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May 30, 2008

How Do You Link Into a Compliment?

Social media is very cool, and we’re still developing “rules” or etiquette to help us manage it. So, here’s a manners question…

How do you get and give recommendations on LinkedIn? Actually, giving them is easy. Someone does a good job for you. You send them a recommendation. Done.  But, is that person supposed to reciprocate with a love note to you?

Hmmm. I’ve seen it work several ways. Most people just send thanks. Some don’t say anything at all. And some return the favor. What’s your experience?

LinkedIn tells you you’re supposed to solicit recommendations – it builds your profile, etc. Unfortunately, asking for recommendations is about the most uncomfortable activity any of us can imagine. It’s a little like steeling up the courage to ask someone out to the seventh grade dance.

And here’s something else to raise your anxiety level…It is possible to edit your recommendation once you’re written it (go to the “Manage Recommendations” page).  As for withdrawing your recommendation, you can do that, too, but … ouch!

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 05:30 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 29, 2008

How We Choos to Spend Our Hard-Earned Dough

 I entered the “Sex and the City Meghan Cleary” shoe contest tonight. What a great idea! Getting women to talk about their shoes! (Yes, it is a very special relationship.)  Here’s my entry:

My most amazing pair of shoes were gorgeous camel boots (do boots count as surgically enhanced shoes?). They were Jimmy Choos and a gift to me for starting a new job. I figured they’d be heirlooms to my daughter if she followed in her mother’s footsteps and stunted all foot growth at size six. These most amazing, most too-young-for-my age back-zippered phenomena were $1,000. Yes, a grand. For shoes. For Choos.

Normally, i never tell my husband how much my shoe collection costs (a Weitzman here, a Jacobs there), but he got suspicious. “Those must be quite some boots,” he commented, trying to pry the pricetag from me. “The delivery guy called and asked if anyone would be home when they arrived.” Damn. Busted.

I offer this confession only to highlight an interesting social media campaign. Otherwise, please keep this information hush-hush. No one needs to know about my addiction. Thank you.

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 05:01 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 28, 2008

Green TInge

Love these examples of "greenwashing" from notcot.com.  if you're going to go green, do so with a commitment. This stuff just doesn't ring true.greenwashing.jpg

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 06:08 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 27, 2008

Social Networking is So Illuminating

You meet the most interesting people through social media networking. While writing a book proposal on the power of social media networks, I posed a question on LinkedIn. 

A light artist named Leni Schwendinger responded, telling me all about how LinkedIn has helped gain contacts and speaking engagements and contacts in the U.S. and internationally. Turns out Leni is a brilliant artist who made a name for herself transforming the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow from (to quote a critic) “a brutal mass of industrial roadway” to “flowing light syncopated with the movement of the river below.” Bravo! She also lit the parachute jump at Coney Island pictured here. Brilliant!

I’m so jazzed to be connected with this artist. Social media networking is amazing.

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(Photos courtesy of the newsletter, "Light Link" and archphoto.com.)

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 04:53 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 23, 2008

The Complaint Dept. is Open from 12:01 to 12:02, M-F

No one likes bad press. But bad press from a search engine really hurts.

Of course the best tactic is to get many, many good articles online to rise above the bad ones. That takes time, though.

Enter a service called Complaint Remover. (Take a look at the pic of the guy with his head in his hands. Oy.) Their method? It’s not particularly scientific. As they state, “The immediate goal of our service is to stop defamation by positioning links on the Search Engines and by appeals to law to remove negative information. We send cease and desist letters and if necessary, file legal actions against the perpetrators and Internet service providers contributing to the unjust defamation of our members.”

Wow. Sounds like a lot of expense and trouble. What do you think? Should you try to remove the bad content or populate with more good? Hmm, what’s a marketer to do?

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 05:41 AM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

May 22, 2008

Happy Bump Day

Did you get your free 3 oz. cup or cone of soft serve from Baskin Robbins today? Oh, sorry, you had to be preggers.

Apparently, B-R is making Wednesdays “bump day,” so if you have a “baby bump,” you get a free ice cream. No pickles.

It’s interesting that ice cream stores are reaching out to this very specific target market. Sure, I understand Babys-R-Us doing a pregnant promo, but why an ice cream store? What’s next? Free ice cream for the pre-menopausal? No thanks, I’ll pass.
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Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 06:23 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 20, 2008

And Now for Something Silly But Funny

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There isn't a lot to say about this ad. It's just funny, but effective.

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 05:09 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 19, 2008

Alice in "I Wonder" Land

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I will always love boing boing. And of course, I like getting my emails from Daily Candy. But i've found a new site for "all things cool" and stiff to really wonder about.  It's called ElitAlice and it's quite eclectic. One day it's all things cute and the next day it's all about being weird. Where else would you find a measuring cup that lets you know the exact volume of the human brain?

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 04:53 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 16, 2008

Cool Stuff to Do When You're Bored

brand-tags-screen-shot-737095.jpgWant to know what people really think of some brands? Check out this cool site called brand tags. Visitors are asked to provide the first words that pop into their heads when they view a particular logo.

For a real eye opener, take a look at Subway and other fast food tags.

(Does it surprise anyone that "gross" rises to the top???)

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 04:48 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 15, 2008

Of SATC as a Lesson in Marketing to Women

If you are female, you probably have May 30 circled in red in your date book or tagged on your Blackberry. Need I tell you that’s the day the Sex and the City movie debuts? Oh pleez, you say, do you think I exist in a cave?

SATC appeals to a wide range of women, from 20 to 40 and beyond. Why? I believe the show taps into its female audience in ways marketers can only hope:

  • The power of friendship – One of my friends said these women would never be close in real life. I beg to differ. How many women have friends who are completely different and still love them? I’d say just about everyone. The show explores the complex nature of our relationships, whether we're infuriated, bitchy or jealous of our friends.
  • It’s never always about our love lives – Romantic relationships can be infuriating. If that’s all we lived for, we’d go nuts. Friendships keep us sane.
  • Life’s not glamorous – Sure, the SATC women prance around with gorgeous clothes and shoes, but their lives aren’t always glam. All have had deep disappointments. SATC is about overcoming life’s nasty bits, even if they’re more frequent than we think we can stomach.
  • Jobs are jobs – Even if you’re a careerist, a job is a job. Have you ever really heard Samantha worry about a public relations gig? And yes, Carrie frets over her columns but she always seems to pound them out without all that much angst. SATC shows us that we can do our jobs very, very well and still have a life.
  • We like to laugh – One of my most memorable nights as an adult woman was laughing so hard with my girlfriends, chardonnay gushed out of my nose. Honest. Laughing at your own travails with a friend is amazingly therapeutic … just like the SATC gals.
  • A shoe is more than a shoe – Yes, it’s a stereotype, but it’s true. A great shoe trumps all. Sorry, it’s a woman thing.

Marketers who can tap into the SATC zeitgeist can have a goldmine. Study it, guys.

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 05:30 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 14, 2008

Not the Internet Generation, But Nevertheless Thoroughly Tied to It

14adco.190.1.jpgI wasn’t born in the time of the Internet. But I learned a lot about it early on… ok, co-opted it and pretended it was first nature to me, when perhaps I am truly a generation or so removed.

Apparently, Pepsi understands me. Have you heard of Tava?  It’s a line of no-calorie, carbonated beverages. It’s not to be confused with Teva, Lava, Kava or just plain java.

Pepsi’s using online to sell Tava. But they’re not targeting the I.M.-ing crowd. They’re targeting older folk who are tied to the Internet for e-mail and all else that the Web makes available. In other words, it’s for those who are hooked to their lap tops and iPhones, but not always for pleasure.

Welcome to my world. Think I need a drink to calm my nerves … ahh, Tava!

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 06:04 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 13, 2008

Stairway to Heaven

samalot_4.jpgThis is why I love boingboing. Where else can I find the prototype for my next staircase? (Of course, if I had a two-story house.) Nevertheless, this staircase is too cool. And don't worry. The handrails are made of the same transparent material as the risers -- they're there, but not there. Lovin' it.

PS: What does this have to do with marketing? Not much, except marketing is cool and so are these stairs! 

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 04:58 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 12, 2008

The Wheel of Blog Publicity

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My friend Ben Singer used to say that the best way to stay ahead in public relations is to put all your key audiences on a giant wheel in your office (you know, shareholder, media, customers, suppliers, etc.). Then, every day you spin that wheel to make sure you’re tending to all their needs. I like this imagery – it tells you what a typical day in the life of a public relations professional is like.

Now, here’s another wheel – the wheel of a blogger. Hans Viens’ article “Secret to Developing a Popular Blog” is brilliant because it simply says you have to tend to all these publics to ensure blog popularity:

1. The blog community channels
2. The authority based channels
3. The social media channels
4. The search based channels
5. The advertisement channels
6. The offline channels


Read the whole article for more explanation. It’s worth it.

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 05:42 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 08, 2008

Silence, Please!

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AEG-Electrolux is erecting giant billboards to monitor noise levels and create a reminder about the perils of noise pollution. Only problem is local school kids are deliberately shouting at the sign to make the numbers change. Not exactly the point, huh?

 Besides the kids' reaction, it's a cool idea.

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 05:57 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 07, 2008

Reading the Resume

Would you hire a marketer with a so-so resume?

I'm not talking the big picture "resume," as in the sum of all that person has done throughout his/her career. I'm talking the actual type and paper resume.

A marketing professor I met today says he asks his students to submit a resume and cover letter on the first day of class. That way, he knows two key things about the person: 1.) their background 2.) their ability to market.  I love this idea!  Great marketers should have outstanding resumes, don't you think?

PS: At the same meeting, another marketing professor, Nance Rosen, handed me her book as her business card. Fantastic! That speaks ... ah-hem...volumes. 

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 05:37 AM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

May 06, 2008

Ain't Blogging Grand?

  
Ain't blogging grand? So, I'm still obsessing about this proposal for a business blogging book, looking for something new. And, along comes Vikram Deo, who sends me a link to his blog, "Not Another Mobile Phone Blog!" I love this title because it acknowledges that in today's blogging world, you have to stand out.

Anyway, Vikram told me some great reasons why he blogs. And his blog isn't bad either. It confirms my theory that blogging from a niche is the only way to go.

"Not Another" is interesting to read. It has a great post on the Ericsson Berta, a big and bulky 4G mobile device. It certainly doesn't look like my slim little iPhone. But apparently it's powerful. The Berta can reach super high speeds and I guess come damn close to replacing that ridiculous desktop you've got in the office.

Very cool and very interesting...thanks Vikram. You clearly have a passion for your blogging. Ain't blogging grand?

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Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 05:46 AM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

May 05, 2008

Now Cut that Out

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This one’s fun from Rethink Communications in Canada. And after a while, a guy with a chain saw was hired to actually cut the coupon out. Very clever. Very performance arty.

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 06:18 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 02, 2008

Serious Blogging...Seriously

533267369_21815683be.jpgSo, I’ve been asked to write a book on blogging for your business (well, it’s a proposal for a book on blogging – if you are familiar with the 'hurry up and wait' world of publishing, you know how that goes).

Anyway, I’m trying to make it different from the bizillion books on business blogging already cramming store shelves. My first step was to put out some questions on discussion boards, asking why blogging was good for their business. Most of the answers were decent – speaking engagements, fortune (yeah, right) and decent exposure to key audiences at a great price.

My next question was more pointed. I asked, “How do you measure blogging success?” Now, here’s the kicker – very few people had a real answer. Most responses were basically, “I like to think people are having a good time reading it.”

So, here’s my thesis … blogging for your business should be taken seriously. Start with a real life marketing plan, invest the time and measure, measure, measure. Resist the urge to post a picture of your cat (ah hem, THAT's not my cat). This is your livelihood folks.

Any ideas from you about what to tell the nascent business blogger?

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 06:37 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 01, 2008

Eek, a Mouse

080429_CB_disneyEXXL.jpgSo, after my daughter and I had a discussion about Miley Cyrus and why she probably shouldn’t have done those now infamous photos in Vanity Fair, I chanced upon this. Ugh. The whole story is described in Slate (and yes, they, too, mention the whole Cyrus/Disney flap).

According to the story, Disney licenses its brand to a whole host of contractors in China. Guess this contractor didn’t get the branding manual of “do’s” and “don’ts” from the Mouse. Yes, it’s a completely skin-crawling picture. But marketers beware … this could be your brand when you’re not keeping your eye on the ball.

Posted by Susan C. Solomon at 06:42 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)


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