A sign of MAJOR progress (pass it on...)

Mack Collier of The Viral Garden has made a viral call-to-arms for all marketers--and I'm more than happy to do my part. Seems one small step from one MAJOR movie studio (Universal) could signal that the biggies are starting to --really hope I don't jinx it!-- "get it."

By showing bloggers they care, Universal is getting a whole lotta love (and boy they need it, remember the parent co. is NBC-Universal, whose TV ratings are in the toilet). Smart move to start engaging bloggers. Amazing what a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T will get you, eh?

According to Mack's post: "A representative from the studio was smart enough to contact Chris at Movie Marketing Madness, and give him all the information he needed on how Universal is marketing the upcoming release Miami Vice.

What impressed me the most is that Universal contacted Chris. Normally bloggers have to bend over backwards to even get companies to give them the CHANCE to contact THEM. Now because one rep at Universal took 30 minutes out of his day, a movie that Universal is banking on being a summer blockbuster, will get primo exposure on the internet's most influential movie marketing blog, and one of the Top 25 Marketing Blogs.

Many companies simply don't feel that it's worth their time, from a promotional standpoint at least, to talk to bloggers. I get that. This is a space that unless you are interacting within every day, you truly can't comprehend how easily thoughts and ideas spread. That's why I think it's our responsibility to ourselves, and companies that are smart enough to embrace bloggers, to reward their efforts. I think we need to send a clear message to Universal that their 30 minutes spent talking to Chris was the best promotional move they will make this week. We all need to link to Universal Studios, and tell the story of how they were smart enough to embrace bloggers."

Well said, Mack. It's my hope that Universal ALL studios learn 3 key lessons:

• Mountains can be moved in 30 minutes: all you gotta do is reach out to your markets, they'll even do much of the heavy-lifting.
• Bloggers are GREAT people: once you stop avoiding us, you'll see what you were missing ;-).
• The blogosphere can be your best friend or your worst enemy: the choice is entirely yours. So join the conversation already (it's tons more fun than P&L meetings).

Shout outs: Thanks to The Viral Garden, Movie Marketing Madness and yes, Universal for the oh-so-needed positive news, you made this marketer's week. Pass it on, guys!