Life in the Big Apple

This summer I worked in NYC for Paramount Pictures independent movie branch, Paramount Vantage (Babel, No Country for Old Men, The Kite Runner, etc.)

You may be thinking, okay what's the point of you telling me this?

Well throughout my summer life either working or playing I came across both concepts that are discussed in Digital Domain and Conversational Marketing.

Zagat is one of my most trusted sidekicks while browsing the streets of NYC and I have always turned to them for advice on where to eat. I also check out Gayot.com.

UGC is applicabable to many many different things such as movies, books, etc. But I find myself always second guessing those critics because those preferences are always extremely personal. HOWEVER, with food, I feel that most of the time food critics are dead on when they give a restaurant a Zagat rating. Come on, anyone can tell the difference between good and bad food so it's handy that a professional is scoping out the place before you drop $50+.

In working in the city life, I did publicity for Vantage's new film American Teen. We relied HEAVILY on facebook advertising.

Not only did we have fan pages for each one of the "teens" but we also had a fan page for the movie, 2 applications, and events going out constantly for word of mouth screenings. We targeted the audiences by summer camps, location, age, etc. Facebook was there to help guide us along!

I can't even imagine any business who targets a youth audience nowadays NOT being on Facebook.

Did you know that movies rely so heavily on MySpace/Facebook? Have you ever used Zagat? I mean, have you ever worked in a place that focuses on these Web sites so heavily?

Quick Update!

Here's a fun link to designing your own shoes through PUMA!

AND a YouTube clip of Dwight, from The Office, in Second Life!



Enjoy!

New. Chic. Innovation. CURRENT.

Even the cynics like Andrew Keen, author of The Cult of the Amateur:How Today’s Internet Is Killing Our Culture, have to face the facts that today techonology is consuming and taking over our lives.

Think about this election...the first election to be powered and fuled by the digital generation. YouTube videos for campaign announcements, text messages sent out for VP endorsements...it's out of control -- yet, for someone like me a part of the digital generation, it seems so normal.

I know the difference between an "amateur" blogger and a harvard intellectual. I am aware that Wikipedia isn't always a reliable source of information. Growing up in this generation we are accustomed to seeing the difference between facts and someone just talking to talk.

Current TV, a new form of television where viewers can submit content, really emphasizes the difference between intellectual and hot-air. Even though I think this is an amazing concept, and I could see myself buying and tuning into Current (for fashion/travel tips from around the world!) I still think people should have good judgement about who they're actually listening to.

Being a part of this generation, it also intrigues me about what lies ahead. I am not afraid because I think that we are only progressing at the natural technological pace that we have now set for ourselves. Though I do think this could end terribly, there's no turning back now.

Brand Loyalty

We've been discussing whether or not it is useful for business' to use crowdsourcing and to use consumers as a part of the innovation/creation process. It's helpful to know that people also agree with the success and wonderful idea of using customers DIY tactics.

It's really genius because having consumers contribute their ideas makes them feel a part of the company and will keep them coming back for more. Using this strategy even within your company with your own employees I'm sure is very beneficial as well. Giving people more responsibility allows them to invest more of themselves and their time into the product you want to produce. And along with themselves, they bring their social network of family, friends, etc. FANTASTIC!

Creative Collaboration

I am all about having big corporations open up to the public and other academia outlets in order to promote or to create awareness about their new products. In Big Firms Eye 'Open Innovation' for Ideas it discusses how IBM has opened their new product Blue Gene to scientists. It is benefitting IBM to find out more uses for their product AND it is benefitting scientists who may have trouble getting resources or their research out to the public. I think it's always a great idea to be boundary stretchers and reach out to different areas to think of new and innovative ideas.

For example, in Nike's New Public Design Studio consumers actually go to Niketown in NYC to design and create their own custom made sneakers. It brings online fascination of "DIY" things to hands on reality. It is a wonderful idea especially because who knows how Nike is benefitting from all of these new color pallets and fresh new designs. Plus, think of the publicity! As a PR major, think about the possibility on hooking these consumers for life because they feel like they are a part of the design.

An interesting fact, when applying for a job at Vitamin Water they ask you if you were to create a new flavor what would it be and what would you call it. Think about how many applications they receive and how many new ideas they get everyday...

BRILLIANT!

Totally Unreal.

Fast Talk: Getting A (Second) Life examines the wonderful positives of being a part of the virtual world. One can hold business meetings, network with others, or even fly. The article states that the IBM uses second life in order to educate and accustom its new employees to the culture of IBM.

While this all sounds fine and dandy, think about how people skew their actual personalities and appearances on the Web. How do you know who you are speaking with is genuinely what they act like online? You don't.

I feel that it is extremely risky for businesses to have mentoring programs or any sort of acclamation into office culture on the Web because...it isn't REAL. No one can actually gauge the office mood by being online.

Even in a Virtual World, 'Stuff Matters emphasizes my point of people being something they're not. I have a cousin who gets so caught up in the virtual world that he just sits on his computer all day and does nothing else. Who knows, he could be THE man in second life.

But it's not real life. And to the public who engages and interacts with you everyday - you, in the real world, is what matters.