years
Indra Ramrattan, Special Services, 11 years
Ivette Coston, Senior Client Services Rep., 10 years

PARIS:
Diane Carelli, Newsroom Supervisor, 2 years

PHILADELPHIA:
Steve Faella, Newsroom Supervisor, 9 years

PHOENIX:
Shari Gutter, Southwest Regional Newsroom Supervisor, 17 years

SAN ANTONIO:
Courtney Davila, Newsroom Supervisor, 8 years
Barbie Dunn, Editor, 9 years

SAN FRANCISCO:
Pat Evans, Sr. Vice President, Global Operations, 26 years
Lisa Wenzel, VP, Global Operations, 19 years
Eric Lum, Regional Newsroom Supervisor, 7 years
Lindsay Onodera, Senior Newsroom Supervisor, 4 years
Ingrid Kettunen, Newsroom Supervisor, 17 years
Wanda Glennon, Newsroom Supervisor, 8 years
Marcella Rouse, Newsroom Supervisor, 4 years
Anne Cullen, Assistant Supervisor, 16 years
Chip Dunlap, Editor, 18 years
Jarvis Lee, Editor, 14 years
Kasey Ochs, International Operations Manager, 9 years

SEATTLE:
Debbie Subia, National Editorial Supervisor, 19 years
Colleen Robb, Newsroom Supervisor, 14 years
Aaron Schmidt, Newsroom Supervisor, 9 years
Susan Morris, Senior Editor, 21 years
Kevin Stant, Senior Editor, 19 years

TOKYO:
Atsushi Suzuki, Newsroom Supervisor, 2 years