I’ve gotta give a "tip" of the hat to TipDish.com, a social media directory started by a group of Houston entrepreneurs.
Tipdish brings together "tippers" — PR pros, marketing types, and other communications professionals — and "dishers" — bloggers, podcasters, and anyone else who "dishes out" information online.
The service was developed by a group of bloggers, PR/marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors who gathered in Houston in September 2007 with the goal of launching a company from concept to completion in just three days.
Dishers can register and join for free. TipDish helps them grow their networks, connect with sources, and boost their publicity.
Tippers must pay to join — a bit of a drawback, I suppose, but TipDish has to make money somehow. The leads they submit are "managed" by TipDish. The TipDish website says "TipDish will manage all disher information and will not release it to tippers directly."
As a marketing professional who represents paying clients, as well as PRstore’s own corporate communication needs, I’m a little uncomfortable with TipDish "managing" my communications. I want to know who I’m pitching to. I also want to know who decides to dish my news so I can take credit (what, wouldn’t you?). Furthermore, part of successful public relations is building relationships with the gatekeepers of information.
I suppose I could always Google the news I’m submitting to find out who published it. Still, if TipDish is charging me to be a member, I shouldn’t have to go to the trouble.
TipDish is still in Beta, and the execution may need some refinement, but I like the concept. I’ll let marketers, PR reps, and PRstore’s franchisee owners judge for themselves how well TipDish delivers.