AT&T - not REALLY ready for prime time

As my business partner, Kathleen, well knows, I routinely complain about AT&T Wireless’ coverage here in New York City. Dropped calls are pretty routine and don’t even consider trying to make a call, text or get online from your iPhone on a summer’s day in Central Park.

Well, despite AT&T’s best efforts to combat the perception that its coverage in the city is truly awful – thank you Luke Wilson (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34154174/) – today AT&T actually provided the proof itself. As one AT&T customer support woman stated in the article below “New York is not ready for the iPhone.”

http://consumerist.com/2009/12/att-customer-service-new-york-city-is-not-ready-for-the-iphone.html

Yeah, I had a feeling.

The Making of BOCA - Our new HQ

Yes - I am so excited about the office. Heading down there now...then off to lunch with Devicescape...great clients, great friends, passion for the people I work with - from Lucia Mikasa and Kristy to Nate, Steve, Nicole, Dave, Diana, Tamara and the list goes on...

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.