April 2009 Entries
We’ve been talking the last few posts about how to get a handle using Twitter to connect to potential clients as well as current customers. As John Sviokla outlines in his recent blog: "Twitter is/is not a serious marketing tool,” the first step is to understand the medium and what you want to get out of it. Likewise, Babson business professor Thomas Davenport has some advice, too: Don’t waste your time with this passing fad.
Which side are you on?
On Twitter: A Marketer’s Duct Tape, on Harvard Business Publishing, Sviokla says it’s only a matter of time before Google or Microsoft acquire Twitter,...
The last few blogs have discussed the importance of developing the right CONTENT for your blogs, tweets, and websites. A few weeks ago I ran across “Top Ten Reasons Why Your Content Marketing Strategy Fails.” It has application in our discussion.
First, the definition: Content marketing is the technique of creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract, acquire, and engage a clearly defined and understood target audience, with the objective of driving profitable customer action.
It’s the creation of great content that attracts customers and prospects, educates them, and potentially engages them in a conversation with you.
TOP 10 REASONS YOUR CONTENT...
OK, Tweeters, here is a living example of a “TinyURL” link. It’ will take you to a terrific article by CopyBlogger on how to create short, impactful “headlines” for your tweets and blogs: http://tinyurl.com/cthkh4
Twitter has become the central source to pass along content you feel might be important to your readers. It has evolved from “what are you doing now?” toward “what would you like to share?”
Even non-Tweeters can immediately see the power of such a vehicle to drive users to your website, or blog, or special offer. But keep in mind that your “headline” is a promise against which you...
I wasn’t going to talk anymore about the social media phenom…but two events today convinced me otherwise.
The first was my friend Jackie Kuehl’s blog: Should I blog, tweet, link, or create a Facebook group? Does anyone really care? http://tinyurl.com/cjkg2u In it she laments that most organizations are quite confused about social media, and attempt to justify or rationalize its use using old tools and old thinking.
That got me thinking about an event about fifteen years ago at a Fortune 100 company where I was a sales and marketing executive. In the early 90’s when websites and the internet were first commercializing,...
I don’t want to appear to be focusing on Twitter as the savior to all things “bloggy”, but I linked to a blog this morning (see link below) that outlined some very relevant information about Twitter and its use as a marketing tool. I couldn’t resist sharing. (I could also share this thru Twitter, by summarizing one point per Tweet, or by summarizing it in about 100 characters and inserting a “tinyurl” linking to the article. But its exposure would suffer as those who NEED to read this aren’t Twittering.)
Here is the scenario: Harvard Business School professor Andrew McAfee lost a bet and...
As a follow-up to yesterday’s blog, let me share a story.
I have been on registered on Twitter (@InfiniTom) for several months now. I originally signed up to gain insight on the phenomenon, and determine if there were business applications to this site.
All well and good. But then something funny happened: I started to obsess on “tweeting” several times a day about whatever was on my mind, and then slowly began to focus on planning my “tweet content” to make me appear overly clever, or supremely hip. Suddenly, my audience became more important, and I tried to solicit “Followers.” I quickly found that “followers”...
Social media is HOT right now. Everybody is talking about Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Digg (among others). Lately I have seen dozens of blogs and articles about how to effectively use social media to give your brand and company visibility. As a marketer like you, here are a few thoughts to ponder as you consider yours social media initiative:
It’s not free. The tools are free, sure. But no social media strategy will succeed without time, resources and expertise. Invest in it and it will pay off.
Being there is not enough. Put up a corporate-speak...
Steve Tobak recently posted an article on BNET that struck a chord with me. As the economy further tightens, more and more companies push new business plans and initiatives up to the board room for discussion and approval. As such, if you are a business unit or division leader, you may be asked to present your plan to the board. I’ve been there. It can be jaw-droppingly terrifying if you have never done so.
Here are a few classic boardroom mistakes (and tips learned) from some of us who have “been there”…
1. Think it’s “no big deal.” The CEO walks into your office and...