CK's Blog

Worth my while (maybe worth yours, too!)

I'm so proud of Matt Dickman's new "Inside//Out" series. Now I know Matt and he's a lovable guy. But what  do I really love? Just how much work he's doing for me...and all of us.

According to Matt: "Inside//Out is a new series where I will take you on a video tour of what companies are doing in the online and social media spaces." This week he profiled Bud.TV and there are some shots of scantily clad women (being that males are Bud's target audience) so that might be a draw for you guys, too (ha!). Next week he's thinking he'll profile Facebook.

Yes, Matt, I will definitely give your series my time being that you've gone to great lengths to: show AND tell (the series includes video where he walks us through the property he's examining) and, most especially, because you've so clearly laid-out recommendations that we can use in our own work and projects (I know I'll use them in mine).

What else is worth my while?

The fact that my girl Ann Handley is penning for The Huffington Post. Ah, how that makes my (liberal!) heart so proud. We're talking "Weblish" over there...please come talk Weblish with us, too.

And speaking of all things Weblish, what's the best part of this thing we call blogging?

Watching you amazing folks experiment with new things, share more of your smarts, (and share more of yourselves), and, as a result, just come into your own. Yeah, that rocks.

(Is it any small wonder I watch such little TV anymore?)

Call for questions for my call with Jaffe

Having been one mouthy marketer on the Nikon blogger outreach program, Joseph Jaffe has asked me to join him in a discussion next Friday on his famed podcast, Across The Sound. Tangerine Toad will also be in on the chat.

So a new media guru who has authored books and developed a cool agency, a tell-it-like-it-is toad whose producing some thought-provoking thought leadership and a mouthy marketer who keeps giving us "advancing" action points (like listen! share! create value!).

Yeah, that'll fill up an hour.

We're all really looking forward to discussing our unique views on this program as some of us really like the promotion...and some of us really don't. No matter, what's important is that we're all big enough men, women and amphibians to have the discussion (why it's the conversation age, don't ya know :-).

That makes me happy. But you wanna know what makes me really happy? Getting what I want.

(No, a camera ain't what I want.)

What I want is to include the community. After all, this discussion has been community-wide. Jaffe has been very supportive of my request (thanks!). So...if you have a question or a point that you would like us to weigh in on regarding the program, please include it in the comments and we'll do our best to address it (and of course we'll credit and thank you ;-).

PS: Oh, there is most definitely one thing that Toad, Jaffe and I all agree on--Jaffe's beautiful new baby boy totally rocks. I don't think he'll be weighing-in but, being he's a little Jaffe, he might just add his two cents, too.

Please value me (me being "them")

Very interesting article that my pal Matt pointed me to in which AdAge reported on a survey with findings from online teens and tweens (the word "tweens" still makes me giggle, you too?). Here's an excerpt of what I found most valuable...

"While 96% of online tweens and teens have used social networking technologies, 71% of online tweens and teens connect to a social network at least once a week, according to a study and white paper being released today from Alloy Media & Marketing, a youth-oriented marketing firm. And nearly half engaged with a brand in the space in the past month."

Yeah, 71% is an attention-grabber...but here's where I'm focusing:

"If there was a theme to their responses, said Samantha Skey, exec VP-strategic marketing at Alloy, it would be to meet teens and tweens on their terms. "The operative distinction they're making is: 'Do not interrupt me en route to a connection with one of my peers or in the midst of a conversation,'" she said. "They're saying: 'Enhance or facilitate my social-networking experience. Offer me utilities to enhance my production process or tools to help me better able to express or engage myself." In other words, give them freebies: utilities, cool downloads, exclusive content and other items of value. "Mix their music or animate their backgrounds or offer a countdown to a special day," Ms. Skey said."

Can you hear what they're crying for?

Of course you can.

They're asking for value.

And we know a lot about that since value creation is the whole purpose of marketing.

They're also asking us to help them better express themselves (them not us) in order to connect with others (those others aren't us).

And if the customer is asking, we should be listening.

But you fine folks knew that.

So spread it around, k? Cuz there remain A LOT of pesky interruptions. That makes for a lot of noise (and that noise makes it harder for us to hear them). We don't need more noise...just more value.

Update/Pertinent Example: Though not a teen--and definitely not a tween--I was approached earlier by a new social portal to be a beta-tester and give them content by uploading my bookmarks. In return for giving them time and my content, I would receive a t-shirt and set of pins...that advertise their offering. A better strategy would be to offer beta-testers incentives that are meaningful to them...or me, in this case. Perhaps get to choose from different t-shirts so as to find one that suits my fancy, including ones that advertise the offering. This just makes a whole lot of sense to me. Conversely, asking people to test a product, give you content and then thanking them by asking them to advertise for you does not. Especially when the brand has not reached a cult status like, say, Apple or Nike. But that's just me and the value I seek ;-).

How to handle a tragedy?

Ever since I heard the news last week of the horrible accident at Six Flags in Louisville, Kentucky my heart has been so heavy for the girl who was maimed on the ride. And my head has been buzzing as I wonder: Besides caring for the welfare of the people hurt by the incident and shutting down this type of ride across the nation, what can Six Flags do--maybe I need ask what should Six Flags do--in the wake of such a tragic incident?

I'm certainly not versed in crisis communications. But maybe you folks have some ideas. What steps can marketing take to assure the public that Six Flags is safe...a place to enjoy a day of family and fun (not fear)? What steps does the specific park in Louisville need to take to communicate the same message? Is that even the right message, or does it call too much attention to safety when risks such as these are very slim?

And finally, do other theme parks need to take steps to assure patrons that their rides are in compliance and frequently tested to remain so?

Sorry, lots of questions, not so many answers. (I'll work for my next post to be more decisive.)

I've not see any statements or press conferences from Six Flags yet. That might well be due to my missing them, or it might be due to Six Flags opting to keep quiet as that's truly what is in their best interests. So I though I'd ask you fine people, what in the world to do when things go so horribly wrong?

PS: If I've missed any statements/videos/whatnot issued from Six Flags, I'd appreciate if you would please point me to them. So far I've just seen the news articles. Thanks so much.

Here's hoping the marketers don't win

Perhaps I've been too harsh on Paris (the self-centered, soulless ditz) who today heads straight from the big house to a broadcast interview with Larry King. AP reports these goodies:

On being serious: "Making a public service announcement against drinking and driving would be a good move for Hilton, said David Brokaw, a longtime Hollywood publicist. "That would say she's serious" about changing, he said."

Please just give money to the cause, don't be a poster girl and make more of a mockery of it.

On holding grudges: "The American people don't hold a grudge if somebody genuinely says 'I was wrong, I made mistakes, I'm sorry,' " Brokaw said. "

Please tell me that sorry doesn't cure all image woes.

On blaming others: "I appreciate everything now and I think there was a lot of bad people that I was around," she told E! "I don't want to surround myself with those types of people anymore."

Well, being your friends are all in rehab or shrinking they won't be around much longer, darlin'. In this new-media-meets-new-values world, I'm hoping the old-media marketers and image-makers don't win.

Alas, they likely will. (sigh)

PS: She may not be as pretty, and lord knows she's opinionated, I say a better celebrity is Rosie. She's real, she really helps others and she gives fans a direct line via her blog (which she--and only she--maintains). She also uses her chauffeur.

My blog is racy, baby

While I find most ratings downright silly--in blogging it's the relationships I make and the lessons I learn that I care about--I'm so darn proud to get an "R" rating (I think this rating feature is from a dating site or something, but I'll take it since it's fun).

I finally get to be one of the cool kids...if even just for one day. But it's a whole day.

Alas I'm still not as cool as Paul (but he's just a punk) who got a NC-17 rating for his blog. But that's just because he says f**k a lot (because he's just a punk). Sometimes I say those words when I comment over at his blog so I contend I helped his rating.

If you want to find out your blog's rating just go here.

Trust (and opinions)

Full story with links is here. (caution: it's a long post, but worth the read).

Is getting (paying?) people to mention your catch-phrases in a catchy, sneaky way in their blog posts the same as advertising?

Yes.

Wait...No.

Advertising is obvious. Sneaky is just sneaky. (Until it gets outed. And then it's just silly.)

Is sneaky wrong?

Yes.

Would I ever do it?

No. (Heck I won't even accept advertising on this blog. Speak at PostieCon. Or accept freebies for loaned periods.)

Is advertising on blogs wrong?

No. Bloggers put a lot of time, thought and trouble into maintaining their sites. I can understand receiving monetary value from that time, thought and trouble. But for me, I just never want anyone to worry or wonder if my opinions are influenced by anything other than my opinions--however right or wrong you find my opinions to be. I get paid through the value of learning from and meeting you fine folks. (Plus my blog is prettier without ads.)

Why is this stuff so darn important to me?

Because I take trust so seriously.

Which begs the question...can one take trust too seriously?

I certainly don't think so.

Why?

Because trust is the single most valuable asset one can have (be it a person or a brand). It's equivalent to respect and you have to earn, and be worthy, of trust. Unfortunately, many companies--and many people--don't realize how important trust is.

Until they lose it.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

A "human" ad that I actually like...

Having royally gone-off on DOW for its hollow "human element" positioning and silly ad series, here's an ad from Cisco--focusing on humans and "human networks"--that I very much like. What do I like about it?

• Simple: It's a simple, memorable message (with our network "being here is being there").
• Cute: Kids are always cute--and if I ever get this technology, I'll challenge any of you fine readers to a stare-down (if you win, you get cookies of course).
• Benefit-oriented: The spot immediately brings me to the myriad applications of the technology...unlike DOW that focused on hydrogen and oxygen bonding.
• Short: Cisco's ad succeeded in 30 seconds (as opposed to DOW's desperate 60-second plight).
• Oh, and I like that the American kids lose :-).

Does anyone know who Cisco's ad agency is? They deserve props. While I like the name "TelePresence", I'm on the fence as to whether it's a good name to brand Cisco's technology offering (vs. the technology 'category' that Cisco can own). Here's the piece (RSS readers go here).

Forget the Dead Sea...come for our drop-dead gorgeous military

Not sure if you've seen this but the July issue of Maxim magazine features the "women of Israel's army." In bikinis. The women are absolutely beautiful and I'm sure it will sell many magazines. But what's really wild is that it wasn't orchestrated by Maxim--it was brainstormed by Israel. To increase tourism.

I guess they're working to reposition from holy land to hip.

I can wrap my head around promoting sexy Israeli women (and men, too) but I can't readily understand featuring women from the military (these are ex-military women, but I doubt anyone will remember that, they'll just remember "sexy women + military").

In an area that (unfortunately) needs constant offensive and defensive military force I would rather the military be positioned as strong. Not sexy. If I'm going to the Middle East the last thing I want on my mind is the military...and if they are on my mind I want them to be on-guard, not un-dressed.

But that's just me (and I'm not the target demo of males 18-35). Maybe others want a softer, more supple military.

From ABCNews: "A new public relations effort by Israel's New York consulate wants the country known less for its conflict with the Palestinians or for its myriad holy sites than for its beautiful women in uniform. Or, more accurately, out of uniform.

A spread in the upcoming July issue of Maxim features a roster of Israeli models, all ex-soldiers, photographed wearing very little in the cause of their country. Headlined "Women of the Israel Defense Forces," the campaign has already been criticized as inappropriate in Israel.

Maxim was approached by the Israeli consulate to be a part of reshaping Israel's public image, specifically because of our unmatched mainstream reach to men aged 18 to 35," the magazine said in a statement. 'We are pleased with the result of our work together.'"

What do you guys (and gals!) think? It's getting a heck of a lot of media coverage. Will it increase tourism? Is it savvy...or really silly?

Again, just go here to see the pretty women.

Let's start by telling you how great I am. Nah, let's not.

When I first started working for myself, I was delighted at the freedom. Not the freedom to do as I please--I clock as many, if not more, hours on my own than when I worked for others--but the freedom to stop following certain practices I found sorta silly. One of the silliest? The new business pitch.

To be sure, I love new business, and new challenges. But I don't love pitches. There's nothing "new" to a pitch, which is odd since we're pitching "new" business (I also don't understand "cold calls" since hot leads are what I seek).

See, in new biz meetings, it usually starts with the "tell me about yourself/your business" question. It's a fair question and, many would argue, a darn good place to start. Problem is, the top of the discussion sets the vibe for the entire meeting. Having sat through enough pitches when I was a marketing director tasked with hiring consultants, I didn't like being pitched to...so I sure don't like to be the one delivering them.

For me, a pitch is a one-way delivery of our experiences, our greats and what we can do...but a discussion is what we can do for them (or what we can do together, actually).

What I like most about working from project-to-project is that no client, strategy, program or quarter is ever the same as the one before (or after). So it seems new business meetings shouldn't be the "same" either. And if I'm armed with a PPT presentation then it's gonna be a repeat. While I have plenty of new business materials, prospects can view those before or after we meet. But during new business meetings those materials would serve as a distraction from the value I'm intent on delivering.

For several years now, when I start a new business meeting I explain the entire reason for retaining me should be based only on the amount of value I can bring to the project. Marketing is, after all, about value creation. So the meeting alone should impart value being they've given me the value of their time. It also shifts the meeting from a passive format into action mode.

Instead of answering the "tell me about yourself question" to kick-off the meeting, I ask that they start by specifying the objectives they have and the problems they need solved (trust me, everyone has objectives and problems). And then I map their specific goals to my relevant successes and experiences. As for the problems they need solved, or opportunities I spot? I give plenty of recommendations for them to consider. Basically, value can be categorized into (a) meeting objectives, (b) solving problems and (c) identifying opportunities.

I also like scribbling recommendations and ideas on whiteboards--it's not as pretty as a power point slide but when I ask if I should erase it at the close of a meeting they always ask me to leave it. I've also begun ending meetings by recounting the points of value uncovered during the meeting itself, just to hit the point home (and so I feel the meeting went well).

All told, it's more of a real-time workshop format than a pitch--and it allows us to really show our greats not just tell people how really great we are. It also holds greater value (and value is the whole point). Plus, chances are greater they'll wind-up retaining me and/or referring me to others.

Whether you're on the consulting side or work for an agency, what are some gems you've found work well in landing new business? Or, if you're on the client side, what type of new business meetings do you prefer give you the most value?

Bloomie goes indie: non-partisan a trend?

A break from marketing to talk politics (but the non-partisan kind). If you haven't heard, NYC Mayor Bloomberg has left the G.O.P. and gone independent. Bloomberg--who was a long-time Democrat and switched to the Republican party to run for mayor in 2001--has done well by our city and I think this move sends a strong message about issues over parties. (Do hope the message doesn't fall on deaf ears.)

Thought you folks might enjoy the text of his speech:

"I have filed papers with the New York City Board of Elections to change my status as a voter and register as unaffiliated with any political party. Although my plans for the future haven’t changed, I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city.

A nonpartisan approach has worked wonders in New York: we’ve balanced budgets, grown our economy, improved public health, reformed the school system and made the nation’s safest city even safer.

We have achieved real progress by overcoming the partisanship that too often puts narrow interests above the common good. As a political independent, I will continue to work with those in all political parties to find common ground, to put partisanship aside and to achieve real solutions to the challenges we face.

Any successful elected executive knows that real results are more important than partisan battles and that good ideas should take precedence over rigid adherence to any particular political ideology. Working together, there’s no limit to what we can do."

Yeah, there's speculation galore about plans for the presidency but, personally speaking, it's a good day in NY. Full article here.

Love the Spoof (but not the singer)

While I didn't love the Sopranos finale (I know, I suck for hating the "brilliant!" ending), I do love that Hillary had us vote for her campaign song and enjoy what Hillary's camp has done by spoofing the Soprano's ending in order to unveil her new campaign song (clever girl :-). Admittedly, Bill eating onion rings carrot sticks is my favorite part.

However, neither Celine Dion, nor the song, "You and I" would have been my choice. You'll need to go here to see the spoof (at least until I can grab it off YouTube). And yeah, when you're done watching it they'll ask you to donate...hey, even in this new age politics as usual still exist.

PS: Being she's Canadian, can Celine vote?

C'mon let the pigs fly (and let 'em get lucky)

Perhaps I'm too liberal to see the fuss over this condom commercial (featured below as well). Or perhaps the fuss is as silly as flying pigs. Especially since the commercial's pigs are so cute (!) and underscore Trojan's new messaging strategy of "Evolve" which stresses "America is not a sexually healhty nation...it's time we evolve. Use a condom every time."

Sure, it's in Trojan's best interests that everyone use a (Trojan) condom every time but it's in the best interest of the public, too. Currently we have 1 in 4 Americans acquiring an STD by age 25 and each year 1 billion acts of unprotected sex acts among single adults. Btw, I get how they arrive at the first statistic...but how do they arrive at the second one? (I just wonder how many truthfully answer these sex surveys.)

The commercial will run on ABC, NBC and nine cable networks, including MTV, Comedy Central and Adult Swim. Print ads will appear in 11 magazines and on seven Web sites. But Fox and CBS would not allow it finding it "inappropriate, even for late-night programming."

According to the commercial's creators: “We have to change the perception that carrying a condom for women or men is a sign they’re on the prowl and just want to have sex,” said Linda Kaplan Thaler, chief executive of the Kaplan Thaler Group, the New York advertising agency that created the “Evolve” campaign. “It’s a sign of somebody being prepared — if the opportunity arises — to think about their own health and the health and safety of their partner.”

Here are some more comments from the NYTimes article:

From Trojan Condoms: “The ‘Evolve’ ad does a nice job of being humorous, but it’s also a serious call to action,” Mr. Daniels, VP of Marketing for Trojan, said. “The pigs are a symbol of irresponsible sexual behavior, and are juxtaposed with the condom as a responsible symbol of respect for oneself and one’s partner.”

From NYU: “It’s so hypocritical for any network in this culture to go all puritanical on the subject of condom use when their programming is so salacious,” said Mark Crispin Miller, a media critic who teaches at New York University. 'I mean, let’s get real here. Fox and CBS and all of them are in the business of nonstop soft porn, but God forbid we should use a condom in the pursuit of sexual pleasure.'”

From Lifestyles Condoms: “We always find it funny that you can use sex to sell jewelry and cars, but you can’t use sex to sell condoms,” said Carol Carrozza, vice president of marketing for Ansell Healthcare, which makes LifeStyles condoms. “When you’re marketing condoms, something even remotely suggestive gets an overly analytical eye when it’s going before networks’ review boards.”

Sorry I couldn't cite quotes from CBS and FOX but all they gave the reporter was "no comment."

I find this to be more responsible than not being it stresses using protection every time--and being the current campaigns aren't working. You really need to see it for yourself (sorry I couldn't find it yet on YouTube, I found it, it's below or RSS readers go here). Let me know if you think the pigs should be allowed to fly or not.

Disclaimer: No, if Trojan offered me a 6-month supply of free condoms I wouldn't accept them...but if you come to NYC we'll give 'em to you for free.

Update: DameNation asks a great question on her blog "So why is it OK for a Viagra ad to be about sex but not a condom ad, you might wonder?" (note: I'm pretty sure CBS and FOX allow Viagra commercials and the like, but I can't be sure being I haven't been watching much TV..and far fewer commercials...as of late).

Don't expect the end of the world to arrive on time

Bless my dear Dad. I had the hardest time figuring out exactly what to get him for Father's day. Dad is a heady guy (and super smart in math, a gene my sister and I lack entirely). What to get for the man who thinks of everything?

It could make shopping for him a challenge but I find it fun.

I've sent him lots of books on economics (and freakonomics) and videos on blue planets (and the history of NYC subways), but this year I was at a loss. What to get? What in the world to get? And then I thought...perhaps something 'out of this world' is where the answer lies.

I was so proud for thinking outside of the box (and the planet).

So I got him a very cool DVD on the end of the world as I particularly liked the part on asteroids. See, you can't really hate an asteroid because if it weren't for them then we wouldn't be (being the last one to hit earth took out the dinosaurs and made us possible). But then again, they could wipe us out. The way I look at it? What's meant to be will be--or will hit. So we might as well enjoy the video in the interim.

While I bought the video in plenty of time, the darn outfit took its darn time in sending it out (I bought it in plenty of time for standard shipping). I asked them why the hold up since my Dad was without a Dad's day gift. Their answer? They didn't have enough in stock (but did not tell me that at the time of purchase).

They also remarked that they didn't assume end-of-the-world videos would be a hot-seller for Dad's day. That's the thing about assumptions.

Sorry Dad. The end of the world and your gift will arrive when they're meant to (do hope the DVD comes first).

PS: Never fear, just as the smarties on the DVD said, an asteroid likely won't wipe us out. It's far more likely humans will destroy themselves instead of flying rocks.

What's so great about McDonald's? Its food (consistently) makes you fat (and happy).

Confession of a marketer (and a female who thinks carbs are both evil and heavenly at the very same time): I have never and will never buy from McDonald's to watch my weight. In fact, going to Mickey D's is viewed as a treat for me to scarf some greasy, salty fries and a hot fudge sundae. Yum.

And the happy meals rock. Even in my 30s, how can I not like a meal that purportedly makes me happy? No, it's just not possible.

But I always know this kind of food needs to be the exception not the rule. Why? Because if it were a habit I'd have the equivalent of two happy meals for hips (and then it's true that I wouldn't be happy). So here's my marketing question for McDonald's:

Why are you trying to market AGAINST everything that you have GOING for you?

No parents shouldn't be feeding their kids your stuff everyday (uh, duh) but you don't have to buy into that as it was never, ever your brand promise. Your brand promise was and is consistency--and NO other company does it better (maybe equally good but not better).

I will say that for cheap food your prices have gotten high but it's still a consistently fast, fatty food experience. That's what has made you great. Stick to it. The health stuff is up to consumers. All that YOU are responsible for is to state how much fat is in your foods--clearly, regularly and...you got it!...consistently.

Plus, not matter how freshly a hamburger or french fry is made (not microwaved) it's still food that's bad for people--and if people don't understand this then our society has an education issue, not a marketing one. Trust me.

Why do I say all of this? Because I care about your brand and I fear you're not (I also say this because you do a lot for charity and I really respect your good works there :-). But it looks really silly when you work to rail against all that makes you so very great. I respected who you were as it was true to brand...not sure if I respect where you're going.

All told, I'm looking forward to the info. this week from other bloggers who will cover your new mommy blog as I'm focused less on your blog, much more on your brand.

A question and a correction:

Finding a few good (wo)men: From USA Today, "McDonald's dubbed the program Mom's Quality Correspondents. The moms were picked from 4,000 applicants by Arc Worldwide, a promotions specialist."

Does anyone else find it interesting that they picked 6 moms from 4000 applicants?  And that they GOT 4,000 applicants? Wowsa. Um, how large is a potential juror pool for landmark trials where lives are hanging in the balance? Would we get 4,000 applicants? Yep, McD's is one brand with a lot of pull.

My BAD: I stand corrected, no blogging here. Also from USA Today: "The women will be journaling — not blogging — says Starmann, meaning consumer responses to their comments will not be posted on the site. But the six mothers are free to respond to consumers or to post comments on other blogs, she says. They also will appear in videos at www.mcdonaldsmom.com."

Then why not allow the McMomma's to just blog? If you're gonna take the plunge, then dive on in. You've consistently been a trailblazer. So, like, blaze!

A word of advice before I part (what good is a rant without a clear action point?)

Just stay true to you. You never set out to be a healthy alternative, you set out to deliver the same fast food experience on a consistent basis. And you delivered, baby. What's more? Man alive do you guys know real estate (you're better at "location" than Trump is, though Trump's true gift is spotting counter-trends). Much to be proud of so don't lose focus now.

Let Subway go after the healthy food positioning. This marketer implores you: please stop going against brand....if you want to reposition then launch a new brand, don't kill the old one. If you keep going this route it won't be the public that kills your branding--it will be you.

What's that? Oh, you're welcome for the great advice--a world of thanks for the great happy meals and, more so, for your terrific charity initiatives in which you've been a total trailblazer. And if you promoted THAT gem more than moms and other people would forget about the fat...I for one like doing good just by eating a meal that makes me happy (so I assume others would, too).

Are you a rock star? Hope not.

I'm curious if anyone is going to PostieCon? If you're wondering if I'll be there that would be a no (I know, duh). And yes, like most of you, the organizers kindly asked me to speak at the event. Twice. (I should have just sent them a link to my debates over cameras as they likely wouldn't have asked me in the first place.)

You've probably heard that Robert Scoble will no longer be the keynote speaker (as he explains, they postponed the conference until later in the year and the new date coincided with the birth of his new baby). And if you're wondering...yes, I was really let down that he'd speak there in the first place. I've so much respect for Scoble and the lessons he taught us in Naked Conversations, lessons that ran wholly counter to anything post-and-pay related. And that picture they had of him in the earlier marketing collateral when he was the keynote speaker just turned my smile upside down.

I've got to give it to PostieCon, by promoting a conference centered on "bettering your blog and "Be a Rock Star!" (um, does this medium actually make us rock stars? This is soooo very silly to me) and hosting the "Bloggers Choice Awards" the outfit has really tried to use marketing strategies to focus us away from posts that monetize the medium and more on making us better marketers. Or better rock stars.

Btw, I'm sorry I never ended-up voting in the bloggers choice awards (but did think the logo was cute) as I know many in this community were up for them...but when I found they were sponsored by PayPerPost I couldn't bring myself to participate (I think you're all winners anyhow ;-).

I was concerned that marketers weren't seeing through the manipulated messaging but, if the rumors of low attendance are truths, it seems we're in the clear. (Phew!) See, I think the best thing the marketing community can do with our words, actions and attendance is to teach marketers not yet in this space how best to care for it. But everyone is entitled to their opinions and pay-for practices.

For the record: I've nothing against rock stars...but then again, I already think this community rocks ;-).

PS: Alas, this appears to be the one conference where there is a balanced female-to-male ratio of speakers. Umm, not really what I meant. (Sigh)

Red bloggers see RED

While I spend (very) little time on the political side of the 'sphere, this is an interesting article. Interesting to me from both the "irrelevance" point (I'll get to that later)...and interesting how much more the opinions of bloggers are being monitored. From the article:

"But no issue in recent memory has united conservative bloggers like the debate over immigration. Their frustration has culminated in a full-scale revolt against the Bush administration and a Senate bill that activists say does little to solve the country's border security problems.

It's increasingly clear from Web postings and interviews with top conservative bloggers that the immigration bill has done serious damage to the president's credibility among the conservative netroots, the grassroots bloggers on the Web.

Said Morrissey: 'I think that they are going to continue to support him on the war on terror. As for the rest of it, they are looking for ways to reshape the party agenda going into the next election. That's a nice way of saying they are going to consider him irrelevant.'"

I've always admired what I call the "strategy of irrelevance" as it can be very effective...but what I'm most enjoying is how the conservative community's voice is being heard loud and clear by media and, in-turn, the general public (and I'm not against the immigration bill--and if you haven't noticed, I'm not conservative, either--so that comes from a place of delight that bloggers are being heard, dig?).

In recent months I've seen a dramatic increase in companies and media outlets leveraging social media to "listen" and of course I couldn't be more pleased. Sure we've got a ways to go but there is definite interest over "what's being said in here". I'll cover that stuff and provide specific examples in upcoming posts but it will continue to be a theme (and hopefully, a trend).

Way to make a girl cry

This has been a week of some unexpected tears. But happy ones. I would like to thank the culprits of cry and take this opportunity to point you to their very moving posts (and featured videos). 

Check out Scott's post. And then definitely watch the video he points you to; amazing how passion--from the most unlikeliest of sources--can move you. (psst: an update on how the story ended...on a high note!...is right here).

And then most definitely check out Mark's post that asks--and eloquently answers--"what we make" here. And (please!) do not pass go without watching the AMAZING video he points us to...when the speaker talks of the "noblest act of courage" I just lost it--and then Mark wrote the greatest post and I teared up again.

All posts and videos won't take you more than ten minutes (not including tears). Time well spent and I won't tell if the men cry a little, too.

Mirror, mirror on the wall (the destructive nature of labels)

Let me start off by genuinely thanking David Meerman Scott for inspiring this post (and David Reich for informing me of this in the first place). And let me also say that I genuinely like David Scott (and David Reich). David M. Scott and I have had a terrific email dialog and he is one heck of a positive guy (and his book is getting great reviews).

Which is why I've been so perplexed at his labeling me "notoriously egotistical and vain".

OK, so he didn't call ME egotistical and vain he labeled ALL bloggers as such...and, bless his heart, I don't think he meant for me to take it so seriously. But here's the thing--and this applies to ALL marketing and ALL of life: Labels have very serious implications. They're destructive. No good ever comes from them. And, more often than not, misperceptions are widely perpetrated as a result of using them. Which is why I (strongly) advocate not doing so. It discredits people and the medium.

The irony? I actually wished he'd only called me those things. Why? Because too many on the 'outside' will now form a clouded judgment of what's really going on 'in here'. We've now separated "us" from "them" even more (sigh). Why's that? Because when we label a group we make them less 'human' and more 'judgment'. Especially--and I cannot stress this enough--in a new medium where new practices and new perceptions are pivotal.

See, we can touch on commonalities or audience attributes (e.g. demographics, psychographics) but when we place labels, or strong judgments...on 15 million people running 70 million blogs...we promote misperceptions--and we all know that perceptions are many times the reality. So many people will now attach an "egotistical + vain" label to many bloggers--and me (gasp!)-- instead of understanding the share nature of this economy.

Personally speaking? All I've witnessed--in a field that is very focused on getting ahead and growing egos, mind you--is a whole lot of generosity. Want a recent example? Look at my previous post where I asked for feedback from you smarties to help me do better on an account: you guys and gals didn't think twice about helping out. It's what we do for one another.There are countless examples of this including Paul saving my butt from making a big mistake on an account last year when I would have used the wrong messaging and ran a real-time Q&A for me with the target audience he had access to inside his agency...and he NEVER once boasted about it on his blog (hence, no ego). And of course I can't begin to thank this community enough for the outpouring of support during a personally difficult time (that was selfless, not selfish). Truly there are too many examples for but one post.

So let's be really careful when we label and judge: especially when we do so in front of audiences who don't know this environment. Actually, let's just not do it. This medium may seem old hat to us but it is new as a newborn baby to (most) others. I want "them" to feel invited to interact with "us" (c'mon in the water's great!)...not daunted or intimidated (our hearts and minds are FAR bigger than our egos!).

PS: I also thank David for giving me an excuse to post the vain witch from Snow White on my blog (as I've always wanted to ;-).

OK boys, let's hear 'em...

I don't like to assume that it's only boys who like football. But in fifteen years in the business world I find that when a sports analogy is used, it's something like 99(.9999%) likely that it's delivered by a man. And now, as luck would have it, I need some good "coaching" and "football" one-liners for a piece I'm working on.

See, we're going to be using these metaphors to tell the client's story and value--it's actually strangely perfect for the offering.

But it's not strangely perfect for me.

Last time I used a metaphor--for an entirely different client/different industry--it revolved around the natural and universal laws so I dug deep into the likes of Darwin, Newton, Einstein and others (and hence my high school science teacher WAS right...I DID use those boring lessons in real life!).

But this time it's more "coaching" and "football". Which is cool except that AstroTurf is new terrain for me.

Truth be told, I've attended a Super bowl, a Sugar Bowl and a Citrus Bowl in my life but I didn't really pay attention to the games, I just ate A LOT of junk and asked a lot of questions (which, now that I think about it, probably explains why my father stopped asking me to accompany him to games).

So maybe you guys (or gals!) could share some well-known sayings, famous quotes and/or one-liners on either coaching or football (with an emphasis on coaching). Please? I promise to help you brainstorm metaphorical stuff when it's something I know something about. So take the ball and run with it (and that's about the only one I know). Thank you ;-).

P.S.: Why yes, that is a picture from the TV series "Friday Night Lights" as no, I don't have a favorite team (if I did I would likely know some catchy sayings and stuff).