I just wanted to put out a brief message about a event I volunteered for this coming Monday. The Digital Analytics Association (DAA) is holding NYC Symposium called, “Data is the new sexy,” at the CUNY Graduate Center on April 23, 2012. The event will showcase how data is becoming the most critical part of business across the board and in every industry. Some of the key topics that will be covered are The View from Silicon Valley, The Next Generation of Data in Business, Women in Analytics and When 1 + 1 doesn’t equal 2. I will be at the event greeting in the morning and exploring the halls shamelessly networking in the afternoon!
DATA IS THE NEW SEXY!
Here’s some basic information about the event…
When: April 23, 2012, 12:30-7pm
Where: The Graduate Center at CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue NY, NY 10016
Contact: Shannon Taylor
Also, if you are a student and would like to attend the event make sure to register here. Cost for registration is $25 (for members and $75 (for non-members)
1. Pinterest is a destination for inspiring content.
The majority of Pinterest users engage with inspiring content on the site. Like cooking recipes, fashion, design, feel good mantras, interior design, scrapbooking ideas, organization ideas, et al. Users go to the site to feel inspired and look at pretty or interesting images. Also, they want to share what inspires them by posting or re-pinning images. Pinterest’s About Page states, “People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.” If the Obama Pinterest page can provide this type of content, it might inspire a political identity for pinners or recapture lost supporters.
2. Large volume of female users
Business insider reported that approximately 95% of Pinterest users are female. The female vote will be crucial in this election, especially after the birth control/abortion conversations in the Republican primaries. Women want to express their opinions, inspirations and lifestyle choices and Pinterest provides this environment. Also, based on this social network women are influenced by images and their peers. So, approaching women in this vulnerable environment might help to swing voters in Obama’s direction.
3. Lighter fare content will bring positive feelings towards the first family.
The Obama page will feature five lifestyle related boards. This content could bring positive feelings towards the President, the first family and the administration. For instance, the Obama family chili recipe is pinned on one of the boards. Also, Michelle and her daughter’s fashion will be featured on another board. It allows users (supporters) to engage with the first family on a new and closer level. The first family is extremely cut off from society and normally we only see them through the media’s looking glass. The Pinterest page is a tool to skip that medium. Pinner’s will be able to re-pin images of Obama cupcakes and have the recipe to back them. Or, order and wear Obama paraphernalia purchased through the e-commerce section of the page.
4. Staff can closely control content
One of the best marketing aspects of social media is that brand managers can control the content put out in their network. Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Pinterest provides an opportunity to create an image-based identity, instead of just conversations. All images are approved by the campaign staff and curated for specific audiences or purposes. While the success of the Pinterest page for the campaign is undecided, placing positive and inspiring content will help to build campaign awareness and identity for the President.
The Washington Post reported in an article today that the Obama 2012 Campaign introduced yet another social media network for it’s campaigning efforts. The Barack Obama Pinterest page seeks to capture the attention of the exploding social networking site’s 17 million unique users.
Pinterest is a pin board style photo web-sharing site that allows users to view and re-post images from other pinner’s boards. Pinterest’s users, like on many social sites, utilize the network for different purposes. For instance, style or design inspiration, recipes, artwork and crafts, photography, et al. Also, users can categorize images on boards, comment on images and follow other pinner’s boards.
The Barack Obama Pinterest page, which will be run by the campaign staff, will share various images targeting supporters. The page will feature eight boards, with five highlighting lifestyle and personal images of the first family. For instance, images of the first family, Obama inspired recipes and their pets sporting Obama gear. Three of the boards are dedicated to campaign specific initiatives, like infographics of job and economic growth or images of campaign rallies.
At this point, Obama is the only candidate with a Pinterest page or taking advantage of social media at this level. However, Mitt Romney’s wife has a page with political and personal pins. A reporter from the Boston Globe stated, “Obama and Romney are already jostling for general election support among women.” Since the majority of Pinterest’s users are women, both parties will need to have an active presence to capture the female vote.
My new favorite brand mascot is John Jameson from the Jameson Whiskey ads!
An article in today’s Advertising Age highlights the comeback of brand mascots and how these brands are utilizing digital media to create rich content and story lines. For instance, M&M’s Ms. Brown held a live video chat with Facebook and made a TV appearance on “The Apprentice.” Mascots are “the gift that keeps on giving,” said Carol Phillips, president of consulting group Brand Amplitude. “They never get in trouble with the law. They don’t up their fees. You can use them for a long, long time.” This means that brands are able to control the content they put out there through these personalities. Also, mascots last forever and have the ability to evolve when trends and current events. These characters are memorable and bring back a feeling of nostalgia…
So who was your favorite brand mascot growing up? Tony the Tiger? Captain Crunch?
Here are some other favorite brand mascots: Ms. Brown (M&Ms), Elsie the Cow, Captain Morgan (Rum), Aunt Jemima
I ran across a interesting article from Fast Company yesterday as I boarded my flight to come back to NYC from Austin. The article was justifying an issue I am going to face in the next couple months… A corporate job or start-up company? I have been applying to numerous advertising/branding agencies over the past couples months. Some are ad giants like Grey Group or Mccann Worldgroup, but others are young, smaller digital agencies. Assuming that I receive multiple job offers…this decision will definitely be a hard one. Corporate positions will pay more upfront, have better benefits, longer vacation times, and training programs. Here’s one man’s reasoning to why picking a start-up may be the better choice…
1. You’ll have more responsibility.
2. You’ll be given more opportunities.
3. You’ll be able to do a lot of different things.
4. You will learn from true innovators.
5. Your work will be recognized (as will your failures).
6. You’ll work in an awesome atmosphere.
7. You’ll learn to be frugal.
8. You’ll be instilled with the value of hard work, ownership, and self-sustainability.
I am definitely going to take the reasons into account when making final decisions on where I am going to spend the next couple years. Although corporate positions have numerous perks, the greater opportunities to improve skills and personal growth at start-ups may outweigh these perks.
Last week I was presented an opportunity I couldn’t pass up…
My previous boss reached out to me over a month ago about involving my boyfriend’s production company in a partnership with Chaotic Moon and my boys Dee & Ricky for a mobile app. We shot a six minute teaser reel chronicling a day in life of Dee & Ricky. Lisa (my previous boss) planned a bunch of creative meetings for the project for SXSW and ASKED US TO COME WITH HER!
Obviously I didn’t pass up this chance as I am from TX and always looking for a reason to go home. Also, I wanted to check out all the new techie companies and lounge at the Blackberry Bungalow, where they handed over a brand new BB Torch! The coolest part…a lot of the companies didn’t require a badge to hang out in their outdoor booths. This means free food, great music, new friends, giveaways, free cocktails and much needed bottles of water. What an amazing weekend! Since I attended the conference during the film/interactive portion, I missed out on all the great music. However, we went to a number of launch parties including Chaotic Moon’s pirate themed launch of Age of Booty game app!
Best parts: BBQ, hanging with NY & LA friends in my home state, miniature golf, kart wheels at the Foursquare booth, Four Seasons Lounge, meeting new friends from Chaotic Moon
clairecongleton 