If social media is all about conversations, community and collaboration – why can’t or why aren’t social media agencies freely jumping into bed with each other?

Shouldn’t we practice a full range of commercial activities in which other agencies and consultants may take part?

  What is Communication? 
  Originally uploaded by Delta Niner

I know its happening on the individual level (Age of Conversation), but not at the agency level.

If social media agencies are going to succeed, agencies will sooner or later have to bite the pillow and take collaborative approach to building this new industry.

Social media is not just marketing, it’s a whole new lifestyle…get my drift?

Without speaking to my employer Sticky Advertising, I’d like to hold my hand of friendship out to other social media agencies and practitioners of the dark art, so we can start a conversation, start to build strong links as a community and start collaborating.

Social media agencies I know include The Population, Fnucky, Blather Skiter, Hoodlum, Shifted Pixels, Additude, Zest Digital and Tick Yes.

Not forgetting social media thought leaders such as servant of chaos, Laurel Papworth, Acidlabs, Get Shouty, and Adspace Pioneer.

As a card carrying commercial carnivore, I feel collaborating at this level will open a feast of fresh ideas and opportunities that can be exploited.

In the quest for the new and unusual, I’d like to start walking on the wild side…working together, rather than the old agency model of egos and closed doors.

Let’s be true to social networking…

Only the brave apply!

  Bomb The Media. 
  Originally uploaded by Canis Major

This post is dedicated to Carlee Potter and SNOBS for making me get off my backside and write a follow-up to my last post.

I was advised to be diplomatic and be open-minded, but no matter how hard the organisers tried at ‘Ask the Media,’ I left shaking my head feeling pity for the people living and working in regional Australia.

Compared with America, Europe, Asia and Australia’s capital cities, we are stuck in the dark ages with old media acting like gatekeepers restricting our access to information.

What was promoted as an information seminar on how business could use local media…all we got was three salesman flogging TV, radio and print.

Yes…I admit that they did offer contact details of editors, but in the traditional media environment editors act as filters, dictating what gets airtime or printed and when. That’s called censorship.

Regional Australia deserves better!!!

The future of regional news is in the hands of entrepreneurs like Carlee Potter who recently launched a businesswomen’s online news site.

Traditional media offers regional business…sweet FA, except for the opportunity to buy ad space, unless you kiss arse or good mates with the editor.

I’d like to commend the Chamber organisers for making the media turn-up, but like that old saying “You can drag a horse to water, but you can’t make it. drink.”

And it wasn’t the Chambers fault that the projector didn’t work…some git broke in their offices and nicked their computer gear.

Next month, the Chamber’s special seminar is promoting another media gatekeeper…called Telstra.

I’d like to put it on record that Telstra is the biggest threat to regional Australia’s digital future…

Telstra’s motto should be “If its broken…don’t fix it”

Marketing guru and author Seth Godin recently wrote “Ignore the new gatekeeper at your peril.”

I think my local business chamber are just about to, by hosting an ‘Ask the Media’ seminar populated with only traditional mass media representative’s.

  old_tv 
  Originally uploaded by Gal Mor

No digital or social media representatives…only The Herald (paper), NBN Television (TV) and KO/NX FM (Radio).

Seth defined the old gatekeeper as big media channels such as TV and print newspapers, where poor old business people had to negotiate with columnists and bullying editors to get a mention and that was at long shot.

The new gatekeepers are a completely different animal…who was Seth talking about? The Blogger.

As an active member and supporter of the Hunter Business Chamber, I’d just like to inform them of a significant statistic:

“March 2008 marked one of the most significant turning points in the rapid evolution of Australia’s digital advertising industry. It was the month in which, for the first time, Australians began spending more time online than they did watching television”
AC Nielson

However, I do support the Hunter Business Chamber in its activities. So if you are in the area, please join me and some very old mass media gatekeepers for a laugh.

Read the rest of this entry »

  Spiekermann House Numbers 
  Originally uploaded by Stewf

Has the Australian Marketing Institute failed marketing metrics 101?

Let’s consider a few facts to weigh up the question.

In response to criticism from Australian Marketing Institute members, Australian Marketing Institute Chairman, Roger James published the following facts on Marketing Magazine’s website, dated 20th Jun 2008:

“In 1999 our membership was 3,400. Our membership is now over 6,000 and currently growing at over 14% net per annum.”

But a few months later, Australian Marketing Institute CEO Mark Crowe wrote in the Marketing Update newsletter:

“In the year to 30 June 2008 the Australian Marketing Institute has achieved a record 17.6% net increase in membership. This performance easily surpasses our previous record of 9%.”

“A large membership base (now at 6,800 members) provides the Institute with greater financial strength and increased authority to represent and promote the marketing profession.”

Hello…within 10 days the Australian Marketing Institute membership miraculously jumps up by over 12% and the annual growth rate grows from 14% to 17.6%.

I thought the Australian Marketing Institute was championing marketing metrics…these are simple marketing metrics and Mark and Roger can’t even agree on the official membership numbers.

Are you confused? I am…

Under the polished floors of the Australian Marketing Institute’s ivory tower, who’s telling the truth? Or has there been some creativity going on?

The plot thickens!

If you are looking to break in to the social media industry…where do you go?

Well that answer has been solved…solved by a new online job site called SocialMediaJobs.com.au and I’m proud to say that my blogging and twitter buddy, Gavin Heaton is the brains behind the whole idea.

Gavin has launched SocialMediaJobs.com.au to help job seekers and potential employers to find one another.

At present, the site is free for both employers and job seekers. Of course, this may change at some point in the future.

Gavin has asked for any ideas on how to improve his site. It’s well worth a visit!

Knowing Gavin and how there’s such a shortage of experience in the social media industry, I think the word will quickly get round and Gavin will have a big success on his hands.

SocialMediaJobs.com.au gets my vote!!!