As our nation commemorates 9/11, mourning those we lost, celebrating acts of heroism and considering how our country has changed, I wanted to take a moment and encourage everyone to reflect on that tragic day. As CEO of an online media company dedicated to keeping first responders informed, I want remind all of us to remember those who lost their lives and those who made the ultimate sacrifice – many of them police officers, firefighters and paramedics - to save others. I encourage you to review the amazing coverage and stories of sacrifice we have posted on each of our sites:
You may be wondering how 9/11 affected the Praetorian Group as a company. When I think about 9/11, I can’t help but consider the formative impact that day had on our mission and future as a company. At the time, we had 5 employees and were struggling to find our way and make ends meet. Praetorian’s future was uncertain. But overnight, 9/11 changed everything. All of a sudden, the 70,000 law enforcement members on PoliceOne.com at the time as well as departments across the country had an urgent need to stay informed. They turned to the Internet and to us. I’ll never forget the day shortly after 9/11 when one of our members who was a chief of a small department called to ask for help. The only way he found out that his department was on alert was when he arrived home and his wife told him (she had seen it on CNN).
Correspondingly, we created site sections and newsletters as well as an email and text messaging alert service to disseminate information. PoliceOne became a ‘must have’ tool to help spread the news of terrorism threats and educate law enforcement on tactics and best practices to prevent terrorism. Our membership grew by 100% in less than 12 months. At the same time, 9/11 energized our company and fueled our resolve to keep pushing forward in a time of significant uncertainty. It crystalized our role in the community and brought us closer to the first responders we serve, strengthening our mission and commitment.
Ten years later, that energy and commitment is still strong and continues to ignite our mission. We count 700,000 first responders as members and a significant portion of our nations’ public safety community relies on us daily to provide them the information they need to stay informed. As I consider 9/11 and the state of Praetorian, I’m confident that we’re not only helping first responders everywhere better prepare for 9/11 related threats, but as importantly address the tragedy, challenges and threats they face on a day to day basis.
As part of a company dedicated to first responders, 9/11 has significant meaning for our members, our customers and each of our employees. Let us take a moment to reflect upon the tragedy of 9/11 and the examples of heroism and sacrifice we saw that day and how the first responders we serve – whether they be police officers, firefighters or paramedics – make sacrifices and risk their lives every day to keep us all safe.
In remembrance.
Alex Ford
CEO and Founder
Praetorian Group
Check out the recent coverage we received in BtoB Magazine. This case study focuses on our successes and strategies in regards to Facebook, in particularly our social media reach on FireRescue1.
Seeded content, engagement drive a Facebook Strategy
Paul Gillen
Can you believe that a b2b publisher can rival Newsweek in Facebook presence?
Believe it. The praetorian Group, an online-only media company for public safety professionals, has amassed a remarkable 192,000 "likes" for its FireRescue1 page on Facebook, or about 10,000 more than the venerable newsmagazine.
In fact, when combined with the companion PoliceOne.com and EMS1 pages, Praetorian's Facebook footprint nearly double that of Rolling Stone. In building such a successful presence, Praetorian has learned that tactics about engaging the Facebook audience that would be useful to any marketer.
Read the full article here.
As an entrepreneur, I've used 'little bets' throughout my career and would credit the strategy as one of the key factors driving the success of the Praetorian Group. Peter Sims, a longtime business contact and friend, recently published a book -
Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries - that explores the concept in depth. Peter does an exceptional job articulating not only how to use little bets but more importantly explores the mindset that needs to be in place to maximize their impact for both individuals and organizations. I found the book to be quite relevant for anyone in marketing and online media which is why I'm including my review on ThinkOnlineNow.
From my experience, the message of the book rings true. Over the past 10 years, I've probably made hundreds, if not thousands, of little bets and can testify to the importance of the concept, having used them to navigate the dotcom crash, the recent recession and a rapidly changing media landscape. In the process, my company has become the leading online media company in our market and has helped drive the adoption of online tools and content for first responders worldwide.
‘Little Bets’ is not just about how to try a lot of things in the hope that something sticks, but provides a thorough roadmap for how successful entrepreneurs think about business opportunities and execute on new ideas. Sims also explains the broader context that needs to be in place to cultivate little bets, such as the importance of a growth mindset and building a learning organization that isn’t afraid to try new things and fail. In the process, he does a great job weaving in the psychology and science behind his concepts, citing a wide range of relevant research.
Although I would have liked to have seen a few additional examples beyond the ones cited and perhaps more a more in-depth discussion of tactics for making little bets successfully, there's no doubt it’s an excellent resource and a must read for any entrepreneur, marketer or business manager. Check it out -
www.PeterSims.com.
Alex Ford
CEO and Founder
Praetorian Group
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