American Onslaught
Survival
Leave a Comment
I saw something today that makes me think there is at least one old media company that will survive this New Media Revolution.
So we all know that many television networks are slowly making the transition online, allowing full episodes of show to be watch, fans to join groups, etc. But there all have yet to really do some out of the box thinking and promotion, at least until today.
Last night I tweeted my intentions about watching the show Damages on FX. So nothing new there. But to my surprise this morning I was notified that I was being followed @PattyHewes on Twitter. For those of you who do not watch the show, Patty Hewes is Glenn Close’s character on the show. Now obviously Glenn Close, or Patty Hewes for that matter, was not following me (probably some poor film student intern) but you have to love the idea.
And what @PattyHewes was tweeting about was not just a shameless promotion of the show. It was as if the character was real and really using twitter. In fact, all the characters from the show (at least the main ones) are on twitter, truly embodying the characters.
Other than the fact that this is pretty cool, step back for a minute and really think about it. FX, or really News Corp., is really grasping what the change is that is happening within media. As far as I can tell, they are the only company I have seen that has realized what is going on and decided to change with the times rather than resist. This is what will make them survive, where others will fail.
All media companies, new and old, should consider the innovative thinking of News Corp., at least in this capacity. Use social media and develop your characters on the screen and in the real world.
Advertising Dollars to Networking Dollars
Leave a Comment
With a slumping economy it goes without saying, even if it has been said, less money is being spent. For businesses this means less money is being spent on advertising. This does not mean the budgets are entirely gone, companies are just being smarter with what funds they have.
A recent survey complied by WeCanDo.biz, BusinessZone.co.uk, and UK Business Forums has some insight where companies reallocated at least a portion of their advertising spending in 2008.
So where did this money go you ask? Well that which was not saved and held onto, went to further the various networking initiatives by the companies. This networking was predominately done online.
This should not surprise us, more and more the traditional ways of networking/marketing/advertising are being cast to the side for the much more effective method of digital grass roots campaigns. Meaning, the utilization of social media, with a peppering of new media, has proven to do more for companies (particularly those in start-up mode) than any sort of traditional media.
The reason a digital grass roots campaign works better and harder for businesses is because it allows these companies to directly reach their customers and potential customers. They do not have to relay anything through a middle man or third party, where the message can get cluttered, but rather they have a direct line.
The survey shows that the key driver behind online networking for the majority of the business community is a desire to win new customers or clients with a third saying they are achieving their objectives. In addition, 67% believe the activity has brought them closer to their target market and 52% plan on doing more of it 2009.
But if you think there are ample ways to accomplish this business to consumer out there already, think again. The survey went on to state that sites that one might think of, like LinkedIn, may not be as helpful as once thought. Or at least helpful to businesses.
That’s not to say though that all professional communities are relevant to small companies. LinkedIn, for example, is often cited as a useful resource but in our research respondents rank career advancement, the primary focus of LinkedIn, as the least important reason for networking online.
However, there is a place for networks. The survey, though it may be bias, did say the less main stream type of networks with a focus on business tend to help companies, entrepreneurs, and small organizations target consumers in their market. This reittorated the mainstream tends not to be as helpful.
Still, outside of the single findings in this survey, I do say there is a lot to be gained from have a presence on main stream sites like Facebook and Twitter. I might even go as far as to say these sites are more powerful than any one of the lesser know sites, with respects to increase viral business.
Speaking from experience, the real key to a successful digital grass roots campaign is a combination of the two. Be on facebook and twitter, spreading the word in a professional manner, then spend the same amount of time on all the off-the-road sites relevant to you and your business.
Print ID
Leave a Comment
I recently cashed a check at Bank of America. Being the holidays this is not an unusual thing to do this time of year. While I do have a business account at Bank of America I do not have a personal account. The check was from the bank, so no problem there. However when it came time to ask me for my ID, the teller asked me for something else as well. 
Now one might think a social security number would be an appropriate precaution. After all, in the world we live in businesses cannot do enough to protect against fraud. Well the teller did not ask me for my social security number, a second form of ID, or anything like that. She asked me for my fingerprint. Now this raises some interesting questions.
At first I was taken back. I was not sure what to do. It struck me as an odd thing to ask for.
I initially thought this was a prying request, which may be the case. But then I didn’t think giving up my print could hurt me, could it? I have to admit it did cross my mind. Oh you know, the wild fantasy, what if they took it and used it to frame me for a crime I didn’t commit.
But let’s be real. Things like that don’t happen, in general. I will stipulate that it may happen, but realistically I doubt it will ever happen to me or it is even something that I ever have to worry about. Still, the thought crossed my mind.
The real concern is the questions this raises about my privacy. What happened to my privacy? What is next DNA. Where is that line, or is there one. Not so when it comes to private companies. There really is no privacy when it comes to corporations. Face it, they track what is bought, where you shop, etc. But is this as bad as some might make it out to be?
Let’s look at this. First let’s examine the paranoia of some. They have this information, but Companies have no incentive to turn any of your information over to the government. If they did, consumers would certainly stop doing business with them, profits would drop, and their doors would close forever. So unless compelled they wouldn’t turn anything over.
From a shareholders point of view (of which I am for Bank of America) this adds a level of protection. Bank of America is defrauded less, the company looses less, and I get more money back as a result. How can that be bad?
The question really then becomes, what is the harm suffered? Was I harmed for giving up my fingerprint? No, but I could be someday. Possibly. Maybe.
But forget everything I have said before, because in the end I gave up my fingerprint. Not because I was ok with it or I thought it was a necessary evil, but I did it because I wanted the money. That is what it comes down to. $Money$.
