A rogue press release

Image via Wikipedia

A lot to say about this new release. We don’t even know where to start here … where their actually PR people involved here? Or the fact that they agreed to take this shotgun message and spin it? The fact that someone approved this? Or the fact that someone felt that the tragic death of two people related to a celebrity was the link to use to encourage people to purchase a shotgun?

We have parents

Today officially marks the debut of bGrand, the trail blazing communications consultancy that has now spread its wings across EMEA and North America. And, they have a really cool bLounge where you can get some tasty cocktails. Overall, its about a new collaborative approach towards gettting companies out into market and collaborating with innovative agencies around the world and using the best of all that is out there to communicate – old school and new school blended together and poured over ice with a twist. Mmm, we are thirsty. Happy Halloween!

Tags: bGrand, icon22, ink Communications

FCC story, count us in

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Well you know Tattletech has an obsession with anything the FCC does as well as their boy wonder leader – Kevin Martin. But today in Fierce Telecom, there was an interesting story on Congress and the FCC which always scares us. The folks in the US Congress, all 100 out of 535 of the loveable kids, want a vote delay on the intercarrier compensation issues on the table. But it seems that it might not even matter because there appears to be a lot behind the scenes maneuvering between the FCC commisioners, (I can just picture these “commissioners” as some old stately men in seersucker suits strolling around with pipes and straw bowerls) the FCC and Capitol Hill as to how the vote SHOULD go. Did you see how we emphasized the world SHOULD? This means that lobbiests are out in full force. The gamble? Congress wants the FCC to soften its line, and of course the FCC does not want to. Who will win? We are pretty sure it’s not the consumer.

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Tags: KevinMartin

Start ups Present at Somesso

Today, Somesso started and the 10 startups that were selected are listed here via the Somesso blog. Have a look and you can see where innvovation starts!  Happy to see that three out of 10 are run by women. Yes we always have to point that out! And one of our very favorite companies, Zemanta is presenting. As you can see from this entry, we already use Zemanta - a great company with a killer team that wants to make blogging more relevant, personal and just awesome.

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• New Media Diva Runs great Interview on Somesso founder
• Zemanta on G4tv.com

Tags: social media, Somesso, Zemanta

Um, Goldman Sachs just gave a heap of cash to LinkedIN

So, today in StrategyEye, they reported that LinkedIN got $22.7 m USD. Actually it was three fine companies but the thing is, they must really believe in LinkedIN to pony up that much cash these days. But, we like it -don’t be negative, just keep on marching onward and things will change. Or we will need some new shoes.

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• Digital Media Investment Down in Q3

Tags: LinkedIn, StrategyEye

bGrand launches on Friday!

In honor of bGrand launching on Friday and the “to be named” secret location party  – we are giving you a little taste of the bLounge! Drink up! On Friday, 10/31 you can see all of the cocktails and unveiling of bGrand at bgrandgroup.com.

bOnTop
Origin: No, it’s not what you think, be on top simply means ‘drink a cocktail made of Tequila, Orange bitters and Pisang’. TOP is an acronym – what did you think it was?

Ingredients:
- 1.5 Tequila
- 1 Pisang (this is a Dutch liquor)
- Dash of orange bitters
Use a cocktail glass and decorate with a piece of orange.
TECHilla Sunrise
1 1/2 oz. Tequila
4 – 6 oz. Orange Juice
1/2 oz. Grenadine
Orange Slice for garnish
Place 3 – 4 ice cubes in a Collins or Highball glass. Pour in tequila,  then orange juice, and finally the grenadine. Do not stir, let the  grenadine settle to the bottom of the glass. This will create the  “sunrise” effect. Garnish with an orange slice.

Tags: bGrand, Communications, Marketing 2.0

Venture Cocktail Zurich

Nothing says business like a whole bunch of VCs, entrepreneurs and cocktails and it’s coming up on Thursday, 30 October in Zurich. Venture Cocktail – don’t miss it cause in this market – it’s often the smallest discoveries that can generate a whole new revenue stream. See you there!

Tags: Entrepreneurs, venture capital, Venture cocktail, Zurich

The take away

Image by AKIHIRO FURUTA via Flickr

The take away for all you clients /companies out there who hire a marketing and/or PR firm to help you reach your market without thought – here is a great story in Read Write Web from a recent report by Rubicon about influencers and their role in social media sites.

You can read it for yourself but the take away is this: It is hard for companies to use the web to communicate WITH users,  but it is still a great medium to talk TO them. And in this case, the study says, smaller is better which the study showing that a smaller group of influencers can  in fact influencer a larger group to purchase.

And, we just liked this photo for  a Monday.

DMNews stays ahead of curve showcasing Ford’s social media guru

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Social media goes global. That is the first line of the article in a recent DM News interview with Ford‘s new social media guru – Scott Monty. Yes, again, I said Ford. Now, to all you folks who don’t believe in the power of social media, what more does it take to convince you that communications has truly changed? When Edward Bernays (the nephew of Sigmund Freud) was sitting in his parlour thinking about how dangerous the herd mentality was and how he needed to manipulate public opinion using the “psychology of the subconscious” he came up with the basis for what we are all doing today – but when he started, people probably didn’t believe either, but here we are – evolving communications even further and refining how to communicate in order to reach a hugely globalized world. Instead of the broad pitch, we now have the micro pitch which requires PR folks to be even more savvy about their target audience.

In the DM News article, David Ward has masterfully pointed out the job that Scott has in front of him in order to globalize their message through social media. Scott points out that its not “one size fits all” as there are even different social networking sites in Brazil v the US. A great chart illustrates the growth of the social media market showing a 25% growth rate from 2007 to 2008.

When people like Scott and Ford and other global brands look at the importance of reaching the globe, its clear why they are considered global leaders — leaders never stop looking outward and for new ways to innovate.

Tags: Edward Bernays, Ford Motor Company, Scott Monty, social media

SIME 08 – smart people go there

Not only a great event to be at but you have to love the value proposition – “On November 12 and 13, the world’s smartest people will go missing” Brilliant. Not only is the 12th a birthday for one of the Tattletech girls, but  SIME is the place the place to be to be in the know about digital opportunities, technology, communication and entrepreneurship. So go there and celebrate my birthday.

Tags: SIME