Monthly Archives:

September 2008

Social Media Strategy

MySpace Launches Self-Serve Advertising

September 24, 2008

After years of neglecting a huge opportunity to monetize the small business segment on MySpace, it appears that they have finally figured it out.  MySpace launched a new Self-Serve Advertising program that’s currently in beta.  The service allows businesses and musicians to develop their own ads and target specific groups on the site.  Facebook has had a similar program for a while now, and although the targeting works differently, they are similar in that they provide small business an opportunity to advertise on the site.  

Previously, only advertisers with deep pockets could play in the MySpace sandbox, so hundreds of thousands of businesses did the next best thing – they created their own free profile for their business and grew them organically.  This new program is a sign that MySpace finally figured out that they couldn’t really stop this practice, and they might as well try to make money from it. 

We will be testing this new ad system for our clients in the coming weeks to see how effective it is.  Stay tuned.

Technology

iPhone, Android, Google, oh my…

September 22, 2008

So, here we are on the eve of the launch of the new Dream Smartphone from  HTC/T-Mobile.  It will be interesting to see how this expands opportunities in Social Media in the mobile sphere.  Certainly there will be many more custom applications being developed for the new Android platform, so you’ve got to wonder if this is the next ‘thing’ or just another ‘me too’ (remember the Zune, anyone?).  Regardless if this particular phone grabs attention from the iPhone, it’s clear that the Android platform will definitely be a player (and possibly a game changer) as it rolls out and gets fine-tuned.  While this particular phone lacks the elegance and panache of the iPhone, it makes up for this in powerful functionality at your fingertips.  Competition is good, and I’m sure this will spark a new race to provide the most functionality in the sleekest device possible.

This almost sounds like a movie we’ve seen before with the Social Networks.  Think MySpace and Facebook a couple of years back.  In the end, they are both still relevant, and have their own strengths and opportunities for brands.  This is just one more reason to get onboard with Social Media and mobile apps right now.  Waiting around to see what happens will cost more in the end.  Start thinking about how you can add value to your customer on the go.  Whether you develop an application for iPhone or Android, engage on Facebook or MySpace, or all of the above, the time is now.  The holidays are fast approaching, and you can bet that this season we’ll be seeing a lot more Smartphones in the hands of everyday consumers.  Time to get moving!

Social Media Strategy

We are ALL media channels

September 5, 2008

You know, the frequency of social messaging is reaching a fever pitch these days, and it underscores the fact that any brand that is going to flourish has to get in the mix somehow.  Not a day goes by that I don’t get a stream of updates from my friends and business associates on what’s going on in their worlds.  Funny enough, I actually pay a lot of attention to these, as they provide a unique opportunity to keep up with people that I might otherwise lose touch with.  I’m one of millions of people that have embraced this aspect of social media and I see myself paying more and more attention to it with each passing day.

What I find interesting are the players that are out in front using emerging media channels to spread the word and encourage wild viral spread.  Take the political candidates and political action committees for instance.  Man, let me tell you – these guys are pushing some serious messaging online and even dabbling a bit in the mobile space.  The speeches are barely done before status updates, videos, blog entries, etc. start flying.  And of course, on the topic of engagement, I can’t think of a better example of how these tools enable a level of engagement that we could only dream about just a few years ago.  I see the passion coming out of people who I would never expect to be so engaged!

Everyday people are realizing the power they have to spread the word about things they care most about, and this has really turned the Marketing and PR worlds on their heads.  The two functions are highly intertwined now more than ever, and it’s critical that brands think about how to reach consumers directly and give them the capability to be evangelists.  The tools are there, but they have to be used and continually fine-tuned.

The next time you read a status update from a friend or click on a link that someone you know has posted, think about the implications of this messaging.  Is your brand in the mix?  If not, the time for second-guessing has long since passed.    Sink or swim – right now!

BTW, here are some supporting materials on ‘Direct-to-Consumer PR’ and ‘Status Updates’ to check out.  Enjoy!