We all know when a social media campaign backfires. It’s splashed all over our news channels. (Society seems to enjoy trainwrecks. McDonald’s recently jumped on that train—though probably not totally aware of it. Here’s what happened: McDonald’s used a hashtag (#MeettheFarmers & then #McDStories) to incite followers to tweet their McDonald’s experiences. Among the top… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: Social Media
Enterprise Social Media the Next Frontier
Posted in Almost AdviceIs your company thinking of adopting a social media platform to replace its current website? If it is, then your company is part of the majority of companies that have either implemented a social media platform, is planning to implement a social media platform, or will implement a social media platform but has no current… Continue Reading
First in Time on the Internet
Posted in Branding, Domain Names, Marketing, Social NetworkingYesterday, Laura provided some good marketing reasons for grabbing your company’s brand name(s) and/or trademark(s) on various social media sites while the marks and brands are still available. I am not a marketing professional, but I agree with everything that she has said, and I’m here to provide some "legal" reasons for grabbing your company’s… Continue Reading
Get Your Brand Name While it’s Hot
Posted in MarketingIt’s on my profile, but I’ll tell you again—an attorney I am not. From a legal standpoint, I’m not qualified to tell you why brands and/or businesses should grab their social network names while they are still available (Dan Kelly is, and he’ll be tackling that on Friday). However, I am qualified to tell you… Continue Reading
Those Who Hate the “New” Facebook, Say “I”: Why You Need to Stay on Top of the Changes
Posted in MarketingMost of you hate it, if I can venture a guess. Change is hard for most of us, and this is one of the biggest changes yet to the platform that everyone and their brother is on. And to think—there are more changes coming. Even if you hate the new Facebook, what can you do… Continue Reading
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Posted in MarketingSocial media is a topic I (would like to think I) know a lot about. As much as I advise my clients (the attorneys here at W&W) to use social media, the key to the whole equation is taking it offline and “backing up” what you’ve said over the interwebs. In a world where the… Continue Reading
Tweet Fight
Posted in Law SuitsMost of us are fairly familiar with the use of Twitter. Like Facebook, this social networking giant has inserted itself into our lives, it is almost difficult to find a business that is not active on Facebook, Twitter, or both. You can even follow us on Twitter at @duetsblog and @susanperera (no apologizes for the… Continue Reading
Words of Caution on Being Early Adopters: Google+ & Its Current Role in Marketing
Posted in MarketingAs a marketer, I couldn’t resist jumping on the bandwagon. This time on Google’s Facebook-esque Google+. I begged and pleaded for an invitation until I finally received one. Excitedly, I added my peeps (mainly consisting of other marketers) to my “Circles,” and then I set off to figure out the great mystery: how does this… Continue Reading
Social Media Survival, Profile Persistence and Death
Posted in Guest Bloggers—Jesse de Agustin, Strategist (follow Jesse on Twitter: @JdeAgustin) Imagine: I am struck by an 18-wheeler on the New Jersey Turnpike and fall to my unfortunate death. While I’d be dead, pressing legal – and philosophical questions remain. Does “Jesse” continue to “persist” across time through his online profiles? Do they turn into any one… Continue Reading
Where is the Sarcasm Font When You Need It? (Incorporating Humor into Your Brand)
Posted in MarketingMy posts tend to be about the how-to side of social media technology. Today, I’m talking about technologies I want. (With some things to think about, of course.) My best girlfriend and I communicate regularly via social networks and texts. We’re of the same mind, for the most part, and that typically means “veiled” sarcasm-attacks…. Continue Reading
A Lesson in Social Media and Transparency from an Unlikely Source: the UFC
Posted in MarketingIn a few short years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or the UFC, has become a sports powerhouse. The league seems to have it all—a booming business, a solid philosophy and a great presence on social media that engages their fans. Why does this matter to you? Because your business can learn a few things from… Continue Reading
How Marketing & Consumers Have Fueled the Need for an Honest Product: A Social Media Story
Posted in MarketingAnother day, another social media scandal. By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of “Weiner-gate,” referring to the incident of Congressman Anthony Weiner sending an unsavory photo via Twitter. This incident is one of several high-profile fiascos that have played out over the last year, and I can guarantee there will be many more. Of course,… Continue Reading
The Repetitive Nature of Marketing
Posted in MarketingIt’s not a secret that repeating an action makes it a habit. The same applies to marketing, as my boss (the wonderful Deb Cochran) always says, "do it once, use it seven times." Television and print advertising are the most notable, of course. How many times do you see the same commercial during an hour-long… Continue Reading
Do You Believe in Ghost(Writing)?
Posted in MarketingThe next time you talk to a blogger, ask if they write their own content. You might be surprised at their reply. Being a marketer, I, of course, tend to brag talk about DuetsBlog, and it’s funny how many people are impressed, almost shocked, that every author on DuetsBlog writes their own content. And by… Continue Reading
A Discussion on Bullying, and Not of the Trademark Kind
Posted in MarketingThere’s been a lot of talk on DuetsBlog about trademark bullies. Some of this may apply, but I’m talking about the bullies that leave uncalled-for comments and “intrude” on your social space. The consensus, more often than not, is that as a business, you must reply (in hopes that you can display your ability to… Continue Reading
FUSE: Sharing Extraordinary Experiences
Posted in Guest Bloggers—Aaron Keller, Principal, Capsule We partook in the sharing and enjoyed the conversations. The FUSE Conference, is not about splintering. It also isn’t about specialization or close-minded thinking. FUSE is about the disciplines of design, marketing, brand and research being brought together in a way that makes for a more engaged consumer, audience or customer…. Continue Reading
A Refresher on Headlines and Attitude, Important for Grabbing and Keeping Attention from Your Audience
Posted in MarketingHaving few characters to convey an idea or thought isn’t just for Twitter. I was reminded of this last week during the Legal Marketing Association’s annual conference. Feeling energized after talking shop with colleagues for three days, I struggled with what to include in my upcoming blog post. My fellow marketers have already posted many… Continue Reading
Social Media Enlightenment
Posted in Social NetworkingThe Royal Wedding is only days away, Sharon and I have both blogged about it recently, and the Royal Family is certainly recieving a lot of media attention. For a family and political tradition that Americans often view as stuck in the past, the Royal Family has indisputably been embracing new forms of social… Continue Reading
Hashtags: A Tutorial
Posted in MarketingTwitter hashtags can be very useful when used properly. And by useful, I do not mean in a selling capacity. Most users utilize hashtags to connect, to learn, to network. Think of it as if you were going to a conference—you’ve all got an interest in [fill in the blank]. You’re both on Twitter, that’s… Continue Reading
Enough Already – Social Media Is Not A Comprehensive Marketing Plan!
Posted in Guest Bloggers—Debbie Laskey, MBA Go ahead and admit it. Consider this blog post as a form of marketing therapy. As marketers, we’ve all heard that ridiculous statement spoken at least once – for others, much too often. We might have heard it stated by a co-worker or by a member of the IT department. We may… Continue Reading
Having An “Authentic Presence” Online
Posted in MarketingThe buying and selling of goods and services is NOT what it used to be. The market is more competitive; big corporations and businesses are no longer on top despite (perhaps in spite of) their size. And consumers…well, we now have platforms that have the potential to reach millions to get out our message—good or… Continue Reading
Associated Press Sued in Minnesota Over Krawczynski Twitter Tweet
Posted in First Amendment, Law SuitsJust the other day, I read a news report commenting on how relatively few lawsuits have resulted from the explosion in the use and popularity of Twitter, especially given all the potentially actionable statements made using that social media platform. Well, here’s one of interest, hot off the press so to speak, not only for those in… Continue Reading
Charlie Sheen: Coming to a Product Endorsement Near You?
Posted in Branding, Goodwill, Guest Bloggers, Marketing—David Mitchel, Chief Marketing Officer, Norton Mitchel Marketing The ongoing saga of Charlie Sheen has been quite odd. He demanded a pay raise and made inflammatory comments about his boss, Two and a Half Men Executive Producer Chuck Lorre, which led to Two and a Half Men shutting down production for the rest of the… Continue Reading
The Real Taco Bell Skills Challenge
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Famous Marks, Food, Guest Bloggers, Marketing—George Fiddler, Client Relationship Manager, Fast Horse Inc. Last Saturday night I watched the entire 2011 Taco Bell Skills Challenge, an NBA All-Star competition that puts some of the league’s best point guards through an obstacle course of shooting, passing and dribbling. I somehow turned the tube off thinking about trends in modern crisis communication… Continue Reading
Subscribe
Add this blog to your feeds or enter your email in the box below and hit GO to subscribe by email.
Duets Blog Authors
Steve Baird
Just so you know, I'm all about brands and the law, both professionally and personally. I regularly annoy family and friends in retail stores by focusing on product labels—not to buy the product, but to read the fine print and ask, "Who owns these brands" and "Did they really register those marks?" More...
Dan Kelly
You can call me a “non-traditional” attorney, which is a polite way of saying that I did not attend law school straight out of college. I spent five of my first six years after college as a junior high school teacher. The other year I worked as an engineer for a large corporation. More...
Sharon Armstrong
Voted most likely to become an actress while in pre-school, I don’t think I surprised anyone by becoming a lawyer, the steadiest professional gig open to those with a flair for the dramatic. More...
Brent Lorentz
Although I wish I could say my path to the law was the result of a lifelong dream or calling, it was more the result mere curiosity and an affinity for leather-bound books. More...
Catlan McCurdy
Having long been told by my parents that I could do or be anything I wanted, I chose at the age of 10 to become an attorney, as it was the career that would most likely lead me to my goal of becoming the first woman POTUS.More...
Tiffany Blofield
Although my initial career path was to be one of the Supremes (not the musically talented ones with platform shoes and sequins, but rather, the nine wearing sensible shoes and pressed black robes in DC), I will likely stay in Minnesota as I have never lived anywhere else. More...
Brad Walz
My law career started on the ice…as a defensive hockey player (we’re not talking professionally…and if I were, I probably wouldn’t have gotten into law). More...
Susan Perera
Born into the world with an aptitude for science and an affinity for art I found my career path quickly chosen for me. More...
Joy S. Newborg
When I took a personality/career test in high school to determine which path in life I should follow, I was told I should either be in broadcast journalism or law. So after I went to undergraduate school for broadcast journalism and film/television, I went on to obtain my law degree from the University of Minnesota. More...
Laura Gutierrez
An attorney I am not. Though told to become one, I don't possess those qualities needed to be an effective one (I lack confrontation skills, and although I can write a great argumentative essay, I can’t argue outside a sheet of paper). More...