Marketing Trends: Social Media meets Astronomy

Yesterday, the Brains on Fire blog wrote a post about how social media relates to a relatively unusual topic… Astronomy.  They wrote:

“Did you know that astronomers just discovered that the Milky Way is 50% larger than they originally thought? Just think about it for a second – all those new planets floating out there just waiting to be discovered and explored…So how does this possibly relate to [social media]? Well, for me it’s a great reminder that while social media is great, there is still a lot out there to be discovered. There’s no doubt that “social media” is the latest buzz phrase and Twitter and Facebook are the belles of the ball right now. And they are great tools. But as they become mainstream, they are becoming just another channel to push messages through…and the noise is increasing. Yes, there are some shining stars (no pun intended) when it comes to companies using these tools to have a conversation, but the vast majority of the companies using the social media platforms are still just pushing information. Not conversing.”

Brains on Fire brings up a stellar point – as the noise increases, messaging must become increasingly transparent and engaging or it will get lost in the shuffle.  Social media is an uncharted frontier.  There are no rules established yet, no boundaries, no common law, and if you make a mistake it could be deadly to your brand’s reputation.

So how do you make your message stand out from all the rest? The first way os to understand that all of the platforms/tools out there at your disposal are just that – tools at yoru disposal.  They don’t make a social media campaign successful, they don’t have some magical quality that promotes your busienss more than other mediums.  They are simply tools for you to use to get your message to the masses.

The second thing you must understand to be successful, is it is the message that matters.  Engage users with contests, witty conversation, meaningful advice, not with constant secret pushes to your website.  Users can see right through those techniques, and it turns them off.  Show the community that you have something worthwhile to offer, and your results will be much more positive.  Always remember, quality content is key!

If you are operating a social media campaign, ask your self: How are you using these tools to support real-world conversations? Real-world face-to-face interactions? How do you follow up with your messaging?  By answering these questions, you will obtain a better understanding of where the gaps lie in your social media strategy, and you will be able to develop a stronger action plan moving forward.

Do you have a favorite social media platform/tool?  Leave me a comment and tell me what it is and why you like it so much.

Exciting internet marketing news… Twitter has finally found their revenue model!

“How will Twitter make money?”  This was the golden question being asked in 2008 by social media experts and Fortune 500 brands alike. The $500-million question (the amount, mostly in stock options, that Facebook reportedly offered to buy Twitter) has plagued the company since its rise in popularity, and the company finally has an answer.

Twitter’s new revenue model revolves around the sale of corporate accounts, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone says, Twitter will earn revenue from such companies as JetBlue, Comcast and Dell, which already use the social networking tool to build brand awareness and grassroots advertising. In exchange, Twitter will work with these companies to build corporate-exclusive features, such as identity verification for accounts.  Stone comments, “Like, users who want to know: is that the real Shaquille O’Neal or not?” Stone said. “Maybe we could help users by saying, Yup, definitely the real Shaquille O’Neal. That’s a real account. We checked with them.”

There are other cool new features on the way, says Stone, although they will not be released to the public just yet, but one thing was made clear: Advertising is not the route they’ll take

Marketing Trends: Top Consumer Trend Predictions for 2009

As we approach the end of 2008, and businesses begin to prepare for the new year, it is important that marketers begin looking ahead to try to understand the top consumer trends that are forecasted for 2009.  There are many new changes in the ways consumers are behaving, and as a result the traditional marketing techniques are not performing as well as they have in the past.  In order to be successful in 2009, it is critical that businesses understand these changes, and are able to adapt to accommodate them.

Here are my top consumer trends for 2009.

Community Development - As 2009 begins, look to see an increase in community development, both online, and in the real world. Traditional, hierarchical social groups are breaking down, a result of the wholesale fragmentation of America. Basic needs to connect are getting met in smaller communities more directly relevant to people’s interests and experience.

Consumer Control & Customization - Consumer desire for total control is raising the bar on what products and services are expected to deliver, and customization of these products and services is going to be critical.

Thrifty Shopping - This trend is about an evolution, maturation, and stabilization of the new economy.  As the country struggles to re-gain its economic stability, new measures of “success” are emerging, with status awarded for tenacity, creativity, and entrepreneurial smarts – survival skills of this new and challenging time.

Hyper-Activity – We live in a multi-sensory, multi-tasking world.  Consumers today use cellphones, PDAs, computers, video games, and instant messaging – all at the same time. Managing the most info, and being the person “in the know” is seen as a badge of pride. Because of this trend, consumer messages are packed into every inch of time and space, vying for attention, so businesses must really find new, edgy ways to make their messaging stand out.

These macro-trends signal a major shift in consumer needs, wants, desires or passions in the upcoming year.  If you plan to successfully engage your consumers, you must understand these trends, and learn how to use them for your benefit.

Social PPT: How to Create a Standout Social Media Presentation.

There are a wealth of social power point platforms available to users today, meaning that there is also a wealth of social media information and content out on the net just waiting to be read.  With all the “competition” out there, how do you make your presentation stand out from all the rest?  Here are some professional tricks of the trade to get you noticed.

1.) Become a thought leader.  Don’t simply create another presentation on “What is Social Media” or “how to Use Social Media,” because you will surely get lost in the shuffle.  Instead, focus on developing a niche in the market, and become a thought leader in that niche. Stand out from the crowd!

2.) Build a compelling presentation.  Remember, you are uploading this presentation to the web for others to find and read.  Your presentation must be edgy, and informative, in order to keep users engaged in your content.

3.) Use keywords, and tags, when you upload your powerpoint to the website, to maximize search-ability.

4.) Keep it visual.  Your viewers don’t want to be sitting around reading slide after slide for fifty-two slides.  Use graphics whenever possible to convey your message, and try to balance your writing with imagery.

Hopefully these tips will help you develop your own intellectual property for the web.  If you would like additional information on social media, check out our whitepaper on slideshare (one of my favorite social ppt sites.)