filter by tag: cone

When I finally found the time to order “The Social Network” on demand, what struck me most about Facebook mastermind Mark Zuckerberg was both his portrayed arrogance and his genius. But in spite of his undeniable intelligence, I don’t think he could ever have imagined how invaluable his creation would become to marketers.

Facebook is an increasingly important tool we use on a daily basis to connect and engage with consumers. I think it’s reasonable to say you’re way behind the eight ball if Facebook isn’t a consideration in your marketing strategy. But, just having a presence isn’t enough; in fact, recent research has clearly shown that all content is not created equal.

Consider the following when engaging with “fans” on your brand’s Facebook page:

• Your page is important to your consumer. Our 2010 Consumer New Media Study found traditional online tools, such as websites and email, lead the way, but social networks are the next most common channels Americans use to interact with companies and brands online.
• Timing is everything. Consumers are more likely to read your posts after work (good news for their employers). According to Buddy Media, companies that post content on their Facebook pages outside normal business hours see engagement rates that are 20 percent higher than average – Thursdays and Fridays see especially high traffic.
• Keep it brief. If the wild success of Twitter tells us anything, it’s that people like short and sweet, and the same is true for Facebook. The Buddy Media study also found posts with 80 characters or fewer have a 27 percent higher engagement rate.
• Some things in life are free…and everyone loves free stuff! According to our Cone study, incentives, such as free products or services, coupons, etc., are the biggest reason (77%) consumers choose to engage with brands via social media. Other things consumers are looking for include problem solving (e.g., customer service), the ability to provide feedback, and of course, entertainment.

When I started my first blog years back the best advice I was given was to keep it fresh, dynamic and interesting for my readers (albeit there were not many). The same practices can be applied to a Facebook page. As a marketer, I’ve learned the importance of posting often and with purpose. Facebook allows us to consistently engage with people that really care about a product, service or company, so we should use this unmatched tool to provide information that is meaningful, timely and relevant to our consumers and not just post for the sake of posting.

Simply put, since you took the time to “like” me, I want to make it worth your while.

--Lindsay Harrington, Account Supervisor, @LindsHar15

As part of his worldwide “take over” and public meltdown a few weeks ago, actor Charlie Sheen opened a Twitter account and in just three days became the fastest account to reach 1 million followers. Once he secured his following, Sheen agreed to tweet on behalf of Internships.com and drew more than 1 million unique visitors to the site – proving the power of celebrity.

Thinking as a marketer, there’s no doubt about it; the social synergy between brands and celebrities is becoming more and more symbiotic. According to recent research from The Nielson Company, 64 percent of adult U.S. Internet users who follow a celebrity online also follow a brand – said another way, adults who follow celebrities are four times more likely to follow a brand than the average adult. Nielson also points out that fans are more likely to offer advice and opinions to fellow online consumers.

Sheen’s public meltdown aside, there is no doubt that celebrity partnerships for brand or cause campaigns are relevant again, thanks to social media. So why has social media changed the way we think and feel about celebrities? In the past, celebrities were largely untouchable and fans could only learn their “inner thoughts” by reading a quote or blurb in People magazine. Today, fans can follow a celebrity on Facebook or Twitter and literally know what Ashton Kutcher or Alyssa Milano are thinking – or not thinking – 24/7. To borrow a famous movie phrase, “this time it’s personal.”

In terms of doing good, a celebrity’s social strength can support relief or cause efforts with just a post or a tweet. Following the natural disaster in Japan, musicians Lady Gaga and Katy Perry both mobilized their enormous social followings and encouraged fans to donate money to help disaster victims. Gaga tweeted, “I Designed a Japan Prayer Bracelet… ALL proceeds will go to Tsunami Relief Efforts” and Perry urged fans to donate to the Red Cross. In a few days, their social calls for help raised significant funds for disaster relief. This never could have happened just a few years ago.

One thing that hasn’t changed is that celebrity partnerships for brands or cause-related efforts still need to be natural and organic. But if the right partnerships can be formed and social followers mobilized, meaningful impact for programs can be achieved like never before.

--Mark Malinowski, Senior Vice President, Cone Entertainment Marketing


To learn more about our recently launched Cone Entertainment Marketing service, please view today’s press announcement.

Let’s talk ethics. Why? Because in today’s world, we need to keep this conversation alive as much as possible. And because considering ethics is like exercising a muscle – if you don’t do it every so often, your ability atrophies.

The recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigation of “fake” news has certainly pushed the discussion of ethics, or lack thereof in some cases, back into the headlines. Questions from the U.S. Government in 2005 about the authenticity of video news releases spurred new allegations and legislation for the PR industry. For quite some time, federal guidelines have required sponsored segments or “pay-to-play” stories be disclosed by broadcasters; however, the Policy Council for the Free Press says they are not being enforced.

Even the Better Business Bureau, which aims to build trust, maintain a positive track record and advertise honestly, is under investigation for allegedly awarding "A+" ratings to businesses that paid an accreditation fee and "F" grades to those opting not to join the organization. These ratings, often promoted by organizations and their PR teams to build credibility and trust among consumers, can be a key decision-making resource for consumers looking for the right business to patronize.

Adding another layer of complexity to the discussion is the explosive growth of social media. This consumer-generated “24/7 media” did not start with rules – people made them up as they blogged, posted and tagged online. And, the FCC is still trying to keep up and enforce disclosure rules to prevent such tactics as astroturfing.

These recent developments are prompting more colleges and organizations to offer classes in PR and business ethics, host ethics hotlines and hold transparent discussions to explore the decision-making process. Indiana State University hosted a discussion for students with a fictitious scenario regarding investor relations. And at Cone, we host our own seminars and orientation sessions in communications ethics to help employees explore a variety of situations and the guidelines that can assist in making the appropriate ethical decisions.

Yesterday’s big Facebook announcement integrating Deals into Facebook Places was certainly a slap in the face to other location-based apps, but it overshadowed the rolling out of some new features that could significantly change the way users interact with your brand. Now, anyone who had previously “liked” your brand can “unlike” it directly from their news feeds.

This action used to require a user to click through the news feed item to actually visit the brand page, then click on the “unlike” link located well below the fold in the often-ignored left-hand column. Now, a user can click on the “X” in the upper right corner of a news feed item and choose to “unlike” a page – or even go so far as to report the item as spam.

Data from the recently released 2010 Cone Consumer New Media Study indicate 58 percent of consumers will stop following a brand online if they feel the brand is over-communicating – the same percentage of consumers that will stop following if the company “acts irresponsibly toward its consumers.”

By making this process easier for users, Facebook just shifted the balance of control a bit more in the direction of the consumer. Brands – beware! Compelling content that resonates with your target audience is the only solution to ensure you continue to develop deeper relationships with your consumers.

When the average marriage only lasts eight years, Cone is lucky to celebrate 20 with a truly remarkable company. J. Barbour & Sons, Ltd., known worldwide for manufacturing fine British country outerwear, joined the Cone family of clients in 1990, and two decades later, the relationship is stronger than ever. This month, we surprised our client with a champagne toast. We shared many happy memories and best wishes for another 20 years together.

Where would Susan G. Komen For the Cure be without the month of October or a pink ribbon? Where would Livestrong be without Lance Armstrong and a yellow bracelet? When it comes to branding, it turns out nonprofits and for-profits aren’t so different – at least in the eyes of the consumer. Whether the dollar goes to the beneficiary or the bottom line, a recognizable brand image is a powerful tool in a marketer’s tool kit.

Our 2009 Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100 demonstrated that nonprofits who take a for-profit approach to brand management can reap the benefits of additional awareness and increased revenue. So, it shouldn’t surprise you that six of the top 10 nonprofit brands were also top 10 revenue earners. And, our latest research proves nonprofits can use the same principles of branding their own organizations to brand their causes, too. According to our recently released 2010 Cone Nonprofit Marketing Trend Tracker, traditional marketing elements, such as an association with a special event or time period, a memorable color, logo or icon or the involvement of a celebrity or other notable spokesperson, help nonprofit causes stand out in the minds of American consumers.

What else can nonprofits do to ensure their causes break through? Check out our sister blog, “What Do You Stand For?” for more insights. In the meantime, we want to hear from you. What are your favorite examples of a nonprofit that has done a good job branding its cause? What were the marketing factors that left an impression?

Almost 80 percent of new media users interact with companies or brands online. So, it's pretty much an imperative that your brand have a social media strategy in place. But that poses a puzzling question: Who should take the lead when it comes to developing your social media strategy? PR or digital?

2009 Cone Consumer New Media Study

A recent PRNews article lays out the argument for the PR folks, and our own director of new media, Mike Hollywood, couldn't agree more. "Our channel agnosticism affords us the luxury of looking at the entire media landscape before deciding which channels are best for our client's message AND audience."

Read his take on the debate and get tips for implementing your own social media strategy.* And be sure to tell us what you think. Who should own the strategy?

*Check out our updated new media research, the 2009 Consumer New Media Study.

When does a meeting need to be face to face?

Fast Company poses this question to our CEO Jens Bang in its online series "30 Second MBA," whichfeatures CEOs andother executive leadership sharing best practices for business management.

As he explains, a face-to-face meeting allows the participants to "express the emotionality behind the communication."

Looking for a fun weekend activity?

Join the Lemelson-MIT Program for its third annual EurekaFest, and help celebrate the inventive spirit! A few weeks ago, Chrissy Redmond discussed how the Lemelson-MIT Program was re-branding science, transforming it into a cool experience for the world’s future technological innovators. Now, you have a chance to see that in action.

EurekaFest is a multi-day celebration designed to empower a legacy of inventors through activities that inspire youth, honor role models and encourage creativity and problem solving. Today, at MIT’s Stata Center, you can observe a nationwide high school invention showcase and see renowned inventors present on the MIT campus.

Saturday, I'll be at Boston's Museum of Science to cheer on more than 200 high school students in an all-day wind-powered design challenge; their families will also have the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning activities.

All events are free and open to the public, so come join me!

Brand—a word often associated with large, consumer-facing companies whose products fill supermarket shelves or suburban shopping malls. But, a brand is just as important to nonprofit organizations, too. After all, a solid brand identity tells an important story. It sets expectations, gains attention, fosters relationships and ultimately helps ensure long-term survival.

In our latest research, The Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100, conducted in collaboration with Intangible Business, we looked at the relationship between nonprofits’ brand images and their revenues. What we found might surprise you. Nonprofit brands can contribute millions, and sometimes billions, of dollars to organizations’ revenues!

Check out our sister blog, What Do You Stand For?, to find out more.

And tell us, what do you think are the major differences between for-profit and nonprofit brand management?

This week, The Publicity Club of New England honored more than 150 public relations and communications professionals for their achievements at the 40^th annual Bell Ringer Awards. The Bell Ringer Awards recognize excellence in communications and public relations work in every field and industry, and across all media—print, broadcast and online. More than 400 of New England's top PR professionals gathered at Boston’s Westin Waterfront Hotel to celebrate the accomplishments we have made over the past year.

Whether helping immigrants reach a better life through Western Union's efforts OR inviting the world to meet “Cliff” the triceratops residing at the Museum of Science, the night was filled with one impressive campaign after another. As I sat at the event hearing about all of the amazing work from companies throughout New England, I felt inspired at the collective impact that we truly have had.

It’s important to remember that we as PR practitioners truly have the ability to influence the way people and businesses think and act. In fact, at a recent Pub Club panel comprised of eight lifestyle editors from throughout the Greater Boston Area, it was confirmed that 75 percent of their story ideas and content come directly from our community.

Congratulations to all entrants and winners, and thank you for continuing to inspire and push us to continue the amazing work and reach new heights in the communications and public relations field!

-- Hilary Blowers, Account Supervisor