http://adage.com/digitalnext/article?article_id=138023
Compelling article about the future of advertising, and not all that surprising. But other than the fact that digital is easier to measure, is it a good thing or a bad thing? Or as Dorothy would say, "Is it a good witch or a bad witch?" And Glinda responds, "Why it isn't a witch at all!" I'd have to agree and say it's neither good nor bad, but a result of businesses everywhere slashing ad budgets and advertisers and marketers adapting accordingly. If your client says they can't afford print ads (or radio or OOH, etc., etc.) any longer, then you are forced to suggest something new, something cheaper, or something that can be more accurately measured. And, low and behold digital achieves that trifecta.
July 23, 2009
July 16, 2009
Networking can be intimidating but it is the key to the success of your business!
It is true! Getting out there and introducing yourself to people can be a bit intimidating. But, I am here to tell you that it wont kill you. I am a fairly out-going person, and find it fairly easy to speak to people. However, I too have bouts of apprehension when I have decided to attend networking events. Will I find anyone to speak with? Will they be interested in what I have to say? But in most cases the answer to those questions is YES!
I believe the hard part is simply striking up a conversation with an unknonwn person, but once you start speaking everything else falls into place. It's a lot like any other social interaction. Some people you will click with, and some people you will not. It is important to find the common bond with people. Speak about your past experience what you are doing currently, and how the two or the group relates with one another. If you relate on a personal level so be it. You both may be athletic or like animals. Whatever that common bond is, run with it.
So, why network? Well, people are a lot more likely to want to do business with someone that they have already met. You can place a name with a face. You will feel more comfortable calling your new contact to discuss business if you have a commonality, such as I met you the other day at XYZ event.
Networking has been around forever, and it will continue to be a great way to get recognition for your business. So, get out there and meet people, it wont kill you.
I believe the hard part is simply striking up a conversation with an unknonwn person, but once you start speaking everything else falls into place. It's a lot like any other social interaction. Some people you will click with, and some people you will not. It is important to find the common bond with people. Speak about your past experience what you are doing currently, and how the two or the group relates with one another. If you relate on a personal level so be it. You both may be athletic or like animals. Whatever that common bond is, run with it.
So, why network? Well, people are a lot more likely to want to do business with someone that they have already met. You can place a name with a face. You will feel more comfortable calling your new contact to discuss business if you have a commonality, such as I met you the other day at XYZ event.
Networking has been around forever, and it will continue to be a great way to get recognition for your business. So, get out there and meet people, it wont kill you.
July 6, 2009
Tweeting Your Way to New Prospects: Tackling New Business Development in a Social Media World (AdAge)
http://adage.com/smallagency/post?article_id=137730
I think this is an interesting article and a "sign of the times." New business development is at the forefront of a lot of minds lately, even if only as a survival tactic rather than as a dedicated strategy. In talking to friends, family and colleagues, we've noticed a lot of smaller business having a particularly hard time because (1) until now they've never really needed to devote time, money and manpower (collectively resources) to it, (2) they (especially now) don't have the resources and (3) they're gun-shy as to how to best utilize what resources they may be able to scrape up.
The especially troubling part for many of these businesses is that they know that without devoting resources to growing their business they may not have a business for much longer. In that context, this article takes on a slightly different significance, but the concept of imploring social media is still the same - and we are all for it. And - oh yeah - it doesn't hurt that it's virtually free (save for the resource of time...).
There are other reasons we're all for it though. While many may look at social media as the fall of personal communications (as in "email is so impersonal"), we feel that used correctly, it's just the opposite. Fellow Facebook loyalists surely know what I'm talking about, as we've found ourselves reconnected with dozens, if not hundreds, of old friends, classmates, colleagues - most of whom we're excited about reconnecting with if only to know where they're working and if they're married/single/have kids. But when one of those Facebook friends needs a new doctor, or a new lawn service, or a new (fill in the blank), they, like even non-Facebookers, would still prefer a recommendation from a "friend" then a random Google search. And that's when social media becomes powerful.
Twitter is certainly in the same boat, but due to the brevity of the messaging and other basic functionality differences, we feel it's place and purpose are slightly different and should be treated as such (which I suppose makes it a different boat in the same ocean...). I feel like whereas Facebook might be in the curriculum for Social Media Marketing 101, Twitter would fall into its optional post-requisite course. Because Facebook provides a forum and "gathering place" for its "fans," the messaging can be more casual and approachable and serve as supplementary branding even. I think Twitter however, requires a more specific messaging strategy - such as letting followers in on secret sales and promotions.
We also believe that in order to maintain the integrity of both the message and the messenger, the communications from either Facebook or Twitter have to stay authentic and therefore have to be in the voice of messenger. Element can assist in developing the platform, identifying what the general content of the messages should be, and facilitating the message, but fans and followers alike deserve the voice of the product or service itself - especially as they are an opted-in audience of loyal consumers, asking to be advertised to.
I think this is an interesting article and a "sign of the times." New business development is at the forefront of a lot of minds lately, even if only as a survival tactic rather than as a dedicated strategy. In talking to friends, family and colleagues, we've noticed a lot of smaller business having a particularly hard time because (1) until now they've never really needed to devote time, money and manpower (collectively resources) to it, (2) they (especially now) don't have the resources and (3) they're gun-shy as to how to best utilize what resources they may be able to scrape up.
The especially troubling part for many of these businesses is that they know that without devoting resources to growing their business they may not have a business for much longer. In that context, this article takes on a slightly different significance, but the concept of imploring social media is still the same - and we are all for it. And - oh yeah - it doesn't hurt that it's virtually free (save for the resource of time...).
There are other reasons we're all for it though. While many may look at social media as the fall of personal communications (as in "email is so impersonal"), we feel that used correctly, it's just the opposite. Fellow Facebook loyalists surely know what I'm talking about, as we've found ourselves reconnected with dozens, if not hundreds, of old friends, classmates, colleagues - most of whom we're excited about reconnecting with if only to know where they're working and if they're married/single/have kids. But when one of those Facebook friends needs a new doctor, or a new lawn service, or a new (fill in the blank), they, like even non-Facebookers, would still prefer a recommendation from a "friend" then a random Google search. And that's when social media becomes powerful.
Twitter is certainly in the same boat, but due to the brevity of the messaging and other basic functionality differences, we feel it's place and purpose are slightly different and should be treated as such (which I suppose makes it a different boat in the same ocean...). I feel like whereas Facebook might be in the curriculum for Social Media Marketing 101, Twitter would fall into its optional post-requisite course. Because Facebook provides a forum and "gathering place" for its "fans," the messaging can be more casual and approachable and serve as supplementary branding even. I think Twitter however, requires a more specific messaging strategy - such as letting followers in on secret sales and promotions.
We also believe that in order to maintain the integrity of both the message and the messenger, the communications from either Facebook or Twitter have to stay authentic and therefore have to be in the voice of messenger. Element can assist in developing the platform, identifying what the general content of the messages should be, and facilitating the message, but fans and followers alike deserve the voice of the product or service itself - especially as they are an opted-in audience of loyal consumers, asking to be advertised to.
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