The iMac of TV Entertainment

OK, well I know the headline is a bit misleading, but it's the only thing I could think of when reviewing the new LT-2007 from OPPO Digital. It's a gorgeous EDTV/DVD combo that features a 20-inch LCD screen with a built-in slot-loading DVD player.

It fuses style, modern design, and innovation. Encased in a slim, gorgeous, translucent case, this all-in-one work of art is perfect for bedrooms, dormitories, or even outdoor patios for a cozy movie night under the stars.

OPPO claims that this system is the perfect fix for television and movie watching in small or personal spaces, and I'd have to agree. In fact, during my review, I placed it in the conference room in my office. Everyone stopped to remark and ask where I picked it up, each commenting on how they have the perfect spot for one in their own home.

The LT-2007 features a high quality enhanced definition 20-inch flat-panel LCD TV with a slot-loading DVD player that is built directly into the base. An impressive array of available input and output connections, such as digital audio output, component video input and VGA, further expand its ability. The LT-2007 can be easily connected to a surround sound home theater system, a PC, a cable box, or a satellite receiver to deliver an even more thrilling entertainment experience. And for you gamers, it's a killer, and almost portable, solution for a complete AV/gaming solution anywhere you go.

Now I should note here that it maxes at 800 x 600 resolution and it is not a widescreen, meaning that it is not an HD product. However, I don't think that A/V enthusiasts are the target market for this baby. I see this really appealing to those who are image and space conscious, looking for an integrated and stylish solution.

According to the specs, the LT-2007 features one of the highest pixel resolutions for its size. It's also rather versatile, with the ability to play DVD-Video, DivX® video, Audio CD, Kodak Picture CD and many other digital audio/video/picture formats, such as CD-R/CD-RW, DVD-R/DVD-RW, and DVD+R/DVD+RW.

It also sports a 181-channel NTSC tuner with automatic station searching and fine tuning. Additionally, digital 3D comb filters deliver stunning color reproduction and enhanced picture resolution and sharpness.

Included in the package is a USB card reader which allows you to insert all standard portable storage cards from your digital camera to convert the TV into a modern digital photo frame. This is a cool feature, as I cycled a series of images during a recent party and it drew several accolades from guests.

Additional features such as last channel recall, sleep timer, headphone jack and even an integrated, hidden cradle for the remote control make the LT-2007 an ideal addition to any room. It's not for the AV purists, but it definitely appeals to the "rest of us" who sometimes need a specific solution for a specific need..

The LT-2007 is available today for $599.00.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Pros:
Sexy design
Combo
Small footprint
Sharp resolution

Cons:
800x600 resolution, but then again, its serves its purpose without hitting HD resolutions
Sound is OK, definitely needs an external solution for a total experience
Input jacks require adapters (included)
Price is a bit steep, but it is gorgeous

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Tags: Oppo Digital, oppo, LT-2007, hd, dvd, consumer electronics brian solis hdtv, edtv, lcd

More Evidence the Web is the New Casting Couch - Thanks to YouTube

As the world turns, these are the days of pilots that don't get picked up until they make the rounds on YouTube and convince studio executives to give it another shot, using the web as a tool to create buzz prior to the debut of the next six episodes.

Deep breath...exhale.

Nobody's Watching is a pilot created for WB about two young sitcom fans who end up in a reality show that covers their day-to-day progress on creating their own sitcom.

Even though it did OK in tests, WB decided to pass on it. NBC actually rejected the series before WB had a chance to also pass on it, but apparently its popularity on the video sharing site must have changed the network's mind (or lack thereof). The series was created by Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence and two of the writers of Family Guy.

Thanks to YouTube, NBC has decided to pick up the show (at least 6 episodes) and invest in an online marketing initiative to generate community partipation and prolong the buzz. I should probably mention that NBC recently forged a programming alliance with YouTube.com.

In an interesting turn of events, the decision to revive "Watching" comes barely a month after a copy of the pilot popped up on video-sharing service YouTube. It's almost unheard of that a rejected pilot from one network generates interest from competitors - I mean nobody wants to seem as if they're picking up someone else's failure, right? Well you know what they say, one person's trash is another person's treasure.

In an interview with Variety, Bill Lawrence said, "Part of our pitch for bringing back the show is that, for it to succeed, it needs to become more edgy and blur the lines between reality and fiction."

If it goes to series, "Watching" is also expected to be produced for far less than a normal sitcom, with a budget well under $1 million per half-hour.

"If network TV doesn't embrace the Internet as both a place to launch and test shows but also as a place where shows can live, they're going to fall further and further behind," he continued in his interview with Variety.

Producers also plan to launch a "Watching" website where fans of the original pilots can give notes on what they liked and didn't like about the project.

NBC Universal TV is currently negotiating deals to bring back most of the pilot's original cast, including stars Paul Campbell and Tarran Killam.

The power of the internet is largely untapped, offering proof that when things are plopped in the right places online, they'll take on a life of their own (with the right guerilla marketing behind it of course - wink wink). With the right buzz and visibility, online marketing efforts will give the appearance of organic growth and support, pushing decision makers to rethink their strategies or inspiring others to take action.

I've included the pilot for you below. Enjoy and let's stand by as the revolution is televised!

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Tags: NBC, Nobody's Watching, WB, youtube, Daily Variety, brian solis

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Intel Introduces New Core 2 Duo Processors

Today I had the opportunity to attend Intel's launch for its new Core 2 Duo processors. It had the "humbled," yet significant importance, in my opinion, as the launch of the orginal Pentium chip, while still tapping into the power of next gen media.

It was fun, exciting, beautifully decorated, and more importantly, PACKED with everyone that matters in tech influence.



The event celebrated the launch of the company's new processor that runs faster, but uses a lot less power.

This is Intel's most important product line in six years, unveiling 10 microprocessors that are expected to help the world's largest chip maker retake ground lost to Advanced Micro Devices Inc. aka AMD. And for those crunching numbers, Intel has reportedly lost 5 market share points this year alone.



The Core 2 Duo microprocessors are Intel's first desktop and mobile chips to feature a blueprint designed to deliver significantly better performance while requiring less power and kicking off less heat. Think big business....think gaming and LAN parties...think next-stage web applications.



"Today's a historic day for Intel, we're introducing ten new processors for laptops, desktops and these powerful gaming systems," said Intel's Bill Kircos.

Kircos added that the redesigned processor packs more computing power onto one chip, but also saves 30-to-40 percent on electricity per PC.

"Now, that's a small amount for one person, but when you're shipping 200 million PC's a year, over time it's a pretty big impact over electricity bills and some of the requirements PC's need to run," he said.

The tent was adorned with draping banners that read, "adrenaline inside" and "monster inside." It was definitely fun as one could associate those slogans with many amusing comparisons OK, just kidding....but seriously, this is a monster of a chip.

For those looking for a boost in processing power, Dell claims that it has already seen a 40% increase in workgroup computing processing and as much as a 60% jump in business applications.

Either way, faster = better and less energy spent = an extra beer at the end of the month.

But in all seriousness...business users will enjoy greater speeds, benefits, and raw computing power than the expensive, top tier dual processor servers running many networks only a few years ago - all for a fraction of the price.

Tags: intel, duo, processors, core 2, silicon valley, brian solis

I've Joined Forward Moving - My First Article Posted Today

After seeing the new Adam Sandler movie, "Click," I've found a way to stop time to do more things!

Among the million things I'm working on, I've joined Forward (Forward Thinking, Forward Moving) as Contributing Investor. This is an important project for me because in the early days of my career, I didn't really have anyone to look up to for guidance. So, I've decided to share my experiences, successes and failures to help those around me grow. Each week I will contribute commentary, advice, and support to help up-and-coming PR professionals succeed in their careers.

About Forward
Forward is the collaborative effort of a team composed of students, faculty and professionals from around the globe from varying levels and areas of expertise.

Erin Caldwell is the founder and managing editor of Forward. Her recent post regarding my participation follows:

"We’re delighted to welcome Brian Solis to the Forward team. I’ve included his bio below so you all can read a little about his background. We’re looking forward to reading his contributions, so please join me in welcoming Brian!"

My first post is aimed at encouraging PR and marketing professionals to get out of the office and get LinkedIn!

If you're a student or a starting-out in PR, please visit Forward for the best advice in career development!

Vote for this on New PR!

Tags: forward moving, erin caldwell, pr, public relations, brian solis, stirr, linkedin

Amanda Congdon Stars in "Where are They Now"

Just when the blogosphere was starting to question her future, Amanda Congdon reminds us that she's still around (and talented) with an amusing, but sad reminder of her current reality.

With a clever twist however, we zoom in on Amanda wearing a business suit, eating breakfast infront of an audience comprised of stuffed dolls at her parent's home.



Congdon picks up a familiar stack of papers and begins to read the news to her captive viewers.

"In today's news, Amanda Congdon is looking for a job."

As the camera pans out, we see that she was only 1/2 dressed in a business suit, with pajama pants completing the other half of the power combo.



Her parents watch from the kitchen bar, shaking their heads, and respond with, "She needs a job."

Next, we see Amanda as she runs from place to place trying to get a job - specifically in the service industry. Her targets included, McDonalds, Subway, and Dunkin' Donuts until she finally struck gold, or shall we say silver (ware) at The Meeting Place.

Amanda then discusses her new venture and her new partner, played by her boyfriend, Mario.

As Amanda is flipping burgers, she claims that the transition has been pretty seamless. She looks enthusiastic as she boasts, "I found a new partner in no time. Now I'm on this totally different adventure in an entirely new space."

Mario interrupts, "Where's my coleslaw?" He then repeats "coleslaw, coleslaw, coleslaw," unti she responds with, "Life in the fastlane, gotta go..."

As the episode wraps up and in a playful reanactment of her falling-out with Andrew Baron, she asks Mario for her 49% of tips. He responds with, "You thought I was serious about that?"

She looks back in disbelief, and says, "ugh, I'm fired?!" and repeats it over and over until she storms out the back door.

Well, Amanda, thank you for reminding us that you're still around and most likely working on the next big thing. This was a charming update and a great example of your wit and sense of humor.

While Rocketboom continues without you, it's not the same show (although Joanne Colan is holding it together quite well in her own way).

Until next time.

Tags: amanda congdon, rocketboom, joanne colan, andrew baron, brian solis

Don’t Slash Your PR Budget, Game Winners Don’t Sit on the Marketing Sidelines

With an image like this, I guess it's fair to summarize the following article in this way, "benchwarmers can not drive successful brands and businesses. And businesses who choose to sit on the sidelines can never win a game."

Venture capital is no longer a guaranteed funding source for startup companies, and from what I’m hearing in the VC community, it may no longer be desirable. New business models are forcing sales to become the lifeblood of business once again – who would have thought that this could ever be otherwise. I guess it doesn’t count for Web 2.0 companies, but for everyone else, making money matters to the bottom line. And, many business leaders have already braced for a wild ride, slashing budgets and costs, all in the hopes of extending this latest economic upswing into long-term success.

While this “safe” strategy follows a gut instinct, more avid business and marketing-savvy professionals will use this opportunity to overtake their competitors and win a leading
position as the economy continues to turn around. And, it’s for all of the right reasons

It’s a new playing field out there, with old e-conomy fears deeply rooted, which is ultimately changing the way companies approach marketing budgets, especially with PR.

When times are uncertain, businesses automatically look to cut spending as a means of survival. What separates more seasoned professionals from less effective executives is where they trim budgets and how they brace for survival and position their company for future growth.

Ironically, as I wrote those words, a top client called to ask us to halt all PR services because, he explained, they were forced to trim their budget. The move may be understandable, but the fact is, today’s business and marketing executives are faced with a business paradox.

The right decision will prevent market share reduction and revenue loss. The wrong decision could force a company out of favor with customers and may ultimately create an irreversible cycle of catch-up.

I’ll use my current client as an example. They are a relatively new player in the consumer electronics market. Together, we launched an aggressive PR and marketing strategy that branded them in the industry the same way that Tiger Woods anchored himself on the PGA leader board with his first Master’s win.

Now the executives who called the shots on this marketing freeze will quickly force the company out of contention, as its name vanishes from the word-of-mouth chains, magazine articles, newspaper stories, and discussion boards where we introduced them. They will eventually discover their customers have other choices, and those choices are prevalent in all forms of media. When a company is not proactively vying for mind share it leaves the field open to competitors who will certainly try to woo their business away.

Here’s how it works: Brand Creation + Brand Resonance + Benefits + Support + Personality = Brand Confidence and Customer Loyalty

Marketing has a basic mission; to grow brand confidence and customer loyalty, because they lead to stronger sales and greater repeat revenue. So in a fundamental sense: Marketing = Revenue.

The outcome for a company will depend on its basic commitment to marketing, because greater marketing efforts generate greater returns in the form of revenue and customer loyalty. It all ties together through a company’s outreach to its targeted markets.

Even so, one of the first contenders to be voted out in the “budget survivor” series is usually Marketing, in some or all of its aspects as advertising, lead generation and public relations. In the last year, and especially within the last 30 days, I have witnessed, debated and negotiated unprecedented cuts in marketing budgets. To an alarming extent, budget-blinded company boards and CxO’s have convinced themselves they can coast through these times by reducing or eliminating the work needed to generate brand awareness and customer pull. These shortsighted decision makers don’t realize that marketing decisions are like moves in a game of chess.

While they may see an immediate drop in monthly expenditures, in effect they may have tipped their King. The loss will become painfully apparent in what may be a very short endgame.

One reason poor thinking too often prevails is that most executives, when running through possible budget cuts, assume all things are constant, including brand awareness and more importantly, current revenue.

I’m here to argue that while strategic cuts may be necessary and marketing can often be trimmed, it should never be frozen. What works for a company and its stockholders is to milk cuts at the administrative, process and executive levels before slashing sales and marketing operations.

Of course, cuts at the executive level may not appeal to the executives who make the decisions. They are only human.

But let me explain why marketing executives should shield their operating staff when the budget blade starts to swing. For a company to have any smidgeon of a chance to stay in business – and I’m not even talking about remaining competitive – it must broadcast its benefits to target customers. In a contracted economy, consumers are less impulsive. When shopping for products and services, they’ll find many options, and they will do their homework. It is at this moment where marketing proves its value. It is imperative that they hear and see your value proposition. If they don’t hear your message, they will hear your competitor’s value proposition. If they don’t know about your company, they don’t know to buy from you.

Marketing is not a switch, even if some executives seem to think they can simply turn it on and off whenever it’s convenient.

Marketing is also not a luxury, something to fuel only during the good times. At any point during economic cycles, marketing creates momentum and momentum creates sales. Good times or bad, business never stops.

A company that intentionally pulls itself off of the radar screens of its customers will find its revenues eroding quickly when customers and their associates look around for visible suppliers.

So if you need to reduce spending, the trick is to make cuts but still maintain perceived momentum. It boils down to perception management, and the first step is to be perceived. If we are not noticed, our short-term decisions will bring us long-term losses.

Where to start cutting, then, and where to bet one’s diminishing resources? At this point, I open up the forum to debate. After all, the entire art of marketing is open to opinion and interpretation.

My own recommendation is to first cut marketing efforts that depend on your customers having discretionary money to spend. Such efforts would include focus groups, trade shows, sponsorships and the like. These campaigns are usually very expensive and not absolutely critical to moving the needle with one’s ultimate customers.

Next up, in my schedule, would be branding initiatives. Usually carried in the form of advertising and direct mail, these “beauty pieces” don’t provide an immediate call to action. Advertising and direct mail can also be very expensive, and may or may not yield the results necessary to carry a company through the short term. If it’s questionable, we don’t need it.

Nearly a final step should be to trim, not kill, the call-to-action advertising and PR campaigns. These are the two most important elements to ensuring visibility among decision makers at all levels, from “C” on down.

If you absolutely must cut again, then kill advertising altogether. Don’t kill PR, because it delivers the most bang for the buck, once you eliminate trade shows and other such “extras.”

Also keep IR, if it applies. PR and IR are the most cost-effective channels for reaching customers and investors. In the current recession, PR fees have stabilized and many hungry, aggressive agencies will ensure that the right people hear the right messages for a fraction of the cost of a single major advertisement.

Consider PR as the voice of the company. Customers research their purchases in advance and any proactive communications influences their behavior.

If an editor includes your company in an industry overview, if you frequently issue press releases to highlight new products, big customer wins and alliances, if analysts quote your company as a market player in published reports, you’re guaranteed top-of-mind presence before, during and after a purchase. Buyers will know about you.

Afterall, PR combined with the broadcast power of RSS, Internet wire services, and PR 2.0, resembles search engine marketing (SEM) which dramatically increases the reach of the corporate brand. Many things are already in play that is making PR more valuable than ever.

The business of business is like a playing field. Top executives who do not have their finger on the pulse of marketing, who choose to sit on the sidelines, will never win or even play the game.

Spectators cheer the players, not the benchwarmers.

The smartest, most competitive companies will take advantage of the prime marketing opportunity when other companies fall silent. They’ll carve out a leadership position now and for the future. They will rise above the rest while their shortsighted competitors bask in the pleasure of saving thousands now and losing millions later.

Tomorrow’s leaders will be defined today. Some will watch while others seize the moment.

Vote for this article at New PR!

Tags: pr, pr2.0, sem, seo, public relations, venture capital, vc brian solis futureworks

Stirr Mixer 1.4 Wrap-up - An event worthy of your time

Last week’s Stirr event was definitely an indication that Silicon Valley is ready to socialize and network again. Yes, I know…before you start attributing everything to the hype of Web 2.0 and offer your premonitions of dotbomb 2.0, please read between the lines of the following wrap-up.

The truth is that a group of energetic and optimistic folks decided to help reconnect Silicon Valley and generate the impression that we are all ambassadors for the next chapter in technology innovation:

Sanford Barr, Co-Founder STIRR, The STIRR Network
Sean Ness, Co-Founder STIRR, Institute for the Future
Dan Arkind, Co-Founder STIRR, Indico Group
Joanne Wan, STIRR Business Development, Strategic Decisions Group


(photo: Joanne Wan)

Incase you missed the event, the Stirr format is all about bringing together “self-perceived movers and shakers,” “actual movers and shakers,” and cool people together in one place (BlueChalk in Palo Alto) to talk about themselves, the future of the Web and tech, new business ideas, blogging, as well as relive the latest industry parties they attended.

However, unlike other events listed on upcoming.org, Stirr is actually pulling together some really amazing people. Perhaps it’s the challenge of trying to attend an “invitation only” event…or maybe word is getting around that Stirr is actually onto something here.

Last week’s event drew an impressive array of VCs, journalists, bloggers, and tech leaders, including:

Nick Douglas from Valleywag
Mannie Ramos from KPIX along with film crew
Nicole Wong from San Jose Mercury News
Vic from Hotfromsiliconvalley
Baris Karadogan (blog), Partner, ComVentures
Tantek Çelik (blog), Chief Technologist, Technorati
Scott Beale (blog), primary tentacle, Laughing Squid
James Yu founder of BuzzShout
Kevin Murphy, US Bureau Chief, ComputerWire
Elisa Camahort, President, Events & Marketing, BlogHer
Rafe Needleman, Editor, CNET
Jessica Guynn, Senior technology writer, San Francisco Chronicle
Zoli Erdos (blog), Blogger, Zoli's Blog / SVASE

An impressive list of other up-and-comers and already established business leaders included:
SiteKreator
Valleyschwag
CommerceNet
Metaweb Technologies
inFreeDA, Inc.
co.mments
Socialtext, Inc.
Google
sphere


Sanford Barr, Stirr (photo: Chris Heuer)

The evening featured four speakers who had the standard elevator pitch of 60 seconds to explain their company’s value proposition. Although, Nick Cage and Steve McQueen could steal a car in 60 seconds, everyone did great, especially with a KPIX camera in their face.

Here is the list of presenters along with their notable “one liners:”

Gliffy, Chris Kohlhardt, Co-Founder – “Try Gliffy now.” http://www.gliffy.com

EchoSign, Jeffrey Zwelling, Co-Founder – “a secure web-based tool for sending, signing, tracking and storing documents that combines e-signatures, fax-to-email and online document storage system in an easy to use ASP.” http://www.echosign.com/

CrowdFactory, Alexander Mouldovan, CEO – “Nothing draws a crowd like a crowd: If you have an idea for a community and need a game plan call us for a free consultation.” http://www.crowdfactory.com

JAJAH - Free global telephone calls using your everyday phone! http://www.jajah.com

"To us it's less about 'movers and shakers' and more about helping catapult entrepreneurs into success. Nothing speaks louder than a successful company in the Valley. If STIRR can help accellerate that process then we feel like we've done some good." -- Sanford Barr, STIRR

That’s it for now. For PR2.0, this is Brian Solis reporting. Until August, when I'll see you at the next Stirr event.


(photo: hotfromsiliconvalley)

For additional pictures and info please visit::

Vic from HotFromSiliconValley.com hosted a podcast and published Chris Heuer published photos.

Holly from AOL Podcasts Sounds from STIRR

The general STIRR pool at Flickr (tag photos with 'stirr' when you upload): http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/stirr/

Tags: silicon valley, stirr, stirrmixer, valleywag, valleyschwag, web 2.0, web2.0, pr2.0, pr 2.0, chris heuer, technorati, brian solis, futureworks, networking upcoming.org, meetup, sitekreator, mercury news, kpix,

Breathing New Life into Dying Web 2.0 Start-ups

On Sunday, Dead 2.0 ran an amusing, yet poignant article that should slap Web 2.0 CEOs and marketers with a dose of reality.

What started as methodologies and technologies to enhance the dynamic between site, applications and their users has blown up into what many are calling Dotbomb 2.0.

The evolution of Web 2.0 is out of control now that the marketers have gotten a hold of it. Today’s self appointed Web 2.0 leaders are really nothing at all close to the original philosophies and beliefs of how to make a better, evolving, more interactive web experience.

Companies with silly names with unbelievably horrible business models grace the headlines of the blogsphere, with many of the company founders, programmers, and marketing staffers become cult-like celebrities. These companies seem to make rounds from blog to blog, new tech events to unconferences, and it’s almost always the same cast and crew. The funny thing is that I don’t remember any of these folks from the classic Industry Standard rooftop parties who later became the first to RSVP for the wave of Pink Slip parties. Maybe they learned something.

On any given day, run a Web2.0 or Web+2.0 search in flickr, it’s overwhelming. From new companies, events, anatomy of 2.0 charts and albums of inbred barbecues, to analyses of Web 2.0 logos and popular fonts and colors. It’s just unbelievable to see how quickly the 2.0 cachet is eroding, which is ultimately expediting the backlash lead by those who are simply sick and tired of the hype. I think Michael Arrington said it best when he quietly removed the “Tracking Web 2.0” tagline from his site.

Don’t get me wrong. Web 2.0 (at its core) is NOT dead. Its foundation still carries on and is empowering many sites and new technologies to improve the web.

Image from oreillynet.com.









But wait. There’s help! Dead 2.0 put together a list of action items for the so-called Web 2.0 camp to help them get back on track:

1. Have a revenue model, right now.

2. Be a complete business, not just a feature.

3. Affect real people, not just bloggers.

4. Get a real, memorable name. If you don’t have one now, figure out when you’ll make the switch. The world only has so much room for YubNub’s, Twttr’s, Renkoo’s, Gada.be’s, CoolIris’es, and edgeio’s.

5. If applicable, get unaffiliated with Web 2.0, because it is hype and will have a very negative backlash in a little while.

6. Find some friends who don’t drink the kool-aid and get their honest feedback.

7. If you are revolutionary, make sure that a revolution is coming. Most evolutionary plays should be approached with exit strategy top of mind at all times.

8. Fit your business into an existing food chain.

9. Do not expect to be Google and, just as importantly, do not expect them to buy you.

10. Ignore the hype and have fun. Getting a link from Arrington or Scoble will sure help your traffic and publicity, but it’s no guarantee that anything substantial is coming down the road.

I found this interesting image on flickr which demonstrates the transition from static to read/write.







Robert Scoble posted a link, stating, “I love the “Dead2.0″ blog. It reminds me not to drink too much of my own hype juice.”

The comments were also insightful, Christopher Coulter said:
Only 11? It could reach 30 easy.

12. Avoid tech conference insider-baseball games and Flickr ‘photo-ops’ as ‘marketing’. Fish-flopping around to all the ‘be seen and heard’ trendy tech conferences, doesn’t even rate a blip to those outside the haze.

13. Stop using buzzwords in everyday conversations, assuming they actually mean anything, if I hear one more “long tail” or “paradigm shifts”, or crazy “Singularity” theories, or new new talk about “progressive-enhancements”, and all the blogger-navel gazing “grassroots” or anything Cluetrainish…I will literally scream.

14. Stop considering VCs as ‘customers’…all one giant big kids game of ‘telephone’.

Exactly.

Those behind # 12 and 13 are some of the biggest punch drinkers of them all and are confusing celebrity with visionary and revolution with evolution.

At a recent event, someone asked what I was up to. After I gave my 60 second pitch, they nodded their head and replied, “That’s disruptive.” While I was flattered, I thought, “Disruptive? Nah, progressive, but not disruptive.” But then it dawned on me. I was at a new tech networking event, so everything is “disruptive” and “social…” and “tagable.”

It is the marketers or the marketing-savvy technologists and company founders who have spoiled this once promising category for the rest of us. Just go visit the archives from Valleyschwag one year from now to see how many of the original companies that provided fashionable junk and clever trinkets are still around.

The best marketers are those who can still have fun in the 2.0 crowd, but realize that businesses have real customers and the majority of their customers have needs outside of bubble 2.0. Market to them using their direct channels of influence. You may be surprised to find out just how many 1.0 tactics you still need to take in order to create and grow a successful business.

Tags: Web 2.0, Dead2.0, Marketing, PR, stirr, Svase, flickr, web2.0, Michael Arrington, Robert Scoble, Tim O'Reilly, Brian Solis

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Zero to 60 in 2.5 Seconds

Recently, the fastest, most expensive production car on the market was unveiled in Los Angeles -- the 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4. At $1.3 million, it will be available to only the elite (many of whom probably reside in Silicon Valley). Don't be surprised if you see this bad boy on Sand Hill Rd. or Santana Row.

It's definitely not for the weak of heart. The Veyron has a top speed of 250 mph and launches from zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds. That has to shatter existing records for production car performance. I would love to try this between SF and LA...at full speed, I could make it in an hour-and-a-half.

The Veyron 16.4 is named for racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while driving for Bugatti. (The 16.4 refers to its 16 cylinders and 4 turbochargers.)

Building the fastest production car ever is no easy task, and making it street legal, up to emissions code (especially in California), luxurious, and dependable is near impossible. Dependable? It's a race car. But, such was the unique challenge of engineering this land rocket meets luxury touring coupe.

The Veyron's interior is, let's just say, over-the-top: dove-skin upholstery, a lacquered bonsai shift lever topped by a solid-gold knob inlaid with narwhal horn. Options, such as a Swarovski crystal windshield, can drive the Veyron's seven-figure price even higher. Come on, a crystal windshield?



If you're ready for one of these, you'd better get in line. There is a one-year waiting list and Bugatti requires a small deposit of $400k. Also, while you're at it, you should buy a gas station to go along with it. This beauty gulps gas with 7 mpg city and 10 mpg highway. If you punch it to its max, you'll enjoy 3 mpg at 250 mph!

If you work in the marketing department at Bugatti, feel free to contact us for a test drive and a full review ;) I'll try to schedule it in.

Tags: bugatti, sandhill, sports car, exotic, brian solis

Rocketboom Gets a Prescription for Fun - Thanks Dr. Tiki

In one of the best Mashups in vlog history, Rocketboom 2.0 met Tiki Bar TV celebrating its first “Casual Friday” with new host Joanne Colan.

Colan introduced the episode acknowledging that usually RocketBoom would not run its normal Casual Friday episode, because she was “dying” to jump into the news.

While reading the day’s top story about some ArchBishop (wasn’t really paying attention), Dr. Tiki from TikiBarTV, leans into view, stares into the camera, and states, “It’s Friday. And yes, it’s supposed to be a casual day.”

Brilliant.













A surprised and confused Colan (playful of course) responds, “Excuse me?”

“Where’s your festivity, your cocktail, it’s casual Friday…you need cocktails to relax. I know just the one, a Bloody Mary.”

Suddenly we’re graced with LaLa’s presence and a perfectly in-character Dr. Tiki writing a prescription for his Bloddy Mary….oooh La La.

Colan, (staying to script) tries to get back to the news (after taking a shot of course).

Suddenly LaLa sneaks on set and passes a note.

Colan stops her report and states, “WE have breaking news, I’m now going over to Johnny Johnny.”

Classic.

Johnny Johnny takes over and helps us to learn the art of making a good Blood Mary.

It’s all in good fun, and Colan’s curiosity finally gets the best of her and she appropriately celebrates Casual Friday with the cast of TikiBarTV.

Other than the poor sound quality (which was strange), Andrew Baron, Joanne Colan and the rest of the Rocketboom crew truly surprised me with this episode. And, I as a huge fan of TikiBarTV, I felt that highly creative vlog mashup will generate tremendous buzz for all parties. I applaud the first week of Rocketboom 2.0 and look forward to what Baron has up his sleeves for future episodes.

Amanda, I also look forward to your next project. Rumor has it that it’s going to be a big deal…for you, your brother and Mario.

Here’s to a great week.

Cheers everyone!

Tags: Rocketboom, TikiBarTV, Joanne Colan, Andrew Baron, Amanda Congdon, Web 2.0, Web2.0, Brian Solis

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Climbing the Corporate Marketing Ladder of Success

Suddenly you find yourself quickly rising through the corporate ranks, marcom coordinator, marcom manager, director of marketing, VP of Marketing!

Ahhhhhh, the sweet life.

One sec, don’t forget the rise to stardom takes more than the ability to kick ass in any one segment of marketing. As you grow, so should your horizons, experiences, talents, capabilities, and expertise. Whichever discipline launched your rise to fame, as you clime the ladder of corporate success, your comfort zone will expand until you can excel outside of it.

Case in point. I’ve watched one person in particular rapidly gain notoriety within the corporate environment as the resident PR ace. She had the ability to land coverage, win-over reporters, and party with the most influential people in the business. She was then, only a mere marketing coordinator. Whoa. But she quickly jumped up to associate and eventually marketing manager. This is where the pretty bow started to unravel.

Technically she was responsible for multiple marcom fronts now, but was she would only pay cursory attention to other elements of the marketing mix. You could say that she started to flirt with disaster when she didn’t want to let go of the day-to-day allure of publicity – even though she now had a marcom coordinator now reporting to her.

One glorious day, she was wooed by her company’s primary competitor, who offered a promotion and the ability to telecommute and live happily ever after. She accepted and soon became the director of marketing at her employer’s rival company.

She was now a director of marketing of a huge company, responsible now for its marcom, advertising, tradeshows, direct marketing, and PR. The Web remained with a separate internal team. All was supposed to be a launch pad, only a momentary step until she rose to VP of marketing.

But…there’s always a “but” right? See, she just couldn’t let go of her passion for PR and all of its accoutrements. What she also didn’t experience in her rise to “director” was co-existing, leading and leveraging an existing PR agency. You know…the group of folks who offload the daily grind of pitching and placing products and corporate branding with reporters and analysts so that you can lead and bask in all of the glory.

She was unprepared for this dilemma. “A PR agency?” she questioned. “I’m the PR star!”

Unfortunately she unnecessarily reacted as if her job was in jeopardy, so she decided to start a game of “survivor” with her PR team to outdo the great work that was already in place.

Whoops.

It was the beginning of her dissention. She actually regressed to her good ole’ marcom manager days at her previous company (which technically should have been labeled as PR manager) to actually prevent her PR team from potentially stealing her perceived thunder, attention from the media, and accolades from the executive staff.

When it came to placing reviews, she tried to do most of it. Creative and innovative ideas? You bet; suddenly they were all hers. Booking a press tour? You guessed it; she took it over and would try to book most of it.

Senior management suddenly questioned the validity of having a PR agency if their PR and marketing vixen could take care of everything. Unfortunately they wound up letting them go. The agency that actually made them famous, taking them from a foreign and oft ridiculed hardware company with active critics in editorial communities, was suddenly fired.

Oh wait, didn’t we say that she was Director of Marketing? Oh yeah…she was also responsible for direct marketing, advertising, affiliate and co-op marketing, and tradeshows. Who managed those fronts while she was busy running and executing on every project associated with PR? Uh oh…no one.

Suddenly, management was getting wise to her strengths and weaknesses. The pressure was on and she slowly collapsed until she was faced with an option of either succeeding on all fronts or failing completely.

The ego was bruised, but ignorance persevered and nothing was learned. Afterall, she was brilliant on the PR front right? Considering she was responsible for at least five separate programs, from the c-level (chief level for all of those just starting to read these posts), that’s only 1/6 or 15% successful. No es bueno.

Truth is that as you rise up in an organization, your role and stature also escalate. With each new level, additional responsibilities are introduced into the mix, eventually leading teams (internal and outsourced) and growing them under your leadership. All things combined equate to stronger brand equity and expanded brand resonance.

There are many stepping stones along the way, where in order to grow, you need to let go. I know that it can be difficult, especially if you favor a particular discipline over others. But if you’re at a director level or above, every facet is critical to the overall success of the corporate marketing machine.

Whether you’re coming up from Sales, PR, or Marcomm, take the time to learn and kick-ass on every front. BE A LEADER!

In this particular case, the star of the story might have been a better match as the resident PR manager and hoping to convince the execs to build an internal PR team underneath her, letting her grow into a director position. If she was upfront and outrageously successful, the c-level would have found budget to hire a marketing person to run the rest of the programs. Another option for her is to shift gears altogether and take a crack at running a PR consultancy.

Everyday, we learn, we grow, we succeed, and sometimes we even fail. Learn from it and grow. Here are some directive to help you clime the corporate ladder of success:

• Work hard
• Stay focused
• Take credit for your great work
• Recognize the good work around you
• Expand your horizons
• Allow yourself to grow outside of the comfort zone
• Wear new hats
• Excel in all marketing disciplines or focus where you specifically want to grow
• Communicate your goals
• Be a leader
• Delegate and also get your hands dirty
• Enjoy the ride

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tags: PR, public relations, pr2.0, marketing, pr 2.0, Brian Solis

Rocketboom 2.0 Blasts Off

After much anticipation (or shall we say fanfare), Rocketboom 2.0 launched today with its new "interim" host, Joanne Colan. You may know Joanne as a former VJ for MTV Europe. To most of us however, she is an attractive woman with an English accent. I was unfamiliar with her work, so I approached today's vlog with an open mind.

After the surprise announcement of the Andrew/Amanda split, bloggers and reporters feverishly tapped sources to uncover the new replacement. Rachel Sklar of the Huffington Report ran a story last Friday announcing that Andrew had hired Joanne, although he declined to confirm. Although, Joanne herself confirmed it on her site on Monday.

You've found me.
Monday, July 10. 2006
Hello Everyone. Yes this is my new site and yes...I will have my 1st blog entry up for your viewing pleasures later on today. Thank you for coming and please come back later today.
- Joanne C., Host of Rocketboom.com

Although Rocketboom missed the new launch date of 7/10, then teased us with a 5-second clip on 7/11, we were greeted by Joanne this morning on the new Rocketboom 2.0.

Her debut was clever, starting with a series of tomatoes flying at her as a nod to the ethical difficulties associated with replacing someone as popular as Amanda Congdon. Once the fruit (tomatoes are technically fruit) barrage ended, Colan tipped her hat to Congdon and reminded everyone how to keep up-to-date with her at Unboomed.

Today's edition offered a cute take on the blogger who somehow managed to trade a red paperclip through a series of interesting barters to wind up with a house. Colan took the crew to the streets to run her own experiment starting with a pirate patch and ultimately ending with a titanium necklace.

As of noon PST, there were over 100 comments on RB - mostly positive, supportive and enthusiastic. According to one viewer:

Random Dork:
The hair-twirling Andrew-on-the-floor-shot made me laugh harder than anything I've ever seen on this show- for whatever that's worth. Seriously! Even if you get flamed by Congdonites- which seems inevitable- that little moment of self-mocking comedy was truly inspired... Good luck!

Amanda Congdon is a one-of-a-kind host and there are rumors swirling that she has already accepted an offer. We'll stay tuned. In the meantime, Rocketboom 2.0 is back and should enjoy success with its new "interim" host. Good luck Joanne.

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tags: Amanda Congdon, Unboomed, Andrew Baron, Rocketboom, Joanne Colan, vlog, Brian Solis

RocketDoom...RocketBust - Cue The Elton John Track

Today's edition of Rocketboom will be filed under the, "no really, we can keep a show going without the star who put us on the map." Andrew Baron, what possibly could have pushed you to place yourself in such a PR nighmare?

The news is everywhere! Techcrunch reported that Congdon was fired, Valleywag dedicated a dozen entries to the subject. Donna Bogatin from Digital Micro-Markets Blog summarized it this way, "From Rocketboom to UnBoomed: Web 2.0 partnership fizzles out." Office Pirates posted an incredibly hilarious report on Amanda's replacement . Transparent Agenda captured it best with this clever comic...



BusinessWeek is also reporting that the split appears to be a classic case of creative differences "exacerbated by business pressures." This underlying tension was heightened by the fact that Rocketboom was still trying to get on its feet financially. Though the show is produced for an unbelievable $20 a day, not including labor costs or salaries. This spring, Rocketboom made news when it sold a week's worth of ads through eBay (EBAY ) for $40,000 (see BusinessWeek.com, 2/10/06, "What's Rocketboom Worth? $40,000?").

Congdon's long-stated desire to move to Los Angeles, where she planned to pursue her acting career while working on Rocketboom, brought their differences to a head, according to the pair. The timing of this move and discussions over Congdon's involvement with the show were something the two couldn't resolve—even after mediated discussions.

Now, the fate of Rocketboom is very much up in space. Congdon and Baron worked together from the start on the show, filming it initially in Baron's Upper West Side apartment. Baron hired Congdon, a New York actress who appeared as a coat-check girl on NBC's popular show The Restaurant in 2004, to be the host, after finding her through Craigslist.com. But she soon began writing and producing, and now owns 49% of the show.

According to the Rocketboom homepage, "Amanda Congdon has decided to move to L.A. to pursue opportunities that have arisen for her in Hollywood. Andrew Baron, the founder and creator of Rocketboom, will stay with the company in New York and will continue to produce and direct the show. We are in the daunting process of recruiting a replacement for Amanda."

Amanda's response was long and heartfelt, "I am disheartened by Andrew Baron's decision to spread misinformation. He knows I cannot move to LA without a job...but insists on spinning things this way to shore up his assertion that I am "walking away" from Rocketboom. I did not walk away. I did not accept Andrew's idea of "partnership."

Her farewell broadcast was short, unscripted and painfully honest. But the saga continued with her post, "For the Record," stating ever so delicately, "Andrew you fired me."

She ended the series of never-ending comments with, "I’m closing comments on this post. I’m exhausted. Think I'll head to the beach :)" - acknowledging that she needed a tan.

The CEO of Weblogs wrote a public offer to hire Amanda as the news was breaking. This was one of many. According to Congdon, the offers are rolling in, although she is still evaluating her options. Congdon says she will hire a lawyer to figure out how to resolve the ownership issue.

Perhaps Rocketboom was only the launch pad for Ms. Amanda Congdon's real rocketship ride. I'm sure there will be more to report as the days go by.

For PR 2.0, this is Brian Solis, signing off.

Credits:

Writing: Me

Research: Me

Drama: Amanda Congdon and Andrew Baron

Comedy: Office Pirates and Transparent Agenda

Tags: Amanda Congdon, Rocketboom, web 2.0, web2.0, brian solis

Revisiting Guy Kawasaki's "How to Suck Up to a Blogger"

In February, Guy Kawasaki wrote an extensive article that was in essence, a strategy guide to strengthen the bridge and enhance the likeliness for PR and communications professionals to reach influential bloggers. Yes, I know, February…that was a lifetime ago in Silicon Valley. But, I think this article will only gain greater relevance as time goes on and is more important today than it was just several months ago.

Let’s, for the sake of editorial continuity, agree that blogs are an important and distinct channel of influence. According to Guy, his site is currently #36 on the Technorati chart, 4,518 sites from the top ten. If you look at Michael Arrington’s Techcrunch which covers Web 2.0 sites, he grew from 60 readers last year to 66,457 at the time of this writing.Tactics and strategies evolve along with the online and technology landscapes. Meaning, that the principles of this article will exist, but some methods and the approaches will modify over time. In his research, Kawasaki pulled together a collective series of essential recommendations from bloggers and industry influencers to help any communications professional have a better shot at reaching and convincing the most important bloggers in their field or market. Of course, there are a few points where my opinion differs, but that is more along the lines of historical perspective and tactical preference, which does not diminish from the importance of blogging and how to effectively suck up to key bloggers – or at least attempt to suck up without falling flat on your face.

According to Kawasaki, “Blogging has flipped traditional PR on its head.” According to Solis, “Who was doing traditional PR anyway?” In all honesty, blogging represents a new channel and a new opportunity for PR and buzz creation. But blogging in of itself didn’t change anything that wasn’t already happening since 95 in one way or another. In my opinion, it was the net that flipped traditional PR on its head, and everything that was born out of it. E-zines, discussion groups, forums, message boards, review sites, etc. all required specialized and personalized approaches because they were usually published or moderated by everyday Joe’s and enthusiasts.

But now even the blogging landscape is changing dramatically – which is a sign of long-term growth and a fortified position as a legitimate publishing channel.

All forms of online media (whether citizen or journalist), including blogs, have evolved to almost dizzying heights. Now many traditional journalists have also jumped ship, and are blogging full time in order to cash-in on the craze.

While there are tips, tricks and hints to help you effectively reach bloggers, it is my experience, that every writer is different and therefore requires a personal touch. I have not found two bloggers where all tactics work equally.

Guy breaks it down into nine points:
Create a great product – yes, this is incredibly true. Not even the best “spin” can save a product/service/solution that isn’t fully baked or supported.

Cite and link – Up-and-coming bloggers appreciate the quotes because it helps establish them as experts in their field, plus links help boost visibility online. An easy way to do this is to comment on their articles you find compelling and refer back to them when commenting on other online articles and blogs. More popular bloggers will most likely enjoy far too many links to notice every single mention, however, you can refer to it in a pitch.

Stroke them – well, I’m not sure if this was in reference to an old Billy Squier song or if he was referring to paying compliments and homage. Any industry influencer enjoys recognition, and BS aside, they have worked pretty hard at establishing their rock star status. Let them know you appreciate their POV.

Give schwag – You have to be careful with this one. Believe it or not, many bloggers are abiding by a code of ethics. Michael Arrington publicly discussed how a blogger’s reputation could be instantly deflated if word hit the streets that coverage on their site could be purchased. There are also new services, such as Payperpost.com that attempt to connect businesses with bloggers who are willing to blog about a product - for a price. The companies can set guidelines for their requests such as whether a picture must be included and whether they will only pay for positive blog coverage. I’m sure this will go over like a special appearance by Paris Hilton to sing her new single at OzzFest. On the other hand, poignant schwag could be effective.

Make connections before you need them – Always a good point. At least introduce yourself to the top influencers of any industry where you might play ball. Acknowledging them and their stature before you pitch them could help you land on their radar screen.

Be responsive – Believe it or not, there will be times where bloggers will need something from you, either from a direct pitch or perhaps something they read about. Either way, they’ll need access to information to turn around and they’ll need you to make things happen for them, interviews, pictures, executive or customer quotes, evaluation products, and sometimes, even a bit of industry research to help them with market numbers.

Use a rifle, not a shotgun – ALWAYS an important point. Bloggers appreciate personalized contact and an understanding that you took the time to acknowledge why their blog is an ideal venue for your product/service. If you can’t take the time to share with them the reasons why their audience is ideally matched to your product, then I can bet that they won’t bother taking the time to do your homework for you.

Be a foul weather friend – I interpret this point a bit differently than intended. This is a good point for bloggers and media in general. In this industry, contacts shift, change gigs, take time off, etc., but they always come back in one way or another. Be there, even when you don’t need anything from them.

Be a source – This goes back to “be responsive.” Honestly, do your homework and become an expert in your industry. No one will tout your product better than you. Therefore create a complete package. Create the story, customized by the blogger’s angle and provide resources, quotes and statistics to help them maintain their “expert” status.

There are others who are attempting to help PR pros reach bloggers. Most recently an SF-based agency introduced a working press release template that attempts to distill news and publish it in a way that speaks the language of bloggers, Technorati, RSS, del.icio.us., etc. This was created in response to an article written by Tom Foremski on SiliconValleyWatcher calling for the death of the press release. While the concept is nice, let’s not forget the true, and largely untapped power of traditional press releases, even in this new realm of blogger influence.

Outsell, a marketing research firm, interviewed 7,000 professionals in corporations, government, healthcare, and academia to find out: 1) How much time they spend searching and reading info for their job (12 hours per week) and 2) Where they search and read that info.

According to Outsell:
#1. Press releases online have overtaken trade journals and their respective sites as the top information source for knowledge workers.
#2. 47% of study respondents were reading "real content" such as news and e-books on their wireless handhelds regularly.
#3. The average respondent was reading nine blogs on a regular basis.

#1 is very important. Aside from the traditional value of the wire, the web has brought a new dimension to PR. In the beautiful world of mashups, wire services truly mash PR and SEO (search engine optimization), the results of which are largely untapped and undocumented.

Nowadays buzz drives coverage. And buzz can tidal wave from different forms of online tools, press releases, links, SEO, blogs, and forums, just to name a few.

Truly, this article represents just a few of the many tools that PR pros need to keep in their arsenal of 1:1, 1 to many, and many to many communications weapons – whether it’s reaching bloggers or traditional journalists.

Information means something different to each market. And, in order to truly pass the news along to all target demographics, we can’t overlook the value of relationships, traditional releases, research, and individualized pitches. I actually had a “web 2.0” reporter send an email after reading a digital PR 2.0 release, asking me to send him a regular press release because he prefers to draw his own summaries and conclusions. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

I think it can all be summarized this way:
#1 Research
#2 Become active in linking, comments, and spreading the word online (link back to your favorite bloggers)
#3 Study
#4 Create a direct story
#5 Sprinkle it with something that will win them over (schwag, info, help)
#6 Follow up

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Netscape BETA

Tags: Guy Kawasaki public+relations PR pr2.0 marketing PR 2.0 web2.0 web 2.0 blogger blog brian solis techcrunch michael arrington tom foremski