If there is one truth in our new conversation-marketing world, it is that brands need to be fearless and try new things. Three big campaigns in the pipeline right now – from Pepsi, Domino's and Taco Bell – are testing the new rules of marketing in a conversation-centric world. Will these campaigns succeed? Fail? From a branding perspective, does it matter?
Normally, when a company has its legal office fire off a “cease and desist” letter, it expects compliance – especially if it is a billion-dollar corporation. However, the days of a quick hit of the “easy button” to keep your brand’s death grip on perceived intellectual property might be over, especially if you tweak the wrong tribe.
It’s a massive understatement to say that marketing at trade shows is a constant battle for attention. Simply being heard over the din of the crowd is challenge enough. Harder still is getting a clear, effective message to cut through the clutter.
So, in an enormous convention hall packed with the world’s largest manufacturers of foods and beverages, how did Fortitech command an audience?
With a little bit of child’s play.
Marketers have been expending an enormous amount of energy reporting on and discussing social media marketing. News outlets, forums, blogs and associations devote a huge amount of time and space to the topic – and there is no shortage of “solutions” being offered to help companies get the most out of social media marketing. But have you noticed the tone is starting to get a little desperate? Does it feel like we are using fear tactics to get the point across? I have to ask: Have we created mass hysteria over the subject of social media?
Like any organization, we’ve got our own vocabulary for some of the things we do around here.