What if you could offer a true training “experience” that provides newly hired or promoted first time leaders the skills they will need to effectively delegate work, set and execute direction, establish constructive dialogues, build trust and credibility, motivate their teams, and work effectively in the agency environment?
Here’s an answer: TASL.
Google announced its foray into social media today with Google Buzz:
Is it compelling enough to make people leave Facebook? Not yet, but word is that Google is putting a lot of resources against it. And when the most innovative company in the world puts its "best and brightest" on a project...only good things can happen.
On January 27th, 2010, Apple launched the iPad amid a massive amount of speculation, rumors and media hype the likes of which hadn't been seen since the launch of the iPhone. Based on the amount of media coverage, it's almost as if they were announcing a cure for all of the world's ills. Nothing so groundbreaking was announced, but the iPad launch is still an important stepping stone for the technology world, and more importantly, for content producers.
My colleague Thomas Trumble (@TPapi) wrote a recent blog post about the year's top search terms compared across Bing, Google and Yahoo!.
When reviewing the results keep in mind that the top search terms are not computed in the same way by each search engine so this is not a wholly accurate comparison. The results say as much about how each search engine is used as they do about how the search engines think about themselves. Bing seems like a soccer mom concerned about current events (Swine Flu, Stock Market, Cash For Clunkers) and using celebrities (especially dead ones) to ease that fear (Farah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze, Billy Mays). Google’s the techie hipster with it’s love of social networks (Twitter, Facebook, Hi5) and some TV (Hulu, Glee). Yahoo’s the middle American with their love of WWE, American Idol, NASCAR and Britney Spears.
Read his post to see the Top 10 search terms for 2009.
There will be much written about the new deal announced today between Microsoft and Yahoo! After over a year of very public dealsmanship (sorry about that one, but I couldn't think of a better way to describe it), which included Chief Yahoo Jerry Yang abdicating his position and bringing in Carol Bartz, who might get along better with Steve Balmer, the two companies finally came to terms.
In a nutshell, Microsoft is going to power Yahoo's search engine, and Yahoo! is going to be the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both companies' premium search advertisers -- who were the real objective of the deal.
Initial market reaction to the deal is negative for Yahoo (which doesn't get an upfront cash influx), neutral for Microsoft -- their internet business has always been a money loser, so it's not going to be a short-term material influence -- and also neutral for Google, the 800 lb. gorilla of search marketing.
Of interest to me is the microsite that Microsoft and Yahoo! set up to share details of the deal. Check it out here with a URL that characterizes their take on the deal: http://www.choicevalueinnovation.com. Interesting way to get the word out.
Great article in today's New York Times about the culture of secrecy at Apple.
Despite its reputation for being one of the world's coolest brands, Apple is 'obesessivly' secretive when it comes to sharing company information. Odd considering that many companies are using any and all outlets available to them (blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) to appear more open with shareholders and employees and more in touch with customers.
According to the article Apple takes it secrecy seriously, "Employees have been fired for leaking news tidbits to outsiders, and the company has been known to spread disinformation about product plans to its own workers."
I understand that Apple needs to protect certain information to keep their competitors at bay and deliver products that their customers find exciting, useful and cool. I also understand that leaks can take the air out of a product launch and Apple has done quite well launching products that no one saw coming. But how much can you alienate one audience at the expense of another before it backfires?
Clearly Apple cares about how its brand behaves and lives up to its promises where customers are concerned. However, the amount it cares about how it is perceived by its internal audience is in serious question. Disseminating false information to employees...what type response do they expect? Loyalty? Distrust fosters resentment in my experience and resentment rarely leads to something good. As such I would find it hard to believe a rank and file Apple employee who says that they feel like an integral and valued part of the company.
All that said, I think I would also find it hard to believe any programmer or developer who said they wouldn't like to work for Apple. Perhaps success and cool trumps all.
Jack Morton NY’s Head of Strategy, Matt Jones, has just been published in the online version of Ad Age. The article is titled 'Why I Hate Social Media' need I say more?
