Atlanta Business Chronicle

Text Messaging Works on Prezi

Advert - Ad - Promo - Zing

Times have changed. There is still a market for vinyl records, but you can't buy them easily. Some folks still have old fashioned corded land line telephones, but they are vanishing quickly. Picture tube televisions are only available at yard sales, the Goodwill Store, and craigslist. TV advertising has become much snappier, funnier, or informative and much shorter. The advent of the DVR makes commercials irrelevant and online choices like Hulu and Netflix allow much better targeting and some interaction.

Print ads are waning, sure people still read the paper and magazines, but online outlets are gaining ground at an uncanny pace. Radio is holding it's own because people are still in their cars or at an office where it is alright to have the radio on. My point is that everything from billboards and fliers to direct mail and sidewalk sales will remain but is being overshadowed by the most valuable 4 inches of real estate in the world. The screen on your mobile phone. Facbook, Google, and Twitter are fully mobile and Text Messaging is still the undisputed King Of The Mobile Domain!

So what is a business, organization, or brand to do?  Get your mobile outlets up and running, create that facebook page, start tweeting deals, info, and fun stuff. Engage in a real two way via text messaging and use SMS to build your list and direct folks to your other media like YouTube, Facebook etc…

Text: GotPhone to: 90210 to see what I mean right now!

How is Jamie Foxx utilizing mobile marketing?

The handsome and debonair Jamie Foxx is best known for his acting career or should that be best known as a stand-up comedian?
The handsome and debonair Jamie Foxx is best known for his acting career or should that be best known as a stand-up comedian? No, wait – he’s a Grammy award winning R&B singer and radio host! Perhaps, that should read that Jamie Foxx is a multi-talented well-known player in the entertainment industry! But why would we link Jamie Foxx with mobile marketing? Read on…….
The Dreamgirls and Jarhead star was the opening keynote speaker at the Mobile Marketing Association Forum in Los Angeles, California on November 17th 2010. at the Beverly Hilton, Foxx did not disappoint and was highly knowledgeable when discussing the strategies for the entertainment industry highlighting particularly where the future business opportunities lie within the mobile channel.


Foxx said “With the widespread growth of digital media and importance of content distribution, there is a tremendous opportunity for Hollywood and the entertainment industry to take advantage of the mobile channel with innovative new business models”.
He went on to say that “The interactivity and customization that mobile provides will change how movies and entertainment media are made, marketed, and distributed, and I am excited to be a leading part of an event that will help bridge the entertainment industry with the leaders of the mobile revolution.”

The CEO for the Mobile Marketing Association, Greg Stuart. said that Jamie Foxx clearly understands the impact that mobile and digital media is having on consumer communications. He said that Foxx sees the opportunity for both consumers and businesses alike. Clearly the appearance of this high-profile, much-loved celebrity to open the industry Forum in Los Angeles was a delight and honor for its members and there’s sure to be more to come in the mobile marketing arena for Jamie Foxx.
Foxx said “With the widespread growth of digital media and importance of content distribution, there is a tremendous opportunity for Hollywood and the entertainment industry to take advantage of the mobile channel with innovative new business models”.
He went on to say that “The interactivity and customization that mobile provides will change how movies and entertainment media are made, marketed, and distributed, and I am excited to be a leading part of an event that will help bridge the entertainment industry with the leaders of the mobile revolution.”

Go to http://iZigg.com/speed to get started today or visit my facebook business page and enter to win a Luxury Vacation http://www.facebook.com/TextMagnet

Sneak Peak of mSocial

Is The Next “Thing” Already Happening?

    I'm not asking about the next miracle drug, or fitness breakthrough, nor am I asking about the next pop star or goofy “reality show” no, I'm asking if the next communication model is already huge but nearly untapped.
    I say the answer is yes indeed! Google, Apple, & Facebook have all taken massive action toward the small screen. It's not really news, but there is a perspective that is going a bit unnoticed and is about to unleash and avalanche. In a nutshell, obiviously Apple has led the way in the small screen revolution and immediately behind (though slightly ahead in market share) is Google's Android. Now Google has acquired Motorola's mobile phone machine so they can fully enter the hardware game. Facebook has made everyhting so easy and clean on the samll screen that the fastest way to port your brand over to mobile is to use a free facebook page for business and organizations and all branding activity. We won't leave out twitter and foursquare since they are truly made for mobile out of the gate.

    Again no real news here, everything is going mobile, tablet, iPhone, Android, SmartPhone etc..
Let's back up a bit, while the world is not populated with Luddites, there are many who don't use all the snazzy features of their snazzy phones and small screen gizmos. No big deal they get the stuff done that needs to be done. However there is a simple technology that has been in use for a long time, a really long time if we use our historical imaginations, a type of communication that in it's simplicity trumps all the fancy amazing techno miracle star trek stuff, yet seamlessly integrates with said super hight tech smartphone magic.

   First there were yodels in the alps, smoke signals in the Americas, drums across Africa, and didgeridoos down under. Then along came the messenger, on foot or horseback, then the telegraph, and the messenger plus the telegraph brought the telegram. Of course we can't forget the amazing carrier pigeon! All of these methods from ancient times were to communicate a short important message in as little time as technology would allow. Pagers were the rage in the '80's but as noted at the top of this article our handheld gizmos have more computing power than the Apollo Modules did. So the short instant important message is still King! These days we have 160 characters in a a Short Message we simply call a Text Message.
 
    The best thing about text is that it crosses all demographics and people look at their text messges. Mostly because they note it's a quick read. Also the device alerts the user by default so everyone knows when they have some new message to look at. Of course replying is simple and quick.
This is not a fad, it is apparently human nature to communicate with short notes. The Next Thing is already happening and anybody can capitalize on it today! if you want to reach your market then we have a product for you, if you want ot build a business upon this Mobile Media Thing then we can help you do that starting today.
Text: iLike to: 90210 and check out the info links and reply keywords, then watch these three short videos http://zti.me/W3 then call me. if you follow the other instructions you will most certainly acquire my personal cell number.

Welcome to The Next Thing!

“Renting Space In Social Media Places”

Web Log - weblog = Blog!
A journal, a diary, editorial opinion, rants, raves, lunatic fringe conspiracy theory, political perspectives, family forums, personal publishing, information regurgitation, original content etc..
Whatever you call it the “blogosphere” is certainly a remarkable advent of the InterWeb!
I've read about and debated the idea of blogging v. social media. For purposes of this opinoi piece I'll say Social Media is facebook, twitter & YouTube. I know there are more SM conduits like Stumble Upon and Digg, however fb, tweets, & YT Video are currently the King, Queen & Crown Jewels of Social Media.
So to blog or not to blog? That is not the question, the question is do you  have any ability or talent to write, research, inspire, inform, edify, or perhaps amuse any number of possible readers? Wheter you have 75 loyal followers or 750,000 if you can frame your thoughts in a pleasing package, then by all  means blog away!!!

    I think it is not a matter of Blog v. Social Media or facebook “fan page” v. website, it is a matter of thinking big and functioning small. We magicians often use the phrase: Pack Small & Play Big to refer to the idea that our show does not take a great deal of space or time to set up. but will have  terrific entertainment impact on a large audience.
As a performer I will go out and entertain at a restaurant tonight from 7:30 -9:30 PM in a mostly family style environment. A place in which I've been doing this on Friday nights for over 22 years. Then from 10 - Midnight I'll take the show down the street and entertain at a nightclub/pool hall/tavern. I'll do some of the same stuff but with a slightly different feeling or subtly different demeanor.

    Why? Because my audiences perceive themselves in a different light so I will cater to that perception and give them good stuff in a different setting. This translates to the seemingly erroneous debate about whether one should use facebook simply because everyone else is using it. Well folks, I'll drive on the paved road also, since it is the easiest and fastest way to my destination.
So again I say if you have something to say and you can express it reasonably well, then JUST DO IT!


As for whether Social Media is more important than blogging, I say neither is more important, but if I were to suggest one for a business or organizational outlet I would lean toward social media. The question that then arises is: isn't my blog part of my social media? Technically your blog is your blog, because a fork is a fork not a spoon. However if you integrate it and cross pollinate your audience then all of your personal content is part of your Social Media!  
If you wish to receive the occasional poignant thought then please grab your phone and text: iThink to: 90210

The Skinny On SMS

Some interesting data;

(CNN) -- Among U.S. adults who go online, 13% use Twitter -- and more than half (54%) of these people access the popular social media service with their mobile phone, according to new research from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.  - source CNN Tech

 This is interesting as the 13% is based upon adults who go online, nearly everyone has a cell phone and according to this most of those cell phone users aren't paying much attention to Twitter.

The report also revealed some interesting details about the demographics of Twitter users. For instance, 25% of adult African-Americans who use the Internet are on Twitter, as are 19% of Hispanic Americans, compared with only 9% of whites.
Where you live also may affect whether you're on Twitter: About 15% of both urban and suburban U.S. adult Internet users are on Twitter, vs. only 7% of rural dwellers. - source CNN Tech

Don't get me wrong, I thing Twitter is a brilliant and useful idea, however it has obvious limitations especially when compared to SMS and facebook. My opinion is that there can be a terrific synergy in reaching your market with your message by including a simple recipe of Mobile Media linked with facebook & Twitter. It is definitely a good idea to bring some varied value to each outlet in a way that makes sense. It may make great sense for some business and information models to specialize in their media outlets and differentiate and cross pollinate with purpose

For instance Dell Outlet has a great twitter where you may find deals that are not announced elsewhere. Southwest Airlines uses facebook to promote give-aways, garner up to date praise from customers, and share various tidbits about the company and travel ideas. There are both very appropriate uses for these media. 

Since nearly 100% of Text Messages are opened and 84% are viewed within 4 minutes, and since nearly everyone age 13 and up carries a cell phone with SMS messaging and as the CNN article notes: 

“Texting is the most popular activity across nearly all mobile demographics & on all types of mobile phones.”

It simply makes good sense that the hub from which all your media flows from and is linked by should be where people are likely to look. In other words, Go Where The Eyes Are!

If you receive a marketing text message that does not include an opt out then file one of these http://www.fcc.gov/guides/spam-unwanted-text-messages-and-e-mail.
Many small businesses understand the power of text messaging to stay in touch with their clients, customers, and prospects, however by simply broadcasting from their personal account they are at risk of really losing people and not complying with the FCC codes.
 
This is a perfect example of why using iZigg 90210 is such a powerful asset. Not to mention the power and flexibility the platform provides to manage information and streamline your messaging across your market demographics. Of course the Opt out message is a default. The irony is this; the more Opt-Outs your have. the better you are doing, because this is an indication of a higher volume of Opt-Ins!

The final truth about implementing these cutting edge instant forms of delivering your message to the marketplace is this unchangeable fact; One will always have to build their list in the traditional way, face to face, press the flesh, radio, print, TV, fliers, salespeople etc.. The beauty of SMS Mobile Media is that one may use it for an authentic ad tracker and the larger your list of SMS Opt-Ins grows the amount spent of the aforementioned media will be reduced, reassigned or more effectively targeted. What I mean by reassigned is that if you own five sandwich shops and spend $25k annually on print and media promo, you may get a better result by spending 15K on print and media and 10$ on product giveaways. This makes for a happier more engaged growing customer base.