YOU

I know that the new issue has been out for several days now, but I was listening to Net at Nite on Twit and heard them talking about Time Magazine’s person of the year.

YOU.

The show hosts, Leo Laporte and Amber MacArthur were talking about YOU as a cop-out for the person of the year. Amber agues that it should be the YouTube guys. Some others argue, “Time can’t make the person of the year a construct.”

But this is not a construct. Look at the cover of the magazine to get my point. A mirror reflects back the person of the year image.

Not YOU in the sense of everyone – but YOU in the sense of the one person that YOU look at in the mirror every morning. Not a collective YOU – but a personal YOU.

YOU are the reason that YouTube, MySpace, and Wikipedia are successful and have changed the world. Without YOU the social aspect of the internet would not exist.

So – If YOU haven’t picked up a copy of the new issue of Time – go out and buy it.

are you using media? (part 2)

I really can’t see any reason why every business isn’t employing media (video, podcasts, blogs, etc) to tell the world about what they do.

Okay. So you are a manufacturing plant that produces products to sell to wholesalers. You ask, “Why would I need to show anybody what we do here at the plant?”

My answer – “because you can.”

The cost of producing media is so inexpensive and easy that you should be doing it on a regular basis. You are now able to show the world what you could only show a few years ago to a handful of people touring your factory. Why not show them? People will get to see how your products are made and the quality that goes into them.

If you have a customer facing business – media will allow you to reach your customers in brand new ways. Think of video based quick tips that you could compile – or co-host a podcast with other leaders from your industry.

Media is only becoming more pervasive.

So start making media and watch your business grow.

YOU

I know that the new issue has been out for several days now, but I was listening to Net at Nite on Twit and heard them talking about Time Magazine’s person of the year.

YOU.

The show hosts, Leo Laporte and Amber MacArthur were talking about YOU as a cop-out for the person of the year. Amber agues that it should be the YouTube guys. Some others argue, “Time can’t make the person of the year a construct.”

But this is not a construct. Look at the cover of the magazine to get my point. A mirror reflects back the person of the year image.

Not YOU in the sense of everyone – but YOU in the sense of the one person that YOU look at in the mirror every morning. Not a collective YOU – but a personal YOU.

YOU are the reason that YouTube, MySpace, and Wikipedia are successful and have changed the world. Without YOU the social aspect of the internet would not exist.

So – If YOU haven’t picked up a copy of the new issue of Time – go out and buy it.

are you using media? (part 2)

I really can’t see any reason why every business isn’t employing media (video, podcasts, blogs, etc) to tell the world about what they do.

Okay. So you are a manufacturing plant that produces products to sell to wholesalers. You ask, “Why would I need to show anybody what we do here at the plant?”

My answer – “because you can.”

The cost of producing media is so inexpensive and easy that you should be doing it on a regular basis. You are now able to show the world what you could only show a few years ago to a handful of people touring your factory. Why not show them? People will get to see how your products are made and the quality that goes into them.

If you have a customer facing business – media will allow you to reach your customers in brand new ways. Think of video based quick tips that you could compile – or co-host a podcast with other leaders from your industry.

Media is only becoming more pervasive.

So start making media and watch your business grow.

products vs. media

What do people really want?

I was thinking about this over the Christmas holiday. I saw people flying around buying up as many items as they could afford.

We humans love to collect things. We love products. In fact we aren’t called citizens anymore – they call us consumers.

But is this what we really want? How many products end up in the garbage or in the back of our closets a few weeks after December 25?

What we really crave is acceptance and recognition. When we buy new clothes – we are really purchasing the feeling we get when someone notices them. We buy new cars for the same reason. Our iPods tell people something about us.

But we usually buy media for ourselves. Who notices that we purchased Walk The Line on DVD? Who cares that we just downloaded U2 from iTunes? We do. We consume media to please ourselves – not other people.

And how many times do you throw away a DVD or CD? I bet you have CDs from over 10 years ago in your collection. Do you still wear a pair of jeans from ten years ago? I hope not.

Media (music, books, films, even TV shows) has a shelf life that doesn’t expire. In fact the older the media is – the more likely it is considered a “classic.” Yes cars and some other items also get to this status. But not to the level that media does. (Just look at TBS showing “The Christmas Story” for 24 hours straight).

Media makes us feel more. It makes sense of the world. It resonates with us. The world would be a boring place without musicians, artists, storytellers, writers, and filmmakers. In fact using media and communicating clearly is becoming the currency of the new millennium.

We need media in our lives.

are you using media?

How is your business or organization using media?

If you answer “we are not using media” – then why not?

As a business owner you need to fuse together media and marketing for your products and services. No ifs … ands … or … you get the idea.

It’s not enough to have a website with a few photos and testimonials. Not anymore.

Customers want to interact with you through your blog. They want to be educated by your through your audio or video podcasts. And they need to discover you by using viral video and search based advertising.

What?! You don’t have a blog or podcast or do search marketing. Why not? Do you realize the untapped revenue you are missing from not doing these things?

Welcome to the new world of branding and communications. Think branded entertainment – where you and your brand are the marketing. You interact with the customer directly rather than tagging your ad in-between someone else’s message.

So here are five quick tips for creating that compelling marketing message in the new millennium:

1. Create a Story

Everyone loves a story and this creates an identity to what you do. Your story is your content.

2. Make it personal

If you start a blog – make sure it is a person writing the blog – not from “the company.”

3. Give value

Value is not money. It is more than money. Add value by giving the customer information. But not just any bit of information – but useful targeted – contextualized information. This is the most valuable.

4. Pinging & Threading

Keep pinging with little bits of info rather than trying to write an entire article or do a one hour podcast. Keep things short, useful, and to the point. A five minute podcast packed with educational content is better than a longer format. Think – “threads” that weave a “sweater” of branded content.

5. Interaction

Interact with your customers. Turn on the comments of your blog. Get listeners and viewers to comment on your podcast forum. Keep the lines of dialogue open.

Customers have unlimited options for products and services – but limited time, attention, and capacity for choice. To cut through the clutter – businesses need a compelling message beyond the 30 second ad.

But think of it this way. We now have the tools and capacity to communicate in a way we never had before. This is exciting.

Welcome to the new millennium.

Let’s enjoy the ride.

products vs. media

 

What do people really want?

I was thinking about this over the Christmas holiday. I saw people flying around buying up as many items as they could afford.

We humans love to collect things. We love products. In fact we aren’t called citizens anymore – they call us consumers.

But is this what we really want? How many products end up in the garbage or in the back of our closets a few weeks after December 25?

What we really crave is acceptance and recognition. When we buy new clothes – we are really purchasing the feeling we get when someone notices them. We buy new cars for the same reason. Our iPods tell people something about us.

But we usually buy media for ourselves. Who notices that we purchased Walk The Line on DVD? Who cares that we just downloaded U2 from iTunes? We do. We consume media to please ourselves – not other people.

And how many times do you throw away a DVD or CD? I bet you have CDs from over 10 years ago in your collection. Do you still wear a pair of jeans from ten years ago? I hope not.

Media (music, books, films, even TV shows) has a shelf life that doesn’t expire. In fact the older the media is – the more likely it is considered a “classic.” Yes cars and some other items also get to this status. But not to the level that media does. (Just look at TBS showing “The Christmas Story” for 24 hours straight).

Media makes us feel more. It makes sense of the world. It resonates with us. The world would be a boring place without musicians, artists, storytellers, writers, and filmmakers. In fact using media and communicating clearly is becoming the currency of the new millennium.

We need media in our lives.

are you using media?

How is your business or organization using media?

If you answer “we are not using media” – then why not?

As a business owner you need to fuse together media and marketing for your products and services. No ifs … ands … or … you get the idea.

It’s not enough to have a website with a few photos and testimonials. Not anymore.

Customers want to interact with you through your blog. They want to be educated by your through your audio or video podcasts. And they need to discover you by using viral video and search based advertising.

What?! You don’t have a blog or podcast or do search marketing. Why not? Do you realize the untapped revenue you are missing from not doing these things?

Welcome to the new world of branding and communications. Think branded entertainment – where you and your brand are the marketing. You interact with the customer directly rather than tagging your ad in-between someone else’s message.

So here are five quick tips for creating that compelling marketing message in the new millennium:

1. Create a Story

Everyone loves a story and this creates an identity to what you do. Your story is your content.

2. Make it personal

If you start a blog – make sure it is a person writing the blog – not from “the company.”

3. Give value

Value is not money. It is more than money. Add value by giving the customer information. But not just any bit of information – but useful targeted – contextualized information. This is the most valuable.

4. Pinging & Threading

Keep pinging with little bits of info rather than trying to write an entire article or do a one hour podcast. Keep things short, useful, and to the point. A five minute podcast packed with educational content is better than a longer format. Think – “threads” that weave a “sweater” of branded content.

5. Interaction

Interact with your customers. Turn on the comments of your blog. Get listeners and viewers to comment on your podcast forum. Keep the lines of dialogue open.

Customers have unlimited options for products and services – but limited time, attention, and capacity for choice. To cut through the clutter – businesses need a compelling message beyond the 30 second ad.

But think of it this way. We now have the tools and capacity to communicate in a way we never had before. This is exciting.

Welcome to the new millennium.

Let’s enjoy the ride.

death of the disc

Most things in life are not rocket science. It doesn’t take a mystic to realize that the CD and DVD is doomed. Maybe not this year – maybe not next – but it will happen.

The studios stopped making VHS tapes last year and it is only a matter of time when their little disc brothers get the snub. The Internet will carry the future of entertainment distribution.

Some disagree with this. Mark Cuban (Owner of 2929 entertainment and the Dallas Mavericks) argues that bandwidth will be a problem. But look at how many people said that broadband penetration would be a long time coming and now we are over 50 percent.

So I think the Internet will continue to move forward at a faster rate than we can predict. The question is – as media creators – will we be ready to harness its power?

death of the disc

Most things in life are not rocket science. It doesn’t take a mystic to realize that the CD and DVD is doomed. Maybe not this year – maybe not next – but it will happen.

The studios stopped making VHS tapes last year and it is only a matter of time when their little disc brothers get the snub. The Internet will carry the future of entertainment distribution.

Some disagree with this. Mark Cuban (Owner of 2929 entertainment and the Dallas Mavericks) argues that bandwidth will be a problem. But look at how many people said that broadband penetration would be a long time coming and now we are over 50 percent.

So I think the Internet will continue to move forward at a faster rate than we can predict. The question is – as media creators – will we be ready to harness its power?