Home › consumer generated content

consumer generated content

Collective Intellect

Collective Intellect is a research company that provides tracking, filtering and ranking media research for the Fortune 500. The company uses a combination of algorithms and humans to identify emerging New Media and traditional media content across blogs, discussion boards and social networking websites. The company says their approach produces more comprehensive, timely and relevant results than traditional web search tools. Customers use Collective Intellect technology to:

  • track information related to stocks and investing
  • support public relations and investor relations activities
  • facilitate customer support outreach programs
  • create product management market research feedback programs
  • develop interactive forums where customer relationships can be nurtured

Source: Collective Intellect, via Techcrunch

ExitReality

ExitReality is a new social media platform that aims to improve your online experience with an enhanced 3D, multi-user, immersive messaging environment.

Features include the ability to create:

Photo albums that become virtual galleries where you can walk through, admire and even comment on the photos that decorate the wall. 

Video clips that transform into 3D flat-screen TVs that you can enjoy watching with friends... hey, even fight over the remote. 

Immersive Messaging where you are able to see and interact with all your friends while chatting with them at millions of locations online.

ExitReality works with leading global social media sites Facebook, MySpace, Fraudster, Hi5, Rout and Bebop and is currently taking beta applications. They plan to launch “soon.”

ExitReality, via Techcrunch

Blurb - Bundle Up Your White Papers in a Book

Blurb is a company that provides software to help you create your own hard cover book, including a full cover custom dust cover.

According to the website, you simply download “Blurb BookSmart”, their free bookmaking software. Add photos, artwork and text. Then order as many books as you like. 

For an impressive gift to a special customer, bundle up your white papers in a book.

You pay only when you publish; prices start at $12.95 per book.

Absolut Vodka –Rise of the Anti-American Brand?

Mon, 04/07/2008 - 04:00 — admin

Last week an online brouhaha erupted as copies of a poster advertising campaign running across Mexico City last week for Swedish vodka company Absolut, surfaced on the internet. The ads depicted California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and other U.S. states as part of Mexico, with the headline "In An Absolut World."

The posters created by TERAN\TBWA, the Mexican branch of global advertising agency TBWA, are part of Absolut’s long-running campaign depicting ‘perfect’ situations and positioning Absolut as the perfect vodka.

Many commenters at AdFreak, Absolutads, Mexico Reporter and MichelleMalkin deemed the ad offensive, swore at and off the brand, and variously blamed its creation on Americans Who Hate America, Mexicans Who Hate America, Swedes Who Hate America, Advertising Agencies Who Hate America, Clueless Marketers Who Also Hate America, People Who Are Totally Ignorant, and possibly even Finns Who Hate Sweden Masquerading As Swedes Working At Absolut Vodka.

Parodies of the ad have sprouted all over the Internet with a few suggesting Sweden should be under the control of a Nazi Germany, or at very least, Finland. And of course, the marketing team should be fired and flogged. Or, perhaps flogged first. Hmmm. I'll have to think about that, but in any case they should never have the right to work at anything but menial labor for the rest of their lives.

Yesterday, Absolut apologized for the ad and noted that it had been cancelled, saying “ In no way was the ad meant to offend or disparage, or advocate an altering of borders, lend support to any anti-American sentiment, or to reflect immigration issues….To ensure that we avoid future similar mistakes, we are adjusting our internal advertising approval process…” Blah, blah, blah.

But some pretty thorny issues for brand marketers remain.

How do marketers build brands in an increasingly global economy, particularly those that are controversial or edgy? Do you try to avoid offending anyone and risk turning the brand into milquetoast, or do you let the chips fall where they may?

Surely Absolut knew that the ad would be unappealing, if not offensive, to many Americans. But does a positive reaction from Mexican consumers make it worthwhile? (Sure would like to hear what Mexican consumers think about this ad.)

Does this foreshadow the rise of the anti-American brand?

I doubt this is Absolut’s strategy; after all they are one of the top vodka brands in the U.S., and the U.S. is the top vodka market in the world. But will brands with less market share forswear the U.S. market and leverage anti-American sentiment to grab market share in new global markets? And if so, how will that affect American brands?

And last, but certainly not least---how should Absolut respond to the conversations currently taking place regarding the Absolut brand? Is this cause for concern or great viral marketing? Is their apology statement enough? Was it necessary? (Sorry y'all, but I just can't whip myself into a frenzy over something that was clearly meant as a joke---it's an AD, people! You'd think that land had actually changed hands by the way some people are reacting, but that's the blogosphere forya...)

Currently online conversation is not only focusing on reaction to the ad, but suggesting actions, such as boycotts, complaining to Absolut’s corporate headquarters, and brands to substitute in place of Absolut. In the long run will this help, hurt or have no effect on their market share and positioning? And what can marketers learn from this controversy?

Photos from MexicoReporter Flickr  

Slide Gets Slapped: It’s Not Nice To Fool Internet Users

Mon, 04/07/2008 - 01:00 — admin

In the 70’s there was a great commercial featuring a sweet-tempered Mother Nature who becomes enraged when she discovers that what she thinks is butter is actually Chiffon margarine. If you’re old enough you might remember the tagline: “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.” (Watch the video of the spot in our left sidebar.)

It’s the same thing on the Internet. People don’t like it when companies pose as customers and write glowing reviews of their own products on blogs and review boards. But despite witnessing imposters getting called out time after time, some companies still think they can get away with it.

The latest company to get slapped down is Slide, a company that makes widgets to help people express themselves, says Techcrunch. Apparently company employees wrote a slew of fake reviews on the company’s own reviews board.

Presumably Slide never heard of Wal-Mart or any number of other brands that posted fake posts or comments and then spent lots of time and money trying to repair the damage to their brands.

Are you tempted to lob some false comments on a blog or forum to get some good buzz for your brand?  Just don’t do it---chances are you’ll get caught. And since actions speak louder than words, people will judge your brand by your company’s bad behavior.

Bazaarvoice

Bazaarvoice utilizes consumer-generated content to drive customer loyalty and multi-channel sales. Solutions include products to enable customers to rate and review products, ask and answer questions, and share personal experiences to build an online community, establish brand loyalty, and increase buyer confidence.

They also include solutions to enable brands to capture, publish and syndicate consumer-generated product reviews.

Self-Expressive Brands: Building the Brand By Enabling Customer Self-Expression

Mon, 03/31/2008 - 01:00 — admin


Burgeoning trends in mass customization and do-it-yourself, as well as user-generated content on blogs, YouTube, and social networks, reflect consumers’ growing interest in brands and products that reflect their unique personalities. Here are two examples of companies that leverage consumer interest in brands that enable self-expression.

Scion hopes to attract “younger, stylish drivers”  by hopping on the social network bandwagon with ScionSpeak, a website enabling Scion owners to express themselves by creating their “personal ‘coats of arms’.”

Scion owners can choose from “hundreds of symbols, all designed by a professional graffiti artist,” to create their crest. Then, if they choose, they can pay to have it rendered by an auto-shop.

Self-expression with a generous dose of irreverence is the core equity of Durtbagz ---bags that purchasers can customize with witty sayings masquerading as ‘street signs,' such as “Don’t Drive Durnk.” Website copy informs potential purchasers:

“some bagz are offered in multiple colors, some are not. it's what we've got at the moment. we only print 12 of each sign; WHEN WE'RE OUT, WE'RE OUT. that's how we roll.”

Erin Atherton,  head bag lady and owner of Durtbagz, helpfully points out that Durtbagz bags can be used for overnights, shopping, or to carry around a severed head. The “Just Dust” page offers “all you durtbagz” an opportunity to “speak your minds, assuming you have one.” The Durtbag who posts the best ‘durt’ could win a free Durtbagz bag.

“Durty Laundry” is the company blog where
Erin recounts imagined interviews with celebrities such as Amy Winehouse and Avril Lavigne, as well as the day-to-day challenges of growing her own company. The blog is authentic, funny and down-to-earth, which should resonate with a young target audience and reinforce her brand.

Is the desire for self-expression a core attribute of your target audience? Strengthen your relationship with them by providing opportunities for them to express themselves and make the brand uniquely their own.

Source for ScionSpeak: International Herald Tribune

Justin.tv

Justin.tv is a social networking community and video broadcasting platform that enables viewers and broadcasters to interact and exchange ideas in real time through chat and live video. It is a destination site for broadcasting and watching live video online while chatting with friends.

via Techcrunch

Sparta Social Networks

Sparta Social Networks is a social network software company that helps companies, from start-ups to large corporations across a wide variety of industries, to create branded social networks.

Work.com

Work.com is a business-to-business expert community publishing platform where experts share advice on common business topics. Work.com features more than 3,000 How-to Guides written by business experts. Anyone with expertise to share can create a Work.com guide, and the guides are ranked by Work.com site visitors based on how useful they find the guide.

Top ranked guides are featured prominently on Work.com and are syndicated onto Business.com to help Business.com visitors learn more about specific product or service categories.

12next ›last »
Syndicate content