Corporate Eye

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Bridget Wright

Bridget Wright

Gaining Clients from a Visual Perspective Using Webinars, Videos and Photos

Slowly count to 10 and look into my eyes. Deep into my eyes.

Well, that would be my computer’s virtual eyes! One perspective of online media that companies often overlook is the visual element. New media has gone the route of social networking, Twittering and instant messaging. The only way now for companies to keep up with their competition is to 1) do what others are doing, 2) do it better and 3) give customers something that would be pressed to find elsewhere.

One very attractive way to gain customers is visually (virtually). Engaging them with your daily activities so that they feel a part of things, in many ways. In other words, why not let your online clients SEE the company they’re dealing with, the people behind the ideas and the tasks that go into making the products that they are buying?

The online world of virtual purchasing and virtual involvement is not very new. Companies use this technology daily when they host webinars and teleconferences. CEO’s often address the employee pool via conference addressing and use podcasts to keep them in the loop on what’s going on with the company. This is one of the main reasons why certain industries are so successful – – because of the visual element that they have available either on their website or as a part of their blog. Webinars, teleconferences and virtual tours are a lot of the cause of success for so many companies, both online and offline and the technology can be magnified in so many ways towards the company’s success.

Imagine visually showing your customers where and how their product is developed. Imagine giving them a glimpse into the meetings and decision-making events that help to shape the ideas that you bring to them. Let them into your back offices to see how things really go and even perhaps the mistakes that you sometimes make.

How-to sites are a hybrid of this type of visual marketing. Some ideas could include:

1.) Virtual bios of your company’s officers. Have them address the audience, if nothing but to say “hello.” Customers like when they can put a face with a name (product).

2.) A visual demonstration of the new widget that your corporation has just developed. Show the customers online how the widget works and other features that it may have.

3.) Photos and snapshots of your new facilities in construction. Go from a “before” to an “after” to give them an idea of your progress.

4.) The taping of the ground-breaking ceremony of your new facilities. Make your customers feel that they are a part of the news.

5.) Instead of written client testimonials, consider visual testimonials, if possible. Interview the client and ask what he thinks of your services. Include background on that client in the video if possible.

There are so many ways that you can use virtual media to reach clients online. Don’t limit yourself to only social networking, but consider the possibilities of other mechanisms of marketing as you reach out to them – – while looking deep into their eyes.

What other facets of media outlook can you use to reach your customers? Is your industry conducive to visual marketing or do you find that you have to be more creative?

Hyundai’s Social Networking is GREAT for Business

According to the Hyundai’s Assurance Program, if you get laid off from your job, you can return your car and not even have to worry about honoring the rest of the note payable. Really. Hyundai says you can do this, no questions asked, but of course certain restrictions do apply.

The new Hyundai’s Assurance Program has gotten its share of attention on the web from many blogs and websites. A journalist from The Huffington Post gave a well-written review of the program, while another blogger from The Simple Dollar wonders whether or not the idea is fiscally sound.

What I find interesting is the commercial that I saw about it on television the other night. It seems that they are promoting the idea via Facebook and Twitter. And, they’re asking everyone to buzz and tweet about it. They want everyone to talk about what it is they’re doing, bringing them more business and exposure. The idea of social networking for business exposure is certainly not new. But, in questionable agreement with the Simple Dollar blogger, don’t you have to make money while getting all of that *exposure*? So if (most) everyone is returning their cars if they have undue hardships (possibly many in a shaky economy), then what do you do with that inventory? How do you or can you re-sell an sold car?

Sharing this information on Facebook and Twitter can be a phenomenal plus for the car company’s marketing campaign. Like any viral marketing idea, someone is bound to tell someone else and them someone else. A brilliant way to market a program that works and interests most everybody. Because the program is so necessary and timely for some, I would imagine a marketing strategy like this will take off in a very short amount of time.

How do you think the Hyundai’s marketing plan fits into the social marketing community? Is it buzz-worthy? Will it out-last other car company’s marketing tactics? What do you think?

The Iranian Situation and New Social Media

>Were you able to get on your Facebook or Twitter pages Tuesday, amidst all of the commotion that was going on online? Hopefully so, but a vast majority of the citizens in Iran and even some in London were not able to. This news article was one of many articles that were published this week outlining the accounts of the controversial election around President Ahmedinejad and how the election was won.

For a moment, regardless of how the election was handled, who said what during the election, and whether or not things were handled improperly, the most attention-getting topic about this whole situation is how new media plays a role in this election. It is simply amazing at how different organizations went to great lengths to suppress the free speech benefit. Whereas journalists are usually given special privileges to report on certain information, in the political situation in Iran, anyone with Internet connection and access to a communication means was able to share their story. They were able to convey the story from their perspective, from their platform, from their point of view. And therein is where the problem lies…

Social media was under attack and wished to be squashed away. This same social media that has been dubbed by many as frivolous, time-wasters and of no consequence was for, at least this week, taken seriously enough that some people in some part of the world wanted it (social media) to sit down and be quiet.

But it can’t.

Social networking sites have always played a much bigger, and more important role than was readily visible. It has been more than just about checking on what your friends are doing, or giving updates on the lint rolls on your pants. No, social media is very important in the grand scheme of things. And so certainly now, perhaps that role will be embraced and respected more by the general population. Maybe now sites like Facebook and Twitter have proven themselves to be more than just a gossip-style site of over-caffeinated opportunity seekers.

Now, and even before now, their services had a purpose and a plan to change things the way we see them. Things are changing slowly but the evidence is there that it will not always remain the same. Do you think this change is episodal or a landmark of what we can expect in our online future? Are the social networking sites setting standards that we will embrace and emulate, or sit back and watch? What do you think?

How Much Privacy Should You Expect From Social Media Outlets?

When you log onto Facebook or Twitter, do you realize that perhaps hundreds if not thousands of companies have access to your private information that can include your buying habits, preferences, histories and even financial information? It’s an age-old worry that the Internet is full of stalkers and night-mongers who steal our private information while we are asleep or unaware. But is it really worth worrying about? Is it really conclusive?

Although the world wide web has come a long way since its popularity inception, there are still some risks that we all take when we sign on to our favorite websites and chat rooms. But really, who are the people that we are chatting with and making business deals with? Do we really know if there are legitimate companies doing legitimate business if they are over thousands of miles from us…or even in our own neighborhoods?

Online Privacy

Privacy issues are a major concern for businesses who market their primary product or service over the Internet. The ease and convenience of doing business is inviting, but as a company you must first win the confidence and trust of your buying audience before they will do business with you. And, if you are visibly active on social networking sites, you have to do a little extra hand-holding to ensure the customer that you do want them for more than their money…or they will flee quickly.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a U.S. based company located in New York, takes great strides in helping to ensure citizens their freedom and choice of freedom as they live their lives, work on jobs, and interact socially, especially on social networking sites. As early as last year, one of ACLU’s avid spokespersons for privacy spoke out on the issue as it faced the Senate Commerce Committee:

“Anything we do on the Internet, everything we read, everything we see – all of it is available for unwanted scrutiny with deep packet inspection. Internet service providers can access a complete record of Americans’ transactions including our search terms, the pop up ads that appeal to us, the stories we read, the blogs we visit and post to, and anyone we’re associated with on the Internet. Without clear guidance from Congress, all of that information can be reviewed by ISPs and might be sold to advertisers or turned over to the government. Until Congress explicitly establishes what records ISPs may collect, with whom and under which circumstances they may shared, and severe penalties for non-compliance, Internet users will have no online privacy.   (source)

What is Alright?<

However, social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace really aren’t any different than companies either when it comes to mining and gathering information on consumers. Just because surfers choose to partake within a social site doesn’t mean they are agreeing for their information to be shared and stored, does it. NO! Privacy disclosures exist on most reputable, business websites, and social networking shouldn’t be any different.

This article written by Computerworld discusses the ramifications that social network sites incur when they disregard the privacy requests that people want and expect from social sites. Aside from the legal issues, there are the trust issues that are there concerning would-be customers, and then there are also questions of whether or not some pieces of information are acceptable to mine…while others are not.

What do you think is acceptable in doing business online and via social networking? Should some information be off limits while other information is ok to share? What works for your business industry?

New Marketing vs. Old Marketing: Using the Same Message


There’s nothing wrong with using the same marketing techniques over and over; especially if they’re getting results. And results are just what the Mars company seem to be getting. First introduced to American GI’s in World War II, their M&M chocolate candies have been a delicious and fun to watch marketing plan from the very beginning.

Here is an older video commercial of one of the M&M debuts from 1960. Does anyone remember this one?



They’re marketing has always been a hit because their product is so much fun and it’s fun to eat! But what I see from them is consistency across the line, no matter when the time of their commercial was. During a period where social media and new media are pretty hot, companies like Mars are staying consistent and productive with their same message. Take a look at this one from the 90s:

Marketing techniques are only as effective, as they are effective. If they are working for your company, is it really necessary to change them? Does it really make a significant difference if the marketing message looks different to your consumers, or are they more concerned with the product behind the message? What do you think?

I think the Mars company hit the marketing nail on the head with their consistency in their marketing message. This proves that it really doesn’t take a whole lot of new marketing ideas or twists to convey their message. Mars has proven that with theirs.


Will the Palm Pre Smartphone Get Enough Exposure in Time?

Some sing the praises of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter for their businesses. There are some online marketing companies who use these platforms strictly for their exposure benefits.  They do have their advantages, and of course their disadvantages, but every business has to weigh them both to see if they are reaping the benefits and meeting the goals that they need to in order to say it’s “working for them.”

During a time when social media reigns supreme, companies use their social networking presence to market and showcase their new products. Recently, the Palm company used their marketing tactics with the popular Facebook platform to highlight their new-to-be-released Pre SmartPhone.

Although Palm only holds a small percentage of the market, they are positioned to possibly take back a fragment of that loyalty by offering a stiff, competitive product that rivals other brands.

Palm has just 4% of the U.S. smartphone market, according to IDC, while RIM leads with 55%, followed by Apple with 20%. (source)

Palm is using the Facebook site to create a buzz and engage consumers about what they can expect on the anticipated June 22 release date. As time goes on, surely the buzz will become greater and greater in hopes of lucrative sales that be a huge boost to the Palm corporation.

As of this date, the Facebook page for Palm only has 522 fans – not even 1000 or an even 600. But with their Twitter link, they have over 10,000 followers! With a release date a few short weeks away, will Palm be able to gain enough exposure and perhaps fans on their Facebook page that will transfer to store sales or online sales?

Facebook and Twitter serve two wholly different purposes, of which I won’t elaborate here since anyone who is a follower of either can appreciate the difference. But, Facebook does offer different (not necessarily more or better) features than Twitter, What do you think Palm can or should do in a short time to increase their Facebook exposure and page? What do I think? Glad you asked!

Since I am a big fan of social networking, I think they could gain a lot of exposure for this release by including their Facebook page link or logo on all of their advertisements. Even promote it on their Twitter page, perhaps. Facebook will allow for users to interact, see photos, elaboration on links and even talk among followers. Consumers want lots of information before they make major purchases, and social sites like Facebook and Twitter are ideal for sharing information.

Now, what do you think?