The Most Important UGC Video Contest Ever!

Over 10 hours of video content is uploaded to YouTube every hour. Who can argue how much fun it is to grab your guitar, and give it the old college try at covering the latest from Avenged Sevenfold. UGC sites were born to reward these creators who offer no promise of quality and no excuse for lack of practice. Which raises the question; how do you get to Carnegie Hall? No it's not just practice, practice, practice. It’s entering the YouTube Symphony Contest.

http://bigfatmarketingblog.com/2009/03/19/how-do-you-click-to-carnegie-hall-youtube-shows-the-way/

This promotion captures all that is great with the platform. Inclusive with few limitations on what you can and can't do providing consistent creative interpretation across languages and cultures. The scale is overwhelming; 23 countries with nearly as many individual language and legal requirements. Having been an integral part of the structure makes it easy for us to see this as the most important video contest ever!

Social Media Marketing Is A Contact Sport!

And the number one messaging strategy for social media... Just Be You! Wow that sounds simple. But to put it into some context it is you the marketer, keeping a live connection with your customers establishing credibility in a more authentic way.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/business/smallbusiness/12social.ready.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

You've twittered and someone cares about your brand, now what?

Great news, you've broken the ice with reciprocal tweets. Here is the OMG moment when you are speaking not to the autonomous masses but to a real person expecting to hear, and maybe see something of interest. If you are tempted to use the line "do you come here often" we can suggest the following alternative ideas and coaching tips.

Http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/22181.asp

On the tactical front we are seeing success using sweepstakes, contests, and instant win devices to build Facebook fan groups, spread viral content and most recently distribute coupons. Now that we have made eye contact with users we're learning how to insert these devices into the conversation without disrupting it over the long term. It is a channel specific promotion strategy that compliments the way social media is consumed.

Online grocery shopping can't touch this technology.

Sure I have ordered groceries online but I miss hand picking many items. The meat department, deli, produce and bakery items. The satisfaction I get in picking up and putting down a dozen or so steaks before I pick the "one" is equal to having gone out and tracked it for days. So I'm going "old school" and hunting down my dinner even if it comes packaged in a bag, box or carton. Standing in my way of course is the unnatural act (to me) of waiting in a check out line. So was I glad when Stop N' Shop finally rolled out "Scan It" to my local store.

http://www.physorg.com/news139225121.html.

Now I am touching and feeling my way to a full cart knowing that when I'm done my Scan It skips the lines and lets me escape with the booty. It's like pulling away from an EZ Pass tool plaza, looking back at the cash lines and thinking they just got owned. You'll need your Stop N' Shop card to get started. Next, grab the device from the kiosk located near the check out lines. Scan the bar code on your card and you are in business. All the sale items from from the card plus more that are unique to the device itself calculate savings as you shop. When you are done hunting and gathering find the Scan It reader at the self service desk to electronically transfer what's in your cart. Follow some simple instructions on the credit card terminal and you are out of there.

Smart Marketers Advertise During A Recession. You Should Too - Adrants

Smart Marketers Advertise During A Recession. You Should Too - Adrants

FT.com / Business Life - Coupon clippers go digital

FT.com / Business Life - Coupon clippers go digital

PROMOTE U.S.

FROM THE DESK OF MARC WORTSMAN

Promotion marketing is all about “stimulus”. From a cents-off coupons to multi-year incentive programs we as promotion marketers help our clients sell their ideas, products and services to diverse groups nationally and often on a global scale.

The State of the Union address highlighted a number of critical challenges facing our country. We listened to the President speak in part about the economy, housing, job creation - and it got us thinking about how promotion marketing can be used to help stimulate our economy.

In response to the State of the Union here are some promotion tactic thought starters from our staff:

JOB SEARCH

Idea: When you spot a “Help Wanted” sign in a store window Twitter the ZIP Code, store name and address.

Idea: For Internet access providers, provide subscribers with “free internet access days” to help those using the Internet to job search.

RESTORING CONFIDENCE

Idea: Hollywood directors/studios create trailers highlighting examples of what’s being done by individuals to help create a “New America”.

Idea: Provide a tax credit to persons who volunteer a minimum number of hours monthly in their communities.

CONSERVING RESOURCES

Idea: Recycling centers offer free fluorescent light bulbs in exchange for empty bottles and aluminum cans. 

We’ll be adding more ideas to the PROMOTE U.S. list so check this page again soon. It’s our goal to offer tactics that collectively create a better future for all of us.