EatMedia.com

Bringing Social Media Into The Ballroom

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:53:00 +0000

If you want valuable insight and opinion about the shifts in the media world, check out eMedia Vitals. Our friend Rob O'Regan recently interviewd Aerva about the new solutions for better events through digital interaction - Read "Bringing Social Media Into The Ballroom"

The point is that there are opportunities and obligations for event producers, industry associations, etc. Opportunities for more valuable interactions before, during, and after events. Obligations because we have no patience for wasting time - and sitting through just one more bad PowerPoint (without the ability to influence the topic)!

Digital-Out-Of-Home is the "arena" to watch... it is everywhere... intersecting all media marketing.

One recent example is how our client Yahoo "got the party started" with Twitter, txt2screen, pic2screen, and a contest. See more info HERE

Good is Good

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:31:00 +0000

Think about what is really good about your personal and professional brand. Consider the benefits of positioning these aspects to your community and market.

Check out the Good 100 for inspiration... these are some of the best ideas in our world.

As you may know - Boston has it's own Awesome Foundation that fosters... awesomeness.

10 Stress Free Tools to Broadcast Your Event

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Julius Solaris does it again with a great round-up of tools to use.

Some of the usuals like Oovoo, Qik, and Ustream and some nifty new ones.

Check out 10 Stress Free Tools to Broadcast Your Event

Join the Community - NSTC is rocking!

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:15:00 +0000

The North Shore Technology Council (www.NSTC.org) is growing like a strong wind on Walton's Mountain... it's time for you to come on out and meet the fine folks that can help your business. There was a record crowd of about 150 in the room!

Of all the great groups around Boston, NSTC has built a reputation as a uniquely friendly environment where business and personal relationships are made. They just really try to help.

Come to any of their monthly meetings and Special Interest Groups for friendly interaction with a vibrant, growing community. Don't wait for the topic to be relevant to your business... the people always are.

You can also meet them online at the NSTC LinkedIn Group.

Yesterday was a great presentation on the local Cleantech/renewable energy scene (details here). Moderated by Eric Graham of North Shore InnoVentures (www.NSIV.org) - he is pictured up there with NSTC President Lyn Kaplan.

Christine Carr from the Canadian Consulate shared business opportunities with our neighbors a little father north.

Read Mass High Tech's coverage of NSIV. And yes, that is a picture of a business card transfer to State Rep. Steven Walsh of Lynn.

Here is a recent shot of Eric describing the connection between NSTC and NSIV - you gotta love the whiteboard walls at CIVC...

ACTION ITEM: Participate in the free NSTC Linkedin Group HERE - we started it last year when I moderated a panel discussion on Social Media for Business. You can ask questions - get answers - make connections - build your business (oh yeah... and meet good, friendly people).

Here is a demo of the new video

NSTC promo from Ted Reed on Vimeo.

Doh!

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:42:00 +0000

It's actually "DOOH" for Digital-Out-Of-Home

Where are your customers? Everywhere.

Reaching them when they are out - and buying - is a no-brainer. Even Homer would agree.

Digital Signage has been getting better (adding impact and efficiencies of Digital) , but the real value and utility is coming with interactive features using touch-screens and mobile phone engagement. Now try adding tools like interactive txt, Twitter, flickr, etc.... mmmm Social.

During an Advertising Week panel titled “Show Me The Money,” Bain Capital Managing Director Ian Loring said private equity investors have been forced to deal with three major themes in the past year - a lack of leverage, an advertising slowdown and a transition to new forms of media.

His key point puts interactive DOOH at the center of the 3 winners for Marketers:

"... Shares of ad spend across print and broadcast channels will begin to find new buckets, such as mobile, digital out-of-home and social media platforms."

Shop.org

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:09:00 +0000

Last night my friend Josh Greene from the important retail industry association Shop.org, invited me to their Boston networking dinner. This is a really open and engaging group that are using the Net in the most practical ways - to efficiently sell stuff while growing their corporate brand online and in stores.

Special thanks to Stonewall Kitchen and the Wild Maine Blueberry Jam ... New England in a jar!

Interesting paradox - Tracy Palm said that the beautiful ColeHaan.com sells more than any of their 70ish stores, but corporate only allocates 3 people to her staff! What does online have to do to earn more support!?

The Retail Industry is going through the same corporate struggles of "Web Acceptance" as any industry. However, they do have the benefit of all that great instant gratification data from those shopping carts!

For a look at the not so distant future (as soon as retailers realize the intersection of ROI and competitive differentiation), below is Cisco's augmented reality mirror demonstrating some interesting applications ... it's all about the customer!

Party For The Dead - Thurs. Oct 29th

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:02:00 +0000

Advertising is Dead - Long Live Advertising!

The Captains of Industry are having an Irish Wake for the death of advertising.

Thursday, October 29th

Please come (next to Fanueil Hall) for the right reasons - brilliant celebration and mighty conversation.

Read Ted's POV on the "Death of Advertising" that nails ... the coffin shut.

More info and RSVP HERE

Share this link - http://tinyurl.com/CaptainsWake

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Data For Dummies

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:55:00 +0000

I heard somone say at Advertising Week, "don't use data the way a drunk uses a lamp post. For support rather than illumination.”

Data drives everything. Accept this, prepare for this, be inspired by this and you shall succeed just like other believers such as; Google, Amazon, Netflix, and eHarmony. Well, sure it's harder than that, but realize that business models revolve around accurate prediction of customer needs... and finding patterns in tracked activities allows a good marketer to decide on where the action is... or will be. "Predictive" is the word of the next decade.

Bob Garfield uses a simple mercenary term - "Upsell Engine" - Get them to buy... then buy more. (When my mechanic orders a part online for my beloved Saab, the database lists dozens of related items a click away.)

Bob also simplifies the A, B, Cs of complicated Data mining. Consider these elements:

A = Associative - Collaborative filtering is database dancing and mashing
B = Behavioral targeting - track and correlate relevant content
C = Contextual Search - Items that you didn't know you needed

For a start, get a handle on your website data (Google Analytics has more than you need for free) and THEN we can talk about creative applications for what we know. The idea is to use the data to optimize your communication and interactions - not just deploy and analyze... design your marketing to listen, learn, and evolve.

Who needs a hunch anymore - the answer is in the data. (I always look forward to a discussion about how I don't really believe that.)

Awsomeness Again

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:56:00 +0000

Just a quick reminder that the Awesome Foundation is accepting applications for their monthly-ish awards.

Tell an Awesome friend!

Chaos Has Landed

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:38:00 +0000

A message to the Ad Industry:

Accept the truth
Read the Blog
Buy the book
Have a laugh
Share the Widget
Have a cry

Chaos has Landed!

See Bob redefine the media and ad industry:

Greenvertising

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:30:00 +0000

How does your company benefit from going green? ... beyond just doing the right thing?! Yes, we are talking about all the reasons for enlightened self interest - As Fred Surr from hot cleantech marketing agency Captains of Industry likes to say. "maximize both your Street Cred and Green Cred."

Newsweek recently listed their Corporate Green Rankings (a somewhat random roll call of the big guys - so, let's call the list "greenie meanie miney mo"). The green-washing is interesting... just keep in mind the opinions of smart outsiders who are NOT invested - like watch dog Good Magazine - see their less than supportive assessment here

Windvertising

I spent last week traversing Times Square around Advertising Week and noticed Ricoh's sign on 42nd and 7th being powered by WEPower's vertical access branded turbines (yes, BRANDED turbines!) - 100% alternative energy powered - way cool. The benefit beyond PR and bragging rights ... they are saving 18 gazzilion turbo flux capacitor grams of carbon... or something that sounds like a lot!

Here is the NYT coverage. Below is The Advertising Age 3 minute coverage:

Advertising Week Delivers Both

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:47:00 +0000

Advertising Week didn't disappoint for the 6th year in a row. The 166 events did make us a little dizzy, but the information was valuable and the attitude was mighty! Matt, Lance, and Jillian of event producer Stillwell Partners deserve a round of applause for mamging the circus and giving a new standard to grace under pressure.

Find detailed coverage at Realtime Advertising Week, listen to lots of meetings at WADV Radio, and check out the still active #adwk Twitter feed. I am proud to say that Aerva was streaming live feeds (twitter, pics, schedules, contests, etc.) to multiple display monitors throughout the week. See some of this action in the pictures above.

See more about Aerva's participation here.

As expected, the presentations heavy on "pitch" grew tiresome ... but if you were a potential customer then you should get pitched! (or just walk out to one of the other 165 events).

Most panel discussions openly nailed the issues we are facing - it's called HUGE changes in who creates, and controls the Brand's messages and relationships with customers (hint: the customers do). Marketing and Advertising agencies are starting to listen and realize they are the 500 pound gorilla riding the elephant in the room. That's an image...

I believe that Bob Garfield and his Chaos Scenario will provide valuable and colorful commentary around the damnation of this wonderfully evolving Ad Industry - So... Presenting... The Widgetal Age:

Win a New Nano Now

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:05:00 +0000

Thanks to Aerva and their Advertising Week promo...

All you gotta do is txt...!
Winner notified at the end of the week long event... Saturday.

Aerva at Ogilvy

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Here is a 2 minute overview of Aerva helping power the launch of the Ogilvy Digital Lab NY. It was a great event with interactive Digital-Out-of-Home at the center, experienced marketers in the middle, and topped off with "Digitinis" on the roof.

More details on the event are HERE

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THIS is the Year for Mobile (again)

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:29:00 +0000

(Image thanks to Deap)

No, really - 2010 is the year Mobile Marketing takes off... all the right elements are here. Even Marc Andreeeeessen on Charlie Rose says it is finally coming together - we now have:
> 3G + network bandwidth (speed)
> Smart phones that please (and competition to beat iPhone)
> Content that we want (when we want)
> App Developers making cool stuff (and cool money)

Please watch Charlie's best interview ever... the full hour with Marc is here from earlier this year.

See you Tuesday in NYC at Mobile Ad Summit to get into the center of these opportunities with the best minds in the industry.

I will be there with the Digital-Out-of-Home innovator www.Aerva.com who has been chosen to power the interactive displays throughout www.AdvertisingWeek.com

Show me the Money!

I believe Advertising is not going to pay for this... you will.

Not necessarily with cash - but with your attention/eyes/influence/traffic. The most clever service providers will allow marketing "sponsors" to help pay your monthly bill. This is in the works in many tests - but Verizon is in no rush to share you.

Consider the fight for your attention when Sprint will sell you a Netbook for a buck (and, of course, $200 activation) but man!

Ads on the phone will rise and give us more data to determine what we want:

Just remember that we don't want to click on "ads" on our phone (see Chitika report here). But we do want RELEVANT info that can get delivered with GPS/Location-based services. "Just In Time" is getting real - one valuable iPhone app at a time.

Outernet at Ogilvy Digital Labs

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Ogilvy has it going on in NYC at the launch of their Digital Labs with some of the most forward thinking AND valuable new media service providers... see their overview of the event here.

Aerva has been selected to be center stage during the entire presentation. Most of Aerva's features will be used, such as:

Multi-framed video and interactive feedback
Any Web content to any screens
Live polling and instant results
Txt and twitter 2 screen
Pic 2 screen
Txt reply with coupon delivery – text, links, and media

Here is a 2:00 video of the day that we Flipped:

Not a bad warm up to the Aerva and Advertising Week partnership next week. See more below.
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Come out to Advertising Week!

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:12:00 +0000

Advertising Week should once again be on your list for valuable industry insight and networking.

For the 6th year, New York City is lit up for most of next week (Sept 21-25) with 150+ events for Marketers that want to learn from - and question - the leaders and innovators.

We are also thrilled that our friends at Aerva have been chosen as an official partner to power the interactive video monitors!

You will see interactive screens at the Times Center, Paley Center, and other events (like Tuesday night's Battle of the Agency Bands). Check out the all day Tuesday Mobile Advertising Summit - Aerva will be center stage for txt2screen polling and demonstrations of the latest in real-time interactivity, entertainment, and audience utility.

This panel alone should get you to The Times Center for the Mobile Advertising Summit:

Erin Matts, Chief Digital Officer, OMD
Matt Crowley, CMO ATT Interactive
Adam Soroca, Chief Product Officer, Jumptap
Sophia Stuart, Executive Director, Mobile Hearst Media

Here are just two events from the first day - Monday September 21st:

- 11:00
The Times Center
242 West 41st Street

Advertising Week CNBC Summit - A freewheeling discussion about driving passion and connecting to consumers.

Moderator: Becky Quick, Co-Host,”Squawk Box”, CNBC
(secret fan video of Becky here)
Pam El, VP Marketing, State Farm
David Jones, Global CEO, Havas Worldwide
Dan Rosensweig, President & CEO, Guitar Hero
Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook

- 2:00
Paley Center for Media
25 West 52nd Street

Advertising Week Leadership Conversation - New York Times Advertising Columnist Stuart Elliott moderates a discussion of leading luminaries.
(No fan video... but great industry coverage by Stuart here)
Laura Desmond, CEO, Starcom MediaVest
Kim Kadlec, Chief Media Officer, Johnson & Johnson Global Media Group
John Partilla, President, Sales, Clear Channel Media Holdings
Andrew Robertson, President & CEO, BBDO Worldwide

See you around town!

Dad says the Internet Works

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:13:00 +0000

McKinsey is your father's research company... because your father has been smarter than you for a long time.

Their "How companies are benefiting from Web 2.0: McKinsey Global Survey Results" are in and... the internet is working!

Web 2.0 remains of high interest: 69 percent of respondents report that their companies have gained measurable business benefits, including more innovative products and services, more effective marketing, better access to knowledge, lower cost of doing business, and higher revenues.

I believe that the companies that are getting the most out of the Web are the ones that can. That may sound obvious but some organizations just can't get out of their own way. Either they are wary of the speed of customers taking control of the conversation or their internal processes are not nimble enough - yet.

The report has good information about what is working and which media is most effective (TV is not dead. It's just on YouTube). See Page 3 for a look at "A mix of technologies."

All successful Web deployments started with internal experimentation. The efficiencies of Web Seervices like Google Docs, Basecamp, Wikis, etc. become obvious after you commit to trying them. Simply find your youngest employee to manage internal communications within your team - or family! Integration (of what you personally discover) into external communications.

See Page 5 for a look at adoption at the "networked company".

It is time to be patient with the difficult steps of uncovering the internal resources that should be evolving. This report is another helpful reference to move it along. Fatherly advice.

"Social CRM" Sounds (and really is) Nice

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:31:00 +0000

CRM 3.0 is about having the best customer interaction resources. That means to make your online presence as easy to use as Facebook and as automatic as LinkedIn.

Here is a white paper from SugarCRM one of the best vendors in this space.

They say:

The traditional sales and marketing funnel, in which prospects are led from awareness to consideration to purchase in an orderly, linear fashion, has been scrambled beyond recognition.

“It’s no longer a big bureaucracy talking to peons who can’t talk back,” says Don
Peppers, founding partner, Peppers & Rogers Group. “You’re no longer in charge. You’re
an influential participant, but a participant nevertheless.”

What you will learn:

Three key principles for leveraging CRM in the cloud

How one company realized significant cost savings and efficacy

How CRM has evolved and what it means for your business

Calling All Connectors!!

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:07:00 +0000

First - Boston is evolving ... innovation is not only happening, but we are all actually starting to tell each other about our success and opportunities to share. Scott Kirsner has been a champion of this - read his latest overview of local activities HERE. Boston is getting on it's guilt-free swagger!

Second - One of the great groups, BWP, to participate in is inviting more "Connectors" (of which I am proudly one). See the invite below and act fast!

Dear Reader, Client, Partner, Fan, Advisor, Friend of the Factory,

Here is a really nice invitation ... not written by me ... but I usually agree with Yoon,

I have been actively involved as a Connector for several months in a pioneering initiative founded by Mayor Thomas M. Menino called Boston World Partnerships. BWP is a new public-private initiative to raise global awareness of Boston as one of the world's foremost centers of human capital and innovation, offering tremendous competitive advantages to growth-minded businesses.

To achieve this ambitious mission, BWP is creating a global network of Bostonians, not unlike an alumni network, and employing innovative web 2.0 tools to share information about Boston’s assets and opportunities and to connect people to those resources.

The Connectors are at the heart of this global network. We cut across economic industries, professional disciplines, countries of origin, and cultural communities. The group is a truly dynamic slice of our city, an enthusiastic citizen sales force that promotes Boston’s economic opportunities around the world. Wherever we live or travel to, BWP Connectors commit to a shared passion to facilitate business, idea and value exchanges between metropolitan Boston and the world.

BWP is currently taking applications for new Connectors. Serving as a Connector provides a great opportunity for you to connect with other engaged, proactive, and like-minded Bostonians where you can share your civic pride for Boston but also build deep professional relationships within this highly diverse team of top-tier professionals.

To learn more, you can read the answers to the Most Frequently Asked questions including commitments and benefits of being a Connector, here. You can also read about why BWP has created Connectors in this blog. Furthermore, an example of what makes the Connector model effective can be accessed here.

Finally, to apply, please click here for the application. The deadline is approaching fast: Monday, August 31.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or Yoon Lee at Boston World Partnerships. Her email is yoon@bostonworldpartnerships.com.

Thank you!

Yoon J. Lee

Senior Associate

Boston World Partnerships

200 High St. 3^rd floor

Boston, MA 02110

O 857.284.1304

F 857.284.1311

yoon@bostonworldpartnerships.com

Marketing ideas are everywhere

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:23:00 +0000

You can get ideas for your own innovative marketing from just about anywhere. Especially successes like Rock Band from Harmonix Music in Cambridge.

Go here to learn about some of the latest promo techniques around music promotion. I would argue that it is relevant for your comapny and industry. Really.

Fishin'

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:25:00 +0000

Broadcasting your message is now just one element of Marketing. You need to (and can easily) get into the action in order to catch more customers... because they expect to interact with you in better ways than you just yelling for them. Let's discuss new ways to learn about what your prospects are talking about... and how joining the conversation will build your reputation and sales - the right way.

Got Fish? I recently made other relevant fishy analogies around sales and marketing - about "Fish Where the Fish Are" and more importantly "Be the Fish".

Cake

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:14:00 +0000

Recently at Podcamp I was asked many time about the name EatMedia - it is not about food... unless it's food for thought...

Our company is aptly named "Creative Business Development." This Blog/Company/Team is about helping you and your business grow - healthy and happy. Our specialty is Marketing and Sales projects across all Media (traditional to new). We help you choose wisely from the immense buffet of "Integrated Marketing" options. We share our cooking experiences that will help you design and maximize your personal and professional brand.

We make it as easy ... because you can have your cake and eat it too.

Hungry?

Learn more About Us.

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Our Podcamp Boston Session - "City 2.0"

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:02:00 +0000

First - My favorite session at Podcamp Boston 4 was "Where is video online going and where will it end?" - with Skip Bensley, Steve Garfield, Robert Collins, Joselin Mane and Matthew Mamet- check out Steve's video of the Visual Suspects session HERE.

Second - As promised, below are the slides from our session about "City 2.0" - mostly about Boston...

This was a great conversation between an experienced panel and a passionate and interactive crowd. Priorities and next steps are continuing to be difficult. The ubiquitous Adam Zand has graciously made available an audio recording HERE

However, with some key players in the room, we nailed the issues around these topics to be pursued:

What are the realistic options and next steps for Boston to take advantage of innovation and technology? Yes, city-wide wireless Internet access is a component, but what are the sustainability issues and who are the players to help make Boston the most connected, productive, and fun city in the world?

Please reach out to connect with others and continue the converation. Thank you!

Boston2

View more presentations from dctcutler.

Tune Out and Turn It Up - Sunday!

dcutler@eatmedia.com (David Cutler) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0000

This Sunday (August 9^th) is the 30th Annual Rockport Acoustic Music Festival

Three decades ago musicians played for their friends in the beautiful Millbrook Meadow across from the beach in Rockport, Mass. The spirit of “Music in the Meadow” is alive and well this Sunday August 9th from noon to 6PM.

All are welcome for free to enjoy Folk, Blues, Jazz, and Rock. People come for just a few songs or they make the day of it with the beach and town just steps away. Food is available to buy and proceeds go the support the New Years Rockport Eve event.

This year the lineup includes local favorites and new acts from the region including Bingo Fridays, Brian King/What time is it Mr. Fox, Karen Ristuben, HUM, Bob Kramer Band, and many others.

More info and a great video is at www.RockportFestival.com