Grok Blog - January, 2012
Why does Twitter get involved in so many interesting lawsuits? In its short life, the company has kicked up legal hornet nests involving everything from stalking to satire.
While technology companies always outgrow the laws that govern them, Twitter’s 140-character message system is proving to be particularly disruptive. At the same time, the microblog has been more aggressive in defending free speech than established companies like Facebook and Google.
Here are five examples that show how Twitter’s unique platform is creating a new set of media rules that are forcing the law to play catch up:
via Five Ways Twitter Is Changing Media Law | paidContent.
Posted in Twitter |
What matters more, skills or attitude? Entrepreneurs often say that they value intangible qualities above bullet points on a resumé. But in practice, many are hesitant to hire an employee who hasn’t already held an identical job. And sometimes the quest to find the best candidate becomes a hunt for the person with the longest list of credentials.
via Are You A Perfectionist Boss? | Inc.com.
Posted in Entrepreneurism, Jobs, Recruiting |
From Craig Chappelow:
When I ask busy executives to describe a satisfying life, they often envision a scenario in which they work hard but dictate their own assignments. They want time to take part in important family events. They are eager to make real contributions to their organizations, and they also want breaks when they’re tired. What they really need is control. But, frequently, what they think they want is balance–and that’s where trouble starts.
via Work/Life Balance Is A Myth; Here’s What You Can Do About It | Fast Company.
Posted in Entrepreneurism, Jobs |
Esquire is not dying — it is killing it. In 2011, a year when the magazine industry was flat to down a bit, Esquire was up 13.5 percent in ad pages from the previous year. This at a time when GQ was down 6.3 percent in advertising pages and Details was down more than 10 percent, according to the Publishers Information Bureau. David Carey, the chief of Hearst Magazines, said that the private company did not discuss profits, but added: “Relative to our other 20 businesses, Esquire was No. 1 in year-over-year performance. David has done an amazing job.”
via How Esquire Survived Publishing’s Dark Days – NYTimes.com.
Posted in Advertising, Leadership, Media Integration, Media Sales |
Advertising is a massive human enterprise. The top 10 advertising agency holding companies employ a combined 370,000 employees worldwide, with thousands more employed as consultants, freelancers and outsourced team members. All of this talent is a major investment for the agencies. Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP, estimates that his company spends $9 billion each year on employee compensation. The other holding companies spend billions more on top of that. Despite this, the industry is in the midst of a major talent crisis. Here are four signs:
via MediaPost Publications Solving Advertising’s Talent Crisis 01/23/2012.
Posted in Advertising, Jobs, Recruiting |
Michelle Obama’s first day on Twitter was the tweet heard ’round the world, with more than 60,000 followers signing up to follow her the morning she launched. Initial tweets from @MichelleObama noted that her staff would be doing the heavy lifting initially, but that every tweet from the First Lady herself would be signed “mo.” It was a nice touch of transparency, creating excitement without over-promising.Mrs. Obama’s fellow Twitter-newbie, Rupert Murdoch, however, is off to a rockier start, or so say numerous critics; Murdoch began his Twitter account to thunderously merciless reviews. Among the complaints, he doesn’t include links in his tweets. His tweets have been called “insipid,” “banal,” and “pedestrian.” Most important: readers say Murdoch’s tweets simply don’t add value for his followers.
via 4 Strategic Requirements For Corporate Tweeting | Fast Company.
Posted in Media Integration, Online Marketing, Twitter |
Most of Aeropostale’s sales associates are tech-savvy teenagers, and although stereotypes deem them lazy and careless, the retailer set out to increase employee performance.
Research shows that Millennials, made of people born between 1981 and 2000, are independent but positive, want recognition and rely upon technology. Those findings sparked Aero to turn to mobile technology to better communicate with and manage their employees.
via NRF12: Using mobile technology to reach teen employees | MobilePaymentsToday.com.
Posted in Mobile |
If there’s one thing the next generation of marketers — and even today’s marketers — need to know, it’s that you can’t just be a marketer anymore.
At one time “you could be a functional expert in one very narrow area of marketing tactics,” said Tom Collinger, associate dean and department chair- Integrated Marketing Communications at the Medill School at Northwestern University. “Back in the day, if you were a direct or data marketer or PR specialist, that was enough.”
via What’s Required of the Next Generation of Marketers | News – Advertising Age.
Posted in Advertising, Leadership, Media Integration |
The founder of Codecademy explains why learning how to program is the best job security you can have, and how a knowledge of code is the best way to improve the economy and the planet.
via Mike Bloomberg Is A Smart Businessman, That’s Why He’s Learning To Code | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation.
Posted in Entrepreneurism, Leadership, Media Integration |
2012 is thought to be the year of the Ultrabook, but though these slim machines may prove successful they can’t disguise one odd fact: The laptop is a dead design. When will it actually pass away and leave room for a future device?
via Is The Laptop Dead? Yup | Fast Company.
Posted in Media Integration |
