The Blogoclump

Read & discuss at Hilary's blog.

Recently this Washington Post article about their investigation into the public not remembering they clicked online advocacy system to communicate with regulatory agency. Relates to efforts by National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to oppose merger of satellite radio stations.

Many associations expanding into public involvement in online advocacy, so interesting read. Why can’t public be educated online, with option to participate?

Thoughts:
1. Great idea to run ads on consumer-oriented sites to educate consumers and request action on issue.
2. Every online experience wants one click - even Post online article had 36 one-clicks inside and around it. Not a negative.
3. Don’t like when politicians or staff get annoyed by online advocacy email. Constituents should be able to contact however they want. Likely they’ll send mass email response back so bit one-sided to want big effort by public, but convenience personally. Why force letters (stamps, gas cost, time delays), hunting public fax machine, dictating to answering machines or receptionists when easy option online?
4. Consumers don’t like to put too much personal info on any online system (like phone number) - of course many numbers dialed were wrong.
5. Theft of data from any advocacy system or database huge concern - could be stolen for advocacy purposes.
6. Potential for disconnect between what legislators/regulators often need to know (or require) to identify bill (technical terms, bill number, title); and how public will understand issue. “Inside the Beltway/dome” terms might not make sense. Simplified terms on complex issue doesn’t mean many could pass quiz on details of full bill - But public still can communicate support/opposition.

Definitely concerned about negative comments in article to positive (and real) option of public education and advocacy.

Read & discuss at CindyAE's blog.

The 1950s are long over!
Yesterday I received an invitation to attend Michigan State’s Business School’s 42nd annual executive forum.

The conference at first glance sounded interesting.
It’s focused on going global with branding.
Looking more closely at the seven speakers, I noticed they are all men.

Give me a break!
In the entire state of Michigan, I have a hard time believing […]

Read & discuss at Cynthia D'Amour's blog.

A few days ago I did a pretty lengthy write up about Mozeo and why I believed it was a suitable replacement for TXTMob at least with regard to using it to stay connected at the various events I (we) attend. A perfect test of Mozeo was the upcoming ASAE Great Ideas Conference on December […]

Read & discuss at Dave's blog.

I found a certifying agency that’s blogging! Check out the National Credentialing Agency’s (for laboratory personnel) blog. It’s pretty basic, plus I’d like to see somewhere a description of the blog’s purpose and authors. Neither are clear to me. But, hey, it’s a start so congratulations NCA for taking a risk.

Read & discuss at msrops's blog.

Read & discuss at Tony Rossell's blog.

This time, the example under the microscope is Starbucks new holiday ads, but this dissection on Brand Autopsy holds a few lessons for meetings marketers as well. Key quote:
Anytime you can swap out your logo for a competitor’s logo in any piece of marketing collateral and it looks fine, you have a problem.
Unfortunately, that’d be […]

Read & discuss at Sue Pelletier's blog.

From Chief Marketer: Top Ten: Marketing Ideas to Consider in 2008. Some are no-brainers, like green is red hot, but others are a little less obvious. Like using the gaming trend to market your wares (including, possibly, your meetings somehow?). Since Access All Areas already has given the list a good rundown, I won’t repeat […]

Read & discuss at Sue Pelletier's blog.

Read & discuss at Jamie Notter's blog.

Thanks to Jeff Cobb for pointing to a couple of our posts on his Mission to Learn blog. He was applying what we’ve been saying about strategy to the issue of experimenting with Social Media (since that’s been the topic…

Read & discuss at Jamie Notter's blog.