By Kyle McCabe | September 22, 2011

Pissed off ghostwriter

Hiring a ghostwriter can be an attractive approach to social media, if you’re a business owner or marketer with little time on your hands to devote to keeping up with social updates on multiple platforms.

There can be some pitfalls to this approach, however – not the least of which is the perceived in-authenticity of the person who has someone else speak for them.

In the case of Mark Davidson, it would appear this morning that he’s been utilizing several ghost writers for his Twitter account, and one of them was just fired. The problem is this person still has access to Davidson’s account, with amusing results. For example:

And all the funny stuff that @markdavidson wrote, that was all me. The other 2 ghostwriters are really boring. Good luck, bro…

This situation taken on first look, the feeling I get (besides the ache in my gut from laughing) is that Davidson has been a little deceptive – or is it apathetic? While I understand the reason Ghostwriters might be used, knowing it still shifts my perspective to one of caution and distrust regarding this particular person. I have to wonder if this is true for all his followers.

Now I’ll admit, this could be a stunt. It could be fake. Maybe his account was hacked and someone is lying. Maybe he’s just having fun (in that case, well played, Mark). There’s no way to know at this point, but the lesson is clear: be careful when hiring ghostwriters – it could cause more problems than it solves.

What do you think?

By Kyle McCabe | August 26, 2011

hah

We just got added to the Alltop site, which is awesome. Apparently they’re letting just anyone in these days! I mean, nevermind that it took months of pleading and multiple bribes consisting of first-born children and/or large quantities of alcohol (note: we do not condone the use of children as currency).

In all seriousness, though, this is pretty cool! We’re all pretty excited to be included.

You can look up the RSA Blog in the marketing topic.

By Coree | August 17, 2011

You have to watch it on Youtube to even have a chance, and then only if you pause it *just* right. And where does it take you? A site that's only semi-mobile friendly!

It’s rare that I eat out, and one of those occasions recently found me at Buffalo Wild Wings.  If you’ve ever been there you know its loud and animated with 427 televisions all tuned to some sports program or one of those closed circuit trivia games. Try as you might you can’t help but glance up at the screens from time to time (I don’t know why I bothered trying, either).

The intense shredding of renowned surfer Dusty Payne caught my attention, so I paused from my water-no-ice-no-lemon and nachos to watch. It was obviously a commercial, but it was captivating just the same. Graphics were cut in between video of Dusty ripping the waves, appearing for microseconds – things like Volcom’s logo, website, Dusty’s name, board shorts, and a QR code. Wait, what? A QR code?

QR Code Fail

Okay, the ad is striking, I admit. It’s has some power. But placing a QR code in a 30-second ad and showing it for only microseconds…that’s a little perplexing. Sure, you might have your smartphone sitting on the arm of your lazy-boy recliner as you mindlessly consume electronic entertainment, but you certainly aren’t sitting at the ready waiting for a barcode to pop up, right? I mean, it takes half the commercial to load up your barcode scanner app! “Oh look a QR code – wait – hold on let me pull up the app…ok it’s loading…loading, wait wait! Crap!

If you’re thinking of doing something similar in your next television commercial, consider the user and how they might respond to seeing a 2D code. Recognize that while a lot of new technology is fast and convenient, it isn’t that fast and it isn’t always convenient.

Yes, new technology is sexy and you want to be one of the first to use it in exciting new ways. But exciting and new isn’t always effective. Users of mobile devices are generally on the go, a little too busy or engaged to be disrupted by ill-conceived and irrelevant marketing. Flashing a QR code at them on a TV screen is like putting up an electronic billboard in the middle of a desert.

QR Code Win

Tesco Home Plus of Korea understands mobile users. They realized, for this person, the weekly task of grocery-go-getting was time consuming and sometimes difficult to accomplish in a hurry. So they brought the grocery store to where their customers might have some downtime – the subway.

Tesco created a virtual grocery store on the subway walls, each item bearing a QR code allowing customers to shop while they waited. Tesco did their homework. First they studied their customers’ habits, then identified a problem the customer faced on a weekly basis, and finally devised and implemented a solution to their customers’ problem, ultimately increasing sales.

QR codes can be a great tool when used correctly. The next time you are at a creative meeting, don’t be afraid to suggest using them. Just be sure to use them in a way that engages people rather than just riding the novelty wave as Volcom did.

By Ben Lippert | June 28, 2011

When you’re searching the web for a product or service in your area, where do you go to find it?

Many people start with Craigslist, then check out the area listings on Ebay and as a last-ditch effort they might even browse the Facebook Marketplace. These services are all tried-and-true methods of person-to-person commerce because they are well established and used by thousands of people each day.

Now, lets take a look at Zaarly, a brand-spanking-new e-commerce site who’s motto is,“what you want, when you want it.”

I’m telling you, this could be the next big innovation in person-to-person selling …Read more »

By Ben Lippert | June 7, 2011

There are all sorts of tools that you can use to help your start-up, small business or established corporation grow. Whether you want to improve communication with your employees or provide a better buying experience for your clients and customers, there is probably a tool for that.

It’s no secret, and you’ve probably heard it before – we live in an information age. There are always new gadgets coming out and it can be difficult to keep your business on top of the latest trends. We’re here to help!

These are a few tools that I have found most successful for social and business communications.

1. Skype: This application lets you easily connect with people that you would otherwise never see. Maybe you have a client that lives across the state. Use this tool to improve relations with customers, co-workers and even your distant relatives and family members. Most laptops already come with a built-in webcam and if your …Read more »

By Marsha Ahrenkiel | May 6, 2011

Scanning a QR Code with a smartphone

I first crossed paths with a QR code a couple of years ago. I was in the Denver International Airport, with a long wait ahead before my flight to Rapid City. Displayed at a huge size on a 1stBank billboard, and looking more like modern art than advertising, a beautiful blue QR code was accompanied by an invitation to get free books and Sudoku puzzles. Just what I wanted! Just what I needed!

But with no concept of how to proceed…no free reading materials for me.

By now you’ve probably seen QR codes.  They’re increasingly common these days …Read more »

By Marsha Ahrenkiel | January 13, 2011

check in anywhere

Shades of The Island of Dr. Moreau! (hint: Google H.G. Wells)  Modern-day mad scientists (let’s call them “software developers”) have been merging social networking concepts with a range of other technologies and rolling out new hybrid beasts that could eventually change your marketing and public relations strategies.

One that we’re keeping a close eye on here is a species known as “location based social networking” (LBSN) – combining short message service (SMS), aspects of gaming, smartphone technologies and GPS capabilities.

Location-based Race

A number of competitors are active in this marketplace. You might have heard of or use Gowalla, Foursquare, Facebook Places, or forerunner Brightkite – free  services that allow users …Read more »

By Tarah Heupel | September 16, 2010

Alert: Shameless self-promotion ahead!

In addition to web development, video production, print design,  SEO, and all the other creative services we offer at RSA, we also have a stellar event management team that spends much of the summer running across the Midwest to spearhead the Wyoming State Fair, Central States Fair, and South Dakota State Fair.

This year our newest RSA team member, Scott Bruce, pitched in to help our event management team with the wide range of duties we handle at the South Dakota State Fair in Huron. After providing transportation, helping with a political campaign video shoot, and serving as all-around good-spirited gopher, Scott was handsomely rewarded with this photo opp:

Scott with the lovely Martina McBride

The well-heeled Martina McBride hit the main stage as Saturday night’s headliner, where she played to a packed crowd.  A lot of sweat and hard work went into all of this year’s fairs, but our event management team pulled through with flying colors. Now they’re sitting down for a well-deserved breather before getting started on next year’s events…great job guys!

By Tarah Heupel | August 5, 2010

As self-professed social media junkies, we have a pretty robust obsession with keeping tabs on what’s happening right now in all facets of the marketing world. We constantly have our eyes peeled for info about emerging technologies, new platforms, and most importantly, innovative campaigns that mix it up in new ways.

Take, for example, some of the inspiring (or at least creative) work we’ve been passing around the office this week: …Read more »

By Kyle McCabe | July 14, 2010

In a brilliant and entertaining blend of traditional advertising and social media, Old Spice simply nails it here.  With a traditional TV spot posted on Youtube, they simply monitored comments on the video, as well as on Facebook and Twitter, and then shot and posted video responses to some of them.

Simply amazing. This has got to be the first time in a long time any advertising, by itself, has made me want to purchase a product!

And they’re still doing it. Prepare to waste your afternoon…