So I get this phone call…
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So my mobile phone rings yesterday afternoon, from a restricted number, as I’m walking through CVS to pick up more Ibuprofen for my broken rib.
I answer it, and find myself talking to some woman who claims to be the “head of Profnet,” who tells me that me that I’ve been stealing reporter queries and posting them on my Facebook Group.
That amused the hell out of me. Not only because I haven’t (that would defeat the whole purpose of my group, but hey, that’s logical, and you know to never expect logic from corporations,) but also because I thought the very cool Dan Forbush was still head of Profnet. So when I refer to this woman, imagine air-quotes each time I use the term “head of Profnet.”
Anyhow, my first reaction was “um, no I haven’t.”
“Well, we have proof that a Harry Potter query was word for word the exact same query on your Facebook group and also on a Profnet.
My second reaction was, “wait a second - if a reporter shoots me a query, then shoots the same query to Profnet, how exactly is that my fault?
To which the head of Profnet had no answer.
I explained to her that a) I’m doing this for the good karma value, b) I don’t make any money from it, and c) why the hell would I want to compete with Profnet, anyway? I’m kind of busy um… doing PR, speaking, writing books, you know… things like that.
To which the head of Profnet had no answer.
Here’s the funny thing: I have absolutely no beef with Profnet! I use the service, and find it valuable! All I’m doing is offering reporters another way to get sources on deadline! Fact is, I can reach my 900 or so people a hell of lot quicker than Profnet can reach their 50 billion or so people. So if that helps a reporter, why shouldn’t I do it? And more importantly, how is that “competing?”
Do you honestly think that anyone who’s a member of my group is going to say “Oh, well, now that I get Peter’s group emails once every few days, with maybe one or two requests in it, I’ll just cancel Profnet.”
Or… Does Profnet somehow secretly not want to help reporters? Huh. That’s a bit odd, wouldn’t you say? If that’s not the case, what are they afraid of?
Finally, to sort of punctuate her point, (in a completely unrelated way, apparently) she mentioned to me that the “solo practitioner’s rate” was going away, and I should expect, when my subscription is up in September of 2008, to be billed the full agency rate, of $3,500 per year.
To which I said, “won’t that piss off a lot of solo practitioners?”
To which the head of Profnet told me “Well, they’re such a small percentage of our business, it really won’t affect us.”
Huh.
So much for loyalty to your customer.
Never wanting to end anything on a bad note (except when I do,) I asked the head of Profnet if she was located in New York City, to which she said she was.
I said, “Well, why don’t you shoot me an email with your contact info - let me buy you a cup of coffee next week. It’d be nice to meet you,” I said.
To which the head of Profnet replied, “that sounds great. I’ll do that right now.”
24 hours later, a few tumbleweeds… some prairie dogs… no email. I’m still waiting.
But the prescription-strength Ibuprofen is working fine.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
If the solo practitioner base is so small, they can’t be making much moeny off the new policy either. Which makes you wonder all the more if they’re just doing it to be “nice.”
Regardless, it’s proof your FB group is having an impact.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Keep us up to date on what happens with this. Verrrrry interesting.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Sounds like she was embarrassed because you were completely right!
I love the FB group! Further evidence that social media is really changing the way things work…
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:02 am
If the “head of Profnet” isn’t careful, she’s going to start infringing on your freedom of free speech…
February 3rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
If Profnet does away with their solo rate, that essentially ASSURES that lots of release to wire business will go to MarketWire or BizWire or anyone else BUT PR Newswire. Since both (Profnet and release to wire)are low-percentage games and there are lots of emerging web alternatives, they might want to rethink that idea. GHS
February 3rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I used to frequently see the same query on Profnet and Sourcenet. It’s common for reporters to send it out to whomever.
And if they hit me for $3500, I’ll go here instead: http://snipurl.com/nv6p
March 25th, 2008 at 11:38 am
[...] a related subject: The folks who run ProfNet apparently hate Peter Shankman. ProfNet is a service from the PR Newswire that does basically the exact same thing [...]
March 26th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Hah. I hadn’t heard about this. I tend to arrive at some parties very late.
anyway- I know who the woman is. I understand that they are ticked off but it makes little sense to try to fry you a little (or a lot) by threatening you.
It’s like puhlease.
and if they cancel the single user– where will I count on getting the cooler edgier stuff for my articles. Bigger corps don’t typically go after bloggers– despite the idea/notion that every blogger is getting paid. If so, I missed that party too and if you are paying me, please let me know when to expect the check.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
i think you misunderstood peter, only YOUR rate is going up to $3,500!
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:45 am
Intriguing that they should think they have dibs on a request for information…
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
I quite love this story, Peter! Good for you.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Wow, has she written you yet? Too bad she doesn’t know about free market society.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:20 am
Um, Peter, I DID cancel (or really not renew) my Profnet subscription (via PR Leads) because your service replaces it for free. Saves me about $1,000 a year.
Also, I’ve stopped sending queries out on Profnet for the most part, because the response rate just can’t compare to HARO. (See my HARO success story here:
http://suddenlyfrugal.blogspot.....-week.html
This may lead to a CNBC segment next week.)
Maybe that’s because all of Profnet’s subscribers are on HARO now so they’re not duplicating their efforts by answering both HARO and Profnet queries. Who knows. Keep up the good work.
Leah