March 8th, 2010 by christhebrain
Toyota’s massive recall and bad press has caused them a world of hurt. Logically, you would think Toyota would lose fans thanks to faulty equipment, but instead of losing fans Toyota actually increased their Facebook fan count by more than 10%!
When the massive recall was first getting out into the public eye Toyota had a group of Facebook fans close to 72,000 strong. At the time of writing this Toyota’s fan base consists of nearly 82,000 Facebook fans.
This spike in support has turned the page into a springboard fans have been using as place to defend Toyota and receive updates from the company. Even now people are posting links to websites, videos, and petitions built just to show their love for Toyota (take http://www.isupporttoyota.com as an example).
Toyota has been taking advantage of this outpouring of support by keeping fans updated with information, videos, and appreciation for support through their Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube campaigns. Toyota has wisely used online social media as a way to manage their reputation through this crisis, and proven that the Internet does work the same way traditional media does. While the press runs a muck like a mad dog with Toyota’s reputation, feasting gluttonously upon the negative headlines, social media allows Toyota to actually carry on a conversation with their consumer base.
The biggest fear companies have when entering into online social marketing is bad press, but Toyota proves that just might be the BEST time to start. Social media allows companies to engage their target market directly, not through the filter of traditional “gotcha” media.
Posted in All Marketers are Liars | No Comments »
March 2nd, 2010 by toddthebrawn
Thought I would share a couple of quick email tidbits I had hanging around inside my head…
1) Constant Contact released email click through rates by category, for Feb 2010..pretty interesting stuff if you like numbers.
- Constant Contact Click Through Rates by Category
2) Fat Atom is now Sender Score Certified! After spending thousands of dollars and ONE year of hard work, we made it! What does all that really mean? Check back and I will tell in my next post. (www.returnpath.net if you can’t wait)
3) Subscibers who opt-out of permission email cite that these emails lack relevance (75%) or are sent to frequently (73%). Merkle “View from the Inbox” (2010)
4) The top three types of subject lines that compel subscribers to open emails contain one of the following: 1. Discount Offer 2. Free Product Offer 3. Familiar Brand Name - Marketing Sherpa “2010 Email Marketing Benchmark Report”
Technorati Tags: Email Marketing, Merkle, Return Path, Sender Score
Tags: Email Marketing, Merkle, Return Path, Sender Score
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
February 8th, 2010 by toddthebrawn
I was talking to a prospective client the other day and he questioned why Fat Atom wasn’t coming up on Google for what he thought was popular SEO (Search Engine Optimization) phrases that he thought we should be coming up for. After all, weren’t we trying to sell him SEO?
Well, no. What we were trying to sell him was a SEF (Search Engine Friendly) website with some other Internet Marketing strategies. Secondly, who was he to tell me what terms I should be coming up for? And finally, I really didn’t want to get into the finer points of SEO with him and how his computer works with Google servers across the country to deliver results….I mean really, he was already sold on the fact that another “SEO company” he had days before us was better, I really didn’t want to waste me time. You see, they promised him #1 search ranking in 2 months or less…to me and all my “real” industry friends/competitors, that means “RUN AWAY”, to the unsuspecting business owner, it’s like popping a pill to make you thin…fast and easy. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, there is a sucker born every minute…and I couldn’t help this one.
Next post: How is Fat Atom Internet Marketing #3 for the search “Internet Marketing” on Google? Notice the 143 Million pages of indexed info on Google - what an SEO job we are doing!?!
Technorati Tags: Fat Atom, Internet Marketing, SEO
Tags: Fat Atom, Internet Marketing, SEO
Posted in Internet Marketing News | No Comments »
February 1st, 2010 by christhebrain
A little over three decades ago Bill Gates introduced to his dream of “a computer on every desk in every home”. Yes, the dream came true… but as more of a nightmare. We all have computers and we all hate them. They freeze, they crash, they are hard to use, they never work right the first time, they spy on us, steal our information, and never think they way we do. Now, after years of living like abused spouses with our technology, Steve Jobs has come to save the day. The iPad is going to start a revolution to such a magnitude that, in my opinion, Steve Jobs himself may not even grasp.
Geeks everywhere have logged their protests at the iPad lack of revolutionary technology. It is criticized as an oversized iPhone, and an less functional netbook. I think the point that people are missing is the iPad isn’t a new toy for geeks, it is a computer for non-geeks. The iPhone has gained so much popularity because it is so easy to use for the average consumer, so it just makes sense to expand that platform to a larger platform.
The fallout from the iPad won’t be felt right away, but it will be something we look back on in 5 years a monumental shift in consumer technology to the same degree, if not more so, that we now look back on the iPhone as a breakthrough for smartphones and PDAs. Once consumers get their hands on the iPad, and start using it for Internet, email, and multimedia, they won’t ever want to go back to traditional computers ever again.
Computers today do one major thing wrong… they do everything. When you buy a computer you presented with an open environment upon which the computer demands that you figure it out from there. Having a “customizable” operating system is just another way of saying “your on your own”. For geeks, like me, this is great. There are no rules, and we can make our computers do whatever we want. For consumers, it sucks. They stare blankly at a screen full of options, icons, and artifacts until their brain pops and they call me asking me to come over and set their computer up for them.
The iPad, like the iPhone, works the moment you turn it on and guides you, ever so cheerfully, through whatever task you are trying to perform. The only buttons you see are the ones you need to see, and there is little room to get lost. Beyond that, Apple has a done a great job of encouraging (read “forcing”) developers to mimic their user-friendly design when making new apps. All this making each task simply a new button on your screen, all working with a touch of your finger.
So three decades after the first so-called “personal computer”, Steve Jobs has given us the real first personal computer with the iPad. As “that guy you call when your computer breaks” I personally can’t wait to replace every computer my friends and family own with an iPad. I look forward for 5 years from now when only geeks and developers like me actually buy open platform computers, and the everyday consumer finally has a no-hassle window to the Information age.
Technorati Tags: Apple, iPad, personal computers, Steve Jobs
Tags: Apple, iPad, personal computers, Steve Jobs
Posted in Gadget Lust, Things that Work | 3 Comments »
January 7th, 2010 by toddthebrawn
Todd’s 2010 Predictions
It’s easy to look back into 2009 and do a list or a review of the year’s biggest story, so I thought I would challenge myself and see if I could look into my “Google Crystal Ball” and share 9 predictions of what I see in store for 2010…Here Goes.
1) A new buzz word will replace “Web 2.0″ and will be used repeatedly by marketing people who really didn’t know what “Web 2.0″ was in the first place.
2) Google will develop a new product that will rock the world (of geeks) and change the way search is handled…but the masses won’t care.
3) Apple will release an update to the iphone which will make it the most polished interface on any phone on the planet….crap, that one already happened.
4) The stock market will go up, then down and possibly, back up again for a short period of time that will begin after it goes down for a period of time. Please feel free to use this prediction to help you time the markets in 2010.
5) Twitter will continue to grow, Myspace will continue to die and Facebook will thrive the most.
6) Tiger Woods will play golf again AND win a major in 2010. I mean really, what else does he have to do now that everyone knows he is a philanderer.
7) Hulu will surpass a major network television in viewers…..and no one will know it.
8 ) Another large, Indianapolis based company will attempt to perform a Social Media Marketing campaign on their own and in this attempt, will alienate their fans/followers because of a failed tactic, scheme or gimmick.
9) Fat Atom will move their offices to downtown Carmel say, 12 West Main Street and have a great open house in the Spring.
Technorati Tags: Fat Atom, Internet Marketing, Predictions for 2010
Tags: Fat Atom, Internet Marketing, Predictions for 2010
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 24th, 2009 by christhebrain
Twitter, as you know it, will die(ish)
Ok, I don’t think Twitter is going away in one year, but I do think it will drastically change. Twitter has a couple major problems, none of which are a secret. First off, Twitter has to start making money. This is complicated by Twitter’s very open and accessible API which has spawned a plethora of third-party apps. All of these would have to be reigned in to make sure whatever Twitter does isn’t circumvented.
The other problem is SPAM SPAM SPAM! While I have no hard evidence for this, I think most people have realized the vast population of their “followers” are robots, or people simply acting like robots (I call ‘em “Twitter zombies”). Twitter is so easy to exploit using keywords and automated systems like TweetSpinner… not that we know anything about that (*cough* Todd *cough*). I would personally guess at least 60% of Twitter traffic being spam, and since we have all noticed how much Twitter is overloaded, that means Twitter’s infrastructure is having to support all that spam along with legitimate services.
I also think that Facebook is a much better service than Twitter for actually being used by real people. Being able to have “mini-conversations” with your status updates is great, and really adds to the experience. Responding with @you tweets just don’t cut it. All-in-all, I think Twitter has already hit the ceiling and has some drastic work to do to maintain it’s momentum.
Google Wave will be the Twitter of 2010… when Twitter was in 2008.
Google Wave is an awesome product idea, but maybe too awesome. I see Google Wave as Facebook for productivity. When used correctly, Google Wave will drastically increase workplace productivity and communication. The problem is that the idea is a leading idea, or in other words, it is an idea that fills a need for people they don’t know they have… yet.
Google Wave has a bumpy ride ahead of people “not getting it”. But just like Twitter, lead early adopters will slowly lead the way for everyone else to catch on. Email has had a great ride, but we really need something better for digital communication. Google Wave represents the next generation of messaging and communicating.
Cha-Cha, as you know it, will die… again
I wish I blogged about this a year ago, because I told people a year ago that Cha-Cha’s business model wouldn’t work, and some proof to show off would be nice. So take it or leave it, this year I am writing it down! Cha-Cha seems to have already realized their “human search” isn’t going to be profitable, and has now moved onto to other ideas like selling texting coupon services.
While never seeming to run out of investor money, Cha-Cha is still plodding along. However, I have two main reasons for thinking Cha-Cha just isn’t going to make it. Reason One: No one is trying to buy them. Seriously, anything good in Web 2.0 gets bought or at least courted by someone. Reason Two: I think text messaging is going to die too. With more and more people buying smart phones, it’s just a matter of time till people use email, chat programs like AIM and Google Talk, and Facebook over text messaging. Seriously, who wants to pay for text messaging when none of the other services add to your already high monthly cell phone internet service?
Smart-phones and Computer Will Merge… and I Don’t Mean Netbooks
Personal computers are already starting to die out. Almost no one buys desktops anymore, if consumers can’t afford laptops, they buy netbooks or really cheap laptops. While professionals and serious computer gamers need power, most consumers just want email, Internet, spreadsheet, and word processing. Now that smart-phones can do all that, or are close to doing all that, the only thing missing is size.
While all the computing power we need fits in our pockets (that’s what SHE said), the best smart-phone keypad still doesn’t compete with a full-sized keyboard, mouse, and screen. It’s just a matter of time till someone figures this out and makes a smart phone that docks with a full-sized keyboard, mouse, and monitor when at home or the office as easily as a car pulls into a garage (that’s what… nevermind).
Seriously, I can’t believe no one has invented this (for the masses, all those expensive geek-only products don’t count). Sony, Apple, Dell, Nokia, or some ingenious startup is going to make this happen. In 2009 the casual consumer was converted to smart phones, it’s just the logical next step.
Posted in Internet Marketing News | No Comments »
December 4th, 2009 by toddthebrawn
Seth Godin has an amazing post, yet again. He never ceases to amaze. In the past when an information medium was invented it was built by marketing. Advertising has supported every information medium since the inception of radio, newspapers, and television. When a specific medium was invented marketers asked the question. “How does this help me?” Seth Godin adds to this by saying: If a newspaper, a radio station or a TV station doesn’t please advertisers, it disappears. It exists to make you (the marketer) happy. The problem, nay the beauty, of the Internet is the fact the shameless advertising does not support this medium of communication. But (being a marketer myself) it begs the question, “How do I use this medium to help my business?” The question Seth Going asks, which business owners should ask themselves is this: “How are people (the people I need to reach, interact with and tell stories to) going to use this new power and how can I help them achieve their goals?” Help your clients first and you will reap the benefits of the amazing power of the Internet and social media.
Technorati Tags: Brandswag, Klye Lacy, Social Media, Web
Tags: Brandswag, Klye Lacy, Social Media, Web
Posted in All Marketers are Liars, Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 4th, 2009 by toddthebrawn
While going through the hundreds of emails I get a day, a friend passed along a quick cartoon, illustrating the web design process with “the client from Hell”.
I post this for two reasons. First, so that professional web design companies can read it and commiserate. Secondly, to potential clients so they can try to understand what designer goes through when creating a website.
It’s Friday and I needed a good laugh, hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did.
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_hell
Technorati Tags: Design, Web Design, Websites
Tags: Design, Web Design, Websites
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
November 29th, 2009 by toddthebrawn
While reading the local paper last week, I ran across a great article on comparison shopping. The author detailed a scenario in which while shopping for a computer, the add-on’s they try to sell you, don’t seem to expensive because you are comparing them to the overall price of the computer purchase. We’ve all done this before, building a “super computer online” by getting that extra 8GB of RAM and every other option, then hitting delete, starting over or not buying at all because of the price.
I digress a bit to say that the author of this article happens to be the President of local “New Media” company. (they seem to be springing up all around now-a-days). They are the “cool” company that can produce nice websites, for 5 to 10 times above “market” prices.
So back to the story. The author closes by saying that in business, you always need a comparison to your proposal…not only that, but he says, and I quote, “Make sure your buyers are comparing you to more expensive options.” He goes on to say the “brain likes to compare” and contrast leads to easier decision making. While reading this, I remember saying to myself, who the heck do they bring in to “compare” with them….no one is higher priced!
And now you know my 2010 sales strategy 
Technorati Tags: New Media, Sales
Tags: New Media, Sales
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
November 18th, 2009 by christhebrain
My co-workers know how much I love my PSP, and how much of a love-hate relationship I have with Sony. But I just gotta give them credit for one of the best online social media marketing strategies I have seen. Not only does Sony have a very well run Blog, Twitter feed, and Facebook page, but they have both the COJONES and the common-sense needed to run them effectively. Other companies concerned about their branding in the brutal arena of social media would do well to follow their example.
Social Media COJONES!
SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment of America) runs the blog (http://blog.us.playstation.com/). They do just about everything right. First, they have great regular posts that both take advantage of current hot topics, but also have great personable content. All blog posts are credited to actual authors, who often flow up by responding to comments. They also allow users to not only comment but also to whine, rant, and complain about whatever they think SCEA is doing wrong. I, myself, have complained more than once and have never had a comment rejected. Yes, SCEA puts their flaws out for everyone to drag through the mud.
Everyone is afraid of the negative press they will get in the untamed wilds of social media, but SCEA isn’t phased by it. Whatever pain this may cause is far outweighed by immense amount of traffic and exposure their products get. Their Facebook page has over 700,000 followers at the time of posting this. That is over half-a-million users they have free advertising to at any point in time!
Social Media Common Sense!
It takes more than just COJONES, SCEA also has the best common sense approach to managing the chaos. SCEA only responds to users who are asking questions, or posting reasonable complaints and issues, but just let’s the whiners carry alone. This is very smart, because it trains their users to be polite. Fans know they have a better chance of being heard if they don’t just rant and rave. The point here is that they DO RESPOND, just in a very methodical fashion that builds a great fan base. Second, more often than not, other fans will just come to SCEA’s defense without them having to lift a finger. And again, all this just builds great traffic.
SCEA also does a great job of re-posting and re-linking all their own content. On weekends, SCEA posts a “recap” listing all their posts from the previous week, as well as a “what we read on the web” which is, of course, a listing of their best press across the web. This also helps their web strategy by encouraging other sites wanting traffic to be positive toward SCEA products.
Even if you don’t care about Sony (or hate them), it is worth following their social media for a while, just so see some real pros at work!
SCEA Blog: http://blog.us.playstation.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SonyPlaystation
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PlayStation
Technorati Tags: Playstation, PSP, SCEA, Social Media, Sony
Tags: Playstation, PSP, SCEA, Social Media, Sony
Posted in Things that Work | No Comments »
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