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Yesterday I read an interesting statistic that found only 12.2% of Fortune 500 companies have business blogs – defined as active public blogs by company employees, about the company and/or its products. Surprisingly lower than I expected.

With blogging percentages this low, the use of other social media is likely to be even lower. It appears that businesses are still struggling with the thought of not controlling the message. Ironically, the inability to control the message is the primary reason social media is the most trusted form of marketing.

It’s obvious many companies aren’t willing to implement social media as a core communications strategy. What they fail to understand is that conversations are actually already taking place… they’re just happening on someone else’s site.

 

Are newspaper empires now making an investment in Hollywood?  Hollywood has always been up for grabs.  Hiding behind an excuse of “reflecting society”; when in reality it is the most influential platform in history, shaping society, accessible only by the loudest voices.  And yes the digital domain is changing all that; as it has many other traditional mediums.

Three recent films “Marly & Me“, “State Of Play“, and “The Soloist“, all involve a component of the newspaper business; portraying its current struggle for survival, yet playing to the sympathetic side of viewers about the value of ‘real’ journalism.  Who creates this stuff?  Is Art imitating life, or is Art imitating investors intending to shape our attitudes toward the inevitable?  Suddenly I’m supposed to feel bad because I do not read a printed newspaper?  Or that I prefer to get my news online?  Great journalism is suddenly limited to print?  Anybody in broadcasting out there listening?  You’re next.

This reminds me of a time, not too long ago, when attitudes toward motion-pictures were that “serious movies are limited to only shooting in film”.  Need we be reminded again and again that the story is the asset.  I do not discount the craft of looking through a lense and capturing life to be retold with intent.  The same is true for the journalist.  The medium is not the message.  The message is the message.

Three great movies all deserving of awards for brilliant acting, and storytelling.  And while we’re at it, give them an award for best “play on society”.  And for a brief moment, I thought newspapers would make a comeback.

It’s simple, we are in the business of communicating.  That is developing messages and experiential technologies whereby the brands we represent connect with their customers.  It’s that simple.  And to do that we generate volumes of information;  mostly from research or trend watching.  Wading through data takes a very special type of mind.  It can be overwhelming at times.  I was reminded again today of the significance of this process and how, in the end, so much data and information often filters down to very little resulting information that is required to make a final decision or present to a client.

It comes down to a single metric; will customers recommend the brand to others?  There is no higher value in marketing.

Yesterday… more layoffs at another agency here in town.  As the principle at Premier Studios, I can’t help but feel a twist in my gut knowing that, but for the grace of God go I.  I told a friend recently that I am uncomfortable these days when people ask how things are at Premier Studios.  Frankly, because they’re great.  We are hiring and expanding. We have new clients engaging our services.  Everything I see and hear these days tells me that this should not be happening.  But it is - and I am thankful.

It’s happening because of people - the people at Premier Studios that is.  When you look past the facilities and technology (and free drinks and snacks) you find the best people in the world giving their best to the best clients in the world.  Everyone is concerned about the future and rightly so - so am I.  But in good times and bad we are still who we are. And it is in the worst of times that our character is tested the most.  This is as true for me as it is the newest person on our team.

Now is the opportunity to advance, now is the opportunity to demonstrate your expertise. Good times are coming and we will be tempted to relax and enjoy the ride.  Now is the time to make the choices that set the standard for tomorrow.  What a great opportunity we all have -  everyone.

And yes, we’re still here!

 I saw this quote today and had to share…

Multi-tasking is dead. It never worked and it never will. Intelligent people love to sing its praises because it gives them permission to avoid the much more challenging alternative: focusing on one thing.
— Timothy Ferriss