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Computers & Software Technology U.K U.S

Atlassian Patches Critical Severity Authentication Vulnerability in Jira Software; Admins are Urged to Upgrade Their Installations

Atlassian has reportedly released multiple fixes to patch a critical severity authentication vulnerability in its powerful ITSM tool—Jira Service Management Server and Data Center.

Jira Service Management Server and Jira Service Management Data Center run on top of Jira Core and enable future-focused enterprises to connect Dev, IT Ops, and business teams to boost productivity.

Breaking Down the Vulnerability

The broken authentication issue was detected in version 5.3.0, thus affecting all subsequent Jira software versions—from 5.3.0 to 5.3.1 and 5.4.0 to 5.5.0. 

Publishing an advisory, Atlassian underscored the flaw as a ‘critical severity’ authentication flaw based on the company’s specific severity code. Tracked as CVE-2023-22501, this authentication bug is rated with a CVSS score of 9.4 by the company. 

This authentication bug, if unpatched, could be exploited by threat actors to impersonate authentic users and in specific cases, infiltrate Jira Service Management instances, according to Infosecurity Magazine (reported by PERTI).

“With write access to a User Directory and outgoing email enabled on a Jira Service Management instance, an attacker could gain access to sign-up tokens sent to users with accounts that have never been logged into,” the company explained in its advisory.

“Access to these tokens can be obtained in two cases: If the attacker is included on Jira issues or requests with these users, or if the attacker is forwarded or otherwise gains access to emails containing a ‘View Request’ link from these users,” Atlassian explained.

Once the vulnerability is exploited and followed by a password change, no email notifying the change is sent to the account owner, which makes the detection of the account compromisation really tough. 

In the advisory, Atlassian warned users that the bot accounts are more likely to fall prey to attackers.

Until most recently, this authentication bypass issue has not been exploited maliciously in the wild. 

Atlassian Urges Admins to Upgrade Their Jira Software

As part of its effort to help admins address the vulnerability, Atlassian, in the above-mentioned directory, has declared the release of patches for Jira versions 5.3.3, 5.4.2, 5.5.1, 5.6.0, and later. 

The productivity software giant has urged admins to upgrade to the latest fixed versions of the software to mitigate the authentication flaw before attackers can hold sway over their accounts. 

However, for users who cannot upgrade their installations immediately, Atlassian has offered a temporary workaround solution. Atlassian has provided users with a JAR file that can be used to manually update the “service desk-variable-substitution-plugin.” 

Admins opting for the latest upgrades can get notified of which accounts had been compromised since deploying the older version.

However, upgrading a software instance is highly disruptive and involves intricate steps. For businesses seeking a smooth upgrade to the latest Jira versions, investing in a high-end Atlassian consultancy service like Automation Consultants is a sensible decision. 

By executing periodic security audits of Atlassian products like Jira, Bitbucket, and Confluence, a class-leading consultancy service with Atlassian experts can help teams evaluate the security posture of their Atlassian stack.

Atlassian suggests admins force a password reset on all potentially compromised accounts, for which confirming their email addresses is imperative. 

The company recommends users disconnect and shut down the breached server upon detecting a vulnerability in order to limit its extent. 

The company confirmed Jira services hosted on Atlassian Cloud via the atlassian.net domain were not impacted by the vulnerability. 

Categories
Computers & Software Manufacturing & Industry Technology U.S

Luminate Capital Partners Makes Strategic Growth Investment in Ease, Inc.

SAN CLEMENTE and SAN FRANCISCO – March 14, 2023 – Luminate Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on enterprise software, announced last week a majority-stake growth investment in Ease, Inc. (“Ease”), a leader in manufacturing plant floor audit software.  

Luminate’s investment will help Ease expand its leadership position in the manufacturing software sector by accelerating new product development, innovation, and other key growth initiatives.  

The EASE plant floor audit SaaS platform is purpose-built to serve the manufacturing industry. EASE harnesses the plant floor data, provides deep insights into manufacturing processes, and delivers immediate ROI for customers via higher productivity, improved quality and safety, and lower costs and defects. EASE is used in more than 40 countries and 20+ languages to conduct millions of audits every year and is trusted by hundreds of global enterprise customers from automotive to aerospace, electronics, medical devices, food & beverage, packaging and more. 

“Manufacturers are just embarking on their digital transformation journey and EASE is right at the center. We are transforming business critical audit processes and providing actionable insights in real time for all types of manufacturing,” said Eric Stoop, CEO of Ease. “Ease is proud to be able to work hand in hand with manufacturers to drive efficiency, increase quality and employee safety, and reduce risk. We are excited to start this next chapter with Luminate and leverage their extensive experience in scaling and driving growth through product expansion and innovation.” 

Dave Ulrich, Partner at Luminate, said, “Ease is addressing a large global opportunity. Their innovative platform helps manufacturers simplify how they administer, conduct, and respond to plant floor audits, a process still often done manually on paper. Ease’s platform delivers significant value to customers today and we believe through additional product investment there’s opportunity to offer even more.” 

“Ease has seen impressive growth in recent years,” added Chris Murphy, Operating Partner at Luminate. “We are excited to partner with the team to support their continued growth and success.” 

In connection with the investment, Hollie Haynes, Chris Murphy, and Dave Ulrich will join Eric Stoop on Ease’s Board of Directors. Spotlight Equity Partners, Ease’s previous majority shareholder, will retain a minority stake.  

Suken Shah, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Spotlight said, “We have been impressed with the entire Luminate team and believe they are a great partner for Ease going forward. We look forward to collaborating with them to build on the company’s strong momentum.” 

Lincoln International provided M&A advisory services to the shareholders of Ease and legal advice was provided by McDermott Will & Emery. 

Kirkland & Ellis was legal advisor to Luminate.  

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  

About Ease 

Ease’s multi-tenant SaaS solution is built for manufacturers of all sizes. The solution automates manual and time-consuming plant floor audits, inspections, and data collection to digitize a historically manual, paper-based approach. Leading manufacturers in 40+ countries around the world, including Dana, Eaton, and 3M, trust Ease to automate plant floor audits and keep pace with manufacturing requirements. Founded in 1986, Ease is headquartered in San Clemente, California. For more information, please visit www.ease.io.

About Luminate Capital 

Luminate Capital Partners is a private equity firm investing in growth software companies, based in San Francisco. Luminate’s portfolio of market leaders has included Axonify, Conexiom, Compliance & Risks, StarCompliance, Quantivate, Thought Industries and Suralink. For more information, please visit www.luminatecapital.com.  

About Spotlight Equity Partners 

Spotlight Equity Partners is a private equity firm investing in enterprise software companies. Spotlight’s current portfolio of software companies includes ScaleGrid, Pharos, Nicus, cFive, SirsiDynix, and Identity Automation. For more information, please visit www.spotlightequity.com.  

Media Contact:  

For Ease: 

Andrea Walter 

Chief Marketing Officer 

Ease 

andrea.walter@ease.io 

For Luminate:

Chris Tofalli 

Chris Tofalli Public Relations, LLC

chris@tofallipr.com

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Automotive Technology Travel U.S World

Say Goodbye to JFK Parking Hassles with ParkingAccess!

ParkingAccess is a website that offers a comprehensive guide to parking at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. The website has a team of expert writers who produce high-quality editorial and sensational content around JFK parking.

One of the reasons why ParkingAccess is so great concerning JFK parking is its deep understanding of the needs and concerns of travelers who use JFK. The website provides valuable information such as the locations of parking facilities, rates, and amenities. They also offer insider tips on how to save money and time when parking at JFK.

In addition to providing practical information, ParkingAccess also produces high-quality editorial content that is informative and engaging. Their articles cover a wide range of topics such as airport security, travel safety, and parking trends. Their writers are experts in the travel industry and provide valuable insights and advice for travelers.

One of the things that sets ParkingAccess apart from other websites is their ability to produce sensational content that captures readers’ attention. They use creative headlines and engaging visuals to inspire readers and motivate them. Their articles are also well-researched and have a unique perspective on travel-related topics.

Another great thing about ParkingAccess is their commitment to providing accurate and up-to-date information. They regularly update their website to reflect changes in parking rates and availability at JFK. They also provide real-time information on parking availability and wait times so that travelers can plan and avoid unnecessary stress.

ParkingAccess is also very user-friendly and easy to navigate. Their website is designed to be intuitive and responsive, making it easy for travelers to find the place they need quickly and easily. They also offer a range of tools and resources, such as a parking calculator and a parking map, to help travelers plan their trip.

In conclusion, ParkingAccess is a fantastic resource for travelers looking for information on parking at JFK. Their expert writers produce high-quality editorial and sensational content that is informative, engaging, and up-to-date. They deeply understand the needs and concerns of travelers who use JFK and provide practical information and insider tips to help make their trip as smooth and stress-free as possible. If you plan a trip to JFK, check out ParkingAccess for all your parking needs.

Categories
Business Human Resources Professional Services Services U.S

Keri Laine Executive Solutions Is Making Waves In The Private Equity and Venture Capital Space.

Orlando FL, April 3rd, 2023: Keri Laine Executive Solutions, a preeminent firm is making significant impacts on private and venture capital firms by helping them maximize profits, realize faster rates of returns, and offer value creation. The firm focuses on the executive team and talent aspects of deals pre, during, and post due-diligence as companies look to raise capital, prepare to go public, or if they are merging or acquiring. 

Keri’s team has deep experience in evaluating leadership capabilities, developing effective leaders, building productive teams, and creating frameworks for success. 

Keri Laine Executive Solutions utilizes a platform that ties the predictability of the executive team’s success to specific metrics driven by action plans. This is a key differentiator for investors to determine how best to leverage their investment dollars with a data-backed decision-making model.

The data-driven process aims to take the subjectivity out of decisions related to talent and people at various stages in a transaction.. This provides more transparency, and predictability for success. It also creates more precise outcomes in the financial modeling of a deal, helping founders, boards, and executive teams frame their value propositions when presenting their business cases to potential investors. 

According to Keri Laine “At a time when the quality and the diligence of a deal is a competitive advantage, our platform, methodology, and applied frameworks provide significant insight and greater confidence in each decision. This sets firms or founders who hire us miles ahead of others. It enables all sides of the event to make faster decisions that are rooted in more objectivity, have higher validity, and allow there to be collective agreement gained during diligence that leverage the talent of an organization at the right time – ahead of time. We accelerate the process, we generate value within the deal outcomes, we are a risk aversion, and we save millions of dollars by avoiding unforeseen potholes or pitfalls of a deal, specifically related to talent”. 

Keri Laine Executive Solutions helps investors, venture capitalists, and private equity firms maximize profits by developing strong leaders, building efficient teams, and creating frameworks for success. They do this by developing and implementing talent strategies for their clients. 

Keri Laine Executive Solutions’ fundamental mission is to assist in accelerating their client’s journey to profitability. 

The founder, Keri Laine, is a former global chief-level executive, a certified executive coach, and a proven business strategist in the entrepreneurial and investor space. She has coached more than 200 top executives and entrepreneurs, helping them disrupt their sectors with innovative success across the globe. She has taken three companies public, and been a part of dozens of mergers and acquisitions worldwide. 

Keri has led organizations through employee growth of 100 to 4,000, both public and private, with revenue stages from $40m to $5.6b. 

For more information about Keri Laine Executive Solutions, you can visit www.kerilaine.com.

Categories
Business Computers & Software Technology U.K U.S

Some Cybersecurity Trends in 2023 that Business Owners Should Be Aware Of

Cybersecurity is important. I think we can all agree about that. And, it’s forever evolving, because just as we figure out a response to a cyber threat, hackers go and find a new way of attacking.

The latest in cyber threat evolution was using AI to create malware. But, that’s not all there is to it. That’s why maintaining cybersecurity is not a one-time exercise. One needs to work hard to keep up.

And, as with anything that is ongoing, one can expect to see patterns and trends.

So, what are the cybersecurity trends we can expect to see in 2023?

AI and ML For Cybersecurity

As AI and machine learning (ML) become more sophisticated, threat actors are using these technologies to avoid detection.

The preferred method of hackers is not high-tech hacking exercises, as shown in movies. What they do almost 71% of the time is steal valid credentials and then use those to force their way into accounts.

For example, they steal an email address used to register an account on an online platform. Then, they try to brute-force their way into that account using commonly used passwords. 

If they succeed in cracking the password, they’d use that email/password combination on other websites. 

(That’s why you shouldn’t use the same password for different accounts.)

Now, unless they buy a stolen list of email addresses, most hackers use social engineering attacks to get people’s credentials.

With the help of AI, they are creating not just more refined malware but also phishing emails that are more personalised.

So, whilst businesses are using AI to detect cyber attacks, they end up being reactionary rather than proactive. By the time they “teach” AI how to identify a new threat, hackers have moved on to another method.

Fortunately, just as AI can be used to craft better (for lack of a better word) attacks, it can also be used to prevent them.

One of the things AI does better than you or I is speedy analysis. Where we might take us hours or days to go through data and get anything meaningful out of it, AI can do it in minutes.

As a result, its predictive analytics capabilities could be used to infer and predict threats. Once the threats have been identified, it’s easier to mitigate them with fewer resources.

Patching Open Source Code Vulnerabilities

Open source code can be very handy. But, it is also very likely to have vulnerabilities. Synopsys researchers have reported that almost 84% of open source code bases had at least one vulnerability in their Open Source Security and Risk Analysis (OSSRA) report.

The problem with weaknesses in the code is that they can be exploited by threat actors. The way to deal with them is by using penetration testing to find exploitable flaws and patching them.

(You can also make use of cloud penetration testing services from reliable service providers like DigitalXRAID. The company has also launched a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity platform.)

Simple, right?

Unfortunately, the report also found that 91% of the patches weren’t implemented. Maybe the devsecops team didn’t have enough time or resources. 

Maybe they didn’t think the benefits weren’t worth risking the unintended consequences.

Or, maybe they just weren’t aware that there was an updated version of the code available.

Either way, these vulnerabilities exist and can be exploited.

To avoid that, and to potentially keep the open code they’ve used updated, businesses might need to keep a software bill of materials (SBOM). According to the report, this will include any open source code they’ve used, its licenses, versions, and patch statuses.

This practice would be very handy in making sure any open source code used by your business is not putting you at risk.

Training Employees on the Dangers of Phishing Attacks

Sometimes, when something works, there is no real need to change it up. That seems to be the case with phishing.

Phishing is a form of social engineering attack where a legit-looking email is designed to get the victim to click on a link. That, then, redirects them to a page where their info is stolen.

Apparently, hackers most often like to use (or abuse, rather) Microsoft, Amazon, DocuSign, Google, DHL, and Adobe. However, don’t be surprised to see emails from banks in your inbox as well.

Again, the best way to combat this challenge is the old-fashioned “train your employees” method. Human error is inevitable, but training people to identify emails that might be dodgy can help a lot.

As can limiting their access.

So, there you have it. Here are some ways you can keep your business safe from cyber-attacks in 2023.

Categories
Employment Services Society & Culture Technology U.S

Better Careers Guide Revolutionizes Online Recruitment with User-Friendly Platform and Vast Talent Pool

Daytona Beach, FL: Better Careers Guide is a premier online recruitment platform that has been designed to provide job seekers and recruiters with the best possible recruitment experience. With a user-friendly and efficient platform, Better Careers Guide aims to make it easy for candidates and recruiters to find and fill job vacancies.

One of the key benefits of Better Careers Guide is that it provides the quickest routes for both applying for jobs and posting job requirements. This means that job seekers can easily find and apply for jobs, and recruiters can quickly post job vacancies and receive applications from potential candidates.

Better Careers Guide provides access to tens-of-thousands of current job requirements through a powerful search engine. This makes it easy for job seekers to find the right job that matches their skills and qualifications. Additionally, for recruiters, this means that they can tap into a vast pool of talented and skilled candidates.

When recruiters advertise their job on Better Careers Guide, their job advertisement will have a potential reach of over 60 million candidates worldwide. This is because the platform distributes job advertisements to other similar job boards within the network, ensuring that job vacancies receive maximum exposure.

“Our aim is to create the ultimate destination for job seekers and recruiters, providing a seamless online recruitment experience for all,” said a spokesperson for Better Careers Guide. “We understand that finding the right job or the right candidate can be a challenging and time-consuming process, and that’s why we’ve created a platform that makes it easy and efficient for all users.”

Better Careers Guide is committed to providing exceptional customer service and support to both job seekers and recruiters. The platform is continuously evolving and improving to meet the changing needs of the job market, ensuring that it remains a trusted and reliable destination for recruitment.

For more information about Better Careers Guide, or to get in touch with the team, please visit their website. Whether you’re a job seeker or a recruiter, Better Careers Guide is the ultimate destination for all your recruitment needs.

Categories
Computers & Software Europe Technology U.K U.S

think-cell Software Releases Version 12 With New PowerPoint Enhancements

BERLIN, Germany – 9th March 2023 – The leading productivity software, think-cell, is rolling out its latest upgrade, which offers significant enhancements that empower users with better control, connection, and data visualization. think-cell 12 is currently available for all customers through the customer portal as well as to prospective customers through the free think-cell 30-day trial download.

The latest version of think-cell includes more of what customers already love about the software. The addition of profile charts bolsters its ever-expanding portfolio of charts and graphs, and users can expect to see even more from the company built to make PowerPoint better and PowerPoint users more productive.

think-cell 12 enables users to create rotated line charts (profile charts) and rotated combo charts. These charts enable people to tell more compelling stories using data to show the relationships between different types of data and illustrate trends over time. Like all think-cell charts, this more sophisticated visualization of data helps people make better decisions based on the information presented. 

Robin Jung, Head of Product Management with think-cell is excited about what the latest version provides even beyond new charting capabilities, “think-cell 12 is proof that a series of small enhancements can make a big difference. From linking Harvey balls, checkboxes, and images to data in Excel to aligning think-cell elements on a page, think-cell continues to shave hours off your day while making every presentation work harder.”

With this latest release, users can now select individual partitions in the bubble and scatter charts directly while also applying a different fill color for each. This enhancement makes it simple to highlight the data in multiple quadrants to better distinguish what trends and insights are most important in your presentation.  

On top of this, the latest software version allows users to edit the data layout of its internal datasheet and links to Excel. For users looking to link a chart to an existing Excel worksheet without modifying the layout, think-cell’s editable data layout feature is highly beneficial. Jung added, “think-cell provides even more value when using Excel linking capabilities, as customers can now highlight all linked elements in their PowerPoint presentations, which is a level of insight that up until now has not been possible.”

With its latest PowerPoint enhancements, think-cell is committed to evolving as a formidable player in the Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel add-in market. Jung sees the latest release as a significant milestone for think-cell, “We have an extremely stable product with millions of users around the world. We are going to continue to build on this foundation to ensure that customers are not only more productive, but also can move business forward by accelerating the myriad of decisions that surround the presentation process.”

About think-cell

Founded in Berlin in 2002, think-cell is the de facto standard for creating professional presentations in PowerPoint. With productivity tools and support for 40+ chart types, 9 of the top 10 global consulting firms rely on think-cell, it’s the software of choice for the Fortune 500 and taught at 9 of the top 10 business schools.  

To learn more about think-cell and download a fully functional 30-day trial version, please visit https://www.think-cell.com 

Categories
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech Science Technology U.K U.S

ObvioHealth and Sterling IRB Partner to Accelerate Access to Clinical Trials

On February 2, 2023, Sterling IRB and ObvioHelath reportedly declared a collaboration to make clinical trials more accessible and step up the decentralisation of clinical studies.

With this announcement, Sterling IRB has emerged as ObvioHealth’s preferred Institutional Review Board (IRB) to help the virtual trial organisation (VRO) with the regulatory requirements, according to Clinical Trial Arsena.

The Shift to Decentralisation Drives Efficiency

Conducting clinical trials is critical to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. However, several steps associated with data compilation, participant enrollment, and more in on-site clinical trials are suboptimal, thus stymieing the development of new therapeutics.

The requirement for frequent hospital visits, complications with transportation, instructions, scheduling, etc., create friction for patients, thus increasing their likelihood of dropping out.

While around 80% of clinical trials fail to meet the enrollment timeline, 55% terminate because of inadequate enrollment. 

Patient drop-off rates in traditional clinical trials (phase III) can often be substantially high (sometimes even over 30%), causing expensive delays for sponsors. Enrolling one participant can cost roughly $6,533 and the cost of replacing them is even higher. 

However, by streamlining communications while allowing patients to volunteer for clinical studies from the comfort of their homes, DCTs can significantly shift the paradigm to a much higher enrollment and retention rate. 

DCTs and hybrid clinical study models are here to stay, and their long-term benefits outweigh the technical and financial challenges related to on-site trials.

However, despite holding great potential to bring new drugs to the market faster, the adoption of DCTs has been slow. 

Some roadblocks to DCT may be down to patient-physician interaction, immature digital infrastructure, and the regulatory issues facing sponsors when implementing and using data from decentralised trials. 

As a new process, the regulatory reception of DCTs is still not well-defined, thereby creating obscurity regarding the oversight of trial processes and governing regulations. 

While the regulatory landscape is constantly evolving, VROs must ensure they design DCT tools that comply with the latest regulatory guidelines. 

The Collaboration Will Facilitate the Regulatory Review Process

By designing and running patient-centric, end-to-end, and tech-enabled DCTs, ObvioHealth helps sponsors get robust therapeutic evidence. 

As part of its effort to ensure zero trade-offs between data accuracy and reduced patient burden, the VRO implements high-end data capture techniques such as tele-health visits, online patient diaries, sensors, wearables, etc.

ObvioHealth expects its partnership with Sterling IRB will act as a step-change in helping it win regulatory acceptance faster for its trial designs.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sterling IRB has been helping sponsors navigate the ambiguous regulatory guidelines to support fully or partially decentralised trial designs.

“The flexibility of our DCT platform, combined with our full-service virtual site team, gives us the freedom to build studies that will best deliver on a sponsor’s endpoints. This often means we’re navigating uncharted regulatory terrain. We needed a partner willing to collaborate through regulatory challenges and support our next-generation trial designs,” stated Ivan Jarry, CEO of ObvioHealth.

“Sterling IRB and ObvioHealth are like-minded, both sharing a common goal of building stronger DCTs,” said Kathye Richards, vice president of Client Services, Institutional Official at Sterling IRB. “Flexibility and out-of-the-box thinking are becoming increasingly important for continued decentralised trial success. This partnership will enable earlier involvement to help interpret regulations, work through challenges, and collaborate for solutions, all essential for making DCTs less burdensome for all.”

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Business Marketing & Sales Media & Communications Professional Services U.S

Marianne Schwab, Former National Network TV Talk Show Producer, Exposes Five Mistakes High-Level Entrepreneurs Make with Talk Show Interviews

Getting invited to appear as a guest on a TV talk show can be a valuable opportunity for experts, authors, and high-level entrepreneurs to share their message with a broad audience and establish credibility. However, it’s essential to be aware of the challenges that come with securing and preparing for such appearances on television and how to avoid common mistakes that could derail a media interview.

The media landscape is constantly evolving, and it can be challenging to keep up with the latest trends, preferences, and best practices. Marianne Schwab, a former national network TV Talk Show Producer, understands the good, the bad, and the ugly from what can go right to what can go terribly wrong and she shares her insights on some the biggest mistakes high level entrepreneurs make when they get talk show interview opportunities.

Mistake #1 – Not understanding that it’s all about the media hook and story angle. Anyone who wants to be a guest on a talk show needs to understand what producers want and it’s really pretty simple. According to Marianne, a media hook will be the number one reason a producer will look at a pitch to decide if an expert will make a good guest. “The media hook is really about how producers will promote the segment or title it on their website so viewers click to watch it online. For example, one of my clients is a Canine Caterer and she launched a cook book for dogs that also had two pages of toxic foods to avoid giving your dog. Our media hook was, ‘Toxic Mistakes Dog Owners Make.’ This is the sort of hook that you can almost hear the host of the show say, like ‘Coming up next,’ or ‘Stay tuned.’ That’s the type of media hook producers love.” 

Mistake #2 – Not understanding the amount of preparation needed before the interview. TV talk shows can be intimidating even if an expert has lots of YouTube videos or Facebook Live experience. Marianne has prepared clients for hundreds of interviews, “Without the right preparation and coaching, it can be challenging to come across as confident, articulate, and engaging on camera. For the newbie talk show guest, they often think once they’ve booked the interview, all they have do is show up and answer questions, but that is a recipe for disaster. You don’t show up for the World Series and treat the game like a batting practice. If you want to hit a home run with your interview, you need to dial in your message so you can maximize your three minute interview and then prepare it so you come off authentic and confident and this can take between five to ten hours.”

Mistake #3 – Not understanding what to look for when hiring a publicist. Hiring a publicist is the best way to fast track getting television interviews, but not all publicists specialize in broadcast or have those contacts.  Marianne advises, “You want to work with a publicist who specializes in broadcast P.R. and has media connections with producers. Also, look at their track record for clients they’ve booked on talk show programs. Since I’m a former national network talk show producer, I can guarantee that my clients will get on network quality local talk shows since I have strong relationships with producers all over the country.” So look for publicists with talk show media connections because ultimately, producers work with trusted professionals.

Mistake #4 – Not understanding that the first talk show interviews will be a local talk shows. Even if an author has had a bestselling book, it’s no guarantee they’ll land an interview on a national talk show. In fact, it’s unlikely, according to Marianne, “As a producer for national talk shows, I always wanted to see that guests had been on other talk shows and that meant local talk shows. I knew if they could do well on those shows, they’d be great on my show since my job was literally on the line if I booked a bad guest. Local talk shows on network affiliates are an excellent training ground for experts and high level entrepreneurs to master on camera media appearances while building credibility as a go-to on-camera expert.” 

Mistake #5 – Not understanding that talk shows are about publicity and NOT marketing or advertising. One of the most difficult things to understand about talk show interviews is that they are not marketing or advertising platforms so the approach has to be informational in nature with a soft call to action. Marianne shares, ” No amount of advertising can get you the credibility that appearing as a guest in the editorial framework of a talk show because at the end of the day, advertising is saying that you’re good, but public relations is getting someone else, in essence, to say it for you. Anytime you’re interviewed, you’re not just perceived as an expert, but you’re elevated to an authority in your industry.”

High level entrepreneurs often look for a direct ROI from talk show appearances, but successful public relations is not measured in the same way that a successful marketing campaign is measured. Overall, getting on a TV talk show and leveraging it correctly, can give an entrepreneur the instant know, like, and trust factor with potential clients or customers that can ultimately seal the deal on purchasing decisions.

Marianne Schwab has worked as a producer for over 25 years in New York and Los Angeles. She is currently the Executive Producer of CMP Media Cafe where she works with clients to develop compelling media hooks and story angles that get them TV and radio interviews in today’s complicated media environment. She shares tips on Instagram and has created an online training that shares her insider secrets to promoting a business on TV talk shows and details the types of guests producers love to book as guests.

Categories
Business Food & Beverage Leisure Activities Lifestyle U.S

Is Fido a Foodie? Then Say Bone Appetite to This Purrfect Treat! eCommerce Sensation Unveils PetCakes® for Retailers

Orlando, Florida – March 7, 2023 – Cats and dogs everywhere will want to get their paws on the most innovative treat at the Global Pet Expo 2023 in Orlando on March 22-24 as Melinda Kirk Stenger, also known as the Canine Caterer, debuts PetCakes® Complete Baking Kits for Cats and PetCakes® Complete Baking Kits for Dogs branded exclusively for brick and mortar and large retail stores. 

Melinda, who has over 20 years of canine culinary experience, is the creator of the award-winning PetCakes line, the first ever DIY organic microwavable pet treats for both cats and dogs that created a large presence on eCommerce platforms like Amazon and Chewy.com and has generated over $25 Million in online sales. PetCakes is a solid favorite with pet moms and dads who want to pamper their pooch or princess kitty and has received over eleven thousand 4.5 star reviews for the PetCakes birthday kit alone.

“What people don’t realize is that many dogs are allergic to wheat, corn, and soy, which I discovered with my rescue dog, Bella,” Melinda says. “She’s a deaf Jack Russell mix, my official taste tester, and the inspiration behind everything I create including PetCakes. For our retail rollout, we’ve created complete baking kits that are made with the finest human grade ingredients plus we source and make everything in the USA.” 

Each kit makes six fish shaped cakes for cats or two bone shaped cakes for dogs plus 24 frosted mini cupcakes and pet parents can customize flavors or add healthy toppings and includes:

  • One fish shaped re-usable pan (for cats) or One bone shaped re-usable pan (for dogs) 
  • Four cake mixes
  • Two frosting mixes
  • Both microwave and oven instructions.

“People think it’s too complicated and time consuming to cook for their cats or dogs,” Melinda says, “but this makes it so easy and why I developed PetCakes Complete Baking Kits for both cats and dogs so parents and kids can have fun and bond with their pets in a unique way while cooking for them.” Melinda has also created complete baking kits for all occasions pet parents want to celebrate with their furry friends including birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas, with purrfectly nutritious, homemade treats that will have tails wagging.

The PetCakes Complete Baking Kits for Cats and PetCakes Complete Baking Kits for Dogs retail at $24.99 and will be available to pet owners and their furry families at select retailers across the country later this year following their launch at the Global Pet Expo. Melinda is excited to be at the show this year and shares, “When we launched PetCakes in 2010 as a completely unknown company and brand, we were thrilled to win ‘Best New Product of the Year’ here and now we are back and hope to earn that honor again in both cat and dog divisions with PetCakes Complete Baking Kits.”

Melinda Kirk Stenger will be meeting with buyers and retailers at the PetCakes Booth #5804 located in the Boutique Section at the Global Pet Expo 2023 where she is also available for media interviews and product previews. Find out how to order a PetCakes Birthday Kit for those special furry friends at ilovepetcakes.com or follow Melinda on Instagram.