Posts Tagged ‘social media’


Don’t Fill In the Blanks

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Consider this quote from Seth Godin: “Connections we make are more powerful than connections made for us.”

This isn’t just something SDear Aunt Maddy...eth says. His statement is supported by lots of research. It follows that we can create more powerful communications by opening up space for others to make those connections.

Of course nobody wants their well-crafted message to end up like a MadLib, and so we resist allowing others to fill in the blanks.

Yet, those who can make it work for them get results. I’m making efforts to bring this idea, not just to advertising taglines but to:

  • All marketing communications (from Web copy to Web site concepts that allow users to make connections)
  • Communications with clients (in proposals, meetings, one-on-one interactions, creating more spaces for others to draw connections)
  • Interpersonal communications at work (can I be a better mentor if I open up a dialog rather than giving my opinion?)

It may be hard work but _______________.

When being Social isn’t cool

Monday, September 28th, 2009

If your friends were jumping off a bridge would you follow them?  How many times have mothers asked this question of their children?  I now pose a similar question to you.  If everyone has a Twitter page shouldn’t you? The correct answer to both questions is, NO*.

Social media discussion is dominating marketing meetings these days.  Team members are asking questions like:

  • Should we? (All too often the answer is yes)
  • Facebook or Twitter? Both?
  • Who’s going to manage it, Bill in accounting?

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Advertising in the Age of Social Media

Monday, September 14th, 2009

A few years ago the shmany phonesift to Internet media viewing was spoken of in terms of “lean forward” vs. “sit back.”  This was exemplified by the way we view media on the Web (searching, choosing, interacting) vs. television (grab a bag of chips and turn it on!).

Nowadays (some 4 years later!) we speak of the shift from “one-to-many” communication (TV, radio, newspapers) to “many-to-many” (Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia, YouTube, etc.). Every day more and more marketers are rushing to hop on the social media marketing bandwagon: building YouTube channels and creating Facebook fan pages and Twitter profiles. (more…)

The Brand vs. the Band

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

A college roommate of mine sent me a link to a video on YouTube last week.  He sent it because he knew it would make me laugh, he was right.  After watching it I began to think more about what the video represents.  You see for me this video epitomizes the power of the Web and user generated content.

Here you have two brands/bands seemingly unrelated and representing completely different core values existing in perfect harmony – literally.  See for yourself. (more…)

Marketing and IT Smackdown!!!

Monday, July 13th, 2009

From simple Web sites and e-mail marketing to social media, CRM and viral YouTube videos, if you are a marketer, you are facing the fact that your major marketing vehicles are in the hands of an IT department that often doesn’t even speak the same language you do. Usually they have a very different culture. Often they even work in a different state.

Every day, decisions are made in IT that affect marketing. When purchasing a new software package, their focus is on efficiency, robust technology, or transactions per minute. When you ask “But can I embed a video?” or “How easy will it be for me to do a survey?” they will say “Yeah, yeah, it can do all that,” followed by a lot of what sounds to you like gobbledygook. (more…)

Twitter & Your Online Marketing Plans

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Twitter is certainly at the top of marketers’ minds these days. I see it referenced everywhere - in blogs I’m reading, on corporate and brand sites, on e-commerce sites, not to mention on radio and TV.  Is Twitter “lightning in a bottle” for those trying to engage with their audience?  Is it the link to your customers that’s been missing all along?  Let’s look at the larger picture.

twitter-logo

Twitter, while unique, is just another in a growing line of social networking platforms that have won the hearts of millions of Web users around the world.  While Twitter is pared down, feature-wise, from Facebook or MySpace, its fundamental underpinnings are the same:  make connections and share information.  That’s where marketers see all the potential value:  why not let your fans spread the word about your brand? (more…)