- Christian Louboutin Pink Madame Claude
- Burberry Black Check Low Top Trainers
- Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis White Sunset Boulevard
- Bally White Goffered Handbag
- Marc Jacobs Orange Plastic Summer Tote
- Alexander Wang Luggage Rocco Mini Duffle
- Louis Vuitton Monogram Miroir Golden Alma
- Christian Louboutin Green Bianca Pumps
- Hermes Red Snakeskin Wallet
- Louis Vuitton Mahina Leather Beige XXL
- Alexander McQueen Black Faithful Booties
- Gucci Black Embossed Messendger Bag
- Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis Purple Brentwood
- Fendi Brown Zucca Spy Bag
- Gucci White Positano Tote
- Fendi Black Selleria Shoulder Bag
- Jimmy Choo Patent Red Zulu Clutch
- Louis Vuitton White Kanye West Shoes
- Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim Handbag
- Burberry Patent Red Nova Clutch
- Alexander McQueen Red Faithful Peep Toe Pumps
- Fendi Grey Snake Peekaboo Handbag
- Balenciaga Red Covered Giant Money
- Louis Vuitton Mahina Leather Deep Coffee Lunar GM
- Louis Vuitton Red Kanye West Shoes
- Louis Vuitton Perforated Orange Speedy 30
- Christian Dior Patent Black Tote
- Christian Louboutin Black Yoyospina Pumps
- Hermes Apricot Ostrich Wallet
- Herve Leger Purple and Silver Sleevless Bandage Dress
- Louis Vuitton Patent Blue Sandals
- Loewe Yellow Handbag
- Chanel Patent Orange Ballerina Flats
- Hermes Black Wallet
- Jimmy Choo Pink Snake Lohla Bag
- Fendi Pink Woven Zucca Spy Bag
- Gucci Deep Coffee Messenger Bag
- Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Canvas Naviglio
- Burberry Brown Check Low Top Trainers
- Christian Louboutin Nude Hyper Prive Slingbacks
- Armani Exchange Black Leather Sneakers
- Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Canvas Berkeley
- Cartier White Shopping Handbag
- Jimmy Choo White Filipa Wallet
- Christian Louboutin Blue Anemone Pumps
- Chanel Red Quilted Snake Flap Bag
- Balenciaga Purple Medium Motorcycle
- MONCLER ALPES Jacket Black
- Jimmy Choo Blaze Studded Sandals
- Herve Leger Dark Green Front Zip Dress
Saturday, August 21. 2010
Happy Birthday TBI !
It was one year ago today that we launched The Big Idea Blog!
http://thebigidea.com/index.php?/archives/2009/08/21.html
Thanks to you we're stoked about trying for another year.
Sincerely,
David V Duccini & David Walbridge
Who are you guys and what are you doing here distracting me? The Big Idea Blog is written by David Duccini & David Walbridge
http://thebigidea.com/index.php?/archives/2009/08/21.html
Thanks to you we're stoked about trying for another year.
Sincerely,
David V Duccini & David Walbridge
Who are you guys and what are you doing here distracting me? The Big Idea Blog is written by David Duccini & David Walbridge
Wednesday, June 9. 2010
Playing with reality...shows. PR, branding, controlling the message and marketing.
I was, very briefly, on a reality show.
Now, is the above statement true?
Several friends of mine are, even now, making their way through the world of reality shows - that is to say they are contestants. (Search the Danger Committee.)
Is the above statement true?
These 'reality' shows -- American idol, Survivor New Jersey, America's got talent, Last comic standing, Biggest loser, Clowns arounds town, etc. are currently very popular. However...
I lie for a living.
Is the above statement true?
I work as an actor and magician.
I have been paid to lie...to you. Do you assume when someone calls in to a radio station that person is un-paid, does not know the DJ and just happens to be quirky, interesting, controversial?
I have been a farmer, a regular guy eating a hamburger, a fake member of a fake audience at a fake tv show for a real movie. ( Too meta?)
I have been paid to call into radio shows and play characters -- but as if I were just a regular person. The audience never knew.
Ouch.
Reality? Good marketing? Fair?
Reality shows are under no obligation to present reality. They select, encourage, script, re-shoot and edit. They want to have great TV, not represent what really is. TV is under no obligation to present reality - No, not even the news shows.
Public Relations deals, almost entirely, with IMAGE. The IMAGE they want to present. Your brand is a very select version of the whole you.
How do you feel about the president?
You have never met Mr. Obama.
Your feelings about him come almost entirely from his image - good or bad -- and how his policies were spun.
The line between real (news, food, television, talent) and made up for a purpose, but not actually what happened/ what is happening...is gone. Blurred out of existence.
Today's BIG idea; Reality is not always reality. Control (Or attempt to control) your image & brand. And be aware that others are doing the same.
Is the above statement true?
(The show in question is Last comic standing.)
Now, is the above statement true?
Several friends of mine are, even now, making their way through the world of reality shows - that is to say they are contestants. (Search the Danger Committee.)
Is the above statement true?
These 'reality' shows -- American idol, Survivor New Jersey, America's got talent, Last comic standing, Biggest loser, Clowns arounds town, etc. are currently very popular. However...
I lie for a living.
Is the above statement true?
I work as an actor and magician.
I have been paid to lie...to you. Do you assume when someone calls in to a radio station that person is un-paid, does not know the DJ and just happens to be quirky, interesting, controversial?
I have been a farmer, a regular guy eating a hamburger, a fake member of a fake audience at a fake tv show for a real movie. ( Too meta?)
I have been paid to call into radio shows and play characters -- but as if I were just a regular person. The audience never knew.
Ouch.
Reality? Good marketing? Fair?
Reality shows are under no obligation to present reality. They select, encourage, script, re-shoot and edit. They want to have great TV, not represent what really is. TV is under no obligation to present reality - No, not even the news shows.
Public Relations deals, almost entirely, with IMAGE. The IMAGE they want to present. Your brand is a very select version of the whole you.
How do you feel about the president?
You have never met Mr. Obama.
Your feelings about him come almost entirely from his image - good or bad -- and how his policies were spun.
The line between real (news, food, television, talent) and made up for a purpose, but not actually what happened/ what is happening...is gone. Blurred out of existence.
Today's BIG idea; Reality is not always reality. Control (Or attempt to control) your image & brand. And be aware that others are doing the same.
Is the above statement true?
(The show in question is Last comic standing.)
Friday, May 14. 2010
Public relations 101 - How not to handle a mistake....My story with Doliff / Travelers insurance
One key function of Public Relations is recovery...after your company makes a huge error.
The advice from PR professionals is always the same.
1. Admit your errors.
2. Fix them.
3. Apologize.
Et tu? British Petroleum.
So Travelers insurance, my insurance company for 15+ years....
BACKGROUND: My agent Mary Forslin, over at Doliff insurance, sent Travelers an inquiry about our policy. Travelers treated it as a change and cancelled us. And then opened us up a new policy at twice the previous rate. This was quite surprising to us as we had no notice of the change. It also caused some considerable stress.
So we did what you might do - called and emailed our agent, asking for more information...Now here, dear reader you might expect that we got a call back right away explaining and apologizing...Nope. We spent days wondering what had happened and how we were going to pay our bill.
ASIDE: Our agent, Mary, is not an adjuster. Travelers handles that. She neither sends no receives our billings. Her whole job, and in fact her job title is "customer service." Her only job is customer communication -- that's it. Literally nothing else. No call back from her or anyone else in the office.
Days later we call her again (after emailing as well for answers.) She explains the mistake. She begins to fix the mistake. Anyway can she get us a correct bill on time for payment? -- No idea, as she doesnt offer this solution. And, for whatever reason -- no apology to me.
Her job.
Her company.
Their mistake.
Cost of an apology - zero dollars.
Value of a prompt call and apology - PRICELESS
BIG IDEA: Mistakes will happen. Assure that Your PR department -- even if that's just you -- is ready to shine. Admit. Fix. Apologize.
POSTSCRIPT -- Still no apology to me from our agent.
The advice from PR professionals is always the same.
1. Admit your errors.
2. Fix them.
3. Apologize.
Et tu? British Petroleum.
So Travelers insurance, my insurance company for 15+ years....
BACKGROUND: My agent Mary Forslin, over at Doliff insurance, sent Travelers an inquiry about our policy. Travelers treated it as a change and cancelled us. And then opened us up a new policy at twice the previous rate. This was quite surprising to us as we had no notice of the change. It also caused some considerable stress.
So we did what you might do - called and emailed our agent, asking for more information...Now here, dear reader you might expect that we got a call back right away explaining and apologizing...Nope. We spent days wondering what had happened and how we were going to pay our bill.
ASIDE: Our agent, Mary, is not an adjuster. Travelers handles that. She neither sends no receives our billings. Her whole job, and in fact her job title is "customer service." Her only job is customer communication -- that's it. Literally nothing else. No call back from her or anyone else in the office.
Days later we call her again (after emailing as well for answers.) She explains the mistake. She begins to fix the mistake. Anyway can she get us a correct bill on time for payment? -- No idea, as she doesnt offer this solution. And, for whatever reason -- no apology to me.
Her job.
Her company.
Their mistake.
Cost of an apology - zero dollars.
Value of a prompt call and apology - PRICELESS
BIG IDEA: Mistakes will happen. Assure that Your PR department -- even if that's just you -- is ready to shine. Admit. Fix. Apologize.
POSTSCRIPT -- Still no apology to me from our agent.
Wednesday, May 12. 2010
This is not your average blog
The average blog has the lifespan of a fruitfly (some joke that it also has the average intelligence as well). Thanks in part to instant publishing platforms, it takes almost no effort to set up a blog, writing content on the other hand, well that takes effort. So it should be really no surprise that the average blog has a readership of just a couple of people.
Fortunately, thanks to YOU, The Big Idea Blog is no average blog. We're also no A-list either. The good news is the more you share what you like with your friends the more our readership increases. And of course the more you share with us what you don't like via comments and the karma votes at the bottom of each post, you help keep us honest.
In early days of blogging it's a lot like getting up and singing karaoke in front of your friends. Maybe it involves a little liquid courage to get in front of the microphone. The same should not be said for blogging!
Once your blog is up and running and the search engines are starting to spider your site daily and random searches land people on your pages you begin to realize that you're no longer just singing to your friends, you're in a park somewhere singing and strangers may or may not react. At some point you might even throw out a hat to collect a little money (in blogs, that is usually advertiser support -- something we don't do here at TBI -- I'll explain why in a moment)
When you start building regular traffic to your blog and you break out of that "average" you begin to feel some sense of responsibility. The responsibility to post with some regularity, the need to produce higher quality material than in the early days (spell/fact check go along way -- mostly spell check though -- and proofreading), and the need to find the right mix of news, infotainment, and self-promotion. Using our singing analogy, at some point someone is going to convince you that you need to setup shop. You move off the sidewalks and out of the parks, and into the clubs. In the case of blogging, that is cross-linking among your social-networking peers, blogging pals, and the occasional news outlets mention.
If the crowds like you, they buy your t-shirts, bumper-stickers, and hand out your promo-CD's or MP3's around to their friends. In blogging the analog is the RSS feed/subscription. If you don't know what RSS is (or you don't want to admit it, or better yet you want to get a really good handle on it) -- go watch the YouTube video "RSS in Plain English" done by the folks at CommonCraft. Now that you know, please subscribe to this blog! The links are to your right.
If the advertisers like you, you're now entering the B-List set. Again in blogging, that's either promoting products by doing paid reviews, or putting permalink advertising on your blog site. Clearly we're not there yet, and I'm pretty sure we won't be, since what we're selling is ourselves.
When you hit rock-star status, you're writing books, going on tours, guest appearances, and landing your own show. You've "gone pro". Again, clearly we're not there yet. Though we have recently decided to take "The best of TBI" and compile it into an e-book after year one -- so stay connected (via that RSS thing).
Today's Big Idea: Promotion in all senses of the word is based on the relationships you build over time. Don't be average.
And don't forget your friends and fans that helped you out of the karaoke bars, off the sidewalks, into the parks and on to the next stage!
Who are you guys and what are you doing here distracting me? The Big Idea Blog is written by David Duccini & David Walbridge
Fortunately, thanks to YOU, The Big Idea Blog is no average blog. We're also no A-list either. The good news is the more you share what you like with your friends the more our readership increases. And of course the more you share with us what you don't like via comments and the karma votes at the bottom of each post, you help keep us honest.
In early days of blogging it's a lot like getting up and singing karaoke in front of your friends. Maybe it involves a little liquid courage to get in front of the microphone. The same should not be said for blogging!
Once your blog is up and running and the search engines are starting to spider your site daily and random searches land people on your pages you begin to realize that you're no longer just singing to your friends, you're in a park somewhere singing and strangers may or may not react. At some point you might even throw out a hat to collect a little money (in blogs, that is usually advertiser support -- something we don't do here at TBI -- I'll explain why in a moment)
When you start building regular traffic to your blog and you break out of that "average" you begin to feel some sense of responsibility. The responsibility to post with some regularity, the need to produce higher quality material than in the early days (spell/fact check go along way -- mostly spell check though -- and proofreading), and the need to find the right mix of news, infotainment, and self-promotion. Using our singing analogy, at some point someone is going to convince you that you need to setup shop. You move off the sidewalks and out of the parks, and into the clubs. In the case of blogging, that is cross-linking among your social-networking peers, blogging pals, and the occasional news outlets mention.
If the crowds like you, they buy your t-shirts, bumper-stickers, and hand out your promo-CD's or MP3's around to their friends. In blogging the analog is the RSS feed/subscription. If you don't know what RSS is (or you don't want to admit it, or better yet you want to get a really good handle on it) -- go watch the YouTube video "RSS in Plain English" done by the folks at CommonCraft. Now that you know, please subscribe to this blog! The links are to your right.
If the advertisers like you, you're now entering the B-List set. Again in blogging, that's either promoting products by doing paid reviews, or putting permalink advertising on your blog site. Clearly we're not there yet, and I'm pretty sure we won't be, since what we're selling is ourselves.
When you hit rock-star status, you're writing books, going on tours, guest appearances, and landing your own show. You've "gone pro". Again, clearly we're not there yet. Though we have recently decided to take "The best of TBI" and compile it into an e-book after year one -- so stay connected (via that RSS thing).
Today's Big Idea: Promotion in all senses of the word is based on the relationships you build over time. Don't be average.
And don't forget your friends and fans that helped you out of the karaoke bars, off the sidewalks, into the parks and on to the next stage!
Who are you guys and what are you doing here distracting me? The Big Idea Blog is written by David Duccini & David Walbridge
Thursday, March 25. 2010
Feedback from our readers - what would you like to see?
We write about lots of things; ideas, corporate culture, movies, creativity, writing, comedy, writing comedy, teaching, tools, and emerging tech.
Because that's what we like, read about and fascinates us. But what about you? Anything you'd like to see more discussion of? New topics to cover? (Q & A perhaps?)
Post you ideas in the comments.
Today's Big idea: Create content your audience wants. By asking them directly. Even if it involves sentence fragments.
Who are you guys and what are you doing here distracting me? The Big Idea Blog is written by David Duccini & David Walbridge
Because that's what we like, read about and fascinates us. But what about you? Anything you'd like to see more discussion of? New topics to cover? (Q & A perhaps?)
Post you ideas in the comments.
Today's Big idea: Create content your audience wants. By asking them directly. Even if it involves sentence fragments.
Who are you guys and what are you doing here distracting me? The Big Idea Blog is written by David Duccini & David Walbridge
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