Usable Clicks

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-11-03

• Currently Reading: Apple's iPod Touch Banners – Results from CNET: Results of control vs expo.. http://tinyurl.com/y9b9dur #
• RT @TechCrunch: Microsoft And OpenX Team Up Against Google AdSense In Web Ad Partnership http://bit.ly/1GbyVl by @robinwauters #
• New at UC: UPS Gets it Right With Valuable Content Marketing http://bit.ly/2bfkVq #
• RT @TechCrunch: Google Says Chrome Browser Now Has 30 Million Active Users http://bit.ly/c2izD by @erickschonfeld #
• Free Pays Off- RT @bigyankeefan: Greetings from 30,000 ft. AA flight from NY-Chicago offering complimentary wifi access courtesy of #Lexus. #

Comments | Posted in » Twitter Digest

UPS Gets it Right With Valuable Content Marketing

Recently Mashable started running a series of “Seizing Opportunities” videos with their sponsor UPS.  The ads are done in white-board style, feature the usual UPS music, and focus on a social media topics that Mashable editors can speak to in a useful way in just a few minutes.  As an execution I was already impressed, but it turns out the Mashable program is just one piece of UPS’s overall content strategy.  The bigger picture can be seen on the UPS “Popurls brown edition:  The Dashboard for Business News” page.  Here UPS has created a valuable content hub designed to help their customers with everything they need to know about business – curated news on specific topics, “seizing opportunities” videos from a variety of content partners that can speak with expertise on specific topics, and their own commercials.

All together it seems like UPS has come up with a killer strategy.  They’re utilizing key strategic partners like Mashable to create custom content that’s tailor suited for Mashable’s audience and also manages to be synergistic with the ideal UPS customer – a business person looking for business solutions.  This same custom solution is being built out with TechDirt, VentureBeat, and other niche blogs.  Then it’s all being aggregated to provided a very valuable, well rounded solution center for their consumers- all while ingraining the catchy UPS soundtrack & logo into the customer’s head for quick reminder when their packaging & shipping needs arise.  Proving once and again that producing valuable content is the best strategy.

Comments | Posted in » Executions, Strategy

Why Old Social Networks are Redefining Themselves for Success

Yesterday I wrote a post for my company’s blog (DRAFTFCBBlog) about the evolution of older social networks that is taking place:

Early entrants into the social networking space MySpace and Hi-5 are no longer competing to be the main social-net in people’s lives, rather they’re refocusing on Entertainment content.  For MySpace that means Music, and for Hi-5 that means games; in both cases, the early returns look good.

The evolutions aren’t just about audience numbers, it’s about monetization & compatibility with advertising:

it’s easier to to develop ad-products around music consumption and sharing because advertisers prefer professional content to UGC content

with gaming advertisers have the opportunity to create more involved ad-experiences than run-of-network banners

Facebook itself is focusing on social engagement advertising, which is important when their environment is all about social interaction.  More traditional forms of display advertising are proving not to work when it’s wrapped around your friend’s profile or when you’re looking at pictures from the weekend (CTR’s on social-nets are tanking).  But multi-media content like video & gaming can still help produce content that is capable of tying with more pure-play branding efforts.

Oh and if there’s any question about where MySpace sees its future, rumors yesterday that MySpace will trade implementing Facebook Connect on their site for increased MySpace music & video share functionality on Facebook should say a lot.

[read my company blog post]

Comments | Posted in » Trends

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-10-27

• RT @zachklein: I predict Wburg will become the east coast's next startup hotspot. I know of two big startups looking for real estate today. #
• @julierb thanks, we're glad you appreciate the article! in reply to julierb #
• RT @kskobac: Yesterday was a HUGE day for the big web players (Google & Facebook Music, Google & Bing Social Search) http://bit.ly/3NwJPD #
• Currently Reading: Social Search: Customers Influence Search Results Over Brands | Jeremiah O.. http://tinyurl.com/yz8ucyz #
• Ummmmm …. RT @digg_2000: "Hulu's Glorious Free Days Are Officially Numbered" – http://digg.com/d217wuO?t1 #
• Social Media For Good!! RT @DietsInReview Need 24 more to join Blogs Against Breast Cancer! We'll donate $5 to @NBCF http://bit.ly/IFtax #
• RT @marshallk: i just can't think about Yelp anymore without thinking about this scam they are reported to be pulling http://bit.ly/VoJys #
• RT @mattcutts: Saturday #blastfromthepast: http://bit.ly/USF2h A 2002 analyst on Overture vs. Google calls us "a kid's lemonade stand" #
• follow me on dailybooth – http://dailybooth.com/bowlerjim/ #
• Currently Reading: The Impending Doom of Facebook Apps | Bronte Media: Discussion of the prob.. http://tinyurl.com/cgbmaf #

Comments | Posted in » Twitter Digest

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-10-20

• @jimmyfallon No need for a 16lb ball anymore, 15lb will work great. Check out the new one I just got: http://twitpic.com/knso3 in reply to jimmyfallon #
• Currently Reading: Who's Ignoring Those iPhone Ads? Women | RRW http://tinyurl.com/yzycnf2 #
• RT @Techmeme: Digg Acquires Kevin Rose Side Project WeFollow (Michael Arrington/TechCrunch) http://bit.ly/2uAd9P #
• RT @mattcutts: October 2009: Yahoo becomes the last major U.S. search engine to stop paid inclusion: http://bit.ly/3K4q70 Huge, great news! #
• update: the new digg content ads are live today for the Where The Wild Things Are movie http://bit.ly/2CwWtC #
• Currently Reading: Tactics should never come first in marketing | People like to share http://tinyurl.com/yjyxgcn #
• Currently Reading: Is there a “must-have” checklist for great content sites? | Hard Knox Life http://tinyurl.com/yjhgxe5 #
• Currently Reading: 5 Things You Must Ask About Social Media | PitchEngine http://tinyurl.com/ygembvp #
• RT @jeffstaple: Breakfast meetings are where the real deals happen. #

Comments | Posted in » Twitter Digest

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-10-13

• RT @BreakingNews: AT&T Inc. says it will allow Internet phone software applications on the iPhone to run on its 3G network. #
• RT @kskobac: Google has turned barcode for a day (the luxuries of being such a recognized brand) http://ff.im/-9nacF #
• Currently Reading: Social Media Case Study – Cinderella Wine | Good Business Online: The conc.. http://tinyurl.com/yjvkmyz #
• Currently Reading: Testing Digg-fed Content Ads | Digg Blog: Digg's new Digg-fed ads are a.. http://digg.com/d316i08 #
• new at http://www.usableclicks.com , ReTweet and Facebook Share buttons, please pick your favorite and article and test them out! #

Comments | Posted in » Twitter Digest