As a social media company, at Feedback we notice two prevailing sentiments from corporate leadership.
No. 1: “We need to be on Twitter because [competitors’ names] are.”
No. 2: “I want to retire before I have to learn this crap.” Read More
Mar
04
04
Anna’s Social Media Picks of the Week (03/04/11)
iPad 2
Apple announced the iPad 2 this week. The iPad 2 is 33% thinner, has duel webcams, and new color options. The prices will range from $499 (for 16GB WiFi-only models) to $829 (for the works) and will be available on March 11, 2011. Watch the following video to see more about the new iPad:
(For those who are TeamCoCo, watch a spoof on the commercial here.)
@CharlieSheen:
You’ve probably been following the tirades of Charlie Sheen… actually I know some of you are (on twitter, at least). Charlie Sheen joined Twitter (@charliesheen) this week, and gained a million followers in a little over 24 hours, breaking a Guinness World record.
Side note: Three Feedbacker’s made it into the list of Charlie Sheen’s top 10 followers. #Winning
Libya’s Internet Down
The government has shut down the internet for most of Libya, including the capital city of Tripoli. The Wall Street Journal reported, “U.S. firms that monitor global Internet networks reported that Web traffic in and out of Libya was disconnected abruptly Thursday afternoon local time and continued to be unavailable late Friday.” This is all too familiar to what we saw a few weeks ago in Egypt. Learn more here.
Behind the Scenes with Old Spice
Old Spice brought you the man that smells like a man, man, and now they’re bring you behind the scenes of their latest commercial shoot. Take a look at the following video, which shows the creative process behind the latest Old Spice commercial:
Healthcare Pick: Emerging Media Whitepaper
Those who are members of SHSMD, take a look at the official Emerging Media Handbook/Whitepaper from SHSMD – Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development where Feedback’s Dean Browell wrote the introduction as the Chair of the Emerging Media Task Force.
-Anna (@alucas9)
Sep
15
15
Feedback in Healthcare News: SHSMD Report
Feedback was found all over SHSMD 2010 in Chicago, the annual conference for the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development. The firm conducted a three-hour workshop on social media and strategy, participated in a lively panel on emerging media, roundtables and more. 
Feedback also made the news:
Healthleaders article, “Stop Waiting for Social Media to Emerge” excerpted here:
Panelist Dean Browell, PhD, executive vice president for Richmond, VA, ad agency Feedback, said it best: “I know some of you are thinking, just let me retire before I have to learn this crap.”
Dean Browell was also listed as one of the top ten you need to get to know at SHSMD by Dan Dunlop, who later chronicled the Emerging Media panel:
Dean Browell of Feedback was on the panel, so I knew it would be good – and even entertaining. Dean is the most grounded Ph.D. I know. And he is incredibly bright. The panel did not disappoint. It was informative and engaging. I thought the audience members asked really good questions and each of the panel members offered valuable insights. My favorite part of the presentation was when Dean said that MySpace is “dead to him.” If it isn’t quite dead, then it is on life support!
You can also see a video interview and highlights from the social media strategy workshop here at the CPM Marketing blog.
Jul
29
29
Facebook Questions: Details, Advantages & Institutional Concerns
This week Facebook launched, “Facebook Questions” to a limited number of users. In essence the Questions service easily posts a public question from the same spot you might normally post a basic update. A question using Questions is completely public, although answers will likely contain responses by both Friends and non-Friends.
“Right now the product will only be launched to a beta group, however Questions will be rolled out based on how the beta test performs. There are a number of significant features within questions that are not provided by competing services (i.e. Quora). For example, users will be able to add photos to a question, create polls, and browse through questions based on categories. One other substantial feature that many Page administrators will welcome, is the ability to ask questions directly from a Facebook Page.”
The addition also meant a slightly re-worked publishing tool for users posting status updates, links, etc. While not normally a very big deal, some rightly point out that the simple status update or wall-writing (even on someone else’s) now requires two clicks before posting, which could impact the number of posts.
What does this mean for institutions such as healthcare, higher education?
The answer is first not to be afraid of new features, but be mindful of how they could be used.
The change will be advantageous for institutions keen on engaging audiences by allowing a Page to ask open-ended questions as it normally might, only in a more visible medium as the questions will appear in the public repository, not just on your Facebook Page.
The most obvious concern for many will be how the general public uses it to poll their friends and beyond for decisions, possibly slanting their Questions obviously to the positive or negative. Where currently a Facebook user might simply post on their wall, “I just moved to Chicago, where should I take my toddler for her first checkup, anyone recommend a doctor?”, this question now can now be posed to a waiting public who may answer with verbosity. Or, when in shopping mode for institutions of higher education, a teen who has narrowed their choices might poll openly which of the two or three they should attend.
This last point should also signal an opportunity, however. Here is your chance to demonstrate thought leadership and ANSWER questions as well.
How Facebook Questions challenges general sites such as Quora, or industry-specific sites such as WebMD’s Exchanges, only time will tell.
Some rightly note that many of the Questions being asked right now as it launches in beta are all about Facebook and Facebook Questions.
Questions will be an interesting animal to watch from a monitoring standpoint as we judge adoption levels.
Jun
29
29
Yelp & Healthcare: Sittin’ In a Tree?
Wondering aloud: Do people go to Yelp to research healthcare, or are they simply encountering Yelp reviews for non-retail/restaurant in searches?
As with all we do at Feedback, we start by examining the local culture of social media use first – because not all regions are alike (not by a longshot). In a recent study of a particular large region we saw relatively heavy use of Yelp in providing reviews of healthcare. We observed service-line specific reviews as well as general hospital comments. Obviously it varies by community, but it does beg the question that if you have heavy Yelp use in your town for other things, that even a minimal number of reviews could get high visibility. Plus, their system of reviewer ranks means the reviews have a high trust factor.
We don’t recommend putting too much or too little emphasis on any particular channel until you’ve done a thorough review and deep dive that helps you make strategic, informed decisions.
So what does everyone think about this?
We’ve spoken about Yelp before here on the Feedback blog, but we felt this was an important question. Feel free to email us at contact [at] feedbackagency.com with your thoughts.
Apr
13
13
Twitter Lets The Tweet Be The Ad With: “Promoted Tweets”
Twitter announced Tuesday the first phase of paid advertising with, “Promoted Tweets” (read more on their blog here).
Twitter’s ad model for Promoted Tweets is based on a per-thousand buy of viewers who will see a Tweet at the top of their search results that has been chosen for “promotion” by a paying company. This result will reside at the top regardless of when it was posted, meaning companies can circumvent the deafening cry of other Tweets about the same subjects that could bury their comment over time or over frequency.
This also makes for an interesting paid-placement opportunity for dealing with public relations nightmares, or quickly reacting to industry or popular trends, shoe-horning in a brand’s thoughts into every search.
The actual form of the ad? Essentially it’s just a “Golden Tweet” or “Timeless Tweet” that has all the same properties of a normal Tweet, plus “promoted” tag, that allows for interaction as normal and obeys all rules except for the chronology. Presumably this timelessness is how it will be inserted even in search queries from third-party applications.
One underreported function is that company’s appear to be able to promote Tweets they didn’t generate. In other words, a Tweet selected for promotion may be an incredibly positive review, for example. Consider industries such as healthcare, where slim official Tweeting by hospitals means meaningful Tweets are buried under a flood of job posts, etc.
Promoted Tweets is an interesting and unique development from Twitter, who before now has eschewed advertising and frequently stated they were interested in models that did not deviate from Twitter’s core functions (i.e. an integrated advertising design rather than interruptive such as banner ads). The success of Promoted Tweets and the other models coming in subsequent “phases” remains to be seen, but in my opinion appears promising.
01
Support in Your PJs
by FeedbackUntil recently, support groups tended to be local and face-to-face. Yet as people become more familiar with technology, the trend toward more online support groups is growing. And for good reason: there are countless benefits to seeking support of others on the Internet.
Throughout research for our various clients, particularly those in the healthcare space, we’ve uncovered a variety of these support and “mental health e-groups,” which are often started simply because the creator needs an outlet to talk to others with the same experience.
The Pew Internet and American Life Project estimates that 18 percent of web users who are living with an illness or going through a personal situation participate in an online discussion or group forum. That percentage is much higher for those who are simply Googling for answers.
Connecting with others online is a still a new concept for some, though, and there can be benefits, including:
Immediacy & Anonymity: There is something to be said about receiving an almost instant response from someone going through the same issues halfway across the world. By reaching out to others online, you have the flexibility of connecting when it is convenient. E-support groups have opened up a new world for those that were previously too nervous to go to a local support group, where for some the barrier was a lack of anonymity, or being unsure where to find others going through similar issues. People tend to be more open and honest online, leading to a better discussion.
Abundancy: Seeking out online support groups instead of a local group means reaching out to perhaps even thousands more human beings going through the same situation. The topics of these groups are abundant – from mothers caring for special needs children, to people recently diagnosed with serious illnesses and adults dealing with aging parents.
Ability to be helpful: Assisting others through the tough times has become an important part of the therapy process for many. Many people participating in online support groups have found a kind of second family; a family that understands the ups and downs, the good times and the bad.
There are, of course, downsides to turning to the web for support. Nothing will ever replace human interaction, be it with a family member or friend or psychologist. But turning to peers on the web certainly doesn’t hurt, and may be just the push someone who needs help requires to get them out to talk to someone in the flesh.
Dealing with illnesses or life transitions is never an easy thing, and the support of others – online or off - who are going through the same experiences can make all the difference.
-Caroline (@carolineradom)