Rain, Drizzle, Blog

Bill Hicks on Marketing: "Go Kill Yourself"

2013-11-20T11:28:00.001-03:30

I've seen it before, and unfortunately a lot of people have this opinion (or else a comedian wouldn't be making jokes about it).

And that's all it is, comedians making jokes. I've worked with multiple companies in a marketing position, and not a single one of them employs less than moral tactics. And at the end of the day, marketers respond to market trends and demand, because they're interested in one of many things, (such as increased brand awareness, loyalty or sales) and all of them are positive results for the company. Selling arsenic to a baby (a joke I know, extreme example to prove a point), would not be good for the company.

Perfect example of this is Gap Kids. They advertised a sexier line of clothes aimed at tweens a few years ago, and people were in an uproar. Thing is, they sold. The problem isn't marketers, the problem is people and what they want.

My problem with comments like this (and it really stemmed from comments by the journalist covering that Gap Kids story) is that people refer to the marketing industry as if it was one single entity and that we all meet every month to decide what evil, take-over-the-world plans we will execute next. Fact is, we're all in competition. It's an extremely competitive market on every scale/level, and some professionals make bad decisions and some make good decisions. The ones that make bad decisions usually end up fired, or their company suffers from it.

Bottom line is most marketers do things above board, for fear of negative repercussions by their consumers.

I think a lot of the negative connotations come from industries like the modelling industry, where (despite the glorification of dating/banging a hot, skinny model) everyone claims the industry is at fault for pushing this message of "you have to be thin" down people's throats.

Yet everyone still watches them, photographs them, wishes they were in bed with them or actually were them.

Yet the industry and brands are to blame? They're merely responding to market demand. Same reason now why health foods, gluten free and organic are so popular right now; because they're on trend. People want it, so marketers are delivering.

Demand; response. That's how the marketing industry works.

What I find extremely ironic, is that this guy's career relies on heavy and proper marketing in order for him to fill seats, pay his bills and enjoy the lifestyle he enjoys.

Back in My Day...

2013-09-27T14:05:00.000-02:30

How I don't miss cassette tapes...

If you're one of those people that complain about the way things are today and claim it used to be better in the past, you might want to skip this post and move on.

Actually, no. You're the kind of person that NEEDS to read this.

We always remember the past as better than it was, and worry that the future will be worse than we expect. However both are rarely true.

There have always been people that have been resistant to change, whether it is to new technology, new music or new social norms. I have a huge issue with this, as change is inevitable. Nothing stays the same, and some people spend a lifetime attempting to ensure that it does.

BIMD: Pop music didn't suck!

This issue ranges from the superficial to the deep-rooted accepted rules that society has bestowed upon us. If you complain about pop music but listen to classic rock, remember that your music was considered 'pop' one day. During the late 90's and early 2000's, I was victim of this as well. I loved 80's metal (still do!) and didn't think anything made today could ever come close to what that was. Metallica's 2.1 million show in Moscow in 1991, or the more than 7 million that saw Guns N Roses on their Use Your Illusion tour didn't seem like it could ever be replicated and that depressed me. I didn't really listen to any new music at all, and missed out entirely of the grunge scene in the 90's. I did, thankfully discover it in the mid 2000's and became a huge Bush, Moist and Pearl Jam fan. Through this realization, I finally dropped my closed minded view on new music and started giving all artists at least one chance. Now I've discovered that I love new hard rock way more than I ever enjoyed music from the 80's.

BIMD: Musicians made music with instruments instead of a computer!

This, along with a 7 year career in the bar/restaurant service industry, allowed me to start actually enjoying some Top 40 and dance, as it is played non stop in clubs. Which brings me to how certain individuals claim that music with an instrument is somehow more legitimate than music created electronically. Certain things are better made by hand, with imperfections, and others are better made by machine, entirely flawless. The thing people don't get, is that there's a market for both, and that both take a different type of skill. A guitarist myself, lover of both rock and EDM, I feel comfortable in saying that. Music is an expression of emotions, it doesn't have to be extremely deep and meaningful for someone to enjoy it.

Remember that when the electric guitar was invented, those same type of people complained about it, yet the innovators, the early adopters, the forward thinkers pushed through and changed the shape of music forever. Without this new technology, we'd never have such great artists like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, B.B. King or Jimmy Page.

BIMD: We picked up the phone to call people!

In just 5 years, our daily lives have changed so much with the innovation and popularity of the mobile device. Almost everyone I know has one, and the main form of communication between friends, co-workers and family is via text message. Before that it was instant messaging (Uh-oh! anyone?) and before that, email. With the rise in popularity of this new communication method, some people are happy to have more time due to the convenience of it, yet others complain it's making people anti-social. Newsflash: people that use texting as a form of communication don't just sit in their basement with the lights off doing so. It's quite often a way to make social plans, or organize different events.

BIMD: We spent time with people instead of reading about it on Facebook!

The same people that whine about texters are probably complaining about how much they hate Facebook as well (though they all seem to still have an account...). They claim the social interaction between people, the face time is reduced to anti-social reading, liking and posting. If anything, social media has allowed most people to be MORE social. Learning about events you're interested in and things that your friends are doing so you can consider joining certainly isn't anti-social. The same can be said for the idea that video games are anti-social as well. Another post will be made in the future about this, but most video games these days have a huge multiplayer and social aspect to them, requiring you to work as a team to complete certain goals.

BIMD: We played with rocks and trees we found outside!

Yes, obesity is a problem in our children now, more than it was before. I think the problem lies in diet and the crap we feed our kids, and not in the lack of activity, but that's an opinion and not a fact. Some people are so violently opposed to children having any sort of technology (like an iPhone or iPad or any gaming systems) and I can't figure out why. Apps that are designed for children to help them develop certain skills are readily available, but having the latest tech in their hands will get them used to the world that they're going to live in. Don't think that is important? All of you know someone over the age of 40 that has trouble using a computer because they 'didn't grow up with' like we did. If you want your kids to have a leg up on other people, and let's face it, you do or else you wouldn't have them in all the different things that you do, then get them used to this stuff.

My siblings don't have a clue how to build a web page. I built one in Gr. 9. Kids today are doing it in Gr. 3. Why would you think that was a bad thing? To have kids smarter and smarter at a younger age is clearly beneficial to them and society as a whole. I'm sure that studies will surface eventually that early development in areas like this will reduce the onset of different brain deterioration diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia.

BIMD: We worked hard and shut up and did what we were told!

That's the problem though. Everyone were robots. We lived by a set of rules and morals (mostly derived from religious ones) that dictated our lives, contained our true selves and shamed us into being a certain way. I'm excited to live in a time where acceptance and open-mindedness is the norm as opposed to the exception. This shift has allowed us to not only be more creative as a society, but also more comfortable with ourselves and doing what we want as opposed to what we're told. I'm not talking post-apocalyptic, conspiracy theory, fight the man type behaviour, but just having the ability to feel a certain way, act a certain way and believe a certain set of things without fear of repercussions. Now there's still a lot of work to be done in certain areas, but I strongly believe it's the old fashioned and the republican dominated deep south that is holding back those areas.

BIMD: We didn't have queers and men that were women or women that were men!

Yeah, exactly. I almost want to leave that as is, because it shouldn't even need explanation, but the fact that people still have issues with it means I shouldn't. It's 2013, whether or not we believe in someone else's lifestyle, we should be able to accept the fact that they aren't required to live the same way we are. This goes from music, to cars, to morals, to politics, to religion to sexual orientation and beyond. None of us are identical, so why do we believe we should all have identical beliefs, morals and way of life?

Social acceptance of more open-mindedness and acceptance is ALWAYS a good thing. If you think otherwise, think of people protesting against black people's rights in the 1950s. It's the same thing today with so many topics.

This is how the world works today, you certainly aren't going to change it. Resistance to the advancement of social acceptance and trends will only make you miserable and look like your grumpy grandpa complaining about whippersnappers these days. Understanding this will allow you to lead a more positive life, and positivity breeds more positivity.

This is the world we live in now, not yesterday. The people that look forward will end up there, those that live in the past will remain.

2012-06-22T14:00:00.000-02:30

Ever wonder when the best times to publish your content so the maximum target audience receives the message? Mashable just posted a handy guide outlining the best and worst times for different social media channels.

I noticed that there was no timestamp on the article though...

Best and Worst Times to Post

The most interesting point to notice here is that Facebook and Twitter traffic peak during work hours, and not afterwards, as many people believed. Depending on the industry you're in, that should provide some insight regarding your analytics.

Not surprising at all though, posting should be avoided after 3pm on Friday.

Now, if you don't mind, I'll head to Hootsuite to schedule this post appropriately.

What happens when a normal person tries to buy FB shares?

2012-05-15T01:09:00.000-02:30

With Facebook's IPO coming in the next few days, lots of hype has gone around about investing in the company. Even though anyone that understands an IPO could tell you the answer to this guy's question right off the bat, it's still an entertaining read!

What happens when a normal person tries to buy FB shares?

Why is everyone so afraid of demo/geo targeting?

2012-03-08T23:14:00.000-03:30

Target: acquired.

I don't know if some people are finally clueing in or if the media is looking for something else to scare people with, but demographic and geographic targeting seems to have gotten a little more attention lately it seems.

Either way, people as always, fear some conspiracy of an invasion of privacy for less than good intentions.

First off, if you haven't heard of either, demographic and geographic targeting are methods that internet marketers and market researchers use to ensure that their ad or research dollars are well spent, and reaching their target audience. Based on the information that users of different sites willingly provide about themselves, market researchers can ensure that they're collecting useful information about the proper demographic, and marketers can ensure that the intended people are being exposed to their marketing communications.

Oh no, they can find me!
Wait, they always could.

Now, I can understand the fear of having your information used for something... if you're a conspiracy theorist. Honestly, if someone wants to know your demographic information, they can use StatsCan, a phonebook, the internet and a little intuition to find out the same information used in geo/demo targeting.

If you want to see it firsthand for yourselves, go to Facebook and click the "Create an Ad" link above the ads on the right side of your news feed. You can follow the step by step instructions right up to the payment step and see what kind of reach your ad would receive, based on the criteria you've entered, without any commitment or, obviously payment, so give it a try. You can make sure that you're only paying for gay men in a relationship between the ages of 18-25 in Montreal, Canada that have a college degree, like Metallica, hockey and cooking are seeing your ads.

For the record, that's 60 people. And probably the only 60 men I'd leave my girlfriend for.

Estimated Reach

60 people

who live in Canada
who live within 50 miles ofMontreal, QC
between the ages of 18 and25 inclusive
who are male
who like #Metallica,#Hockey or #Cooking
who graduated from college
who are engaged or in a relationship
who are interested in men

You can obviously see the importance and emergence of geo/demo targeting from the marketer's (or market researcher's) perspective, but is there a benefit to the user, to the consumer, to you?

The answer is yes, and here's why.

They go hand in hand.

You are going to see ads, it's a fact of life. Everywhere. Online and in the real world. The reason most people tune out to advertising and more important to marketers, why advertising in traditional media is so expensive, is because there is so much content that is improperly targeted. As I type this, there's an ad for Nivea Skincare for women and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on TV, neither of which interest me. So, ask yourself this; what was the last major purchase you made? Did you do any research about it pre-purchase? If you answered 'yes' to the latter question, then did you pay attention to any advertising regarding that product? Now imagine if every ad you saw was for a product that you were interested in. If those two ads on TV were for a Les Paul guitar and the new Call of Duty game, I wouldn't have zoned out.

THAT's why geo/demo targeting is a good idea, and should not be feared.

Marketers are more effective when they can expose you to marketing communications that you are interested in and you are less likely to be annoyed by irrelevant advertising as well. That is why they want your information, not because they intend to sell it in a back alley to someone that wants to steal your identity and do ungodly things in your name.

I have a feeling that this sentiment will fade, much like the initial fear of having satellites in the sky, or GPS in our phones, or Google Maps able to see the entire world. I remember all 3 of them being met with the same skepticism and conspiracy theoretical fear.

I'd be willing to bet that all 3 are a fundamental part of your life today. Remember that the next time that you are crying out about a breach in privacy because of these targeting techniques.

Circumventing Google's SEO Tricks; Bad or Good Idea?

2011-11-11T16:20:00.000-03:30

If you need to ask this question, you should hire someone to do your on page search engine optimization and really all other forms of online marketing.

Retail e-Commerce has a great article up on doing this and how to avoid being sent into oblivion on Google's search results. They reference the recent issue that J.C. Penney had with using "black hat SEO techniques".

Hit the jump for both the article and also another describing in depth what happened with J.C. Penney.

Don’t play with Google with dirty SEO tricks Retail e-Commerce

The Dirty Little Secrets of Search New York Times (Re: J.C. Penney)

2011-09-22T13:40:00.000-02:30

New Grad Life has a good article up on their blog about using social media to get a job. Some great points in there about personal branding and capitalizing on existing networks.

Link is after the break, give it a read!

Use Social Media to Get a Job

14 Days of Metallica: Day 14

2011-07-14T21:00:00.000-02:30

The final day of the series is reserved my favorite Metallica song of all time.

The song is about Hetfield losing his father to cancer. Guess you can figure out why it's my favorite. The song deals with the emotional pain he feels and the physical pain his father felt, but also the anger in dealing with it as well.

The flow of the song goes from soft to heavy and back to reflect this. For anyone that has lost anyone to cancer, read the lyrics... it's frighteningly accurate. I didn't hear the original until after I heard the S&M version, and just like all of the tracks of that album, I can't go back to them.

Favorite part; you can hear Hetfield shushing the crowd as the song slowly ends in the S&M version.

Official video

Thanks for checking back throughout the series, it was fun to write and I hope you guys learned something about the band that you never knew before.

Now if you'll excuse me, Metallica is just about to come on stage.

\m/

14 Days of Metallica: Day 13

2011-07-14T11:59:00.000-02:30

Nearing the end (and the beginning, of the concert!), Day 13 and the final Day 14 feature two of my favorite Metallica songs.

I didn't hear this song until much later in my Metallica fandom, but when I did it (and still does) sent chills through me. It's the last single from Master of Puppets, and also the last single to feature Cliff Burton before he died in 1986.

I love it because it starts so soft and melodic, but grows into a heavier, gutsier song, fitting with the theme of the album and reflective of the title. It's about slowly going insane and being trapped.

Metallica takes the stage soon here in Halifax!

14 Days of Metallica: Day 12

2011-07-14T11:58:00.000-02:30

Much better, Hi-Res version here.

Nothing needs to be said about this. I know it's a cover, but Metallica took an awesome Irish drinking song, and turned it into an awesome metal Irish drinking song.

Hit the jump for my favorite part.

All of it.

14 Days of Metallica: Day 11

2011-07-14T09:00:00.004-02:30

In what I consider a throwback (at least cinematographically... is that even a word? [EDIT: It IS!]) to the band's first video, One, Day 11 hosts All Nightmare Long.

Sticking with the latest album, this is my personal favorite. It's got a raw, gutsy metal groove to it, with a faster moving, melodic chorus. Reminiscent of the old Metallica lyrics, as this whole album is. The chorus is just so damn catchy. Another shredfest of a solo, this one full of wah but all of 2:30, it ends with lightning fast, high adrenaline metal triplets.

Favorite lyrics are "Hunt you down all nightmare long // But your luck runs out!"

To try and explain what the song and video are about is proving to be quite difficult in my own words, so from the wealth of knowledge known as Wikipedia, James Hetfield;

It was an attempt to get back to the H. P. Lovecraft mythos with Thing that Should Not Be, Call of Ktulu.[sic] This was about the Hounds of Tindalos, which was another crazy mindfuck about these wolves that hunt through their nightmares and the only way you can get away from them is stay within angles (120 or less). You can't even escape through sleep.

From the same source, regarding the video;

The music video, directed by Roboshobo (Robert Schober),^[3] debuted on December 7, 2008, on Metallica's official website and Yahoo! Video.^[4]^[5] The video, which does not feature the band, is an alternate history narrative done in grainy mockumentary style, depicting a sequence of fictional events following the historic 1908 Tunguska event, at which Soviet scientists discover spores of an extraterrestrial organism, a small harmless thing resembling an armored worm.

However, it turns out the incredibly hardy spores are able to reanimate dead tissue, and subjects turn violent sometime after exposure to the spores; the USSR adapts them as a bioweapon and scatters them from balloons in a preemptive strike against the U.S., causing a localized zombie apocalypse before intervening militarily to distribute humanitarian aid. At the end of the video, a hybrid U.S.-USSR flag is raised in the now-Soviet-ruled America, and a headless corpse is shown breaching containment and escaping from a Soviet biowarfare lab.

Pretty intense.

14 Days of Metallica: Day 10

2011-07-14T01:00:00.003-02:30

The first song from the double digits goes to quite possibly my favorite video from the band. I remember watching the premiere when it was first released in jaw-dropping awe, not able to wait for the rest.

This was the first single off their newest album, Death Magnetic. It screamed "We're back!" after the tragedy that was St. Anger. Kirk is happy too, 2:30 long shredding solo and it's full of ass kicking. Everything that should have come out in St. Anger but didn't because of their "new direction" (read: no solo. Stupid).

Favorite lyrics are "Love is a 4-letter word!" So clever.

14 Days of Metallica: Day 9

2011-07-13T21:00:00.021-02:30

Day 9 is the home of a song that's off an often chastised album; Reload. I still don't understand why so many people hated this (these, including Load) albums.

Another one that the S&M version has replaced the original. A song about a celebrity that is now past her prime, everyone has moved on, but not forgotten about her and because of this, she is going insane in her own vanity. The symphony lines are quick and add to the majesty in this song. There's a subtle, self referential, suicide reference in the song too, with the lyrics "Ash to ash, dust to dust, fade to black", including the title of a prior song.

My favorite part (which is made better by the live S&M version), is the 'na na na' parts, both in the middle and the end. Something about thousands of voices over a symphony really does it for me.

Here's the official video, along with the original (read; non S&M) version.

14 Days of Metallica: Day 8

2011-07-13T18:33:00.001-02:30

Day 8 goes to what turned out to be one of the few love songs from the band; Nothing Else Matters

Betcha didn't know that did you? Hit the jump for the story behind it.

This was one of the first songs I learned on guitar. Well, at least the intro. I remember being very young and picking it up and playing the open strings, and realizing that it was the intro to this song. I later learned more, but never the full song. Hetfield wrote the song while on the phone with his girlfriend, and only had one hand free, hence the open E arpeggiation. The lyrics, "So close, no matter how far", was about their bond despite the distance while Hetfield was on tour.

Originally it wasn't set to be released as Hetfield wrote it for himself, but after Lars heard it, it was considered for the album. Later, the song was dedicated to the fans. Favorite part; first note of the solo. Feels like there is so much emotion in that one note. Heartbreak, ecstacy and everything in between.

14 Days of Metallica: Day 7

2011-07-12T19:14:00.001-02:30

Now that I'm back on schedule, day 7 goes to one of the band's most legendary intros.

Thrash metal at it's finest. Also the last song to credit former guitarist, (and founding member of Megadeth) Dave Mustaine. The song directly attacks the misery of the criminal justice system and the terrifying lyrics are written from the perspective of someone who is awaiting death in the electric chair. Best part hands down is the intro, which is repeated once at the end. If I could have this as a cell phone ringer... hmmm...

14 Days of Metallica: Day 6

2011-07-11T23:23:00.001-02:30

Ok, so summer finally arrived in Newfoundland. I am a bartender, and on sunny days, the deck gets busy. I worked 38 hours in 3 days and literally did not have time to turn my computer. Then I had to drive 4 hours to meet with my girlfriend and other singer to record a song (I'll link a video when it is edited and uploaded!). Now I've finally grabbed a second to myself, at home while my girlfriend is getting ready to watch a movie in bed.

Now, enough apologies... Day 6 (which should have been posted a few days ago) goes to...

The band's first ballad, and also their first about suicide. According to Hetfield him and Lars were obsessed with death around that time, which was on par for the metal scene. Hetfield is on record saying that he 'learned how hard acoustic guitar was at that point'. By far the deepest and darkest Metallica song so far, it's depression just sucks you in. Pretty wild to be able to encapsulate that feeling so strongly into a song.

14 Days of Metallica: Day 5

2011-07-05T19:02:00.001-02:30

Fuel.

ONLY the S&M version. The original does not exist in my mind anymore.

The symphony parts are so well written, they feel like they should have been an integral part of the original recording. Nothing more than a straight up, pump up song. "Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire". Enough said. This song (and album) reminds me of my brother.

14 Days of Metallica: Day 4

2011-07-05T02:25:00.001-02:30

An amazing metal trilogy spanning almost 20 years, all three Unforgiven make it to the list.

The first reversed the usual style of prior ballads the band had released. Instead of a soft, melodic verse and heavy chorus, it had the opposite. Although slower, it definitely had one of the heaviest chord progressions on the Black Album. It's a story about a child being punished, locked in a windowless room, carving one into the stone wall until he is an old man, once he finally succeeds, he dies. Favorite lyrics have to be "The old man then prepares, to die regretfully, that old man here is me".

Hit the jump for UN2 and UN3.

The second version switches the structure, going back to the soft verse and heavy chorus. It features the same boy/man, tearing down a wall. This one is more retrospective, we learn that the boy/man was trying to get to a woman, but he doubts her, asking if she's "Unforgiven too", a clever play on the title, being the second song in the trilogy. This time, the boy/man has some success, as the lyrics change from the beginning "No sun shining through", to "Now I see the sun" at the end. I love that you can hear the main lick from the first song towards the end for further continuity.

The third... oh boy. Long awaited and man does it kick ass. Back to the original structure of heavy verse and soft chorus it has a piano intro as well as a moving guitar line for the verses. The lyrics are more metaphorical and general than the last, and I can't find an official explanation anywhere from the band. I feel like this one is about "me", whereas the first was about "him" and the second was about "you". All 3 solos are some of the rawest and emotional solos I've heard from the band, although the one from the third is absolutely facemelting with the quick progression and Kirk's lightning fast tapping mixed with a (beautifully) overused wah pedal. Favorite parts include the (what seems like) closing chapter themed lyrics, where Hetfield repeats "Forgive me, forgive me not, forgive me, forgive me, why can't I forgive me?!", after the line "And how can I blame you, when it's me I can't forgive?".

14 Days of Metallica: Day 3

2011-07-04T00:45:00.001-02:30

Day 3 to a fan favorite, Master of Puppets.

I have 42 different versions of this song, be it studio, live, acoustic, covers or otherwise, I could listen to a different version of this song for an uninterupted 4.5 hours.

It's the first single of of the album with the same name. The song is a fast hitting, high intensity song about drugs, and their control over you, instead of the other way around. Quite often named one of the greatest metal songs of all time, it is probably one of Metallica's most well known song among fans and fans of the genre.

Favorite part has to be the solo, hands down, and all of it. It's legendary.

14 Days of Metallica: Day 2

2011-07-03T14:16:00.001-02:30

Day 2 goes to Enter Sandman.

Hit the jump for some interesting facts about the song.

Quite possibly the first metal lullaby, it is probably the band's best known song. The breakdown brilliantly utilizes that 'Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep' bedtime prayer in such a way as to add to the scary movie aspect of the song. Favorite part is the twisted lullaby part in the breakdown, "Hush little baby don't say a word, and never mind that noise you heard. It's just the beasts under your bed, in your closet, in your head".

Fun fact #1: The song was used by NASA mission control to wake up space shuttle astronauts.
Fun fact #2: The song made headlines during the 2003 invasion of Iraq after it became known that uncooperative prisoners were exposed to the song for extended periods by American interrogators. According to United States Psychological Operations, the intention was to "break a prisoner's resistance by playing music that was culturally offensive to them".

14 Days of Metallica: Day 1

2011-07-02T05:02:00.002-02:30

Going to see Metallica on July 14th, which is in 14 days, with Steve Tilley.

Every day I will post a Metallica song, some information about it, and my favorite parts.

Day 1 goes to, fittingly enough, One.

This is the last single from ...And Justice For All and was Written the night Cliff Burton died. The lyrics are based on a 1939 Dalton Trumbo Novel called Johnny Got His Gun, telling the tale of a soldier whose body is severely damaged by a mortar shell. His arms, legs, eyes, mouth, nose and ears are gone and he is unable to see, speak, smell, or hear. His mind functions perfectly, however, leaving him trapped inside his own body. I love it because it has the "machine gun" double-kick and guitar parts towards the end reflect the war-time tone and the machine gun/explosion sound effects at the beginning of this legendary song.

Embracing Social Media for Customer Service

2011-06-02T20:02:00.000-02:30

With not only the emerging popularity of social media itself since 2009, but also the emergence of companies using social media to field customer service complaints more effectively and efficiently, I have found myself increasingly upset when companies I want to interact with DON'T have a social media presence.

Something that has never been a part of the business plan for companies has now become a must have, and if they don't, it's more than just a zero, it's a negative.

There are countless examples of this out there if you care to search for them, but my own story includes WestJet, Memorial University, Dairy Queen, and Old Spice. Only one of these was met with any success, and all have different positioning and volume.

When a recent flight was cancelled, I was stranded in an unfamiliar airport and was on hold with WestJet's customer service. I remembered what a prof told me about increased customer service via twitter over the phone. While on hold, I popped onto twitter and sent them a quick @mention asking where the @WestJet kiosk was in the airport, as I had trouble finding it. They walked me through the airport in less time than it took for the CSR to answer the call on the phone.

During one of our particularly snowy winters here in Newfoundland (ok, let's be real, they're all particularly snowy winters here), I was walking to my car from the Business building. Knowing not every student on campus drove, I was surprised that some of the sidewalks still weren't cleared.... 4 weeks after a major snowfall. I tweeted @MemorialU voicing my concern multiple times to no avail, despite there being content published on a regular basis from the account.

In my growing disappointment for one of my favorite brands' unoriginal marketing content, I tried to reach out to both @DairyQueen and @OldSpice to open a conversation about it, and it fell on deaf ears (or ignored, haven't decided yet). The content I'm referring to is DQ's blatant imitation of Old Spice's hugely successful campaign. (Not to mention Edge Shaving Gel's new similar campaign).

Then the kittens vs puppies debate lives on...

Either way, this brings me to my point. Because of the great success of one company's social media customer service, I now expect it from every other company. Even if you're not going to use it for pushing content, it's a familiar place that your consumers can interact with you and each other.

Better they bash your brand here where you can deal with it rather than on a competitor's site where you can't.

#TigerBloodIntern | Round 4: Top 50?

2011-04-11T17:33:00.000-02:30

I just got an email from Internships.com about my #TigerBloodIntern application and whether or not I made it to the next round.

After 17 days since the deadline for Round 3, and a full month since Round 1, the email read...

#TigerBloodIntern Round 4 Email

Alas, the journey has come to an end. I want to thank everyone that supported me during the last month, the radio stations that showed interest and did a great job of covering a story about a Newfie that was one of maybe 15 Canadians that made it this far, the 1238 people (as of now, top 18 in views) that viewed my video online, Candice Udle, Big Tom and Mike Campbell from K-Rock, Hits FM, VOCM, VOCM Nightline and Paddy Daly, Kevin Gallant from Rock Solid Media, my girlfriend and of course, my Mom, who I convinced that working for Charlie Sheen wouldn't be as bad as she thought it would! And Jesus. Everyone thanks Jesus in these things, don't they?

Good luck to the Top 50 that made it to round 4! If you're curious to see who makes it, and what is required in this round, keep checking back or subscribe, I'll be following it all.

I'm hoping to use the exposure I received from this competition to hopefully land a social media job [still need a work term this summer! Contact me ;)].

Once more,

Thank You!

#TigerBloodIntern | Today's the day we find out!

2011-04-11T15:06:00.000-02:30

Internships.com said that they would be announcing the top 50 to move on to Round 4 in the #TigerBloodIntern search.

I'll keep you updated through twitter, facebook and here.

Sorry for the quick post, back to studying for final exams... yay.

My video can be viewed after the jump.

Tangled

2011-04-03T00:30:00.000-02:30

With the indefinite hiatus of That's What She Said, myself and my two singers have decided to continue on with the success we had as a trio in the O'Reilly's Open Mic competition (click for video) last fall. We came 2nd out of 120 and made it through the quarter finals, the semi finals to the finals.

Our name is Tangled... and maybe one day we'll share the story of why that name is so fitting, and how it came about.

We'll be playing more than TWSS played and more often as well. We even have a gig in the works right now for The Brimstone in a few weeks.

Hit the jump for links to our Facebook fan page and twitter accounts.

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