Ada.... known by many as the road rage capital of northwest Ohio (according to a survey I just made up).
Little did I know last night that I would become another tragic statistic in my fictitious survey.
Sparing you the inconsequential details of my night, I ended up at the Marathon gas station on the edge of town/ village at about 11:30 p.m. On the way back to my house I was stopped behind a silver car that had just pulled out of the drive-through at the light in front of McDonald's. This is when things took a turn for the worst.
When the light turned green I pushed my foot to the gas and motored on , but was slowed down by the silver car in front of me now going 15 mph. Frustrated, I followed the car closely, and was barely able to avoid being break-checked.
Suddenly, the erratic driver swerved into the left turn-lane. Feeling somewhat relieved, I sped up as I passed the driver, exchanging hand gestures along the way (in retrospect not the best idea).
Angrily, the driver jerked his steering wheel back towards Main St. and started to 'ride my bumper.' After following me to my house, the driver got out of his car and started incoherently shouting about the street being a 25mph zone - in which he was driving 15mph - and that I was speeding. Normally, I wouldn't take the incoherent ramblings of a random 25-30 yr. old man seriously, but his 6'3 250 lb stature suggested otherwise.
As you may be able to guess, the driver wasn't in any type of mood to engage in a rational discussion. So, I let him know I was calling the police, and he was in his car taking off - at a rate faster than 15 mph, or even 25 mph for that matter - in a heartbeat.
So here are a few tips I've picked up to avoid road rage, which Isn't the best way to spend a Friday night. And, if you are like me and road rage just seems to find you, you're not alone. There is an entire road rage community out there.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
The New Rules of Marketing And PR: A Reflection
So, I've just finished reading David Meerman Scott's The New Rules of Marketing And PR, and I feel that it is only appropriate to reflect upon what I believe are the most important points of the book.
At first glance, this is not an easy task considering the numerous insights Scott provided, but nevertheless one worth doing.
So here are my thoughts.
Distilled to its purest form, Scott's book is comprised of a series of insightful case studies and "new rules," all used to illustrate one point: The Web has changed the way marketing and PR professionals can converse with masses of "underserved," highly attentive consumers, and we (professionals) can't afford to miss out on these conversations.
An important point - and one blasphemous to my kind (PR folk) - is that the Web has blurred the traditional lines between marketing and PR. Rather than opposing disciplines, we are both goal oriented practitioners wishing to make a quantifiable impact - whether that stem from additional revenue, petition signatures or listserv signups - on our organization's bottom line.
Okay Jay, but how can we go about doing this?
Im glad you asked. The answer is simple, Content.
The key to any successful Web presence is quality content, and lots of it. Not only does frequently updated quality content help drive your web presence up in search engine rankings, but it also can be used to drive customers into the sales process (or a mutually beneficial goal for a non-profit).
Overall, I think Scott's book was an invaluable tool that opened my eyes to the immeasurable marketing and PR opportunities made possible through Web based social mediums.
At first glance, this is not an easy task considering the numerous insights Scott provided, but nevertheless one worth doing.
So here are my thoughts.
Distilled to its purest form, Scott's book is comprised of a series of insightful case studies and "new rules," all used to illustrate one point: The Web has changed the way marketing and PR professionals can converse with masses of "underserved," highly attentive consumers, and we (professionals) can't afford to miss out on these conversations.
An important point - and one blasphemous to my kind (PR folk) - is that the Web has blurred the traditional lines between marketing and PR. Rather than opposing disciplines, we are both goal oriented practitioners wishing to make a quantifiable impact - whether that stem from additional revenue, petition signatures or listserv signups - on our organization's bottom line.
Okay Jay, but how can we go about doing this?
Im glad you asked. The answer is simple, Content.
The key to any successful Web presence is quality content, and lots of it. Not only does frequently updated quality content help drive your web presence up in search engine rankings, but it also can be used to drive customers into the sales process (or a mutually beneficial goal for a non-profit).
Overall, I think Scott's book was an invaluable tool that opened my eyes to the immeasurable marketing and PR opportunities made possible through Web based social mediums.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
No News Like Niche News
Once in every long while I feel like I really gain some headway towards fully wrapping my head around the all encompassing term, social media. This being one of those times, I feel compelled to share what (i think) I've learned.
Yesterday, in a random stroke of luck I stumbled upon a tweet linking to an article titled 48 Social News Websites: A List of General and Niche Social Media Communities, which as I'm sure you may have guessed provides an extensive list of social media news sites.
Before I read this post, my reference point for social media news sites were digg.com, technorati.com and icerocket.com. Admittedly, it was incomplete at best.
I was stunned to see there were social news sites for everything from green news at Hugg.com to SWiK.net, "A community driven resource for people who use open source software."
And this article only begins to scratch the social news surface. The author even references a list of "380 Digg clones."
I feel encouraged.
Each of these niche markets represents another opportunity for PR practitioners to engage their target audiences through a mutually beneficial medium. Although I agree this sounds a bit textbooky(i know this isn't a real word), I'm glad to say I really am beginning to understand how to utilize social media for the benefit of a campaign or organization.
Yesterday, in a random stroke of luck I stumbled upon a tweet linking to an article titled 48 Social News Websites: A List of General and Niche Social Media Communities, which as I'm sure you may have guessed provides an extensive list of social media news sites.
Before I read this post, my reference point for social media news sites were digg.com, technorati.com and icerocket.com. Admittedly, it was incomplete at best.
I was stunned to see there were social news sites for everything from green news at Hugg.com to SWiK.net, "A community driven resource for people who use open source software."
And this article only begins to scratch the social news surface. The author even references a list of "380 Digg clones."
I feel encouraged.
Each of these niche markets represents another opportunity for PR practitioners to engage their target audiences through a mutually beneficial medium. Although I agree this sounds a bit textbooky(i know this isn't a real word), I'm glad to say I really am beginning to understand how to utilize social media for the benefit of a campaign or organization.
Atypical Saturday At ONU
Saturday... always a promising time for nonacademic pursuits.
However, little did I know how much fun I would have with a social marketing assignment this past Saturday. And, I can now say, I've created my first ever viral video for Donate Life Ohio.
To give a little background on the situation, the goal of the project was to make a 30 to 60 second video to promote the Do It Now Ohio Organ Donation campaign.
Naturally, the first idea that came to mind involved my dog fighting my girlfriend. Soooo, I ran with it.
The next 50 seconds are the result of a Sony Cyber-shot camera with video options, some simple video editing software and having way too much time on my hands.
I don't know about you, but I see viral gold in the making.
However, little did I know how much fun I would have with a social marketing assignment this past Saturday. And, I can now say, I've created my first ever viral video for Donate Life Ohio.
To give a little background on the situation, the goal of the project was to make a 30 to 60 second video to promote the Do It Now Ohio Organ Donation campaign.
Naturally, the first idea that came to mind involved my dog fighting my girlfriend. Soooo, I ran with it.
The next 50 seconds are the result of a Sony Cyber-shot camera with video options, some simple video editing software and having way too much time on my hands.
I don't know about you, but I see viral gold in the making.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Cavies Home Opener
I just received the best news of the quarter today. This Thursday the 30th my girlfriend and I will be attending the Cleveland Cavaliers home opener against the Charlotte Bobcats.
This couldn't have happened at a better time in the quarter. With the quarter quickly coming to a close, the stress has been building, and what better to get my mind off work than LBJ and the Cavies?
Unfortunately, the Cavaliers #1 fan won't be able to join me at the game. But, I know he will be there in spirit.
I'm expecting big things this year from the Cavs, as are many sportscasters. In an interview with Jeff Zillgitt from USA Today, LeBron James reported that in this point of his career anything less than an NBA championship would be considered a failure.
I'm with you LeBron, and I believe this year will be the affirmation of both your and the Cavs legacy when the Cavs clinch the NBA championship.
If you're a Cavs fan, join me and help cheer the Cavs on to victory on Thursday at 7 p.m.
This couldn't have happened at a better time in the quarter. With the quarter quickly coming to a close, the stress has been building, and what better to get my mind off work than LBJ and the Cavies?
Unfortunately, the Cavaliers #1 fan won't be able to join me at the game. But, I know he will be there in spirit.
I'm expecting big things this year from the Cavs, as are many sportscasters. In an interview with Jeff Zillgitt from USA Today, LeBron James reported that in this point of his career anything less than an NBA championship would be considered a failure.
I'm with you LeBron, and I believe this year will be the affirmation of both your and the Cavs legacy when the Cavs clinch the NBA championship.
If you're a Cavs fan, join me and help cheer the Cavs on to victory on Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Wrong Measures Of Web Success
It all about the benjamins, or in this case, Web hits.
How could it not be? According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD), "The number of broadband subscribers in the OECD reached 251 million by June 2008, an increase of 14% from June 2007."
Think about it.... 251 million potential Web hits; who wouldn't want a piece of that pie? However, you have to ask yourself, what are those hits, impressions, unique visitors, etc. really doing for your company?
I find myself in the position once again where my thoughts are best expressed by author of The New Rules Of Marketing And PR, David Meerman Scott. And I quote:
Don't get me wrong, I believe there is great value to be found in tracking hits for web analytics, but that value extends insofar as the analytics can be interpreted to help add to your bottom line.
After all, what does 10,000 hits really tell you? Can you talk to 10,000 hits and ask them what they did or didn't like about your site?
With this in mind, you really shouldn't be asking, "How many hits did we get," you should be asking, "What are those hits generating for us?"
How could it not be? According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD), "The number of broadband subscribers in the OECD reached 251 million by June 2008, an increase of 14% from June 2007."
Think about it.... 251 million potential Web hits; who wouldn't want a piece of that pie? However, you have to ask yourself, what are those hits, impressions, unique visitors, etc. really doing for your company?
I find myself in the position once again where my thoughts are best expressed by author of The New Rules Of Marketing And PR, David Meerman Scott. And I quote:
Many marketers and PR people also focus on the wrong measures of success. With Web sites, people will often tell me things like, "We want to have 10,000 unique visitors per month to our site." And PR measurement is often similarly irrelevant: "We want ten mentions in the trade press and three national magazine hits each month." Unless your site makes money through advertising so that raw traffic adds revenue, traffic is the wrong measure.
Don't get me wrong, I believe there is great value to be found in tracking hits for web analytics, but that value extends insofar as the analytics can be interpreted to help add to your bottom line.
After all, what does 10,000 hits really tell you? Can you talk to 10,000 hits and ask them what they did or didn't like about your site?
With this in mind, you really shouldn't be asking, "How many hits did we get," you should be asking, "What are those hits generating for us?"
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Social Media And The Recession
What can be expected of the future of social media during a fiscally tight time like now? I have my own suspicions on the matter (which I'll get to shortly), but I wanted to know what those with more industry experience were thinking.
The best article I found was Social media will transcend the negative aspects of the recession written by author jptrenn on the Digital Street Journal.
Basically, the author addresses the notion that traditionally, marketing and public relations are the first "expenses" to be dealt away with during a recession. However, traditions can and do change.
The most relevant point Trenn makes in the article is that, "Social media is a whole new ballgame because it covers so much - marketing, customer relations, media relations, public relations, and a whole lot more."
Because social media can be used to address so many fundamental business transactions (for such a modest investment), it can no longer be seen as a dispensable resource.
These two graphics illustrate my point. With 75% of U.S. adults using social technologies, organizations can actually use social media to cut the costs of both marketing a public relations efforts.
Even better, as the costs of social media productions like pod and vodcasts continue to drop, social media becomes a more cost effective strategy for an organization of any size.
Sooooo, my prediction is that savy PR and marketing managers will begin to make greater use of social media in order to cut production costs and to reach more highly targeted consumer markets.
The best article I found was Social media will transcend the negative aspects of the recession written by author jptrenn on the Digital Street Journal.
Basically, the author addresses the notion that traditionally, marketing and public relations are the first "expenses" to be dealt away with during a recession. However, traditions can and do change.
The most relevant point Trenn makes in the article is that, "Social media is a whole new ballgame because it covers so much - marketing, customer relations, media relations, public relations, and a whole lot more."
Because social media can be used to address so many fundamental business transactions (for such a modest investment), it can no longer be seen as a dispensable resource.
These two graphics illustrate my point. With 75% of U.S. adults using social technologies, organizations can actually use social media to cut the costs of both marketing a public relations efforts.Even better, as the costs of social media productions like pod and vodcasts continue to drop, social media becomes a more cost effective strategy for an organization of any size.
Sooooo, my prediction is that savy PR and marketing managers will begin to make greater use of social media in order to cut production costs and to reach more highly targeted consumer markets.
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