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April 17, 2012 in Media Orchard, Social Media Marketing by Clay Zeigler
HEADS UP: Scott Baradell Talks Twitter on CBS 11

Yes, that was Idea Grove President Scott Baradell on Dallas’ CBS 11 this week talking about how consumers can get good deals on products using Twitter.

“More and more brands are realizing that in order to attract the kind of audience that they want on social media they have to give something in return,” Baradell told reporter Melissa Newton. “Many times these are deals or discounts or other special benefits to their Twitter followers or others who interact with them on social media.”

To find the best deals, Baradell recommended that consumers follow specific companies, brands and retailers they already know.  Curation pages are another option.

“It’s just a matter of finding the ways to get that information,” Baradell said of the algorithmic sites, “based on the validation of it being retweeted or interacted with, they tweet it here.”

You can also check out the story here; and don’t forget to share it on Twitter.

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February 29, 2012 in Marketing, Social Media Marketing by Scott Baradell
IDEA GROVE VIDEO: Do You Really Need a Social Media Agency?

We think it’s a little odd when an agency calls itself a social media agency. What exactly does that mean? Most companies in Dallas, New York and Silicon Valley that we come across need a marketing agency that understands social media, just as they need a marketing strategy that incorporates social media. That’s the approach we take at the Idea Grove.

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February 13, 2012 in Social Media Marketing by Clay Zeigler
ADVICE: In Content Marketing, Seek Virality Over Conversation

Internet marketing expert Brian Carter recently recounted a telling exchange with someone at a big public relations firm. The PR guy seemed to think that the value of content marketing is derived solely from the “conversation” it creates.

“I felt like I was talking to a guy whose definition of social media came from 2008,” Carter said. “Conversation is basically comments and reply-tweets. That’s a limited portion of the kind of response we need from people in order to achieve business objectives.”

“In 2012, we need content that gets likes and comments on Facebook so your page remains visible to fans. On Twitter, if you want visibility and clicks, you need a lot of retweets. So, I wouldn’t call that conversation at all. I would call it virality, content that’s good enough to pass on. They’re not necessarily talking about it; they’re passing it on to their contacts.”

The power of social media to stimulate conversation is unprecedented – so much so that it’s tempting to focus only on conversations. Of course, no one in marketing or public relations is shy about creating interest. It’s what we do; and our opportunities have only grown with the advent of social media. But starting conversations can’t be all we do.

As marketers we have to be mindful of what we’re saying. The message has to be the starting point. The message is carried by content and stems from a cohesive marketing strategy. Social media isn’t a strategy, it’s a delivery system – a delivery system for content.

It’s the quality and durability of their content that should motivate marketers more than the direct response received. Great content marketing sets organizations apart. It establishes authority and encourages trust. It builds over time into a compelling case that builds a brand. But it has to be worth passing along.

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February 10, 2012 in PR Agencies, Public Relations, SEO, Social Media Marketing, Web Design by Scott Baradell
IDEA GROVE VIDEO: Public Relations and Online Visibility

Public relations is increasingly about online visibility. That’s why PR firms today must know how to combine the disciplines of public relations, social media, SEO and web design in a single offering to better serve their clients. That’s how we do it at the Idea Grove.

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December 20, 2011 in Content Marketing, Media Orchard, Social Media Marketing by Clay Zeigler
CLIENT NEWS: Black Star Rising Post Sparks a Conversation

There was a time when it was enough to “get the word out.” But with today’s technologies, we can start a conversation.

Dallas Marketing and Dallas Web Design picture of Screen shot 2011 12 20 at 3.01.25 PMThat’s what happened recently on Black Star Rising, the blog the Idea Grove manages for the iconic New York photography agency, Black Star. Our relationship with Black Star is well into its sixth year, and the blog is home now to more than 1,000 posts. It has more than 16,000 followers on Twitter.

Those kinds of numbers can make for a big reaction, and that’s just what happened when regular contributor David Saxe wrote about negative reactions he’s experienced as he’s photographed people in public places. Fearmongers Are Giving Photographers a Bad Name, the headline reads.

David wrote compellingly that, “… Every day, photographers are mistaken for perverts, terrorists, thieves, and other weirdos just because of the cameras around their necks. People seem to assume that we are ‘up to something.’”

He gave three examples before concluding that, “There is a part of me that wants to resist, to confront, to ignore these people, but it’s simply not my style. All I can do is write about it.”

Reaction Gives Way to Conversation

The online reaction was almost immediate. People who care about photography began to share the post using Twitter and writing their comments on the blog. Some expressed sadness, others frustration. There were war stories, and then, conversation.

Some commenters said protecting children from unwanted attention is paramount. Others said photographers should ask subjects first. Still others suggested that anxious police officers and others can be won over with polite conversation. Someone suggested that business cards help. Another commenter wondered about the roles of gender and ethnicity.

Words like “legal” gave way to “moral” and “ethical.” In a matter of days, the post had attracted 50 online comments and been shared more than 200 times through Twitter. In a week, it had landed on Photoshelter.com’s list of The Best Photography Blog Posts of 2011.

It was the kind of reaction that reminds us of the promise of communications technologies. We no longer have to be satisfied just to get the word out.

Joining the Discussion is Easy

Black Star and the Idea Grove are always looking for photographers, graphic designers, Web designers and other creative professionals who want to share their first-person experiences, views and advice at http://rising.blackstar.com.

If you’d like to start a conversation on Black Star Rising, contact Clay Zeigler at czeigler@ideagrove.com.

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