Video: Interviews at the Social Media World Forum #smwf

Huzu, a very innovative London-based Social Media Platform agency had been in charge of the video element of the #smwf and are releasing 12 short videos covering specific topics using interviews of the main speakers at the forum. I have a short cameo somewhere near the end.

“What role does Social Media play in the overall Marketing Strategy”

Huzu at the Social Media World Forum 2010 – Interviews from Huzu on Vimeo.

My presentation at the Social Media World Forum on “Successfully Monitoring and Measuring Social Media Campaigns” is covered here. and is downloadable on Slideshare.

Successfully Monitoring and Measuring Social Media Campaigns #smwf

I presented this at the Social Media World Forum (#smwf)

The event itself was very enlightening, the insights and perspectives were inspiring. Although, I kept seeing on the #smwf back-channel (that is, the twitter conversations using the hash-tag, just in case you didn’t know) as well as on blog postings that some people were calling the event a re-hash and “saying the same thing as last time”, “not adding value”, etc. I would like to wholeheartedly disagree. There was tremendous value even if it was a re-hash, which I don’t believe it to be.

I think “Social Media Experts” who always attend these events have always heard the propositions and presentations and similar ideas floating around and hence are more akin to believing and seeing the same things over and over again. But there are MANY, MANY others who do not.

Coming from a marketing background and working across many departments, even currently, I know for a fact that in most organisations, even though employees are versed in Facebook and Twitter and whatever, they do not even know where to begin when it comes to applying Social Media for Business purposes.

The message still needs to be spread, no matter how many times it is said. The point these “Experts” need to get is that the message needs to get to the right audience. Yes further and new thinking needs to take place and take the entire Study and Philosophy to the next level, but the foundations need to be built before you start constructing high towers. These people, the organisations and their departments, are the ones eventually funding the entire Social Media enterprise anyway.

This is the context in which I made my presentation… Download it from Slideshare and go through it with the notes for a fuller explanation and understanding :)

Leap of Faith

He was running hard and could hear his heart beating in his ears and his breath was getting raspy, his lungs burned.  The wolves chasing him did not let down, on his heels they were the chase would be over soon.  He sees ahead that the road is running out, there’s a cliff ahead.  He comes to the cliff and in seconds jumps to cling to a branch. The wolves cry overhead and bark at him, below are violent and wild crashing waves.  The branch gives a little, his time is running out. “Dear God! Please help me!” he screams out.

And he hears a voice inside… “You will be saved. But first, let go of the branch.”

Social Media Marketing Win: Marmite Cereal Bars

Was offered this on Facebook recently in that little Advertising block on the right hand side of your screen offering a free marmite cereal bar. So I though ‘What the hell… let’s give it a go.’ Well I got it in the post yesterday and I was impressed by how integrated the whole campaign was in terms of Marmite launching the new innovation. The objectives must certainly have been awareness and trial, with a higher focus on trial of the product since the messaging of the campaign encourages feedback on their new product.

The product itself, well, it falls under the general feeling around Marmite doesn’t it? You either love it or hate it. Well, I do like Marmite in general and the cereal bar is pretty good. It’s not overbearingly marmite, but you get the taste and it fulfils all the passport factors of being a cereal bar.

I don’t know if they’ve done any TV advertising around it, but the Outdoor is fairly ubiquitous in London and very eye-catching and engaging. I especially love the twist and the emotion it creates around even thinking of having a Marmite showergel, Fabric Softener or Perfume. In contrast, the cereal bar looks like a great idea.

Check ‘em out…

Ad Agency: DDB

An overall brilliant marketing campaign which fitted Social Media into its mix and overall strategy pretty brilliantly and was the first FMCG brand to do so. The bars were also sampled at tube stations and other places and the sample bars through facebook were obviously voluntary and you had to put in your address. So instead of Social Media i.e. Facebook Ad units being the main driver it was, in fact, only a part of the campaign for marmite to increase its reach.

Great Idea. Great Work.

Starbucks’ Instant Range: VIA Ready Brew

Thus should spark debate amongst the coffee cognoscenti. The age old generally accepted fact that instant coffee would NEVER match that of filter. Starbucks choose to challenge this assumption with the launch of their new instant range which they promise is just as good as their filter coffee (also, it gives them a nice intro into the instant coffee market, where they don’t play currently).

Further to proving their claim, they’re inviting Starbucks customers to come in on the weekend of 12th-15th March and have a taste-off of their VIA Ready Brew range vs. Their filter coffee. They also just sent me a taster in the mail.

Starbucks VIA. This should be interesting…

Britain’s “Naked” Body Scans

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin

Two Muslim women have been the first to reject going into the controversial body scanners at Manchester airport.

News Report: Daily Mail “Muslim women who refused to take ‘naked’ full-body scan are barred from Manchester to Pakistan flight”

I think Ben Franklin had a very legitimate point and the consequences of the actions of the current British government (and the US), with their gross insecurity, keep coming to light. I think the problem stems from the “Us and Them” mindset which is so prevalent in Western Society. It’s childish and not very constructive to building a vision for humanity which is sustainable.

When will people learn from history? NO Nation rules for long and all glory is short-lived save by being remembered for great action in the service of humanity. What they are currently doing serves nothing but their own purpose and everyone can see it. wasn anybody even listening when tehy watched Spiderman? “with great power comes great responsibility” not “with great power comes great arrogance”, which could be true from we’ve seen in history, anyway.

It all depends on which side you fall on and your actions will betray your intention. The line between the hero and the villain is very thin indeed.

Personal Branding and Enhancing Employee Relations with Social Media

I gave a presentation yesterday at the “Social Media and the Employment Relationship Conference” in Holborn, London.  Essentially, I was talking to a group of HR consultants and professionals and letting them know how to get involved and get started using Social Media in their particular context.

Here it is :)