Conversations, they are a changing

October 23, 2008 | 3 Comments

lastminutecom_new_branding_bigger

Let’s face it, those who have been on Twitter for over a year or so would have seen that it has changed dramatically.  I started to recognise this shift when I no longer felt I should openly voice my opinion on someones stupidity, or comment on the brand who will never in a million years actually care what I am saying about them.  I used to think of it as my club; a place where I felt safe and could play with my little community.  As the year has progressed I have found myself having to mind my p’s and q’s, something that I can barely muster the energy for on the annual trip to my see my parents (”Hi Dad”, I know you read this).

I’m not complaining about this shift but what’s changed?  Firstly, the advertising world have started to recognise that there are actually some pretty influential people here, and these people could be used to start talking about a new produce or service (”Hello, and thank you for acting like humans on Twitter”).  Secondly, the clever PR people have realised that this is a new medium where people can actually influence opinion and so, they have come to join the party (”chin chin, and could some of you please try to keep the self promotion down a bit, we’re trying to concentrate”).  Lastly though and by far my favourite of the changes, the brands themselves have joined in the party.  Now, some of them have embraced the experience like Lastminute.com, who after falling to initial criticism from the Twitter community for being faceless, admitted the service is being manned by people within their marketing department, and that personal profiles were being created as we speak.  Nice, I like your approach and haven’t you got some wonderful product development suggestions from the community?  From the best practice post you would have seen my distaste for the brands who have read about Twitter and have ploughed their way into the service before actually observing how the community use the service.  Anyone who observes Twitter, will see that it is built around community.  A community who shares, inspires and befriends one another based on similar industries or interests through 140 character conversations.  I would really like to see more brands take note of Lastminute’s approach and actually engage with their audience.

Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Blog, Community, Social Interaction, Thought pieces 

Art on buildings

October 21, 2008 | 2 Comments

rio

This has come from the highly delightful Jaz Cummins.  Foyles on Manette St in Soho are diplaying some rather impressive art, covering the entire building.  The images show photos of women from Rio de Janeiro “for whom crime, violent loss of loved ones and arbitrary repression are part of everyday life”.  The work has been done by street artist JR and it is similar to work done previously for his Favela Project.  Thanks Jaz!

Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Art, Blog, Experiential 

Social media best practice

October 1, 2008 | 6 Comments

twitter-brand

I have been tagged by Neil in the `Best practices in Social Media‘ meme (thanks Neil).  As Neil quite rightly points out, Social Media is not a channel but an approach.  A channel insinuates a one to one dialiogue which granted, many companies who enter the world of social media do try this approach.  Have a look at some brands Twitter profiles.  Notice how many have a lot of users following their updates but don’t actually follow user updates themselves?  This is a prime example of not understanding the game before joining in.  Don’t you rember trying to do that when you were at school?  The other kids didn’t want you to join in did they? Do you see where i’m going with this?  My best practice: Understand the medium before forcing your way in uninvited.

Posted by Jamie Coomber | Filed Under Blog, Brand, Social Interaction, Thought pieces 

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