I’m an absolute sucker for reality singing competitions. I think they are the perfect showpiece of the social media era.
On these shows, contestants try to sing their way to fame and fortune; in social media, users try to Tweet their way to fame and fortune.
The decisions are made by judges…and then the public…on the shows. Aren’t we all judging each other in social media?
Naturally, I’ve been drawn to FOX’s “The X Factor.”
There are three contestants that have completely stood out to me as ones that have a true story to tell.
One is so young and so talented, turning a Justin Bieber anthem into a longing ballad.
One is trying to get his break to jumpstart his life, shocking everyone with how his voice didn’t match his body.
One is looking to realize her stalled potential and prove it’s never too late to be a diva.
The spectrum here is enormous. It’s real people trying to something extraordinary.
And you…we…get the chance to help take them from where they are to where they want their lives to go.
Such competitions exemplify the social sphere we live in. We’re connected, not just by WiFi, but by the actions we take. As such, social media is nothing new; it’s what we’ve been doing forever.
Here are my contestants to follow in the competition:
Sad news today, as professional wrestler, spokesperson and actor Randy “Macho Man” Savage died today after suffering a heart attack that caused him to lose control of the car he was driving.
He was only 58.
In 2009 when I first launched this blog, I had an occasional series called “Great Moments in Wrestling History.”
One of the moments discussed was one of my favorites of all-time, as bad guy Savage lost a career-ending match to the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VII. Sensational Queen Sheri Martel, his manager at the time, attacked him after the loss. As he was defenseless and shattered, Savage’s on-screen former manager (and real-life wife) Miss Elizabeth, who had been watching from the crowd, ran into the ring and saved her love, even though he had turned his back on her previously.
Savage was touched by her gesture. You see, he had kicked her to the curb years before as he sank into paranoia and jealousy over her friendship with Hulk Hogan. She had no reason to help him, save for love.
Of course, it wasn’t an actual retirement. But the moment felt so real.
He came from a family of professional wrestlers and became the greatest of them all.
His match with Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat at Wrestlemania III was long considered to be the greatest match of all time. His feuds with Hulk Hogan, Sgt Slaughter, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and The Ultimate Warrior provided some of the most iconic moments in WWE history.
He became a pop culture mainstay as the celebrity endorser behind Slim Jim (“Snap into a Slim Jim…OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH YEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH” is a classic tagline.)
Over the past decade, he had quietly disappeared from the public eye. He remarried just last year (Savage and the late Elizabeth divorced in the mid-1990s) and stood a good chance of being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next year, according to rumors.
I had a really awesome video to share with you today.
Seriously, it was the greatest version of the greatest song of all time. A classic and my favorite. I was really looking forward to sharing it in this space, my blog, where I could provide an introduction about why this song is my all-time favorite track.
But the record label that posted the official video to YouTube disabled embedding.
That means I can TALK about it, but can’t show it to you here.
That’s stupid.
Here’s why diasbling YouTube embedding is stupid:
1) Embeded Views Count – Unless you set the video to Autoplay when a page is loaded, embedded video views count as video views on YouTube. In fact, YouTube lists embedding as a great way to increase views.
2) Content Delivery – People enjoy having content delivered to them instead of going searching for it. If someone sees a video on a blog and they enjoy the song or artist, they can then search for more information on it. Embedding allows the content to be served to a target audience on a silver platter.
3) Other Sharing Is Enabled – If you can share a video on Facebook or Twitter (see the screengrab above), you are basically embedding it. So to disable blog sharing is counterproductive to your own strategy.
4) Not So Viral – I hate the term “viral video.” It honestly makes me throw up in my mouth a bit. It’s not a goal, it’s an outcome. But – how can you achieve peak viral capacity if you make it harder to share the video.
I’m sure the company loses ad revenue (or just benefit from the real estate) if a video is not viewed on YouTube itself.
But is that worth compromising the actual benefit of social media?
If you don’t want it to be shared, don’t put it online.
The search is on! Not for “The Voice,” but an awesome summer intern to help us at iostudio with social media responsibilities and such! The full description is below. If you’re interested, email careers@iostudio.com.
Agency-Focused Social Media Intern
Company: From interactive websites to targeted, contemporary print publications, iostudio is a nationally recognized marketing company providing innovative Web, email, print and video solutions for local, regional and national clients. Over the last 13 years, we have grown into an award-winning, multi-million-dollar company built on the passion and ingenuity of a remarkable team of professionals who want more from a job than just bringing home a paycheck.
Named one of the 50 fastest-growing, privately owned companies in the region three years in a row, iostudio is all about finding the talented, dedicated few who flourish in the collaborative environment we offer. If you prefer to “change the world” instead of simply having a job, if you’re committed to doing the best work possible by joining forces with the best team in Nashville or Washington, DC, if you want to work for a company that offers opportunity, great benefits and a beautiful open office atmosphere, then contact us to learn more about this position.
Job Location: Washington, DC
Job Description:
iostudio is experiencing rapid growth and is seeking a talented Agency-Focused Social Media paid intern for the summer.
Responsibilities:
Conduct client/competitor research to benefit social media programs
Help brainstorm and create social media programs for existing and potential clients
Monitor social media network statistics (views, followers, etc.) for select clients
Maintain competitive review in military, restaurant, sports/entertainment, firearms and convenience store chains
Assist in developing iostudio social media presence
Assist in online community management for select agency accounts
Assist with generating presentations and other documents
Deliverables:
Weekly PowerPoint competitive reviews
As required, documented points of view, recommendations and proposals
Weekly spreadsheets of reporting results
Skills:
Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Facebook familiarity a MUST
Other networks (YouTube, Twitter, foursquare) preferred
Excellent time management
Hours and Start Date:
Minimum of 12 hours per week
Start date of June 15 (or sooner if applicant can work remotely)
For consideration, please submit resume and salary requirements to careers@iostudio.com. Only emailed submissions will be considered.
iostudio is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
As anyone who reads this site regularly knows, “sports” and “PR” are my two loves.
So, when I started #SportsPRChat a few years back, it was the best marriage of two great things since Reece’s created peanut butter cups. Think about it.
Spending an hour each week talking sports PR and marketing has been a highlight of my career.
But, as Kenny Rogers (the singer, not the pitcher) said, “you’ve gotta know when to fold ‘em.”
With my first child on the way, being part of a fast-growing company, and other exciting personal and professional opportunities on the horizon, I think it’s time to turn the reins over to someone else.
I fully plan to be a participant (and I will ALWAYS be the Founder!) and will still blog about sports PR ALL the time.
That’s the sad news.
Here’s the good news.
YOU can be the new permanent moderator of #SportsPRChat!
E-mail me at michaelgschaffer@gmail.com with the following questions:
1) Name
2) Where you live
3) Favorite team (duh)
4) Why do you think you’d be the best #SportsPRChat moderator?
Please send me your submissions by Friday, March 25 at noon ET.
I’ll announce the new host on next week’s “season finale” of #SportsPRChat.
It’s been a pleasure and an honor to lead this chat.
As I always, always, always say – I ask the questions and you bring the smarts.
I look forward to your emails and to being a member of this awesome chat every week!
Just a very funny video from Glaceau’s SmartWater brand.
They incorporated several themes and “celebrities” from the online video world, while positioning the former “Friends” star as a funny, self-aware, down-to-Earth star.
It just went live this afternoon, but initial metrics show a positive response.
My only complaint is that the YouTube name for the video is “jennifer aniston goes viral” which says nothing about the product and is void of the SEO-gold key words “sex tape.” Why not officially call it a sex tape? Maybe that would have gone too far for her comfort level. Not that I blame her one bit.
But as a way to make premium water appeal to millennials and way cool people of other demos, this is a home run.
I had a really awesome video to share with you today.
