While this is a great idea, managing the many different social media outlets and the content being sent to them, it can be a bit time consuming, the underlying issue remains.

Any business using social media needs to learn how to listen, first.  Managing is great, putting out good content even better, but that is lost,  if the business is not really paying attention to what is being said.

My fear regarding these type of social media content management tools is they will give business the idea that they can manage the message – which we all know will never bee true, because they never really controlled the message in the first place – once it left the office!

What are your thoughts on tools to manage social media content?

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There seems to be a big disconnect when it comes to marketers and consumers, which should come as a surprise.  Consider this consumers feel overwhelmed and inundated with irrelevant span from programs, yet marketers are planning on upping the amount of email they send.  This is one time, when content is not King!  Consumers want information that is relevant, not everything the marketing team can think to send them.

What do you think about your Loyalty Programs – do you get what you need? Would you stop shopping or switch brands over to many email from a brand?

For more on the CMO Council’s report click here

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I love reading on my kindle and the transition from one page to the next is wonderful for reading, but hardly fast enough for any type of video.  Gaming would be a drag, as there isn’t enough of a processor in a kindle for much more then tic, tac, toe and I still question that would work.  Kindle will need to provide a much larger processor to provide the type of content most internet users has come to expect.  Would a large enough processor, make the kindle larger, heavier and more expensive?

The Kindles display is clear and photos look wonderful, but they are still black & white – Maybe Amazon is looking to bring back the black and white film industry?  Until the kindle is color, content development will be limited.

But, the thing I love best about my Kindle is how long I can go between charges – I mean if I pay attention to how often I download and how I stay connected to the internet, a single charge can last well over a week!   If Amazon starts adding different types of content that require an internet connection more often or use more power, then I’ll have to charge more often. I mean really, isn’t one of the benefits of the Kindle to be to charge once and go for days having access to my books, newspapers and blogs?  I can take use my kindle places that where I can’t use my smart phone or laptop?

I love my Kindle, but I’m not sure I would use it for gaming, surfing the web chatting with friends or even updating my Twitter – I have a smart phone for that.

What are your thoughts on the Amazon opening their software to developers for new content on the Kindle?

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Personally, I think the campaign is wonderful and will be successful.  However it is a double edge sword – if the projects that receive money accomplish little, Pepsi will receive little reward and much blame for squandering millions of dollars and having nothing to show for it.  However, if Pepsi finds a couple of outstanding programs that do amazing work, then they will benefit from the good work, while being praise and rewarded for giving back to the community.  It always helps to know you consumer dollar can come full circle back to your community.

This 21 century corporate community partnership idea is nothing new, but how they go about getting the information out to the masses and not just existing nonprofits is.

In the end I think this will benefit Pepsi more in the long run then any Superbowl Ad.  How many of those ads do we see three months later?  This campaign could go on for years, will minor adjustments and changes and thing of the brand loyalty they can create.  I just hope Pepsi has a long term strategy for this campaign and these project – there is nothing worse then a corporation throwing one time money at a long term problem with no long term planning.

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If this is the move for the commercial world, I’m happy.  I will be happy to drink Pepsi if I know a portion of the money they make is being reinvested back into a community of need.  It’s doesn’t have to be my community, nor do I expect Pepsi not to make a profit, but knowing they are giving back in a meaningful way makes it easier to choose a Pepsi product.

What do you think of the Pepsi Refresh Project?

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Verizons "There's a map for that"

AT&T case against Verizon “There’s a map for that” ad was rejected by a Federal Judge in Atlanta Wednesday.  AT&T claims the ad was misleading, but at this point does it matter? The damage is done.  Yes, the can fight it in court, win and maybe get a monitory judgment, but will that make  difference for the consumer, probably not.  While the lawyers fight it out, the marketing staff at AT&T need to get a response and quick.

Today, AT&T came out with their counter, not as strong because it talks about smartphones and app – which refer to one product  – the iPhone, but at least they are trying to answer the map add.
Might, I suggest AT&T look at the user contract and cancellation policies of Verizon.  I think AT&T should talk to customer through the pocketsbooks – offer a one year contract – lower termination fees – get clients in the doors, then you can talk about how good your coverage is and how 3G is a small part of the complete wireless network.

Here is AT&T new ad with Luke Wilson sidebyside

Just my thoughts!

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Here are my thoughts on Facebook presents for NPO leader
Before you go out an start trying to increase your presence on Facebook – the first questions is, do you have the time to maintain the presents?  and I do me you personally.

Maintaining a presence on line takes effort, just like maintaining a website, blog or calendar. It’s not just about building the presences, but it’s about keeping it.  If your ready to maintain your presences, there are three general approaches:

1. See who your friends are friends with, you will find you may have a lot in common with them.
2. Search for subjects your interested in and friend people who also find those subjects interesting.
3. Post interesting information on your Facebook page and people will find you. (also useful on Twitter)

This will take some work and will not happen over night, but given time and commitment your Facebook presences should increase.

Do you have other things that have worked well for you or your organization?  We’d love to hear about them.

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Does your staff use technology; do your volunteers use technology? do your donors use technology?  Then why are you thinking strategically about technology?

Technology has become one of the cornerstones of operating a nonprofit – we use email to communicate, cell phone to call and text information,  Websites to provide information, services and collect donations, and yet Technology is not part of your organizations strategic plan.

Now this is not to suggest that you should throw out you strategic plan already in place and start again – that would be crazy!  But what I am suggesting is that your organization take some time and make a technology plan.  Then the next time you’re in strategic planning mode you can use the plan as a junping off point.

What should going into a technology plan?  Start with where want to be and work backwards from there.

Inventory what you have and what you think you might need in the future consider everything from the phone systems to servers.  What you think you might need may very well change right along with technology.  Please don’t forget to considerany purchase cost maintenance and staff needs?

Look at how you presently use technology and how its changed – five years ago you bought a server, now with cloud computing is a server necessary? There are dollars to be saved by looking at these items.

What others areas of technology do you need to look at?

If we Work backwards from  where we want to be we can learn our next step . You can see all the places where technology can help you succeed -  Still need help figuring out the details – drop us a line at info@ishouti.com

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Why the ousted leader of one of our nations great business collapse was talking to future business leaders is beyond me, but maybe he was telling them how not to run a business.

During this speech, Mr. Thain spoke to the issue he is most remembered,, after the collapse of a leading investment institution, the redecorating of his office and conference rooms at a cost of $1.2 million.  In an comment to lighten the discussion, he suggested that if he had to do it again he furnish it in Ikea.   While the comment brought laughs and chuckles from the audience, Ikea spokes person said “John, stop by Ikea anytime”.

But what could Ikea do to leverage this gift of gab from Mr. Thain?  Here are a couple of quick thoughts I had:

1. Find successful CEO who did furnish their office with Ikea  and promote the hell out of their smart business sense and style – I mean really who needs a $25,000 chest of drawers?
2. Promote executive office designs, that is functional and stylish with out breaking the budget

3. Start a contest to find the best design and use of Ikea products in the exec. suite.

This is one of the rare moments when a company was give a public lemons and should make sweet satisfying lemonade to toast their success!

What’s your lemon, how can we help you make lemonade?   

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So how does a small business owner, who is focused on getting money in the door integrate social media or even get started.

The first place to start is where you start with any conversation you’re joining – Start by listening!  Find out who is talking about your industry, products, services – see where they are and what they are saying.   Once you’ve spent some time listening, look to see where you can add to the conversation.  What thoughts can you bring, how is something different or the same for you.

Feeling overwhelmed?  iSHOUT interactive is here to help with our quick start programs

Not feeling to overwhelmed yet, good.  Try setting up a facebook or twitter account.   Start with just one and try it out.    Facebook has millions of more users which may be perfect for you, but finding a specific market can be a bit easier on Twitter for most.

Ready to venture a little further,  got thoughts and ideas that don’t fit on Twitter, but don’t really work on Facebook – try blogging or what I like to call a thought log – I use Posterous, but there are other logs to use.  You can post anything and everything at Posterous.  the best part you can post by sending an email – it can even be set up to post to your twitter, facebook, myspace or website. pretty cool and it’s free.

Of course you can always host a blog like ishouti at little more set up and cost involved, but fairly easy even for a social media upstart!

Finally, the how concept of Social Media is to use these different tools to get people to do things – what do you want you customers to do?

Use your new found tools to motivate and move your customers into action.

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