So yeah, the going has been good.The expectations are high from the year ahead. While experts are speculating that ‘web’ would keep making inroads into an average marketer’s life.The so called smart marketers will capitalize on the growing appeal of social networks.

Whether you call it as 3.0 or something else, one would witness rise in popularity as well as growth of new social networks.The whole philosophy of relationships via social networks would diversify into three key categories. So one would see an average users shuffling between their friendly relationships, family relationships and business relationships.While Facebook would be there for Friends, Linkedin for Business users there’s a possibilty of third alternative whether it is Ancestory or Kindo occupying a major role in 2008.Interestingly Kindo has been a bit of revelation since its emergence and is currently available in 12 regional languages including Arabic.

Whew !!With amazing features like Celebrity family trees the feature is promising for Kindo. Okay on this note, I bid you bye-bye for now. Enjoy the festive season, network with your friends, colleagues and family on networks like Kindo.

Sadly, the M Awards have come and gone and we have come up empty-handed…

Although Amanda and I had a great time overall, my company’s B2B Integrated Marketing Campaign was passed over in favor of a company whose name I have never heard of. In all fairness though, with the level of local marketing star-power that showed up last night, I would have been shocked if anyone knew of my company, either.

The evening was not a total loss, though. It appears we have found a few patterns that, like real awards shows, are too good not to do a post-game on.

1) At Marketing Awards Shows, No One Cares Who You Are…It’s Who You Work For

One of the more interesting phenomenon Amanda and I witnessed was the fact that, at the reception, no one looked at your face – only your nametag. If they didn’t recognize the company, or realized they couldn’t sell you anything, you really didn’t exist.

2) Like The Movies, Independent Marketers Have an Uphill Battle

Only one independent company had a stand-out campaign last night. The rest were large marketing and communications firms with budgets big enough to drown an elephant. The moral of the story, unless you have a campaign with a completely out-there concept, it’s a bit of a one-sided competition.

3) Just Because We’re Marketers, It Doesn’t Mean We’re Organized

Lastly, the glitz and the glamour of these awards apparently succumb to the fact that not everyone can be an awards-show host. In fact, the evening went about as smoothly as the Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at Disney World with the awards having to be given out actually during the dinner. This proves once again that there is a fine line between marketing and operations.

In the end, re didn’t win but at least it was an honor to be a finalist. That and you can usually appeal for the winner’s free drink tickets, which can help you drown the shame of your looserdom.

This just in: an integrated marketing campaign my department took on in 2006 has just been declared a finalist in the annual AMA-DC M Awards.

The campaign, dubbed RIGHT SIZE SOLUTIONS, was designed to leverage multiple medium (yes, including podcasts) in order to shift perceptions about our companies’ products and services. Apparently, the results were enough to get us into the top 3 of the Best B2B Integrated Marketing Campaign of 2006 category.

This means that this Thursday, I will be taking the show on the road to podcast from the M Awards.

Now…all that’s left to do is figure out what to wear!

Robin “Kheperah” Kearse, sits down to talk about how she and her partner, Chris “Kazi” Rolle are changing the lives of New York City youth and charting a new course for hip hop culture, away from the destructive and towards the expressive.

Also, another OwenBloggers report from Vanderbilt-Owen Welcome Weekend.

The Hip Hop Project opens in selected theatres, May 11th – Get some friends, go see it and be amazed at the experience!

Referenced Links:

• Hip Hop Project: The Movie
• iTunes: Music from the Hip Hop Project

Listen To Episode:

Download audio file (20SMF65.mp3)

Download Episode:

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I have to admit that even though I virtually eat, sleep and breathe marketing at this point; the allure of business school has taken hold of me like a buffet from which you want to take a bite out of everything. Lucky for me, these kinds of sentiments are apparently really common for incoming students but I wanted to share a really interesting experience from Vanderbilt-Owen’s welcome weekend a couple of weeks ago.

In a breakout session about the Marketing & Brand Management Track, the professor took out a case study to give us an idea of what a normal marketing class feels like. Suffice to say that my creativity was shot at that moment and I had a difficult time getting out of the B2B “silo” that I have been in for the last four years.

As you can imagine, this kind of took me by surprise because as a marketer, my initial response was to dig for more information. In a case however, you really can’t dig, you have to take what the story gives you and find a solution based solely off of that information.

I doubt this will be enough to throw me off a marketing track but it has given me a new perspective on reading business cases and applying what I know, internally in a B2B setting, externally to a B2C scenario. Next time you are reading the Wall Street Journal, or any other business publication, try to examine an article from a different perspective and see how it changes your approach to problems in your own “silo.”

I have Ms. Maynard to thank for this one so if you have sec, go over to the Maven’s site and tell her how much you apreciate the tips on manscaping.

Here we go (and in case you aren’t at the “special table” like us, here’s how it works.

1. What is a secret that you’ve never told anyone about?

In an attempt to get a really high-profile job, I once stalked the interviewer. We’re talking to the point where I staked out a cocktail party I wasn’t invited to just so I could say “hello” and ask her if she had made a decision. It wasn’t pretty.

2. You have a budget with absolutely no limit. Now put on your most creative and wild idea hat. What would you do to market yourself?

I would probably have to say something to do with a multi-city Disney-style parade where performers did song and dance numbers about my accomplishments. Note, this blog entry probably wouldn’t be mentioned.

3. What is the most unusual term that people regularly use to find your blog?

Weird Cat….yeah, I know – bugs the hell out of me that I can’t understand why….I think is has something to do with this photo….

4. If you could interview one fictional character on your blog, who would it be and why?

Foamy the squirrel. Why? Because he’s a bitchy squirrel who likes bagels and coffee, c’mon!

5. What is your favorite website to visit?

I hate to say this but my favorite site is actually a slew of web-comics, most notably Least I Could Do. They’re a great escape from, you know, working.

And because blog-tag wouldn’t be geeky without passing on the fun…

• Daksh, over at his blog
• Brian, over at Copyblogger
• The good people at Metroblogging-DC
• Nillo from Nillo’s Night
• and John at Duct Tape Marketing

…Tag, You’re all it…now I am going to go frollic in the snow like a giddy school-kid. Oh wait, it hasn’t snowed yet. Damn it!

Direct mail is still supposed to be one of the most effective ways of reaching your audience. In business-to-business settings, we also know that this reliance is also turning up the heat for marketers to attempt new and innovative ways of using this medium.For example, take a direct mail piece that was sent by our good friends over at an industry news site.

They thoughtfully sent us a 3’ x 2’ poster board mock-up of what our potential ads would look like if we took advantage of the ad space on their homepage. Unfortunately for them, their ad space is way to pricey but at least we now know why.

Because this announcement has such broad implications for 20-somethings (c’mon, what 20-something doesn’t want a new cell phone every other month?), though I will not be drooling over my keyboard from 12 PM – 2 PM EST, I will be providing some analysis on the next show. Perhaps I’ll even dish out a second post towards the end of the day if the reactions are really that spectacular.

Before the unveiling, I do have one thing to say about putting such a “killer product” on the market; If Henry Ford taught us anything about quality, its that it is produced from those who seek to specialize their trade and dedicated themselves to the quality of that one specialty.

Jobs might be able to pack all the neat tricks he wants to into this new iPhone (or whatever its going to be called) but don’t be surprised if its quality as a phone is on par with or below that of other “smart phones” (e.g. the Treo).

It’s consumerism versus quality, folks. I love my iPod as much as the next yuppie urbanite but there is a line between buying a product for its functionality and buying a product just because everyone else has it.

Apple has built what can only be described as a brand that all other marketers seek to replicate. It’s so strong, that even the hint of a new product creates demand for it. We’ll just have to see if it performs half as well as we want it to.

Whether they are personal or for the good of humanity, here are the things I would like to see happen in 2007:

#6 – Reduce My Dependence on Coffee 40%

“Why 40%,” you ask? No particular reason but having the local Caribou coffee guys ask me how my day went is getting a bit creepy.

#5 – Go to the Gym At Least One More Time a Week

Obligatory but essential for this time of year. It also fits in with the “One More Inch” resolution you will hear about on this week’s show.

#4 – See Many Large Safes Dropped On Certain Flaming Queens in Dupont Circle.

For every one of my limp-wristed brethren who blocks the sidewalk on 17th street chatting with their ‘girlfriend’ about the latest fashion trend they had to take out a 3rd credit card to pay for, I think some serious cartoon-style karma is in order.

C’mon….you know you’ve thought of it, too.

#3 – Get My Boss on the Show

Now that he knows I am safely on my way to other projects, let’s see if we can’t broker some sort of détente on my professional agenda. I know you all think I am making him up but I need to share some of my neurotic muse for this show. It will be the most hilarious edition of the show, ever – I am telling you.

#2 – Select the “Right” Business School

Not like this is a huge deal but I now that I have been accepted into more than one school, it would stand to reason that the fun of MBA Spin doesn’t have to stop quite yet.

And the #1 thing I hope will happen in 2007:

#1 – Less Relationships, More Nookie

Umm….yeah, this one is going to take some explaining but for now, see this Least I Could Do web-comic. (you might have to go back and forth a couple of strips to get the full meaning.)

Also, as I mention, I do hold regular “Skype Office Hours” M-F, 8 AM – 5 PM. Feel free to hit me up with questions, etc:

SkypeName: marketingforum

Show Notes:

• A Bit About My Boss
• Contest: 2006 Best Boss/Upward Management Awards
• Adventures in Cell Phone Strategy in Algeria (No, Seriously…Algeria)

Referenced Links:

• 2006 Best Boss/Upward Management Awards – ENTER TODAY!!!
• TalkShoe – Join In The Fun – Next Wed @ 7:30 PM EST

Podcast:

Download audio file (20SMF54.mp3)

• Right Click Here And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

Subscribe Via iTunes| Subscribe Via Yahoo! | Send Us E-Mail

If you are Deltasig or just love leather business accessories, check them out here:

As an added bonus, every purchase will help to go to keep this show on the air!

Normally, there is no shortage of token corporate birthday greetings from companies who want to nourish a relationship with you. Sometimes they even send you something cool like a free coffee coupon (Thanks Caribou!). This year, however, something came in the e-mail that I want to share with you.

I have often stated that Cirque du Soleil is the best example out there of integrated marketing and once again, they blow me away. I opened my e-mail and instead of just a birthday one-liner they ask me to open up a flash link that entertains be for about a minute with a cute paper airplane that magically sweeps past cirque characters to the soundtrack of one of their shows.

When the paper airplane finally arrives at your feet, it magically unfolds to reveal this:

click image for larger view

Just take a look at it! Its simple, its beautiful and somehow they manage to interweave their marketing spiel into a birthday greeting. I want to just hug the creative mind that thought this up.

Wendy over at Kenises was spot on when she shared her thoughts that birthday greetings are an easy-simple way to keep up customer relations. Cirque takes it one more step to reinforce a unique brand characteristic and show that even though it’s an old customer tactic, hey can still inspire in the oldest of customer relationship tactics.

Thanks Cirque, (and thanks Mom;)) for the birthday wishes!

Fiona Grant of Accenture Consulting highlights resume, interview and search strategies for GLBT and Ally job seekers.

The second in a 20SM-produced series from the Out for Work Conference in Washington, D.C..

The first in a 20SM-produced series from the Out for Work Conference in Washington, D.C.. This keynote presentation by Kirk Snyder, author of the “G” Quotient and Lavender Road to Success outlines the new rules for GLBT success in the workplace.

Show Notes:

• Be Out, Be Proud, Be Successfull
• OFW Keynote: Kirk Snyder – The New Rules For GLBT Success

Referenced Links:

TalentZoo.com, of which this podcast is an affiliate, published an article from Lani Hayward, the EVP of Creative Strategies for Umpqua Bank. Here is an exerpt:

Marketing isn’t what you think it is. It’s no longer company-directed ads, billboards and brochures. Instead, it’s about the customer experience – authentic, compelling connections between a brand and the consumer. Experiences that engage, intrigue and satisfy.

See the full article here

This is possibly the BEST article on the new reality of marketing. All I can say is read it, learn it – LOVE IT!

• You need to create a campaign around uping the usage of a particular online tool
• Your audience is computer-literate, but can’t be considered technology savvy
• Your education costs are low since you already have in-house audio, video and Webinar capabilities
• Ultimatley, your client wants a non-traditional direct mail piece that will de-mystify the product and pull the audience through to actually use the tool.
• Your Budget: $5,000

If you could be as creative as you wanted to be – how would you spend that money?

Show Notes
- What does the new season have in store?
- Marketing Clips From a VA Kmart
- MBA Spin: Mentally Surviving The GMAT

Referenced Links
Recommended GMAT Prep -The Official Guide for GMAT Review

Podcast:

Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

Show Notes:
I) Feelin’ hot, hot hot!
II) Interview: Alissa Friedman, Marketing Manager – AG Adriano Goldschmied
III) Game Plan:Professional Development Sessions

Referenced Links:
AG Adiriano Goldschmied – Really Great Jeans
Podsafe Music:
Silent Service – Hot Bods

Podcast:

Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

Show Notes:
I) Grassroots Organizing
II) A Skypecast Of One….Or Two
III) Game Plan: A ‘Portrait’ of a Nation

Referenced Links:
John Dawe Consulting – www.daweconsulting.com
John’s MySpace Page – www.myspace.com/rocket12ps
Northeastern PA Rainbow Alliance – www.gaynepa.com
Dave Mooney For CT State Representative – www.votemooney.com

Podcast:

Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

Ultimately, the shift is an attempt to make the Ritz brand a bit less stodgy. It calls upon employees to do more “thinking for themselves” in order to adapt to the younger, hipper “blackberry and jeans” business traveler.

As a former student of hospitality I can see why they are doing this. In essence, it comes down to how you serve someone. For instance, U.S. waiters are taught that you only serve from the guests left – allowing for the fact that most people are right handed. What happens when the guest is either left handed or is actually engaged in conversation with someone on their left? Serving the plate in that manner might actually be considered rude.

That’s what the Ritz is doing here; promoting the thought that every service rule doesn’t always apply to every situation.

Of course we can’t do this for every prospect in marketing but we can think about it in terms of debunking typical rules. For instance, the idea that every prospect is completely internet illiterate may alienate you from the 20% that you need to make 80% of your profits.

My line for Friday is this – if you have to think in terms of service, think of how the prospect would want to be served, not just how you would like to be.

1) Send your friends, family, (in)significant others, co-workers, dogs, cats, gerbils, reptiles and any other entity with an IP address to http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/surveybk.php?2) Scroll about 1/3rd of the way down to “Marketing to a specific consumer demographic (ie. women, Hispanics),” 3) Vote “Excellent” For 20SomethingMarketing.com!4) Feel good that you are advancing 20-something content across the web!Your support is incredibly valuable to me and will allow us to bring even bigger and better content to you!

Show Notes:
I) Intro The Diner
II) Condo Sales, Bouncy Balls
III) Effective Web Strategies
IV) Just Deserts: Websites Are Like Sandwiches…Or Strawberry Shortcake

Referenced Links:
[The Marketing Diner] – The new show
Weigh in on the new show!Send your comments and thoughts….like, now people! Don’t Wait!

Podcast:

Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

Show Notes:
I) How cool is “that?”
II) ‘Bottom’s Up,’ pandadogs and other things that irritate us
III) A.B.M. Theory (Another Bloody Mailing)
IV) Game Plan: Can’t we all just get along

Referenced Links:
The Coolhunt Article by Malcolm GladwellGreat points about fashion from my personal hero
[The Marketing Diner] – The new show! Get it today!
20SMF Listener Survey –Take Our Listener Survey

Podcast:

Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

or…send to your mobile phone:

Well, since GEEK is now spelled C-H-I-C and those kids are all grown up (sort of) – and we’re ready to serve up some revenge, marketing style!

INTRODUCING MY NEW SHOW – THE MARKETING DINER:

Synopsis:

I have teemed up with marketing blogger wild-child, Wendy Maynard for a new show where we toss up top-of-mind trends, addictive marketing ideas and preside over a veritable marketing food fight every episode.

If you like 20-Something Marketing (which, is going no where mind you), and you’re ready to see a whole new side of it – this show will blow you away!

Click Here For a Preview

Or….

Click Here To Subscribe To The Show on iTunes!

Show Notes:
I) Intro, Welcome to New Listeners From Talent Zoo
II) My Made Up Fable
III) Marketing News
IV) The Frustration of Services Marketing
V) Game Plan: Try Relaxing…I Hear Its Good For You

Referenced Links:
DCBuzz Kick Off Party Pictures – See What The Buzz Was About!
TalentZoo.com – Our New Career & Broadcast Partner
20SMF Listener Survey –Take Our Listener Survey

Podsafe Music:
Jody Byrd – In The Doing

Podcast:

Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

or…send to your mobile phone:

The big picture is something every marketer is concerned with. Though we sometimes take a microscopic view of our various messages, ultimately we want them to add up to one large picture that our audience has in their minds.

When work gets rough, we tend to over-manage those messages and drive our audience crazy. In the spirit of Memorial Day Weekend (thank g-d!), the Friday line is this; relax and see what taking your foot off the gas does every once in a while

In the words of Ethel Merman:

You work,
You save,
You worry so
But you can’t take your dough
When you go, go, go

So keep repeating “It’s the berries.”
The strongest oak must fall
The sweet things in life
To you were just loaned
So how can you lose
What you’ve never owned

Life is just a bowl of cherries
So live and laugh,
Laugh and love
Live and laugh at it all!

So keep repeating “It’s the berries.”
The strongest oak must fall
The sweet things in life
To you were just loaned
So how can you lose
What you’ve never owned

Life is just a bowl of cherries
So live and laugh, aha!
Laugh and love
Live and laugh,
Laugh and love,
Live and laugh at it all

]]> http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/the-friday-line-its-the-berries-stupid/feed/ 0 http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/20smf-episode-39-the-state-of-the-20-something-part-ii/ http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/20smf-episode-39-the-state-of-the-20-something-part-ii/#comments Thu, 25 May 2006 12:37:26 +0000 Jared http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/20smf-episode-39-the-state-of-the-20-something-part-ii/ Show Description:
The work-life survey results are in! Part II of the State of the 20-Something finds us picking up with the quantitative analysis of 20-somethings including what they look for in a boss, what drives them, and the lessons they say they learned in life!

Show Notes:
I) Recap of Part I
II) Analysis of Work-Life Survey Respondents
III) Lifestyle – Work Hard; Play Hard
IV) Working Styles & What We Look For In Bosses
V) Game Plan: What we learned in the first year or so of our jobs

Referenced Links:
TalentZoo.com – Our New Career & Broadcast Partner
20SMF Listener Survey –Take Our Listener Survey

Podsafe Music:
Daniel Link – 4 AM Slam Over Coffee
Podcast:

Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

or…send to your mobile phone:

]]> http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/20smf-episode-39-the-state-of-the-20-something-part-ii/feed/ 0 http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/the-friday-line-marketing-ethics/ http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/the-friday-line-marketing-ethics/#comments Fri, 19 May 2006 13:04:27 +0000 Jared http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/the-friday-line-marketing-ethics/ There is something you should know; I hate Starbucks!

I hate the overpriced coffee that tastes like scorched clay, I hate their retail strategy that essentially prices out smaller, privately owned coffee shops from prime locations and I hate the yuppie culture it inspires. The only thing I even remotely “like” about Starbucks is that provides so much fodder for this marketing blog!

So, given my polarizing views of the coffee giant, imagine my dismay when I wandered into the office break room to see the McPaper (otherwise known as USA Today)featuring Starbuck’s transformation of American culture as its cover story!

Beyond java and the occasional baked good, the story explains, Starbucks is trying to branch into every facet of the entertainment industry. Well that’s just great. Starbucks has found its niche as the purveyor of high class for the masses! Beyond the obvious implications of diversifying a product line, though Starbucks may be able to do this, should they?

I assume that at some point, some columnist wrote about this type of conundrum during the rise of TV and TV Ads, but where does marketing stop playing off of culture and start replacing it?

With its massive retail distribution strategy, Starbucks can essentially dictate trends and influence consumer entertainment just by promoting one artist or medium over another. The sad thing is that by virtue of the  “Starbucks Lifestyle” marketing tactic, many people will accept these dictated trends, without question.

This illustrates the rising power of marketing and raises some serious questions about how far we should go in trying to influence our audience.

Personally, I tend to try to focus on the individual in my marketing. I try to understand and promote their own vision of themselves through copy and imagery that asks questions and lets them fill in their own image of themselves.

Starbucks forces upon people a clean, no-fuss culture of coffee, style…and now art. Should we let Starbucks now replace our art galleries and other venues of cultural collaboration or should we start to ask some serious questions of marketing and the application of ethics?

]]> http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/the-friday-line-marketing-ethics/feed/ 0 http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/episode-38-the-creative-breakdown-episode/ http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/episode-38-the-creative-breakdown-episode/#comments Thu, 18 May 2006 12:41:34 +0000 Jared http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/episode-38-the-creative-breakdown-episode/ Show Description:
Thrown about by the undertow of my manic schedule, I’m forced into a creative breakdown….and I’m taking the show with me. Topics include Top Chef, wedging the Gen X/Mellanial Gap and why creativity doesn’t always run in the family.

Show Notes:
I) State of the 20-Something (Part II) to come next week
II) Top Chef, Kennmore

Referenced Links:

Podcast:

Right Click And ‘Save As’ To Download Full Show

or…send to your mobile phone:

]]> http://20somethingmarketing.com/2006/marketing/episode-38-the-creative-breakdown-episode/feed/ 2