Forgot to mention this a couple weeks ago when the latest release of Foursquare for BlackBerry came out, but the application has added a tab in the top navigation for Tips.  The purpose of the screen is obvious enough, it’s a listing of tips for places near where you are and from each tip you can link to the venue, mark tips as done and see the profile of the person who left the tip.

It’s not earth shattering, but it’s a move toward expanding activity on Foursquare beyond just checking in to earn points, mayorships and badges.  Leaving tips has been sort of a secondary feature on the social network and is not promoted, but by making these tips a different way to explore the locations around you, not just by showing their names (that you probably already know), but what about them makes them interesting.

It also adds a little cache to adding tips.  A couple months ago when looking at how social networks were stealing functionality from each other I asked “how could Foursquare support and reinforce the tips and to-do’s for venues?”  This is one answer.

Nice Tips Foursquare is a post from: Trumblog

Maybe it’s that I’m tired of winter myself.  Maybe it’s the Canadian love afterglow from the Olympics.  Maybe I just like the creative, the live event/ commercial mix serendipity, perfect timing, great editing (love the kid’s double take) and brand bulls eye, but I love this ad for Tropicana.

And the electronic press kit got picked up by local news for a double word score.

Tropicana Sunsation is a post from: Trumblog

At Jack Morton we’re talking a lot about experience brands and shot videos from a bunch of us across all of our offices answering what is an experience brand.  Here’s my answer and some of my favorites.

Elisa in Boston

Dan in Sydney

Kevin in London

Hanah in Chicago

Denise in LA

Watch all of the brand experience videos on the Jack Morton YouTube channel.

What Is An Experience Brand? is a post from: Trumblog

The other week I blogged about a poster I saw urging bus riders to follow @celtics. Turns out that this is part of a full scale social media print campaign as I realized this morning when I saw this ad for their Facebook game.

The three social networks listed on the posters are Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.  If Twitter is “retweet” and Facebook is “reconnect” then what is YouTube?  Review? Replay? The answer can’t be found on the Celtics YouTube channel nor can it be found on Celtics.com, where the “retweet” and “reconnect” language doesn’t appear at all.  None of that language is part of the campaign video below. If you find it I’m interested in knowing.  Leave a tip in the comments.

Celtics Social Media Campaign is a post from: Trumblog

I saw this poster on the bus into work the other day.  While I’ve seen plenty of posters before with Twitter handles on them before those follower requests were just one touch point in a larger campaign.  This is the first ad that I’ve seen where the only goal is to gain followers.

So my question is what does this mean?  Has Twitter hit critical mass so that the Chowderheads on the Green Line know about Twitter and will follow their sports teams on it?  Is this poster a waste of space and marketing dollars? Has Twitter reached the mainstream?  Has Twitter jumped the shark?

Before you answer, @celtics has over 27K followers, is on over 900 lists, updates frequently on team practices, charity events,  online interviews and of course game updates and they are not alone among teams in the NBA.  Most teams are Twittering.  Now you can answer about the Celtics strategy behind this poster and be sure to ask yourself how effectively are you connecting with the fans of your brand on Twitter and would you have the (basket) balls to promote your tweet stream on public transportation?

Retweet @celtics is a post from: Trumblog

The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project came out with a report yesterday on Social Media and Young Adults and immediately I began to see articles and Tweets about how Teens don’t blog or use Twitter. As the father of a teen I can tell you that if there is one thing that is true of this age group it is that there is no one thing true about all of them (that goes for every other age group as well).  Also, as someone who has fought regularly about the online activity of Americans over 60, I can tell you that headlines from a quick reading of Pew data are often simplistic and give a false sense of understanding.  If you really dig into the Pew Research data and compare it against other studies about American blogging and twittering a different analysis can be found which is that there is a large, thriving teen blog and twitter community.

First, let’s look at the data from Pew. Their survey showed that 73% of 12-17 year olds are avid social networkers. It also showed that only 14% of teens blog (down from 28% two years ago) and just 8% of teens tweet. I don’t dispute any of that data and nor should you.  Social networks are clearly an enormous part of a teen’s online activity.  Teen blogging is down and they communicate via text much more than with Twitter. What I do have issue with is the analysis of what the Pew Research data means.

Now let’s put this in perspective.  How many adults blog?  Pew surveys since 2005 have consistently shown that “roughly one in ten online adults maintain a personal online journal or blog.”  In other words teens are more likely to blog than adults.  How about Twitter?  The data is a little different there.  Back in October Pew stated in their report Twitter and Status Updating, Fall 2009 that “19% of internet users now say they use Twitter.”  Thus teens are only 5% less likely to tweet than the population at large.

How about the raw numbers?  According to the U.S. Census Bureau data from 2008 there are approximately 32,331,433 Americans between the ages of 12 and 17 (US Census data is actually for people between 10 and 19, this data is based on averaging the population of each age and then determining the total between 12 and 18). Using Pew’s data that 93% of teens are online that gives us an online teen population of 30,068,233. Using Pew’s data on teen bloggers and twitterers then we can determine that there are approximately 4,209,553 teen bloggers and 2,405,459 twittering teens.  Those are numbers that are large enough not to be ignored.

So teens blog and tweet in similar percentages to the American online population in general and that adds up to some pretty significant numbers.  If you believe the buzz that teens don’t blog or tweet then you leave that space and that market of over 4 million teens to those of us who crunch a few numbers and figure out what is really going on with teens, blogging and Twitter.  You have been warned.

Photo by NJLA: New Jersey Library Association

Don’t Believe The Hype: Teens Love Blogging and Twitter is a post from: Trumblog

As part of Jack Morton Boston’s 2010 Kickoff today I’m giving a presentation about Brand Community and specifically social media.  The presentation is primarily a collection of inspiring creative and strategy from 2009 delivered in my typical fast and furious style.  So if you were there and missed something or are just interested, here are some things that I referenced and examples that I presented this afternoon.  Enjoy!

Russell Davies – Post Digital
Meet The New Schtick

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San Francisco Zoo Critter Quest
OurSFZoo.org

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Nike Livestrong Chalk Bot
WearYellow.com

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350.org
Use Social Media Like An Activist

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Skittles.com

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Axion Band Banner Ads
BunkFace Through My Window Banner Concert 2

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Samsung i8910 HD Phone
YouTube HD Camera Trick Challenge

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T-Mobile
Dance at Liverpool Street Station

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2010 Social Media Inspiration is a post from: Trumblog

The reason why the picture of the front page of the Cambridge Chronicle is on the right is here is because Anthony Galluccio was a State Senator who was involved in a hit and run accident and then sentenced to jail this week for violating his probation for having alcohol on his breath. So you can see the irony of Cambridge Wine and Spirit’s sticker advertising a 20% off sale.

Now I don’t expect that this will generate any anger toward the Chronicle or Cambridge Wine and Spirits, just a few chuckles, but the benefit of that advertising is compromised. I assume that the Chronicle will be reimbursing them for the ad or more likely a discount on their next ad in the paper for this inappropriate placement. Then again it’s been awhile since my freshmen advertising classes and maybe the wall between editorial and advertising forbids that. But if there is a refund or discount, does that really resolve the issue? Yesterday I read the following quote from Ramon DeLeon of the YouTube Domino’s delivery apology:

“The only way to put out a social media fire is with social media water.”

With that in mind what kind of fire is put out by a discounted ad?

I happen to patronize Cambridge Wine and Spirits. They have a great selection, helpful folks, decent prices and the owner seems like a nice guy. Therefore I offer this unsolicited idea to them.

First, apologize. It wasn’t your fault, but your name is on the sticker so be accountable. It doesn’t need to be a YouTube video like Domino’s  (though that would work), but maybe a letter to the editor in the Chronicle. Anthony Galluccio is a well liked politician in Cambridge; he grew up here, went to public schools, was a city counselor and Mayor of Cambridge before becoming a State Senator. Wish him the best in getting the help that he clearly needs. Then praise the work of a local chapter of AA or treatment center.  Show that you are a caring and active member of the community.  Then take that refund or discount that the Chronicle gives you and donate it to center that you recognize. Don’t brag about it, just do it.  If anyone asks, well that’s up to you.

More advertising will not resolve this front page news placement screwup. This is a news fire. It needs news water and that’s what helping other people get the help with alcohol abuse that Galluccio didn’t is.

The Right Water For The Right Fire is a post from: Trumblog

Years ago the company that I worked for was acquired.  At the end of the company meeting where we were all welcomed into the new organization the president of the company buying us did a duet of Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” with our creative director.  Their president looked suspiciously like Dilbert’s pointy haired boss and our CD had long hair and a cultivated coolness.

Each was a perfect representation of their company’s identity. Our company brand was an outgrowth of our design sensibility and creative director’s style.  The pointy haired boss’ personality suited his company and helped to attract their primary clients.  Separately they each company leader had fans and supporters, but together the contrast appeared to be an ominous sign.  No matter how heartfelt was the the extended hand of welcome, the contrast in personal style reinforced our feelings about that merger; big corporate was putting on a nice face while gobbling up the funky little agency.

It’s crucial in social media to be authentic, to extend personality in order to gain trust and that the personality reinforces the corporate brand.  It’s often not until we compare these corporate personalities face to face that the truth can be truly illuminated.

Personality Conflict is a post from: Trumblog

Being in marketing and living in Massachusetts naturally I had to post this, on Saturday of course since the language is NSFW.  Of course after writing that I realized that I’ve probably been involved in meetings with this level of language, so if you live in Massachusetts feel free to watch it in a conference room.

Mass Men: Mad Men Parody is a post from: Trumblog