Oliver Picher

Current

President at Visible Influence (Sole Proprietorship)
Social Media Director and Blogger at FunWithNetworking.com

Past

Independent Market Researcher at Gaudette International
Marketing Director at Synygy, Inc.
Manager, Public Relations at Unisys Corporation

Managing Analyst, Software at Datapro/McGraw-Hill

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1 more...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

Recommended

3 people have recommended Oliver

Connections

208 connections

Industry

Information Services

Websites

Oliver Picher’s Summary

I have gotten tremendous value out of using LinkedIn and other social media tools to raise my visibility, increase my influence, and attract business opportunities. In essence, I'm applying my 20+ years of experience in public relations to social media marketing, networking, and LinkedIn. I'm sharing what I've learned in my blogs, FunWithNetworking.com and PersonalVisibility.com.

My focus is on helping executives, professionals, and businesses make themselves more visible and attract more business through their social media networks, Web, and public relations activities. I work as a consultant, coach, writer, and speaker. I also work as an interim marketing or PR counsel, building momentum and excitement for new businesses or programs. I have specific expertise in the high tech, software, professional services, medical research, and financial services industries.

I'm not an open networker, but I'm happy to connect. Send me a pitch on why we should connect and how I can help you.

Oliver Picher’s Specialties:

public relations (PR), product launch, marketing start-ups, blogging, social media marketing, referral marketing, customer loyalty, branding, brainstorming, community building, high-tech communications, analyst relations, Gartner Magic Quadrants, content development, tough writing assignments, white papers, articles, newsletters, business-to-business marketing

Oliver Picher’s Experience

President
Visible Influence (Sole Proprietorship)

(Sole Proprietorship; 1-10 employees; Public Relations and Communications industry)

September 2007 — Present (1 year 1 month)

Marketing fixer -- Work with early-stage technology companies to identify their target customers and hone their presentations, marketing messages, and overall business promotion strategies.

Referral marketing and general business development -- Working with a wealth management firm to grow business through referrals from current clients. Determined key drivers for client reference, identified evangelists, reshaped marketing messages

Coach on new media marketing and personal and professional visibility -- Work with individuals and companies who want to use social media as an element in their integrated marketing and PR strategies, reshape their personal brands, or improve the performance of their new media campaigns.
Social Media Director and Blogger

FunWithNetworking.com

(Civic & Social Organization industry)

July 2007 — Present (1 year 3 months)

Developed and grew a community-driven online calendar of Philadelphia networking events. Write regularly on "how to" network most effectively, in one-on-one, group, and online settings.
• Publicly recognized for "fastest idea pitch to idea execution" in entrepreneur forum
Independent Market Researcher

Gaudette International

(Privately Held; Computer Software industry)

November 2006 — November 2007 (1 year 1 month)

Researched companies and job titles to determine appropriate target contacts. Used public search tools and subscription databases to find names, titles, contact information, and appropriate background information for use in mailings, telemarketing, and business development.
Marketing Director

Synygy, Inc.

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Computer Software industry)

April 2000 — August 2006 (6 years 5 months)

Marketing Director (Chester PA; 2004 to 2006)
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Reported to CEO. Directed PR, analyst relations, internal communications and branding for Inc 500 Hall of Fame software company.

• Transformed Synygy's custom magazine. Doubled subscriber list.
• Established Marketing department in India office.
• Energized employees for relocation of company headquarters.

Director of Public Relations (Conshohocken PA; 2002 to 2004)
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Senior member of marketing team, reporting to VP of Marketing. Managed PR and analyst relations.
• Drove 8-fold increase in coverage of Synygy in analyst reports.
• Shifted Synygy's position in Gartner Magic Quadrant.
• Scooped competitors with first eWeek review in category.

Manager of Public Relations (Bala Cynwyd PA; 2000 to 2002)
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Synygy's first internal PR counsel. Reported to Director of Marketing.
• Tripled Synygy's visibility and share of discussion, dominating the market.
• Led search for new PR agency.
Manager, Public Relations

Unisys Corporation

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; UIS; Information Technology and Services industry)

September 1992 — April 2000 (7 years 8 months)

Manager, Press Relations (1997 to 2000)
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Repositioned Fortune 500 company to technology-led professional services and solutions company.
• Controlled a patent-related Internet "firestorm"
• Drove messages worldwide, using both English- and local-language media

Manager, Internet Communications (1996 to 1997)
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Managed internal and external communications to support Unisys' Internet-related business.
• Member of a company-wide initiative to create new Internet-related products
• Participated in strategy discussions with senior executives around the US

Manager, Trade Press Relations (1992 to 1996)
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Drove coverage of Unisys in key trade publications. Supported a wide range of Corporate Communications initiatives.
• Built credibility for a major shift in corporate strategy by driving a roundtable event that placed the CEO and senior management in an "open" discussion with 60 top analysts
• Placed a Unisys PC on the cover of PC Magazine
Managing Analyst, Software

Datapro/McGraw-Hill

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Information Services industry)

September 1984 — August 1992 (8 years)

Managing Analyst, Software (1990 to 1992)
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Advised clients on technology purchase decisions and strategies. Managed software testing lab. Managed staff of six analysts for this $50 million information provider (now part of Gartner). Reported to the VP of Editorial.
• Spearheaded complete redesign of Datapro's information services
• Developed an interactive CD-ROM information service
• Killed a failing product and shifted subscribers to a new product to save money and retain customers

Senior Editor (1987 to 1990)
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Promoted to supervise software testing group. Reported to the Managing Editor.
• Invited to join Bill Gates in writing about the future of desktop software in Byte magazine

Associate Editor (1984 to 1987)
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Tested, evaluated, and reported on new software, providing overviews of the emerging market for PC software.
• Wrote a groundbreaking report on database software--a leading software company reprinted 300,000 copies