Wednesday, June 29, 2011

12 Most Amazing Examples of #Marketing Lagniappe (You’ve Never Heard of) http://bit.ly/ih44Q2

News from the World of Social Media


Here's the press release for the latest client I am working with. I am so excited to get the chance to work with such an imaginative and fun company like Tasti D. - Jack

Tasti D-Lite Adopts Engage121 as Network-Wide Social CRM Solution

Norwalk, CT, June 29, 2011 – In a move that is expected to influence both the franchise industry and the business of Social CRM, Engage121, Inc., a software firm specializing in customer relationship management through social media, announced that Tasti D-Lite has licensed the Engage121 Enterprise Edition.

Tasti D-Lite, the fast-growing franchise company that sells great-tasting, healthier frozen treats and has been featured on hit shows like Sex and the City and 30 Rock, is also widely known for their pioneering use of social media to attract and retain customers. The franchise company will use Engage121 to support and expand social media engagements between the company’s headquarters, each Tasti D-Lite store location, and consumers.

Tasti D-Lite’s CMO, Bill Zinke succinctly expressed his company’s commitment to Social Media in a recent Mashable.com article when he said, “Tasti D-Lite is committed to being a leader and innovator in social media and customer engagement. We will be looking very aggressively and progressively at ways we can continue to show our customers, our franchisees and the world that Tasti D-Lite is a brand that is not just up with the modern age of technology, but out on the leading edge. Social media will be one of the keys to how we build our brand in the future.”

Tasti D-Lite was featured in Twitter’s Business 101 Case Studies and recognized in 2009 among Mashable.com’s 40 of the Best Twitter Brands. The company received the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA) RetailNow Innovative Solutions Award for their social-friendly TastiRewards loyalty program. Tasti D-Lite also received the QSR Applied Technology Award in the consumer convenience category.

Tasti D-Lite’s VP of Technology B.J. Emerson said, "The functionality of Engage121 makes it easy to manage our campaigns at an enterprise level across all of the social channels as well as enabling us to listen more effectively and provide a greater level of customer service online."

Mr. Emerson is a frequent speaker at social media events and conferences and has appeared at WOMMA, Loyalty 360 Expo, Mobile Social Communications Conference, Location Based Marketing Summit, National Restaurant Association, and the International Franchise Association.

"It is especially gratifying to have a company that is far ahead of the social media curve, not only in the restaurant space but in the franchise space as a whole, to select the Engage121 Enterprise Edition as their social CRM solution," noted Engage121’s CEO Jon Victor. "I'm looking forward to a long and mutually-rewarding relationship with this innovative organization."

About Tasti D-Lite

Since its inception in 1987, Tasti D-Lite’s popularity has grown largely by word of mouth and has resulted in a huge base of loyal fans. Tasti D-Lite first launched its franchise program in 2008. Since then, the company has grown to more than 50 locations and has secured commitments to open over 300 locations in the coming years. Today it has locations open in 12 U.S. states. Internationally, the company already has stores in Mexico and the United Arab Emirates and will be opening its first units in Australia and Panama City later this year. Led by a world-class operating team, the company is undertaking a program of product innovation, customer engagement and service excellence. For more information, visit www.tastidlite.com.

About Engage121, Inc.

Founded in 1998, Engage121, Inc. offers the most comprehensive social media management solution for both national brands and organizations with local sales outlets. Its flagship product, Engage121, enables organizations to monitor, evaluate and respond in real time to social media activity across the widest range of platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, as well as consumer review sites and blogs. Engage121 also allows content deployment in a centralized, controlled and compliant manner. For more than a decade, the company has provided a suite of media and communications services to over 1,000 businesses and organizations and brings this wealth of experience to its social media clients. For more information, please visit www.engage121.com.

Monday, June 6, 2011

New Purple Goldfish Podcast: Episode 37

A new video podcast is available over at Marketing Lagniappe:

Exploring the concept of a ‘Gift Economy’: http://bit.ly/lf0u0t

Sunday, June 5, 2011

MRA Tribute Video


This is a tribute video for a board member of the MRA that is stepping down. Paul Kirch and I conceived of the concept and questions. Paul executed the interviews and I put together the video.