I think that our job as marketers has become the discovery of that passion. Rather than finding the deep, hidden secret(s) in our customers’ lives, I think we’re often better served by looking for the area(s) that truly excite and motivate them. It’s through these that we can create relationships based upon shared goals and values rather than relationships simply based upon transactions.
There’s passion in almost everything if you know where to look. | From The Head Of Zeus Jones
December 14th
   

…Consider foursquare, the mobile app that allows you to “check-in”, tells your friends where they can find you, and recommends places to go & things to do near your current location. Foursquare openly credits a gaming component to their success, as every foursquare check-in (when users find new places—i.e. restaurants, stores, bars etc. in their neighborhoods) earns them points. And, after accumulating a certain amount of points, they’re awarded badges or even made “Mayor” of that location, which may qualify them to earn freebies.

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It might seem silly to some, but to foursquare’s investors—the likes of Jack Dorsey, creator of Twitter, Kevin Rose, founder of Digg, and SV Angels LLC, The angel group founded and backed by Ron Conway, it’s a seriously fun way to “make your city easier to use.”

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As demonstrated by many forward thinking companies like foursquare, where function and gaming mesh together, the chance to innovate is far beyond maps or joysticks.

Maddock Douglas - My Life Is A Video Game: Technological and Social Innovations | ADMAVEN
December 9th
    Marketing is traditionally a selfish act, an act of taking. Taking time, attention or money, and giving little in return. Marketing was corrupted by television, which allowed anyone with a few bucks to generate a few more bucks. Not just soap or cars, but TV preachers too. Yell, lie, entertain and repeat.
100 Words - Seth Godin | BLAINEHOGAN.COM | ideas, hope, & creative process
December 8th
    A new study being released this morning by Anderson Analytics reveals that prior reports suggesting Facebook may be losing it’s coolness factor among college students are inaccurate. Facebook was viewed as “cool” by 82 percent of males and 90 percent of females in the study. While the study does not allude to reasons for the site’s continued popularity, it does suggest that Facebook is becoming a “new mass medium”.
Report: Facebook Popularity Not Fading Among Young Users
December 7th

Social media measurement: a 10-step guide

December 4th
    You never cease to amaze me. Just 48 hours after launching a review copy fundraiser for Acumen Fund, we have crossed the goal of raising $100,000.
Seth’s Blog: Over the top
December 4th
    A customer is a novel and stable pattern of human behavior.
Marketing, Innovation and the Creation of Customers (via tigs)
December 3rd

PR Communications: What's Old With The FTC Endorsement Guides?

December 3rd
    The most successful brands in 2010 are going to be the ones that evolve into social brands. This means that brands that have social voices — real people participating and talking on their behalf to customers in an engaging, conversational manner. The company must be willing to let its employees and its brand advocates become the face of the brand. Consumers demand that, and brands like Best Buy that are evolving into social brands (think Twelp Force) will be the ones that win. Every brand is going to need to become a social brand at some point.
Looking ahead to 2010 with Shiv Singh » SmartBlog On Social Media
December 3rd

The FTC and Social Compliance | The BzzAgent Beelog

December 2nd

From Sticky To Spreadable: The Antidote to “Viral Marketing” and the Broadcast Mentality

(via Vimeo)

November 18th

Twitter now: few thoughts from Marketing Communication perspective - Zigurds Zakis

(via slideshare)

November 18th