Grab a coffee or tea and a half hour if you’ve got it. Compelling stats in the new Digital Outlook Report from Razorfish. If you’ve only got a few ticks, flip to the section on mobile and the top apps to watch. A must read for you and the boss.
http://digitaloutlook.razorfish.com/publication/?i=13617
Reading the latest post from mummy blogger Jo Beaufoix gave me pause today. Regulations and product reviews aside, Jo’s latest post – a heartfelt open letter to a friend – reminded me about just what makes mum bloggers (and mom bloggers) unique, powerful, human. No matter how many books they write, successful enterprises they launch or panels they lead, they are women first. Personal connections and family are numero uno in the priority department and it’s vital for we marketing and PR folks to remember that.
The cost for entry nowadays goes well beyond reading a post or two. We must demonstrate we’ve done our homework and taken an investment in recognizing a potential opportunity that will truly benefit them and their family. Know when – and when NOT – to pitch. Take the time to reach out to them even if you’ve got nothing to say other than a quick hello. Take a page out of your mother’s handbook and turn an email into a casual letter. Recognize that they live busy lives – and many publicly – often marked by significant events both positive and negative.
Thanks Jo.
In honor of the world’s service men and women and Veterans Day in the US, I wanted to do a piece devoted to social media and the military.
The US is still reeling from last week’s tragedy and leveraging both offline and online networks for comfort and a greater sense of community. Not surprisingly, the military community (families and soldiers included) relied on social media – namely Twitter – for the latest real-time information. In fact, it wasn’t long before both media departments and other social media channels like Facebook were flooded with anxious consumers.
I wonder if Biz Stone knew he was creating quite possibly the biggest communication tool next to the Internet and telephone. Whether a natural, political or human-related disaster, consumers (and we’re talking social media novices included) have gone from asking “what is Twitter” to “what is Twitter saying?”
Increasingly, military community social networks are cropping up. Those with a business model to supplement – not substitute – big dogs like Facebook or Twitter will surely find a strong foothold. MyVetwork is a great example.
“MyVetwork as the first-ever, custom designed social network we will build together, for ourselves and those who follow, and to honor those before us,” says founder and retired Marine John R. Campbell.
It’s a thrill when history and social media combine and yesterday’s digital coverage of the Berlin Wall anniversary is no exception. The Guardian featured a must-read round-up highlighting some breath-taking ways consumers and the media came together to share their stories.
Behold Berlintwitterwall, a brilliant digital platform combining an ordinary Twitter hashtag stream for #fotw in front of a compelling interactive story board of the wall.
Read the full story for a round-up of other compelling digital media tools used to cover the anniversary live, including the Reuters supported Berlin Wall Project.
Things like this next post make me happy. Giddy in fact. The harmonious pairing of two simple viral concepts to create a brand new compelling experience – aka the Mash-Up – still remains at the top of my list. Take a look at UK band Editors and how they mashed static media, music and Google Maps to promote their new album. Genius. Granted, Editor aren’t my cup of tea, but the concept definitely is.
Full story via the amazing addicting Londonist blog here.
Despite the down economy, things are looking up for the mobile industry. How? The folks over at the Mobile Entertainment Forum can give you $32bn reasons.
Excerpt from the MEF Press Office via Andrew Bud, Global Chair:
“A 6% increase in the predicted growth of the market since the beginning of the year shows that despite a general downturn and a degree of belt-tightening in some areas, any remaining uncertainty is offset by a sense of optimism within the industry looking forward. This quiet confidence and positive outlook suggests that we are going to see some exciting opportunities developing within our industry.”
Full article here.
Following the Federal Trade Commission crack down in the States, UK BBC Trust follows suit with rules for online journos.
Full story here.
Yesterday, the world of PR was awakened with the very loud thud of an 80-page document from the Federal Trade Commission l
aying out the new rules for engagement and endorsements. The ruling, or “guides” haven’t been updated since before the Reagan administration and immediately drew criticism from some saying the FTC may have rushed their attempt to grapple new media, or worse, may deter future celeb or word of mouth opportunities.
Good News:
Transparency. Let’s face it. Most feel it’s good idea and frankly, the way the industry is headed.
Education by Force. Inexperienced and/or lazy marketers who before rudely populated comments sections with endorsements will be forced to learn the rules and may actually bring us back some credibility as an industry.
Bad News:
Too many unknowns. Lenient, schmenient. At the end of the day we’ll all need lawyers if we spill a drop. Is the FTC prepared for the heaps of questions, paperwork and addendums?
Fear. Nobody wants to be the guinea pig. This may cripple organizations just coming into social media or those sitting on years of successful campaigns but an archaic legal department.
Geography. FTC is great for the States, but are other countries supposed to follow-suit? How does it work if a UK blogger writes about a major cell phone manufacturer and an American gets the wrong impression? Will it all come down to an IP address?
Relevance. Remember the moment you felt old for the first time? Trying to slap rules on social media is like trying to use slang with your teenage cousin. You’re undoubtedly 6-months too late and he’ll never let you live it down.
Enjoy the scroll here.
Sometimes it’s tough being the shiniest toy in the toy box. Eventually everyone is going to want to try you out. Move over Facebook. Twitter is the most recent social networking tool to get served, or rather, one of its fakers pretending he’s a lawyer. Seriously? That’s like trying to rob a cop. Do people really think these things through?
Dealing with fakers on the interwebs isn’t anything new, but the way it’s being done — by using the very tools the posers use — is genius. It’s so legit that Britain’s High Court is involved so we could see real change (read: modernization) made to the entire system. Brilliant? Scary? What’s next, texting? “”Uve bn Srvd.”
Full story here.
