BOCA = New Office = Boat = Office

Many PR firms consistently write about the great work they do for their clients or amazing news insight. I do write about wonderful experiences with our clients and business, but I am going to write something very personal that I've touched upon before.

For the past nine months I've been living on a boat. Why...partly because it was a personal dream, partly because it was a personal accomplishment and partly because I started a business in the worst recession ever and I wanted to kill all major personal overhead and put my profit and the company profit to the business, our clients and the people - not me.

Wow...we now have six clients and we are about to embark on an office space. I am so excited, I love our clients and the company is growing in the worst recession (depression) since the 30s. The random person I am (as well as strategic, savvy and entrepreneurial) will continue to live on my boat and focus on the business.

That said though - my tenants moved out to Hawaii for six weeks and I moved into my house. I am going to spend the holidays having a vacation in my home - it is awesome....I have just a short time to be in this fantastic, loving home and I will enjoy every minute.

I am so happy with what I've accomplished that past two years. I am so proud of the people at BOCA. And, I am so excited for our new office space....

BOCA will continue to make smart (and interesting decisions) for the long-term benefits of the company and our clients.

Kathleen
Back at home after nine months on the water...YAY!!!

Happy Thanksgiving - Happiness to All

Today is the best holiday in the U.S. It is a day filled with love, family, friends, food and fun. Much like everyone else in the U.S. - it is also a day to say thank you. I am so appreciative to my family, friends and clients. Thank you for working with BOCA Communications.

I have a vision of an amazing agency with amazing clients and that vision is becoming a reality. Thank you and I look forward to working with all of you. And, I look forward to growing.

I also thank the amazing people I work with - Michael, Ashley, Susannah, Jennifer, Analisa...Thank You!

May we all have a wonderful, safe holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kathleen Shanahan
Founder
BOCA Communications

GenArts Praises BOCA - Site Traffic Doubles

Last week BOCA delivered an amazing media tour for our client GenArts. While the company had "hard" news, an acquisition, BOCA's flawless PR execution drove site traffic and lead generation - two critical outcomes that we map towards with many of our campaigns.

Steve Bannerman, the CMO of GenArts stated:

"The BOCA team did a tremendous job on the announcement of GenArts' latest acquisition. They pitched our messages skillfully and scheduled a first class press tour, including every one of our top media targets. 100% of the reporters from our tour wrote outstanding on-message articles and the coverage was syndicated around the world. As a result, our traffic to our website doubled, bringing hundreds of new customer leads to GenArts. This is the type of metric-driven outcome that BOCA delivers time after time."

Yes, PR is about deliving amazing media results to our clients. But, more than media, PR is part of the marketing machine. One markets to sell products - in steps lead generation. Our goal as an agencyt is of course to deliver amazing media coverage, but when we can link our media to lead generation, we know we are really doing our job and delivering for our clients.

Thank you for the kind words Steve.

CTIA - Not so Big, but not so small - a solid show

Yes, I should have posted this immediately, but I am busy working on building a business and actually working on BOCA accounts. As the founder, I have to practice what I preach - we are hands on and I am involved with all of our clients.

That said, I had a great time and CTIA and I am so happy I attended. I almost did not attend, but when I saw flights for $49 each way - the "gods" above were telling me to head down South.

Overall, I enjoyed the show. Partially I enjoy the networking. But, more so I really like to touch and feel the technology. There was a super cool company by the name of InTouch Health. The company provides real-time video stream from a doctor's office to say an ambulance or another hospital. Very interesteting from a consumer perspective. There was also an interesting company deCarta that is all about LBS. Which - LBS is the coolest technology ever and the wave of the future.

That said - I have to sign off and get back to work - big Devicescape - Easy WiFi launch and loving it.

Free Wi-Fi: The Wave of the Future

Recently I attended CTIA. When I arrived at the airport, there was a huge sign that said Free WiFi from San.Org. Based on the Q2 Devicescape WiFi Report, more than 50 percent of people will "only" use free WiFi.

As a business owner on the road (up and down the 101), I am a huge advocate of WiFi. While I own a 3g card in hopes of staying connected - the reality is that I can't stand 3G. It is just slow.

WiFi guarantees speed. And, when one is working with fast paced, technology companies - speed is key.

Bring on municipal WiFi. Free your WiFi. I personally don't lock my personal WiFi in my home.

Kathleen S.

Devicescape: Thank you for Easy Wi-Fi

The BOCA and Devicescape Teams have tremendous history.

Before Devicescape, I personally used to work with Dave Fraser, Devicescape’s CEO, at Wind River. Wind River, now Intel, was the publicly traded 800 pound gorilla within its space—the embedded systems space.

Embedded systems or device software touches people every day. Device software is everything from consumer gadgets to military or aerospace electronics. From gaming consoles to airbags, there is software everywhere. And, I love it. My dirty secret – I have a thing for device software and semiconductors. (Note: BOCA has other experience. This is just my little passion).

At Wind River we talked about the “connected world.” Years back we discussed the fact that people would be downloading or uploading and connecting to data, to services, to content.

Devicescape has kept that vision in its site. We don’t talk about it as much as we used to – but we all know that every move we make needs to help making the world connected.

In step Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is everywhere. From cafes, to libraries, to homes and offices—we all love Wi-Fi and want Wi-Fi. Devicescape has harnessed that wildly fragmented technology and wants manufacturers to embrace it, embed it, download it and give it to their customers: the consumer.

Today Devicescape announced its latest Easy Wi-Fi connectivity solution and a new Easy Wi-Fi Network. Device manufacturers can literally ship their gadgets with Wi-Fi, but more importantly the ability to find Wi-Fi and connect to Wi-Fi. What does that mean…me the consumer can upload, download and stream?

Beyond the gadgets, I am tethered to my computer all the time. I drive up and down the 101 to visit clients. I need Wi-Fi. The Easy Wi-Fi Network will improve my life. I know we are just at the beginning – but this will be a great ride.
Kudos for helping us move to a connected world. And, thank you!

Venture Beat
Devicescape launches network to get gadgets online, wherever you roam

http://venturebeat.com/2009/10/06/devicescape-launches-latest-version-of-its-global-wi-fi-hotspot-network/

“The Easy Wi-Fi Network provides device manufacturers with a solution. Devicescape makes it easy to find and connect to Wi-Fi hot spots, and it offers lifetime Wi-Fi access plans that can be shipped with the products themselves. The solution could be bundled with devices such as netbooks (which are smaller than laptops), media players, phones, digital cameras, and eBook readers, said Dave Fraser, chief executive of Devicescape.”

Wi-Fi Net News
Devicescape Adds Seamless Wi-Fi Access Service, Mapping

http://wifinetnews.com/archives/2009/10/devicescape_adds_seamless_wi-fi_access_service_mapping.html

“The firm's CEO, Dave Fraser, said, "It's obvious that there's a big attraction for putting Wi-Fi into devices, whether it's netbooks, new types of consumer electronics, like media players or ebook readers," and so on. But device makers have a challenge.”

“Fraser said companies could "ship the device with service included, which is theoretically a great experience for the consumer, because it just works," but that's "very expensive for them." Nintendo, Kodak, and a few camera makers all included free access for a limited time to hotspot networks (Nintendo partnered with Wayport in the U.S.; Kodak and others with T-Mobile).”

Converge
Devicescape Aggregates Global, Free Wi-Fi Network
http://www.convergedigest.com/WiFi/wlanarticle.asp?ID=28648

“The Easy Wi-Fi Network provides an easy-to-use hotspot location finder, enabling users to quickly find the nearest free Wi-Fi access point. The addition of a seamless Wi-Fi access service and a mapping enables device manufacturers to ship products with lifetime worldwide hotspot access.”

“The company said this paves the way for a new range of devices -- such as e-book readers or wireless-enabled digital cameras, to gain Internet backhaul capability without the device manufacturer needing to negotiate a mobile data access deal with a service providers. Devicescape aggregates data on a worldwide network of hotspots into its client, which is licensed to the device manufacturer.”

Twitter - TweetUp - Facebook - Social Media

Many people ask about social media expertise or what is social media or how do I use social media.

Social media or social media outlets are new vehicles of how to get your message out. They are extensions of what was before...

Facebook - while yes we use it for personal. Business can use it as a customer service or marketing medium.

Twitter - while it is fun to track people, Comcast has someone monitoring Twitter near real-time.

The key difference is output. When one pitched a weekly magazine - there was time. Now, we pitch daily bloggers that are under tremendous pressure to produce content. It is much the same with Facebook, Twitter or even a blog. I personally don't blog every day. If I had more time I would, but I need to deliver high quality work for my clients. It is critical that I work for my clients b/c that is why they hire the BOCA team.

That said, I do get a bit exhausted from all the technology and social media outlets - but it is part of our life and it is here to stay.

So - let's go TweetUp...