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Latest Updates: Microblogging RSS

  • Update from SXSW

    Pat McCarthy 10:20 am on March 16, 2010 | 0 Comments Permalink | Post Your Comment!
    Tags: Microblogging, ,

    foursquare-kjh

    South by Southwest is becoming the place to launch the next big thing. Last year, Foursquare was unveiled there and has since gained 560,000 players. Their competitor Gowalla is also at SXSW, but they are lacking the full force of Foursquare. One reason is the lack of a BlackBerry app. Foursquare is a very user driven device spread by WOM. They don’t invest heavily in marketing, instead relying on users to spread enthusiasm. Gowalla is the same way, but they haven’t gotten past the BlackBerry wall. Early adopters use the latest technology. If one entire section of them is blocked out, general adoption will be diminished.

    Read more about geo-location games at Daily Finance

     

  • The Shift From TV to Twitter

    Pat McCarthy 10:27 am on March 5, 2010 | 0 Comments Permalink | Post Your Comment!
    Tags: , Microblogging,

    unilever

    In an effort to keep up with the modern consumer, WOMMA member Unilever is turning its focus from traditional advertising methods to social media. At the American Association of Advertising Agencies’ Transformation Conference in San Francisco this week, Unilver’s VP Personal Care Kathy O’Brien discussed the importance of social media marketing and the need for Unilever’s brands to think beyond the standard 30-second TV spot. Citing Dove’s brand success as an example, O’Brien said that social media is a way to initiate communication between consumers and gain brand advocates. O’Brien asserted that “social media is going to become the fabric that goes through all our communication efforts.”

    Read more about Unilever and social media at Brandweek.

     

  • Toyota Twitter Disaster

    Pat McCarthy 10:52 am on February 23, 2010 | 0 Comments Permalink | Post Your Comment!
    Tags: , Microblogging

    Automakers know that recalls are all part of the job, but Toyota’s recent troubles are some for the record books. The true extent of the PR nightmare can be felt in the astounding speed that Twitter users jumped on their accounts to voice their opinions. After the news broke, there were thousands of negative comments streaming in every hour. Toyota has built its brand on quality and when something like faulty breaks is revealed, they have to brace for a wave of negative WOM. This is because WOM is generated by breaking from the norm. Any car company should put their customers’ safety on top of their priority list, but if your brand is your quality, this is especially important.
    Read more about how the recall played out in social media at The Big Money

     

  • Remember Second Life?

    Pat McCarthy 11:42 am on February 9, 2010 | 0 Comments Permalink | Post Your Comment!
    Tags: Microblogging,

    The death of Twitter has been predicted since the microblogging platform first got a little buzz. It continues to grow albeit at a slower rate, 6.2 million users per month down from 7.8 million last year. Despite adding the population of a major city in thirty days, a mere 17% updated their account last December. I can’t help but remember Second Life. Though the virtual world is still up and running, the hype is gone. For a time, brands were curious about how they can use Second Life to further connect with consumers. That faded as they discovered one of the reasons Second Life worked was because it was an organic community that didn’t jive with marketing. Twitter might experience the same transition. With celebrity users netting millions of fans when Verizon has 5,000 and Coca-Cola has 15,000, it is hard to imagine that Twitter will ever be regarded as a serious marketing or consumer connection portal.
    Read more about Twitter’s troubles at BrandWeek

     

  • Trial by Fire

    Pat McCarthy 11:35 am on January 20, 2010 | 0 Comments Permalink | Post Your Comment!
    Tags: Microblogging,

    The WOMMA Word reported on how new media affected the crisis in Haiti last week. Twitter acted as a major conduit of information just as it did during the Iran election turmoil last year. A recent report done by WOMMA governing member Nielsen found that Twitter was the leading source of discussion followed by online video, blogs and social media. In fact, nearly 150,000 tweets contained both “Haiti” and “Red Cross” since the quake. Though traditional media still dominated the coverage, it is becoming clear that Twitter will continue to play a role in times of crisis.
    Read more on how info was passed through Twitter at CNet

     

  • Island Ethics

    Pat McCarthy 10:34 am on January 8, 2010 | 0 Comments Permalink | Post Your Comment!
    Tags: , , Microblogging

    Singapore requires all emails and SMS ads must have the word “ADV” and an opt-out option. However, this law does not yet cover Twitter ads. Though Twitter is often done through text, it finds itself in a gray area. The law states that unsolicited messages sent “in bulk” are limited to 100 messages per 24-hour period. But the nature of Twitter requires users to opt-in to receive the messages. Singapore is now in a transition period just like the US was last year. Since the FTC updated the Guides on Testimonials and Endorsements, US law has closed many of the loopholes that made for some unethical practices. Other countries need examine how their laws protect consumers from unfair practices.
    Read more at ZD Net Asia

     

  • Great Minds, Great Tweets

    Pat McCarthy 10:56 am on January 7, 2010 | 0 Comments Permalink | Post Your Comment!
    Tags: Microblogging

    Many have discounted the value of Twitter because so many accounts are producing no tweets. This overlooks one of the most valuable parts of the platform, listening. Brands spend a lot of money to know what is going on, but the small guy who just needs some insight can also benefit from a solid stream of insightful tweets. In the cited article below, there are 80 tweeters that any small business or ambitious marketer should follow. You might have heard of the top ten, but take a serious look further down the list. You might find your next inspiration.
    See the full list at American Express’ Open Forum

     

  • Internet Plumbing: The Twitter Pipe

    Pat McCarthy 8:44 am on January 5, 2010 | 0 Comments Permalink | Post Your Comment!
    Tags: Microblogging,

    Many websites and platforms grow, blossom and die, but a select few become part of the plumbing of the Internet. It is becoming harder to deny that Twitter is here to stay. The number of users continues to grow. Not only that, dozens of programs and websites such as Hootsuite and Tweetdeck have been developed to expand on the simple platform. It is now integrated into Google and Bing searches and will soon influence Digg’s algorithm. Forget about complaints about innocuous information (e.g. “Waiting in line for a coffee”). The reason Twitter is now plumbing is because the conversations occurring on it provide useful, accurate, and real-time information for businesses and consumers.
    Read more about why Twitter is now plumbing at The New York Times

     

  • Google & Bing Prepare for Twitter

    Pat McCarthy 10:09 am on December 23, 2009 | 0 Comments Permalink | Post Your Comment!
    Tags: Microblogging

    Even the most savvy search minds aren’t entirely sure how the integration of Twitter into Google and Bing will affect search results. One thing is for sure, any brand that doesn’t have some sort of Twitter plan should seriously consider making the jump. In terms of SEO, the names that have dominated many search terms may see their link drop down based on the chatter on Twitter. This means moving beyond listening and actively participating. Despite seemingly having their hand forced, many brands may look back on this as the move that finally got them engaged with their consumers.
    Read more on the integration at Brand Republic

     

  • One Job, One Tweet

    Pat McCarthy 11:31 am on December 16, 2009 | 0 Comments Permalink | Post Your Comment!
    Tags: , Microblogging

    When BFG Communications needed a social media professional, they decided to take an unconventional route. The standard resume, interview, follow-up procedure didn’t show the applicant’s skills as well as a real world test. They allowed only one tweet. The winner? A man named Hal Thomas who squeezed two links, one of a Wired magazine cover doctored to show Thomas and the accolades of his future work and the other to his blog. This probably won’t become the standard, but it certainly brings into question the traditional interview method for non-traditional jobs.
    Read more at MSNBC
    See the Wired magazine cover here
    Read Hal’s blog here

     

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