What’s In A Social Media Name?

One must be mindful of company name when joining social media outlets. Facebook and Twitter have millions of users so one assumes this tool would be on the forefront of any business person’s mind before making a huge name announcement. Alas, last week Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced that Netflix has transformed its DVD via mail side of the business into Qwikster. This change makes sense with streaming video gaining popularity while one-day Qwikster may go the way of cassette tapes. Although, that is neither here nor there. The real issue at hand is that the people at Netflix neglected

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Social Media = ENGAGEMENT Not Numbers!

Most of us realize by now that a big number of followers doesn’t immediately equal ENGAGED, RELEVANT or INFLUENTIAL followers, but after a recent conversation, I found this bared repeating. “A big number of followers doesn’t immediately equal ENGAGED, RELEVANT or INFLUENTIAL followers…” We had a client mention wanting to have many more Twitter followers and Facebook fans then they do presently. When pressed as to why, there wasn’t a clear answer. Social media can’t be thought of as a way to create “instant sales” but, instead, as a communication tool to truly build your brand. Companies and businesses never

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Common Sense Web Video Solutions

While doing a little marketing business in South Carolina, I had the opportunity to compare three variations on web video solutions. We shot this video using a Sony AVCHD camera, an iPad as well as a DroidX. You can see the differences in quality, but when it comes to web video, getting the message out is more important. These are just some common sense web video solutions that YOU can try out. Take a look and see how easy it is to create WOW in your own web video!

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VIDEO: “Are You Too Big To SMILE?”

CreateWOWmarketing travels through rural Iowa asking the simple question, “Is your brand too big to smile?” Finding that small town courtesy and respect seems to reflect in a size of company brand as well, Andrew B. Clark (The Brand Chef) questions why and how your brand could benefit from just a simple smile. 🙂

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There IS No FREE Lunch!

The marketing communications business is often misunderstood in terms of value, benefit, and, unfortunately, getting paid. As a creative services firm, prospects often ask communications professionals (us) to do work for free – also known as “speculative creative” or “pitching” in order for the client to determine whether or not they will hire us. It’s the old “try the milk before you buy the cow” scenario and it happens in the marketing communications profession on a daily basis. While some marketing professionals succumb to this dog and pony show in the hopes of getting paid if their results are satisfactory

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Finding The Face Of Ag Marketing

If you didn’t realize it, AGRICULTURE is big business – not just the growing of plants and livestock production aspects, which luckily has seen an uptick even in the struggling financial economy as of late.  We’re talking the business of being involved in the “Ag” world. Agritourism, Ag education, Ag sciences and others have all seen a huge surge of interest and involvement in the past decade. No longer do we drive through the green fields of Iowa, Nebraska and other Midwest states and just see corn, beans, pigs, cows, more corn, more beans, more pigs…  well, you get our

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5 Crucial Reasons for Business Blogging

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A business blog is a key part of any inbound marketing program. There are 5 fundamental benefits to business blogging: 1) Promote and Position Yourself / Your Company as a “Thought Leader” Each well-written post on a business or personal blog is a public declaration of your thought leadership, integrity, humor, and professional insights. You don’t have to debate the laws of physics (unless that’s your bailiwick) to get recognition. For example, a summary of recent changes in your industry, or a reaction to a recent news article can be extremely effective blog posts.  Set up Google Alerts and feed

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We Cured Writer’s Block!

Some days I sit back in my chair and wonder, “Why the heck isn’t anyone posting?” It’s not for a lack of information.  It’s not for a lack of inspiration.  It just falls on that blank page!  It’s too intimidating.  It’s too…  blank; so your mind goes blank. In attempts to alleviate that, I’ve coached my clients to keep a journal, either digitally in EverNote, or the “Old fashioned way” in a notebook, of ideas, snippets, quips or even a doodle that would later inspire a blog post (and I’ve changed “blog post” to “article” for most clients – that’s

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Hands In The Air

This is about as political as I get. Considering the events that have unfolded this week (the “untimely” demise of Osama BinLaden), I found it appropriate to speak up. Whatever side of the isle you sit on or whatever God you pray to, take heed. Look beyond yourself – just for 60 seconds. THEN, go back to what you were doing, knowing that there IS more. May 2, 2011: I watched a riveting documentary on Dr. Martin Luther King last night and felt compelled to talk about committing to something. More importantly, the relentless pursuit of committing to something greater

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