Yesterday I attended the Automotive News Marketing Seminar.  The event was spectacular and the program featured speakers from Mazda, Honda, General Motors and Hyundai.  Each company presented their respective strategies for marketing in the digital age, or as they referred to it,  Millenial Marketing.  I won’t be able to do the speakers justice, as each one did such an amazing job, but I took away these key points I’d like to share:

1. Content is king.  No matter where you’re saying it: Twitter, YouTube, or in a direct mail piece, it’s truly what you’re saying that counts.
2. Everyone is a critic.  With the evolution of social media, everyone has an opinion.  It’s important to address the positive as well as the negative quickly and effectively, turning potential problems into opportunities.
3. Target your audience.  Again, a seemingly simple task that’s as old as advertising itself, but in the digital age, it’s key to discover where your audience hangs out and meet them there.
4. Make it relevant.  Once you find your target audience, appeal to them.  Speak their language and they’ll drink your kool-aid.
5. Measure ROI, not on quantity, but on quality.  Having 4 million fans means nothing unless they’re buying what you’re selling.

Finally, I’ll leave you with the Chevy Superbowl commercial, which really encompasses these 5 points and defines Millenial Marketing.

***Before this commercial aired, each stunt had only been featured online as individual vignettes.

If your life was a commercial – what would it be?

Martini Asti “Let Go” from Genevieve Vincent on Vimeo.

But did it live up to the hype?

***SPOILER ALERT***

If the Mad Men season 5 premiere is still sitting on your DVR, this review is not for you…  But if you tuned in for the return of your favorite ad execs, you saw an alarmingly happy Don, a noticeably absent Betty and Joan & Roger’s love child.

The return of Mad Men brought back the style and drama we’ve been missing, but we felt the first episode lacked in answers what it made up for in questions.  Why is Don so happy despite his bride’s embarrassing birthday surprise? Conversely, why are Roger & Jane so unhappy and what was the deal with creepy Lane and the picture of Dolores???  Will Red’s husband eventually do the math or will a striking resemblance to his real father give him away? Luckily we have 12 more episodes to find out!

What did you think of Mad Men’s return?

We’ve all become accustomed to the use of acronyms in everyday life.  OMG, JK and LMK are just a few of the text short cuts our smartphones have popularized.  But when someone recently asked me about ZMOT, I had to investigate.  So what IS it exactly?

Zero Moment of Truth (ZMOT) is that moment when you grab your laptop, mobile phone or some other wired device and start learning about a product or service (or potential boyfriend) you’re thinking about trying or buying. I’m sure you know what I mean — you probably do web searches like this every day.  — Jim Lecinski, Managing Director, U.S. Sales & Service for Google

The full book is well worth a read, but simply put, ZMOT is the new way in which consumers are integrating an online component into their shopping experience.  By adding a step to what was once thought of as a 3-step model, (Stimulus, Shelf, Experience) consumers are empowered with digital information and they know how to use it!  As marketers we need to win at ZMOT, and here’s how:

1. Put Someone in Charge
2. Find Your Zero Moments
3. Answer the Questions People Are Asking
4. Optimize for ZMOT
5. Be Fast
6. Don’t Forget Video
7. Jump In

I am writing today about a matter very near and dear to my heart. As a Marketing professional (former waitress, retail clerk & telemarketer,) customer service is familiar territory. And it isn’t easy; in fact, I have more respect for customer service representatives than I do for most professions. That being said, it PAINS me every time I have to pick up the phone and call customer service, ANY customer service (save a few that I will list as the silver lining below.)

And I don’t mean to kill the messenger either, but what is the deal?!?!?!! I know you get a million complaints a day – but your job is to SERVE the CUSTOMER (it’s in your title after all;-) And if you can’t take the heat, GET OFF THE PHONE!!!!!! I have had more trouble with one company (who shall remain nameless, but appears in the following SNL skit) that I am literally at my wits end!!!! I have written letters (since the phone calls obviously get me nowhere) upon letters, to no avail. You would think, in this current economic situation, companies would be doing EVERYTHING they can to hold onto their customers…

If you don’t have time for the whole clip, skip to about 3:30

The silver lining, as promised, is the following companies, whose customer service literally sets them apart. I highly recommend:

- Charles Schwab
- OC Mazda
- Verizon Wireless

I’m no occupier, but here’s a hint to big companies… THINK SMALL – it’s the little people that count and social media gives us a LOUD voice!

Please forward this to your friends and let me know your thoughts! I’m on a mission to be heard!

The Coca-Cola Company

We’ve discussed cross-promotional marketing at length and these days; it’s more abundant than ever. Coke’s holiday cans, though controversial, were a nod to their partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. Coinstar now waives fees when you cash in for a Starbucks gift card or Gap e-certificate. And airline miles add up quickly and can be used, not only for flights, but online purchases as well! It never ceases to amaze me how effective marketing truly sets your brand apart and cross-promotional marketing, when done correctly, can be extremely effective.

At a recent trade show, I was blown away by the difference between the obvious industry leaders and everyone else. The leaders knew exactly how to get your attention (and isn’t that what marketing is in a nutshell?) Their message was clear, consistent and concise. The takeaways weren’t gimmicky and you left feeling informed, a cross-promotional success story!

A truly effective marketing campaign requires a solid strategy and integrating cross-promotional marketing maybe just the ticket!

What are your thoughts on cross-promotional marketing?  What effective cross-promotional strategies have you found?

Before you dig into dinner, here are some Thanksgiving Myths and Facts, provided by National Geographic.

• Do you know what was served at the first Thanksgiving?
• Does turkey REALLY make you sleepy?
• How does a turkey get a pardon from the President?

From our family to yours, have a safe and happy holiday!

I still remember my first time like it was yesterday. I cringed in horror at the thought, let alone the act, in which I was about to partake. It repulsed me to think I would be joining the youth culture in what would surely be their demise. And what would my parents think? But they were young once too, they must’ve experimented. So I sat back, reached out my hand and let the journey begin.

It started slowly at first; once a week, then twice, but before I knew it I was doing it daily, even multiple times a day, spiraling completely out of control. I’m talking, of course, about social media.

The more invested I became, the more useful I began to find these tools, each of their own accord. And now, as a self-proclaimed junkie, here are my reasons:

Why I Like LinkedIn:

LinkedIn is by far and away my favorite tool. It’s a working resume that allows you to connect with companies as well as individuals. You can add events, a reading list, even link your Twitter account. If you do ONE thing in social media, this (in my opinion) is the way to go.

Why I Like Twitter:

I will be the first to admit, Twitter used to overwhelm and annoy me. I was the person like, “Who wants to know what I had for lunch today?!” I completely did not understand its purpose. But the more I immerse myself in it, the more I love it. The list function is perfect for following specific individuals or topics. And it’s a great way to get current events without having to visit a bunch of websites. Finally, if you write a blog, Twitter is an absolute must.

Why I Like Quora:

Again, Quora used to overwhelm me. I’m still scared to ask a question, but it’s a phenomenal resource for getting answers. Quora is my go-to resource for answering my own questions.

Why I Like Google+

So far, the only reason I like Google + is because of how much I dislike Facebook. I haven’t really used it much, aside from sharing a few pictures, but I see its potential.

Not all tools are for everyone or every business.  Get to know your audience, engage them and watch your business grow!

In a world where men get manicures and women race IndyCar, leave it to the soft drink industry to stir up sexism. Dr. Pepper has created a controversial campaign, “It’s Not for Women” to make a diet soda appeal to men.

And frankly, it’s about time someone stirred the pot!! We’re so uptight, especially when it comes to advertising, about who we’re going to offend that no one says ANYTHING anymore. C’mon people, it’s FUNNY… And I’m a woman!! I’m not mad that they “accuse” me of liking romantic comedies… I DO like them! But so do a lot of men… Just as men drink diet soda, women drink beer and we shouldn’t feel badly about it.

Bottom’s up!