Archive for the ‘social media’ Category

Defining A Dialogue Idea for Relationship and Social Marketing

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

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As the digital shift continues to move marketing communications to more direct and dialogue driven channels companies should adopt a simple methodology in identifying what will work for them and their consumers.  The dialogue idea is as unifying concept that aligns relationship or socially driven programs with other communications as a part of an integrated marketing approach. As more participatory channels for consumers are developed the need to establish consistent, non-campaign driven dialogue points becomes critical in the marketing mix.  These are not just limited to the direct channels, as we know them; (CRM, DM, email, websites), but really extend across any personal contact that can be associated to the “ brand experience”; customer and consumer services, in store demonstrations, events etc.

A real world experience with a brand is only mirrored in the participatory platforms online and this mirroring reflects the sentiments it arouses in real world conversations. (more…)

Unilever, Publicis and the Pour Tout Vous Dire CRM sale

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

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One of the more interesting pieces of news I read in the last week was that the Paris-based holding company Publicis Groupe said it has acquired Pour Tout Vous Dire, the French customer relationship management program of a key client, Unilever. While the exact figures have not been disclosed Publicis has obviously seen this as buying a solid media entity that you can build upon. In its original form the CRM program was a direct to consumer magazine that has since morphed into a lifestyle portal online with over 5 million subscribers. (more…)

Why Marketers Like Twitter More Than Facebook- For The Moment

Friday, August 21st, 2009

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The most interesting thing I read all week in the myriad of information I digest was the posting for eMarketer titled Marketers embrace Twitter over Facebook with and insightful  tag line  “Follow me” replacing “friend me”? eMarketer reported that “Facebook may have recently passed MySpace as the most-visited social networking site in the US, but it’s facing stiff competition for the attention of social media marketers.” So why is it so interesting for me and why should it interest you?

Marketing and advertising in Facebook is problematic. In fact its inherent culture is anti advertising and its user base have in the past voiced disappointment and disapproval of the introduction of targeted advertising. There is an high emotional attachment to the service as it relates to sharing amongst friends, family, and having fun in a protected environment. They don’t want the intrusion or interruption by advertisers. They will choose whether or not they want to be associated to you. Marketers need to learn a new approach in social networks like Facebook. (In MySpace its a different commercial proposition, brands can advertise and “own” or design their own space. )

I do believe  that in the classic brand ownership argument, Facebook - the brand,  is owned by it consumers , not the other way round. Facebook does not own it users it provides a service to them . Its  how the consumers adopt and use the platform and what the platform provides to them that makes it so successful. Facebook has to be very careful not to upset or dis-enfranchise its consumers or it will suffer dramatically. Selling out its user base to advertisers would lead to its demise. Brands and companies operating in this environment must also be mindful of “adding value” to their fan bases and inspiring some open and fun dialogue that piques their interest. Do not assume that its a broadcast channel for self interest. You have to ask why would you, or someone else for that matter,  want to befriend a brand ? What is interesting for me is that Facebook fan pages represent an emotional not a rational connection and affiliation to brands.  e.g. I love / like you therefore I want to be associated to you!  If you offend this sensibility you will loose your most valuable asset, your loyal and emotionally attached consumer.

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The Value Proposition and Value Exchange in Social Media

Friday, August 14th, 2009

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Like good old fashioned direct to consumer communications such as CRM, Social Media Marketing is also about managing the relationships between a brand and its consumers and the consumer expectations of that brand. The shift in the relationship from direct to dialogue is the key difference between the two. In many recent iterations of CRM the shift to dialogue has also become the norm. The principals behind CRM and Social Media Marketing (SMM) are in fact the same, managing and nurturing relationship through a value proposition or value exchange. Whether it’s an actual product, entertainment, services, dialogue or even intangible forms of social currency such as inside information or a virtual asset, consumers expect more from brands today, and they expect it for free. The key to sustaining the relationship is to manage the expectations of the brand in the consumer interaction with the brand. This management needs to be supported beyond the experience of consumption or use to include the experience of consumer services and other brand associations as well.

The brand benefits of CRM and Social Marketing Programs are obvious.  Value exchange creates loyalty and potentially advocacy – By providing a benefit you will be most successful if you also consider the value expectations of your audience. Providing value will ensure your customers continue engaging with your brand in the social landscape. In the sense of making brand advocates of your consumers your exchange might even inspire them to share the value you provide with others. (more…)

Can Twitter & Social Media channels replace Mainstream Media ?

Monday, June 29th, 2009

The past two weeks has been a defining period for Twitter. # Iranelection and Micheal Jackson’s death are the most recent defining moments that have allowed the microblogging service and Social Media to show their impact on mainstream mass media and government affairs. Early morning Friday (Europe) Twitter’s servers collapsed under a tsunami of tweets in the public out pouring surrounding the king of pop’s death. Not only was Twitter buckling under the deluge of Tweets but Google also served an error page and News websites around the world slowed considerably. As the news of the king of pops death broke, Google feared it was under a denial of service attack and served its error page. As it calmed down  the Michael Jackson search trend was substantiated and it was rated as “volcanic”.
Follow the trend on Nielsen’s Blog Pulse
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According to the BBC, initial data from Trendrr, a Web service that tracks activity on social media sites, the number of Twitter posts containing “Michael Jackson” totaled more than 100,000 per hour. That put the momentary news of Jackson’s death equal to the peak surrounding the Iran protests ten days before. (more…)

Twitterverse enters the Lexicon

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

n. The Twitter social networking service and the people who use it. Also: twitterverse, Twitter-verse. [Blend of Twitter and universe.]

The word Twitterverse entered the lexicon of social media  in a big way in the past few months.  Its appeared on NPR (National Public Radio ) in the Washington Post, spawned a blog by Emily Chang, of Ideacodes in SF  and  the 1st or beta edition of a  Twitterverse map.

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I think the map is the  best and possibly the least abstract representation of  a fast emerging world and was produced by Brian Solis, Principal of FutureWorks, PR and New Media agency in Silicon Valley. He released a beta version of what he calls the Twitterverse v 0.9  last week ( see  Gazing into the Twitterverse). What he and partner Jess3 have produced is a spiral universe that begins to place an order to a complex set of relationships  surrounding Twitter from search, communication, mobile, analytics, relationship management, advertising and events. The spiral representation seems to be like that of solar system revolving around a central star in long tendrils representing  a map of tools and applications  for conversation management and measurement emanating from the vortex of Twitter.

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Understanding the Influence Landscape

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

influence-landscape-resizedAfter 50 years of mass advertising  have we reached such a level of cynicism that the magic of the message fails to impress unless it entertaining or funny?  It is unerringly clear that as the speed and ubiquity of digital touch points grows,  controlling the message has become increasingly difficult for marketers.  When it comes beginning to understand the  influencer landscape there a number of consumer truths that have to be reconciled  to understand why this has become so important. The marketing messages in mass media, even in the most cleverly devised campaigns, seem to be dismissed by consumers as missing an element of the truth or transparency, as if too say,  they have worn out their welcome.

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A Digital Night with P & G – Buzzing Pampers Save a Baby social media campaign

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

P & G hosted an EMEA Digital Night at in Geneva bringing together its marketing , ecommerce , digital communications people and their agencies to participate in a digital and social media experiment on a real live campaign. At its outset it appeared to be a daunting proposal , to spearhead a full blown digital media campaign in two hours with the ultimate goal being to maximize the groups reach , push their influence, and market and sell the idea of donating for a Pampers & UNICEF program to eliminate Tetanus. The aim to raise 100, 000 GBP in 18 hours.

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Obama Taps into Public Discussions to Draft Policies

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

In an unprecedented move, on his first day in office, Obama took a strong stance on transparency and clarity not just to the United States but to the world. The new president wants to know what people are saying and he will be using social media tracking and analytic tools to tap into conversations and alert to trends.

Obama said in his opening speech, the way to make a government responsible is to hold it accountable… and transparent so that the American people can know what decisions are being made, how they are being made and whether their interests are being well served. (more…)

brand.intelligence™. What is it?

Saturday, January 10th, 2009

brand.intelligence™ has been developed by LABEL to create a bridge and form an alliance between the brand management and the business intelligence.

brand.intelligence™ is used to help our clients to connect their marketing / communications with their business applications.

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