“What I Learned Today” is an experiment in knowledge sharing.

Wikipedia for Marketers

Source: http://www.pr-squared.com/2008/11/wikipedia_101_for_marketers.html
Wikipedia can be used as a gauge of success and can be used to measure results, but it is not a tool for a marketer to use to get the word out about something.  Wikipedia is for people to share their expertise on a particular subject that enough people would already be interested in.  It is not a place for people to create a subject that they think people should be interested in.

Trying to manipulate a tool for purposes it was never intended for, strictly for selfish purposes, only weakens the tool and soils one’s reputation.

How to Get Better at What You Do

Source:  http://www.pr-squared.com/2008/11/engaged_in_corporate_espionage.html
It’s something I already knew but it’s worth repeating:  the best way to get better at what you do is to consume the works of your peers, reflect on them, and then share your insights.  Those you share your insights with may be able to offer further wisdom, and additionally you can take what you liked about their work and add it to your own.

Brandjacking

Sources:

http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2009/01/07/brandjacking

http://www.pr-squared.com/2008/11/engaged_in_corporate_espionage.html

The Buzz Biz did a post on “brandjacking”.    I was only vaguely aware of the term before, and wasn’t quite sure what it was really all about, so I gave it a read to get informed.

Brandjacking is nothing new — it’s like the celebrity spokesperson approach, where a company hopes to gain attention or approval through the association of a famous person.  The difference is all in the media — before, you needed a lot of influence to be able to reach a large number of people.  Now, anyone has the potential to reach the entire world thanks to social media.

As Buzz Biz notes, “this is a world where corporations will hire personal brands”.  Brandjacking is the social media marketing equivalent of being on someone’s friend list.

If you’d like an example of the birth of a personal brand, and a couple of hours, I recommend visiting the archive of Fully Ramblomatic, the personal website of Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw.  Not only is Mr. Croshaw an example of a hired personal brand, his blog documents his rise to Internet celebrity.

Think I’m off base?  Drop a comment!

Tags: brandjacking, marketing, What I learned today, wikipedia