Why Brands Make Poor 'Friends'

Source: Millennial Marketing

Millennials use social media -- broadly defined as Facebook, text messages, Twitter, and blogs -- to connect with other people. Each is characterized by a different degree of intimacy, with texting the most personal and Twitter the least. But they are all about people interacting with other people.

Brands and social media are not natural partners. It's not that brands are unwelcome, they just don't seem to belong. That makes them easy to ignore, like a guest who has stumbled into the wrong wedding reception. Here's how young adults described their feelings about friending brands on Twitter and Facebook in two online focus groups March 5:

Brands and Celebrities Part 2

Source: Greg Rollett

I saw this ad/video from Tobacco Free Florida and had to post it. It hits home in so many ways and came at the perfect time.

PepsiCo shows brands how NOT to crash the party at SXSW

Source: Hard Knox Life

Every year I make the promise that I will journey to South by Southwest for the Interactive and Music festivals.  Unfortunately, I am on the sidelines again this year.  But thanks to the power of Social Media, I am able to follow the conference this year like never before.  And through that remote following, I’ve been watching a company that is really showing big brands how to act in this new digital space.

Gen-Y Gives Up On Celebrities Hawking Crap

Source: Greg Rollett

Before Chris Brown got all Mike Tyson, he was singing songs for Wrigley's Gum. There are 2 big problems with this scenario:
1. Do I/we believe that Chris Brown feels passionate about the gum? No.
2. Is Chris Brown (remember to think back before the last few weeks) going to make us rush out of our seats and buy the gum? Again No.

When GenY rules the world…or at least the marketing agencies

Source: Youth Marketing Insights

On my never-ending crusade to observe and soak up as much as I can like a little sponge, last week I attended The Digital Tipping Point: The Future of Branding and Social Media, presented by Adknowledge AU (thanks @laurelpapworth for the head’s up on twitter). [NOTE I am editing after post to include Laurel Papworth's correct info, sorry for the slip - it is @silkcharm

Emails Miss Mark for Most of Gen Y

Source: MarketingCharts

Only 28% of those between ages 18 and 24 say the email they currently get from companies is relevant to them, but many in this age group would be more open to more innovative emails they have more control over, according to according to a study from the Participatory Marketing Network (PMN). The study of..

Researchers ‘must evolve with consumers’

Source: Kumeugirl.com

WARC conference hears how research industry must gain new skill sets to glean insight from online consumers

From WARC - UK– The research industry must learn and incorporate a new set of skills to change the way it gains insight from consumers online, according to the Advertising Research Foundation’s (ARF) chief research officer Joel Rubinson.

Transforming Consumer Research Warc Conference Rubinson Vf

View more presentations from Joel Rubinson.