Optime Consulting: There are better ways to market your content than Riding Memes

I’m so tired of brands misusing Memes! 

optimeconsulting:

Today, brands are engaging their audience more and more using memes. Memes, as we know them today, began as images with witty or sarcastic remarks, created by users on forums such as 4chan or reddit. It’s not always a bad idea to use memes in your marketing, but because the trend has gotten so…

optimeconsulting: THE BIG 5: ALIGNING INTERNATIONAL TEAMS 1. SIMPLIFY When you’re dealing with cross-cultural teams, it’s important to keep in mind the different cultures involved and how they interpret the tasks at hand. The easiest way to avoid getting lost in translation is to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Clearly set your goals, responsibilities, and priorities of all the key players involved in the development of a project, both numerically and visually, allows everyone working on it to be ALIGNED. Avoid complicating things with fluff and get straight to the point. In the words of Einstein “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough” 2. CONNECT Managing a project whose key players are scattered around the world seems like tricky task… But the best way to get around communication barriers such as time differences, multiple languages, and distinct work culture us to use collaboration tools and clearly layout how each one will be used in each phase of the project. 3. STRUCTURE Now that you have clearly laid out your project’s goals and established the tools you will use to measure progress, it’s time to create some structure. Templates are the best way for everyone to understand what is needed for the completion of a certain element that fits in the larger picture, being it communicational elements on websites, microsites, apps, social platforms, or HTMLs. By keeping the layouts simple, you can create guidelines for all the steps to be completed. This helps everyone stay organized. 4. DEADLINES This is crucial for any team in order to avoid those last minute panic attacks, the one’s where you realize things are missing and no one is available in the other countries because of a time difference or miscommunication. Deadlines are clear-cut and allow for a six-sigma approach to content development. No one is left waiting on someone else’s part and the whole team is aligned with the set time frames. With the use of the collaboration tools mentioned above, you can communicate and promote interaction between the team members on delivery dates and enable a flow of information so the project comes together in the way it was planned. 5. FLEXIBILITY This is the most important trait anyone working with international teams should have. Even though you may excel in simplicity, connection, structure, and deadlines, the world is unpredictable and you must be ready to react to whatever is thrown your way. You can have an efficient foundation with the steps mentioned above, but a content strategy succeeds only when extraneous factors are efficiently managed. Be ready for anything and be ready to communicate with everyone on board if there is a change of direction. 
Pop-upView Separately

optimeconsulting:

THE BIG 5: ALIGNING INTERNATIONAL TEAMS

1. SIMPLIFY

When you’re dealing with cross-cultural teams, it’s important to keep in mind the different cultures involved and how they interpret the tasks at hand. The easiest way to avoid getting lost in translation is to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Clearly set your goals, responsibilities, and priorities of all the key players involved in the development of a project, both numerically and visually, allows everyone working on it to be ALIGNED. Avoid complicating things with fluff and get straight to the point.

In the words of Einstein “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough”

2. CONNECT

Managing a project whose key players are scattered around the world seems like tricky task… But the best way to get around communication barriers such as time differences, multiple languages, and distinct work culture us to use collaboration tools and clearly layout how each one will be used in each phase of the project.

3. STRUCTURE

Now that you have clearly laid out your project’s goals and established the tools you will use to measure progress, it’s time to create some structure. Templates are the best way for everyone to understand what is needed for the completion of a certain element that fits in the larger picture, being it communicational elements on websites, microsites, apps, social platforms, or HTMLs. By keeping the layouts simple, you can create guidelines for all the steps to be completed. This helps everyone stay organized.

4. DEADLINES

This is crucial for any team in order to avoid those last minute panic attacks, the one’s where you realize things are missing and no one is available in the other countries because of a time difference or miscommunication. Deadlines are clear-cut and allow for a six-sigma approach to content development. No one is left waiting on someone else’s part and the whole team is aligned with the set time frames. With the use of the collaboration tools mentioned above, you can communicate and promote interaction between the team members on delivery dates and enable a flow of information so the project comes together in the way it was planned.

5. FLEXIBILITY

This is the most important trait anyone working with international teams should have. Even though you may excel in simplicity, connection, structure, and deadlines, the world is unpredictable and you must be ready to react to whatever is thrown your way. You can have an efficient foundation with the steps mentioned above, but a content strategy succeeds only when extraneous factors are efficiently managed. Be ready for anything and be ready to communicate with everyone on board if there is a change of direction. 

Optime Consulting: “Receta” is the Most Googled Word in Spanish

Pretty proud of writing this one:

optimeconsulting:

Social Media Week seems to be well under way in Miami, and being in a multi-cultural hub that Miami is, Latinos on social media seemed to be a hot topic. In the social media world, brands that have been able to capture the attention of Hispanics are considered digital marketing juggernauts….

Our team did such a great job! Still trying to get over hearing my voice seeing Anifer’s body. lol

optimeconsulting:

Our tailored loyalty programs are designed with a clear understanding of your audience. From SMB to Corporate markets, we know how to address the right strategy to motivate and recognize sales, specialization, and influence winning behaviors.

http://www.optimeconsulting.com/en/loyalty.php

mashable: Our Mashable Social Media Day page is LIVE. Here you will be able to see what’s happening on Social Media Day across the globe. On the page you can find: Social Media Day Meetup locations Logos and information for organizers Live feeds of Instagram pics and tweets with the hashtag #smday Be sure to follow along and find a Meetup location near you. Remember to use the hashtag #smday to join the conversation on Twitter. We can’t wait to celebrate this special day with you! 
Pop-upView Separately

mashable:

Our Mashable Social Media Day page is LIVE. Here you will be able to see what’s happening on Social Media Day across the globe. On the page you can find:

  • Social Media Day Meetup locations
  • Logos and information for organizers
  • Live feeds of Instagram pics and tweets with the hashtag #smday

Be sure to follow along and find a Meetup location near you. Remember to use the hashtag #smday to join the conversation on Twitter.

We can’t wait to celebrate this special day with you! 

Social Media Users with a Super Hero Complex

Facebook is a great thing, but when used incorrectly, you take the risk of revealing the fool you are behind the screen. Now, we all want to be superheroes at some point in our lives. We want to protect our community from the forces of evil, and serve justice on a silver platter. However, some people just never grow out of that stage. Here are a few big DON’TS when creating a group page for your community.

1.       Groups are a great idea for small suburban communities! Just DON’T be a creeper!

There is a “private” group on Facebook that a nearby neighborhood community of adults started towards the end of 2011. These “PEEPS” (People’s Eyes Everywhere Protecting Stuff), started out as a kind of online neighborhood watch. Quickly, though, it seemed that watching the neighborhood turned into acting for the neighborhood.

The following are some of the posts on this group’s page [no changes have been made to these posts, spelling, grammar, etc.]:

Ford Explorer parked right across from VPK building. Two people inside. Appear to be smoking something. Truck is not on. Very strange for this time of night. 1am.


2.       DON’T be so nosy! Don’t you remember how you were as a teen?


It’s easy to feel important when you’ve been accepted into a private community Facebook group. It’s also easy to let that “power” go to your head. Don’t start “reporting” for the sake of writing on Facebook. I have to admit, this next post made me laugh; I can’t help but feel like there’s a desperate housewife with too much time on her hands behind this beauty.
Sad that teens/kids are not showing respect for themselves or others. They don’t seem to care about injuring (maybe killing) and destroying other people and their property. In the past month we have had 2 fires in Fh, today there was a fight with about 40 on lookers, there are cars speeding through stop signs, lights and through children friendly neighborhoods, people killing fish for the fun or it etc.

My problem with this post is the automatic assumption that it is teens doing something wrong. It was later found out that people ‘killing fish for fun’ were, in fact, adults. Not teens. As a person who has been driving for seven years now, I can also say that it is not just teens that speed through stop signs. More often than not I’m cut off by soccer moms with their kids in the back seat watching Spongebob Squarepants on the built-in DVD players.

3.       Relax, Superwoman, that bird was not close enough to harm you. However, you might want to stay away from telling other parents how to raise their kids.


Just read:

This teenage boy just passed me on Osprey Glen on a double yellow line. Proceeded to drive 60plus and carelessly. When I caught up to him at a light, he have me the finger…if this is ur kid take the keys away!!!!! [posted with picture of car’s license plate]

A majority of commenters encouraged the woman to continue looking for the teenager and press charges at him for giving her the finger. Pressing charges because a teenager flipping the bird? If that was a real offense, ½ of teens would be behind bars.

I can’t say this is only happens in social media, but come on. Someone needs to bring that person down from their pedestal. People often forget how public social media is. People also tend to forget that even though things posted online can be easily deleted, it’s also just as east to take screen shots. It’s so easy to post on a social network that people often either forget or just don’t think of how they sound. Do people still even filter what they write? According to PEEPS, I guess not.

We all love social media and why shouldn’t we? It’s an excellent way to keep in touch with friends and business contacts and for businesses it’s an ideal way to market yourselves and products to your target audience. While the “PEEPS” group is an extreme case, it is important to remember when operating our own pages or our businesses social media page to maintain a professional demeanor and not cross the boundary between ‘well meaning’ and ‘ridiculous’. If you cross that line, friends and fans won’t take you seriously. 

MexiCoke Sells Itself

While walking through the aisles of my favorite grocery store, I came across a little set up for Mexican Coca-Cola. Well, I’d never heard about it before, so I laughed and took a picture of it. Really, what’s the big deal? I then posted it on facebook with the caption “How is this a selling point?”

I’ve had Coca-Cola in a few different countries, and I have to admit, they all taste the same. So what’s the big deal with Mexican Coca-Cola? As soon as I posted my confusion on Facebook, I got a lot of responses from friends all saying that Mexican Coke was better because it’s made with real sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup. People also said that Mexican Coke just plain tastes better.

I had to wonder, why would Coca-Cola made in Mexico be sold in the US? What’s the soda company’s angle? First off, the product was sold in a glass bottle. Everyone knows that coke tastes better from a glass bottle. However, that’s not the selling point. “Hecho en Mexico” (Made in Mexico) dominated the board behind the coke bottles. Coca-Cola has always admitted that because of price and availability, the recipe will be different from country to country. So, why do Americans like MexiCoke so much?

The answer is in the people. Coca-Cola realized that with so many Latinos in the US, they needed to provide a taste of home. Now, Coca-Cola isn’t stupid, either. Small “cults” of Mexican coke enthusiasts started forming, and keeping track of which stores sold the soda. Because of its rising demand, MexiCoke can now be found at large grocery store chains, like Publix, Kroger, and Costco which can be bought in bulk. Long story short, people just like the product enough for Coca-Cola to distribute it on a wider scale. No crazy marketing scheme, just plain, organic demand.

Now, I have to admit, I was curious enough to buy it. What did I think of MexiCoke? I don’t think it’s a big deal. If you are more of a Pepsi person, you’d love MexiCoke because it is sweeter than the American version. I like American Coca-Cola because it has a bite, or a sharper taste. However, I didn’t really notice much of a difference. If I wasn’t looking for a taste difference, I would not have noticed it. Like Andy Warhol said, “A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking. All the Cokes are the same and all the Cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the president knows it, the bum knows it and you know it.”

For further insight, check out where I found my info besides Wikipedia:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/magazine/11fob-consumed-t.html?_r=1

http://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/news-content/full/davos-2012-coca-cola-to-invest-1bn-in-mexico

http://www.seriouseats.com/2007/05/costco-is-selling-mexican-coke.html

http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/massmarkets/2011/09/12/mexican-coke-is-a-welcome-addition-to-stop-shop-shelves/#axzz1sjXqHtW2

Escape Routes Races to Social Media Fame

Step aside American Idol, there’s a new social show in town, and this time Twitter takes center stage. Today, the cast of NBC’s new show Escape Routes made a pit stop at Zucchero Restaurant in South Miami to talk about how social media is the driving force behind their show’s success. If you haven’t heard of Escape Routes, think of it as a real time Amazing Race where different aspects of the show are manipulated by social media, such as challenge winners can be picked through twitter. 

Today, social media plays such an important role in entertainment in general. It’s almost a breath of fresh air to know that social tv is finally here. At the social meet up held in Miami today, cast members were able to answer questions about how social media has temporarily taken over their lives as they compete against each other to win $100,000 and the brand new 2012 Ford Escape.

Some of the cast members and little me.

The cast members are just as involved in social media as their fans are. Sharon Montero (@LaLocaDR) said “we want you to be a part of our show”. Terrance Terrell (@IAMTERRENCET) agreed, saying that because of social media’s influence on the show he has connected with his fans on a personal level. When asked, “How does social media influence the show”, Host Rossie Morreale (@rossimorreale) answered, “No one’s ever done it. We’re airing as we shoot them. Fans can have a voice. fans can swing the vote… You can actually yell at the TV!”

There’s no doubt that Ford and NBC were smart about pushing the brand new 2013 Escape. It’s one hell of a campaign. Social Media has helped them push the envelope into what people want. People want to interact with their favorite stars, and because social media is so transparent it’s so simple to communicate with the reality stars.

@thePRbunny and @ItzMeTiffany@IAMTERRENCET and @TheIrisHill

Being a self-proclaimed social media junkie, I’ve fallen in love with the show’s concept. By the end of the event, I had already followed every cast member, and even tweeted with them. Here’s how you can too:

FACEBOOK APP: https://apps.facebook.com/escaperoutes/?ref=ts

WEBSITE: http://www.escaperoutes.com/

#EscapeRoutes Cast
HOST: Rossie Morreale @rossimorreale
DIGITAL HOST: Justine Ezarik @ijustine

Contestants:
#teamyoutube
BRETT: @BrettTheIntern 
ROSS: @TheRossEverett

#SouthernGremlins
#GreyTeam
IRIS: @TheIrisHill
TERRENCE: @IAMTERRENCET 

#TeamYellow
CHEKESHA: @ChekeshaJ
TIFFANY: @ItzMeTiffany

#TeamRed
BRE: @AlchemyBre
TARA: @Tarafied87 

#PlatanoExpress
SHARON: @LaLocaDr 
WILSON: @Will_Montero

DREW: @konzybaby
DEREK: @derekkonzelman 

 2012 Ford Escape for #EscapeRoutes