The Ultimate Endorsement for Social Media?

Take notice late adopters, the benefits far outweigh the risk. The Department of Defense formally OK’s the use of social network sites like Facebook and Twitter. Quoting an article from cnet:  “The Pentagon says it recognizes that social networks, among other Web capabilities, are useful tools for interaction both within the Defense Department and between [...]

Dear Chief Marketing Officer, It’s time for your January Gut Check.

Today is the last business day of the first month of the year. Sometime in the next week, Chief Marketing Officers throughout the Fortune 500 will be called to the CEO carpet to report on your marketing effectiveness for January. Are you ready for these four questions? 1. “Last year you told me you needed [...]

Get Caught Doing Good.

Pepsi announced in late 2009 that it would sit out the Super Bowl. Instead, they focus on a new cause-oriented marketing campaign early next year. This campaign is a long term term, multi-millon-dollar grant program for charitable causes selected by consumers. According to Steve Drake, Cause Marketing happens when a not-for-profit and a for-profit partner [...]

YouTube Top Videos of 2009: #3 – JK Wedding Entrance Dance

Marketing Value: Low* (but note the asterisk below) Views: Over 33,000,000 The video generated over 127,000 comments for a comment to view ratio of 76 for every 20,000 views. (High interaction. People were talking about this video.) Did you see it?: [Me: Yes] Did you forward it?: [Me: No.] Reaction: This video inundated Facebook. It [...]

Itay Talgam: Lead like the great conductors

Ok, this is a long video. Much longer than typically posted here. It’s highly entertaining and engaging. (especially if you enjoy classical music) It includes two of the ten commandments for conductors: 1) If you sweat by the end of the concert it means that you must have done something wrong. 2) Never look at [...]

Q: What is Google Wave? A: Next big thing. Here’s Why This Matters for Business

100,000 invitations are being sent today for the launch of Google Wave, but what is it? Google wave combines the best features of the most popular Web 2.0 tools including wikis, social networking, photo sharing, video sharing, chat and email. Imagine Wikipedia, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, instant messenger and email all rolled up into one. Business [...]

I Stole Your Bike and Your Company Profit

Step 1: Engineer the perfect bike lock. Step 2: Build a Website and Optimize Search in Google so it is the top hit. Step 3: Realize that someone posted a YouTube Video showing how to open the perfect bike lock with a bic pen and it regularly hits Google just under you. Step 4: Go [...]

Vanilla Ice, Bobby McFerrin and Me.

Remember when Vanilla Ice put out a Greatest Hits album? It was a cassingle with “Ice Ice Baby” on one side and directions to the dollar store on the other. Two years earlier Bobby McFerrin brought the music world to it’s knees with “Don’t Worry Be Happy”. Just try and get that little medley out [...]

How To Act Like A CEO – 10 Strategies

Here is a quick read blog post for “Labor Day Tuesday”.  Business kicks into full gear today through Thanksgiving. Now is the time to maximize our efforts.  Gerry Robert penned a great list of 10 Strategies that are keys to success at all levels. Excerpts included below: 1) Develop strong personal convictions. People are more [...]

Top 10 Influences on Purchase Decisions….2005

What a difference a few years make: Top 10 influences on purchase decisions – 2005: 1. Word of mouth 2. TV 3. Coupons 4. Newspaper inserts 5. Read article 6. Direct mail 7. Magazines 8. In-store promotion 9. Cable TV 10. Internet advertising BIGresearch, SIMM VII survey How do think this list is different today?