Dec 11, 2007 in Events, Social Media, Public Relations
I attended the first Social Media Breakfast in NYC this morning. Great bunch of people. Quote of the day from “Eric Reuters”: “Success breeds competition.” Here are some photos.
B.L. Ochman (with whom I had the pleasure of enjoying breakfast) has prepared a good summary: Don’t Give Up on Second Life, Eric Reuters Tells NY Social Media Breakfast. I also had a chance to reconnect with Heath Row who I hadn’t seen since his days with Fast Company at one of his early Company of Friends events in Toronto.
It was a great way to start the day. See more event photos on Flickr.
Technorati Tags: smbnyc, social media, social media breakfast, socialmediabreakfast
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Dec 10, 2007 in Online Communications, Social Media, Public Relations
There continues to be great debate in the marketing industry regarding who should “own” what in the era of social media. There are rational arguments and real opportunities on all sides of the fence. Marketers leverage word-of-mouth tactics to engage consumers. Advertisers create branded profiles and channels in social networks and community properties. Communication professionals (i.e., public relations, marketing communications, investor relations, etc.) engage in the conversation and secure editorial placements with influencers and among consumer-produced sites.
Perhaps this is oversimplified but here’s what I see happening. Few organizations trust or understand how to tap the influence of conversation. And they still want control. So they opt for the creation of a channel, whether it’s a Web site, a profile in a social network, a podcast or a video on YouTube. Easy stuff. And it’s easy for advertising and marketing companies to sell because it’s related to what they have done for years.
The power of outreach and need to spark conversation seems to be lost on the average marketer. Even in New York, which is one of the most progressive pools of talent in the industry, the lack of new thinking (other than a new wrapper for old ideas) is astounding. PR professionals that understand how to navigate social media and new communications are creating some of the most appropriate original thinking. Professionals from all marketing disciplines need to spend time in the social media space to understand what really matters and what works.
In the end, it’s not marketing vs. PR. It’s channel and conversation. An integrated mix of messaging platforms is the best way to proceed. Establish a bit of control and participate in the ups and downs of uncontrolled communication.
Technorati Tags: public relations, social media, marketing, digital channel, conversation, conversational marketing
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Oct 17, 2007 in Social Media, Public Relations
As some of you may know, Sermo, a private social network of 30,000 US physicians online announced a deal this week with Pfizer that allows the company’s medical staff access to the community and the ability to interact with members. It is being met with mixed reactions. Many doctors that belong to the site valued the security of peer-based interactions. Throwing a “marketer” into the mix poses some real challenges. Here are some links to recent coverage.
Original AP story
Pfizer Joins Online Doctors’ Forum
Prominent reactions and analysis
WSJ Online - Pfizer-Doctors Web Pact May Get Looks
WSJ Health Blog (includes video commentary) - Sermo Access Primo for Pfizer, But Will It Be Welcome?
MSNBC - Pfizer takes a leaf out of Facebook
HealthcareVOX - As Sermo & Pfizer Link Up, Some Worry About Off-Label Marketing
Pharma Marketing - Pfizer Has Gold Mine in Sermo
Pharmalot - Docs On Sermo-Pfizer Deal: ‘You Let The Enemy In’
Technorati Tags: pfizer, sermo, social networking, healthcare, pharma
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