Siccome la casa brucia, riscaldiamoci.
Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves.
The Blue-State Bird of Tweetiness
November 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment
The Marketing Consigliere has been trying to build up his Twitter list of followers and followees, and had a friend that was following both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. So he checked out their Twitter profiles and noticed something odd… Senator Clinton stopped tweeting on October 30th and (now) President Elect Obama stopped tweeting on November 5th, the day after he won one of the most exciting elections in United States history.
It’s easy to assume that some minion in each politician’s campaign was actually doing the tweeting, but why stop? John McCain‘s campaign apparently lasted until November 19th to make some apparently “good sport” and positive statements…
Or was this the authentic John McCain Twitter page where tweeting was apparently muffled on October 24th? The Marketing Consigliere thinks it might have been but it looks like the GOP muddied up their own Twitter waters… they need to have better brand management for 2012…
Now that the “real” work has to be done, why abandon such a useful communication tool “cold turkey?” Especially the winner, who had 138,912 followers compared to Clinton’s 6,249. and McCain’s 2,135 (or 4,841, depending on which Twitter page you may believe is the real one and don’t want to bother looking for duplicates).
By using Twitter, they were reaching out to a growing audience and validating the social networking value that Twitter offers. The Marketing Consigliere can understand people needing a break from such a long, historic campaign, but certainly someone could keep the Twitter machine going for these politicians… Doesn’t their respective party leadership think that anyone would still follow?
Network-Centric Tools Don’t Kill – People Do
November 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Almost a year and a half ago The Marketing Consigliere blogged the praises of Google Earth and how businesses were using it in innovative ways. This week, when many of us were being thankful and looking forward to a better future, reality blasted back in. The tragedy in Mumbai has not fallen just on India, but on the international community.
It is with a heavy heart that The Marketing Consigliere hears that the perpetrators used Google Earth to plan their senseless attack. While he abhors the use of a great tool for unadulterated evil, he knows that fortunately in the long run much good is created with it.
The positive news is how the innocent people at the scene coped and used network centric tools like cellphones, blogs and Twitter to communicate to the rest of the world and to help others navigate through the chaos. Their brave leadership showed how simple things can shed light in the midst of darkness. In each of the thousands of communications that were sent was an unwritten message for the entire world to see:
We, the human race, condemn your cowardly acts. Your action will not get you the victory you so obsessively want to thrust on us. Our “weapons” are tools that spread the truth and shall cast light on you and will drown your corrupted ideas.
It is through spreading communication that positive thoughts shall defeat negative thoughts. Maybe some, but not all hearts will change for the better as these tools allow the “Wisdom of Crowds” to show the world that through the open flow of ideas we shall better ourselves, and not spiral down into darkness with those that want to drag us there.
The Marketing Consigliere does not like to preach morals and wants to return to advising on business; but this had to be said.
Hatching Success with Microsoft Dynamics CRM
November 27, 2008 By Leave a Comment
The first Microsoft Dynamics CRM Incubation Week is being held from December 15th to 19th, 2008 at the Microsoft Technology Center in Reston, Virginia. This week-long program will include some training and several days of prototyping and development, and a presentation competition for prizes. This event is free to enter but if selected, travel, lodging, meals, etc. are out-of-pocket for entrants. Each team will be allowed up to three team members.
Companies that are chosen to participate will benefit by being able to get advice from on-site Microsoft Dynamics CRM experts, entrepreneurial mentoring from academic and angel advisers, and buzz for their ideas.
Entry submission information is here.
The Marketing Consigliere thinks this will be a rewarding program for any company that wishes to be a part of the Network-Centric Marketing ecosystem. Good luck!
Thanksgiving ’08: Freedom from Want and Needs
November 27, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Norman Rockwell, Freedom From Want
Just a short note today – the Marketing Consigliere does not need to remind you to be thankful for the usual blessings in your life, but wants to make some out-of-the-ordinary thank yous:
Thank you to all the Marketers out there who are leveraging the power of Network Centric Marketing and doing their best to bring us the products and services we need;
Thank you to the men and women leaders in small business who are keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive in the United States and throughout the world despite these uncertain times.
Thank you to the engineers and coders who are working hard to make technology benefit all of us;
Thank you to the businesses and consumers out there who are keeping an even keel and not panicking; and
Thank you to Norman Rockwell for creating such a powerful image that has become an American icon for all generations.
CMO – C-hief M-uttonhead O-ffhisrocker
November 25, 2008 By Leave a Comment
A recent survey conducted by Epsilon reports that 55% of marketing executives said they’re “not too interested” or “not interested at all” in including social networking into their marketing efforts.
Don’t they realize their children, whether in college, high school, or grade school are spending inordinate amount of time on social networks? Don’t they know that an entire generation of their employee base has been IMing for years and is now Twittering? Perhaps they’re in some “old economy” company where their clients, partners and competitors don’t do this.
No wonder why CMO tenure is less than two years – and they need to read the Marketing Consigliere’s recent blog entitled”4-Point Strategy: How Not to Get “Whacked.”
Before you know it, someone in their space will be leveraging social networking to the hilt and they’ll be scrambling to catch up. I hope that their boards find more enlightened, energizing marketers for 2009 and beyond. Leadership is key to transforming a business into a net-centric marketing organization.
