So you've got your budget in place, lots of new initiatives under way and your company is ready to top the charts with news and buzz.

That's all fine and good, but you gotta have more than that.  

Years ago, PR was pretty much handled by a VP of Marketing or the Director of Marketing Communications.  We developed communications strategies, wrote traditional press releases, did outreach to the media and industry analysts and it all worked very well.

Spafax Interactive President, Raymond Girard, came by the NBC Universal Booth (thank you NBC Universal) during the CES 2011 show to share his views on the consumer in transit and branded content.  

Note Raymond's use of the term consumer in transit vs. being mobile.  

The consumer in transit offers various touch points with brands. Armed with a smart phone, the consumer has more options than ever to engage with your brand, or someone else's. 

Ignite your game with Sparksheet

Raymond's firm also publishes a terrific site that focuses on content, media and marketing, known as Sparksheet, which reflects its deep thinking  in helping its helping clients develop branded content as part of its marketing mix.

During  #BrandsConf, they acted as the event's media partner, publishing stories about speakers and trends on the humanization of brands.

During 2010 we provided a platform where the voices of individuals making a difference were heard. Our stage put a spotlight on humanity and we provided a venue which helped a few thousand people connect with each other through serendipity.

On June 15-16, 2011, #140conf NYC returns to the 92nd Street Y.  This event will be a world-wide gathering of people interested in the state of the real-time web.

For #140conf NYC 2011, there are two types of tickets available, “Regular” and “VIP.”  Until midnight on December 31st, Regular tickets are available at the “super early bird” discounted price of US $80. During 2011 the price of these tickets will rise from $80 to $100 to $140 to $249 each.  If you can commit to attending #140conf NYC now, this is the best price you will be able to attend the entire 2-day event.

The “VIP” option is available for people who wish to get more out of the #140conf experience. The pricing of the VIP ticket includes:

- invitation to cocktails with the #140conf NYC speakers on June 14th
- dinner with Jeff Pulver and other VIPs and a few special guests on June 14th
- a box lunch at #140conf on June 15 and 16th.
- preferred seating at the 92nd Street Y during #140conf NYC.

VIP tickets are currently priced at $495 and will increase to $595 and then $695 as the event nears. There are a limited number of VIP tickets for sale for this event.

Please visit: http://nyc.140conf.com/register before midnight on December 31st to take advantage of these prices.

Hope you have a great year ahead.

Supporting clients primarily in the technology sector involves identifying spheres of influence amongst journalists, bloggers, thought leaders and industry analysts. Within each sphere communities evolve much like the ones illustrated below. The illustration was well done by TheNextEngine.com Give them a shout out on your networks for a job well done.

If you are managing a brand,you should be paying attention to this subtle, but important shift in the way brands are being spoken about through human actions such as sharing, liking and commenting on brands and related content.

Content about brands may not always come from the brand itself.  They are coming from your customers who are taking your brand’s message and articulating their own voice in how they feel and interact with your brand.

Social broadcasters are adapting to, and creating new lingua franca, which needs to be on your radar.

Start thinking of how words like share, like, re-tweet, and comment come into play in your marketing strategies.  Listen and engage with your customers and create meaningful, engaging content that can be re-purposed by your most ardent brand loyalists.  Be prepared to engage and respond to customers who no longer use call centers or your info@ email address when there’s a problem or resolution needing to be taking place.

Learn to understand the meaning of terminology such as fail, feed, snarky, mashup, tag, sticky, thread, next, flock and post, that are the new transitive verbs in marketing. Have plans and expertise in place to interface and better serve your customers.

Think about the role of social influence and how thought leaders and brand advocates can become your new and expanded sales channel.  Discover and engage with Mommy bloggers if you’re selling to Moms.  Find Geeky bloggers if you’re doing technology. 

Take a longer-term view and look at the implications of the mobile / social Internet and how you can empower, engage and grow your brand.   Look beyond your company’s web site and make sure you’re listening to and engaging at the periphery of the social Internet on places like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr. 

Your customers are engaging and in some cases taking ownership of your brand.  You can now post once, and have it re-broadcast by many.

Listen, learn, share and engage. 

Disrupt your competitors and seize this unique time in human history when the Social Broadcaster can be your BFF – (brand’s friend forever)

Microphones shot on location at Fuller's Vintage Guitars, Houston by Alan Weinkrantz - (c) 2010