In today’s economy, consumers are becoming more and more frustrated, the value of the dollar continues to shrink as debt continues to rise, and companies are cutting expenses by laying off thousands of people every day,. And as more and more people lose their jobs, they are turning to social media to vent and to take their minds off their troubles.
As a result, the world of social media is exploding at an exponential rate. Social media not only gives people the chance to air their opinions and share commentary with others, it also gives companies, politicians, celebrities, and other previously unreachable people a way to communicate directly with the public. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m sure KFC had great intentions when they decided to launch their grilled chicken on Oprah. And branding issues aside (KFC = KGC ?), most viewers were very excited to get their free meal. KFC should have taken a lesson from Quiznos on companywide policy for franchisees accepting coupons. Executed correctly, KFC had a golden opportunity to launch a new product, introduce a healthy option to people that normally wouldn’t give KFC a second thought, and give recession-scarred Americans something to smile about. By underestimating the Oprah effect and not communicating well with their franchisees, KFC’s corporate office might have done more harm than good. Thoughts? Ping me on Twitter: @KristinMiller
You’ve probably heard that Amazon launched the Kindle DX today, a larger-screen version of its portable first-generation cousin. Along with the device launch, Amazon also announced partnerships with universities and newspapers including the New York Times, Washington Post, and Boston Globe to offer owners reduced digital subscription costs in exchange for long-term subscription agreements. Will this be the life-preserver that the newspapers need right now? Probably not, but its good to see them embrace digital technology and realize that consumers have shifted the ways that they consume media.
With rumors flying around that Apple will have a ‘kindle of their own’ soon, I hope that the Kindle stays around long enough to make an impact.
Last week the Associated Press announced reduced rates and more content options, effective at the beginning of next year.
The news source is making itself more flexible and affordable in order to stay relevant. The company is cutting $35 million in rates and launching a new membership option, a “limited” version of its “Member Choice Complete” service. And the site is also allowing members to cancel their membership with a year’s notice, half the current limit. The company is trying to make sure it works in this new economy, which means it needs to be affordable, and it needs to profit from its online exploitation.
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From a health perspective, I’m not quite sure who to believe. Either Swine Flu will be the end of humanity, or that I’m more likely to die from the regular flu. Perhaps I’m more likely to die being struck by lighting? One thing is clear, Swine Flu has an uphill battle when it comes to PR.
Right now, both the CDC and a SwineFlu Account are managing PR on Twitter. It is a TOUGH job to manage the danger of a Swine Flu pandemic. You need to encourage people to be prepared and avoid person-to-person flu transmissions, without setting off a global panic. Which I think is well underway.
Who I really feel for is the US Swine Industry. Being from Indiana, I understand how crucial the livestock industry is to the US Economy and our global food chain. There are talks of global embargoes on pork, questions about eating bacon, and even blaming this kid for all of our problems!
Using Social Media is a great way to spread panic, but its also a great way to control it. Best of luck CDC!
@KristinMiller
Check us out at: www.twitter.com/sspr
