Twist Image - Mitch Joel Blog - Marketing and Communication Insights
Six Pixels of Separation - The Twist Image Blog is marketing and communications insights from the edge. If blogs, podcasts, viral marketing, consumer generated content, search engine marketing and anything related to digital marketing or interactive marketing are on your radar, this Montreal based business blog is for you. Mitch Joel will unravel the complex world of new marketing and social media with the perspective of a digital marketing agency based in Canada. The Six Pixels Of Separation podcast is also here. Join the digital marketing conversation. Take part in the new marketing discussion. Stay tuned to see how this interactive agency in Canada is making a digital difference. While marketers still struggle to understand online marketing, an entirely new generation of marketing opportunities is already taking place and they're being created by your customers. The Twist Image blog is here for all of your digital marketing adventures.
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- SPOS #94 - Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - +1 (206) 666-6056 - Optimizing Your Website And More With Bryan Eisenberg
Welcome to episode #94 of Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast. The bottom line is that I am still trying to recover from everything that went down in the past two weeks. From sharing the stage with Anthony Robbins at the Power Within in Halifax, to spending four days at the TED Conference in Monterey, California, and then in NYC sharing the stage with people like Seth Godin, Don Tapscott and Sir Ken Robinson. There were tons of development in the Web world, so I called on Bryan Eisenberg to join me via Skype (apologies for the not-so-great connection) to help us all understand how Web analytics, research and more is forging ahead. Enjoy the conversation...
Here it is: Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - Episode #94 - Host: Mitch Joel.
- Running time: 42:30.
- Audio comment line - please send in a comment and add your voice to the audio community: +1 206-666-6056.
- Please send in questions, comments, suggestions - mitch@twistimage.com.
- Hello from Beautiful Montreal.
- Subscribe over at iTunes.
- Please visit and leave comments on the Blog - Six Pixels of Separation.
- Facebook Group - Six Pixels of Separation Podcast Society - please join (we have over 1350 members).
- Check out my other Podcast, Foreword Thinking - The Business And Motivational Book Review Podcast - sponsored by HarperCollins Canada.
- Foreword Thinking - episode #8 is now live and features Deepak Chopra - author of the book, Buddha – A Story of Enlightenment.
- TED – Monterey, California – still digesting
- Speaking gig in NYC post-TED with:
- Seth Godin.
- Don Tapscott.
- Sir Ken Robinson.
- Carly Fiorina.
- Wired Magazine – Chris Anderson – article on Free.
- In Conversation with Bryan Eisenberg – GrokDotCom – Waiting For Your Cat To Bark – Call To Action – Future Now.
- iPerceptions and Avinash Kaushik – 4Q.
- Website Optimizer - What Should I Test?
- Audio Comment - Christian Scholz – mrtopf.de.
- Six Points of Separation – Six New Blog Techniques:
- 1. Half story.
- 2. Be provocative.
- 3. Video.
- 4. Well-thought out posts.
- 5. Blog frequently.
- 6. Destination.
- Six Pounds of Sound – C.C. Chapman – The Advance Guard – Managing The Gray – Accident Hash.
- Common Ground – ‘Monster’.
Please join the conversation by sending in questions, feedback and ways to improve Six Pixels Of Separation. Please let me know what you think or leave an audio comment at: +1 206-666-6056.
Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - Episode #94 - Host: Mitch Joel.
Tags: 4q accident hash advance guard advertising anthony robbins avinash kaushik blog blogging bryan eisenberg business carly fiorina cc chapman chris anderson christian scholz common ground digital marketing don tapscott facebook foreword thinking future now google grokdotcom harpercollins canada iperceptions itunes managing the gray marketing meatball sundae motivational books mrtopf online social network online video podcast podcasting power within purple cow seth godin sir ken robinson six pixels of separation social media marketing squidoo ted conference ted talks twist image website optimizer wired magazine youtube
Sun, 09 Mar 2008 07:03:21 -0500 - 4Q Will Do For Web Research What Google Analytics Does For Website Measurement
Full disclosure: iPerceptions is a client of Twist Image and I sit on their Advisory Council. That being said, I was pretty much in the dark on this project.
iPerceptions teamed up with Six Pixels of Separation's favourite web analytics guru, Avinash Kaushik (author of Web Analytics - An Hour A Day and Blogger at Occam's Razor), to offer everyone (yes, including you ;) a free and simple permission based on-exit survey called, 4Q. 4Q is, simply, the four most important questions you'll need answers to in better understanding why visitors did (or didn't) do something on your website. Did you get that? Great tools like Google Analytics tell you what happened. 4Q is a great (and free) tool because it will tell you why things happened (yes, I know - it's a deadly combo of data). The reasoning behind 4Q is best explained by Avinash in his Blog posting, 4Q - The Best Online Survey For A Website, Yours Free!:
"Surveys are a lot more powerful and can yield much deeper insights about the customer experiences on your website. Deployed right they can be a critical source of learning for your decision makers.
4Q will not make your breakfast in the morning, but my hope is that it takes cost off the table when it comes to trying surveys and provides you with answers to the foundational questions. So no breakfast in the morning, just a kiss on the cheek when you wake up to get you going for what you need to get done. :)"
Avinash even recorded a video demo of how to get started with 4Q and posted it to YouTube. The video is called: An Introduction To 4Q: Now Be Truly Customer Centric! (the video demo runs about 10 minutes) and you can check it out here:
If this free product is of interest to you (and I can't imagine why any Website would not run this), you can learn more about it here:
- Avinash Kaushik's Blog - Occam's Razor - 4Q - The Best Online Survey For A Website, Yours Free!
You can also go right to the Website and get started - iPerceptions - 4Q.
I'd love to hear what your experience is with 4Q. I have high hopes that this offering will take off like Google Analytics. I also don't see any reason why you would use one and not the other. Now you can figure out what visitors are doing on your website and, more importantly, why they're doing it.
Tags: 4q avinash kaushik customer centric customer experience free survey google analytics iperceptions occams razor online survey online video twist image voice of customer web analytics web analytics and hour a day web research webmaster website management website measurement youtube
Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:54:41 -0500 - Would It Be Cool If Bryan Eisenberg Did A Free Online Seminar On What Marketers Should Be Testing Online?
My only regret is not posting about this free event sooner. I got a note from Bryan Eisenberg (co-author of Call To Action, Waiting For Your Cat To Bark and more - he's also the Chief Persuasion Officer of Future Now Inc. and Blogger over at GrokDotCom), that he will be co-presenting a free online seminar courtesy of the people at Google called, Website Optimizer - What Should I Test?
Here's how the Inside AdWords Blog describes the event:
"We continue to receive a lot of questions about Google Website Optimizer, our website testing and optimization tool. Those of you who are familiar with Website Optimizer may have seen the Quick Start Guide and read our advanced testing strategies. Recently, however, you've asked us for more insight on what you should be testing on your webpages. 'Should I test my headlines, images, or buttons? Google, what do I test?'
To answer these questions and more, we'd like to invite you to join Website Optimizer's Product Manager, Tom Leung, and guest presenter Bryan Eisenberg (Chief Persuasion Officer, FutureNow, Inc.) for a free online seminar."
How sweet is that?
The seminar, Website Optimizer - What Should I Test?, is taking place this coming Tuesday (March 11th, 2008) from 9:00 - 10:00 am PST (Pacific Standard Time).
Google continues to pump out some awesome "faith-based initiatives." Not only is the Website Optimizer - What Should I Test? seminar free, but Google Website Optimizer is free as well.
If you're in Marketing and your grappling with what you should (and should not) be testing in online experiences, can you really afford to miss this one?
Tags: bryan eisenberg call to action free online seminar future now google google website optimizer grokdotcom marketing marketing research optimization tom leung waiting for your cat to bark web analytics website testing
Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:41:13 -0500 - Twitter In Plain English
No one explains Technology, Social Media and Web 2.0 like Lee Lefever and the good people at Common Craft. And, they've done it again.
If you're still on the fence about twitter and other micro-Blogging platforms, the Common Craft team just released their latest video, Twitter In Plain English, and it rocks (as do all of their videos).
Check it out:
Tags: common craft lee lefever micro-blog online video social media technology twitter web 20
Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:06:41 -0500 - The Role Of Digital Marketing
In the past few days, I've given a lot of public speeches on the Digital Marketing landscape to some varied audiences (including university students, government and big business). I'm continually amazed by how new all of these channels are to the general mass public. I'm not even talking about Blogs and Podcasts here, but having a general strategy for Google AdWords or data around email address collection. What seems so 2003 to most of us, is more like 2033 to others.
I show a bunch of videos in my presentations, and there are several that track well over twenty-million views on YouTube, yet - for most - when I show them, it is the first time these people have ever seen them.
Some might say this is a bad thing.
I think it's magical.
At bare minimum the art (and science) of building a compelling online property and starting the wheels around Digital Marketing is still new ground to most companies. At best, they are grappling their way to create something more than their current brochure-ware website, and are becoming increasingly aware of places like Technorati and del.icio.us. They are moving closer to the cloud (having everything "live" online versus hard drives) and are curious about how their Marketing programs are going to look in twelve month's time.
After a whirlwind tour of being on the road for nearly ten days straight, I'm happy to report that Digital Marketing is making inroads and corporate interest is piqued. The challenge our industry faces is getting the job done (well), and finding the new bodies to help get the job done well. Young people need to understand the opportunities of working in the Digital Marketing space, and professionals from other media channels (I'm talking to you TV, Radio and Print) need to look in our backyard as dollars continue to shift over to interactive and digital.
There's not a lack of interest. There's not a lack of money. Companies want to know that they're working with a Digital Marketing agency that can deliver, and explain the reasoning behind it too. Companies are also starting to realize how challenging it is to develop this type of expertise internally. Due to the demand of work and lack of experienced employees, talent becomes tough to hire and retain.
I'd love to go back in time and see if the old school ad agencies had the same issues, challenges and opportunities when people got all hot and bothered with stuff like thirty-second spots and direct mail campaigns.
Let me be bold here: Digital Marketing continues to grow, and my guess is that we're going to loose the term "digital" soon enough as more of the pie becomes driven by the digital channels and it all filters into one centre of excellence called, "Marketing."
Tags: advertising adwords blog delicious digital marketing email marketing google interactive marketing marketing online video podcast presentation public speaking technorati website youtube
Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:52:04 -0500 - Another Reason I Will Never Buy From (Or Into) Your Brand
Negative rants about Marketing. Sometimes they just flow. I think we all know that we learn most (and quickest) from our mistakes.
I was waiting for my flight in the lounge at the Ottawa airport this afternoon, and overheard someone on their mobile. OK, "overheard" sounds like I was snooping, when in fact, everyone could hear her. I don't know who, specifically, she was talking about, but it was a co-worker. She was trashing them. She was trashing the department this person worked in. She was trashing senior management, and then she trashed the company. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't said in hush murmurs.
What company?
I could not tell, until I walked by to get a drink, and saw her nametag as clear as day.
For the record, I don't think she suspected that anybody was listening, knew where she worked, or cared - the fact is, everyone was listening.
My perspective of that brand is tarnished. Amazing how, in this day and age, one person, their raw emotions (maybe even on a bad day) and now there's this sour taste I get when I think of the brand. All I see (and hear) is her bitter (and unprofessional) tirade.
If you look at yesterday's Blog post, Marketing When Nobody Is Looking, both Sulemaan and Marty expressed that it's hard to get people motivated and behind the brand when they are young, underpaid and poorly trained. Well, it was clear today that this person was older and well-paid. I think being a brand advocate does start at the top, but it can't stay there. Just recently, Starbucks closed for a three-hour "coffee break" to retrain the Baristas and get all employees on the same page, and back into the spirit of customer service that got them where they are today.
Champions of a brand don't need to be a specific age or a designated salary - it's all about the mindset. Brands have similar attributes to a relationship. And, we all know that it takes one slip of the tongue on a bad day for things to never be the same again. On the other hand, a little kindness, thinking about the other person before you speak and putting their best interest ahead of your own are three simple ways to live the brand - regardless of pay scale, maturity or skill set.
Tags: brand brand evangelist customer service marketing ottawa starbucks
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:10:33 -0500 - Marketing When Nobody Is Looking
There's a famous saying that goes something like, "integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is looking." It's like that old chestnut, "to thine own self, be true." In the past few days I've seen countless examples in places like hotels, at retail, in restaurants, etc... where individuals are performing their roles fine, then turn around and do something less-than-impressive (thinking that no one is looking).
Here's one example: "I was walking through a major retail chain in Time's Square today (the Manhattan one). The brand also happens to have a mascot. They have someone dress up like the mascot. Standing with the mascot is another retail employee encouraging the shoppers to, "come on up and get your picture taken." While I was waiting, I noticed that every time there was no one in front of them, the two guys were cracking jokes, talking loudly (even swearing) and acting unprofessional.
Listen, I know it ain't easy to dress in a costume for your eight-hour shift, and the temptation to futz around is huge. The problem is, the brand is now totally ruined for me. Done. The magic and everything. Here's why: I would have been impressed - big time - had these two guys maintained their professionalism (lived the brand) when nobody was looking. Instinctively, we all say to ourselves, "imagine what that guy probably does when no one is looking." We almost expect them to futz around. And that's the point. We are looking, watching and analyzing (and I know I'm not the only one), so the let-down is bigger.
We need to train the keepers of our brand to really live it (even if you're forcing them to wear a costume). If you look at the power of Social Media and everything that's happening in our Web 2.0 world, it's going well beyond the always on culture into the always watching and (more importantly), always recording culture. What would have happened had I caught these two guys using the video camera on my mobile phone?
Imagine what HQ would do if that little act was captured and posted on YouTube?
I'm not that cruel, and the intent of this Blog post is not to get two pimply-faced kids making minimum wage fired. The point is that someone is always watching (and probably recording), but that's not the main reason to do the right thing. The reason to do the right thing is because employees are the biggest brand ambassadors you have. A culture of pride, respect and compassion goes a longer way when everybody is citizen journalist.
Marketing is also about doing the right thing when nobody is looking.
Now more than ever.
Tags: blog brand ambassadors citizen journalism communications customer service integrity marketing mascot new york city retail experience social media times square web 20 youtube
Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:25:34 -0500 - SPOS #93 - Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - +1 (206) 666-6056 - PlaneCast, TED And Seth Godin
Welcome to episode #93 of Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast. From 35,000 feet in the air, here's my first PlaneCast (hat tip to Joseph Jaffe). It was a crazy week from performing on stage at the Power Within in Halifax with Tony Robbins in front of 5,000 people to jetting off to the TED Conference in Monterey, California. I'm heading into NYC for a little break (ok, there are some meetings involved), but I did not want to miss an episode, so I recorded from the plane. I'd say, "please excuse the sounds," but I think this type of recording is what makes Podcasting so much fun, different and cool. As a gift for making you endure the sounds of cabin pressure and my dry throat, I also tossed in an incredible conversation I had, in person, with none other than Seth Godin (author of Purple Cow, Meatball Sundae and Small Is The New Big - to name a few). As always, Seth demonstrates why he is the number one most requested speaker on Marketing, and why his books are constant best-sellers and instant classics. Enjoy the conversation...
Here it is: Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - Episode #93 - Host: Mitch Joel.
- Running time: 34:51.
- Audio comment line - please send in a comment and add your voice to the audio community: +1 206-666-6056.
- Please send in questions, comments, suggestions - mitch@twistimage.com.
- Hello from Beautiful Montreal.
- Subscribe over at iTunes.
- Please visit and leave comments on the Blog - Six Pixels of Separation.
- Facebook Group - Six Pixels of Separation Podcast Society - please join (we have over 1330 members).
- Check out my other Podcast, Foreword Thinking - The Business And Motivational Book Review Podcast - sponsored by HarperCollins Canada.
- Foreword Thinking - episode #8 is now live and features Deepak Chopra - author of the book, Buddha – A Story of Enlightenment.
- Power Within Halifax - February 26th, 2007 featuring:
- Anthony Robbins.
- Mike Lipkin.
- Loretta LaRoche.
- Apple Macbook Air Sony Vaio Parody.
- TED – Monterey, California – February 27th – March 1st.
- BIL – March 1st – March 2nd.
- Audio Comment – Andrea Vascellari.
- Facebook and/or Ning.
- PodCamp Toronto – ooVoo – Social Media and Personal Branding Session.
- In Conversation with Seth Godin – Purple Cow – Meatball Sundae – Squidoo.
- Six Points of Separation – Six Ways To Make A Difference:
- 1. Tutor.
- 2. Conversations.
- 3. Democracy.
- 4. Status quo.
- 5. Read.
- 6. Time vs. Money.
- Six Pounds of Sound – C.C. Chapman – The Advance Guard – Managing The Gray – Accident Hash.
- [munk] - Beautiful (I Know You're)
Please join the conversation by sending in questions, feedback and ways to improve Six Pixels Of Separation. Please let me know what you think or leave an audio comment at: +1 206-666-6056.
Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - Episode #93 - Host: Mitch Joel.
Tags: accident hash advance guard advertising andrea vascellari anthony robbins apple bil conference blog blogging business cc chapman deepak chopra digital marketing facebook foreword thinking google itunes jaffe juice joseph jaffe loretta laroche macbook air managing the gray marketing meatball sundae mike lipkin motivational books munk ning online social network online video oovoo podcamp toronto podcast podcasting power within purple cow ryerson university seth godin six pixels of separation social media marketing sony vaio squidoo ted conference ted talks twist image youtube
Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:41:20 -0500 - Marketing Perspectives Courtesy Of TED
The TED Conference trashed me. I feel like I went to Monterey, California as an empty bucket, got completely overfilled with water and then someone just dumped me all over the street. I'm drained. There's a slight temptation to mention all the cool and famous people I met, but I think the overall experience of sitting shoulder to shoulder with some of the smartest people I have ever met is something that I'll always hold closest to my heart. It was a full-on holistic assault - the mind, body and spirit got filled, challenged, questioned and schooled. It's enough fodder to keep me thinking until TED 2009 (if they'll have me back, I can't imagine not going).
Here's one way to illustrate what TED is like. I sat down in one of the sessions. Unlike other conferences where no one talks to one another (and if they do, it's quite forced), at TED, everyone talks to everyone, so when you sit down in a session you always introduce yourself to the people on either side of you. Man, why don't we always do this as a society? It turn out the person on my right owns a toy company that is responsible for the amazing game/puzzle, Rush Hour (I must have given that game as a gift to over fifteen kids in the past few years) and the person on my left was the creator of del.icio.us (in case you have not been following Six Pixels of Separation for the past while, I love del.icio.us).
Who would you talk to?
The correct answer is: you introduce them to one another and you talk to everybody.
And that's what TED is. Technology Entertainment Design. In those three seats, the three of us had all the angles covered with enough interest and uniqueness - in terms of what we do individually - that it not only spurred some interesting conversation, but I think all of us were able to appreciate the session and the speakers because of the shared experience.
There were so many amazing Marketing lessons that I'll take home from TED. The curator, Chris Anderson, is such a wise and smart dude. He provoked the speakers at the end of their presentations with real questions - Marketers need to be this provocative with their line of questioning. The TED conference gives both perspective and depth to concepts. It was enough if all you really wanted was a nibble, but there was plenty there if you wanted the full meal. TED's use of technology was also an incredible lesson in how Marketers need to use every channel to compliment one another (and not cannibalize each channel). The website and the online community cannot replace the live conference, but it does enhance the experience. With a remote live satellite feed from Aspen, where a few thousand gathered to watch the conference via closed satellite, TED demonstrated how great communication is great communication. We were able to get live feeds from Aspen and although it didn't feel like Monterey, they had their own, unique experience going. They didn't try to copy or make it "less than" - they used what they had to create a different experience.
There are many different ways to make Marketing work. Some of the models are new and some of the classics work perfectly well. TED offered total balance in terms of content and full-on community involvement.
You're smart enough to take those lessons and apply them to your Marketing.
Tags: california chris anderson community conference delicious design entertainment marketing marketing lesson monterey networking rush hour six pixels of separation technology ted conference
Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:56:50 -0500 - Yves Behar Gives Good Marketing Quote
Yves Behar is a world-leading designer. At TED, he's talking during the How Do We Create? session (this year,the TED Conference is based around the theme of "Big Questions"). In discussing his design process, where he thinks creativity comes from, and where companies are at in their own creativity, this is what he sprung on the TED community:
"Advertising is the price companies pay for being un-original."
The quote was not attributed to anyone (I'll do a little Google sniffing and update this Blog post if I find anything).
It's an interesting perspective.
Would you really need to advertise if your product/service had the Seth Godin Purple Cow stamp of approval? Would your product not stand out if the design was that unique, functional and effective?
Big Questions.
TED was named quite appropriately this year.
Tags: advertising creativity design designer functional design google marketing quote product design purple cow seth godin ted conference yves behar
Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:53:32 -0500 - Ideas Worth Spreading
There is tons of hype and interest around the TED Conference. While this is my first time attending, having watched almost every one of the talks over at TED Talks for the past little whiles makes everything I see live seem so familiar. That being said, in just one day I feel changed. I know how new age-y that might read to you, but it's true. As powerful as some of the attendees are in their day to day lives, my first emotions are those of sharing and equality. There's something amazingly cool about what happens here, and the one huge difference from watching TED Talks is the human connection and access to every attendee.
Instead of waxing poetic, or name dropping (yes, there are tons of celebrities and business luminaries here), I thought I would simply re-direct you to some projects that have captured my imagination and will (I hope) also become an idea worth spreading in your eyes as well. Check out these brilliant initiatives. I hope your new content discovery is a fascinating as mine.
Enjoy the mind candy:
- Encyclopedia of Life.
- InSTEDD.
- 816.
- Ted Prize.
- 19.20.21.
- DIY Drones.
- Do The Green Thing.
- Town Hall.
- Make Zine.
- Dishy Mix.
- They're Beautiful.Tags: conference dishy mix diy drones do the green thing encyclopedia of life instedd make zine monterey ted ted prize ted talks theyre beautiful town hall websites
Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:29:19 -0500 - Search Engine Optimization, Affiliate Marketing And Other Deep Dark Secrets
Fact: if people can figure out a way to make more money, they will.
And, it doesn't matter if it's online, offline or otherwise.
Bloggers love to engage in flame wars, and why should Bloggers who have a focus on Marketing, Advertising, Communications or Public Relations be any different? There has been brash rantings launched recently on two fronts:
1. Jason Calacanis over at Mahalo (and the guy who sold Weblogs to AOL) recently gave a keynote address to a group of Affiliate Marketers. While Calacanis has a knack for being provocative, he seemed to really frustrate some of his crowd with a message that was akin to: "if you're going to set up a website full of content with the sole intent being to cram that page with affiliate links, you're no better than a spammer." That was my loose translation, but you can make your own by reading this extensive post (and be sure to follow the comment thread): Jason Calacanis Insults Affiliate Summit Attendees, Says They Pollute The Internet.
2. Steve Rubel from Micro Persuasion (and a VP over at Edelman Digital) had this post titled, SEO Shenanigans Pose a Clear and Present Danger to Social Media, looking at how Search Engine Optimization companies could be poisoning the well if they're instructing clients to build Blogs with the sole purpose of increasing their own organic search engine results. SEO Book did not take lightly to Rubel's thoughts and you can follow that Blog storm over here: Steve Rubel, from Edelman, the PR Firm Behind the Fake Wal-Mart Blog, is Concerned About SEOs Gaming Blogs.
And so continues the ongoing debate (which started long before the Internet) about what is "right" and what is "ethical."
Is Six Pixels of Separation "ethical"? If you haven't figured it out, I Blog and Podcast as a way to increase the recognition of my Digital Marketing and Communications agency, Twist Image, in the hopes that this content is out there, it spreads, based on specific topics and keywords it can be found in a search engine and that - if all goes well - it will increase my client base, it will get me speaking in front of more groups, and I can continue to grow my business (not to mention the positive by-product of building and sustaining a stronger Personal Brand).
Do I Blog and Podcast as a full-on "commercial"? You know the answer to that (I hope). I truly do care about community (see my post from yesterday), and I know that a community evolves and thrives when members benefit in both the giving and receiving. So I would say it's "ethical" simply because it's not blatantly manipulative.
All that being said, there are countless ways to game system and certain types of people will fight tooth and nail for every click and purchase. Is there a value in pointing fingers at specific sets of online Marketers as being ethical or otherwise?
I don't think so.
There are people who click on paid links and don't mind affiliate programs, and then there are people (like me) who would never run an ad on my Blog or Podcast (after all, why confuse people with multiple messages? I'd like the focus to be on Twist Image, Six Pixels of Separation and Mitch Joel). It reminds me of the old spam story: would spammer still spam if no one opened their emails and bought from them?
The big dark secret to Digital Marketing is that we don't have a true governing body. It's still the wild west, and the hottest forms of online advertising (Google Adwords, Affiliate Marketing, etc...) are hardly a decade old. The tactics are new. The tactics will change, adapt and develop. Remember, it wasn't too long ago that any type of advertising in an organic search result was seen as taboo. Now take a look at what the Search Engines state in their quarterly earnings. When do you think linkbaiting really became popular?
Tags: advertising adwords affiliate marketing aol blog bloggers digital marketing agency edelman digital email marketing ethics jason calacanis mahalo micro persuasion online marketing podcast search engine marketing search engine optimization seo book spam steve rubel twist image weblogs
Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:46:31 -0500 - What Motivates You?
There are a couple of thoughts rattling around my noggin' today. For perspective, I'm currently bouncing around on a United flight from Halifax to Chicago (lots of turbulence). The flight was severely delayed, so I have no idea if I can make my flights from Chicago to San Francisco, and then from San Francisco on to Monterey to attend the TED Conference (at the rate things are going, I'll be arriving a little late to TED - update - I stuck in Chicago). I spent the day in Halifax speaking at the Power Within. It's a full-day of live presentations by people like Anthony Robbins, Loretta LaRoche, Mike Lipkin, etc... it's hard to be frustrated by travel after speaking in front of 5,000 people at the local arena (apparently, Ozzy Osbourne just played two nights in the same venue) and getting the warm reception I received. It's equally hard to be frustrated when I know (at some point), I'll be attending my first TED Conference.
I've Blogged poetic about my love for all things TED (especially, the TED Talks).
It got me thinking: what motivates you?
As someone who is interested in Marketing, Communications, Advertising and Public Relations, what inspires and motivates you to wake up every day and think, "how can I use Marketing, technology and all of these new channels of connectivity and creativity to really engage my consumers or my client's customers?"
It's not an easy question to answer.
Personally. I spend a significant amount of time (and money) pursuing "growth." I try to divide it up between the mind, body and spirit (though, admittedly, a lot of the time, I get a two-fer-one - if not more). I'm inquisitive, curious and not afraid to ask questions or put myself out there. This is not ego Blogging. More often than not, I do it to report back to you (be it here on the Blog, or on the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast) because I learn even more by sharing.
The added layer is that I have always been a community-minded individual. I've seen the benefits of helping and adding value in a community, and I've watched the benefactors and the results they get.
Last night during dinner someone asked me if all of this online social networking and Social Media stuff is disconnecting people from real-life conversations? If people needed to "get out a little more" and stop worrying about Second Life because they're missing out on real life. It became abundantly clear, at that moment, that the majority of people still perceive online to be about lonely people connecting digitally to other lonely people as a way to avoid physically meeting.
I look at the unconference movement. I think about my twitter community. I reflect back on the fact that I attended my first Power Within event after discovering it during a Google search, and how I probably would not be attending TED at all were it not for the people I've read, followed and met through these channels.
Motivation.
I'm more motivated than ever. I'm learning more and connecting more, and I know this makes me a better Marketer. I can see how many people would look at events like the Power Within or TED and wonder why I'm there, and not at Ad:Tech or SXSW. It's not because I have Digital Marketing overload. It's because I believe that true motivation (for me) will come from expanding my circle and trying new and different things (breaking the fishbowl).
So, when I finally do get Monterey, CA and register at TED, I can start all over again. I can spend a few days hearing from speakers I've never heard of and only knowing a couple of people who are attending.
New day. New journey.
All of it documented right here for all of us to share and connect to - now that's motivating.
Tags: adtech anthony robbins blog communications community digital marketing education google loretta laroche marketing mike lipkin motivation online social network ozzy osbourne personal growth power within public speaking second life six pixels of separation podcast social media sxse technology ted conference ted talks twitter unconference
Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:56:47 -0500 - Social Media Marketing Full-Day Seminar Comes To Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary And Vancouver
As part of my commitment to IAB Canada - Interactive Advertising Bureau (full disclosure: I sit on the Board of Directors), I will be teaching my full-day seminar on Social Media Marketing on the following dates across Canada again this year:
- Montreal, Quebec - March 12, 2008.
- Ottawa, Ontario - March 14, 2008.
- Toronto, Ontario - March 19, 2008.
- Calgary, Alberta - March 26, 2008.
- Vancouver, British Columbia - March 28, 2008.Here's how the IAB Canada website describes the day:
"The Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada's new Intensive, One-Day Course In Social Media Marketing, is a full 8-hours long, and is designed to simplify and demonstrate the many new channels of marketing, advertising and communication that make up the Social Media and Web 2.0 space.
Attendees will learn about Online Social Networks, RSS, Tags, Consumer Generated Content, Blogs, Podcasts, Wikis and Virtual Worlds – and more importantly, how to leverage these marketing channels for optimal results."
Here's what I'm looking for: if you're reading this Blog, you get the space. You're listening. You're adding value. You're a part of the community. Please pass this information on to someone (in your company, a client, someone who has asked a question about Social Media or Web 2.0) and encourage them to register. There's constant Blog chatter about breaking out of the fishbowl, and getting beyond the navel-gazing. This full-day Social Media Marketing Seminar will give all attendees a glimpse of the many tools and channels they can use to better connect, and how Marketers are using them - from Marketing and joining to creating their own environments.
If you don't live in Canada, check to see how far you might be from one of these cities, and try to make your way to the session. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: everything I know about these new channels - from stats to usage to best practices - are included. By the end of this full-day seminar, you'll know everything I know... and you'll be ready to do it.
I also come into town the night before, so if there's a desire for a Geek Dinner, tweet-up or meet-up, please let me know.
I hope you'll help me to spread the word about these seminars... it's the only way we're going to grow this industry, and build more credibility.
You can check out the full course outline and get all the information here: IAB Canada - Social Media Marketing Full-Day Seminar.
Tags: alberta blog british columbia calgary consumer generated content course outline geek dinner iab canada interactive advertising bureau lifehack marketing meet-up montreal online social network ontario ottawa podcast quebec rss seminar social media social media marketing tag toronto tweet-up vancouver virtual world web 20 wiki
Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:12:35 -0500 - SPOS #92 - Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - +1 (206) 666-6056 - Technology Makes Marketing Easier
Welcome to episode #92 of Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast. Whoa. I really thought this was going to be a quick fifteen-minute episode, but it turned into one very long rant about how technology is actually making marketing much easier. You'll have to take a listen to hear how this stream of consciousness comes together. It's something that's been on my mind for a long while, and I have high hopes that you will add to these thoughts by calling in an audio comments. I've got the M-Audio MicroTrack all ready to go for the TED conference this week, so maybe that's where the inspiration came from. Regardless, there's lots of topics covered, and I hope you'll take part. Enjoy the conversation...
Here it is: Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - Episode #92 - Host: Mitch Joel.
- Running time: 41:32.
- Audio comment line - please send in a comment and add your voice to the audio community: +1 206-666-6056.
- Please send in questions, comments, suggestions - mitch@twistimage.com.
- Hello from Beautiful Montreal.
- Subscribe over at iTunes.
- Please visit and leave comments on the Blog - Six Pixels of Separation.
- Facebook Group - Six Pixels of Separation Podcast Society - please join (we have over 1330 members).
- Check out my other Podcast, Foreword Thinking - The Business And Motivational Book Review Podcast - sponsored by HarperCollins Canada.
- Foreword Thinking - episode #8 is now live and features Deepak Chopra - author of the book, Buddha – A Story of Enlightenment.
- Power Within Halifax - February 26th, 2007 featuring:
- Anthony Robbins.
- Mike Lipkin.
- Loretta LaRoche.
- PodCamp Toronto – February 23rd – 24th – Ryerson University.
- Apple Macbook Air Sony Vaio Parody.
- PodFinder #36 with Adam Curry.
- NewBCamp.
- TED – Monterey, California – February 27th – March 1st.
- BIL – March 1st – March 2nd.
- Audio Comment – Cal Evans – Sixty Second Tech.
- Six Points of Separation – Six Things Every YouTube Video Needs:
- 1. Music.
- 2. Audio.
- 3. Lighting.
- 4. Other channels.
- 5. Video-sharing sites.
- 6. Tight.
- 7. Title.
- David Usher – ‘The Music’.
Please join the conversation by sending in questions, feedback and ways to improve Six Pixels Of Separation. Please let me know what you think or leave an audio comment at: +1 206-666-6056.
Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels Of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast - Episode #92 - Host: Mitch Joel.
Tags: adam curry advertising anthony robbins apple bil conference blog blogging business cal evans david usher deepak chopra digital marketing facebook foreword thinking google itunes jaffe juice join the conversation joseph jaffe loretta laroche macbook air marketing mike lipkin motivational books newbcamp online social network online video podcamp toronto podcast podcasting podfinder power within ryerson university six pixels of separation sixty second tech social media marketing sony vaio ted conference ted talks twist image youtube
Sun, 24 Feb 2008 06:16:08 -0500
