Take It Face To Face

I was at an event not to long ago when I was approached by some guys with a local tech start-up. The idea they have is great, a very creative and intelligent way to move information socially. What it seems like they, and many others, are struggling with is the concept of taking a great idea and making it into a business. No one seems to focus on the fact that there should be money to be made after venture capital or a buyout. Why not strive to create a self sustaining business, as opposed to something that’s only success is to draw eyes to its new potential parent company?

I really think someone will fund anything regardless of how irrational it may be, so long as it is on the cutting edge of technology or includes the venture buzzword de’ jour. It is in this light that I present the 5 dumbest web 2.0 social media tech start ups yet to exist.

Snoozler - Wake or sleep at your friends’ hands!

Snoozler is the new social media platform that allows you to tie your alarm clock, cell alarm, or desktop alarm into your existing social profiles. Allow your friends to set your alarm, set custom alarm sounds or hit the snooze button for you! (And don’t worry about sleeping in too long - you can set the days it is accessible.)

RafflR - Enter all the online contest your friends do!

RafflR allows you to use your facebook and myspace pages to see what kind of online raffles, contest, and sweepstakes your friends have entered. From there you can select any of those that you would like to enter as well and RafflR signs you up. You can also invite friends to participate in a contest. Pick your top friends and RafflR will automatically sign you up for any contest they sign up for!

Tipster - Are you a cheapskate or a tipping heavyweight?

The Tipster platform lets you enter your bill and the tip you gave, as well as notes about service. Then your friends can vote on if the tip you gave them was too high, too low or dead on. You can also share tipping stories from the night out or the delivery guy bringing it in! Check out Tipster Pro if you’re a tip-dependent industry to see what Tipsters are saying about you.

Once Removed - No relation or bound by blood… or marriage?

Once Removed allows you to pick any friend through any of your networks, from bloggers, flickr, youtube, facebook, myspace and many others and see if and how you’re related. Using online available public records and genealogical research Once Removed will tell you if and how you may possibly be related to your friends.

WhoozShooz - Narrow or wide, low top or high, dress or casual shoes tell you a lot.

WhoozShooz is a survey application that matches you with people who have similar taste as you in footwear. Whether it is to match you up with a good friend for shoe shopping, or matching you up with someone who wears the same running shoes or cleats as you, WhoozShooz puts you in touch. And WhoozShooz works with all kinds of footwear, from heels and sandals to skis and skates!

The sad fact of the matter is that some of these ideas, or something very similar will inevitably become something you’ll see online someday. I think what may be even more depressing is the fact that in the course of writing this I thought of ways to monetize 4 out of 5 of these.

What dumb social media start ups do you envision coming to be in the future?

I am coming into the world of marketing and PR as an intern. I have expected one thing and seen another. Part of my indoctrination is to create a list of goals that pertain to marketing/pr and social media. I have found that my goals are on par with the goals of any PR/Marketer interested in finding out about social media.

As a “newbee” I would like to start off by laying out five goals to calm my nerves while entering the world of social media. Coming from a predominantly academic background, I tend to over-think things and write with that academic flare. I have a few goals that I would like to follow and at the end of this internship I would like to see how or if I have reached them.

1. Put Academic Writing Styles Aside.

While still being a student, I intend to lose that AP style writing while in the workplace and become more of a conversational writer.

2. Read. Read. Then Read Some More.

I would like to read up on and learn as much on social media and how to be successful as I possibly can. I want to follow trends in the media and see what works and what doesn’t.

3. Pretend You Are Already Where You Wish To Be.

I want to start thinking less like a student and more like a professional in the field. By this I mean by pretending I am already in the field I can get more out of the experience.

4. Practice Gains Confidence, You Don’t Know Unless You Try: Be Open.

I wish to become a great blogger and I think that practice will only help. I think by experimenting with as many different facets as I can I will eventually find my niche. I am open to anything.

5. Keep Track of Things…Follow Your Progress.

Lastly, I would like to keep a journal of how I am doing and what I am learning in order to gain more insight as to what to write and what I do or do not like about social media.

By following these steps, I think that I will ultimately become more successful in this field. I am open to new possibilities and as the world of social media changes, I fully intend to change along with it. Do you have any suggestions on how best to set my goals for social media?

I have a decent amount of clients who want to try this “facebook” thing they have been hearing about. They hear about how their kids are using it more and more while they themselves only admit that they are interested in FaceBook when they are certain no one is listening.

Get Central:

Find a good place to drive all your social media traffic. I often suggest a web page, blog or even a Facebook profile as a good place to start.

Get Everyone on Board:

Don’t do it alone. Let others in your office join in by blogging, tweeting, or creating a community Flickr account.

Get on Schedule:

Start and stay regular. Make a schedule to update and use your social media and keep it up. Don’t start your effort and let it fall to the side.

Get Social:

The idea is to meet and engage people. Don’t just put your word out, find other people and listen to what they say.

Get Tracking:

Creating landing pages and keeping track of who you meet and what they say. Like any effort if you don’t look at the results you will have been wasting your time.

I always try and keep things simple and I think these five points really sum things up. If you can think of any let me know. Do you think I missed the boat on this or am I spot on?

Funny thing about marketing, it spoils. Much like food if you place your marketing in the refrigerator of public you run the risk of it spoiling.

See, like a good cheese if you don’t use your marketing in a timely manner it will spoil. Keep your cheese, err marketing, fresh with these five easy steps.

1. Plan to use all your marketing:

If you are looking to start a solid marketing campaign set a realistic budget. Just because you have the money doesn’t mean you should spend it all.

2. Cheese goes great with crackers:

If you want to get people to eat your cheese give them crackers. Find a way to entice people to look for and use your marketing.

3. Don’t stockpile marketing:

One of the fastest was to assure your cheese and marketing spoils is to keep it around only to use it when it is needed. It makes much more sense to purchase smaller portions of marketing and make sure you can keep it fresh.

4. If needs be give your marketing away:

If you have too much cheese laying around, and your neighbor is throwing a party, give it to them. Nine times out of ten your neighbor will tell all their friends you gave them free cheese and you will get some great word of mouth marketing.

5. Find the right marketing and watch it get eaten up:

Why buy cheddar when you know your audience will love baby bell? Don’t waste your time using marketing vehicles that you know your audience won’t appreciate.

I am going to stop using this cheese metaphor before it really starts to stink (last one I swear). But I think I have really hit on something sharp (couldn’t resist). If you can think of couple of wedges of insight for our readers I would love to hear them. Do you know any other ways to make sure your marketing stays fresh.

Stretching your marketing and pr budget is key when you run a small business. One thing I can never understand is why small business don’t take a page from big business and learn. Coca-Cola has always been one of the best brands when it comes to creating marketing campaigns.

Sure your business might not have the dollars as Coke, who does besides Coke, but using some the same techniques you can help create a brand tie in that will make your customers think of you when hear of the Olympics.

1. Discounts and Rewards
When ever an athlete or country wins a medal offer a discount to your customers.

2. Updates
Offer a news or updates through a social media site or from your home page to your customers.

3. Brand Tie In
If you sell pizza you can make an Olympic pie, if you sell widgets you can offer and Olympic widget. I think you get the idea.

4. Talk About It
Add the Olympics to your email signature or find a gold medal counter and put that widget on your website. Simple things like a congratulations to someone via your Facebook tag line or putting a banner on your site to help marry your presence and the Olympics.

5. Be Excited
Let your marketing be about the Olympics, try to think of it as support not selling something. If your customers see that you are actually interested in supporting the Olympics your customers will be more likely to support you.

These are just a few ideas on what you can do to help marry your brand and the brand of the Olympics. Brand marriage is a great way to help your company or service stay current and grow. If you want to see how Coke does it or get some more ideas on how to help your brand out check these blogs:

Donna’s Promo Talk

Wall Street Journal: Independent Street

These are just five quick tips on how you can tie your brand to the Olympics. Can you think of any other? Let me know.