A. The UIR is a revolutionary new enabling technology and database marketing service designed to help speed the delivery of company news and timely marketing communications directly to consumers at a fraction of the cost of traditional delivery strategies and methods.

Q. Is there any cost to use the service?

A. For news consumers, basic services are free. Basic services include a wide variety of features and capabilities, including tracking companies and industries and real-time e-mail alerts for newly issued press releases. Basic services also include special alerts designed to tell you when companies of interest join the system as well as alerts for companies that change their business attributes and thus may no longer be of interest. For companies and organizations (news producers), the UIR is pleased to offer a free introductory trial period.

Q. Is the UIR a replacement for newspapers and magazines?

A. Absolutely not. News media will continue to have a valued position in the distribution of company news. News media represent an important element in the information dissemination process by alerting people to important new products, services and business initiatives. Indeed, new media can take advantage of the UIR’s sophisticated tools for finding and tracking companies and industries of interest. We encourage reporters and editors to become UIR consumers to benefit from this comprehensive news distribution system.

A. Companies currently spend billions of dollars each year promoting news and timely marketing and sales information, without an effective way of measuring their return on investment (ROI). The UIR is the first-ever system that ensures that corporate news and other marketing communications directly and immediately reaches potential targets of your information. What’s more, the UIR provides a feedback capability that enables companies to assess the effectiveness of their marketing communications as well as quantify the readership for each news issuance. If you can accurately measure interest in your products and services, you can maximize the dollars spent on your public relations and marketing programs.

Q. My company issues press releases, how does the system work?

A. The best part about the UIR is that you can continue to issues press releases virtually the same way you do today. News producers simply register with the UIR system by creating a detailed profile of their company or organization. Once registration is approved, a unique identification code will be issued to your company. The code is then simply edited in to each press release in the following format: (UIR:NCC1701). Your UIR Code is unique to your company and is linked to your profile information, enabling news consumers to find your company and track your announcements. Think of the UIR Code as a UPC barcode that is commonly used to identify hundreds of thousands of products displayed on store shelves. The UPC barcode enables the consumer to purchase the exact product that is desired. The UIR Code performs a similar function for the thousands of press releases issued each day. There’s no way to keep track of all that news and information. The UIR does it for you.

Q. Where do we insert the UIR Code in our press releases?

A. Although the UIR Code may be inserted anywhere in the text of a press release, we recommend that you place the code next to the first use of your company or organization’s name. That’s all you have to do, the rest of the work is done by the UIR. Here’s how a typical press release might look:

A. After you issue a press release through your preferred press release wire service, we automatically receive your release, identify the code and make the release available to news consumers who may be already tracking your company or organization, and make the release available to people who are searching for the kinds of products, services or other offerings listed in your UIR profile.

Q. Which press release wire services can we use?

A. Currently the UIR receives the complete press release feed from Business Wire and PR Newswire. You must be a member of one of those services. Other press release wire services will be added to the UIR shortly.

Q. Can I send press releases directly to the UIR?

A. No. The UIR requires press releases to be routed through an approved press release wire service. This ensures that press releases are properly reviewed and authenticated prior to public dissemination.

A. It’s a daunting task to stay on top of the constant and never-ending flow of news and information in the business marketplace. The UIR offers a comprehensive method for tracking important information coming from individual companies as well as entire industries. Organizations would have to spend hours each day surfing the Internet or thousands of dollars per month on special search services to equal the power and capabilities of the UIR. The best part: The UIR system is free for a robust set of basic consumer services.

Q. Do you tell companies and organizations who I am; can they contact me or solicit me with e-mail, phone calls or faxes?

A. Absolutely not. Your privacy is maintained. Your personal identifying information is never revealed to the companies and organizations that you track. The UIR does gather statistical information on consumer selections, choices and preferences. However, this information is devoid of any link that could identify you personally or your specific interests or use of the UIR system. Please refer to the UIR Privacy Policy for further details.

Q. Are there any specific rules for using the UIR?

A. There's only one requirement for consumer users of the UIR. You must login to your account at least once every 30 days or it will be suspended. This rule is designed to maximize the accuracy of aggregate (non-personal) data collected on consumer choices and interests. Suspended accounts no longer are eligible to receive e-mail alerts when companies issue news. On request, suspended consumer accounts may be reactivated by contacting support@uir.com. Inactivity is defined as failure to login to the UIR for 90 days. Inactive accounts are removed from the system.