Blogs aren't the only online tools being used to communicate and connect with colleagues, customers, and almost everyone else with Internet access, as this week's BusinessWeek reports.
The article touches on Facebook, YouTube, and other phenomena that are reshaping social connections and forcing marketers to rethink strategy and tactics from the bottom up. BusinessWeek's previous article on blogs, written in 2005, needed updating and the magazine did that from the bottom up, as well--and the resulting article is a must-read for every marketer.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Stand Up To Cancer
"This is where the end of cancer begins" is the tag line of the Stand Up To Cancer movement, supported by a "roadblock" ABC/CBS/NBC telethon broadcast on Sept. 5th.
With all the good publicity plus traditional advertising support, I hope this movement attracts lots of donations and achieves its goals very soon. I'll be checking on the site from time to time to see who'll be on the telethon and how much is being raised (count me in).
With all the good publicity plus traditional advertising support, I hope this movement attracts lots of donations and achieves its goals very soon. I'll be checking on the site from time to time to see who'll be on the telethon and how much is being raised (count me in).
Monday, May 26, 2008
It's B2B Time
Today's feature is B2B marketing, where a lot of money is spent influencing business buyers who ultimately influence consumer behavior. Here are a few links to interesting B2B sites, blogs, news, and info:
- BtoB (magazine, blogs, news feeds covering B2B marketing and media--especially helpful for thinking about specific tactics)
- BizReport.com (useful tips for business and consumer marketing via blogs, social networking, viral marketing, mobile marketing, and more)
- Emagine B2B Web strategy (an interesting and worthwhile blog about, well, B2B Web strategy--for a big-picture view)
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Honey, please don't go
Haagen-Dazs just started running an ad campaign titled "Honey, please don't go" to publicize the problem of disappearing honey bees and a tie-in with the company's new Vanilla Honey Bee Ice Cream. The microsite is worth a look for aesthetic reasons as well as for "save the planet" reasons.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Social Sustainability
Thanks to Tim, for drawing my attention to social sustainability, which blends environmental protection, economic prosperity, and social equity. Here's the World Bank's approach to this critical issue.
Fair Trade (coffee, cocoa, etc.) seems to be one of the ways businesses move toward social sustainability goals. Tomorrow is the "World's Largest Coffee Break" starring Fair Trade coffee and other everyday items. That's a great marketing idea!
Fair Trade (coffee, cocoa, etc.) seems to be one of the ways businesses move toward social sustainability goals. Tomorrow is the "World's Largest Coffee Break" starring Fair Trade coffee and other everyday items. That's a great marketing idea!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Does Sustainability Make Business Sense?
Sustainability has to do with meeting the objectives of businesses and their customers today without compromising the ability of future generations to achieve their own objectives. But is sustainability good business?
Barbara Kux, a Royal Philips Electronics exec, says "we try to position the whole sustainability issue as a business opportunity. Our energy-efficient lighting, for example: this is the kind of technology that is key for developing markets, because it cuts the CO2 factor." Her answer in an INSEAD interview, in other words, is that sustainability makes good business sense.
More companies are publishing sustainability progress reports and more research is being done in this area. Take a look at The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire for the latest.
The answer is "yes" for mighty Wal-Mart, which believes that "efficient and profitable business and being a good steward of the environment are goals that can work together." Here's its sustainability home page.
Barbara Kux, a Royal Philips Electronics exec, says "we try to position the whole sustainability issue as a business opportunity. Our energy-efficient lighting, for example: this is the kind of technology that is key for developing markets, because it cuts the CO2 factor." Her answer in an INSEAD interview, in other words, is that sustainability makes good business sense.
More companies are publishing sustainability progress reports and more research is being done in this area. Take a look at The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire for the latest.
The answer is "yes" for mighty Wal-Mart, which believes that "efficient and profitable business and being a good steward of the environment are goals that can work together." Here's its sustainability home page.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Turn off text spam
According to the Washington Post, American cell phone users will receive 1.5 billion spam text messages this year. Some are phishing messages, some are penny stock promotions (as MSNBC notes), and some are porno come-ons.
Ever hear of a legitimate marketer using this technique without first getting the recipient's permission? Me either. Of course, unsolicited text and cell phone contacts are illegal because the recipient has to pay for the privilege of being pitched some dubious offer.
What to do about text spam? Here's how one user got rid of it on her AT&T phone. And here's how a Verizon subscriber got rid of it. Turn off that spam!
Ever hear of a legitimate marketer using this technique without first getting the recipient's permission? Me either. Of course, unsolicited text and cell phone contacts are illegal because the recipient has to pay for the privilege of being pitched some dubious offer.
What to do about text spam? Here's how one user got rid of it on her AT&T phone. And here's how a Verizon subscriber got rid of it. Turn off that spam!