Here’s the article that sparked the idea for this week’s topic. The quote that did it was: “I don’t want a relationship with my deodorant; I simply want it to work.”
In the post Mr. Derek Walker, “the janitor, secretary and mailroom person for his tiny agency, brown and browner advertising based in Columbia, S.C.” goes on to describe a conversation he had with his teenage son while eating a cheeseburger in their car. He writes: “For me, the consumer, the message is the experience. I don’t need to see commercials about how good the food is. I need to see and hear a message that talks about the experience of eating in your car. Price is not my motivation.”
In this day and age, with all the technology at our fingertips, it’s important to understand the difference between what the consumer expects, and what the consumer doesn’t want out of your brand or your company. Some things should be left to the imagination and experience of your customers.
Want in?
Guests are limited to 10, so please RSVP as soon as possible if you’d like to attend.
WHERE: The Conversation Factory
WHEN: Friday, April 16, 2010; 12pm – 1pm
COST: $10 (includes pizza & beverage); Students: $5
PARKING: Please park at the BrackenChase parking lot here.
This Conversation Friday, we’ll cover the many facets of one incident that evolved over two weeks.
It’s got it all: ugly marketing tactics, tweets, blog posts, a big social media name, and ultimately, a diffused story that never got to critical volume — and rightly so. Most importantly, you’ll see how a social media superstar responds to negativity dished out by a disillusioned fan.
It will be an interesting discussion to say the least, and I’m sure you’ll have plenty to say during our session.
Want in?
Guests are limited to 10, so please RSVP as soon as possible if you’d like to attend.
WHERE: The Conversation Factory
WHEN: Friday, April 16, 2010; 12pm – 1pm
COST: $10 (includes pizza & beverage); Students: $5
PARKING: Please park at the BrackenChase parking lot here.
A few months ago, Chris Brogan wrote Stop humping my leg, a post about a salesperson at a conference who persisted in trying to get Chris to sit through a demo.
Funny enough, last week, I got a call on my cell phone from the 781 area code (Boston area). I didn’t recognize the number so I let it go to voice mail. Turns out it was “Bobby” calling on behalf of Chris Brogan, offering 50% off the registration fee for New Marketing Experience in San Francisco.
It was April 1, so I was expecting a punch line. There was none.
I tweeted about it, but who would believe it? Seems like a lame April Fools attempt. Really lame, actually.
Yesterday, however — just 5 days after the first call — I got a second call from Bobby. This time he upped the ante by offering FREE registration to the event. I tweeted again. One person DMd me: “You’re kidding about telemarketing calls from Chris Brogan, right?”
So what’s the difference between a Chris Brogan’s “Bobby” and the conference leg-humper?
Chris was at a conference. I was in sitting in my living room.
If I’m attending a conference, I expect to be sold; but when I’m sitting in my living room, I expect to be left alone. Doesn’t matter what time it is, or that I actually gave you my number as part of the registration process at a previous event (seriously, Chris was the last person I thought I’d have to worry about phoning me). Additionally:
The phone calls were totally unnecessary. Chris is ubiquitous. I know this event is happening. I get Chris’ emails. I read his blog. I follow him on twitter. Why not just send me an email offer or a tweet? That’s where our relationship was. If anyone from Chris Brogan is calling on my cell phone, I expect it to be Chris.
Bobby, the telemarketer, quite literally blew through the script. Impersonal to say the least, and far off the warm, approachable Brogan brand people have come to know, love, and respect.
The follow-up email read, “I appreciate you taking my call.” I didn’t.
It also read, “I’m glad that you are interested….” We didn’t talk, and therefore, I didn’t express any interest.
Quite honestly, I’m disillusioned by the whole thing. I hope Chris hasn’t joined the ranks of mortgage companies and financial portfolio review companies and survey companies who intrude on your life, wherever you are. Who knows? Perhaps we’ll see ads in the yellow pages, an infomercial, New Marketing Labs Snuggies.
I hope not, or I think — as he suggested regarding the salesperson at the conference — he’ll risk screwing himself.
Thoughts? Musings? Leave ‘em here. (No calls , please.)
Thank you for your time today, I appreciate you taking my call.
I’m glad that you are interested in attending the New Marketing Experience program on April 13th. The ground rules are simple: we are gathering our industry friends and experts, you bring your One Big Idea,™ and we’ll work together, all in one room and one day, to turn it into a plan.
As I mentioned on the phone we’d really like to have you there, so we are offing you 50% off with Source Code: TMBOB. For only $99 you’ll have a full day with the experts and your peers and an ebook of everyone’s One Big Idea. Simply click the registration link below and your registration information from last years program and your discount will be automatically generated.
I just wanted to let you know that as a past attendee we are now offering you a complimentary registration for the New Marketing Experience in San Francisco on April 13th courtesy of New Marketing Labs.
We’d really like to have you there, so we are offing you a FREE registration with Source Code: TMF45. For FREE you’ll have a full day with the experts and your peers and an ebook of everyone’s One Big Idea. Simply click the registration link below to take advantage of this special offer.
Seattle-based, Gist, has already amassed some serious momentum in the tech space, so we’re fortunate to have their Marketing and Product Managers (Jennifer Pitts and Rob McCann, respectively) Skyping in for Conversation Friday. A few accolades and articles include:
From my brief interaction with Gist, it’s a super-powerful e-mail contact based hub that updates you with news and information by and about the people you know (the contacts in your inbox), but here’s the official take with Gist CEO T.A. McCann.
I actually joined Gist a few weeks ago and was amazed at how much it “saw” into the web — and what it delivered. Quite honestly, I thought it was a little big-brother-ish, so I deleted my account after a couple of uses. After Conversation Friday veteran and fitness blogger, David Csonka, brought up Gist during our session last week, I invited him to present on it.
Friday afternoon, I announced the topic on twitter, which prompted Gist’s marketing manager, Jennifer Pitts, to chime in. I invited her to be part of the conversation and she agreed to participate along with product manager, Rob McCann.
So, that’s the story.
Do you want in? We’d love to have you.
Guests are limited to 10, so please RSVP as soon as possible if you’d like to attend.
WHERE: The Conversation Factory
WHEN: Friday, April 9, 2010; 12pm – 1pm
COST: $10 (includes pizza & beverage); Students: $5
PARKING: Please park at the BrackenChase parking lot here.
Here’s the article that sparked the idea for this week’s topic. The quote that did it was: “I don’t want a relationship with my deodorant; I simply want it to work.”
This Conversation Friday, we’ll cover the many facets of one incident that evolved over two weeks.
A few months ago, Chris Brogan wrote 
