Global Marketing Solutions

The Power of the People

2012-01-25T05:18:00.000-08:00

In case you were in bed with a cold last week, SOPA and PIPA were House bills designed to fight online piracy. As you probably know, many sites protested the legislation and on Friday, Congress decided to table the bills.

And there was much rejoicing…online.

But was this actually a good thing? Isn’t fighting pirates a good thing?

The issue at hand was that the legislation was written too broadly. I don’t think anyone would suggest that people who make their living from intellectual property should live with the expectation of it being stolen. The problem is that, in the case of SOPA, it would only take a few anonymous complaints to take down an entire site. Hypothetically, the US government would have the authority to block YouTube because one contributor used copyrighted material and the owner of the material complained. Given the millions of contributors and material on the site, SOPA methods would be like using a jackhammer when a surgical scalpel was more appropriate.

The most interesting thing about the proposed legislation last week and the media circus surrounding it, was that the protestors won. Eight million people followed the links from the blacked-out Wikipedia site to contact their Congressional representative.

There is no doubt that this debate is far from over. Although we do have laws on the books that protect intellectual property, we don’t have laws that adequately keep pace with the speed and types of use that happen now electronically. Still, the online community stated loudly that these laws need more refinement and our legislators listened. At least, for now. It will be fascinating to see how this plays out over the next year. As an Internet content provider, I hope that we will find the wisdom and governance this issue deserves. Restored faith in our leaders would be a nice side effect as well.

Moving Forward

2012-01-18T07:03:00.000-08:00

In our newsletter this month, we step back to get some perspective before plunging into the year ahead. If I had to sum up in a word what to expect from 2012, I think that word would be clarity.

Economic uncertainty may have plagued the country for the last few years, but I think the clouds of uncertainty will drift away soon. At the Consumer Electronics Show this week, the media has been buzzing about the level of innovation and expectation that has returned. For the last few years, the show has been somewhat flat, but interest this year has surged.

We elect a president this year. Even with the political theatre we can surely expect this summer, whom we elect will say a great deal about the direction this country will take strategically and financially.

And, as we discuss in the newsletter, we are going to see leaner, tighter, more strategic social media companies. Designers have had a few years to tinker with mobile apps and test their abilities. New designs are certain to have the user more in mind now and provide a needed service.

It’s not that there won’t be uncertainty along the way, but approaching this year with optimism seems authentic in a way it may not have this time last year. If each year is a journey, here’s hoping this one is a grand adventure.

What's Coming?

2011-12-28T05:03:00.000-08:00

2011 has been a year full of technological innovation in every direction especially with regard to social media. The big concept for next year looks to be focus. Unlike this year, where innovation for its own sake meant numerous social start-ups with unclear purpose, next year we should start to see more purpose-driven design.

The economy seems to be slowly chugging to a brighter outlook, but consumer behavior has already made a shift to seeking value over status. We are going to expect the same from emerging technology.

Check-Ins

Smart phone deals are going to gain traction and start to focus consumer behavior this year. Initially panned as a fad, check-in services that survived this year will surge ahead with stronger rewards and more compelling deals. As more and more consumers discover these “hidden” deals, we will see them become an ingrained part of our culture.

Aggregators

Another big trend in the coming year will be services that organize the oceans of information that wash over us each day. Pinterest was the first independent service to capture bits of information, save them and organize them for the user. 2012 is likely to see more players in this field. Subjot similarly takes topics that interest you and sifts for just those topics. In other words, it serves you what your friends have to say only on topics that matter to you.

Attention Deficit

Remember the Facebook game that allowed you to decorate a personal Christmas tree? Social networking has evolved quickly over the last couple of years. Consumers are much more savvy and selective about content they want to see. I predict that this year will see marketers striving to excel within the various social channel algorithms so they can rise above the “feed clutter” to reach their audiences. Companies that benefit from this migration most will be the ones that offer content relevant to their audience in the most forthright and interesting way.

In Defense of Consequences

2011-12-14T05:37:00.000-08:00

Last week bloggers across America were shocked when a judge in Oregon ruled that a blogger must pay $2.5 million for comments she made about an investment firm because she’s not a journalist. According to the ruling, she wasn’t a journalist because she wasn’t affiliated with any organized news service. Bloggers were outraged.

I get where they are coming from, but I felt vindicated.

I understand their frustration because journalism has changed so much since I was in college. “Organized” media has been consolidated and, in many cases, the rules we learned in school were thrown out the window in favor of packaging whatever information would provide the best ratings. In a lot of cases, the people who are really going out in the world to uncover truth are independent bloggers. The problem is, most of them don’t have the education or experience to attribute sources or verify facts.

Subsequently, you have a very mixed bag of skill and integrity. What’s missing here – what the judge was trying to get across – is credentials. I have no doubt that media is forever changed by the immediacy of electronic communication and I have no doubt that some individual bloggers are great reporters. Some are even highly-credentialed journalists. But without standards, some bloggers are able to pose as journalists even if they are just lunatics with axes to grind. We saw this happen numerous times throughout the BP oil spill crisis. Anyone with a conspiracy theory could be taken seriously whether they had real evidence or not. Once the story was out there, it was shared and re-posted until it was so ubiquitous it must be true.

It will be interesting to see how standards emerge with this new media. I’m sure this will be only the first of many lawsuits that over time will produce concrete standards by which a blogger can also be called a journalist. Serious bloggers would be wise to band together to create those standards on their own. Serious journalism schools would be wise to fold blogging in to their standards as well. In the meantime, I’m glad to see that there are now possible consequences for making cavalier statements. Bloggers who are concerned this might happen to them would do well to choose their words more carefully – and get insurance.

Just Checking In

2011-12-07T05:50:00.000-08:00

Some ideas hit the ball clear out of the park, but others make a good solid grounder past the short stop. So it is with location-based services. Despite industry analyst predictions, Foursquare tripled its audience this year. One of Foursquare’s biggest competitors, Gowalla, was just purchased by Facebook and will disappear in January. So it would seem that 2012 will see a few strong players in this field which is what it really needs to be enormously popular. After all, no one wants to check-in to the same place 6 or 7 times.

If you still haven’t explored check-in games yet, it looks like now is the best time to step up to the plate. Most services offer special holiday rewards and discounts so test the services while you elbow your way past the crowds at the mall.

Here are the services in order of number of users:
Foursquare – 15 million users worldwide, 7.5 million American users
Loopt – 5 million worldwide
MyTown – 4.5 million worldwide
SCVNGR – 2 million worldwide

Of course there’s also Facebook. This year they released Facebook Places as a separate check-in service and then shut it down and integrated it into status functionality. With the purchase of Gowalla will they plan to make another go of it? Speaking as a marketing professional, I certainly hope so. With over 800 million users, nothing can touch the potential reach and scale available to Facebook. So, if you refuse to participate in a check-in game, you might at least want to get accustomed to posting your location on Facebook while you are out. Driving the trend in that direction can be enormously beneficial if you want the general public to start checking in to your business.

Good News Bad News

2011-11-30T10:19:00.000-08:00

The good news is that holiday sales are up, consumer confidence appears to be on the rise and we can expect a nice economic boost this December. The bad news is that we have completely lost our manners in the process. Apparently pepper spray is the new normal.

God bless Cyber Monday. If all holiday shopping looked like Black Friday, we would have martial law by now. Instead, plenty of people stayed home and took care of Christmas shopping not only online but on their cell phones. Mobile sales were up 6.6 percent this year to 10.8 percent of Cyber Monday sales. People completed one out of 10 transactions from their phones. Wow.

Is it just me or have we as a country been moving in divergent directions? How long will rational, efficient behavior live side-by-side with frantic, imaginary crisis? I miss the days when it was fun to go holiday shopping amid elaborate decorations at shopping centers and malls. I look forward to a time when we can stroll with families, dazzled by lights and displays. When the pendulum finds its way to the middle, as it invariably does, it will be interesting to see how these divergent mindsets come back together. I wonder what role social media will play. Online meet-ups are already very popular. We’ve all seen YouTube videos of flash-mobs. Will tweet-ups replace casual strolls? I hope so. Somehow those of us who are excited by Foursquare scores need to help the pepper-sprayers of the world to find a more constructive focus for their energy.

Why I Love Christmas So Much

2011-11-23T03:49:00.000-08:00

If you know me, you are probably aware that the only person more into gifts than me is Oprah. I simply cannot rein in my exuberance this time of year. I know it seems Pollyanna of me to take such delight in the season. In truth, I can’t help feeling a little guilty sometimes. I know not everyone shares my joy. For some, the holidays are painful reminders of loss and for others the spirit of the season just seems to fizzle. So maybe I should explain.

I believe joy has seasons.

I was blessed to grow up in a caring family and for us the tradition and ritual of Christmas renewed our joy like blooming perennials. For those who don’t have happy family memories the prospect of joy may seem distant and unattainable. For those who are grieving, joy may seem to have shriveled and withered. The thing is, I truly believe that joy comes back around again. If you are lucky enough to have it to spare, you have to indulge in it, and you have to share it. Even silly things like candy and cookies can nourish the soil to allow joy to grow again. It is after all, part of the plan that we celebrate each year when we commemorate Christmas and the birth of a vulnerable, but I imagine, happy infant.

So I embrace it all. We keep the traditions alive that we celebrated as children moving from city to city. We sing the songs that our parents sang and their parents before them. The only difference now is that we have them stored on Pandora. I try to be kinder and I notice the kindness of others. And I give lots of presents. I get a special thrill from finding something that speaks to me about a particular person. I won’t apologize for the selfish joy it brings me because I know I’m passing that joy along to the next person too.

If you read this and you still scoff, all I can suggest is that you exhale and it let it all in. You deserve it; we all do.

Generosity and Abundance

2011-11-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

We are never more frazzled than during the holidays. We shop endlessly for everyone on our lists. We go to parties, bake cookies, dangle precipitously from our roofs to decorate. So why aren’t we tired? Every year, it seems we should be exhausted, but at the end of the day, we smile, sit by the fire and sip hot chocolate. Under the lurid light of the artificial tree, everything seems right with the world.

I have a theory.

Part of this rare energy comes from being fully immersed in the season. We tap in to the delight of children when we hear holiday songs and wrap things up with paper and tape. The real source of that energy, though, comes from the generosity that abundance allows us. This season affords more opportunities for generosity than the rest of the year put together. We take time to care during the holidays. We put spare change in the red bucket. We allow the grocery clerk to add a few dollars to our bill to feed the hungry. We even chip in at the pet store to help less fortunate animals.

We don’t ask for anything in return, but we get something anyway. We get fuel. We are all like the Grinch when he lifts up the sleigh.

There is now a word for what retailers do when they put Christmas items out in October. It is called Christmas Creep, and there is a movement afoot to push it back to Thanksgiving Day. It won’t work because Christmas Creep is terribly effective, but maybe we can learn to think of it differently. Maybe Christmas Creep is just an extended opportunity to celebrate our personal, emotional, mental, physical and financial abundance with a longer season of grateful generosity.

Dealer-Chic

2011-11-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

Trendspotting.com published a report this month about a shift in consumer thinking. "Dealer-Chic" is the idea that haggling for the best price and actively seeking the best deal for an item or service isn’t done quietly any longer. With shows like Extreme Couponing and with the profusion of deal sites, overall consumer behavior now leans toward bragging about just how well a person bargains.

Why is this significant?
The fact that we now actively try to one-up each other publicly over our haggling ability can be tremendously useful for social media strategy. Finding a way to get your customers to boast about a great deal they got with you can certainly stimulate buzz and generate new business. We would be happy to work with you to find ways to use this knowledge to create a social campaign for your business or organization.

Dealer-chic is also significant though, because it tells us something about the state of the economy and trends in a larger sense with consumer behavior. It paints a more long-term picture. Showing off the deal you got isn’t likely to be a short-term fad. It is a paradigm shift in the way we shop. In the 1980s, we saw megatrends toward extravagant displays of wealth and position. Since then it would have been considered declasse’ in some circles to reveal discounts or admit to wearing knock-offs. The pendulum is starting to swing the other way now. Frugality and shrewdness will be the benchmarks of status for the foreseeable future.

Privacy

2011-11-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

It’s been a while since we discussed privacy issues surrounding social media. With the holiday season approaching, fierce competition for every online gift dollar brings this to forefront again.

New Wrinkles
Just last week the Wall Street Journal published an article saying that Mastercard and Visa are independently developing technology to connect consumer transactions to individual online profile information. In other words, they are working on ways to directly link your purchases with your identity on Facebook, Google+ etc. to target ads to you based on your spending habits.

In response to the article, Senator Rockefeller, who introduced the Do-Not-Track legislation earlier this year, sent a letter to the credit card companies asking for a clarification of their intentions. In a perfect world, precise ad targeting provides a helpful service to consumers and retailers alike. Because this is not a perfect world, consumers have good reason question the idea of their personal information being collected, aggregated, packaged and sold without their knowledge. In the company’s response to Rockefeller’s letter, Visa said the data would only be collected with a customer's consent.

Expanding to Mobile
In October, the Mobile Marketing Association issued mobile app privacy guidelines for development similar to those issued by the Digital Advertising Alliance earlier this year. The guidelines ask that apps describe how “precise real-time location information” is gathered and used. It should explain in clear layman’s terms and offer consumers the opportunity to opt out. At present, mobile apps are not regulated and 40 percent do not offer a privacy policy.

In addition, Sens. Al Franken and Richard Blumenthal introduced legislation to require companies to get consumer consent prior to collecting location data or sharing the information with third parties.

In spite of the constant erosion of consumer privacy expectations, we will probably see more regulation in the next year. We will also see marketers working hard to obtain consent and shape public opinion regarding ad targeting. In turn, consumers – particularly young consumers – will develop a greater comfort level when they see ads that offer products that truly interest them. The tug of war between privacy and targeting will stay in flux for at least another year before we find an acceptable norm.

Convergence

2011-10-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

Similar to what we discussed last week, the geekiest new buzz word is “convergence.” The idea is that all the free-floating ideas that have been expanding and zooming around since the big bang of social media are now starting to compress and come together as a connected system.

Consider the directions social media have taken in the last five years. So far, everything happens in a silo, more or less. We have GPS programs, group deal services, location-based tools, professional networking sites like LinkedIn, public social networks, streaming media, mobile apps and so on. The next evolutionary leap is to have these services cross security lines to work together. Facebook Places did this – connecting Facebook to Google Places – apparently only slightly ahead of its time. Look for the ability to “like” something on Facebook from your LinkedIn page, or buy things directly from Twitter

What does this mean for the social landscape?

Well for one thing, it means efficiency and innovation. As the walls come down, developers can pick and choose the most effective technologies across multiple platforms to create products and services that offer the most precise solutions. In turn, that means that we will all start to expect more from social media services that come along. We won’t be satisfied with the limitations of a single service.

Of course, when everything is connected, it can also be less secure. Information traveling across multiple systems at once is more difficult to control. Will we behave in a more guarded way or will we gradually expect less privacy? Statistically that will depend on our age. Younger audiences who are not accustomed to absolute privacy, probably won’t miss it.

Either way, it goes back to the idea of content being king. Content, whatever it is, will be accessible everywhere across multiple platforms. Our entire perception of organization will slowly melt away and be replaced by the expectation that we can get whatever we want from wherever we want it.

If You Build It, They Will Come

2011-10-20T06:50:00.000-07:00

We had a very pleasant experiment last week. After some “wouldn’t it be nice…” conversation with our friends at Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, we found an application plug-in that allows app users to upload beach photos from their cell phones directly to internet-driven monitors at big events.

To see how well it would work, we set it up at the National Shrimp Festival and with almost no promotion behind it, people quickly figured out how to get their photos loaded. For us, this was not only the discovery of a great new tool that we can add to our arsenal of resources for you, but also a fascinating study of human behavior.

We so often scratch our heads, trying to predict what will motivate site visitors to act. How can we get them to “Like” this? What would be a good way to convince people to register? In reality, we are all motivated by vanity. We love to see ourselves and our friends. So simple, yet so true.

Do you have a big event coming up soon where you would like to crowdsource photography? A sporting event, perhaps? If you do, give us a call, we would love to do this again. If not, call us anyway. We love conversations that begin with “wouldn’t it be nice…” because most likely it’s already available and if you build it, apparently they will come.

The Post-Media Generation

2011-10-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

Remember when TV meant 3 channels? Or even when it only meant 100 channels? How about when people who routinely wrote insights and advice were called columnists? In those days, different bits of information and entertainment were segmented and compartmentalized. When we watched the news on television it was TV news; when we read news in the papers, it was the newspaper; when we got a letter from a friend, it was a letter; when we went to a theatre, we watched a movie.

It seems so obvious, so fundamental, but it’s no longer true. Those of us who grew up knowing multiple types of media, must learn to reformat our brains because information is just content now. Whether it’s a YouTube video or Gone With the Wind, it’s all the same now in terms of packaging.

Take a deep breath and let this sink in, because your children or grandchildren already understand. Your TV is no different from your laptop or your iPad. They serve you requested content. A growing group of people are no longer satisfied paying their cable company to serve data to them through their TV. Inexpensive devices make it possible to get shows, games, YouTube videos, podcasts and movies through TVs with just an Internet connection. Each generation of mobile device has a faster and more efficient way to capture and serve streaming data.

The generation coming up today has no patience for air times. Missed Glee? Not to worry, its available on the website or you can get it from On Demand or your DVR or your phone, or view a clip that was posted on Facebook. Babies born today won’t have the same understanding of television that we do, but they will have a very sophisticated grasp of story. Filtering noise to get to the heart of something will be as natural and intuitive as breathing to them.

Marketing to this group will require two things – message and patience. Forget the idea that you are not the only person beating a drum about your particular product or service. You are not just competing against competitors. You are competing against EVERYTHING. To be heard, you have to speak clearly, have a real message and keep at it. Be the voice of reason in a choir of crazy. Be the authority on your subject and keep telling your story. Everyone has a compelling story to tell and that’s what will capture the imagination of the post-media generation.

Looking Ahead - the Legacy of Steve Jobs

2011-10-07T05:49:00.000-07:00

The outpouring of emotion over Steve Job’s death is striking. He was not a celebrity in the traditional sense – not a beloved screen star or even a political or spiritual leader. Everyone knows he had a huge ego, eccentric habits and more money than the U.S. Government; not usually a combination that inspires empathy. I think the country mourns in two ways.

Steve Jobs was important - he was a true visionary with an ability to anticipate where technology would turn next. He looked at the same things we all saw, but he understood the implications in a way none of us did. He looked a failing recording industry and a blossoming file format and just knew how to make them work together.

Ultimately more important, Steve Jobs was original. He will be missed not because he made cool stuff but because he made stuff his way. He trusted his instincts and demanded from his life and his work what he envisioned for it. Demanding perfection was a symptom of knowing exactly what he wanted and refusing to settle for less.

Is it so rare to live a truly authentic life that we grieve when we lose even one example? If we all trusted our instincts and ignored focus groups in favor of listening to our hearts, would we all do exceptional work? We may not see the likes of him again for a long time but he said death is the greatest invention of life because it clears the way for new growth. Those are exciting words. Who will come after? The generation that grew up in his shadow can see the value of ignoring critics and stepping out onto the ledge. What future will they design?

Building Your Reputation as an Expert in the Social Media World

2011-09-30T07:59:00.000-07:00

Let’s leave Facebook alone for a minute. Hopefully by now we’ve all had an opportunity to shake our fist at our computers, or praise Facebook’s vision. Either way, we still check it every day and use it as a marketing tool. Each week we read about new start-ups in social media. Most of them are geared to mobile phone addicted hipsters and have little relevance to the business world. Today, let’s look at an exception to that rule.

Positioning Yourself as an Expert

Despite what populist blogs posing as media would have you believe, established media does matter. Most people still want their information about the world to come from credible, verified sources. The best way to draw attention to your organization is to serve as that credible source for the media. If you know how to use social media properly, you can position yourself as an expert without spending a fortune.

Linked In – this free social media service is the primary business networking engine in America. If you do not already have a Linked In account, start one immediately. Build a resume of your experience as an expert. List the number of times you’ve served on a panel or been interviewed with the media in the past. Ask members of the media who have quoted you in the past to write you a recommendation. Depending on how widely you want to extend your influence, consider upgrading to a Linked In Premium account to enable the Open Link function. This allows anyone in Linked In to contact you.
Klout – this free service scans through your social media sites – Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Foursquare etc. – and assigns a rank based on your influence. Connect this account to your Linked In account. Klout will determine the topics on which you are an expert and you can provide your score on your Linked In account. Members of the media can search for you directly through either service and can decide for themselves if you are the right person to interview. You can also get a sense of where you might want to improve your score. The more relevant information you post and the more people respond to it, the higher your score will go.
Concentrate your influence. If you are inclined to blog, choose one site and tie it to your accounts for the greatest influence. In other words, if you have a blog on WordPress, make sure to send it out via Twitter and Facebook so that it will reach the greatest number of people. This broadens your reach and improves your Klout score.

To some this may seem disingenuous, but if you have a story to tell, why not tell it? Everyone has expert knowledge to share. If fear keeps you from contributing your wisdom, everyone loses.

Facebook Changes in a Nutshell

2011-09-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

When Facebook makes an announcement, people react. Change summons strong feelings. Like those of us at Global Marketing Solutions, you may have been poring over articles and blogs to make sense of it all. You may have played with your page to see what’s different. If you haven’t or if it’s still unclear, let’s break it down.

Status Updates

Status areas are in three places now. A ticker runs in a column down the right side. The ticker shows immediate activity in real time (a la Twitter). The top center area is now called Recent Stories. This area predicts which pieces of information over the last few days are most important to you and serves them up as an online newspaper if you haven’t been on Facebook recently. If you visit Facebook daily, Recent Stories will give important pieces of information in chronological order. Beneath Recent Stories, a third section of updates lists older, less important posts in chronological order.

Each post has a blue tag in the corner that allows users to detach the post from their feed. This feature gives users much more control over their content and means that marketing efforts must compete more fiercely for the attention and approval of their subscribers.

Soon, additional verbs will bring new clarity to status updates as well. Users will no longer be limited to “Like.” They will check in with any verb/noun combination. Instead of “Stephanie ‘Liked’ ‘Wicked’”, you can now say “Stephanie ‘saw’ ‘Wicked’.” So again, the challenge for marketing will be to tease out favorable vocabulary and an interesting story for a product or service.

Profile Timeline

The other major physical change is the timeline. Instead of a few small pieces of information that define a user profile, visitors will see one area across the top that includes a single large image and an autobiographical history of the user via pictures, posts, and check-ins. The user has an opportunity to accept and reject each piece of information to create a cohesive story. For the time being this feature is limited to developers, but Facebook will roll it out to everyone in a phased release.

General User Experience

The goal of these changes is to create a user experience that is so “sticky” that you can’t ever leave. Users will depend on their friends for recommendations and on Facebook to locate them – both physically and online. To add to that user experience, Facebook made it possible to view programming and listen to music directly through the platform. Netflix and Hulu offer television programming. Spotify, Rhapsody and others offer music programming. It seems from this move as if Facebook wants to enter the growing streaming media space.

Semantics

2011-09-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

I had a friend years ago who used to turn red when anyone said “proactive”. She’d rant about it not being a word and why couldn’t we just say “active”? It meant the same thing, she’d argue. My high school English teacher predicted this. She hated bizspeak and jargon and cautioned us that it was a slippery slope toward destroying the Queen’s English.

I will confess having a pretty high tolerance for business jargon. It is a quick and easy way to get your point across to people who don’t view language as an art form. But it does seem that in the past 20 or so years, we have taken a nose dive off that slippery slope. Is it too late to reclaim the beauty of our language? Have we abandoned language in favor of letters that stand for words? I know sixth graders who actually say LOL when their intention is to laugh. Are we only capable of creating new words by putting un or re or pro in front of existing words?

Here are a few bon mots that need to go away:

Un-follow, as in, “His tweets were boring so I decided to un-follow him.”

Facebook as a verb, as in “I wondered where he lived, so I Facebooked him.”

Facelifting meaning copying a post, as in “I thought his post was hilarious so I facelifted it to my followers.”

U meaning you. Seriously?

Gantt chart used generically to represent any flow chart. Gantt charts are bar charts specifically for project management.

Signage – when you mean a sign or two, as in “We are having a garage sale so I bought the appropriate signage.” Signage is a massive amount of directional and banner signs gathered collectively for something specific like an event.

Was when you mean were, as in “If I was to go to the store, what would you want?”

You probably have a grammatical pet peeve too. Please feel free to share it here. It’s not too late to save the beauty of English if we work together.

The Calm After The Storm

2011-09-09T06:36:00.000-07:00

We have been busy at Global Marketing Solutions. We’ve made some changes that will make us a more focused organization. We’ve had new people come on board and we’ve said farewell to some good folks who’ve chosen to go on to other adventures. It’s exciting in the way that making room always is. Allowing space for new plants to take root always produces a better garden.

Some of us have literally had to clear things out after last week’s storms. We are glad that it’s over and we can put it behind us. We hope that those affected will soon see new growth that makes up for the pain they experience now.

Maybe it’s time to stop looking at every natural event as a disaster. Defining ourselves as either victims or survivors may keep us from simply experiencing the event, learning from it and moving on. Now that things have calmed down again, we like the idea of stepping back to see what opportunities come up, what lessons there are to learn and finding the places where new growth takes root.

Social Burn Out

2011-09-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

If Social Networks were a client of ours, we would be in full-on crisis management mode this week. The entire concept of social media has been under scrutiny, but the media is just reflecting the growing frustration felt by a large number of people. We are all busy – we have work, families and actual friends. We don’t have time to monitor the comings and goings of our acquaintances across multiple channels. We also have limited time for an inbox full of can’t-miss deals.

So what does this mean for the future of social media? And daily deals? And geolocation services?

It means the same thing it means for every new industry. Remember the dot.com craze of the 90s? When tons of people see a gold rush, a few will strike it rich and many go bust. Remember the sock puppet dog? I can’t even remember what he was selling, but I know it wasn’t something people needed. For several years now we haven’t seen that much competition in social media. Now that we do see competition, we are going to see failure. And success.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Facebook and Google+. Facebook should win hands-down because people are so entrenched, but they keep monkeying around with their service. Can they aggravate people enough that they migrate to Google+? Google+ is more organized and better integrated with Android devices. It could happen.

It will also be interesting to see if daily deals are sustainable, or if they are driving down the price of services so much that the services themselves fail. Customers may never pay full price if they can hop from deal to deal. If that is the emerging model, why would a company start down that road?

It will be interesting to see what happens with geolocation services. Will consumers keep playing games? Are there deals to be had through these services? Apparently Facebook doesn’t think so. But maybe that clears the decks for Four Square to dominate.

Next year there will be clear winners and losers. In the meantime, we hedge our bets and listen.

News Reactions This Week

2011-08-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

This week the news has been absolutely all over the place. Rather than try to make sense of it, which we doubt we could, we thought it might be a fun time to let you inside our heads.

News we wish we hadn’t heard this week:

An earthquake rocked the East Coast.
Yikes! What if it were bigger than a 5.9? Could that happen? Good Lord. Can’t think about that now; plenty of natural disasters here in Alabama.
Hangout Music Festival may not return next year.
What?! This a huge financial boon for the Alabama gulf coast region. It would be a shame to lose so much money, publicity and opportunity.
Steve Jobs is forcing himself into retirement.
Sigh. It’s sad to see such a visionary admit the limitations of his own body.
Facebook Places is going away.
What?! It’s integrated with so many check-in applications. What is this going to mean for that industry sector?
Hurricane Irene headed for Carolina coast.
Yikes! Can’t think about that now; plenty of natural disasters here in Alabama.

News we are glad we heard this week:

A cheaper iPhone is on the way.
Yay! This means new users, which means broader reach for iPhone apps.
Coffee prices are coming down.
Hurray! We have some help staying up to get projects completed.

News we are scratching our heads over:

Twitter is coming out with a new social media platform/app/something or other.
Seriously?! It’s supposed to help us fulfill our potential as humans? Okay then, we’ll add it to the list of new technology to master.
35% of tablet owners use them in the bathroom.
Seriously? Tablets really are replacing print.

Gulf Beaches

2011-08-18T04:55:00.000-07:00

This week Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism announced the launch of the free beach app that we designed for them. If you have a smart phone, you already know that there are literally hundreds of thousands of apps out there and you may be asking yourself why we are so excited about adding yet another app to the phone app universe. So let’s break it down.

For years we have thought of our cell phones as extensions of our home and work phones. They increased our availability and offered a few features, like calculators, that we were already accustomed to holding in our hands. If you wanted to be freed from your landline phone and still be available to callers, cell phones were a godsend. For many people this model still works.

But with the advent of Blackberries and iPhones, came a paradigm shift in what a cell phone even is. Of course smart phones provide text, web, calling and GPS services that make them much more than a phone. But apps make a smart phone an individual universe. It’s the apps that don’t appeal to everyone that make each person’s phone their private haven. You can drill down to exactly the information, games and connections that interest you.

So while it might seem that adding to an already crowded space just increases the noise, actually the opposite is true. By tailoring your message and service, you target your audience to exactly the people you want to reach and only those people. It is a level of intimacy in marketing that simply could not be realized until now.

So yes, we are very excited to bring this app to market and we hope it fits in your own private universe. To take a closer look at the Gulf Beaches app, click here.

Latest Trend/Fad?

2011-08-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

Recently we wrote about Tumblr and the recent trend of expanded microblogging. Now that Twitter has fully rolled out its new version with pictures and additional text we will see where this trend heads. In line with that, here is the latest in keeping up with information overload.

One of the problems with following interesting people and things on sites like Tumblr and Twitter is that it is so momentary and fragmentary, you can’t keep it all in your brain. Likewise, it is impossible to go back and find that one tiny bit of information hiding in the haystack of published posts.

Enter Pinterest.

Here is a service that allows you to go through your browser and “pin” anything that interests or inspires you. Once you have an account on Pinterest, you create pin boards – usually by topic – and you can put that picture or blog or website on those pin boards via your browser to return to later.

At first glance, this seems like yet another way to make information smaller – a mini-micro-blog perhaps, especially because people can follow your pinboards. It’s more accurate, though, to think of it as an organizational tool, like a collection of visual bookmarks.

As a marketing professional, this seems like a great idea. It’s easy to imagine pinning an image or site that triggers a great idea for a particular client and having it in one place to review as needed. It’s a little harder to embrace the “following” idea. That seems a bit like strangers reading over personal to do lists. It doesn’t appear that you can choose to keep a pin board private, unlike some blogging sites that allow you to post information only to yourself for record keeping.

Still-photo forms of personal expression have taken off in tandem with smartphone adoption, and especially this year everyone wants to play with photography apps. It makes sense that we will increasingly need ways to manage it all. Check it out and tell us what you think. Are you already using this service? Do you love it? Hate it? For more information visit Pinterest.

Business Blogging

2011-08-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

Every year more businesses enter the blogosphere – tentatively. It’s not unusual for a small business to know that they should be talking about their activities and building relationships, but not to know much about getting started. The truth is, if you can imagine what success looks like for you, then you already know what you need to get started.

What kind of story do you have to tell? If your business has a wow factor that makes it naturally interesting to others and you often have amusing stories to tell, you may not need a very complicated platform. For example, if you are a charter fisherman, people will want to see clients fishing on your boat and the size of fish caught that day. For you, a picture is worth a thousand words. Because you are offshore most of the day, posting a blog from a smartphone would be a tremendous help. You probably want to consider a microblog such as the new Twitter that allows pictures and graphics, or Tumblr. Both are simple to use, favor photos and allow you to post from your phone.

Is Your Blog Your Website or is Your Website Your Blog? If your business is more formal than the above example, choosing a platform has everything to do with how prominent your blog is in relation to your site and how actively you want to maintain it.

The Blog is just about everything, I may need a few other pages or plug-ins, and I want to manage it all myself. Great – you need a self-hosted platform with a reasonable amount of flexibility to tweak content but something fairly simple to use. For your purposes, Joomla or Wordpress should provide everything you need. Wordpress is somewhat more geared for blogs, Joomla offers a bit more design flexibility.

The Blog is just about everything, but I don’t have the time or inclination to manage it all myself. That’s okay too. What you need is a hosted platform. Wordpress offers hosted sites, but unless you pay for premium service, you lose the ability to work with plug ins. Blogger has a hosted option as well and that can help with SEO because it is owned by Google.

The Blog is a small part of what I want. I need to completely redesign my website and incorporate the blog as an aspect of the total design. At this point, most likely you are looking at a premium Wordpress service that can provide you with loads of features and guide you through the process of creating the site. You may still want to consider Joomla though, as it offers more design flexibility. If you are more concerned with function than design, Drupal may be your best bet.

If this seems overwhelming, do not despair. We have been doing this for a long time and we are happy to tease out the most important aspects of your blog and web site to provide you with a carefully considered choice.

Making Music with Themes

2011-07-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

This year has been the Year of Alabama Music. Across the state, hundreds of musicians and festivals have celebrated this theme. If you are considering a theme campaign, you might do well to take a closer look at how Alabama tourism made this happen.

Go Pop
The more universal the theme, the greater the buzz. The broader the appeal, the greater the success. Last weekend, there was a statewide collection of blues festivals in multiple locations featuring dozens of artists. It’s just one example a coordinated effort across the state to focus attention on Alabama music. Together with similar events throughout the year, artists and venues enjoy attention that they might never have experienced otherwise.

Go Gaga
Alabama Tourism has done an excellent job promoting this year’s theme. Consumers researching an Alabama vacation were sure to know that we are celebrating music this year – it was all over promotional materials and advertising campaigns. More important, the state provided a shock and awe-style approach to the events. This year we will have more than 300 festivals showcasing local and international talent. Subtlety is great for fine wines, but for marketing themes, you need your message to be heard loud and clear over the competing noise.

Go All In
Of course any campaign has a budget and adhering to it is important in this economy but so is investment. One of the great things about this campaign is the Alabama Department of Tourism has put a number of years into it and they have invested well for the theme years to have an appealing and consistent style. They are easy to identify, beautiful and the materials are even collectible.

Just Go
With any grand scale campaign, one of the biggest hurdles to success is commitment. Guy Kawasaki of Apple fame says, “If it ain’t broke, fix it.” Get out there and see what works. Try something new, adjust when needed and build on your own best practices. You don’t surpass your goals by playing it safe.

Carpe Diem, A Little Later

2011-07-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. – Thomas Jefferson
Never put off until tomorrow what you can put off until the day after tomorrow. – Mark Twain
A stitch in time saves nine. – Frances Baily
Today I don’t feel like doing anything. – Bruno Mars

It’s all very witty and urbane to joke about procrastination. It is a rueful fact in the world of modern conveniences, that we somehow have less and less time in which to do actual work. Keeping all the plates spinning is sometimes such an exhausting effort that we are forced to let some things slide to maintain balance. While balance is admirable and necessary, procrastination is a soul killer.

According to Psychology Today, procrastination is not a time management issue or planning deficit, it is serious emotional health issue. There are basically three types of chronic procrastinators:
· Thrill seekers who are addicted to the rush of last minute accomplishment

· Avoiders who prefer to be viewed as slackers as opposed to failures, and

· Stallers who refuse to make decisions so they can’t be held accountable for results

Victims innately sense the physical and emotional toll of procrastinating. The growing pile of things left undone unleashes gremlins that stomp on the pressure points behind their shoulder blades, and lower back. The Psychology Today article also suggests that procrastination stress compromises immune systems and increases the likelihood of insomnia, and that’s just the toll on the procrastinator themselves.

If chronic procrastinators can find no better reason to get help or pull it together on their own consider the toll on loved ones and co-workers. Constantly picking up the slack fosters resentment and poisons relationships.

We make thousands of decisions in a day and we prioritize based on what is most important to us. As the old analogy goes, you have to put the big things in the jar first because there is always room for another little thing to take up space. But carving out the time and digging deep to find the discipline to keep everything moving is equally important to a healthy, happy state of mind.

So get back to work!

Which is more anticipated - Google+ or Deathly Hallows Part 2?

2011-07-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

The case for Google+

Tantalizing infographics offer glimpses into unsurpassed technological genius

Invitation-only admittance makes inclusion all the more desirable

Wildly dedicated fan base of hard core geeks

Initially scoffed by industry experts, once they got their
invitation, they were falling all over themselves to say how
great it is

Mainstream media adoration proof: Seth Green and Jimmy Fallon joked its invitation-only strategy on Late Night, last night

The world has an instinctive fear of any power that is too singular
and all-encompassing and needs to see it destroyed – or at least
contained…i.e. Facebook

The Case for Harry Potter

Tantalizing trailers offer glimpses into unsurpassed technological
genius

3D and IMAX showings make attendance all the more desirable

Wildly dedicated fan base of hard core geeks

Initially dismissed as merely a juvenile book series, critics now
laud both the books and the movies as defining works of a generation

The world has an instinctive fear of any power that is too singular
and all-encompassing and needs to see it destroyed… i.e. Voldemort

Mainstream media adoration proof: Pottermore website, Harry
Potter Spells iPhone app, ubiquitous interviews and YouTube
clips, sold-out midnight showings, how to celebrate as a muggle articles

Who are we kidding? Of course, Harry Potter wins hands down. No one is changing their Facebook profile picture to a Google+ icon. The question is whether we will be using Facebook icons this time next year, when Harry Potter is a fond memory.

Disconnecting

2011-07-07T05:14:00.000-07:00

It’s summer. Shut down and go outside. The miracles of modern technology will still be there waiting for you when you get back. For example, a story released yesterday claims that you can get an attachment for your iPhone that will scan your eyes for cataracts. It’s good to know someone’s out there coming up with meaningful apps. So take a dip in the pool. It will close in a month or two and you’ll miss the opportunity, but the cataract app will still be there.

It’s summer. Pick something fresh. Go outside and pick something you grew, cook it up and eat it. It will not slow down the budgeting process, I promise. By the way, there’s now an app that helps you work with FEMA to prepare for natural disasters. It would be a sin to let something ripe and wonderful wither on the vine. So go.

It’s summer. Wear something outlandish. Find that tie-die or colorful Hawaiian shirt and wear it. Just because. It’s a waste of perfect sunshine to wear a gray suit. And it’s hot and uncomfortable too. So relax a little. It’s almost Friday, isn’t it?

It’s summer. Drink something fruity. With an umbrella. You know you want to. Admit it, your deck is calling to you, begging you to take a load off and enjoy the sunset. Celebrate with a triple berry mango pina colada. You are the only one who has to know. Once the sun sets though, you might want to grab your smartphone so you can see which stars make each constellation.

Sure Facebook and Twitter, but what about Tumblr?

2011-06-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

So you want to stay ahead of the curve and be there when the crowds move to a new social networking platform. You don’t want to be the one who thought you had everything you needed because your organization had a MySpace account. We get it.

Is Tumblr the next Facebook? For some people, I think the answer is yes. For most people right now, the answer is what’s Tumblr? As entrenched as most people are in Facebook, I think it’s safe to say that Tumblr will remain a niche service for a long time.

Let’s break it down.

Why do most people love Facebook? Convenience. It is a window on the world beyond their home and cubicle that gives them 1. Contact with friends, 2. Games, 3. News, 4. A less intrusive email location, 5. A platform to preach from, 6. A glimpse at favorite products and services and how they can benefit. As you probably know, you can scroll through everything that takes place in a day in half an hour or less. Best of all your participation is optional.

Why do some people now love Tumblr? Tumblr is a blog service with hundreds of hip themes that offer very streamlined pages. Tumblr’s strength is in photography. Many people who post to it, post only pictures. Most people who use it post images with captions of a paragraph or less. Those photographs tend to be professional quality with lots of interesting filters – often from their iPhones.

There are a couple of things that make Tumblr a tricky business application. First, content is
king. You as a blogger are secondary to your content. The content is sorted by tag and that is how the search system works. In other words Super Happy Amusement Park posts a picture of a Merry-Go-Round and marks it with the tags Merry Go Round and Ride. People could search those topics but they wouldn’t be searching for Super Happy Amusement Park. Secondly, should they search those topics they will get every post that used that tag, so one picture has great deal of competition.

Some other things to know are Tumblr users are very active. They tend to post several times a week or even daily and they are passionate about their subject matter, so it tends to create silos of information. Also, because it is hitting a young demographic, there is a maturity level to consider. One of the trends on Tumblr is to have a “F***Yeah” blog – indicating a topic about which one is VERY enthusiastic. Nudity is also pervasive and difficult to predict. Is that the space where you want your brand?

I wouldn’t rule out Tumblr as a small component of an overall social media strategy but I would be sure to play their game their way. I would create a site full of passionate interest and possibly include a link to a main web site along with other relevant links to maintain credibility. It could be a good vantage point to see where trends are headed.

Where Does It Stop?

2011-06-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

I know I’m a marketing expert and as such I should be prepared to embrace all manner of social media and its applications. After all, if it’s good for my clients, it’s good for everyone, right? So why do I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach from two news stories that came out this week?

FTC says "yes" to Facebook activity inclusion in background checks

This article is about a company that has seven years’ worth of archived Facebook data that it will provide for a fee to hiring managers. You may remember the case in Georgia last year of the teacher who was in Germany on vacation and posted pictures of herself with steins of beer. Some parents saw the posts and the teacher was fired. This is a professional service that will provide that level of detail globally.

Facebook Pages Can Now Be Personalized Based on Klout Score

This article is about a company that aggregates your influence on Facebook, and uses it to offer a gaming-style coupon opportunity related to your score.

Professionally it’s easy to make a case for why these services have merit. Personally, I’m not as sure. Facebook was supposed to be a place where you could talk to your friends without judgment. Do I really want to know how relevant I am to my friends? Why do I suddenly feel like I am passing slam books in junior high? Is it fair for employers whom I haven’t friended to make judgments about me based on what I say in confidence to my friends? Or worse, what I said five years ago?

It’s great that technology can be analyzed and repurposed to serve a mind-blowing number of needs, but I sense that we are all going to need to be vigilant about how we are being judged and take an active role in drawing boundaries that protect our privacy.

SniqueAway

2011-06-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

There is a new player in the travel group buying space that is worth examining. SniqueAway seems to have taken a close look at the entire social media landscape and pulled from various sources to come away with what it deems to be the most intriguing elements available.

It is a group buying site in some senses but it doesn’t follow the Groupon model. Instead, it borrows more from the viral nature of Facebook. In order to take advantage of special, limited-time deals, customers must become members. But clients can’t join at will; they have to be invited.

If a customer can provide the email of a friend that matches a member in their database, they are allowed join and choose from several current offers across the country. Naturally, they encourage members to invite friends and for each friend that joins, the member receives a $25 credit toward a deal.

SniqueAway partners with TripAdvisor to provide crowd-sourced reviews and provides a way to comment on Facebook about each offer. They restrict deals – at least, so far – to modern, trendy, sophisticated locations and they have a look and feel on their site to match. Destinations are written up with amusing bravado but the prices are quite reasonable and the design of the site is elegant and easy to navigate.

With the power of TripAdvisor behind it, SniqueAway looks like a good contender to dominate the luxury private sale market. Massimo De Nadai, general manager of Smarter Travel Media, the parent company of Trip Advisor and SniqueAway, was quoted last fall when the company launched as saying that they watched and learned from other players in the space.

Is Google Wallet A Big Deal?

2011-06-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

Google recently released Google Wallet, a mobile payment system, and it has created substantial buzz, partly because it ties in directly with Google Offers. Does this mean the end of Groupon? Will this be the next big thing? Maybe, but probably not. Let’s break it down.

What is it?
Google Wallet is a mobile app that stores credit card information. This is useful to the user in two ways. First, it plugs in to existing Android apps and allows users to easily buy apps, music and other mobile products or make payments within the mobile environment. It also allows users to make external payments by tapping their phones and aiming them at a near field communication (NFC) check out device. Potential benefits to consumers are that Wallet can eventually store multiple credit cards to save space, and provide an easy user experience. Additionally, NFC readers must be within 4 centimeters of each other, making them more secure than previous RFID readers.

Here’s the thing. If Wallet is going to dominate the market it needs to overcome consumer concerns about putting multiple credit cards on a mobile device and they need to convince merchants to use PayPass readers. The initial release of this service requires users to 1. Live in select test areas 2. Own a Sprint Nexus phone 3. Use CitiMastercard. This rollout is so limited it seems doomed to miss the early adopters (both consumers and merchants) needed to drive momentum.

Why is it noteworthy?

Apple devices have a robust payment system in iTunes and consumers are comfortable that their credit card information is securely stored. Android devices need something similar. Integrating Google Wallet with Google Offers makes purchases easier and makes redeeming purchases with PayPass merchants even easier.

Is this a Game Changer?

Groupon and other online offer providers are already working on ways to store deals in mobile devices and redeem them electronically with merchants. The power and strength of Google in the marketplace is sure to light a fire under competing services, so in that sense Wallet will drive innovation. It remains to be seen whether Google can convince the public that this is the next big thing. Based on consumer adoption of Google’s other forays into social marketing, it looks like an uphill battle.

Building Your Brand

2011-06-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

MediaPost recently published an article by Vicki Hastings that captures the philosophy of Global Marketing Solutions. We may not tell you anything here that we haven’t said before, but sometimes hearing things in a new way triggers insight.

1. Spark Conversations. Find out what’s important to your clients. Conversations on social media are a great way to do free market research, but keep it real. Listen to their frustrations and engage them in solutions.

2. Make It Personal and Two-Way. Hastings suggests having a dedicated staff member to tease out conversation and respond. She further suggests letting clients know exactly who is responding to enrich the connection and personalize your brand.

3. Affirm Your Values. Give serious thought to what your brand stands for and let that guide your conversations online. Promote those values with events and stories that point back to them.

4. Be authentic. Acknowledge areas for improvement and engage your clients in solutions. Champion causes that track back to your values. Be honest.

5. Amplify consumer sharing. Hastings recommends providing Like buttons wherever possible
to build a base and attract more followers. Have clients tag photos. Hold contests and offer fun rewards.

The holy grail of travel and tourism social media is, of course, to have people tell their friends about your place. The upshot of this article and the philosophy we espouse at GMS, is that the best way to make that happen is to engender trust and cultivate wittiness and fun. Making your social media location a place that people enjoy spending time will always reap dividends in the long run.

When disaster strikes…

2011-05-27T05:08:00.000-07:00

We are getting pretty good at this. Like battle-hardened soldiers, those of us on the Alabama Gulf coast have seen enough action to know how to respond. We act quickly; we use all the tools at our disposal and we direct efforts where they will be most needed.

Everyone reading this watched with anxiety and heart-wrenching compassion as lethal storms swept across Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. We saw it on the evening news but we also followed it on Facebook and Twitter. We showed our support by making donations through online charity vehicles that didn’t even exist when Katrina hit.

If we didn’t think things were happening soon enough – we went out and created our own donation sites. We pinged our friends and asked for help. We took pictures and posted them for our friends to see.

Only weeks later, tragedy strikes Joplin, Missouri. Our hearts go out to the families torn apart by the most powerful tornado in 60 years. I know that we will reach out to ease the suffering of our distant neighbors as well, because once you’ve been touched by adversity, it’s impossible to look away.

I hate that we, in Alabama, have been through so much in our recent history. I cringe when I hear that we are expected to have a particularly stormy summer. I shiver when I hear reports about climate change and cycles, and that we can expect to see more and more violent weather for the next few years, at least. But I know it’s times like these that bring out the best in Americans and that we can rely on each other to get through any crisis.

Customer Service in a Social World

2011-05-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

At Global Marketing Solutions we make it our business to scan the horizon for technology and tools our clients will need in coming years. We pass along articles that describe trends. We sift through passing fads to find paradigm shifts. Even though we are proudly self-proclaimed geeks, we’ve found it challenging to navigate the exponential growth in social networking. Start-ups pop up everywhere offering products with no obvious benefit or even point (Will people be motivated by becoming the mayor of Starbucks?). It’s our pleasure to wade through them for you so we can arrive together at the next forefront.

Is it any surprise then, that we felt validated by an article in PC World claiming that “Customer Service Can’t Keep Up With the Rise of Social Media”? According to the article by Leo King, many companies have created a presence on Facebook and Twitter, but don’t have the staff or support to maintain them. The article argues that if social media isn’t a constant two-way form of communication that engages customers in real conversation and relationship-building, it is doomed to fail.

In the same way that you need to stay in touch with your customers, we need to stay in touch with you. We tweet, post to Facebook, blog and email, and we hope we provide you with timely, useful information. But more important, we listen. The more you communicate with us, the better we can help you communicate with your customers. So, let’s talk.

Check-In Security

2011-05-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

Lauren Fisher recently published a blog post defending the life-span of check-ins. Their death had been predicted in the blogosphere and she had some very cogent arguments that they are alive and well.

She pleads her case very well and you can read her thoughts here. It’s a solid article, well worth reading.

But I want to discuss one major use of check-ins that has gone completely unreported and/or conceived in the media. Safety. Check-ins are an electronic trail of bread crumbs that may come in handy if something goes wrong. I don’t mean to sound alarmist, but since you have access to a low-jack system in your smart phone, why not use it that way? Traveling alone? Check in every time you get gas, or go to a rest stop.

Let us know where you are. Maybe what you need to get traction in this area is concern. Position your organization as the one that cares. Connectedness is what drives this entire concept. Surely the idea behind the idea is that people want to know that someone is interested in where they are. Maybe it’s time to look ahead to ways that we can personalize check-ins so that they allow a relationship between the customer and the venue.

What are your thoughts?

How Did You Find Out About Bin Laden’s Death?

2011-05-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

By now you may have seen the results of a Mashable poll asking people where they first heard of the international terrorist leader’s death. Surely the most anticipated news of the last decade, it is the perfect test to see how news is most effectively disseminated. Well not entirely perfect. President Obama’s press conference took place late in the evening without warning, so it missed people who went to bed early. Still, over half of the people surveyed said that they found out through Facebook or Twitter. Twitter got 31 percent of the vote and Facebook got exactly 20 percent of the 20,000 people surveyed.

Remarkable. What does it mean?

For one thing, it seems to be a proof of concept that the media is not the respected first source of information that it once was. At least, not the traditional news media. The fact that Twitter had a third more responses than Facebook speaks to the fact that people are checking their smart phones before their TVs.

It also speaks to the viral nature of news now. Twenty years ago, we read the morning paper, watched the evening news and listened to the radio on the way to and from work. We received news and possibly talked about it around the water cooler but we didn’t really deliver news. As this new model emerges, we are all part of the distribution channel. Take, for example, the Pakistani gentlemen with a Twitter account. He happened to observe that helicopters were unusual in his neighborhood. He didn’t even realize he was reporting on the top-secret mission that led to bin Laden’s death. But he tweeted. He moved the story along, and now he’s part of the story too.

And look at the story now. Conspiracy theories, threats of retribution, debates about proper response to all of this. The lines between news, opinion, and propaganda are gone. The onus is on us more than ever to pay attention, listen critically, respond with wisdom and teach our children to do the same. We must be the Walter Kronkite’s and Edward R. Murrow’s for the smart phone generation.

On the other hand, Twitter, especially is a great tool for business and traditional media. Reporters love Twitter because it gives them an opportunity to solicit expert opinion. Greater dialogue can lead to greater clarity, if you approach the right people. As experts in our fields, we need to be available to the media to generate publicity for our organizations, but more importantly to help make sure they get the story right.

Disaster and Relief

2011-04-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

First – our hearts and hopes go out to everyone who found themselves in the path of the devastating storms this week. We here in Alabama are one community and when tragedy strikes we come together to help each other heal. We have known amazing kindness from our friends around the state and we are here now to offer our support, comfort and aid. If you would like to assist those in need, please donate time, blood or funds to the American Red Cross.

That being said, we have a lot of exciting news on the horizon for the Alabama Gulf Coast. Our friends from the Midwest are returning to the Gulf Coast this July to continue to show support for the area. When you consider the flooding in their area, it’s pretty amazing that they are making time to return.

Their mission is to swarm our best attractions, restaurants and beaches, draw media attention to everything we have to offer and raise funds for rebuilding. Such a noble quest deserves our wholehearted support and gratitude. In fact, we are hoping to raise some money to send back with them to support flooding victims up north.

We want to be sure to greet them this time with an overwhelming display of Southern hospitality. Twitter and other social media will play a big part in bringing us together with our Midwestern champions. Be sure to follow Gulf Shores & Orange Beach as well as Global Marketing Solutions so you don’t miss out on the fun.

Critic Sites

2011-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

Last week we talked about location-based sites such as SCVNGR and Gowalla – sites that make a game out of checking in at locations. This week we are looking at sites that allow users to be offer their own comments on various offerings. Initially these sites focus mainly on restaurants and food but as they gain popularity, they also tend to broaden their platform to include reviews of hotels, attractions and entertainment.

Yelp!

Started in 2004, the web site offers user-generated restaurant reviews that are now tied to a GPS locator feature on the mobile app. Similar to the mayor feature on Foursquare, Yelp has an entire aristocracy of locations. You can be the king or queen of your city, baron of your neighborhood and a regular at various businesses. You can also bookmark your favorite locations and have them sync between the web and mobile app. In addition to reviews, users provide pictures and tips. Users who consistently weigh in can even have their own feed that other users subscribe to for advice.

Foodspotting

With an edgier look, Foodspotting’s claim to fame is that it shows you pictures of food by location rather than restaurants (you can search restaurants as well.) The idea is that if you are hungry but not sure what to get in your area, you can simply flip through a picture gallery of recommended dishes within a radius of your location.

Urban Spoon

This app made a splash when the iPhone was first released because it had a unique feature that allowed you to randomly select restaurants by shaking your phone to get a slot-machine result. By locking in requirements, you can narrow your possibilities but it definitely appeals to the desire to “win” a result. If you want a more logical approach to finding a location, it allows you to look up data by location, or search.

Naturally, the viral nature of these products can be a tremendous asset or a devastating blow to a tourist-driven business. It is imperative that companies stay on top of what’s being said about them in order to capitalize on the praise and defend against the criticism. Just as there is not a vetting process for establishing critics, there is also no accountability. On the upside, why should you not have all your friends and sympathizers weigh in to support your business?

Location-Based Service Provider Primer

2011-04-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don’t know, a location-based service is a smart phone app that takes advantage of the phone’s global positioning satellite (GPS) ability to help users connect with one another at a particular location. Developers are coming up with new apps all the time and it is a good idea to keep your ear to the ground, but to get started the most popular apps fit into two basic categories – games and critics. This week we will take a look at games; next week we will talk about critic sites like Urban Spoon, Yelp!, and Foodspotting.

Games

The game apps all work in basically the same way. The app determines the location of the user and shows several nearby locations. The user then has the opportunity to check-in at those locations, find friends at their location, take a picture at the location that is posted to the app, make recommendations, receive reward points and redeem rewards. All the biggest players in this space are powered by Google Places which is also an app that allows users to check in. Below are the biggest players in this space and how they differ from each other.

Foursquare – the user gets badges for having visited a location and if they visit more than anyone else they earn the distinction of being the mayor of that location. Users can also easily see specials reserved for Foursquare participants. Foursquare offers a very cool feature, others don’t, it has a To-Do list where users can look over tips by others and set them aside to use at a later date.

Gowalla – rather than badges, Gowalla users have a passport that gets a “stamp” at every location where they check-in. Gowalla allows businesses to customize their stamps for an additional fee in hopes that users will want to collect unique stamps. Gowalla also offers trips – planned series of check-ins, that users can look over from anywhere in the country. At this point most of the trips are created by Disney, but trips have a lot of potential for tourism and travel.

SCVNGR – offers challenges to its users so they have an opportunity to accrue points more quickly depending on what they do while visiting. They typically get a single point for checking in and more points for making a recommendation and/or taking a picture. At their discretion, check-in sites can offer a more relevant challenge that the user then photographs and posts to the app to show completion. In return for points, the user often qualifies for rewards. SCVNGR also offers badges and has “treks” that are a sort of electronic scavenger hunt – hence the name. To view a trek, the user must check in reasonably close to the trek location.

There are more location-based game/challenge sites – in particular LOOPD which is popular on the west coast, but if you are not using any check-in apps yet, you would do well to start with these and use them as often as possible to get a feel for how each works and what would make the most sense for your organization.

Business Blogs

2011-04-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

In order for your website to continue to garner meaningful click-throughs, you need constantly changing and fresh content. One of the best ways to provide that is by keeping a blog. It would be wise to write a column for your blog at least once a week and it should offer content that is meaningful to your audience.

I’m sure you all know that this is a service we love to provide at Global Marketing Solutions and it is one dear to our hearts. We are frequently asked about where to blog. There are a number of blogging services available and indeed some small businesses replace their websites with blogs that have enough additional features. If you are looking at a blog for business, you are probably considering Blogspot or Wordpress. To help you in your search, we offer this quick and dirty look at each service.

Blogspot

Upside

It’s free

It is hosted by Google so you can plug in Google Ad Sense to generate revenue and it gets preferential treatment in Google rankings

Easy-to-use templates are included

Downside

You can only import blogs from another blogspot address

You can only create albums via Picasa Web Albums

Doesn’t include a widget for contact forms. In order to have one on your site you have to create a third-party form and import it using the HTML/JavaScript widget

Because it is intended for personal use, Google polices sites for excessive self-promotion. If you have too many links, Google will shut down the site

Wordpress

Upside

It’s free – to a point.

It offers multiple component widgets that provide more functionality to the site without having to create a script for it yourself

The free version offers up to 3 gigs of photo storage – three times more than Blogspot

Allows more contributors to the site for team blogs – has designations of administrators, authors, editors and contributors vs. administrators and non-administrators in Blogspot

Allows you to import entire blogs from other locations

Downside

If you are serious about having full functionality, you need to upgrade to a paid membership

When you are ready to make a decision, feel free to contact us for a more individual assessment of your needs and requirements.

Converting a Profile to a Page in Facebook

2011-04-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

As we posted yesterday on Facebook – if you have created a personal Facebook page for your business you now have an opportunity to address this error and migrate your contacts to a business page. Facebook has several posts in their help section about how and why to do this. To summarize:

The Upside to Converting to a Business Page
If you created the page for the purpose of social marketing, a business page will give you the ability to use third-party applications for contests, to collect contact information and to duplicate applications available on your web site. Even more importantly, if you have a profile that is solely for business you run the risk of being shut down by Facebook for violating their terms and conditions.

With this migration tool you have the advantage of keeping your name and login information and you keep your current “friends” who will be converted to people who like your page. This saves you having to rebuild your fan base if you were to start over with a business page.

The Downside to Converting to a Business Page
If you are unsure whether this is the right move for you consider that the migration process will eliminate the aspects of your space that are personal. It will not migrate pictures other than profile pictures and your new status as a page will not allow you to view profile information of your fans.

Facebook recommends downloading your information before you begin this process to avoid losing pictures and other personal information. Please also note that this action is irreversible. You can migrate a personal site to a business page but you cannot migrate a business page to a personal site.

The Facebook tools necessary for this migration are available here. Of course, if you want assistance with this process, we are happy to consult with you to make the transition easier. As always, our goal is for our clients to function at peak performance.

LinkedIn as a Marketing Tool

2011-03-25T07:51:00.000-07:00

When 30 Rock makes jokes about LinkedIn, it is time to assume that it is ubiquitous. So, assuming you already have an account and a posse of connections, let’s drill down a little deeper and get to some marketing uses of this business tool you may not have considered.

Note: To make use of the suggestions below, you must make your profile public. While it’s easy to understand protecting your identity, a service like LinkedIn has no real use if you keep your profile private.

Speaker’s Bureau – Position Yourself as an Expert

1. Answer questions. People ask questions of their network all the time. When you see a question that falls in your area of expertise, demonstrate your competence by providing a concise, thoughtful response intended to truly help.
2. Post your blog. WordPress and BlogLink have apps on LinkedIn that allow you to duplicate your blogs automatically to your LinkedIn profile. The more visibility you have as an expert, the greater the likelihood that you will be perceived as one.
3. Post presentations. Google Presentation and SlideShare allow you to post significant presentations directly to LinkedIn.
4. Contact media. Most reporters have LinkedIn profiles. As difficult as they are to contact, this channel allows you a more credible way to reach them with legitimate news. Just be sure to use it well. Spamming media will get you nowhere.

Publicist – Protect Your Image

LinkedIn profiles have high Google ratings, so your public profile is likely to be one of the first responses if someone “Googles” you. To that end, make sure you provide as much information as you would like to have known about you. This is your best opportunity to control that message.

Project Manager – Keep Up With Team Members

Using the ManyMoon application, you can coordinate efforts with your connections directly through LinkedIn. The cloud-based service manages tasks, timelines, reports and documents (via Google Docs) allowing you to streamline work with multiple co-workers and contractors.

Market Research – Get Feedback From People You Know

Considering a daring new campaign? Need to test the water? It’s difficult to walk the line between viral success and instant ridicule. If you need to dip a toe in the water and see if a new idea is on track, ask your connections. Broach a subject as a hypothetical and give your contacts a chance to weigh in. Regardless of the response, you have an opportunity to pique interest in your organization.

Facebook Dos and Don’ts

2011-03-18T04:25:00.000-07:00

Facebook recently adjusted its rules to accommodate the growing demand for advertising. They are vigilant about their brand and it’s important to remember their dos and don’ts if you want to be able to continue reaching customers there.

Don’t

Post a promotion directly to Facebook. It must live solely on a third-party application. It can be viewed via Facebook, but can’t exist directly on site.
Make “Likes” a contest. You can’t be entered to win a prize for liking a site on Facebook. The process of liking something lives on Facebook itself.
Make posts part of a contest or promotion. So – post-of-the-month, picture-of-the-month ideas are not allowed.
Contact the winner of a promotion through Facebook. Even this, will make you persona non grata with Facebook.

Use language that clearly states that a promotion is not endorsed by Facebook.
Make sure the third-party application has clearly defined rules and regulations written on the promotion.
Heed this warning. If you ignore these rules you run the risk of having your fan page disabled or deleted
Turn to us for help. Facebook can still be a powerful communications tool and we are here to help you navigate the waters as Facebook continues to adjust to their own changing landscape.

Here is Facebook’s official stand on the matter – Facebook Promotion Guidelines.
If you would like to read more, we recommend this article .

Now that you know the rules, go do great things!

The Question Isn’t Where to Offer a Coupon

2011-03-11T02:51:00.000-08:00

It's why. And how.

As more and more players enter the field of daily online coupon mania, it’s important to know going in what you hope to accomplish. Statistics are fuzzy at this point about whether offering an extreme deal leads to repeat business and ultimately makes money. Groupon keeps half the funds that come in on each deal and that is after companies typically offer services at a loss to get the business. If you don’t have strong confidence that you can turn a coupon-clicker into a loyal customer, this could be big trouble.

Is if it weren’t already a complicated issue, Group Commerce – a start-up created by executives from Google and Double Click – announced this week their plans to create a Groupon clone platform. Instead of the already dozens of daily online coupon services, there could soon be thousands.

Or it may be time for every company to offer their own platform of daily deals. Flipping the concept on its head, it may be that in the long run customers seek out deals from companies they are already loyal to in order to weed out the static of deals that are of no interest or too far away.

It’s similar to the difference between paying your bills online through your bank or per each biller. Is it better to have the whole world in one location where you can decide how to manage information or is it better for each relevant vendor to contact you directly? Just as it took years for consumer confidence to carve out the best market strategy for online bill payment, it may take a long time and a lot of experimentation before online daily deals make solid market sense.

It's All Good

2011-03-04T10:07:00.000-08:00

If you are like 500 million people around the world who regularly visit their Facebook account to check in with friends and post photos, you may have noticed that Facebook recently rolled out a new design that changes the look and feel of your page somewhat. Or maybe you haven’t noticed yet, because they didn’t roll it out to everyone at the same time.

You may also wonder how this impacted your corporate fan page. As clients of Global Marketing Services we want to take a moment to reassure you. We have been working behind the scenes from the beginning to ensure that your fans are still able to find the information, photos, contests and other relevant communication without difficulty.

For example, you may remember tabs located on the top of the profile area of the site. With the new design the tabs went away and the information was relocated to the side navigation. We have taken steps to ensure that links to tabs now point to the side so that viewers do not receive error messages.

We want you to know that we have your success and best interests in mind and take pleasure in making your social marketing experience as seemless as possible.

News in the Age of Social Media

2011-02-25T08:13:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest strengths and most terrifying flaws of social media as it exists today is speed.

It is an amazing vehicle for offering up-to-the-minute information – timely assistance or even reassurance. How great would it have been to have had Facebook during Hurricane Katrina, or in those agonizing days following 9/11 when stunned survivors were posting flyers around New York of missing loved ones? At its best, the lightning-fast communication channel offered by services like Facebook and Twitter can change lives.

Likewise, at its worst it can ruin reputations just as quickly. A single unsubstantiated rumor can quickly be regarded as truth when it is proliferated millions of times within a few hours.

And so it is with some hesitation that we regard the new brand of news media emerging. Journalism used to be a discipline. Students strove follow in the footsteps of Edward R. Murrow or Walter Cronkite and learned the importance of verifying sources and providing attribution. But times have changed.

Several companies now actively solicit information from anyone who happens to be nearby with a smartphone. Last year, at the height of the oil spill, we constantly battled with such media that published outlandish sensational stories online. Paranoid stories circulated at lightning speed without credible attribution, and refuting the stories proved difficult because it made you part of the conspiracy.

Learning how to effectively manage this type of media is a challenge we all face as media in general becomes more and more momentary. An army of part-time reporters constantly seeking stories can be a great opportunity for the right marketing professional. The key to succeeding in this environment may mean being the credible source of information. If that small army knows you, knows it is easy to reach you and knows you want them to get it right, perhaps they will take the time to seek you out.

Tackable – an online media company that went public this week – has an interesting twist. They are positioning themselves as an online assignment desk. You, the marketing/business professional, post stories to cover and they send them out to their cadre of writers. This is a chance to be in front of the story and to build a relationship with local writers. We are not saying it is an easy relationship, but staying ahead of information in the new age of social media is tricky. Telling and protecting the truth is not always possible if you don’ t have people to receive it in good faith. Cultivating that audience requires a new discipline and dedication. Take a bit of time to familiarize yourself with Tackable and other citizen journalism sites so that you aren’t caught in the headlines of the moment’s hottest story.

Yelp

2011-02-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

Over the next several weeks, we are going to discuss some cool tools and killer apps that your business needs if you want to connect with trendsetters. These apps are second nature to entire of generation of consumers that are graduating from college and establishing habits and loyalties that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. You can’t afford to ignore this pivotal group, especially when so often it costs you nothing but knowledge and some time to be out in front.

The first killer app for you to explore is Yelp.

What is it?

Yelp is a free an online service that establishes a community and solicits reviews from its members. Businesses can create an account for free to post pictures, publish offers and message fans. It brings with it a great deal of “cool” cache and it has a mobile app that allows people with smartphones to easily look up reviews on restaurants or local attractions. It started in 2004 and has been growing steadily since.

Primarily used to review restaurants, the company is actively looking to broaden the reviews it receives which makes it a natural fit for travel, tourism and attractions. Yelp has almost inexplicable momentum on its side. Of its 45 million users, 6 million came on board since November. (Read Mashable’s article “Yelp’s Growth is Accelerating Despite Competition from Groupon and Google.)

What is its big idea?

The idea has been around for a while – if you build a community and receive credible reviews, you become a trusted source of information that people will turn to again and again.

What sets it apart?

Currently in 75 cities, Yelp has done a good job of creating a community online that feels like a real community. The site has goofy warmth that allows it to connect well with its audience. As competition intensifies it may also be able to win with a David vs. Goliath underdog appeal against companies like Google.

Using Social Media in a Crisis

2011-02-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

Last week GMS traveled to Mufreesboro, Tennessee to represent the good folks at Orange Beach and Gulf Shores and present our experiences over the past year contending with the Gulf oil spill crisis.

Our presentation – Using Social Media in a Crisis: Dos, Don’ts and Deliverables – was well received by the crowd and we had a wonderful time with our Tennessee neighbors. I know I speak for Orange Beach and Gulf Shores when I say that I hope no one reading this ever has to use the information we presented, but these are turbulent times and it’s good to be prepared.

You never know when a crisis case study will come in handy so we are making it available here and on our home site gmsthebest.biz. If you find yourself thrown into a disaster I hope you will consider our services which have now been tested by fire (literally!) and proven successful.

What is Influence Worth?

2011-02-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

In January, Facebook launched a new advertising vehicle called Sponsored Stories. The service allows businesses to piggyback their reach by turning a fan’s “Like” into a featured ad for that product.

Like most Facebook innovations, this concept is not without controversy. Consumers are faced with fluid privacy expectations and the need to balance the lightening fast information-sharing convenience with personal security.

So.

Is this a service that would benefit your organization? That depends.

Does monetizing your fans’ spheres of influence hurt you?

The older your target market the more likely they are to value privacy over convenience. How well do you know your market? Will they see you as disloyal? More importantly, will they be bothered by this enough to leave?

Are your fans cool?

Do your fans on Facebook tend to be innovators? Early adopters? Do they have lots of friends? If you have a cutting edge market and fans who are major influencers, this service could produce amazing results for your sales.

Of course, the yang to that yin would be anti-influencers. Everyone has a friend on Facebook that they consciously ignore. You can’t unfriend them but you have no respect for their opinion. In the worst case, you may even dislike something on the basis of their fondness for it. Catastrophe for advertisers.

In general, it looks like tourism stands to benefit from this type of advertising. Travel appeals to young, savvy consumers who are open new experiences and not especially anxious about security. Also – people are always looking for somewhere new to go and value the opinion of their friends when deciding where to go. Even better, people value being the first person to know about some cool new place to visit.

Time will tell. What are your thoughts?

Stay in the Game

2010-04-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

Competition is an inherent part of most businesses. If a competitor isn’t offering a certain service, you can gain an advantage by offering what they’re lacking—and vice versa. It can be stressful, particularly if your business isn’t the one on top. But in most situations, there are always options and deals to be made.

Consider, for example, the competition between Blockbuster and Netflix. Netflix has taken the movie-rental scene by storm, leaving Blockbuster scrambling for ways to keep up. Blockbuster has undoubtedly taken a hit—in 2009 the company suffered a 49% increase in loss and a $1 billion decrease in revenue, according to an LA Times article. And though Blockbuster has made an effort to remain on the same page as Netflix by offering an online subscription service, the company hasn’t matched the free streaming service (included with the monthly subscription fee) offered by Netflix—Blockbuster subscribers have to pay per movie download.

Check out our April Newsletter for the full article plus more interesting topics.

Forum Planned to Discuss Extension of Beach Express

2010-03-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

Press Release
For more information, contact:
Scott Shamburger
251-968-9256;
leadership-infrastructure@googlegroups.com

For Immediate Release

March 5, 2010
Foley, Alabama

Leadership Baldwin County's Class of 2010 Infrastructure Group announced today that a forum will be held to provide information and facilitate discussion about the proposed extension of the Beach Express road north to Interstate 65.
The forum, slated for March 30 at 6 p.m., will be held at Robertsdale City Hall and is open to the public. Scheduled speakers include Robertsdale Mayor Charlie Murphy; Chairman of the Baldwin County Commission Charles “Skip” Gruber; Emergency Management Agency Director Leigh Anne Ryals; Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance President Robert Ingram; G.U.M.B.O president Anthony Kaiser; and representatives from the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Baldwin County engineer’s office. Representatives from the county’s municipalities and county commission are expected to be in attendance as well.

"We are pleased to host this forum for the citizens of Baldwin County regarding the extension of the Beach Express road. We believe people want information and have questions about the two potential routes that have been identified," said Scott Shamburger, Project Manager for the forum. "This open discussion will include a question and answer session to help people obtain information about the proposed road."

"Businesses and individuals will be affected by the placement of this road. We believe it is important to provide factual information about both proposed routes and provide an appropriate forum for questions," said Shamburger.
##########

About Leadership Baldwin County
Established in 1989 by the University of South Alabama Baldwin County and Baldwin County United, Leadership Baldwin County is a program designed to identify current and potential leaders and enhance leadership in Baldwin County, Alabama. The program unites people from various areas of the county and addresses issues from a county-wide perspective. Leadership Baldwin County offers its members a broad range of experiences and insights about the county, its people, its services, its challenges and its opportunities. For more information, contact Dr. Cindy Wilson, 251-928-8133 or visit www.leadershipbaldwincounty.com.

Going Purple

2010-03-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

At a company I used to work for, we had a system for proofing the content for our publications. Each of us on the editorial side used a different color ink pen to make our corrections and comments. I believe my color was green.

Our master, super-duper proofer used purple and she used it well and often. So the phrase was born that an article or ad needed lots of correction if it had been “purpled.”

Today when I look at posts on Facebook and Twitter I see the need for purple!

Let me make a distinction. When I see posts clearly written for a personal audience, I don’t focus that much on the spelling and grammar. But when that post is made by a business, it needs to be correct. It is just as important as a magazine ad, a billboard or a press release.

Again, a distinction. To participate on Twitter, we’ve all had to adapt to a character limit. That limit has made creative abbreviations like B4 for before and U for you commonplace on social sites. But these should be used in moderation and only when the character limit requires.

If you are making a post for your business, take a moment to review before you submit. If you aren’t a spelling bee champ, change your habit and compose your messages in Word first. This way you can run spell check and then copy and paste your message into Facebook or Twitter.

Problem Solver

2010-03-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

We've all seen "problem solver" listed on a job announcement along with "self starter" and other buzz words. But what does it mean to be a self-starting problem solver? And why does it matter?

Today's business structure isn't what it was only a few years ago. Employees at all levels are expected to be more independent, more able and willing to tackle the problems that arise with any job. The successful employee isn't just sitting around waiting for his or her manager to tell them what step to do next. Because chances are in this world of downsizing, that manager has a work load of his/her own in addition to those managerial duties.

Work forces are leaner and there are fewer people to get the work load done. This gives the motivated person a real chance to shine, to stand out.

So how do you do it? How do you get noticed for being a go-getter?

The next time a problem comes up at work (and it probably won't take long for that to happen) give it some thought and formulate a solution (or two). Then discuss the idea with your manager. Even if the company doesn't adopt your solution, at least your manager will know that you were willing and able to suggest a possible answer.

Anyone can point out a problem. But to take the initiative to try to solve it - well, sadly very few people reach that level.

In this competitive job market, the go-getters will be more able to hold on to their jobs, while those who only point out problems will be go-getters of a different sort. They will be trying to go-get another job.

When you need some go-getter help in your business, Global Marketing Solutions would like the opportunity to talk to you about our self-starting, problem-solving approach to work.

Forum Planned to Discuss Extension of Beach Express

2010-03-04T14:33:00.000-08:00

Leadership Baldwin County's Class of 2010 Infrastructure Group announced today that a forum will be held to provide information and facilitate discussion about the proposed extension of the Beach Express road north to Interstate 65.

The forum, slated for March 30 at 6 p.m., will be held at Robertsdale City Hall and is open to the public. Scheduled speakers include Robertsdale Mayor Charlie Murphy; Chairman of the Baldwin County Commission Charles “Skip” Gruber; Emergency Management Agency Director Leigh Ann Ryals; Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance President Robert Ingram; G.U.M.B.O president Anthony Kaiser; and representatives from the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Baldwin County engineer’s office. Representatives from the county’s municipalities and county commission are expected to be in attendance as well.

"We are pleased to host this forum for the citizens of Baldwin County regarding the extension of the Beach Express road. We believe people want information and have questions about the two potential routes that have been identified," said Scott Shamburger, Project Manager for the forum. "This open discussion will include a question and answer session to help people obtain information about the proposed road."

"Businesses and individuals will be affected by the placement of this road. We believe it is important to provide factual information about both proposed routes and provide an appropriate forum for questions," said Shamburger.

About Leadership Baldwin County
Established in 1989 by the University of South Alabama Baldwin County and Baldwin County United, Leadership Baldwin County is a program designed to identify current and potential leaders and enhance leadership in Baldwin County, Alabama. The program unites people from various areas of the county and addresses issues from a county-wide perspective. Leadership Baldwin County offers its members a broad range of experiences and insights about the county, its people, its services, its challenges and its opportunities. For more information, contact Dr. Cindy Wilson, 251-928-8133 or visit www.leadershipbaldwincounty.com.

Facebook Fans: Beyond the Numbers

2010-02-22T12:25:00.000-08:00

We have an article coming out later this week in our newsletter that addresses the topic of Facebook page fans. We hope it generates some serious thought among our audience - many of whom are represented on Facebook pages.

As marketers we look for ways to measure. And with Facebook pages, it just seems obvious to measure the number of fans and to track how that number changes from week to week, month to month - hopefully growing at a healthy pace.

But when you think about the process for becoming a fan - you click a button, that's it, you are now a fan of this page, and that page, and the next page - it becomes clear that just becoming a fan is pretty passive.

And maybe your fans aren't really fans at all. Maybe they only joined your page in order to make a post to promote their own agenda. Maybe they are your competition and they want to monitor your page. Maybe they joined to make a negative post about their vacation, their meal, the service at your business.

Okay, so if we all agree that the term "fan" is a misleading name for our button-clickers, now what?

By whatever name we call them, our page fans represent something very important to our social marketing efforts. They represent opportunity for communication. And with that comes the need to communicate wisely.

Provide your fans the relevant information they want and you'll build loyalty. More to come on relevant communications in our next blog.

If you would like to receive our newsletter, visit our site and sign up.

Seeds of Hope

2010-02-14T13:04:00.000-08:00

When I was a young child, one key part of the holiday season was the Sears Wish Book. I skipped right past the clothes and kitchen items and headed straight for the toy section. Here I made my list of what toys I just had to have on Christmas morning. Some doll that crawled or wet. Maybe some paint by numbers kit during my fledgling art phase.

Now that I am an adult and Christmas gifts are more practical, I am more interested in catalogs with those kitchen items and clothing.

But what has become of even more interest to me is watching my dad and his catalog behavior. Shortly after the Christmas season passes, my parents' mailbox begins to fill with catalogs from seed companies. Who knew there were so many different companies.

And Dad carefully reads each one. More than sixty varieties of tomatoes - which ones to grow this year? Corn - there is a new variety out that promises a bigger ear of corn. Green beans - nope, gotta stay with the traditional variety there.

So as the weather outside is chilly and we've dealt with a rare snowfall, Dad is in his recliner plotting his garden. He is deciding which vegetables to plant in which row. He is thinking about the growing season and which ones to plant on what date.

We recently sat down and placed seed orders from five different catalogs. And on my last visit I noticed the back porch was already lined with onion and cabbage plants, getting a head start in the protected environment.

When spring arrives and the weather turns nice - well, that's a little too late to start thinking about your garden, or your business. The seasoned gardener (and business person) makes good use of cold weather times.

We all buy our seeds with the hope of spring.

Return Your Shopping Carts

2010-02-06T20:51:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed that no matter what the cause or item, there seems to be a day, a week or even a month designated to draw attention to the message.

Some are clearly important. For example, February is American Heart Month - a time when the American Heart Association spreads their vital messages about cardiovascular diseases.

Others are more lighthearted like National Pie Day, which was January 23rd. We're all too happy to celebrate with a visit to our favorite pie stop - Sweetie Pies in Gulf Shores.

Then sometimes the cause is one that makes you pause. Such is the case with Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month.

I wasn't aware of this month-long awareness campaign until I heard a news snippet last week. But after thinking about it for a few moments, I am all for it, both for the surface message and for what I see as a deeper meaning.

On the surface, yes, we should all return our shopping carts to the supermarket, or at least to those return corrals scattered throughout the parking lot. This protects cars in the parking lot from dents and scratches from runaway carts. It keeps the carts from being damaged or stolen which would add expenses to the store, costs that would eventually be passed on to customers.

And in the spirit of taking a cart back to the appropriate place, I hope this campaign gets people thinking about the many ways during each day that we can all do the simple things that make life run smoother.

When you are shopping in the grocery store and see an item has fallen off the shelf, take a few seconds and return it to the right place. If you decide that you no longer want an item that you have in your cart, take the time to return it to the place you got it, especially if it is a refrigerated or frozen item.

If you need to change a diaper, clean out your ashtray, get rid of the fast food wrappers in your seat, etc., find a trash can instead of leaving these items in the parking lot.

These may be simple actions but they can have profound impact on others. When an area is clean and inviting, people are less likely to litter, less likely to be unruly. But when an area is already dirty and uncared for, it sends a message that it is okay to misbehave, to ignore, to add to the mess.

So do something powerful this month (and beyond), return your shopping cart to the right place.

Explore the New Decade

2010-01-26T20:48:00.000-08:00

It’s not only a new year, it’s a new decade—an opportunity to look forward to new trends and attempt fresh strategies. This transition from one era to the next only happens once every ten years, so this is a good time to explore and rejuvenate marketing tactics.

There are plenty of tools out there to help you—some that are well-known, some that are still emerging. Facebook and Twitter remain popular social marketing tools. But another website you may not be aware of is 12seconds, a social site where users can post 12-second video updates.

Sites that allow you to set up email alerts based on keywords, such as Google Alerts and Social Mention, are also useful. And if you need a little education on anything from social media to web design, check out Lynda.com for affordable access to software training.

A couple of interesting sites to keep an eye on include Pandora.com (a site that creates personalized radio stations) and JibJab (where users can create humorous personalized eCards).

Get out there and discover what the new decade has to offer. For a complete list of tools to consider, click here.

Why I Love Christmas

2009-12-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

I've always loved the Christmas season. It's a running joke in my family that my shopping is done by the 4th of July, that I always overdo it, and that I'm still a kid at heart. All true. But not everyone feels as I do. Some people in my family would rather just hide under the covers until it's all over. And lately it seems more and more people I know would like to join that "Ignore Christmas" club to one degree or another.

That anyone doesn't love Christmas saddens me. It always has. I do understand that the holidays are not happy times for everyone, and that I am blessed beyond measure that I have much to celebrate and enjoy. For most people, I can't do a thing to make things easier or better. For those I love who find Christmas difficult, I try to tone things down, respect their wishes and not force anyone to do anything they don't want to. That has taken pretty much my whole life to adapt to. But I do try.

Two Decembers ago, I was very sick and very scared. Then on December 18, doctors found a tumor in my right salivary gland. It was the crescendo of five years of illness that no one could figure out or fix. Receiving this type of news carries so many different emotions. Relief--we know what's wrong. Fear--this is scary stuff. Exhaustion--maybe now I can rest. Hope--maybe now I can get better.

It's that last one that is at the center of this post. Hope. Just saying the word makes me feel it.

Being sick can be very isolating. No matter how much everyone tries to help, there are moments of absolute aloneness and of utter loneliness. Those times can be overwhelming and extremely frightening. They were for me. But what I learned two years ago is that God does his best work in those moments. Somehow, some way, God manages to be present in those scariest of times and if nothing else, he provides us with hope. Hope that we will be taken care of. Hope that we will heal. Hope that things will work out all right. Many, many kinds of hope are there.

God got me through the holidays that year, and through all that came after. And I'm happy to say that the tumor is long-gone. I have more reasons to be grateful than ever before. And I am. But at Christmas, I am especially grateful. Because the whole story of this occasion gives me great hope. That is why I've always loved Christmas. Once a year, no matter what, I feel very hopeful. My heart expands. I'm more open to possibility and mystery. That's just how I feel. And the other half of the equation is that I want to share it. With everyone I love. With strangers. With whoever will.

So for those of you who don't like Christmas or who have grown weary of trying to make it perfect or who feel it's too commercialized, has strayed too far from the true meaning, here is this in my defense.

When I say "Merry Christmas" to you, I'm saying, "Have hope. I care about you. Maybe it will all work out all right." And maybe it will. It did for me.

Reach Out and Inspire

2009-12-01T08:31:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Season is upon us: catalogs filled with gift ideas are flooding mailboxes, stores are adorned with ribbons and twinkling lights, and holiday music is playing happily from every speaker. For years these tactics have worked well to fill customers with holiday spirit and inspire them to shop.

But things have changed, and it’s become clear that traditional marketing strategies are no longer enough to draw in consumers. In the face of economic uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to find new ways to reach out to them.

As evidenced by Shop.org’s eHoliday Study, retailers are already putting new methods to use. Recognizing the popularity of social media, many retailers are making improvements to or adding Facebook pages, Twitter pages, and blogs, and increasing their overall usage of these sites. In addition, a large percentage of online retailers are offering free shipping and improving functions on their sites such as shopping carts and search capabilities.

Think like a retailer—know what matters to your customers and how to reach them on their level. Figuring out what’s most important to your clients is the first step in inspiring their interest in your services.

Women and Social Networking

2009-10-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

Women today are busier than ever. Juggling families, careers, and hobbies is common practice for many women these days, and doesn’t leave much time for socializing.

Maybe this is why so many women are jumping on the social networking bandwagon. According to a study conducted by social site ShesConnected, 59% of surveyed women check in with their social sites many times a day (read more about the study here). It’s easy to understand why: social networking sites, combined with the popularity of smartphones, provide a convenient way for the on-the-go woman to keep in touch with friends and family.

The survey also found that 79% of women use social sites for researching products and services, and 64% search for deals and discounts. However, most of the respondents were concerned about privacy, and though the majority didn’t have a problem with advertising on these sites, 96% preferred having the ability to block specific users.

So when it comes to social media marketing, think female—the audience certainly is there, and they’re interested. Just be sure to play the proper role: being an informative and social “friend” will help you avoid being just another advertisement.

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Oh My! First Time at the Spa

2009-09-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

I spent this past week down on the Alabama Gulf Coast visiting and working with April. Our week was packed with proofing for a print publication, meetings with clients, serving breakfast and making a presentation, shooting video and much more.

But we managed to squeeze in some fun too. On Monday we had a wonderful dinner with friends. We lingered and laughed, during dinner into a five hour reunion.

Then on Thursday it was off to the spa for some much-deserved pampering. I've never been to a spa before. I've got issues. Even friends and family only get a brief hug and strangers certainly don't get to touch me. So the thought of spending time at a spa was a bit overwhelming.

I searched the menu for the least contact options. No massage for me. I picked a facial, eyebrow wax and a haircut.

During the facial, I believe I scared the poor girl working on me. Having to keep my eyes closed because they were covered with cucumber slices, each new thing caused me to jump - especially the unannounced spraying of cool water on my face.

And when she was rubbing lotion on my arms and hands, she kept returning to my poor neglected elbows. She probably doesn't encounter sandpaper like that on a daily basis.
Fear aside, the facial was a good experience. I opted for an all-organic treatment because my skin is very sensitive and often reacts to skin care products. The various masks and exfoliation treatments all felt cool and soothing.

From there it was on to the hair cut and style and then an eyebrow wax and dipping my hands in hot paraffin.

Each day April, Julie and I work extremely hard to meet the needs of our clients. We face near-impossible deadlines and the work load can leave us weak in the knees. So pausing to take a break like this was a wonderful treat. It is a reminder that we need to take care of ourselves as we take care of others.

Thank you April for our day at the spa. My well-shaped eyebrows and smooth cheeks and chin are ready to take the world.
-Laura

Landmark Tours Launches New Website

2009-09-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

Have you seen it? Have you seen it?
Landmark Tours has a new website!

Check it out - http://www.landmarktours.com/
The site highlights all the fabulous places that Jan Weiler takes her groups. From giraffes to quilts, from dolphin cruises to antebellum homes, Jan takes her eager tour groups to the best and most interesting places around.

And thanks to help from many of you who supplied photos, we are able to showcase these areas better. We appreciate your assistance!

We encourage you to explore the new site, especially the photo gallery.

Site designed by Global Marketing Solutions.

Where Are You Today?

2009-08-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

Usually I use this graphic in a business context, to remind leaders and groups to focus on moving into the lower right quadrant. It's been a very effective tool, handed down to me by a mentor I trusted and respected. On occasion, I pull this out and think through the activities of my business, and remind myself, as well. Living in the Not Urgent, Important mode means you are in control of your actions and your stress level.

The last six weeks have been punctuated by a series of losses that have left me shaken. Two dear friends have each lost a parent; an old friend died; a colleague moved on to another job; and my dear, sweet dog Tabitha went to puppy heaven. Taken individually, these events have each found me grieving in some way. Taken together, they have prompted some evaluation and deeper thought. I've reached an age where losses tend to hit harder because they feel bigger. They hit closer to home. They make me stop and say, "That could so easily be me (or a family member, or...)"--you get the idea. Being someone's caretaker opens windows I didn't see earlier, and the empathy I feel for others in similar situations is a weight on my soul.

In the midst of this ongoing deep thought, I read a blog entry by Andy Andrews, a best-selling author whose most recent book "The Noticer" has gotten a lot of attention. His blog was about these same topics--just prompted by a different situation. He wrote about taking the time to evaluate his life, his actions, his commitments--and figuring out what is next. Andy inspires a lot of people, and he takes his life seriously. I feel pretty sure he tries to live his life in that quadrant in the lower right corner.

But I'm not Andy. My life has a different trajectory and different responsibilities. So my thinking has been similar, but with different specific results. All I know is, living in that quadrant means you are better able to cope with the losses that are now a regular part of being on the planet in mid-life. I'm not saying anything new--live each moment to its fullest, seize the day, take time to smell the roses--far better writers than I have expressed the idea. And they are cliches because they are true. It's good advice. It's just very hard to execute in the midst of daily living.

Right now, my business is thriving and productive. My professional journey is in a rewarding phase that brings new challenges every day. I derive a lot of satisfaction from my work, a lot of pride from our level of dedication, and a lot of identity from what I do. Personally, I have work to do. It's time to remind myself to apply the quadrant to more than my business. It's time to show more appreciation for the people in my life who provide humor, compassion, and good advice. It's time to get more from every moment.

The good news is, I'm surrounded by the right people and the right tools to do the cleanup job I believe is needed. There's Andy's blog to check in on; my friends tend to remind me it's not all about me; my parents are dependable sources of advice; my husband is my lighthouse. So I feel sure I'll get on the right path for the journey I'm meant to take. Sometimes, I just need a reminder.

Media coverage from last week's social seminar

2009-08-17T17:26:00.000-07:00

Area business leaders get social
Forums at USABC help with online presence

Check out this great article covering last week's social seminar.

Joint Social Networking Conference

2009-08-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who participted in today's Joint Social Networking Conference presented by University of South Alabama. Here is a link to our presentation on "The Why of Social Networking."

http://www.gmsthebest.com/

If you have any questions or would like to discuss social networking and social marketing, we'd love to hear from you. Our contact information is posted on our website.

GMS Social Start-up Package

2009-08-10T09:48:00.000-07:00

Haven't found your space on MySpace? Not showing your face on Facebook? Interested in social marketing to help your business but don't know where to start?

We can help get you started and take the mystery out of social marketing. All while respecting your budget.

In our Social Start-up Package we are offering set-up and custom design for the top social sites: MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and Blogger. You can choose one, two, three or all four sites to match your time and budget resources. We'll get you started and hand the keys over to you to run the show.

Don't have the in-house resources to maintain your social marketing efforts? We can offer a turn-key solution based on your goals. Visit our social site for more details.

http://www.gmsthebest.biz/social_startup.html

What’s Left After Budget Cuts

2009-08-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

Budget cuts are flying fast and furious these days. The axe is falling in all areas from locally-owned restaurants in small towns to national retail giants.

For those facing the challenge of how to pare down a marketing budget, some of the first items to feel the cut are TV, newspapers, magazines and radio. These mediums are falling in part because they don't offer marketing professionals the tracking to prove their worth. And direct mail is getting fewer dollars because it has a long track record of lower ROI.

When dollars are this tight, areas that are actually seeing an increase in spending deserve a closer look. A recent report on marketing budgets shows that increases are being seen in social media, website development, online advertising and e-mail.

Read full report here. http://directmag.com/online/news/interactive-marketing-cannibalize-0709/

Socializing - It's a Long Term Thing

2009-08-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

When you think Twitter, you think short. Only 144 characters to get the message across. It took a while for you to adapt to that abbreviated length. But the strength of Twitter and other social sites is not in the short, but in the long. Long term commitment.

This can be a tough concept to tackle in the marketing world. We are geared toward deadlines and campaigns. This online ad runs for 4 months. That campaign is for the holiday season. And so on. We like things to have a beginning and an end.

Social sites are more like an information desk at a major airport. The traffic never stops. The questions are always changing and hard to predict. You never know who you'll meet. It is a wonderful place for a marketer to be - if he or she is prepared.

Make Hay While the Sun Shines

2009-07-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

This time of year a drive past farm land often brings scenes of wide fields dotted with hay bales. The contrast of the yellow hay, the green field and the bright blue summer sky seems idyllic.

But behind that postcard snapshot is the hard work that went into making it all happen. It brings to mind the saying, "Make hay while the sun shines."

In order to make hay when the conditions were right, the farmer had lots of preparation work to do. Tractors had to be in good working condition with plenty of fuel. Hay mowers, rakes and balers had to be serviced; they'd been in the barn since last summer. And long before that, the fields had to be cared for, fertilized, thistles removed and so on.

Most of us aren't baling hay in the literal sense this summer, but we can see the parallels to our own jobs. We all have peak times when we are welcoming a rush of visitors, or hustling to meet a sales deadline, or a production deadline. We all have our hay-making times.

And these crunch times are not the right time to be worried about broken down equipment or thistles in the field. Those items should have been addressed long ago. We've got enough hard work to do just to get the hay made, to get the guests greeted, to reach that sales goal, to meet that drop dead date at the printer.

Our guests, customers and clients don't want to see us checking the hydraulic fluid levels, they just want to see that idyllic field of perfect hay bales.

TweetDeck: Powerful Social Tool

2009-07-21T11:27:00.001-07:00

Who is tweeting good things about your business? Who is tweeting bad things? Who is tweeting about your competition? Aarrgghh! Trying to keep track of it all can put you in a social spin.

Make your life (at least social monitoring part of it) a little easier with TweetDeck. http://tweetdeck.com/beta/ Start with the free download, then connect to your Twitter account. Basic functions like retweeting and shortening urls are easier here than from Twitter.com.

Then add search columns for monitoring keywords. Monitor your city, your business name, your product, your competition's name, etc. As you find relevant users and tweets you can follow them and engage them in conversation.

Aretha Gets R-E-S-P-E-C-T

2009-07-05T07:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Aretha,
Thank you for great service when I drove through recently. At the time, we discussed tumblers with the Starbucks logo. You're right, they are hard to find, because it was a limited run and they sold out very fast. But I found some! So here you go. It is rare these days to encounter such friendliness as you showed me. This is meant to encourage you to keep it up and to follow your dreams.
Best regards,
April

Aretha set the tone for our interaction from the first moment she spoke and offered me a specific beverage. She was friendly and upbeat, rather than speaking in a monotone or sounding frighteningly depressed as so often happens at any drive-through window. She did everything right to ensure that I felt great when I left my local Starbucks store. Say what you will about Starbucks, they're doing something right. And when I deliver her tumbler I'll be asking Aretha her schedule so I can frequent the store when she's there.

Maybe it's crazy to reward something we all should receive when we make a purchase. But many companies seem to have forgotten to train their employees to provide a friendly demeanor when interacting with customers. And many employees seem not to know that it might be a good idea. So let's use the carrot as well as the stick, and let these folks know when they get it right, and tell them we appreciate it.

And maybe it's crazy to think that Aretha is a great employee based on that one short experience. I think she probably is--no matter the good or bad training, some things just come naturally to some people. Around here we'd say she was just raised right, and Starbucks is capitalizing on it. But even if that was her only stellar day and she's just average every other day, maybe this will encourage her to do more, work harder, and believe that it's worth it to provide good service. Maybe she'll influence someone else. And maybe in my small corner of the world, that idea would go viral and influence a few more. Who knows. It's worth a shot.

So Aretha, thanks for providing great service and for making me think. You've got my respect.
April

April Boone to Participate in Social Networking Marketing Seminar

2009-07-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

This is a great opportunity to learn about social networking and how it can help your business. April will be part of the panel and will speak about why social networking is important. We encourage you to sign up.

The University of South Alabama and the five Baldwin County Chambers of Commerce have joined together to present a:

Social Networking Marketing Seminar
Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The focus of the seminar will be discussion of the various online social networking tools currently being used and to discuss means and methods of analyzing their effectiveness.

Participants will learn how to use online services such as Twitter, FaceBook, Flickr, YouTube, Blogging, Podcasting, Google Analytics and other marketing innovations.

Two Identical Sessions are offered.
9:00 am - 12 Noon and 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
USA FairhopeBranchCampusPerformanceCenter

Admission is FREE & Reservations are required.
Call the Eastern Shore Chamber at 251.928.6387
or email kbarton@eschamber.com

The seminar organizer, Angela Rand, USA Baldwin County Head of Information Technology and Services has extensive experience with using social networking to promote services of non-profit organizations. Rand has presented lectures on social networking at four Alabama Library Association Conventions and for numerous community and business groups.

I Hope She's Family

2009-06-26T06:51:00.000-07:00

"I Hope She's Family"said this to my husband during a recent dinner at a local, family-owned Italian restaurant. I was referring to the hostess. My husband gave me a questioning look. I replied, "Well, I hope they didn't actually hire someone like that and she's only here because she's family."

Our hostess was somewhat going for the Goth look, but matched with silver ballet slippers. I'm not a fashion critic and could have easily brushed this off as quirkiness. But what I couldn't get past was her personality, or glaring lack of.

Our arrival was greeted with a couple of mumbled words. No smile. No eye contact. She lead us to our table as she shuffled her feet with all the enthusiasm of a funeral procession (and not one of those fun New Orleans jazz funerals).

We watched her throughout our meal as she guided others with the same lack of hospitality. Her attitude set the tone for our entire meal. The food was good. The service was okay. But what we left with was the feeling of just not being important.

In the business world (restaurant or otherwise), if you are considering an applicant for long-term or just summer work--stop and think about it. Is this person truly qualified for the job? Are they going to advance your company’s objectives and mission? Or will their negative mindset permeate the business and bring everyone down?

Make sure that all of your employees understand how to do their jobs the right way and the importance of customer service. This is even more crucial for family employees. Because they are family, they should have a keen interest in the success of the business. They should be setting the standard for others to follow.

So remember, you can't choose your family, but you can (and should) choose your employees.

(This post is from our June newsletter. Be sure to sign up at http://www.gmsthebest.biz/.)

USSRC Lands Star Wars Exhibit for Summer of 2010

2009-06-25T17:50:00.001-07:00

(Sharing great Alabama tourism news!)

First time in the Southeast, expected to impact tourism throughout Alabama
HUNTSVILLE, AL – The U.S. Space & Rocket Center® today kicked off a one-year campaign to welcome its newest exhibit to Alabama’s top tourist attraction: the world renowned Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit, presented by Bose Corporation.

“We’ve got a year to get ready, so we’re going to have some fun with it,” says Larry Capps, the Space & Rocket Center’s CEO. “I suspect you may see some of the Star Wars characters pop up at venues across the state and all around the Southeast promoting this,” he adds.

At 12,000 square feet, it’s the largest temporary exhibit in the Space Center’s history. It will fill the Center’s original museum building with costumes, models and props from all six movies in the Star Wars saga, along with many interactive exhibits, hands-on displays and laboratories -- where guests can conduct their own scientific experiments on magnetic levitation and experience augmented virtual reality. Even a replica of the Millennium Falcon cockpit will be a part of the exhibit, where guests can experience a multimedia presentation about making the jump to lightspeed!

“This is a major coup for us. We’ve wanted this exhibit here for several years, and we’re delighted to be able to bring it to the Space & Rocket Center,” Capps said.In fact, it’s a coup for all of Alabama. The Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit is expected to draw thousands of additional visitors, which could translate into a substantial increase in sales for area hotels, restaurants and other attractions. Space Center officials are teaming up with the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, the North Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, and the Alabama Department of Tourism to maximize the potential benefit statewide, as an effort to bring vacationing families to Alabama next summer.

“From the mountains to the beaches, from Shakespeare to the space program, there’s so much to see and do in Alabama,” according to Holly Beach, the USSRC’s Vice President of Marketing. “We see this as a means of bringing in additional families to spend a night or two here in North Alabama, and then perhaps continue their vacation through Birmingham, Montgomery, right down to the beaches,” she adds.

“We also anticipate a lot of families will schedule their time at Space Camp around a visit just to see this exhibit,” Beach said. She added, “You’d be amazed at how many parents drive their children to our camp, drop them off, and then spend the week in Florida or somewhere else before coming back for graduation. This gives us a better chance to direct them to some of the other attractions in Alabama, and keep them in Alabama a little longer.”

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination is the first exhibition of its kind, combining costumes and important props from all six Star Wars films with real-world technologies as well as video interviews with the filmmakers, scientists and engineers. It includes design labs where visitors will get to build and test speeders and robots. Visitors will be able to see footage from the Star Wars saga and investigate the numerous parallels between technologies in the films and those in the real world. They will explore amazing prototypes in progress and learn about the engineers and designers who are creating new technologies. Throughout the exhibit, visitors will notice intriguing similarities between how scientists and filmmakers think.

The 501st Legion, an international fan-based organization dedicated to the construction and wearing of screen-accurate replicas of various characters from the Star Wars movies, with members all across the Southeast, has been enlisted to help support the Space Center’s efforts to promote the exhibit. Current plans call for their members to appear at various venues in costume.

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination opens June 25, 2010 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Ticket information will be available at www.spacecamp.com.

(NOTE: The contact for this release is Al Whitaker, Media Relations Manager, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama. 256-721-7160. Email: media@spacecamp.com. Additional information and photos available for your unrestricted use can be downloaded from www.spacecamp.com/media/starwars )

“STAR WARS: WHERE SCIENCE MEETS IMAGINATION,” presented by Bose Corporation, was developed by the Museum of Science, Boston and Lucasfilm Ltd. Star Wars objects in this exhibition are on loan from the Archives of Lucasfilm, Ltd.This exhibition is made possible through the cooperation of Lucasfilm Ltd.Lucasfilm Ltd: © 2010 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0307875. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Home Sweet Home - both of them

2009-05-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

If you are lucky, your home is a place where you can relax and be yourself. I'm lucky that way. I truly enjoy my home and my husband. And after a week away, I am glad to be back home.

That said, I am even luckier, because I have another place where I also feel at home. I just returned from a five-day visit with my dear friend and partner in crime, April Boone. I stayed with her and her husband John.

They genuinely make me feel at home - in all the ways that count. I can kick my shoes off. I can burp (a few times too many). I can sleep late. I can help with the meals and the dishes instead of being sent to the living room like a guest. And the frig always has a good supply of Diet Coke.

The visit was filled with lots of reunions. I enjoyed hugs from Joe, Dustin and Katie. We shared a great meal with Lorri and Kristi. We gossiped with Lucinda and Julie over coffee. Missed seeing Kayla - but maybe on the next visit.

And oh boy, the food! I don't think we ever stopped eating. Thanks again John for the amazing shrimp last night!

And the fun of reconnecting with the area. We all need to be reminded of the simple beauty in the world. I had really missed seeing pelicans in flight, kids running on the beach (okay, truthfully I had not missed seeing kids, but the beach... man I had missed the beach!).

So wherever you find yourself this Memorial Day weekend, I hope it is somewhere that you feel at home.

-Laura

Customer Service...Extinct?

2009-05-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

An article today on www.CRM.com highlighted the fact that in economic downturns, companies often make staff cuts in the customer service department first and most. This fact makes me grind my teeth and mutter incoherently. I agree with the author that this should actually not be the first department upper management looks to when having to reduce payroll. The article made the significant point that many businesses, such as financial institutions, insurance companies, telecoms and the like are experiencing increased customer service calls, because people are looking for ways to save money and to ensure their money is safe. Regardless of the industry, I see customer service as so elemental to a business' success I just cannot imagine making cuts in that department unless there was no other way to find savings for the business.

Recent experiences with less-than-stellar customer service illustrate why this topic is in my brain pretty much every day, and would be even if I weren't a marketing person who lives in a resort area, both making customer service a pretty critical area in my professional life.

Sugar, you just don't matter to me

Last week I spent three nights on a trip with a friend. The occasion was purely leisure-oriented, and we had organized and arranged our travel plans well in advance. At the Holiday Inn Express where we stayed the first two nights, chaos ruled as we attempted to check in. Due to the event we were attending, the hotel was full--good news! But when room types are incorrect, and the front desk is three deep, it's the perfect opportunity to showcase great customer service skills. Unfortunately, that isn't what occurred. And when I made a phone call to inquire what could be done, the response was, "Sugar, I'll have to get back to you on that."

Now, aside from the endearment, which is just a Southern thing I guess, the response was rushed and harried. I was patient. And really, I knew the chances of a room change were minimal. But the kicker was that the return call took...well, the return call never came. It was only when my friend stopped by the front desk that we got the answer to our question. A great opportunity, gone with the wind.

We don't do chicken

A recent trip to KFC's drive-through window here in my hometown led to this exchange. My husband had seen a television commercial about their new grilled chicken, and wanted to try it. (He's a KFC fan.) We pulled into the parking lot and saw that several cars were lined up waiting for food from the drive-through. We circled to the menu board and got the pre-recorded "order when you're ready" message. As I began to speak our order, a blaring male voice boomed out, "Uh, ma'am, just to let you know, we are out of all fried and grilled chicken right now and would have to cook it if you order chicken." Uh...what are the chances I'd want chicken at KFC? What are the chances that most customers would want chicken at KFC? And what are the chances that I might want my chicken cooked?

We thanked the boom-box and drove away. A customer-service opportunity, gone the way of the dodo bird.

These are just two examples of large companies sending mediocre messages to a customer. Everyone I know has stories like this, and it just seems to worsen with each day. So here's my advice for businesses everywhere--cut if you must, but beef up the service. It's companies that shine in this area that will retain customers and attract new ones in this economic climate. Next time, I'll give some specific pointers on painless ways to improve your customer service.

April

Are you a Twitter Addict or Quitter?

2009-05-01T15:37:00.000-07:00

Likely you have by now heard all the buzz about Twitter and given in to curiosity to take a look for yourself.

For some of you the first look lead to a daily, hourly, or near constant addiction. You quickly mastered the 140 character limit and began sharing everything from what you were planning for supper to your thoughts about the economy or your favorite celebrity. Who knew you had so much to talk about?

In recent weeks I have found several old friends through Twitter. And how each one uses it is very different.

First up is Steve, a photographer and online editor. His tweets range from vents about his favorite restaurant closing, updates on area weather alerts and what he is doing with his family to thoughts on life and reports on work projects.

Steve seems to average about 30 tweets a day, mainly via TweetDeck. He frequently replies to others and re-tweets. I check his updates a couple of times a week just to see what's going on in his world. I rarely reply to him - so I guess it is more like eavesdropping.

Next is Tim, a sports editor for a major newspaper. I knew Tim back in high school, but hadn't talked to him in more than 20 years. Tim's Twitter account is work-related. He talks about sports players, games, etc. He has a large following and does a good job promoting the paper's online site where people can read the full story.

Tim tweets five or six times a day; his favorite method is also TweetDeck. Since his posts are on sports and I'm not into the NBA, I rarely check in with his updates. When I first saw him on Twitter I made contact and we hooked up on Facebook and use that for our personal chats.

Today I found Christa, another high school friend on Twitter. She is just now getting started and learning the ropes. She is a stay-at-home mom and so far has used her updates to share about her son, her church and a trip to Wal-mart. It will be interesting to see how she progresses.

While Steve and Tim are remaining constant on Twitter (Christa is still too early to tell), I have also found many other people that I know who are dropping out - becoming Twitter Quitters.

One former co-worker tweeted regularly for about a month and then suddenly stopped. Her last update was in March.

And I've found many profiles of people I know who haven't made the first tweet. Perhaps they are using Twitter just as an observer, searching to see what others are saying. Maybe they just haven't figured out how to find others of interest to follow.

Thinking about who is using Twitter and who is quitting, I was somewhat surprised to read a recent report from Nielsen Wire that showcases the retention problem.

Currently, more than 60 percent of U.S. Twitter users fail to return the following month, or in other words, Twitter’s audience retention rate, or the percentage of a given month’s users who come back the following month, is currently about 40 percent. For most of the past 12 months, pre-Oprah, Twitter has languished below 30 percent retention.

Check out the full article and the follow up article.
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/twitter-quitters-post-roadblock-to-long-term-growth/

http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/update-return-of-the-twitter-quitters/

For me? Well, as part of a work project I am on Twitter every day. I make frequent tweets and search out people to connect with.

On my personal account I'm a quitter which is somewhat odd. I've just shared how Twitter has allowed me to make contact with several friends from years gone by. So why is my personal account languishing?

Perhaps the answer lies in the old saying that the cobbler's children go barefoot. Being so involved with Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and the countless other social sites for work leaves me very little desire to do the same on a personal level.

I feel like the immersion I get through work gives me all the access I need to the social networking world. Although if it weren't part of my work, I do wonder if I would utilize it for connecting with old friends or making new ones.

--Laura

Email Still King for B2B

2009-04-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

The communication evolution continues to race along. We have already seen the impact of email on direct mail. And now we are watching the increasing erosion effect that social networking is having on traditional email.

How are we to respond to this continually shifting landscape? The answer: With excitement!

Email is still a powerful tool for near-instant communication with our audience. No more delays for printing and mailing. And no more postal costs.

It works great for delivery of newsletters - like the one you are reading right now. Gone are the days when we would have printed and mailed this newsletter to you. And because we can't reach even half of you through our social networking channels, we aren't going to go that route either.

As new methods of communication come onboard and gain traction, they help clarify the entire arena.

Chances are pretty high that most of you each day send and receive mail, emails and social networking messages. And each one holds different meaning for you.

The mail is likely on the serious end of the spectrum for you. It contains the bills and important correspondences. The social networking messages are likely on the casual end. They are updates from college friends and your cousin in California sharing photos of her day at Disneyland.

Email now holds court in the middle ground of the communication spectrum, making it ideal for business to business communications. It is seasoned enough to be taken seriously and instant enough to meet the needs of quick communication.

Whether you have questions about tapping into the power of email or unraveling the latest social networking site, Global Marketing Solutions can help. We can help you find the methods that make sense for your message.

Honesty Matters

2009-04-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

Honesty has always mattered. People have always felt hurt and betrayed when someone has treated them dishonestly. And now in our current stressed-out, worried-about-paying-the-bills climate, there is even more of a risk to those who would be dishonest in their marketing efforts.
If you market your destination as the pogo stick capital of the world (just picking a safe example), then make sure that visitors to your area truly can have a great pogo stick experience.

You aren't exaggerating about your pogo stick features are you? You really do have a professional-grade pogo park that is well-lit, clean and inviting. You really do have a renowned pogo stick museum that showcases pogo artwork, pogo sticks from world champions and conducts workshops on proper pogo technique for kids. You really do have annual pogo competitions covered by ESPN2. And so on…

Silly example, but the message is serious. If you bill your destination as world-class for whatever topic, then visitors expect and deserve to find an experience that lives up to your claim.
If you misrepresent your product, you will anger your customer. And today's customer is in no mood to be conned. They have scraped and saved for months to be able to afford their vacation to Pogo Stick Paradise. They are looking forward to having a great time and experiencing all your wonderful pogo features.

If they arrive to find a run-down park, a museum with only a handful of rusty pogo sticks from the neighbor kids and no fun annual pogo events, you have ruined their vacation. Beyond that, you will likely never win back this customer. And the word of your dishonesty will spread quickly throughout the pogo community.

Don't lose face with the pogo stick crowd or any other crowd. Be honest in all you say and do to market your destination, your service, your business, your reputation.

--Be sure to visit http://www.gmsthebest.biz/ and sign up for our newsletter.

How to Get Free Starbucks

2009-04-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

This week a former employee emailed me and requested a meet up. That alone is an exciting proposition for the work-from-home marketer I now am. What is even more appealing to me though, is that she wants to discuss leadership. Many of you know that is one of my favorite topics to discuss with anyone, more so with someone I have known a long time.

She has asked me to share my thoughts on leadership because she wants to strengthen her own talents. The fact that she's asking shows me she has terrific potential, which I already knew. In preparation for our coffee break, I've made notes on a few main topics relevant to our discussion. Now, I don't profess to be in the ranks of world-famous leaders past or present. What I've done and learned have been the results of working and living in a much smaller universe. But I think these topics apply regardless of the size of the pond you're in or the school of fish you're leading.

Empathy
If you lack empathy for others, you will be challenged to fulfill your true leadership potential. Walking in someone else's moccasins is a tried and true leadership advantage. Imagining yourself in someone's situation is a sure-fire way to realize how to motivate, when to back off, and how to ensure the most productive behavior from those you lead. This ability crosses all divides, whether they be generational, religious, gender-based or any other "difference" between you and those you lead.

Develop your empathy by listening. (More on that later.) Only when you truly listen to what is said--and not said--can you empathize and take action accordingly. Empathy is not the same as sympathy, and having empathy does not mean you fall apart because those around you are experiencing trauma or tragedy or trouble. It means you see it, recognize it, understand its impact, and develop a way to work with the situation as opposed to against it.

Marie Antoinette offers the great example. She celebrated while her subjects were starving, and exclaimed that they could eat cake when it was pointed out to her they were going hungry while the royals partied on. Marie had no empathy. She could not understand how starvation among her subjects affected her; therefore she did not acknowledge its power. She later lost her head, quite literally, I believe. A lack of empathy can lead to a long, hard fall, while a bounty of it can reap both personal and professional rewards.

Encouragement
Why do some leaders make you miserable while others challenge you to be your best self? Encouragement seems to play a large part in a leader's success. Belittling others, highlighting faults, and providing negative feedback are all great ways to alienate those you lead and those who love the ones you lead. You create an environment of fear and resentment. Seems simple, but so many leaders use this as a tactic to achieve short-term results. But using positive encouragement and feedback is a method for the leader looking to accomplish long-term goals.

Encouragement builds while negative enforcement tears down. While the U.S. military uses the tear-down method to great effect, I don't recommend it for non-military leadership. Build people's skills, confidence and sense of professional direction, and you, the leader, reap the rewards as much as the individuals you're leading. Encourage risk-taking, independent thinking and decision making in order to capitalize on your group's strengths and shore up their weaknesses. Only by risking failure do we grow, and it should always be a goal for everyone inside your leadership.

Share
Share credit, share praise, share information, share knowledge, share wisdom. An environment of openness fosters creative thinking, innovation and camaraderie. It's one of those things we learn in kindergarten and often forget along the way, but sharing is at the core of good leadership. As a leader, you are responsible for the team's end results. By sharing all the tools available and encouraging others to share as well, you create an eco-system primed for success. And when failure inevitably occurs, an open environment means the event can be dissected without placing blame. This is when learning occurs at its most intense and best.

Listen
When you listen, you learn. It's as simple as that. Many people find it difficult to actually do, but those who practice will see benefits and results. The open environment you've worked to create is of no use if the information you gather isn't processed and used to advantage. Knowing what is really going on, from the people who are on the front line of what you do, is an advantage you can't buy anywhere else.

Being a good listener opens the door to individual problem-solving, free sharing of information and knowledge and the opportunity to empathize and encourage. Pay attention to what is said and even more attention to the silences and pauses. When it's time to speak, ask questions. Repeat what you've heard so you're sure you got it right. And then use it to figure out how to move forward in some way.

How to Get Free Starbucks
You probably now know that I have a passion for the topic of leadership. The successful leadership of any group interests me and sometimes fascinates me. Bad leadership intrigues me to dissect and ruminate. So if you ever want a cup of good coffee, invite me to meet for a leadership discussion at Starbucks. I'll be putty in your hands.

Making a List - good advice for Christmas and beyond

2009-04-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

We all know that Santa has a list and he takes the time to check it twice. But how many of us utilize the powerful organization help of the simple list?

I learned from an early age the value of a list. With my mother, if it was important it was written down. From the weekly grocery list to menus for big events and the basic to-do list, I learned to respect that writing it down makes it real, gives it a sense of urgency.

For several years now I am never too far away from my spiral notebook. The to-do list is grouped by project for the work I do. Newsletters to write. Emails to proof to the client. Social networking tasks to complete.

Other non-work to-do lists get jotted down on one of many notepads. Dinner plans for the week. Errands to run tomorrow. Mom's prescriptions to get refilled.

Having a list gives me a sense of control over my life. I can see what needs to be done. A project that may take many hours to complete can be expressed in just a few words on a sheet of paper. It is now neatly placed on a line, given a number. It can be handled. I can do it.

And then the reward. That glorious check mark. A sense of completion. That big task was reduced to an item on a list. And then the work was done and the victory of the checkmark was mine.

Heck, one day I may start giving myself smiley face stickers. After all, we need to reward ourselves, keep our morale up and keep motivated.

So here's to all you list-makers out there.

1) Write today's blog entry. check!