Can Twitter Finally Make Some Money?

A recent article about Twitter featured in msnbc.com discusses how Twitter is expected to announce on Tuesday that they are expected to offer "Promoted Accounts", which essentiallly is allowing Twitter to take ads to third party Twitter programs.

This may revolultionize Twitter and begin to establish it beyond just a really cool idea into the world of effective and measurable marketing tools. Without trackable and measurable advertising opportunites, it is likely that Twitter would fall into the same fate as Myspace or Frienster.

Having the ability to target your audience via the "Who to Follow" feature along with ensuring that your marketing message makes it to "relevant" followers, only further enhances this new marketing tool. While the traditional goal of a marketer is to create buzz and educate the masses, it is important that one is being conscious of how they are spending their marketing dollars. Just sending a message out into the internet world with hopes that it will find its way to your target market is a pie in the sky dream. Which is exactly why this new announcement is going to peak the interest of major corporations worldwide.

In fact, corporations Tweets are having more and more impact on their consumers. A recent study in the Consumerist found that, "75% of consumers think companies that Tweet or post Facebook updates are more deserving of their trust than companies that don't."

In conclusion, if done properly by Twitter and used properly by companies, this new option has the ability to make Twitter a real player in the marketing world.

Teach an Adult How to Use an App

I recently read an article on cnn.com that discussed the fact that fewer than 1 in 4 adults actually use apps on their phones. While I see how this is an obvious observation from a technology standpoint, I am curious what is being done to reduce the learning curve.

As a result, I did a quick search on the web asking, "What is a cell phone app?." I didn't really find anything that could be of much assistance to the adult population. The few items I did have were not very reader friendly or is just more advertising for apple.

So how do we expect adults to download apps and use them on their phone, if we don't clearly explain what they are or how to use them? Sure, apps have basic instructions on how to use them - but only if you've already found what app you want and have enough knowledge to know how to download it. What is lacking is the steps needed to get to that phase?

As a result, apps are not being used to the full potential. If there is a full market that is not using apps for the various uses, there is advertising and marketing spending and earning that is being severly missed.

Yes, eventually the current generation that is app-knowledgable is going to grow older and the knowledge gap is going to shrink, but for the time being, there is a huge market that is being ignored. These consumers aren't one's that are necessarily scared of using the new high-tech phones, but rather they are really just scared to ask for help. So, in conclusion, do your good deed of the day and teach an adult how to use an app!

MKT 595: Week 1 - Could you go one week without Facebook & Twitter?

I recently read an article on the Technolog on msnbc.com http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/13/5101516-university-bans-facebook-twitter-for-one-week which is about a professor that challenged his students to go one week without both Facebook and Twitter. The objective was to observe habits and behaviors in the way that we use technology.

So, this made me think, could I last a week without Facebook and Twitter? And, if so, what implications would that have on both my life and marketing as a whole? Personally, I could probably live without knowing my friends’ opinions of Lada Gaga’s latest outfit or whose is no longer single. However, from a social aspect, there is a completely different viewpoint to consider.

Knowing what is going on is the impetus of marketing as we know it. As a marketer, it is part of the job description to be in the constant know of what is going on. I work with the CPG industry, and knowing the newest and upcoming product launches keeps me one step ahead of the competition. So, as a marketer, can one live without Facebook & Twitter?

I am going to say unequivocally no. Both Facebook & Twitter have become such a marketing phenomenon that one can not keep up in the marketing world without having the pulse of what is going on. With companies now hiring full time tweeters and companies constantly trying to enlarge their list of followers, being behind the eight ball for even a week can leave your company and it’s clients being perceived as a follower versus a leader.

In conclusion, taking a week off might provide you with some more time to actually have face to face conversations with your friends and family, but you’ll end up behind the boat in terms of the latest and greatest in the marketing world. I’d love to hear your opinion….