Let's get social, or NOT!

Look, I get it; we are all trying to role with the next big thing in marketing. That’s why we are in the biz, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I am just not sure that Twitter, facebook and the company blog is for everyone. DEAL with it…

Sure there are industries that require a heavy dose of social media but not all of them are fertile enough to get social seeds to grow properly. This stuff takes time everyone. You can't just tweet, poke and blog once a week.

You have to invest in individuals and budgets. Most of this is free, but don’t forget most of you don’t have the time to do it right. Now that’s not your fault, but you have other things to spend your time on. It’s not a bad idea to hire an online media specialist.

These people have the know-how, the willingness and the TIME to dedicate to a properly formatted social strategy. These individuals don’t need to sit in on every marketing meeting reviewing ROI. Now, don’t get me wrong, social media is sprinting towards ROI reporting (as that is the only way it will be justifiable once the fads wear off), but don’t bog them down in the day to day. Keep their focus where it needs to be.

But relax and let them get your name out. As I said earlier, not all companies will benefit from a strong social strategy, however strong it is. NEWSFLASH, if you target demo isn’t on the web more than have their waking hours, don’t bother. These people are still reading the newspaper. And that’s okay if this is the case. Strong PR is still easy to find.

However, if you demo is facebooking, tweeting, blogging, reviewing, myspacing or any other noun that shouldn’t be a verb, you better get on this. Though you may not be able to track it like you would prefer, building of a relationship always benefits profit.

This is your chance to find out what is great and what is terrible about your product, offering you the ability to advertise the good and CORRECT the bad. Yes, correct it no matter what it is. Better products lead to better sales. Good luck!

Apple hits the Tables...

We can all agree that technology can benefit us in many ways, but I also think that we can all acknowledge that it can kill moral obligations. Well the time has come for us to question what the F is going on with Apple. A company I adore, own and follow (almost too much) apparently approved an iPhone App that counts cards and Vegas in on to it.

Now I know that Apple is not tying to pull one over on Ocean’s 11, but surely they know what each app is capable of when they throw it in the app store. See the story here.

We could all get into that big morally right discussion, but I don’t really have the time or energy to put a bunch of nonsense on the

 Internet or my blog. So here you go: Apple needs to monitor and people need find another way to break the bank in Vegas.

Now the other side, isn't it amazing that a phone can help you cheat? I mean, think about it. This phone could be one of the greatest inventions since the CAR? Okay, maybe a little early for that, but what the hell? I love it and I haven't talked with a single iPhone owner that says different.

The only “haters” are those that don’t own the damn thing. Sorry for the aggressive tones today but I just want to get through this as I thought it needed addressing and I am pissed Apple’s stock is down.

The Killers - Greatness

Just thought I would let you know that after seeing The Killers live, I am thoroughly impressed with the music they have produced. This is a band that looks to others for inspiration, but beats to its own drum. I don’t want to put the “transcendent” tag on them quite yet, but with their new album, unlike many out there now, they are growing as a band with each production.

Their live act is fantastic along with the music they play. That is all for today. Going to try and get this thing going a bit more in the coming weeks. Expect greatness, or something like that…

Super Bowl Super Ads...

Okay so I know that it’s late but give me a break. I have a job and it’s not to write on this blog. Especially when no one sees it. But here is to you Super Bowl ads! You went out on a limb, risked it all, spent a hell of a lot and for what. The ads may win awards but did it drive any business?

Companies like Bud Light and Toyata are expected to make the big commercials and spend the big bucks. But what does it do for eTrader? Did you see an increase in new customers on Feb 2? Maybe, maybe not. I want to point this post to High Life. Miller made a mockery of the 30 second spot, saved 3.5 million and still got the exposure it needed.

The Miller One-Second ads were greatness. Only mentioning Miller High Life in two, Miller managed to sell its product with buzz, better then most of the other spots. Seriously, I am so late with this post.

Also, here’s to PETA, though you made probably the naughtiest commercial in history, you got what you wanted. Exposure and buzz. Way to sell your soul to the Devil… Trading ethics for buzz is not always supported, but always talked about.

Tweet, Tweet

Okay so I took a leave of absence from an important part of my life: this blog… but no fear, I am back with a bang. Now working for an interactive agency, it might be a bit easier for me to get back in the game as print kept me out of it for a bit.

I know that all you readers were really missing my words. Oh wait, I don’t have any readers. Perhaps I can change that with the help of Twitter. Yes I am in the midst of trying to figure out how tweeting will help benefit me as a marketer. I realize that it has the potential to reach millions quickly but can it do it effectively?

So we can all see how Tweeting can expand the written word, regardless if it is important or not, but it seems to me that you can't write enough words. I know that linking to a blog is the best way, but having to blog, then tell people you have blogged seems like more efforts than it should be. I am going to give this thing a real go so I will keep you posted.

I can see the benefit for a marketer like me, but does it have the corporate package to make it truly effective. Without the corporate endorsement, where are you going to go? Sucks, but what are you going to do.?

Silence Marketing, Bold Marketing

The new iPhone is scheduled for release on July 11 and WOM marketing surrounding it is about to shift into high gear. Apple is such a dynamic company when it comes to marketing their products, or lack there of. I have to assume they know what they are doing, but perhaps they really are so brilliant they don’t even know it.

Here is what I mean. Prior to the launch of the generation 1 iPhone, Apple made one announcement; it was coming in the summer (about six months prior) and then went into hibernation. They didn’t answer any questions and let the speculation build the buzz; quite a risky, but amazing PR camping. A few ads were made and ran on national television programming, but the driving force behind the buzz was the blogs and speculation sites. There were sites solely dedicated to what the public thought the phone would look like, the capabilities it would have and what aftermarket products would accompany it.

This buzz continued up until the release date nearly a year ago. Apple even went as far as to not give its employees (Apple Store employees) any information. Consumers were calling stores to find out how many phones they would sell just to be denied the answer. People lined up to buy it and the rest is history.

Well now they are at it again. Amid months of speculation, Apple finally announced the release of the generation 2 iPhone, iPhone 3G. It releases in a month and the blogs are going crazy. Apple made a commercial, that is really great, but I think that will be it. Apple will let the consumer use conversation to generate the proper buzz to sell the most iPhones ever.  You really have to applaud the courage to not over promote this thing. I guess they have either the cheapest or most expensive PR budget in the history of corporate America.

This is the power of word-of-mouth marketing at its finest. See where a little buzz and a great product can get you?

Response, cool and controlled...

Responding in cyberspace offers an organization the opportunity to put forth a controlled message that will be interpreted exactly how it was intended.

Response. Here are just a few questions. When it comes to organizations responding, what does that really mean, Are they responding to allegations, bad pub, good pub, etc? Why are they responding? Probably because they have to.

Public relations is about the response and what a better way to respond than WOM marketing. It offers companies a chance to respond in a way that they choose fit and can't be taken out of context by a scandal-seeking reporter. NO, it is the opportunity to put the company’s opinion on display in the most controlled ways. PR pros and execs are always looking for a way to control the message and now they need look no further. Imagine a crisis that could be responded to in a sincere and thoughtful way on the CEOs blog. This is a way for the consumer to understand where the organization is coming from. It is not necessary to formulate some spin response any more. This is the forum for honesty and there is nothing the consumer appreciates more than honesty.

Another advantage to two-way communications, as it pertains to response oriented PR, is the ability to let the customer help. Perhaps you have a great product, but falls just a bit short of what it can really do. Your customer can make suggestions that are seen by millions and those millions can see your organization actually listen to its constituents. WOW, how would that look in the public eye?

Take the iPhone. The first iPhone was pretty amazing, but talk to any of the owners and you will hear the same thing: “I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but I could use a few more features.” They are referring to 3G, push mail and exchange capabilities. Well, thanks to Apple listening to its customers, her comes the 2.0 upgrade and shortly there after the iPhone 2. And get this; the world will see Apple’s response.

This is how you build brand loyalty. Marketers are looking for ways to get consumers to only purchase their product, well, make a better product and listen to current customers on how to improve current products.

It is no longer a time of fear, get out there and tell people that you are listening and will gladly respond to any situation, good or bad…