the wordswell brand development blog

In case you missed it, this is a pretty clear telling of how the Internet as we know it came about.

It’s interesting to think of the ramifications of the work we do. None of the people that worked on the beginning pieces had any idea what their work would become.

That should inspire all of us to work with:

• humility to know when we are wrong, hear the critique, and make change
• imagination so we can even begin to conceive of vision and unintended (or intended) consequences
• love so that we can seek the betterment of society through what we do

Still think you don’t need to be using social media? There’s a new research study from Chadwick Martin Bailey that could change your mind.

“In a recent study of social media usage it is clear that consumers who are Facebook fans and Twitter followers of a brand are more likely to not only recommend, but they are also more likely to buy from those brands than they were before becoming fans/followers. The study of over 1500 consumers by market research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey and iModerate Research Technologies found that 60% of Facebook fans and 79% of Twitter followers are more likely to recommend those brands since becoming a fan or follower. And an impressive 51% of Facebook fans and 67% of Twitter followers are more likely to buy the brands they follow or are a fan of.  Considering Facebook’s over 400 million users, the opportunity is great for social media marketers.”

Possibly the most interesting part of the study was that it found a growing perception of brand being considered “out of touch” if they were not on social media platforms.

At the very least, your brand needs to have an engaging presence on different social media platforms. Even if you aren’t using it strategically, the fact that someone can identify themselves as a fan of yours helps them tell the world who they are. Reap the benefit of that.

Read the entire article here.

For even more analysis, click here.

I recently read this little story in the Monday Morning Memo (a weekly column you NEED to be reading). The lesson will be obvious. If you need help learning to not be a wimp in your messge and advertising, call us at Wordswell.

My partner Peter Nevland recently bumped into the owner of a bottled water service who asked him for some free advice. Peter asked, “Why should the customer of another water service switch to yours?”

“We’re locally owned.” “Ten percent of our profits go to charity,” blah, blah, blah.

Peter was unimpressed.

Exasperated and grasping at straws, the man mentioned his water had recently been voted “Best Tasting” by the readers of an obscure, local business journal.

“Why do you think you won?”

The man hung his head, “We cheat.”

“How?”

“Our water is saturated with dissolved oxygen, twice the amount found in regular water.”

“What does that do?”

“Dissolved oxygen is what makes water taste good. It’s why cold water tastes better than warm water. Cold water contains more dissolved oxygen.”

“You’re saying your room temperature water tastes like cold water?”

The man nodded his head.

“Do you always saturate your water with dissolved oxygen?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

SAD ENDING: Peter was unable to convince the man to promote his better tasting water with dissolved oxygen. I swear I’m not making this up. The man remained convinced his ads needed to say, “We’re locally owned and give ten percent of our profits to charity.”

Eric Miller, a real estate agent in Jacksonville Beach, Florida has hired Wordswell to help him get more leads from home buyers and seller.

We have created a website that will specifically focus on Jacksonville Beach real estate. The site will have house search functionality, tools to help buyers and sellers, and information about the following communities:

• Neptune Beach
• Jacksonville Beach
• Atlantic Beach
• Ponte Verde Beach
• Intracoastal West

We think the design is really cool. Eric looks engaging, and there is clear communication of how to get in touch with Eric. We will be adding contact forms and other sources of lead generation shortly, and of course, we’ll help Eric navigate the social media world to contribute to his success.