Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a link to an intriguing New York Times article on virality by John Tierney. A good deal of thinking has been done about which articles NY Times readers choose to share, and why. You might be surprised by what type of articles are most shared, but the reasons why (emotional communion, among others), are very interesting. Especially when you think about the Times readership in terms of being an audience you might want to reach, and what types of content could engage that audience enough to inspire pass-along.

The Conversation of the Future?

Over the holidays, my 12 year-old son went shopping for a present for his mom on his own. After browsing around in Borders bookstore, he sent me a text which listed the things he was considering. I suggested he send me a photo of his favorite option. He did, I approved, and I can still recall the feeling as if I participated in the decision, even though he was exercising his independence. What a great experience and a nice connective moment for us both.

This got me thinking about what it means — or doesn’t mean — to have a conversation in an age of mobile ubiquity.

Humans have long enjoyed the art of the conversation. These days, we “talk” in many ways, including in person, over the phone, texting and tapping social media applications. What if brands spent less time prying their way into those conversations, and more time adding value by making it easier for us to converse about our brands and products?

Read the rest of this entry »

At the re:direct launch at DMA09,
we invited client, agency + industry guests
to write suggestions  on a napkin.

Read the rest of this entry »

Via The DoubleThink, a great digest of an interview of Ph.D. David Huffaker about leaders in social media — from their characteristics to how to measure their influences. click here