Marketing Pilgrim Published: “Cup of Joe: Are You A Boat? Or An Octopus?” plus 4 more

Cup of Joe: Are You A Boat? Or An Octopus?
#HashtagsTopTwitterTrends
The Ultimate in Mobile: Connected Cars at CES
Could Social Media Sharing Violate Copyright?
Facebook’s Financial Dealings Jon Stewart Style

Cup of Joe: Are You A Boat? Or An Octopus?

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 09:05 PM PST

Some of you know that I grew up and currently live on the coast of South Carolina. The ocean has always been a part of my life and has taught me a lot of lessons. Probably, one of the most interesting lessons that I have learned and thought about over the last few years, is the difference between boats and octopuses. (And yes, I just said octopuses not octopi, look it up, like I did.)

Both boats and octopuses generally do the same thing, navigate the sea. They both are vulnerable to the ocean’s currents and tides. They both can fall victim to mother nature’s wrath, and at times they both are equally blessed by her grace.

But what makes this pair interesting, isn’t what they have in common, but, rather what makes them different.

If you are a boat, your primary goal is to stay above water. Sure you get wet, but if you are designed well, most of you stays dry. However, octopuses don’t understand the concept of “wet”, because all they have ever known is the sea. The air is just as foreign to them as water is to us.

If you are an octopus you have a very intimate understanding of the sea floor. You spend most of your days touching it, crawling across it, and feeding off of it. If you are a boat you have an almost equal understanding of the night sky. You might use it to guide your way, or keep you company when you are alone.

Boats see the horizon and all the amazing things that it holds. The sun rise, the silhouette of land, or the rise and fall of porpoises. Octopuses see the sun shine through the water’s surface. Bright green and yellow rays permeate the waters depth, creating dancing shapes on the ocean floor, illuminating the kelp and making the coral glow.

I guess when you really think about it, boats and octopuses really aren’t that different. They just have different perspectives. They are kind of like us in that way. The only difference is our ocean isn’t made of salt water, but rather bits of information moving at the speed of light.

So, the next time you think about engaging with anyone on the internet, remember that we are all either boats or octopuses. Each with our own perspective, finding beauty in our own different way. If you can remember that every time, then it will become habit, and in turn you will be better at everything you do online.

I promise.

[photo credit]

#HashtagsTopTwitterTrends

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 06:24 PM PST

One of today’s trending Twitter topics is the hashtag #tiredofthat. It’s spurred people to list the multitudinous things they’re tired of such as “being alone on Valentine’s Day,” “the Twilight Saga” and the ever encompassing “Monday through Friday.”

One thing people are #nottiredof, are hashtags. According to What the Trend, hashtags have taken over the top spot as the category that gets the most Tweets.

In 2009, entertainment was the most Tweeted about topic with 39% of the pie. The next closest category was sports with only 11%. In 2010, entertainment dropped to 28% and hashtags took 40% of the pie.

Many hashtags are simply a way of organizing information so people can find it easily. The name of a TV show, a musician, an ongoing conference, a Twitter party in full swing. But climbing the charts are the random conversation starters such as #ifIhadachance and #wheniwasyoung. You know, the ones that look like coded license plates that mean something if you read them just right.

So how does a marketer use hashtags to their advantage? A couple of ways. Random tags work for everyone. Respond to what ever is trending even if it doesn’t directly relate to your business, it will get your name out there which is half the battle.

Start your own tag. Come up with something that suits your business but isn’t a sales pitch. #myfavoritecookie for a bake shop or #worstmovieever for DVD sales. Remember, Twitter is supposed to be fun, so let your imagination run wild. Just remember, if you’re going to use hashtags in your Tweets, there is one essential rule to follow; #every #word #doesn’t #need #its #own #hashmark.

The Ultimate in Mobile: Connected Cars at CES

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 03:42 PM PST

Have a long commute to work? Why not make the time count by having your email read to you as you drive? All you need is a BMW with ConnectedDrive. Running late for that movie? Toyota’s EnTune service will allow you to buy your tickets from the car. If these in-car distractions cause you to have an accident, no problem, OnStar has partnered with Verizon on a gizmo that will record the accident and you can even use the system to send a Twitter update.

Opps. Fender bender. Going to be late for dinner! #mycarmademedoit

Connected cars are all the rage at this year’s CES and that makes me wonder if this isn’t the next big thing in marketing.

All of the major car manufacturers are working on some kind of connectivity through either a cell phone to car sync or a mobile wireless network. On the practical side, they provide driving directions, locate the nearest food or gas station and they notify you when you need gas, a charge or an oil change.

Then there’s the entertainment side. Pandora is working to make standard radio stations obsolete. Twitter and Facebook are also popular options and even the ability to stream movies (if you’re in the backseat!).

Now let’s add marketing to the equation. Since the car is GPS equipped, it has the ability to offer a coupon for $5.00 off lunch at a popular restaurant. Just take the next exit, say “yes”, and the coupon auto syncs with your phone when you stop.

Having trouble staying awake? Perhaps that tell-tale drifting triggers a system that leads you to the nearest Starbucks for a caffeine boost or a motel for a rest.

When you look at where we are with mobile couponing and check-ins, this isn’t a far leap.

The downside to this is, of course, the distraction factor. The graphic at the top of this post – Ebay on board – that’s a real screen grab from BMW. They say the system is set to only allow web surfing from the backseat or when the car is standing still. Even so, if I’m that worried about my auction that I need to pull over and go online, then I’m probably not paying a lot of attention to the road.

The saving grace here are the new smart cars that auto detect a near collision and force the car to slow or stop. But if you really can’t cut the cord between yourself and the internet, just invest in the 2-Person EN-V. This car will do the driving for you while you sit back and catch up with your friends on Facebook.

What do you think about connected cars and in-car mobile marketing?

Could Social Media Sharing Violate Copyright?

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 12:42 PM PST

Everyone agrees that stealing the work of another person is wrong, but the definition of what constitutes stealing is a murkier matter. In most cases we roll back to the term “fair use” which allows a person to quote a section of an article or book for the purposes of education or discussion. You see that here all the time. There’s no malicious intent and there is no damage to the original party. On the contrary, the original writer will likely get a traffic boost from people clicking through to the source material, so it’s often a good thing.

Now here comes Righthaven LLC. According to a story in Fortune, the law firm is taking an aggressive stance against copyright violators by skipping the cease and desist letter and going straight to court. In every case, they’re demanding $150,000 in damages and the offender’s domain name. Ouch.

What’s especially disturbing about Righthaven’s crusade is the way they’re going about it. In order to prosecute, the original creator of the material transfers copyright ownership to Righthaven so they can sue on their own behalf. One judge took exception to this saying they aren’t a publisher, so they can’t sell the original work, so no damages.

The real fear here is not whether Righthaven has a leg to stand on, but that most people won’t have the money to fight. When faced with court costs, most bloggers will have no choice but to pay a fine and give up their domain name even if they were inside the letter of the law.

Fortune author Pullen asks this question:

But the damages to society, print publications, and the Internet at large may far surpass any fine, no matter how substantial. These cases will define where — in the social media era — sharing ends, stealing begins, and fair use applies.

Sounds like it’s time for the courts to tighten up the rules. For example? If a blog offers an RSS feed and I put that feed on my website, is that a violation? Does the act of offering a feed or a share button negate their copyright claim? Could we reach a point where the fear of getting sued outweighs the interest in reposting an article or photo? Will the court system ever catch up to technology?

Tune in tomorrow. Same blog-time. Same blog-channel.

Facebook’s Financial Dealings Jon Stewart Style

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 11:35 AM PST

Jon Stewart is just funny. When you (or your writers) are not afraid to ‘call it as you see it’ the results are at the very least amusing and at their best insightful. He’s a little of both on this one. (Hat tip to Greg Sterling)

Have a nice weekend!