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Twitter Weekly Updates for @SpurInteractive

Published
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Steve Latham
on May 9, 2010
in Marketing
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Twitter Weekly Updates for @SpurInteractive

Published
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Steve Latham
on May 2, 2010
in Marketing
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Twitter Weekly Updates for @SpurInteractive

Published
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Steve Latham
on April 25, 2010
in Marketing
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Twitter Weekly Updates for @SpurInteractive

Published
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Steve Latham
on April 18, 2010
in Marketing
. 0 Comments
  • If you're a mobile professional – this is pretty important! "Google Docs Optimized for Mobile" via eweek http://ow.ly/1yvBb #
  • Check out http://bit.ly/b3kTMK RT @raeganhill: @briguyblock Do you have an updated list of the top twitter apps you MUST have? #houstonima #
  • Social Media Use Becomes Pervasive: 75% of Users are Getting Social! http://ow.ly/1zlaC #
  • More data supporting Social Media for Brands via @emarketer: Consumers Follow Social Brand Referrals http://ow.ly/1zjWE #
  • Interesting that Surveys aren't used more; traffic is #1 metric "Quantifying Social Results @eMarketer http://ow.ly/1xTfY #
  • Glad to see a Bank that gets it: Bank of America doubling Digital, cutting Traditional Media (via @AdAge) http://ow.ly/1ypBn #
  • Surprised how many spammy DMs we continue to receive. Unfollow is the word of the day! #
  • Glad to see growth again. To bad we're starting from such a low base :-( "Economy Back On Track, Online Advertising" http://ow.ly/1yk4e #
  • It's official! Apple vs. Google vs. Microsoft in a tech/mobile/advertising battle royale! Apple announces iAd http://ow.ly/1y6Rx #
  • Re: Twitter's Ad model: will they be displayed to those who view via Mobile or Management Tools like Hootsuite, Tweetdeck? If not… oops. #
  • RT @stevelatham: Marketing Tip: think of yourself as a fisherman rather than a hunter. #
  • Can't believe Twitter has the Audacity to attempt to make money!!! :-) What is happening to our Social(ist) Web? http://ow.ly/1yjYS #
  • @lyricacopy @katdelia @rachparker Thanks for the RTs today. You will receive good karma! #
  • RT @stevelatham: Classic… Joe Dirt's marketing lesson: "it's not what you like, it's the consumer." (video) http://ow.ly/1vSaQ #
  • New stats on how more & more people (64%) get TV content online. Meanwhile still waiting for Flight of the Conchords! http://ow.ly/1xyvX #
  • If you build it, they will click (?) "Will Users Click on Twitter Ads?" @mashable http://ow.ly/1xOIN #
  • New Blog Post: Outlook for International Health Care (and Requirements for Success) http://ow.ly/173hJR #
  • Thanks for the props! @acroghan: Social media, a telephone, not a megaphone. From @spurinteractive Great panel at #wbihouston #
  • New Post: Outlook for International Health Care (and Requirements for Success) via Spur Interactive http://ow.ly/1xqOG #
  • Good blog on why companies should NOT do social media by @lisabarone http://ow.ly/1wEMl #
  • Interesting view on perils of Foursquare RT @Twitter_Tips: Fourscared & Fourscammed by @MelissaRowley http://j.mp/a684la #
  • New Blog Post: Twitter Weekly Updates for @SpurInteractive – RT @stevelatham: I don't FourSquare. WHAT I'm doing is… http://ow.ly/172HEG #

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Outlook for International Health Care (and Requirements for Success)

Published
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Steve Latham
on April 12, 2010
in Health Care, Marketing and Our Favorites!
. 3 Comments

health3Like many, I think the future for International Health Care (aka Medical Tourism) is very bright.  However, the market is evolving and participants need to evolve as well…

To date, I believe the biggest hurdles to Medical Tourism have been:

  • Misperceptions among US audiences that going abroad = sacrificing quality of care
  • Lack of alignment of resources and requirements among international health care providers.
  • Limited awareness and consideration among US audiences (per Deloitte less than 10% are willing to go abroad even if they can save 50%).

The first two are being addressed by international health care providers who are becoming JCI accredited while working with channel partners (associations, facilitators, airlines, etc.) to validate quality and provide turnkey solutions. The last issue is being addressed through health care reform which is forcing US consumers to explore health care options like never before.  Rush Limbaugh’s comments haven’t hurt either :-)

Now that the institutions are ready to conduct business and Americans are becoming increasingly open to traveling abroad for health care, the biggest impediment to each institution’s success is Marketing.

Many providers have made large investments to become accredited, without a comprehensive plan to attract patients.  Too many believe that if they offer it, people will come.  As they’re learning, it takes more than a press release to create awareness among the public to build a sustainable pipeline of patients.  You need an integrated plan for creating demand (awareness, consideration and preference) for your brand, and a program to reach, engage and convert prospective patients.  Facilitators will help but they play a supporting role.  Providers need to reach consumers directly.

As the Web is the overwhelming favorite medium for consumers who are researching health care options, this is where you need to reach them. Through search, social media, online advertising, email and other digital media, the battle for patients is being won online.  If you are not participating, you are at a significant disadvantage.

The good news is that it’s not too late to start.  For more information on interactive health care marketing and a roadmap for success, you can view an archived version of my Health Care Marketing Webinar that I recently presented to the Medical Tourism Association.  To view the slides only visit Health Care Marketing Strategy and Best Practices on Slideshare.

Looking forward to your feedback and wishing everyone a prosperous 2010!

Steve Latham, ceo

http://Twitter.com/stevelatham

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Twitter Weekly Updates for @SpurInteractive

Published
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Steve Latham
on April 11, 2010
in Marketing
. 0 Comments

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Why we don’t see more cause marketing

Published
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Steve Latham
on April 6, 2010
in Marketing and Social Media
. 1 Comment

paulnewmanThis morning I read a Smartblogs article on Social Media and Cause Marketing.  It correctly points out that social media is an ideal platform for corporate cause marketing programs, and provides some useful tips for success.  Definitely worth a quick read!

I’m a huge fan of using social media for cause marketing, and I believe social media has probably been the single biggest contributor to the resurgence of cause marketing campaigns (no data, just a hunch).  But as I read the article, I reflected on numerous conversations I’ve had with big brand clients who love the idea of using social media as a platform for a brand-building, cause-marketing campaign, but are unable to pursue it.

One issue that often surfaces is that within large companies the online marketing, brand management and direct response groups are completely disconnected from community relations and corporate giving groups.  The wall that exists between corporate giving and marketing is often quite high.  Marketers are typically restricted from supporting charitable organizations (through a cause marketing campaign) that are not already approved and ordained as “causes we officially support.”  If they go to the corporate giving department with a social media marketing idea, they are often rebuffed with a “thanks but no thanks – we’ve got it covered” mentality.  If you can get past the empire building and actually get the departments to work together, you’ll still have to deal with a lot of red tape and slow progress.  With the increasing pressure to deliver compelling results in a timely manner, “lengthy approval process” usually means “pass!”.

So while social media is the ideal medium for promoting a cause marketing effort, unless it bubbles up inside of the community relations department, great marketing / giving opportunities often die on the whiteboard due to politics and organizational dysfunction. It’s quite a shame.

That said, there are still many examples of companies that are doing it well.  I just hope we start to see more of them!

Please feel free to COMMENT, SHARE with others and SUBSCRIBE to our blog. We look forward to your feedback!

Steve Latham (follow me on Twitter)

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Twitter Weekly Updates for @SpurInteractive

Published
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Steve Latham
on April 4, 2010
in Marketing
. 0 Comments

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Twitter Weekly Updates for @SpurInteractive

Published
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Steve Latham
on March 28, 2010
in Marketing
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Twitter Weekly Updates for @SpurInteractive

Published
by
Steve Latham
on March 21, 2010
in Marketing
. 0 Comments
  • Interesting: to the Chinese, Google is more than a search engine "Loss would mean 'nothing but darkness'…" http://ow.ly/1oFqf #
  • Size doesn't matter? "Audience Size Doesn't Prove Influence on Twitter" http://ow.ly/1oFpu #
  • Looking for a freelance developer with experience integrating Facebook Connect into a corporate site. Know anyone? #
  • The Truth About Twitter User – only 21% are Active (via @mashable) http://ow.ly/1ncq5 #
  • Do you really want everyone to know where you are? Pros & Cons of FourSquare location-tagging via NYTimes http://ow.ly/1lob3 #
  • Just added @nutshellmail to our New Media Toolkit http://bit.ly/b3kTMK (great job guys – really like your app!) #
  • More data supporting social media as marketing channel: Facebook and Twitter Impact Purchase Decisions http://ow.ly/1mWxY #
  • More data on Business Case for Social Media: Fans More Likely to Buy eMarketer http://ow.ly/1mSrW (time to update http://bit.ly/lEB4b) #
  • Interesting AdWeek article on SXSW: Where Mad Men Meet Techies http://ow.ly/1lnRo #sxsw #
  • Via @comScore 30% of Smartphone owners visit social sites via mobile, account for +/- 10% of visitors http://ow.ly/1lkTM #
  • Just when I think Twitter Spam can't get any worse, I'm proven wrong. The word of the year may soon become "UNFOLLOW" #
  • New Blog Post: Twitter Weekly Updates for @SpurInteractive – News: Spur Interactive Named Online Agency of Record f… http://ow.ly/16NQ3q #

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