Archive for November, 2009
Doorbusters aren’t a Deal Breaker
Posted by Kristin in In the News on November 24, 2009
With the holiday weekend getting closer and closer (11 hours, 10 minutes to be exact) consumers will be inundated with fliers and ads announcing this year’s coveted Black Friday deals. Several new stories this year have investigated the legitimacy of advertised deals and the likelihood of consumers actually getting their hands on the 50″ HDTV at Walmart for $498.
It is my belief that the smart shopper understands the concept of limited numbers of merchandise in each store. I don’t expect every Best Buy to have enough TVs at the lowest advertised price for every consumer. I understand that they are simply trying to get me in the door in the hopes that I will purchase something else. And, I’m ok with it.
For me, shopping on Black Friday is less about getting the cheapest pair of Dockers for my dad, and more about the shared experience with my mom and sister – and the thousands of others at the mall. It is a tradition that I look forward to every year – where success isn’t based on how many gifts we cross off our lists, but by how much fun we had.
I am curious to know if I am crazy – shopping on Black Friday for fun. So, if you are a Black Friday shopper: Why do you do it?
Breaking News: Eggo Shortage?
If you aren’t familiar with EggoGate09, you clearly haven’t been watching TV or using any form of social media. Search for “Eggos” in Google and you’ll get pages of news stories and blog posts mentioning the shortage (that is apparently the first sign of the end of days). Typing “Eggos” into Twitter Search pulls more pages of Tweets than I would ever attempt to count for this post.
However, prior to the worst thing to ever happen to frozen breakfast, when was the last time you heard Eggos mentioned on the news? Or saw someone tweet about the waffles (other than updates on what they were eating)?
I have to admit. This potential crisis for Kellogg’s is turning out to be the best word-of-mouth marketing for their brand of frozen waffles. Ever.
To be honest, it’s working on me. I heard about the Eggo shortage, how I can’t find them at Target and those nutters selling them on eBay for outrageous prices – and it made me want Eggos. It brought me back to the days when I would put one tiny drop of syrup in each little square (yep, Type-A even at age 7). Back to nights when I convinced my mom that I wanted breakfast for dinner.
As a professional who occasionally deals with client crises, I am impressed that what should have been stories about warehouses with equipment problems and flooding, has turned into consumers and news media lamenting the loss of the Eggo waffle. And, let’s be honest, when was the last time any of these individuals purchased Eggos? My bet, it’s been quite a long time, but they’ll definitely be buying them now – if they can find them.
Photo credit: jefito.com
Journalism AND Social Media
If anyone is keeping track, this is BY FAR the fastest blog post I have ever put together – so please keep that in mind as you read.
After returning to my desk from a delicious lunch, which included Davanni’s pizza, it was pointed out to me by @ellejam that I was quoted in a tech story on CNN in a tweet that included a link. To be honest, my first thought was spam – but curiosity got the best of me. So I checked and it was true! Sort of…
In case you didn’t see the story, here is a link and a screen capture:
As you can see by my stellar editing, my tweet was used in a CNN story – sans my name.
To provide the proper evidence, I give you – my tweet:
My feeling of complete surprise and excitement from being on CNN.com (I mean, how cool is that?) is slightly diminished with the absence of my name. I know it’s my tweet, my followers know it’s my tweet, so why couldn’t CNN properly quote me?
So my question is this: What are the journalistic standards for attribution when referencing a quote/update/post from a user on social media? I am sure I am not the first social media user to experience this, so what are the expectations? Should journalists be including user names into stories when they quote a source, even if that source was found on Twitter?
Thoughts?
Maintaining Traditions
With the holidays quickly approaching, the cooking and baking of traditional Scandinavian foods begins – for my family at least. This weekend my grandma, aunt and cousin will be making lefse and it got me thinking: Are we losing family-based traditions in today’s retail world?
Traditions have been continued in our family for generations. Lefse, lutefisk (eww), Swedish meatballs, spritz cookies and more are served every year, no matter how many times I say that I don’t like lutefisk. However, it seems that the number of individuals who know how to prepare them is getting smaller.
I am just as guilty as others. I have not watched my grandma and aunt make lefse. I don’t know how to use the cookie press to make the special cookies. Is it because I’m sure I could find out how online? Or I know I could run down to the store and buy it? Or am I just relying on someone else to know how?
The responsibility falls to me to observe, learn and continue the traditions that I believe are important. However, I am curious if anyone else is experiencing something similar and your thoughts on the cause and/or solution.
Photo credit: theconglomerate.org
Thanks to Dave Erickson for teaching me the style coding. NOTE: I can’t, for the life of me, figure out how to make the text wrap further up the image. If anyone has any tips, I would greatly appreciate it!
Finding my voice
Posted by Kristin in Social Media on November 6, 2009
As I start out on the path to becoming a blogger, I have been reading blog post after blog post… about blogging, desperate to find the post that would turn on the switch in my head, making me into an instant blogger. The switch hasn’t gone off yet, but I did come across a post from copyblogger that got me thinking.
“Get off your Computer and become a better Blogger” in short, emphasizes the importance of discovering your voice and style, which you can’t find sitting behind a computer.
“Start conversations with more people. Find the kind of jokes you like to tell. Listen to the rhythm of your voice as you speak. Pay attention to the way people react when you talk. Notice how they seem more interested when you speak in a certain way or when you discuss certain topics.”
Q: So then, why do I find this so difficult?
A: During the week, I am not writing with my voice.
My question to you, expert bloggers: How do you turn your voice on and off? Do you find that you blog the way you speak?
I’m sure I’ll find my way as time goes on, I just hope those who come across my blog will be patient as stumble along.
To read the entire post from copyblogger, click here.
What about my Friends
A few weeks ago, I traveled to New York City to visit a good friend from high school who had recently moved. I used the time in transit to catch up on my favorite magazines, including Cosmopolitan and Glamour. Flipping through the articles, quizzes and photos, I was reminded of a conversation I had months ago with a co-worker: why don’t the leading women’s magazines feature any content on friendships?
In the past six years, I have said tearful goodbyes to my best friends since middle school as we moved on to college, and then watched reluctantly as my sorority sisters slowly spread across the country following college graduation. Visits are becoming more and more infrequent, scheduling phone calls is increasingly difficult.
So, where are the articles on maintaining friendships over long-distances and many years? A scan of the women’s magazines in my apartment shows the content largely falls into the following categories:
- Men
- Sex
- Career
- Fitness
- Beauty
- Fashion
I don’t think I’m alone in wanting advice on how to maintain and continue to grow my friendships. Here’s my call for Cosmopolitan, Glamour and all other women’s interest magazines to recognize the importance of friendship with other women… that is, when they are finished with “Mind Tricks that Melt Pounds” and “The Silent Clue Men give off when they’re in Love.”
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About Me
Marketing, web and communications professional. Passionate about sports, photography, travel, friends and family. Minnesota gal, who happens to cheer for the Packers."In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary." --aaron rose