I’ve written a lot about social media strategic planning and how to find the “hook” for your social media efforts. Why do I write more about strategy than I do about social media tools and tactics? First, because I’ve been an Internet marketing strategist for 15 years, so that perspective is my home turf. But [...]
The Paradox of Social Media Control
As discussed recently in “Why Are We So Scared of Our Customers?” and “Presto, How Social Media Makes Bad News Good” I’m seeing the fear of negativity preventing more companies from embracing social media. The typical social media objection is that if the company has a conversation with consumers in a public forum, the company [...]
3 Reasons the Recession is Great News for Social Media
This recession is looking worse than Sylvester Stallone all roided up for that recent Rambo 14 (Rambo goes to the buffet for the Early Bird Special with some pals) movie. It’s going to be bad. But for social media, it just might be the best possible circumstance. Here’s why: 1. Smart Buying Consumer confidence is [...]
Why Are We So Scared of Our Customers?
Many companies and even agencies are reluctant to engage in social media because they are afraid that some sort of consumer backlash will occur, doing damage to the brand. Certainly, there are a few noteworthy examples of social media missteps from brands like Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola et al. But in most cases, those shortcomings were due [...]
Scott Monty – The Twitter 20 Twinterview about Social Media at Ford
Live from Marketing Profs Digital Mixer Scott Monty, the head of social media for Ford, participated in a Twitter 20 interview on October 23 and answered a wide range of questions about social media at big companies, and his ideas for the future of conversation marketing. Scott and myself and 248 other lucky folks were [...]
Why the Murder of Old Media is PR’s Best Chance
Since the advent of the printing press, professional opinions have helped shape our own. From Hearst to Murdoch, from Cronkite to Brokaw. Huge companies that employ thousands of trained journalists have helped us understand what’s good and bad, and whom to embrace or fear. Not for long. This is not a flesh wound. The Internet [...]
The 6 Dangerous Fallacies of Social Media
(Amazing Gangsta Chimp image by the talented Matt Cioffi) You may have heard of social media. There’s been a bit of news about it recently. However, a lot of people making that news have created expectations and beliefs about social media that aren’t true. 1. Social Media is Inexpensive False. As Charlene Li said recently, [...]
The Social Networking Friendship Development Scale
It used to be that you actually met someone in person first, and then developed and nurtured that relationship into its natural culmination – helping them move. The Web and social networking has changed that, and now friendships are developed in a variety of digital forums, eventually moving offline and becoming three dimensional. Below are [...]
A Conversation, Not a Monologue – Digital Marketing for Colleges
I just finished giving a speech at the western region meeting of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations in Sedona, Arizona. NCMPR is the association of community and technical college marketers. A really interesting group that needs to harness social media and work with prospective students on an individual, relevant, highly personal basis. [...]
The 10 Strengths of the Agency of the Future
Web services giant Sapient recently fielded a national online digital marketing survey of more than 200 chief marketing officers (CMOs) and senior marketers responsible for managing digital budgets (among other things). Survey respondents were asked about the top qualities they sought in their advertising and marketing agencies in the coming year. Sapient’s Top 10 Wish [...]
