Let the knowledge flow

Recently came across Flowtown, a new service which gives you social network info on folks you know or don't. It's helpful in marketing, of course, because it gives us better behaviorial insights - a tighter picture of what you really use and how you consume media. Just from an email address.

This is a big deal in connecting the one to one email model and its databases with the looser modern world of social media networks. They've operated so separately, I think we can all expect to see more of these connections moving forward.

Aside: My first reaction hearing about the service before I saw it was wasn't excited; in fact, admittedly, I was a little creeped out. A guy from work told me about it in a bar and I panicked coming home to check it out and see what I could find on myself. I think it was that private eye seminar I took at the Learning Annex a few years ago. Through Flowtown, I saw my own social network memberships but frankly it's no different from what people can learn about me otherwise. One can opt-out of a lot of stuff and the service seems very much on the up-and-up and plenty of brands are starting to tap it for more sophisticated social marketing.

What was funnier was today's postings via twitter about how foursquare has begat the Please Rob Me site, which can help robbers figure out when you're not home. Now that's a social marketing backfire.

Notes from the OMMA Panel on Social Media Creative

The panel I was on at the OMMA Global Conference as part of Advertising Week was interesting, though it felt like we didn't really tackle the topic: "Best 2009 Creative Social Media Campaigns." Wonder if we disappointed the audience.

Hosted by Greg Christian from SamnLori recruiterswe covered a little bit of work and each chimed in about challenges facing creative development in social media and what agencies and clients need to do in the space to succeed this year.

Cathy Taylor from MediaPost was in the audience, and afterwards, she wrote an article about things she heard throughout the day, including what I spoke about for creating nimble creative teams for social media.

Advertising Week 2009

This week is Advertising Week; if anyone had any sense, they'd rebrand it Marketing Week. But advertising is more glamorous so we'll let it own the week (just as it's hijacked brand ;-)).

Tuesday, I'm on an OMMA panel at the Marriott Marquis called "Best 2009 Creative Campaigns in Social Media" if you're attending. Come and cheer or jeer. Probably will mention Skittles.com, as most would expect.