Who "Should" Come First

David Meerman Scott brings up an amazing concept within Chapter 10 of his book "Real-Time Marketing & PR." This concept relates to section within said chapter titled "Friends Tweet Friends First." I too am frustrated that some companies are now offering better deals to new subscribers and "turning off" the reliable best customers. I could not tell you how many times I have logged on to Groupon only to find that the deal I purchased a day or week prior was shown to be less expensive compared to me purchasing the deal through my traditional means. David brings up the idea that companies should show more attention to its best customers. If these companies did such, they would gain a domino-like chain of positive benefits starting with a happier following. This happier following leads to even more positive word-of-mouth marketing for the company, allowing the happy following to gain in size.

Companies might not have to exclusively give deals to the best customers, but at least offer them the same deals when a promotion arises. The companies might lose potential sales initially, but in the long run would gain much more than what would have been gained in the short run with those additional sales.

This concept can also be adapted towards any campaign strategy or following that currently exists. David highlights this by providing an example of Obamas choice of vice president running mate and how his campaign handled the newsbreak. The brilliant PR professionals who were within the campaign decided to have Obama tweet his choice minutes before the press conference that he was supposed to be publicly announcing such. He rewarded his followers, he paid attention to them and the result of which was larger than what the media could have done in the first place. This is a prime example of what companies and other campaigns need to start utilizing.

I agree 100 percent with David and his opinion towards who should come first. The lesson he writes at the end of the section is blog-worthy. He wrote that "the lesson here is to stop focusing on providing better service ad pricing to nonconsumers (as mobile phone providers and magazines do) and instead favor those who favor you: your existing customers." Companies and campaigns need to take note because those are some strong words that seem to be forgotten in today’s society.

Until next time,

Matt   

Facebook Extending Its Life

Feb. 4th, 2004, is the date that Facebook started and in just over a decade has flourished and seemed to have gained majority market share worldwide. For a social networking site, Facebook has done a wonderful job of avoiding the down slope of its overall lifestyle. It is from the fear of dying out that Facebook is attempting to extend its life further by experimenting in the virtual reality field. 

The developers at Facebook are conceiving an app that would allow for the user to record and or watch videos in a 360-degree dimension. Granted the apps current status is in the early stages of its development, this would be a game changer and I believe Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, knows it as well. He has been quoted on calling virtual reality the next "computer platform" after mobile devices. 

It is clear that the CEO is interested in this new market, but what does the company have to say about it? Although Facebook refuses to comment on the app and its status, sometimes a verbal comment is not necessary. Over the past few years, Facebook bought out Oculus, which is an industry leader in all things virtual reality. 

Now why would a social networking site buy a virtual reality based company and reply no comment about its intentions? One does not have to have a Ph.D to make the logical connection on what Facebooks intentions will be. I feel that Facebook should own up to on developing this app and start pushing that it will be the world leader in this market as well. Facebook and the newly acquired Oculus should start marketing the current virtual reality technology to the trendsetters. How might Facebook market the technology you may ask? Who would have guessed Facebook could use itself to market itself, crazy right? 

Outside of Facebooks move, other platforms are already gaining active presence within the virtual reality field. Google introduced tools that allow for recording these videos to be easier. YouTube is supporting the videos and there is already a following of more than 400,000 subscribers to its #360Video channel. Facebook needs get its foot in the door now and make developing this app a priority. I believe virtual reality is the next thing and by Facebook saying no comment to its inquiries really makes me believe that it will be late to the metaphorical party. Lastly, I would like to thank Deppa Seetharaman and Orr Hirschauge for the information they provided within their online article posted on the Wall Street Journal. 

Until next time,

Matt

20 Seconds of Insane Courage

First things first, do you recognize the title of this blog?

Well even if you do recognize it, I will explain where it comes from briefly. The title of this blog is a concept developed and shown flawlessly within one of my favorite movies, "We Bought a Zoo" by Cameron Crowe. Within the movie, Benjamin Mee, played by Matt Damon, lived his life around the idea "sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." From the first time I had watched this movie, I was in love with this concept and more so the quote. The only thing issue was I had never actually put it to use, that is until the other week. To truly understand the quote, watch the video below that is directly from the movie and keep it in your mind as you read on. 

One night, I took the leap of faith, mustered up 20 seconds of insane courage, and did something that is fitting of such insane courage. I attempted to see if a spark still existed between a previous love and me, and the result of such was one I never could have expected. I was hoping one kiss would prove to both of us there still was something between us. Sorry readers, but no I did not get slapped nor pushed away. In the same light, no I did not rekindle the love we once shared in those 20 seconds either.

The result of my 20 seconds of courage was one I never could have prepared for but something great did come of it. I know I felt that something was still between us, and from the response I got in return, I knew she felt it as well. I left that night telling her I will give her time to think about whatever she needed to think about because being pressured never helps any situation. Sure enough, multiple days pass and still no trace of a traditional response. More days pass, I start thinking about that quote and when I was supposed to have the something great come out of my 20 seconds. After more days passed it finally hit me, that something great I was missing does not necessarily mean her doing the realizing; rather I realized something I never wanted to see. I am not going to go into detail about what that something is because it is not fair to her, but take my word that it is something 

bittersweet and yet great.

I have never been someone with "insane courage" or "embarrassing bravery" but this is why I believe this quote means that much more to me. Life is too short not to act because of our fears, and it took me 20 years to finally come to terms with it.  If you have yet to watch this movie, please do so because it has changed my life for the better and I honestly think it might just change yours as well.

Until next time,

Matt