Month: February 2009

Straight from the Source’s Mouth

A new friend just turned us on to the podcasts being offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Recent topics include Marketing to the Federal Government,
Getting Your Small Business Ready for Tax Season, On-line Reporting of Employee Wages, Financing a Small Business and Check List for Starting a Business.

Podcasting is a great way to deliver information to a busy audience. Call Big Ears Strategic Marketing today to learn more!

The Man, Part II: A Tweet in Every Pot

Twitter, the social media application that allows users to make quick posts of up to 140 characters, has become a tool of choice for many government agencies and representatives. It’s an easy way to stay in touch with interested colleagues and constituents.

The BearingPoint has compiled and placed a list of government Twitter users on its blog. It’s a great list, and growing all the time due to user input.

Check out this link and add it to your bookmark list.

If you’re not familiar with Twitter and the word just makes you think of little old ladies sitting on a porch chirping about the whippersnappers walking by, feel free to give me a call or drop me a line. I’m happy to give you more info.

Is technology the cure?

Some M.D.s certainly think it holds promise. Jay Parkinson is a young doctor using modern technology to step back in time to a medical system that values communication over institutional wall-building.

This article in GOOD Magazine illustrates how lessons of years past, solid marketing, technology and good old fashioned ingenuity can be combined to create new and exciting business models.

Social Media and The Man

Yes, indeedy, the feds have placed both feet firmly in the new millennium. The Center for Disease Control is now using social media platforms to reach the masses.

The CDC’s social media site contains links to their blogs, podcasts, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube videos and RSS feeds. You can even download widgets to let you add updated peanut recall information to your website.

Scroll a little farther down their page and you can also send eCards about recalls and other health topics to people you love. Nothing says “I love you” like a card telling you to check your cupboards or buckle up!

What can I say other than,”You go, CDC!”

Oh, and P.S.

I checked my cupboards! www.fda.gov or 1-800-CDC-INFO

How Not to Use Social Media

There’s no escaping the social media wildfire. You can run, but you can’t outrun it. And here is a perfect example of the power of social media, from January 21st, 2009.

Here are two important follow-ups to the story, from January 22nd and
January 23rd.

User beware. And be smart. The online world has not only very big ears, but big eyes and an even bigger mouth.