There is a resurgence of behavior that has been ongoing since cave drawings were the latest new gadget.
What’s fascinating about the videos on YouTube or MySpace TV is the countless pieces of crap that receive thousands of hits. Or the embarrassing auditions on reality shows such as American Idol or Last Comic Standing. Seriously, what are people thinking? Do they not have true friends who tell them the truth? You can’t dance, you can’t sing, you aren’t funny.
Wait, perhaps my friends aren't tellin' me the truth? Right. Duly noted.
Anyone with a modicum of interest begs for a creative outlet and attention. Andy Warhol coined the phrase nicely. We want to be noticed, to make a difference and the potential fame that may be attached is almost secondary.
What’s clear is there is a lot of talent in the world that deserves an outlet. Perhaps not in the form of pudding fights on websites, but that behavior may be a window to something else – some other talent dormant below.
I marvel at the craft required to create slick joke emails. These are not simple text messages; some include embedded video content and Photoshop treatments.
So the next time you feel the urge to film your buddy while he gets a hockey stick in the goolies, think about creative and money making ways to use your talents as a budding filmmaker in the real world. Just a thought.
Happy Friday!
km
May 30, 2008
May 28, 2008
Imagine • Create • Share
Yesterday I mentioned I would explain while I still love radio. I had no idea my day today would have fit nicely in line with that plan.
You’ve done it. You have a million ideas and only space for a few words. A client asked me for a one-page report and that’s the time my brain decides to kick into overdrive. Could I just get to it, jot down some points and move on?
The old cliché still rings true – I sent you a long answer, because I didn’t have time to write you a short one. It takes time to work your message to the essence of its intention.
I love crisp clever writing because of the content but I also appreciate the effort required to pull it off.
The reason I still love radio is the same reason I love a writer who can coin the phrase and make me think. Social networking allows us to imagine, create, and share. Radio can still do that as well. Most think radio is about music and free stuff. It’s so much more than that, or at least it can be.
A friend emailed me today and has allowed me to include some of her note here…
“Hey dude, I remember when I was a kid, there was this guy who worked late nights and would play the coolest music and talk about stuff I cared about. I didn’t care that the station was playing ten songs in a row or that the morning show was at some event, I connected with that person on the radio while I was studying for exams”.
That’s my short answer.
km
You’ve done it. You have a million ideas and only space for a few words. A client asked me for a one-page report and that’s the time my brain decides to kick into overdrive. Could I just get to it, jot down some points and move on?
The old cliché still rings true – I sent you a long answer, because I didn’t have time to write you a short one. It takes time to work your message to the essence of its intention.
I love crisp clever writing because of the content but I also appreciate the effort required to pull it off.
The reason I still love radio is the same reason I love a writer who can coin the phrase and make me think. Social networking allows us to imagine, create, and share. Radio can still do that as well. Most think radio is about music and free stuff. It’s so much more than that, or at least it can be.
A friend emailed me today and has allowed me to include some of her note here…
“Hey dude, I remember when I was a kid, there was this guy who worked late nights and would play the coolest music and talk about stuff I cared about. I didn’t care that the station was playing ten songs in a row or that the morning show was at some event, I connected with that person on the radio while I was studying for exams”.
That’s my short answer.
km
May 27, 2008
Radio 2008
Anyone who knows me knows I still love radio. It’s why I still do radio stuff among other things.
My love has nothing to do with seventeen of you’re at-work soft rock favorites and the joke-of-the-day.
It has nothing to do with my chance this hour to qualify for the chance to get in on the draw to be selected to qualify for the qualifying prize to the party where I may be one of five people selected to go into the grand prize finale.
I am not waiting to hear the sound of the barking dog and I am not lured by someone telling me they play more music, harder music, louder music, the best music, the right variety or today’s perfect music mix of yesterday, today and last week.
These days, radio is simply not part of some people’s lives. There’s no way of anyone actually quantifying that because the radio ratings’ system is about as random as the price of mini-bar items in the hotel room.
My dad is a marvel. He’s 70 and just as hooked up as people half his age. I often use him as an example when I’m taking to clients or colleagues about demographics. He has his mp3s, video games, regular websites, gadgets and he’s set. He controls his environment.
My dad's second wife and his own son are in the media, and I think he'd be hard pressed to remember the last time he listen to radio.
The jukebox of 40 years ago is not enough to satisfy a fickle wired group that views radio as clunky vs. a sexy 160GB hard drive with WiFi and a video screen that fits on a belt holster.
So why am I still enamored with radio?
That's next time.
km
My love has nothing to do with seventeen of you’re at-work soft rock favorites and the joke-of-the-day.
It has nothing to do with my chance this hour to qualify for the chance to get in on the draw to be selected to qualify for the qualifying prize to the party where I may be one of five people selected to go into the grand prize finale.
I am not waiting to hear the sound of the barking dog and I am not lured by someone telling me they play more music, harder music, louder music, the best music, the right variety or today’s perfect music mix of yesterday, today and last week.
These days, radio is simply not part of some people’s lives. There’s no way of anyone actually quantifying that because the radio ratings’ system is about as random as the price of mini-bar items in the hotel room.
My dad is a marvel. He’s 70 and just as hooked up as people half his age. I often use him as an example when I’m taking to clients or colleagues about demographics. He has his mp3s, video games, regular websites, gadgets and he’s set. He controls his environment.
My dad's second wife and his own son are in the media, and I think he'd be hard pressed to remember the last time he listen to radio.
The jukebox of 40 years ago is not enough to satisfy a fickle wired group that views radio as clunky vs. a sexy 160GB hard drive with WiFi and a video screen that fits on a belt holster.
So why am I still enamored with radio?
That's next time.
km
May 24, 2008
It Worked Yesterday
I’m working with a group that has worked very hard for a lot of years to build a highly respected company. It’s a group that knows that reputation and past successes are only a reference point. They are constantly searching for ways to improve, find new customers and new opportunities, while taking care of their existing client base.
The most dangerous strategy any company, venture or individual can adopt is to stand still. If you stop, you will have about five seconds to brace yourself for oncoming traffic.
Someone will take you out.
If you own a company or brand that has hit the tipping point, I congratulate you wholeheartedly. Building something from scratch is a process that is filled with surprises, challenges, victories and snags.
Years ago in a meeting, a colleague was staring out a window. I asked what was wrong. They looked at me and said, “They blinked”. We were working to become a better US, not a second-rate THEM. In the process, we caused THEM to climb down their hill and try to attack ours.
They were built on sand, we were built on concrete. But above our foundation was a veracious desire to improve today what we had built yesterday. The old adage still rings true – it’s harder to stay #1 then it is to get there.
If you want an easy example; look to the music and television industries. In the search for the next big thing many hope they copy the right competitor and win in the process.
Obviously that is an oversimplification. But if that is your tactic, good luck with that. Let me know how it works out for ya.
km
The most dangerous strategy any company, venture or individual can adopt is to stand still. If you stop, you will have about five seconds to brace yourself for oncoming traffic.
Someone will take you out.
If you own a company or brand that has hit the tipping point, I congratulate you wholeheartedly. Building something from scratch is a process that is filled with surprises, challenges, victories and snags.
Years ago in a meeting, a colleague was staring out a window. I asked what was wrong. They looked at me and said, “They blinked”. We were working to become a better US, not a second-rate THEM. In the process, we caused THEM to climb down their hill and try to attack ours.
They were built on sand, we were built on concrete. But above our foundation was a veracious desire to improve today what we had built yesterday. The old adage still rings true – it’s harder to stay #1 then it is to get there.
If you want an easy example; look to the music and television industries. In the search for the next big thing many hope they copy the right competitor and win in the process.
Obviously that is an oversimplification. But if that is your tactic, good luck with that. Let me know how it works out for ya.
km
May 22, 2008
The Information Gridlock
My good friend Malcolm Sinclair wrote the other day about change. It’s not a new concept, though Malcolm (as always) found a great way to describe it. Read the blog about his wings and beer fiasco and you’ll relate.
We are bombarded every single minute with new information – it never stops – it’s the monster that is never satiated. It will eat anything. It does not distinguish between vitamins or junk food.
My career has been filled with challenges and wow moments – like everyone – but my biggest thrill is building stuff. I love to gather people together and find their strengths and create something that makes a difference.
Last night, I foolishly had on what I can only describe as a two hour padded infomercial of crap shrouded in the appearance of a talent competition culminating in a 23 second event.
It’s my own fault. I remind clients and colleagues all the time. Competition is not other outlets providing a similar service – it is people’s time. Clearly, I felt I didn’t need those 119 minutes and 37 seconds of my life.
Congrats to David Cook, at least they got that right.
It is overwhelming to pick what you want to do, read, see, consume. Malcolm and I talked today about the myth of multitasking. Watch a future post from him on that fun topic.
I’ve seen estimates that the total number of websites in the world are into the billions, perhaps even approaching a trillion. It used to be that you could walk into a large bookstore in a metro center and find books on 'just about anything'. The Internet has taken that to a level none of us would have ever predicted.
But remember the Monster …and that Monster is US!
One event that is trying to tackle some of this is Mesh which just wrapped up in Toronto. I’m sorry I couldn’t attend, I’ll be sure to mark it down in the calendar for next year.
> > >
And another thing; gotta send a shout out to the late Johnny Carson, who hosted his last Tonight Show sixteen years ago today.
km
We are bombarded every single minute with new information – it never stops – it’s the monster that is never satiated. It will eat anything. It does not distinguish between vitamins or junk food.
My career has been filled with challenges and wow moments – like everyone – but my biggest thrill is building stuff. I love to gather people together and find their strengths and create something that makes a difference.
Last night, I foolishly had on what I can only describe as a two hour padded infomercial of crap shrouded in the appearance of a talent competition culminating in a 23 second event.
It’s my own fault. I remind clients and colleagues all the time. Competition is not other outlets providing a similar service – it is people’s time. Clearly, I felt I didn’t need those 119 minutes and 37 seconds of my life.
Congrats to David Cook, at least they got that right.
It is overwhelming to pick what you want to do, read, see, consume. Malcolm and I talked today about the myth of multitasking. Watch a future post from him on that fun topic.
I’ve seen estimates that the total number of websites in the world are into the billions, perhaps even approaching a trillion. It used to be that you could walk into a large bookstore in a metro center and find books on 'just about anything'. The Internet has taken that to a level none of us would have ever predicted.
But remember the Monster …and that Monster is US!
One event that is trying to tackle some of this is Mesh which just wrapped up in Toronto. I’m sorry I couldn’t attend, I’ll be sure to mark it down in the calendar for next year.
> > >
And another thing; gotta send a shout out to the late Johnny Carson, who hosted his last Tonight Show sixteen years ago today.
km
May 21, 2008
Nice To Meet You
In the world of social media, I guess I'm technically an infant. I've only been doing this for about three years and yes, wolves did raise me. In the world of socializing with other humans, I’ve being doing it all my life. But some act like I have grown a second skull when I mention networking if they've barely mastered email.
Someone tweeted me a while back to commend me because apparently I'd become “quite the social networker”. Since I seem to be able to stick handle any social situation in real life, I don’t find it difficult in the virtual world.
But that’s the point – it isn’t a virtual world.
CC Chapman mentioned yesterday in his post Community Over Coffee the importance of human contact. After all, it is SOCIAL media, right? CC decided to meet up with someone he had connected with and do that in person ...over a cup of coffee. Shock horror!
We may be a ways away from coffee because of geographic limitations, but hello to some new connections; Meg, Alex, Christine, Matthew, Lori, Chris, Kim, Daryl, Tamera, Jane, Mark, David, Connie, Anne, Kim, Andrew, Charlotte, Dan, Kay
Nice to meet you.
km
Someone tweeted me a while back to commend me because apparently I'd become “quite the social networker”. Since I seem to be able to stick handle any social situation in real life, I don’t find it difficult in the virtual world.
But that’s the point – it isn’t a virtual world.
CC Chapman mentioned yesterday in his post Community Over Coffee the importance of human contact. After all, it is SOCIAL media, right? CC decided to meet up with someone he had connected with and do that in person ...over a cup of coffee. Shock horror!
We may be a ways away from coffee because of geographic limitations, but hello to some new connections; Meg, Alex, Christine, Matthew, Lori, Chris, Kim, Daryl, Tamera, Jane, Mark, David, Connie, Anne, Kim, Andrew, Charlotte, Dan, Kay
Nice to meet you.
km
May 20, 2008
Mass Media vs. Reality
A few weeks ago, I had dinner with some non-radio people and it was their perception that radio was dead. They had moved on. I pressed further to find out more of how they got their information and how they shared it with others. What was clear was their deep desire to have complete control over their environment.
Radio is certainly not dead, but it's worth paying attention to what 'they' think.
Recently, I spent time with some friends and their 18-year old daughter. I was fascinated to watch her create her environment. I marveled as she traveled between the half dozen windows open on her Mac laptop. She was downloading a movie torrent, Skyping with her boyfriend who is in Japan on a work term, listening to iTunes, reading about the U.S. election, updating Facebook and putting up with my annoying questions.
Her entire life is at her fingertips and if she doesn’t know something she knows where to find it.
This is not a demographic issue. I’ve had friends comment about how I can juggle eleven things at once and keep track of them all. I have conversations with my father about how he finds music and the latest online games and he’s seventy.
So how does that affect mass media? The short answer - in every way.
If you create content to be delivered on radio, television or the vast ocean that is the Internet, it can be overwhelming.
So, how do you find an audience? How do you keep an audience? How you find the needs and desires of said target audience?
A good start – be interesting and remarkable.
km
Radio is certainly not dead, but it's worth paying attention to what 'they' think.
Recently, I spent time with some friends and their 18-year old daughter. I was fascinated to watch her create her environment. I marveled as she traveled between the half dozen windows open on her Mac laptop. She was downloading a movie torrent, Skyping with her boyfriend who is in Japan on a work term, listening to iTunes, reading about the U.S. election, updating Facebook and putting up with my annoying questions.
Her entire life is at her fingertips and if she doesn’t know something she knows where to find it.
This is not a demographic issue. I’ve had friends comment about how I can juggle eleven things at once and keep track of them all. I have conversations with my father about how he finds music and the latest online games and he’s seventy.
So how does that affect mass media? The short answer - in every way.
If you create content to be delivered on radio, television or the vast ocean that is the Internet, it can be overwhelming.
So, how do you find an audience? How do you keep an audience? How you find the needs and desires of said target audience?
A good start – be interesting and remarkable.
km
May 19, 2008
What Happened?
I’m often asked why an organization simply isn’t working, why profits are down, or simply put – what’s wrong? There is usually some nasty stuff hovering under the surface.
I’m reading a great series from One Degree entitled The Four Step Model For Online Branding.
The author is Michael Garrity who launched CommunityLend.
Michael is direct, honest, clear and easy to follow. We don’t like eating our veggies and doing math – at least most of us don’t like those things. But it's necessary if you want to stay in business, to plan and to understand your market.
He outlines the specific steps you need to take and as a psychologist friend of mine reminds me often – you can’t skip steps! I’ve learned that as I build my brand. I’m still learning and that never stops ...for all of us!
When asked, I often see a few issues at play...
Attitude: Without a good solid team attitude where everyone on the team knows exactly what the goals are and what is expected of them, you are sunk. Lesser products, brands, services thrive while seemingly well financed great ideas fail because of attitude. And just saying it or including it in the shiny annual report is not good enough.
Clarity: You don’t need to spend all your time locked in board rooms devising endless business plans with no action. But you do need to set clear objectives that everyone is aware of or trouble will follow soon. One of my mentors says; “If they're not all watching the same movie expecting the same results, you're doomed.”
Cover Your Butt: Let this phrase sink in – “I am not here to cover my butt; I’m here to cover yours.” Try it. Help someone without any perceived benefit to you and watch what happens.
Quit Yer Whinin’: If someone is complaining about their situation within the company – find out if it’s a legitimate concern and honestly address it or a case of someone who just loves complaining. If it’s the latter, do them a favor and free up their future.
km
I’m reading a great series from One Degree entitled The Four Step Model For Online Branding.
The author is Michael Garrity who launched CommunityLend.
Michael is direct, honest, clear and easy to follow. We don’t like eating our veggies and doing math – at least most of us don’t like those things. But it's necessary if you want to stay in business, to plan and to understand your market.
He outlines the specific steps you need to take and as a psychologist friend of mine reminds me often – you can’t skip steps! I’ve learned that as I build my brand. I’m still learning and that never stops ...for all of us!
When asked, I often see a few issues at play...
Attitude: Without a good solid team attitude where everyone on the team knows exactly what the goals are and what is expected of them, you are sunk. Lesser products, brands, services thrive while seemingly well financed great ideas fail because of attitude. And just saying it or including it in the shiny annual report is not good enough.
Clarity: You don’t need to spend all your time locked in board rooms devising endless business plans with no action. But you do need to set clear objectives that everyone is aware of or trouble will follow soon. One of my mentors says; “If they're not all watching the same movie expecting the same results, you're doomed.”
Cover Your Butt: Let this phrase sink in – “I am not here to cover my butt; I’m here to cover yours.” Try it. Help someone without any perceived benefit to you and watch what happens.
Quit Yer Whinin’: If someone is complaining about their situation within the company – find out if it’s a legitimate concern and honestly address it or a case of someone who just loves complaining. If it’s the latter, do them a favor and free up their future.
km
May 17, 2008
Camping
It’s the Victoria Day long weekend in Canada. A rite of passage for most is the May 2-4 camping trip.
This is when friends pile in to cars packed with food, camping supplies, and various hallucinogens for a three-day buzz fest.
This annual ritual only works if at least once during the long weekend, a downpour soaks everything and everyone beyond repair. After some time spent hovering in the cars, weather breaks and partying continues.
The first night is all about setting up as quickly as possible so you can get to said various hallucinogens. The mad scramble to pitch the tents, unpack the supplies, find firewood and claim your spot on the grass.
After a nutritious dinner of barbecued meat and any side dish will do if any, the party begins. Partying is a loose term for sitting around, singing, smoking, drinking, various hallucinogens, and the night is incomplete until someone burns an item of clothing or footwear in the fire pit.
Saturday morning is a haze broken with the first beer less than half an hour after waking whilst scaring up “breakfast”. That is followed by 17 hours of activities which mostly consist of ...more partying.
Sunday is a repeat of Saturday.
Monday is pack-up day, and seasoned professionals pack everything except only necessities just after breakfast. This is so partying can take place until the last possible moment before heading home.
A coin toss or some other type of scientific decision making tool is employed to pick the lucky drivers for the trip back to civilization. This leaves the rest of the group to take full advantage of their remaining time.
Ah yes, who needs a 5-star hotel and in-ground pool when you can sleep four to a tent after a day of drinking and bad food?
Happy Victoria Day Long Holiday May 2-4 Weekend, eh.
km
This is when friends pile in to cars packed with food, camping supplies, and various hallucinogens for a three-day buzz fest.
This annual ritual only works if at least once during the long weekend, a downpour soaks everything and everyone beyond repair. After some time spent hovering in the cars, weather breaks and partying continues.
The first night is all about setting up as quickly as possible so you can get to said various hallucinogens. The mad scramble to pitch the tents, unpack the supplies, find firewood and claim your spot on the grass.
After a nutritious dinner of barbecued meat and any side dish will do if any, the party begins. Partying is a loose term for sitting around, singing, smoking, drinking, various hallucinogens, and the night is incomplete until someone burns an item of clothing or footwear in the fire pit.
Saturday morning is a haze broken with the first beer less than half an hour after waking whilst scaring up “breakfast”. That is followed by 17 hours of activities which mostly consist of ...more partying.
Sunday is a repeat of Saturday.
Monday is pack-up day, and seasoned professionals pack everything except only necessities just after breakfast. This is so partying can take place until the last possible moment before heading home.
A coin toss or some other type of scientific decision making tool is employed to pick the lucky drivers for the trip back to civilization. This leaves the rest of the group to take full advantage of their remaining time.
Ah yes, who needs a 5-star hotel and in-ground pool when you can sleep four to a tent after a day of drinking and bad food?
Happy Victoria Day Long Holiday May 2-4 Weekend, eh.
km
May 16, 2008
Cehck Yuor Spleling
The new website was launched yesterday. It’s clean and simple. If you have websites, networking pages, or anything online; I'm sure you have had to go back and fix mistakes. I hope I caught all mine.
I have a friend who is a newspaper editor. She has not been shy to point out my spelling, grammar, misuse of words, and sentence structure. And I am grateful for that.
This is not a spelling or grammar issue; this is a brain to keyboard issue.
You may suffer from the same affliction. You have ideas flowing and you’re trying to put them down as fast as possible. You check your work. But since you created it, you may be too close to catch obvious blunders.
It isn’t that you can’t see the forest for the trees – sometimes you can’t see the trees (the rules of writing) for the forest (your idea or what you’re trying to portray).
We see mistakes online all the time. We may have gotten quite good at seeing through the mistakes to the ideas and concepts. That’s still no excuse for bad spelling or grammar – my editor friend reminds me.
We all learned in school to proof-read our stuff. To ensure the best work is put forward.
And like that embarrassing picture of the grade school play mom hauls out at the worst times; the Internet has become the unforgiving audience for things you wished you had double checked before leaving the house.
This may give you some solace; these mistakes are common and rampant on websites from the world’s largest corporations. Yes, we know – not an excuse!
My guess is your next step will be to check your web portals for mistakes. I’m sure this blog has its share.
km
I have a friend who is a newspaper editor. She has not been shy to point out my spelling, grammar, misuse of words, and sentence structure. And I am grateful for that.
This is not a spelling or grammar issue; this is a brain to keyboard issue.
You may suffer from the same affliction. You have ideas flowing and you’re trying to put them down as fast as possible. You check your work. But since you created it, you may be too close to catch obvious blunders.
It isn’t that you can’t see the forest for the trees – sometimes you can’t see the trees (the rules of writing) for the forest (your idea or what you’re trying to portray).
We see mistakes online all the time. We may have gotten quite good at seeing through the mistakes to the ideas and concepts. That’s still no excuse for bad spelling or grammar – my editor friend reminds me.
We all learned in school to proof-read our stuff. To ensure the best work is put forward.
And like that embarrassing picture of the grade school play mom hauls out at the worst times; the Internet has become the unforgiving audience for things you wished you had double checked before leaving the house.
This may give you some solace; these mistakes are common and rampant on websites from the world’s largest corporations. Yes, we know – not an excuse!
My guess is your next step will be to check your web portals for mistakes. I’m sure this blog has its share.
km
May 15, 2008
Today in History
Instead of getting deep today, let’s check this day in history…
Ninety years ago today, the first air mail route in the U.S. was established. This was leading-edge technology at the time. You could get a package from New York to Washington in less than a week. At that time, blackberries were what you put in pie.
On May 15th, 1930 Ellen Church became the first airline stewardess for United Airlines. Years later, airlines changed the title to flight attendant and introduced the $4 sandwich.
Woodstock MC and social activist Hugh "Wavy Gravy" Romney is 72. Clearly his boycott of brown acid has proven wise.
Happy birthday Mike Oldfield, Ray Lewis, Emmitt Smith, George Brett, Brian Eno, among others.
Happy International Day of Familes, Bike To Work Day, and Hagen-Daas New Flavor Day.
km
Ninety years ago today, the first air mail route in the U.S. was established. This was leading-edge technology at the time. You could get a package from New York to Washington in less than a week. At that time, blackberries were what you put in pie.
On May 15th, 1930 Ellen Church became the first airline stewardess for United Airlines. Years later, airlines changed the title to flight attendant and introduced the $4 sandwich.
Woodstock MC and social activist Hugh "Wavy Gravy" Romney is 72. Clearly his boycott of brown acid has proven wise.
Happy birthday Mike Oldfield, Ray Lewis, Emmitt Smith, George Brett, Brian Eno, among others.
Happy International Day of Familes, Bike To Work Day, and Hagen-Daas New Flavor Day.
km
May 14, 2008
Social Networking To The Masses
Mitch Joel posed a scary question (to some) on his blog the other night – is Prime Time All The Time?
As we continue in our user produced content world, mass marketing companies are beginning to embrace social networking and online technologies.
Old thinking suggested it’s easier to splash billboards around town and hope customers connect to your message on their way to work – rather than the arduous task of finding where they may be online.
Media and the music industry are going through rapid change. The music labels are still wrapping their heads around free music for database and branding opportunities. Television and Radio are affected by depleting fragmented audience shares which are tough to monitor.
Television has adopted the video on demand model which is still in its infancy. You can find audience by allowing them to deconstruct your content, but you must be patient when you give them the choice. Advertisers are scrambling to embrace the concept that eyeballs aren’t watching the screen when they want them to. And great television shows are being canceled because of the DVR revolution. It’s not about 30’s and 60’s anymore.
Radio is adopting PPM technology to measure listening habits differently – and hopefully more accurately. In Philadelphia and Houston, personal people meters have been in play for over two years. The findings show that people listen to radio for different reasons than we thought, they listen to more radio choices than we guessed, and they don’t listen to or consume the content when and how we want them to consume it.
We may have rested too much on averages and generalizations.
Leaders like Mitch must blaze the path despite naysayers and laggards who don’t see enough evidence that he’s right. That’s why leading a charge can be lonely work until the “I knew all along” crowd catches up.
km
As we continue in our user produced content world, mass marketing companies are beginning to embrace social networking and online technologies.
Old thinking suggested it’s easier to splash billboards around town and hope customers connect to your message on their way to work – rather than the arduous task of finding where they may be online.
Media and the music industry are going through rapid change. The music labels are still wrapping their heads around free music for database and branding opportunities. Television and Radio are affected by depleting fragmented audience shares which are tough to monitor.
Television has adopted the video on demand model which is still in its infancy. You can find audience by allowing them to deconstruct your content, but you must be patient when you give them the choice. Advertisers are scrambling to embrace the concept that eyeballs aren’t watching the screen when they want them to. And great television shows are being canceled because of the DVR revolution. It’s not about 30’s and 60’s anymore.
Radio is adopting PPM technology to measure listening habits differently – and hopefully more accurately. In Philadelphia and Houston, personal people meters have been in play for over two years. The findings show that people listen to radio for different reasons than we thought, they listen to more radio choices than we guessed, and they don’t listen to or consume the content when and how we want them to consume it.
We may have rested too much on averages and generalizations.
Leaders like Mitch must blaze the path despite naysayers and laggards who don’t see enough evidence that he’s right. That’s why leading a charge can be lonely work until the “I knew all along” crowd catches up.
km
May 13, 2008
Three Steps Forward
Sometime in the late 1960’s an experiment by the U.S. Department of Defence resulted in something called The Arpanet.
Its purpose was to share top secret information amongst Department personnel. It was a basic text-only service but served a need to share sensitive documents, quicker than any other option to that point in time.
There were no floating images, no colored banners, and no handy click through options.
Forty years later, many of us have several portals on The Internet and we can easily add bells and whistles to lure users into a pleasant looking environment.
I love the joke that illustrates today’s wired but impatient society. It’s about a guy standing in front of his microwave screaming “C’mon, I don’t have all minute!”
We’ve created this.
If you are a PC user – like me – you experience hang time that is the envy of any NFL punter. It happens all the time. Rebooting, refreshing, and talking to the computer.
It’s all because we want our floating images and pretty content …NOW! I think I’m personally responsible for breaking The Internet at least a couple times a day. Yes, you can blame me. But “ah c’mon!” usually does the trick, in case you have the some problem.
Gotta go, my page has finally loaded. That only took FOREVER!
km
Its purpose was to share top secret information amongst Department personnel. It was a basic text-only service but served a need to share sensitive documents, quicker than any other option to that point in time.
There were no floating images, no colored banners, and no handy click through options.
Forty years later, many of us have several portals on The Internet and we can easily add bells and whistles to lure users into a pleasant looking environment.
I love the joke that illustrates today’s wired but impatient society. It’s about a guy standing in front of his microwave screaming “C’mon, I don’t have all minute!”
We’ve created this.
If you are a PC user – like me – you experience hang time that is the envy of any NFL punter. It happens all the time. Rebooting, refreshing, and talking to the computer.
It’s all because we want our floating images and pretty content …NOW! I think I’m personally responsible for breaking The Internet at least a couple times a day. Yes, you can blame me. But “ah c’mon!” usually does the trick, in case you have the some problem.
Gotta go, my page has finally loaded. That only took FOREVER!
km
May 12, 2008
Can I Help You?
No one likes to be told what to do. Humans do what they want to do, when they want to do it. But magic happens when we are inspired, moved, or motivated to create something.
Imagine you are shopping for clothes. The first store you go in to is a mess. There are garments on the floor, displays are crooked and broken, the floor is dirty, you can’t find your size and the sales people are barely breathing.
Your next stop is a place that just feels good. Music is playing, racks are neat, floor is clean, sales associates are friendly but not in a creepy-can-I-help-you before your second foot crosses the threshold kind of way. There's a good chance you'll give the place a shot.
Malcolm Gladwell calls it the Broken Window Syndrome in The Tipping Point.
There's too much choice, not to be the best. You cannot afford to be ‘okay’ because someone will drive you out of business faster than the Leafs will miss the playoffs next season.
If we don’t care, they won’t care.
Happy shopping!
km
Imagine you are shopping for clothes. The first store you go in to is a mess. There are garments on the floor, displays are crooked and broken, the floor is dirty, you can’t find your size and the sales people are barely breathing.
Your next stop is a place that just feels good. Music is playing, racks are neat, floor is clean, sales associates are friendly but not in a creepy-can-I-help-you before your second foot crosses the threshold kind of way. There's a good chance you'll give the place a shot.
Malcolm Gladwell calls it the Broken Window Syndrome in The Tipping Point.
There's too much choice, not to be the best. You cannot afford to be ‘okay’ because someone will drive you out of business faster than the Leafs will miss the playoffs next season.
If we don’t care, they won’t care.
Happy shopping!
km
May 11, 2008
For The Love of the Music
First things first - Happy Mothers Day!
Anyone who knows me for a minute, knows I love music. Anyone who knows me for two minutes, knows I'm a music pig.
There are ways for you to sample new bands.
MySpace took the lead with free downloads from band sites but most have strangely gone the way of the stream for some reason. There are still plenty of bands left offering up a sample of their wares.
Other places I visit include...
Pitchfork
This is a music-head's dream! There are downloads, samples, streams, videos, reviews, and the supply of material seems endless. Like all new music sites, you take your chances because (newsflash!) not everything is good, but the discovery is worth it.
Discollective
Like Pitchfork, there is a mountain of music stuff here. Click and enjoy. Check out the daily downloads on the front page.
Pure Volume
This is a very good looking site featuring an seemingly endless list of new bands. You don't always get a free download option, but you can still listen to disover.
Triple J
This is not a music site. This is the official site for the national radio service in Australia. But it's way cool! Get lost here for a while and if you dig deep enough to this page, you will see free downloads.
More another time...
km
Anyone who knows me for a minute, knows I love music. Anyone who knows me for two minutes, knows I'm a music pig.
There are ways for you to sample new bands.
MySpace took the lead with free downloads from band sites but most have strangely gone the way of the stream for some reason. There are still plenty of bands left offering up a sample of their wares.
Other places I visit include...
Pitchfork
This is a music-head's dream! There are downloads, samples, streams, videos, reviews, and the supply of material seems endless. Like all new music sites, you take your chances because (newsflash!) not everything is good, but the discovery is worth it.
Discollective
Like Pitchfork, there is a mountain of music stuff here. Click and enjoy. Check out the daily downloads on the front page.
Pure Volume
This is a very good looking site featuring an seemingly endless list of new bands. You don't always get a free download option, but you can still listen to disover.
Triple J
This is not a music site. This is the official site for the national radio service in Australia. But it's way cool! Get lost here for a while and if you dig deep enough to this page, you will see free downloads.
More another time...
km
May 10, 2008
Free Stuff
Free - it's the best price. Or is it? Few days pass without my voicemail having a couple of "unbelievable offers" on it. Telemarketing is a multi-billion dollar industry, so I'm not holding hope that will subside.
"Nothing is free" is the old saying. If it's too good to be true, it is. That's why we have created a cynical society. We don't believe the hype.
Downloading has been going on for more than a decade.
Bono once said to me "music is the art all aspire to". It was in reference to attending a Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony where CEO’s were weeping as they saw their “heroes” on stage.
I once knew a guy who was a VP at a bank who thought it was cool that I got to meet rock stars. The dude was makin' close to seven figures, but wanted to hear all about my Green Day interview.
Music is magic. Music is part of our souls. But those who make it deserve to be rewarded for their gift.
But many artists have embraced the new reality. Examples this week are Coldplay, The Offspring and Nine Inch Nails. Coldplay & The Offspring have a new singles from their forthcoming albums available for free download on their site. And Trent has taken it one step further. His new album "The Slip" is yours for the taking. That's right, FREE! No gimmicks.
Go to the NiN Slip download site and follow the instructions.
Enjoy :-)
km
"Nothing is free" is the old saying. If it's too good to be true, it is. That's why we have created a cynical society. We don't believe the hype.
Downloading has been going on for more than a decade.
Bono once said to me "music is the art all aspire to". It was in reference to attending a Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony where CEO’s were weeping as they saw their “heroes” on stage.
I once knew a guy who was a VP at a bank who thought it was cool that I got to meet rock stars. The dude was makin' close to seven figures, but wanted to hear all about my Green Day interview.
Music is magic. Music is part of our souls. But those who make it deserve to be rewarded for their gift.
But many artists have embraced the new reality. Examples this week are Coldplay, The Offspring and Nine Inch Nails. Coldplay & The Offspring have a new singles from their forthcoming albums available for free download on their site. And Trent has taken it one step further. His new album "The Slip" is yours for the taking. That's right, FREE! No gimmicks.
Go to the NiN Slip download site and follow the instructions.
Enjoy :-)
km
May 9, 2008
No Idea
I was watching the TEDtalk with Sir Ken Robinson for the 5th time the other day – Ken is brilliant, hilarious, charming, thought provoking and simply excellent.
He covers a lot of gound in 20 minutes but I did want to mention one prediction – of many – he cites in the talk and that is none of us have a clue what the future holds.
There are more people today in schools, science labs, computer firms, game developing corporations than in any other time in history. We have brilliance all around us but no matter how big the I.Q., no one has a clue one about the future.
Being in media for so long, my colleagues and I often feel we’re the smarty pants who know the next trend, fad, rush, thing. Ken has confirmed, we don’t and you don’t.
Scary? Perhaps. Exciting? That’s more like it!
Since we’re all making predictions and we’re all guessing, I’ll make one...
What’s coming next is not one thing, trend, fad, website, gadget. There is no “new black”, 40 is not the new 30, it’s all true and it’s all untrue. It’s what you want it to be.
That’s the beauty of life.
km
TED Conference: Sir Ken Robinson
He covers a lot of gound in 20 minutes but I did want to mention one prediction – of many – he cites in the talk and that is none of us have a clue what the future holds.
There are more people today in schools, science labs, computer firms, game developing corporations than in any other time in history. We have brilliance all around us but no matter how big the I.Q., no one has a clue one about the future.
Being in media for so long, my colleagues and I often feel we’re the smarty pants who know the next trend, fad, rush, thing. Ken has confirmed, we don’t and you don’t.
Scary? Perhaps. Exciting? That’s more like it!
Since we’re all making predictions and we’re all guessing, I’ll make one...
What’s coming next is not one thing, trend, fad, website, gadget. There is no “new black”, 40 is not the new 30, it’s all true and it’s all untrue. It’s what you want it to be.
That’s the beauty of life.
km
TED Conference: Sir Ken Robinson
May 8, 2008
Community And Beyond
Whenever I am on a flight over mountains, I like to search for those little pockets of life. I often wonder how a town of a few dozen people can sustain in the midst of such grand expansion. Someone had to put up the first hut, make the first fire, clear the first path and suddenly there was a settlement, a village, a town, and one day in some cases – a city of five million on the banks of Lake Ontario.
In 1943, Abraham Maslow wrote an article entitled "The Hierarchy of Needs". In it, he described what humans require to enjoy an enriched life. Those needs run the gamut from the most basic such as food, water, and sleep and continue all the way to self-actualization.
Nestled above the need to keep our bodies alive, is the need to belong, to be a part of something, to feel needed by others. That’s the reason for communities, clubs, associations, sports teams, email. Humans need human interaction.
The MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, iPod phenomenon is by no means a new concept; it's just a new delivery system.
I mentioned the Geek Dinner a while back and I made the decision to let social networking work for me. I started a blog (again), I reached out to new people via Facebook and Twitter and magic began to happen. These are concepts I have grasped for years but it has still been wow moment after wow moment.
The true connector is Mitch Joel – spend some time on his site, his blog, his podcast, and see what this guy is all about. He’s a smart fun guy with a wicked cool mind. And he went to TED2008, so I’m jealous. There, I said it.
Content is king, Context is the glue, Community is the soul.
km
In 1943, Abraham Maslow wrote an article entitled "The Hierarchy of Needs". In it, he described what humans require to enjoy an enriched life. Those needs run the gamut from the most basic such as food, water, and sleep and continue all the way to self-actualization.
Nestled above the need to keep our bodies alive, is the need to belong, to be a part of something, to feel needed by others. That’s the reason for communities, clubs, associations, sports teams, email. Humans need human interaction.
The MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, iPod phenomenon is by no means a new concept; it's just a new delivery system.
I mentioned the Geek Dinner a while back and I made the decision to let social networking work for me. I started a blog (again), I reached out to new people via Facebook and Twitter and magic began to happen. These are concepts I have grasped for years but it has still been wow moment after wow moment.
The true connector is Mitch Joel – spend some time on his site, his blog, his podcast, and see what this guy is all about. He’s a smart fun guy with a wicked cool mind. And he went to TED2008, so I’m jealous. There, I said it.
Content is king, Context is the glue, Community is the soul.
km
May 7, 2008
Read The Room
Yesterday, I touched on the age old issue of ‘content’. Today, it’s ‘context’ – the circumstance, situation, and environment that gives perspective to any content. Without context, content is noise. Content alone is meaningless – it’s data at best. But when you put in to context, it begins to take shape and significance.
We’ve all used the phrase “out of context” ad nauseum. But stop and think about that, the next time you use it. Take that issue, content and give it a new backdrop and it makes no sense. But we try and force it every day. We are in business situations where someone on the team is in the wrong chair, or worse yet – they’re the wrong person entirely!
It's important to note, that new perspective can often turn a seemingly bad idea into brilliance. Sometimes we're too close to it and it takes someone out of our context to make a simple suggestion. We must be aware when we’re doing that verses forcing a situation.
Maybe just me, but I don’t find a need to wear a bowtie or headband, to some that works within their context.
I’ve had the pleasure of building a few teams filled with wonderful people who were walking in to a new environment. These are people coming from all over the country to converge on an idea in a new place that few have ever been. The analogy I use is if you’re invited to a backyard barbecue and the only person you know is the person who invited you. How will you act? Will you pretend you’ve know these people all your life? Or will you introduce yourself and be aware of the situation? This may not the time to do a belly flop in the pool.
In my experience with new teams in new places, we had to get to know each other as a team - our new context. We then had to get to know our new customer base – a much bigger backyard barbecue.
Bring your content, your ideas, yourself to new environments but pay close attention to the context and watch as you build new relationships.
Some of my dearest friends are people I have met in circumstances that were not my creation or comfort zone. I’m sure you can relate.
Content may be king, but Context is the glue.
Tomorrow: Community
km
We’ve all used the phrase “out of context” ad nauseum. But stop and think about that, the next time you use it. Take that issue, content and give it a new backdrop and it makes no sense. But we try and force it every day. We are in business situations where someone on the team is in the wrong chair, or worse yet – they’re the wrong person entirely!
It's important to note, that new perspective can often turn a seemingly bad idea into brilliance. Sometimes we're too close to it and it takes someone out of our context to make a simple suggestion. We must be aware when we’re doing that verses forcing a situation.
Maybe just me, but I don’t find a need to wear a bowtie or headband, to some that works within their context.
I’ve had the pleasure of building a few teams filled with wonderful people who were walking in to a new environment. These are people coming from all over the country to converge on an idea in a new place that few have ever been. The analogy I use is if you’re invited to a backyard barbecue and the only person you know is the person who invited you. How will you act? Will you pretend you’ve know these people all your life? Or will you introduce yourself and be aware of the situation? This may not the time to do a belly flop in the pool.
In my experience with new teams in new places, we had to get to know each other as a team - our new context. We then had to get to know our new customer base – a much bigger backyard barbecue.
Bring your content, your ideas, yourself to new environments but pay close attention to the context and watch as you build new relationships.
Some of my dearest friends are people I have met in circumstances that were not my creation or comfort zone. I’m sure you can relate.
Content may be king, but Context is the glue.
Tomorrow: Community
km
May 6, 2008
Is Content Still King?
I Googled the phrase “Content is king” because I was curious to find the person first credited with saying it. Viacom founder Sumner Redstone is the guy.
But what I found more fascinating was articles and sites that claimed ‘content is king’ as well as one that chimed ‘content is dead’. It was a much more divisive issue than I had thought.
I often ponder if we are creating actual useable sticky content or simply blogging our brains out for the scattered few who may stumble upon our musings.
Dictonary.com defines “content” a few ways, including this;
Substantive information or creative material viewed in contrast to its actual or potential manner of presentation.
There is collective wisdom that says the first step in becoming a photographer, is simply telling people you are a photographer. Then you can go about learning the craft, buying a camera, taking pictures and so on.
Content alone is stuff, junk, material floating in space, on a page or on a screen.
At one time, it was viewed as great progress when you could dip the end of a feather into a well of ink and scratch a note on a piece of dried wood pulp. In order to get the message to the recipient, you would need to then hire a messenger who would deliver your note on horseback. Today, we send messages thumbed on handheld wireless devices to the other side of the planet in an instant.
You’ve heard the stories about companies, concepts and ideas born on a cocktail napkin. I recently saw an interview with one of the founders of Pixar who told the story of a lunch with the rest of the creative team. While they enjoyed their club sandwiches, they also dreamt up storylines which were later to become the companies biggest profit makers. During one lunch, they created what would later become millions of dollars in profits.
Don’t throw out those tiny pieces of paper or napkins with barely legible notes you scrawled at lunch – you never know.
Don’t get caught up in the device; get caught up in the idea.
My two cents: Content still wears the crown.
Tomorrow: Context
km
warning: language in clip may not be suitable for all ages
But what I found more fascinating was articles and sites that claimed ‘content is king’ as well as one that chimed ‘content is dead’. It was a much more divisive issue than I had thought.
I often ponder if we are creating actual useable sticky content or simply blogging our brains out for the scattered few who may stumble upon our musings.
Dictonary.com defines “content” a few ways, including this;
Substantive information or creative material viewed in contrast to its actual or potential manner of presentation.
There is collective wisdom that says the first step in becoming a photographer, is simply telling people you are a photographer. Then you can go about learning the craft, buying a camera, taking pictures and so on.
Content alone is stuff, junk, material floating in space, on a page or on a screen.
At one time, it was viewed as great progress when you could dip the end of a feather into a well of ink and scratch a note on a piece of dried wood pulp. In order to get the message to the recipient, you would need to then hire a messenger who would deliver your note on horseback. Today, we send messages thumbed on handheld wireless devices to the other side of the planet in an instant.
You’ve heard the stories about companies, concepts and ideas born on a cocktail napkin. I recently saw an interview with one of the founders of Pixar who told the story of a lunch with the rest of the creative team. While they enjoyed their club sandwiches, they also dreamt up storylines which were later to become the companies biggest profit makers. During one lunch, they created what would later become millions of dollars in profits.
Don’t throw out those tiny pieces of paper or napkins with barely legible notes you scrawled at lunch – you never know.
Don’t get caught up in the device; get caught up in the idea.
My two cents: Content still wears the crown.
Tomorrow: Context
km
warning: language in clip may not be suitable for all ages
May 5, 2008
Coaching From The Couch
I did it and I knew I was going to do it. I fell asleep on the couch. I tried to stay awake but was fighting a losing battle.
Game 6 between the Dallas Stars and the San Jose Sharks was not only the 8th longest in NHL history but one of the most exciting. Brendon Marrow ended it at 9:03 of quadruple overtime. That’s two full hockey games plus another nine minutes, or about 3am EST.
Perhaps you did the same thing – you watched six periods of hockey only to miss the entire reason you stayed up in the first place.
Coffee is my friend today.
San Jose was favored to win the series, but blew the first three games and coach Ron Wilson’s head was on a block, his office was being cleaned out by sports pontificators, critics, and analysts. They couldn’t lose in the 2nd round AGAIN!
A few days later, his team was one goal from forcing a 7th game at home. If they had done that and won, Dallas coach Dave Tippett’s head may have been on the block. What’s worse than losing the first three games? Losing the last four!
I’m a sports fan, sports analogies and clichés are often used in the business world which is especially annoying to the non-sports fan. Sport IS the analogy and the cliché. It is a mirror of life, teamwork, facing adversity, beating the odds, and never giving up.
We can turn things around in a matter of minutes, hours, days. What appears hopeless can become hopeful with a new perspective.
Wilson may still get the gas, but it was an impressive example of the ‘never give up’ mantra. Don’t fold your proverbial tent and don’t fall asleep on the couch – you may miss something.
km
from despair.com
Game 6 between the Dallas Stars and the San Jose Sharks was not only the 8th longest in NHL history but one of the most exciting. Brendon Marrow ended it at 9:03 of quadruple overtime. That’s two full hockey games plus another nine minutes, or about 3am EST.
Perhaps you did the same thing – you watched six periods of hockey only to miss the entire reason you stayed up in the first place.
Coffee is my friend today.
San Jose was favored to win the series, but blew the first three games and coach Ron Wilson’s head was on a block, his office was being cleaned out by sports pontificators, critics, and analysts. They couldn’t lose in the 2nd round AGAIN!
A few days later, his team was one goal from forcing a 7th game at home. If they had done that and won, Dallas coach Dave Tippett’s head may have been on the block. What’s worse than losing the first three games? Losing the last four!
I’m a sports fan, sports analogies and clichés are often used in the business world which is especially annoying to the non-sports fan. Sport IS the analogy and the cliché. It is a mirror of life, teamwork, facing adversity, beating the odds, and never giving up.
We can turn things around in a matter of minutes, hours, days. What appears hopeless can become hopeful with a new perspective.
Wilson may still get the gas, but it was an impressive example of the ‘never give up’ mantra. Don’t fold your proverbial tent and don’t fall asleep on the couch – you may miss something.
km
from despair.com
May 4, 2008
Juno rules
I finally saw Juno and in a word: wow. If you’ve seen it, you’re probably wondering what rock I was residing beneath.
Diablo Cody (Brook Busey) is an exceptional writer and the Academy got it right to give her the Oscar. She captured youth, smirk, frivolous, innocence, subtle, tender, and the rest of the emotional rainbow. She nailed it. The writing is crisp and she created a screenplay you want to go over again and again in order to catch what you missed the last time.
Juno is a understated clever obvious hilarious campy real unpretentious work.
The character interaction is charming and awkward, the element of surprise is never too far away. It’s witty, smart, childlike and full of belly laughs and raw human moments.
Ellen Page and Michael Cera steal the show. She is wise beyond ten lifetimes and he is geeky and wonderful. The soundtrack is delightful and the look of the film is perfect.
I'm not thinking of a career as a film critic, but “Juno” is worth the blog time.
If you haven't seen Juno yet, it's on now out on DVD.
km
Diablo Cody (Brook Busey) is an exceptional writer and the Academy got it right to give her the Oscar. She captured youth, smirk, frivolous, innocence, subtle, tender, and the rest of the emotional rainbow. She nailed it. The writing is crisp and she created a screenplay you want to go over again and again in order to catch what you missed the last time.
Juno is a understated clever obvious hilarious campy real unpretentious work.
The character interaction is charming and awkward, the element of surprise is never too far away. It’s witty, smart, childlike and full of belly laughs and raw human moments.
Ellen Page and Michael Cera steal the show. She is wise beyond ten lifetimes and he is geeky and wonderful. The soundtrack is delightful and the look of the film is perfect.
I'm not thinking of a career as a film critic, but “Juno” is worth the blog time.
If you haven't seen Juno yet, it's on now out on DVD.
km
May 3, 2008
Where Are The Fish?
Humans have been connecting since the dawn of humans. But we'll fast forward several million years and have a look at a study this week with 17,000 people in 29 countries from Toronto agency Universal McCann.
Here’s how Canadians stacked up…
Canada is in-line with the worldwide average of people who have signed up to a social networking site at 52%.
Facebook is the #1 choice in Canada with 54%.
65% of Canadians regularly read a blog and almost a quarter own one.
It’s amazing how open we are with each other. Personal information shared online. Pictures, phone numbers, fears, dreams, ideas, and thoughts, all for the world to find.
Ah but ...where there is openness ...there is opportunity.
We live in a consumer generated fragmented world. It is surprising that some companies feel traditional channels remain their only choice to build their customer base. A logo slapped on a flat surface, is not marketing.
Perhaps you are in advertising, marketing, promotion, or sales. If so, the adage ‘fish where the fish are’ has become a dicey proposition. If you don’t pay attention to studies like this, I wish you well in your future endeavors.
km
from despair.com
Here’s how Canadians stacked up…
Canada is in-line with the worldwide average of people who have signed up to a social networking site at 52%.
Facebook is the #1 choice in Canada with 54%.
65% of Canadians regularly read a blog and almost a quarter own one.
It’s amazing how open we are with each other. Personal information shared online. Pictures, phone numbers, fears, dreams, ideas, and thoughts, all for the world to find.
Ah but ...where there is openness ...there is opportunity.
We live in a consumer generated fragmented world. It is surprising that some companies feel traditional channels remain their only choice to build their customer base. A logo slapped on a flat surface, is not marketing.
Perhaps you are in advertising, marketing, promotion, or sales. If so, the adage ‘fish where the fish are’ has become a dicey proposition. If you don’t pay attention to studies like this, I wish you well in your future endeavors.
km
from despair.com
May 1, 2008
Now What?
I’ve been in media for a long time. And despite some rumor, I didn’t get in to it to meet women or get free stuff – though I hear that happens once in a while ;-)
The reason radio – in particular – grabbed me, was because of teamwork and connection. The immediacy of a live medium where a group of creative people could solve a problem or create compelling content excited me.
Now that most of us have accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, LinkedIn, and many other social networking sites along with Email, IM, Cell phones and Land lines, I ponder you this – are we creating compelling content?
I’m not being naïve, I really am curious.
In six months I have connected and reconnected with almost 800 people on Facebook. In just two weeks about 600 on Twitter. There are 100+ people connected through LinkedIn. I haven’t counted, but I probably have 500 people in my Outlook directory. It’s wonderful! The world really has shrunk to the size of a baseball.
We are making contact, we are satisfying our need to belong and share (more on that in a later blog). I have learned more about more people’s activities, businesses and most importantly IDEAS in the last six months than I did in the previous five years.
As the world shrinks, the amount of data to consume in a day is overwhelming. Where do we start? But how much crap do we need to weed through to get to the good stuff? How much of our stuff will be of any interest to others?
What’s next? My suspicion – it will be a lot more of this.
See you out there and feel free to friend, connect, follow me and I’ll do the same.
km
The reason radio – in particular – grabbed me, was because of teamwork and connection. The immediacy of a live medium where a group of creative people could solve a problem or create compelling content excited me.
Now that most of us have accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, LinkedIn, and many other social networking sites along with Email, IM, Cell phones and Land lines, I ponder you this – are we creating compelling content?
I’m not being naïve, I really am curious.
In six months I have connected and reconnected with almost 800 people on Facebook. In just two weeks about 600 on Twitter. There are 100+ people connected through LinkedIn. I haven’t counted, but I probably have 500 people in my Outlook directory. It’s wonderful! The world really has shrunk to the size of a baseball.
We are making contact, we are satisfying our need to belong and share (more on that in a later blog). I have learned more about more people’s activities, businesses and most importantly IDEAS in the last six months than I did in the previous five years.
As the world shrinks, the amount of data to consume in a day is overwhelming. Where do we start? But how much crap do we need to weed through to get to the good stuff? How much of our stuff will be of any interest to others?
What’s next? My suspicion – it will be a lot more of this.
See you out there and feel free to friend, connect, follow me and I’ll do the same.
km
