I'm messin' around over at the Daily Fix blog today. I'm chatting how major media needs to stop messing with consumers...and start letting encouraging them to mess with their stuff (much like MTV has recently announced). Before I make more of a mess here won't you please just go there? (thank you ;-)
Today I'm back blogging at "The Fix." I just can't get away from that place. But I'm no longer chatting heavy-metal marketing models (that was yesterday). Nope, today we're talking hot, hard-bodied ones.
I found an interesting marketing strategy that has me equally dismayed...and intrigued. Who needs friends when you can look like you have them? Scratch that. Who needs friends when you can look like you have really HOT ones? Click here for this clever madness.
P.S.: Yes, of course that's me in a bikini. Not.
It started innocently enough. Well maybe not so innocently...but for a good cause. In my push for promoting socially responsible practices, I learned NYC will be touting an official city condom as part of its impressive marketing strategies to decrease the spreading of STDs and HIV-AIDS.
So I thought why not ask you smart marketers for some great copy for the wrappers to generate more awareness while involving the community? And you guys and gals gave me your best lines, check out the ideas 48 hrs. later:
My city's got me talking sex. What, you thought I wouldn't talk sex on my blog? Actually, you're right. Why post on sex here when I can push the limits with a larger audience over there? Especially since those readers would love to hear about something other than The Book Club--though I contend books are very sexy subject matter, too.
Oh, and in my push for promoting socially responsible practices I'm also asking for your ideas on copy for branded condom wrappers. Yeah, you read that last sentence right. So let's brainstorm and get, uh, ballsy.
I'm no tease, you needn't hold out any longer--just hop on over to "The Fix" and let's talk (safe) sex. C'mon, let's just do it already...
Alas I've broken my silence and I'm chattin' up a storm over at Group Review. Oh right, maybe you haven't heard: our Book Club's Group Review is officially O.P.E.N. for biz, baby!
Yes, it's a party. And yes, this party rocks 24/7. I was wonkin' out there late last night...but I didn't have many people to wonk out with. I thought to myself: is it my fate to be a lonely bookworm? Is it prom all over again where I dance all (gulp!) alone? Is everyone at some other book club ganging up against me?
Then I remembered I jumped the gun...it wasn't open yet. D'oh!
If you're a bookworm then, besides being really cool, you need to go here to learn about getting into the party--and yes, if the Host asks you to dance you have to humor her. If you're not a member and want to check it out you can also go here to learn about it--but since you're not logged in you can't participate. Woe is you...
...but don't fret, you can still join in! As long as you're up for chatting the themes of Citizen Marketers and this groovy new Web 2.0 World, I cordially invite you to crash our party. Please do drink responsibly and mind your manners.
C'mon admit it, aren't you just the slightest bit interested what's going on over there, just a little?
P.S.: Dear Blogosphere: A week or so from now I'll be back to my normal blogging self and won't talk the Book Club for many weeks. Girl Scout's honor.
One week away from our Book Club's first Group Review--hitting next Wednesday, January 10th--and, being a NYC girl without a car (the subway is my SUV), I've had to get pretty creative to ensure I'll be to the party on time...
My journey chronicles: hitch-hiking in Times Square; meeting up with some of the Big Apple's rowdiest bookworms; getting in hot water with my southern momma; getting picked up by the National Guard--and sailing the seven seas. Pretty much in that order.
Oh, and a whale is involved. I ask you, readers: what half-decent story doesn't involve a whale?
Want the scoop and all the pics? You needn't hitch a ride, just follow this link to The Daily Fix. With the eventful journey I've been through, surely you won't let a girl down and will have your book read, right? Yeah, I knew I could count on you fine marketers :-).
Now hop on over here for one heck of a tale.
P.S.: Yes, you can still sign-up! You'll just need to get your paws on a copy of "Citizen Marketers", get it read by next Wednesday (it's a quick read) and drop an email saying "I'm in!" to bookclub@marketingprofs.com. "See" you next week...bookworms rock!
What's that you say...you wanna know what's happening at WOMMA? Marketers as far as the eye can see, ethics as the battle cry, a cadre of terrific speakers, awards for WOM well done--and even a heated game of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'.
I've never played Rock, Paper, Scissors before. I know it's weird because, well, all 500 attendees told me as such. But those boys didn't kick my butt...the highlights (and some sound bites) are over at The Fix.
And speaking of games bloggers play--what's up with Tim pummeling my inbox with long e-mail threads and everyone "tagging" me while I'm running around WOMMA like a little chicken trying in earnest to meet everyone, go to everything, report back to all and increase my Book Club's membership?
First Gavin tags me (that little bugger from down under), then Ann wants to tag me--but can't cuz Gavin beat her to the punch--and then Cam tags me...again! What, now instead of revealing 5 fun factoids I gotta reveal 10? No way, Jose. Surely there must exist a statute of limitations on this. For all of you new to "blogger tag," I understand it's a revolving game--in which strangely I'm somehow "it" a lot--whereas a blogger who is tagged must reveal 5 things about themselves they've not yet shared...and then they pass the torch to 5 more.
Guys if I can't get back to you until later this week it's not that I'm taking a few days to hang with my sister in D.C., I'm just ignoring you :-).
In other news from around the 'sphere: I would like to congratulate Paul for his first submission to The Madison Avenue Journal--Paul, I'm all sorts of proud (sniff) and I thank you for taking it easy on me this week. I never thought I'd say that. I'm also sending out props to Tim for going straight to video vis-a-vis a vlog parody of his signature "Daily Drive" posts by a true-blue fan and, ergo, proving my point on the power of parody. Ha! Gratitude to my sake-drinking blog brother Mario for posing an amazing opportunity to contribute feedback to Guy Kawasaki while he crafts his upcoming book. I can't wait (!)...but wait I must as I'm a bit behind.
While I can't play games right now, I will share pics: that's Jackie Huba and moi up there...and Ben McConnell and yours truly over there. They couldn't be nicer (and, to my knowledge, they have not tagged me).
P.S.: I am trying like mad to make good on my real-time polls while at WOMMA but with little headway so far. See, the schedule is back-to-back sessions and I'm not allowed to talk in class. But for a WOMMA rundown just go here.
How do you spend less time chasing leads and more time choosing from them? How do you spend less energy pushing messages at your markets and more time pulling customers to you? Why you use my nifty mantra, of course!
Both my musings...and my mantra..are over at The Daily Fix. Just affirm to go right here.
Whether you're a marketing consultant, marketing director or marketing agency, my mantra applies (psst: prayers help, too). In case you're curious my mantra involves rivers flowing and revenues streaming so flow on over here, dear reader. Namaste :-).
Being Halloween (boo!) I focused this week's Daily Fix piece on my favorite costumed company. They don't clown around when it comes to a new breed of innovation and an elaborate, meaningful brand--and they prove the Big Top sure can teach business a LOT about marketing.
With no animal acts (or inhumanity to animals) and no spoken dialogue so global audiences witness "show not tell", Cirque Du Soleil opts instead to push their performers to new heights...and deep-water lows.
But more than any high-wire feat it proves that amazing things happen when you re-engineer the old into the all-new. No more clownin' around for you dear reader...get your fix on right here.
Funny-like-a-clown Factoid: The #1 children's costume this year for boys is Johnny Depp-inspired Pirate Captain Jack. For girls it's a tie between Tinkerbell and Cinderella. All three characters were manufactured by the house of mouse (another creative co. that's also laughing all the way to the bank).
Today I'm talkin' beauty over at "the Fix". I'm giving marketers a much-needed makeover. And a tip in responsibility. One that image-driven industries have had coming for a while.
Think "average" doesn't sell? Think again. Think that sexpot over there on the left was a waif? That buxom babe was between a size 10 and 12. It's time to rethink beauty and the messages we're sending today's youth, unless we want our future target markets to all but...disappear.
Follow this pretty little link to my fashion-forward post. Btw, you are the picture of beauty (you have no need for a makeover).
Over at "the Fix" am I. No worries, I'll return here soon enough--and shortly, I'll learn how to be in two places at once.
In the meantime, I have a riddle for you: when it comes to social media, why are so many companies having such a hard time getting it right? Armed with budgets, brains and plenty of bandwidth why do so many corporate blogs get panned, while so many blogs run by individuals get praised? Given that hardly any organizations are having success at it, what's so darn hard about social media?
Here's a hint: the answer is really easy...and the answer is right here.
I'll now be blogging over at MarketingProfs: Daily Fix blog, too. It's all sorts of exciting to join the conversation as a contributor (I've been chattin' over there as a commenter for a while). I'm truly over the moon about it. And Lewis, you now have seniority ;-).
What will be there won't be here, meaning, it will be all original CK content all the time. Well, not all the time, but every time I post. I may let you know of a piece I've got over there. Though not always. The element of surprise is far too underrated.
And I'll cover a lot of topics. Like I do here. But there. Got it? Good!
People say bloggers are passionate. That they are. What they don't say is just how generous we are: thanks to everyone for being so generous with your knowledge, time and friendship. Can't tell you how much it means to me and my little blog (btw, that's my blog I'm clutching in my hand as I soar over the moon up there. I wouldn't go to the moon and back without it).
P.S.: Due to being in the air as much as on land for the next week, it will be a little while before my inaugural post airs over at The Daily Fix. But she's a comin'--and hey, this way I get to surprise you right out of the gate.
Please feel free to voice in; but over there so I can keep track of all these goodies. I'll be submitting them to the City later this week--they didn't ask for them, mind you, but when did that stop us from doing great work for a good cause?! Remember, the copy needs a NY angle. You marketers sure are smart (and sexy, to boot).
Note: Artwork above courtesy of Mark Goren and Ryan Mesheau.