Flash Media Services adds new services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: 

Cynthia Flash

425-603-9520

cynthia@flashmediaservices.com

Flash Media Services adds marketing to public relations, writing and editing services

Consolidation of traditional media and diversification of new media leads to change

BELLEVUE, Wash. (March 6, 2018) – Flash Media Services, a boutique public relations agency that has served clients since 2000, is adding marketing to its array of services to better meet the growing needs of clients.

The firm, which specializes in public relations, media relations, writing, editing and reputation management, will now offer an array of integrated marketing services to help clients grow their businesses, revenues and charitable campaigns.

“The media landscape has changed dramatically in the nearly 18 years since Flash Media Services has been in business,” said owner and founder Cynthia Flash. “Businesses that don’t grow and change stagnate and die. I tell my clients that all the time. With this move I’m putting my money where my mouth is.”

In the past, clients with amazing stories could reach potential customers by having those stories told in the traditional media – newspapers, radio and television. But with the growth of the Internet and the proliferation of online news, clients should also hit potential customers directly through integrated marketing efforts that include e-mail marketing, paid online search, social media and online ads. With the amazing array of analytics available, companies and non-profits must no longer guess about what works. They can peer into their customers’ and donors’ habits and react accordingly.

“It’s no longer enough to issue a press release and expect the news to get out. It’s important for companies to create an integrated marketing plan that harnesses today’s technology to reach clients in new ways,” Flash said. “So many new tools exist that anyone interested in growing their business should hire an expert to help implement and manage these tools. Flash Media Services is excited and prepared to help.”

Flash Media Services provides corporate and non-profit clients with media consulting, public relations, project management, online reputation management, writing, editing and integrated marketing services. The company represents clients in a positive light before the public and their constituents through all forms of communication. Learn more at www.flashmediaservices.com.

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My `Google problem’ and how I got my name back

After meeting with a large public relations firm for a project two years ago, one of the principals – a former Associated Press reporter – politely pulled me aside to ask me about my “Google problem.”

“Huh?” I thought as I pretended to know what he was talking about. It quickly became evident that he had Googled me before the meeting and instead of focusing on my  Flash Media Services business website that highlighted my business capabilities, he was drawn to the other website that boldly carried my name, cynthiaflash.com.

My name has served me well as a professional journalist and publicist. It even set off bells around the world when I started working for United Press International.

But a few years ago, I discovered that a female escort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had grabbed it for her business. Yikes! She was beautiful and buxomy and nearly naked. Not bad to look at – if you are a guy! But this was not the image I hoped to portray for my very above-board public relations company.

When I found that someone was using my name to sell sex I immediately called my high school friend, who is a local police chief. She suggested I call the Fort Lauderdale police to see if there was anything they could do. I called. They couldn’t help.

So the nefarious cynthiaflash.com continued to prominently populate the Internet. It usually popped up as no. 1 through 3 when I searched my name. My business website, http://www.flashmediaservices.com, was there as well. But for some reason I feared it wasn’t getting as much attention.

Occasionally I would share this little tidbit about my name with friends. The women groaned in sympathy. The men – including my husband – snickered. They offered no attempt to conceal their interest. I’m sure many of them went straight to the site after meeting me.

And some, including the former AP guy, probably were a bit disappointed when they met me in person after stumbling across this other website.

Over the years several writer friends suggested that I write about it. But I couldn’t. While some believe “any publicity is good publicity,” I couldn’t go there in this case. I just couldn’t see how a Fort Lauderdale escort would help my PR business.

I even convinced my brother, who shares the same last name, to buy domain names with his name and his children’s names so this couldn’t happen to them.

But I wished there was something I could do about it. I stepped it up a notch after the conversation with the former AP guy. He offered his company’s services to try to bury the site to the second page of a Google search. I asked my own web designer if there was anything he could do. While he doubted he could bury it, he checked to see when the domain name registration on the site would expire. It was expiring shortly, it turned out. So he tried to buy it. Unfortunately, that didn’t work. The current owner paid up.

That was two years ago. I continued to try to ignore it.

Then, out of the blue, I received an e-mail from my web guy back in June. “Good news!” he said. He had placed a backorder on the domain and when it expired and was not renewed, it went up for auction. The service we paid to keep an eye on it automatically bid for it and I won my name back for $50! What a deal. And it all took place automatically.

Thank you, Reiner Perry and Web Studio Seattle for getting my name back for me. And to all of you who searched www.cynthiaflash.com while reading this, you’ll know by now that it has been redirected to my Flash Media Services website.

As for the Fort Lauderdale escort? I have no idea where she is. I wish her the best of luck in her business dealings. Just don’t use my name!