Can't wait for next week's big Marketing Edge 2012 in Houston, where I'll be talking trends in social media, mobile marketing, branded games, augmented reality & more!
If you're in the area, this is one event you won't want to miss - not just because of me. Take a look at the great line up here, and get your tickets today.
Is it time to hang up the Mustafa machine for good, for goodness sake?
Old Spice is decking the halls with yet another outing in this aging campaign. And in what has become expected of the Old Spice/W + K partnership, it's another winner.
You know the drill, of course: Old Spice Man delivers personalized video clips to bloggers and other digerati. And this time out, it's all part of a push from Mustafa to bring gifts to all 7 billion people on Earth, one at a time.
Alas, it only feels like he's already done 7 billion videos.
But so far this looks fresh in that it's holiday-centric and will, hopefully expire right around the time the glitter ball descends on Times Square.
I'm a big fan of the campaign - but it needs to be trotted out less often or allowed to go away for a good, long while.
But that's just my view. What's yours?
Should Old Spice Guy rock your world in 2012?
Or does he risk living up to his name?
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I like this video infographic for the state of social medias in 2011.
Admittedly, however, like a lot of these video infographs, its style suggests more than it actually signifies.
For instance, does it really mean much that there are more Facebook users than there our cars? I assume they mean cars in US. And either way, does that mean anything, since the barrier or entry is a click versus tens of thousands of dollars.
And LinkedIn having more users than the population of NYC is cool, but likely includes duplicate and unclosed accounts against a global user base. Likewise, having an account and really using it in a meaningful way are two very different things. That's true of all social media platforms.
And some data points are simply dubious. "More video is uploaded to YouTube in 60 days than the 3 major US networks created in 60 years." What is the definition of "more"? Minutes of content? I'm doubtful even that's true - "created" is different than "broadcast" - and even then, if there are billions of minutes of video that nobody's seen on YouTube, does that mean anything compared to TV content seen and enjoyed by billions and billions of people?
Still there are some fun insights. I am always amused by the lack of adoption for LinkedIn among people over 55. People in that age group are the fastest growing segment of social media users, and yet LinkedIn simply has no appeal to them. Ask anyone that age and they simply do not understand why LinkedIn would be of value, unless they're looking for a job. Just an interesting dynamic for a demographic that's as all-in - maybe more so - than even 18- to 24-year-olds.
Anyway: Some really good stuff, though some of it - like a lot of hype around social media - needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
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Who needs a pop-store when "blog-up" stores get influencers to do the selling for you?
In an effort to promote its new online store, interior design retailer Lagerhaus invited six leading bloggers in the category to create their own storefronts on their blogs using a special app.The bloggers then could invite readers to come meet them at physical world stores.
The results have been spectacular.
The brand's Facebook fans have increased 226%; interactions have surged 360%; and 13,000 readers turned out for a fan-only online store launch.
Needless to say, the blog-up store has become a permanent distribution channel for the brand.
And something tells me other brands will be be joining them soon.
Read more, here.
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Most brands only dream of grassroots publicity like this - but Coca-Cola got it, thanks to Duane Perera of Edmondton, Canada.
The story goes something like this: Dude gets dumped by his girlfriend on the eve of his 30th birthday. So he takes off to see the world, and films his year-long journey to share with friends and fans on YouTube.
Here's the kicker: Each video features Perera drinking Coca-Cola in the exotic locations he visits. We're talking 48 different cities across 36 countries - sparking 400,000 YouTube views.
"I remember going to remote villages in Africa, and Asia, they didn't speak English at all, but they still knew what Coca-Cola was," said Perera in an interview with CTV Edmonton, as by reported Yahoo News.
The cost to Perera: About $27,000 in credit card bills. The cost to Coke: Zip, of course.
Which makes this story amazing - a global icon so universally recognizable, and so beloved, that a guy will travel the world capturing his escapades and the one thing that ties it all together is this ubiquitous brand.
As to be expected these days, Perera is in talks with the company to possibly use video from his adventures in TV spots - which could easily defray his costs - but there's no news yet on a deal.
What's your take?
Should Atlanta deliver a Coke & A Smile? Or say, "So long, sucker"?
Read more, here.
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Some final moments from my recent conversation with Jonathan Becher, SAP's interim CMO.
This time out: His advice for B2B marketers at large companies hoping to make the most of digital marketing and social media - and some important ways social media is being integrated into CRM.
Q&A: JONATHAN BECHER - 'IT'S NOT B2B, IT'S PERSON TO PERSON'
(Approx: 3:36) Audio Link:Download Q&A: Jonathan Becher, SAP CMO, Conclusion
And Don't Miss: Jonathan Becher Pt 1: 'Digital Is Dead'Jonathan Becher Pt 2: Why Top CMOs Don't Get Social Media
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"... AN ESSENTIAL READ ..."
“This is an essential read for those of us tasked with connecting and engaging with the elusive 'I want it right now' generation. Anyone interested in not sucking at their jobs should pick this book up immediately!"
Jordan Atlas
Vice President, Group Creative Director
Digitas
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It's been estimated that only 15 of 143 of the top CMOs and CCOs in the Fortune 100 have active Twitter accounts.
Is it any wonder so many of them don't understand social media?
In part one of my conversation with Jonathan Becher, SAP's interim CMO, we learn about his contention that there is no longer a meaningful distinction between traditional marketing and digital marketing - it's all just marketing.
In part two, I point out that Becher is one of the few top CMOs who are active in social media - and ask whether CMOs can truly understand the new world of marketing if they aren't even involved in it themselves?
Along the way, we'll hear about how SAP is using some of its own solutions to better understand the world of digital marketing.
Q&A: JONATHAN BECHER PT 2: WHY TOP CMOs DON'T GET SOCIAL MEDIA
(Approx 3:17)
Audio Link:
GW Q&A: SAP'S JONATHAN BECHER PT2
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"... AN ESSENTIAL READ ..."
“This is an essential read for those of us tasked with connecting and engaging with the elusive 'I want it right now' generation. Anyone interested in not sucking at their jobs should pick this book up immediately!"
Jordan Atlas
Vice President, Group Creative Director
Digitas
>>> IN STORES NOW - LEARN MORE (AND ORDER YOUR COPY) - HERE <<<
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Yes, you can keep on keeping on with conservative, boring marketing communications. Or you can truly engage business people the way they like to be dazzled in the rest of their lives.
And to hear software giant SAP's interim CMO Jonathan Becher tell it, that's exactly the mindset he's bringing to this global powerhouse's marketing operations, too.
According to Becher, the distinction between B2B and B2C has all but disappeared. So he's out to humanize the brand, and communicate how SAP helps people, not (just) their companies, thrive.
To that end, Becher offers up a more provocative thought - that digital as we know it is "dead."
I went straight to the source to find out more.
Q&A: JONATHAN BECHER PT 1: 'DIGITAL IS DEAD'
Audio Link:GW Q&A: SAP'S JONATHAN BECHER PT1
(Approx 5:25)
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"... AN ESSENTIAL READ ..."
“This is an essential read for those of us tasked with connecting and engaging with the elusive 'I want it right now' generation. Anyone interested in not sucking at their jobs should pick this book up immediately!"
Jordan Atlas
Vice President, Group Creative Director
Digitas
>>> IN STORES NOW - LEARN MORE (AND ORDER YOUR COPY) - HERE <<<
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Pretty cool: THE ON-DEMAND BRAND joins Seth Godin's POKE THE BOX, Guy Kawasaki's ENCHANTMENT, Jay Conrad Levinson's GUERILLA SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING and many others on B2C's 2011 Ultimate Summer Reading List.
I'm honored to be included with these and other great names on the list. I consider this my own must-read list this summer, as well.
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>>> IN STORES NOW - LEARN MORE (AND ORDER YOUR COPY) - HERE <<<
"... AN ESSENTIAL READ ..."
“This is an essential read for those of us tasked with connecting and engaging with the elusive 'I want it right now' generation. Anyone interested in not sucking at their jobs should pick this book up immediately!"
Jordan Atlas
Vice President, Group Creative Director
Digitas
>>> IN STORES NOW - LEARN MORE (AND ORDER YOUR COPY) - HERE <<<
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Part One of last week's special webcast "5 Top Trends to Capitalize on Now," sponsored by The American Marketing Association & Aquent.
First up: Trend #5 - A look at major trends in social media, including possible saturation as the number of people participating in social media begins to plateau and even drop.(View the entire webcast here)
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