Carrot Creative Blog

In a recent article from Silicon Alley Insider Mark Zuckerberg was euphemistically quoted saying Facebook allows people “to stay updated on what’s happening around them and share with the people in their lives.” Translation? People like to brag about the awesome crap they do via status updates and Tweets.

As a prolific status-updater I am in no way claiming innocence on this (my last status update was VIP at DMB with Carrot Creative, jealous yet?) But seriously, the reason I bring this to our attention is because as a creative agency, working with brands that consumers want to associate themselves with makes our jobs at Carrot a whole lot easier. We encourage “cool” brands to offer viral content users can share, blog, post, whatever you want to call it, giving the consumer more opportunity to “tag their brag.”

I received this email from Johnnie Walker (I’m a member of “The Striding Man Society” that offers some really great events for tastings of the brand-if you get the chance, go!) I get emails from them ever so often about new events or promotions and click on them at leisure to see if anything fun is coming up.  This email today was different. They were letting me know that Johnnie Walker has created a Facebook Fan Page and offered an easy click to become a fan right from the email.

Adam Ostrow at Mashable has a great post about whether or not social media is hurting or helping corporate websites. Current brands, Vitamin Water is the example in the post, are sending fans and users to social sites like Facebook or MySpace to engage with a campaign versus the traditional corporate website.

The benefits of sending to social sites are obvious including more interaction and an easier way to gather a group of users interested in your brand versus sending them to a corporate website.

Dos Equis today launched the second part of a campaign in search of the “Most Interesting Man in the World” to the entire U.S.  Basically, tying the fact that if you drink Dos Equis, you’ll become interesting or even MORE interesting than you already are. (I know that’ probably not possible for some of you.)

According to MediaPost, “two months ago, Dos Equis introduced its “Most Interesting Man in the World” to the entire U.S. via an expanded national advertising campaign. Now, it is giving consumers the chance to become — if not as interesting — at least more interesting.”

Everyone has their online identity. You have a website. You have your blog. Your LinkedIn. Twitter. Facebook. You build these networks and pages out to form “Who you are.” But, having one of these “things” does not classify who you are as a person. If you’re on Twitter, it doesn’t mean you necessarily have “quick thoughts”, if you’re on LinkedIn it doesn’t necessarily mean you are all about networking for your career. Or, at least I hope it doesn’t.

Photo Credit: Kelly Samardak, Just An Online Minute

Yesterday I attended the “When Social Media Becomes Unsociable” panel part of this week’s “Social Media Week” in New York. The panel, held at Fleishman Hillard’s New York office was full of people who engage/work in the new media space including:

• Constantine Basturea, Converseon
• Steve Coulson, The Advance Guard
• Peter Himler, Flatiron Communications
• Brad Mays, FH Digital Dallas
• Amber Naslund, Radian6
• David Bradfield (Moderator from FH Digital)

Twitter is an interesting space. A space where you can connect with new people,post random thoughts, blah blah…we know we know. But, I’m really interested and grateful for this community and the constant feedback they provide.

For example. Yesterday, I was in the mood to hear some music that gets me pumped up for a big negotiation we have. We have a LOT going on here and YES I am an excited person, but I wanted to add my own personal soundtrack. So, where do I find my songs? Cue to Twitter. I posted this tweet. A simple one. Just asking for some songs to keep me going. Within 10 minutes I received over 30 responses to songs. From “Chariots of Fire” to Britney Spears, Rammstein to Queen—I had them all. And you know what? I listened to them ALL.

Everyone likes friends. Friends are there for you when you need them. Friends are there to talk to you, hang out with you, have good times with. Friends in the Web 2.0 world (ugh buzz word) can mean something completely different though. Friends on Facebook may mean something to one person and something completely different to another. Friends on Twitter? You have followers. You follow them back possibly. Are they your friend? Sure. Some of them are. Others? No way.