Social Media Trends

So I’ve been thinking about the digital world and what’s been happening and I think 2009 will be remembered for the rise and rise of social media.

So that said, here are my top 5 digital trends so far for 2009.

Zoe’s Top Five—

 

Twitter- the explosion of tweets and going from 1 billion to 5 billion tweets in less than twelve months. (Plus the emergence of media professionals using this medium.)

• Articles on twitter explaining everything from the jargon to who’s who and which brands are using it.
• The development of programs such as tweet deck which is a live breakdown of whats being talked about
• Using the hashtag to search topics and getting people to talk about these topics for example #myspace
• The level of networking that is done purely through this medium- whereby people then meet up as they have like minded interests
• Being encouraged to tweet live at events by their organisers

 

Developing content for the right platform, creating visual content which has a very specific idea and reaches a certain community of people rather than a demographic.

•  Webisodes developed for myspace via their road tour experiment and the rise of shows produced for and shown on Bebo. http://www.myspace.com/myspaceroadtour
• Interactive content being created which is completely funded by big brand sponsors but is much more subtle than product placement.

 

Stunt driven video made for youtube, especially ones driven by social experiments and in public places.

• http://mamamia.com.au/weblog/2009/09/oprah-flashmob-dance.html
• Witchery for men- jacket left in coffee shop and a plea on youtube to get it back

 

Live streaming to connect people from around the globe in one event

• U2 are live streaming their concert from San Francisco http://www.youtube.com/u2
• Customising youtube channels to maximize the interest from the greater audience
• Obama live streamed a press conference this year

 

iPhone applications- being made for a specific audience by big brands, in time with cinema releases and add ons for products.

• Luxury brands and creative agencies alike delivering direct to their audience in the most accessible way.

 

Vegemite 2.0 FAIL

There have been many great articles on this today. For me there are so many problems with how Kraft attempted to identify with a much younger audience. As someone who actually likes the new Vegemite more than the original (I know a big call) it makes me quite sad to think I will have to buy a food spread called Isnack 2.o. Epic fail Kraft.

If it was a PR exercise designed to generate publicity well then it worked. If it was a PR exercise to generate positive publicity and appeal to a younger audience who did not grow up with ‘happy little vegemites’ then Kraft have simply gone about it the wrong way. Take this idea to the right PR company and you would probably be praised today. Instead I have to wake up tomorrow morning and put something referring to electronics and technology on my toast.

Are you FUCKING serious? You mean no one in the long line of people thought to question this concept? Not one person decided that they would be against calling a jar of spread after a toy?

The internet is alight with comments via blogging, online forums and of course twitter. Did they expect this kind of response? Well I hope so. As the jokes keep piling up and more and more Youtube videos are becoming created, it’s time for Kraft to think to think of a contingency plan.

The Thin Red Line

So I’m pondering…. This is a very self indulgent post on how to manage the work life balance. I have landed my dream job. It is hard work and completely amazing and yet longer hours than I have been used too. So on one side I have the career climbing job loving person. But on the other side I have the social butterfly restaurant loving, bar hopping 23 year old, who doesn’t really have the money (or the friends) to be a social.

And then there is the part where I need to know the latest bars for my job and I need to take clients to the latest eateries. And the part where I want to stay at home so I can get the sleep I really need and spend some time just chilling.

Hmm so what do I do? Become a broke PR social butterfly, or a married to my job lounge lover? Or can I manage both, like going to dinner tonight having 3 glasses of wine AND pasta for $22.

I think the solution might be a How To on having fun in Sydney on a budget. Any suggestions welcome. I think thats a new thread idea.

Style is the New Black

On Wednesday night I was a part of my work’s official function. Not an event I had prepared, but none the less I was more than happy to be a part of the fun. Two events in one night in the same building, The launch of Make Up Art on one side via the front entry, the launch of Style Black via the back.

Make Up Art was an industry only event, where 3 prominent artists inspired the collection. Models were brought in of course, but body painted and encased in the work. The results were amazing.

 

The second part of the evening was the launch of Style Black, with a performance by Bertie Blackman. Over 200 people in the room with lovely waiters decked out with ‘guyliner’. Truely a party to remember.

 

What a fabulous industry I am in. Finger crossed the next major event will be even more hands on 🙂

For socials pics- http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/gallery-e6frex89-1225771266125