Marcel's Mindweeds

“STD testing center” seems like number three on a list of “Embarrassing Places to Check in on Foursquare,” but this September, MTV and the geo-location service are aiming to quash that stigma by offering a badge to all those who get tested as part of MTV’s GYT: Get Yourself Tested campaign. continue reading »

Organised the first Tweetdrinks get-together in Utrecht, at Winkel van Sinkel. It was fun and we hope to see more of you tweeps on thursday the 7th of may. Enlisting (if you like) is possible through: http://bit.ly/qQwAI

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On Monday I always take some time to read reviews. Just read a review on what some experts consider to be a better website. I think it is a bit strange to give people the label ‘expert’ that easily, but ok. After seeing some sites that I myself do not find very new or extremely good I saw one that I think is strong because of the simplicity. Visa combines Flickr with ‘responsabillity’ in a nice and simple way.  Click here to see the site.

Not so many posts before this one I wrote about the Skittles stunt with the widget and Twitters search page on Skittles.com. They really did surprise the world with their social media approach. It resulted in huge worldwide exposure and it is trend setting in my opinion.

It got me thinking. What is going to happen with authentic ways of marketing with this kind of exposure on the rise? I can imagine that a lot of organisations that are making money of more contemporary wasy of marketing and advertising will have to make a very big transition in order to get with the program in time. Next to these changing environments there will be completely new ways of marketing that will prove to be very competative.

Because of this I started an initiative called Twitvertising whch will be developed over the coming months. It is supposed to assist organisations and people with responsible marketing through social media. It is still in the very early baby step stage. If you feel you can help, or if you have any ideas on the subject, please let me know!

Went to a meeting yesterday, called the Idea Factory. An initiative where entrepreneurs are able to meet in order to get to know eachother and where expertise can be shared to facilitate projects with the right people. It seems that this is very difficult to accomplish. People are very different because of their trade and age. Still the need for ‘sourcing’ the right people persists. What would be the best way to gather professionals willing to commit?

A lot of big brands still do not know what to do with social media and how to fit them into their strategy. Organisations are very often enclosed in old school ways of thinking and acting forthcoming from media strategies based on old school media traditions. A shift in mindet has to be made when it comes to media and social media specifically.

Below you will find some points of attention of which I think that they should play a role creating a ‘new school’ approach.

• Organisations tend to operate very regional and local. When content is produced and shared by consumers it is mostly doen so without a ‘localized’ intent. The consumer will share with everyone, around the globe and whenever her or she feels like it.
• Control works restrictive. The more an organisations limits the use of social media the less effect it can expect. The consumer and content producer is in charge!
• Go, go, go! Do not ponder to long, start experimenting intenally. Your employees use social media as well (at least, most of them do) and they often render contribution without even knowing. They know what will and what will not work.
• Sociale media are very personal and not everyone will like or understand it instantaneously. Promote, support, explain, anchor it and keep it ‘fun’.
• Accept time. It takes time to become involved, to build a community, to get into interaction with and involve communities.
• Make the communication and interaction measurable.
• It will not work if there is no reason for the consumer to get involved. Results will be different from a standard advertising campaign. This makes it difficult. How to keep the audience engaged?

There must be dozens more that influence a solid social media strategy. Such a strategy is becoming more and more important, the consumer is demanding. They work with those media sooner than organisations would like to or even could. Learn from the consumers!

Questions or remarks? I would love to hear them.