Please help me celebrate a milestone by doing an act of kindness at onegirlsfootprint.com.
All you need to do is something kind for someone else. Go to onegirlsfootprint.com. Enter your name, initials or even post under anonymous. Write a sentence about what you did. Press submit.
More details in this interview.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Marketing Fundraisers
June seems like its fundraising season with a walk/run/ride each week. Kids with special needs, cancer research, diabetes...they are all good event backed by excellent causes that take the better part of year to plan and execute.
Often this is the one day charities have to gain their media coverage and community support that spreads awareness of their message and gains critical financial support.
But what if it rains that day and the community doesn't come out? What if there is a competing news story and media don't cover the event? Putting all PR eggs into one day's basket is too dangerous.
Find something that gives the community a reason to connect before the event day and media something to cover. This Global TV story and CBC News story are great examples of what the Zareinu Moveathon did to generate awareness of their upcoming events (Full disclosure: We run the marketing for this client).
Most fundraisers rely on a network on volunteers and supporters of the cause. The most successful events turn these important natural ambassadors into fundraisers. This article from NetWitsThinkTank, an online resource for nonprofits, provides great tips on how organizations can best implement this important shift from supporter to fundraiser.
Often this is the one day charities have to gain their media coverage and community support that spreads awareness of their message and gains critical financial support.
But what if it rains that day and the community doesn't come out? What if there is a competing news story and media don't cover the event? Putting all PR eggs into one day's basket is too dangerous.
Find something that gives the community a reason to connect before the event day and media something to cover. This Global TV story and CBC News story are great examples of what the Zareinu Moveathon did to generate awareness of their upcoming events (Full disclosure: We run the marketing for this client).
Most fundraisers rely on a network on volunteers and supporters of the cause. The most successful events turn these important natural ambassadors into fundraisers. This article from NetWitsThinkTank, an online resource for nonprofits, provides great tips on how organizations can best implement this important shift from supporter to fundraiser.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Elections and Twitter: The problem with laws witten in 1930
Our politicians were slow adopters of social media but they embraced it eventually and many Canadians rely on these communities as their primary source of news. But when online and broadcast media went dark during the required blackout period set by Elections Canada, just over 2,000 tweets were posted containing election results.
The Election Canada law was written in 1930 and is the only thing "stopping" people from tweeting about results in Atlantic Canada before polls close to its west.
I love this section of an Ottawa Citizen article about what Elections Canada will no doubt need to figure out before our next election.
The Election Canada law was written in 1930 and is the only thing "stopping" people from tweeting about results in Atlantic Canada before polls close to its west.
I love this section of an Ottawa Citizen article about what Elections Canada will no doubt need to figure out before our next election.
So posting results on a website is taboo, but Elections Canada says it is OK to share them by email, phone call or even a Facebook message. Still sounds like transmitting to me. But it is forbidden to post the results to your Facebook profile or on your Twitter feed.
My question for Elections Canada is: What if your Facebook profile settings are private, or your Twitter account is locked, and only your chosen friends can see your updates? How is that really any different from email, where you self-select recipients of your message? What if you only have 10 Facebook friends? Does that really still count as transmitting according to Elections Canada? How many Twitter followers or Facebook friends do you need to have in order for it to count? Ten? Twenty? One hundred?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
ONE GIRL’S FOOTPRINT: A marketing experiment to celebrate a milestone and individual acts of kindness -
Wow! What a first day. Last night I launched a massive social marketing experiment. Here is the text from my About This Idea page that I hope will entice readers to participate. I'll keep you posted on my progress or follow along using the Home Page.
I am turning 40 on July 29. [Insert big breath sound]. Indeed, it is a milestone and one that has created cause for much reflection on what I’ve accomplished to date and what there is left to do. What will define the next 40 years of my life and beyond? How do I want to be remembered by others ultimately and what impact can I have on the world? Big philosophical thoughts with an unlikely success rate if thought of in these terms.
Redefine. I’m not looking to be Mother Theresa. I am, however, curious about the impact one person of modest means and an average size network can have on society. I would like to prove the impact that day-to-day small acts of kindness can have not just on a person, community or city, but on the world. Still lofty, but more realistic.
Solution. As people ask how they can help in celebrating this milestone, my answer is for them to do an act of kindness and record their action on this website. Capturing how many people, how many countries and how many acts of kindness will measure the project’s success.
Like all measurement, you need to start with a definition of success. Hmm. What are my SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely)? In 4 months, reach over 4,000 people, in 4 countries, influencing a minimum of 4,000 acts of kindness. Get the 4 theme in for my 40th…. ? Well, the Attainable and Realistic part is questionable but let’s give it a try.
I hope you’ll participate in this birthday wish and be part of this crazy experiment and journey with me.
PS - For more of my marketing thoughts and comments, visit My Perspective PPS - A shameless plug for Brown & Cohen Communications & Public Affairs Inc. if you are looking for a great PR firm
PPPS - Feel free to leave a comment about this experiment or a birthday wish in the comment section below
I am turning 40 on July 29. [Insert big breath sound]. Indeed, it is a milestone and one that has created cause for much reflection on what I’ve accomplished to date and what there is left to do. What will define the next 40 years of my life and beyond? How do I want to be remembered by others ultimately and what impact can I have on the world? Big philosophical thoughts with an unlikely success rate if thought of in these terms.
Redefine. I’m not looking to be Mother Theresa. I am, however, curious about the impact one person of modest means and an average size network can have on society. I would like to prove the impact that day-to-day small acts of kindness can have not just on a person, community or city, but on the world. Still lofty, but more realistic.
Solution. As people ask how they can help in celebrating this milestone, my answer is for them to do an act of kindness and record their action on this website. Capturing how many people, how many countries and how many acts of kindness will measure the project’s success.
Like all measurement, you need to start with a definition of success. Hmm. What are my SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely)? In 4 months, reach over 4,000 people, in 4 countries, influencing a minimum of 4,000 acts of kindness. Get the 4 theme in for my 40th…. ? Well, the Attainable and Realistic part is questionable but let’s give it a try.
I hope you’ll participate in this birthday wish and be part of this crazy experiment and journey with me.
PS - For more of my marketing thoughts and comments, visit My Perspective PPS - A shameless plug for Brown & Cohen Communications & Public Affairs Inc. if you are looking for a great PR firm
PPPS - Feel free to leave a comment about this experiment or a birthday wish in the comment section below
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Social Media Explained
Love this summary of social media. Have a look if you are confused about the difference between emerging (and less emerging) platforms. At a glance it will all fall into place.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Retail Sector Continues to Embrace Social Media
Facebook ‘pop up’ stores latest social media trend is a must-read article in the Toronto Star for retailers who still are without a social media strategy.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Facebook's coverage of the Egypt uprising
I have been out of on-the-ground news coverage for the past 11 years and now focusing largely on how to get our clients in the news. But covering news remains in my blood, especially the Middle East. Six years of covering violent outbreaks, assassinations, elections, terrorism of all shapes and sizes, peace agreement made,broken, made and broken again.
There is the political perspective, the economic perspective, the man-on-the-street's perspective, the protester's perspective. Then there are the news gems: the human interest stories that bring us into the lives of one person that enables people oceans away to see the conflict through one lens of hope or courage.
As I reflect on those days, now every time I check in for a news fix, how did we cover the news with what now seems like such limited technology? Faxes and heavy cell phones. Email, but only on computers back at the office. No wireless access from the field, handheld or otherwise. I remind myself: this was barely over a decade ago.
Today, Twitter and Facebook are not only the strongest mobilizing forces for protesters, they are the fastest news service. (Not sure how I feel about this, but that's another blog entry.)
Today was one more morning that I logged on to Facebook to review random people's groups for my news well before reaching for The Globe and Mail.
I use Facebook Search, type in "Egypt protests" and up comes all the information I need. Admittedly, the best sites in terms of popularity are in Arabic and I am sure these sites are significantly more interesting than the ones in English that I am able to read. The posted photos however tell stories in themselves and are universally understood.
When my kids read about these events in their high school history classes what will they learn? This was the first time the Internet was actually shut down, not just censored. Despite this, the power of social media was used as a mobilizing force for the first time in this way. The networks of social media erased country borders and civil unrest and the courage to speak out spread from country to country in one of the hottest political regions in the world.
There is the political perspective, the economic perspective, the man-on-the-street's perspective, the protester's perspective. Then there are the news gems: the human interest stories that bring us into the lives of one person that enables people oceans away to see the conflict through one lens of hope or courage.
As I reflect on those days, now every time I check in for a news fix, how did we cover the news with what now seems like such limited technology? Faxes and heavy cell phones. Email, but only on computers back at the office. No wireless access from the field, handheld or otherwise. I remind myself: this was barely over a decade ago.
Today, Twitter and Facebook are not only the strongest mobilizing forces for protesters, they are the fastest news service. (Not sure how I feel about this, but that's another blog entry.)
Today was one more morning that I logged on to Facebook to review random people's groups for my news well before reaching for The Globe and Mail.
I use Facebook Search, type in "Egypt protests" and up comes all the information I need. Admittedly, the best sites in terms of popularity are in Arabic and I am sure these sites are significantly more interesting than the ones in English that I am able to read. The posted photos however tell stories in themselves and are universally understood.
When my kids read about these events in their high school history classes what will they learn? This was the first time the Internet was actually shut down, not just censored. Despite this, the power of social media was used as a mobilizing force for the first time in this way. The networks of social media erased country borders and civil unrest and the courage to speak out spread from country to country in one of the hottest political regions in the world.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Marketing Takes Investment: Not even flash mobs happen in a flash
A unique thank you to customers increased Alphabet Photography's website hits by 800%from the year before and broke YouTube records. Looks like customers said a big 'your welcome' to their food court stunt designed to spread holiday cheer this past November.
Warning to businesses reading this who would like to try this themselves:
Nothing comes without work, effort, resources and time: This seemingly effortless and random stunt, in fact took eight weeks of preparation according to reports. Planting the organist, choir rehearsals, and meeting with mall management regularly.
A common assumption is that once something is on YouTube it automatically goes viral. Social media campaigns must be pushed out with the same effort as traditional marketing campaigns. This campaign started by sending their video out to their email database as well as their large Facebook group. Then, media started picking up the story. Without these push elements, there would not have been the same success.
Congratulations Alphabet Photography and thanks for also spreading new Marketing Cheer.
Warning to businesses reading this who would like to try this themselves:
Nothing comes without work, effort, resources and time: This seemingly effortless and random stunt, in fact took eight weeks of preparation according to reports. Planting the organist, choir rehearsals, and meeting with mall management regularly.
A common assumption is that once something is on YouTube it automatically goes viral. Social media campaigns must be pushed out with the same effort as traditional marketing campaigns. This campaign started by sending their video out to their email database as well as their large Facebook group. Then, media started picking up the story. Without these push elements, there would not have been the same success.
Congratulations Alphabet Photography and thanks for also spreading new Marketing Cheer.
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