Source: Shutterstock Forrester recently released a new report tracking the future of US interactive marketing through 2014. Authored by Shar VanBoskirk, with Christine Spivey Overby, Niki Scevak, and Angie Polanco, Forrester predicts that interactive marketing is poised to grow at a 16% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Even though interactive marketing will approach $55 billion by 2014, the report also observes that not all industries will keep pace with this growth. Retail and financial services are expected to dominate the…
Twitter: The Business of Community
Source: Shutterstock Twitter continues to explore and appraise long-term revenue models. For the time being, Twitter’s primary focus is to build and nurture a thriving and indispensable community. Equally critical is the company’s ability to steer engineering and marketing efforts towards developers to empower them to extend, evolve, and enhance the overall Twitter experience for the vast landscape of discerning users as well as those new members who have yet to realize its potential. In July 2009, we were introduced…
Live Video Streams Go Mainstream
In April 2007, I wrote a series entitled “You.tv” that documented the transformation in user-generated online video from episodic content to live broadcasting. Over time the You.tv movement would come to be known as lifecasting, live streaming, or live casting, as it shared with viewers everything the Webcam captured, as it happened. Since then, live streaming has evolved from nichecasting to mainstream broadcasting, with more and more individuals, and now celebrities and businesses, live casting video streams to viewers across…
The Greatest Hits of 2009 Part II
Source: Shutterstock The look at some of my most revered thoughts, observations, experiences and lessons continues in Part II of this ongoing “best of 2009” series. I’ve selected these posts as I believe they still not only have value today, but will continue to guide you in the new year. Part I is available here. Greatest Hits of 2009, Part II: 1. Micro Disruption Theory and The Social Effect 2. The Conversation Prism v2.0 3. Video Interview: How to Build…
In Social Media, It’s Not Just Business, It’s Business-To-Business
Source: Shutterstock (edited) As some social media experts are now starting to realize, businesses need a little bit more than relationships to justify their spend in conversational marketing. Relationships are difficult to forge and even more burdensome to measure. And while participation and engagement are part of a more effective interactive business communications program now, we can not neglect our responsibilities to the bottom line as well as our dedication to existing customers and prospects. Socialized media affects an organization…
The Evolution of A New Trust Economy
Source: Shutterstock (edited) Social Media is rooted in relationships, the dynamic interaction and collaboration between real people. We learned and continue to learn how to communicate in public forums, evolving our personal views on privacy and uncertainty as we transform from digital introverts to social extroverts. This is our industrial revolution and its reward for participation is relevance. The socialization of online societies democratized the publishing industry and equalized influence. The Social Economy Socialnomics is the study of what I…
There’s an App for That: Mobile is the Next Frontier for Brand Engagement
Source Mobile phones are rapidly emulating the capabilities of desktop and notebook PCs, serving as one of the three screens of the Golden Triangle that captures a bulk of our attention and interaction. As the social web evolves, attention is shifting away from destinations and migrating towards packaging and engendering micro experiences. These self-contained environments are delivered directly to individuals where their attention is focused, catering to their appetite for consumption. Whereas Websites served this function from the 90s until…
2009 PR People Awards: PR Blogger of the Year
On December 1st, 2009 PRNews hosted its 2009 PR Awards honoring those who have made a substantial and resonating impact in the world of new and evolving Public Relations. According to the latest issue that details the awards as well as the winners: Much like corporate America, PR is undergoing a sea change in how it does business. As traditional media shrinks and online/social media grows, a new breed of PR professionals is coming into its own. And although the…
Some Things are Worth Repeating: The Greatest Hits of 2009 Part I
Source: Shutterstock In the world of reruns, there’s a saying, if you’ve never seen it, then it’s new to you. As we near the end of 2009, I wanted to share with you some of the posts that I believe will help you as you tackle challenges, opportunities, and set the stage for innovation and growth in 2010. Even if you read the original posts when they initially hit the Web, chances are that their lessons, experiences, and insights still…
Is Facebook Losing its Coveted Demographic?
comScore recently released a report that triggered nothing short of a “sky is falling” media panic. Led by Adweek asking if Facebook is getting uncool for the 18-24 year olds, the media is speculating as to whether or not a mass exodus is underway with much of the blame focusing on parents “ruining the party” for younger demographics. Here’s what we do know… comScore is reporting that time spent on Facebook by 18-24 year olds is waning. In July 2009,…