PR@ctical {Issue #18}
Hacking Hacker News with AI, build your Alexa Flash Briefing, 5 interview requests
Happy post Thanksgiving Wednesday. I’m still recovering from all of the food (I realize how lucky I am to have that to “complain” about). Thankful that you’re here and reading this today.
Create your own Alexa Flash Briefing Skill in 13 Steps 😱
Why? It’s a great way to promote your newsletter, blog or website. It takes a little extra work, but provides another way for people to access your content in a place they’ve built new listening habits.
Flash briefings are triggered when people tell Alexa, “Alexa, “What’s my Flash Briefing?” or “What’s in the news?”
Create an Amazon Developer account: https://developer.amazon.com/
Select the Alexa tab (top of the Developer Console)
Click “Get Started” under “Alexa Skills Kit”
Choose “Add a New Skill”
Choose “Flash Briefing Skill AP,” language and a name
Click “Next” until the Configuration Stage
Click “Add new feed” and add a preamble [New from ‘insert your blog name’]
Give your feed a name [the name of your blog]
Choose “text” or “audio” if you want to record your content
Select content genre
URL —> set the destination to your blog feed, not your blog’s RSS (or you can use a tool, like this)
Save a feed icon in PNG format, 512px by 512px
“Submit for Certification” (24 to 48 hours)
➡️ Here’s a printable and shareable checklist version.
Silicon Valley’s biggest discussion forum - Hacker News
It still surprises me how many tech related PR pros don’t know about or engage Hacker News. In 2019 around 5 MILLION people read Hacker News monthly. Built by YC co-founder Paul Graham, it’s a daily go-to for those who work in tech across the world.
Users submit links to stories and stories are ranked according to a voting system. Top upvoted stories are viewed on the front page (and you need about 100 to get there).
Strategically, you should post your submission by 8:00am ET and, like any great community, you should upvote and comment regularly.
Here are a few other ways to monitor what’s happening there:
Post a Slack message if your company is mentioned there
Hacker News best stories in a daily email
There’s an Alexa skill for that, too.
And learn how to write better headlines:
Ongoing Interview Requests
FEATURE INTERVIEW: Authority Magazine
PODCAST: CB Nation
QUOTE: What's ONE way to use LinkedIn Campaign Groups? (databox)
QUOTE: What's the best way to optimize Twitter ads for lead generation? (databox)
PODCAST GUEST: Work in Programming (tell Matthew I sent you)
PR@ctical tool of the week 👉 Get Content Chrome Extension
Install the ContentPro Chrome Extension
Start creating content in Google Docs
Use related articles to refine or add to your piece before you publish
Featured Twitter List —> @TodayShow
Follow, Pin and Review ➡️ https://twitter.com/i/lists/1314233060716539905
👀 ❤️ 💻 Looking for a remote PR job?
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Industry: Computer Software
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I hope you are all safe and well,
Sarah