What’s Working in Marketing

Hope everyone had a nice Valentine’s Day weekend! Last week was a whirlwind of news and information from Toyota recalls, to the starting of the Winter Olympics and more.  We even had a good blog discussion about potential B2B publishing models, feel free to add your ten cents.

This week’s articles continue on the theme of trust and lies.  Are we getting too comfortable with hearing and processing information that we may think or believe is not true?  I know that I’m starting to tune out a bit, and that’s not really good.  Desensitization is not going to address the problem.  Here’s what I’ve got to share today, plus a bonus link that shows some really cool pictures of earth from space.  Love that stuff!

1.  Most interesting:  The Social Impact of Friendships and Lies
In this article, Jason Baer outlines some of the challenges that we experience in our social world, and how many “friends” do we need”  He asks “With Friends Like These, Who Needs Friends”?  Good question.  Also, Jason shares data from a recent study that shows who we trust is changing, and decreasing in many instances.  No big surprise there, but it was an interesting read about the dynamics of friendship and trust (or not) that affects us all in our social networks.

2.  Most disappointing: Secretive Culture Led Toyota Astray
I don’t want to go on and on about the Toyota mess, but this article points out how their culture build on quality was a bit of a facade.  I’m not a Toyota driver, but I’m not a big fan of hiding in plain sight either.  Learning of this culture is certainly enough to start changing a buyer’s mindset.  Time will tell.

3.  Most thought provoking:  Freemium—A Plan for ISA Resurgence
ISA has been a topic for discussion for the past few months as the association struggles with finding a new identity that brings value and builds stronger communities for professionals in the automation industry.  This is also a matter of trust, and whether or not an association can listen and hear its change agents and their vision.  Many associations are struggling with how to move into free-wheeling social world of content while preserving their own roots and historical value, and it will mean letting go of things that no longer work.  That takes trust.   Jim has a suggestion or two that he and a few others think will help build ISA into a stronger, self-sustaining community that preserves its values and history and offers a value path for members.  Will ISA listen?

4.  Most frustrating: Marketers Miss The Mark With Twitter
This was frustrating to read because it’s something we see too.  Mitch Joel is calling businesses out on the Twitter carpet.  So many companies get on Twitter, and use it in very limited dimensions, such as another advertising channel.  They will never see the real value to their business, and are missing the opportunity to do something very positive for the brand.  Remember the old Wendy’s commercial: “Where’s the beef?”  Yea, that’s what we’re wondering too when it comes to some brands on Twitter.

5.  Can we get an Amen?  A Call to Collaborate
Since several of these links were highlighting what’s not working, I wanted to spend a minute and highlight an example of a company that is dong the right thing when it comes to marketing, social networking and more.  In this post, Jim Cahill shares the details from a recent article written by an Emerson executive (Tom Moser, president of Emerson Process Management’s Micro Motion) who is encouraging more businesses in automation to take advantage of Web 2.0.

BONUS!

6.  Most fascinating: Astronaut Tweets Beautiful Earth Images From Space
There’s nothing like looking at a pictures from space to remind us how magnificent a universe we live in.  Enjoy.