Thriller as performed by IDT: Integrated DNA Technologies

Here's a company that gets it. Fun must be in their DNA.

IDT (Integrated DNA Technologies ) has a tradition to create a short film for their company's annual holiday party. This year they created their version of the famous "Thriller" video by Michael Jackson.

This is so great. You can't... Beat It.

Talk about a "viral" video. Humorous content like this really humanizes the corporation... well, maybe "zombifies" is a better word. You know what I mean.

As a social media guy, I tip my cap. And I do that Thriller hand swing thing too. It's this kind of "surprise and delight" strategy that gets people talking.

One of the great things about the new landscape of social media marketing is that companies can now use unconventional ways to reach people. Let's face it, DNA is an industry that many people don't think about a lot, unless they are in it. But you just watched that video and now you know who they are. And what's likely to happen in most cases? You'll share the link with a few of your friends. Maybe because they are in the industry or maybe because they love Thriller.

It also says something about IDT as an employer. If I am a looking for a company to call home, I certainly would be attracted to a place with a vibe like this.

Great job IDT. I can't wait to see next years number. I wonder what you could do with Lady Gaga.

For more information on IDT, contact Keven Stevens at kstevens@idtdna.com

I Found a Map to Where the Magic Happens

(Via Mike Rogers' FB post. Thanks Mikey.)

Social Media in a Nutshell

Want a simple explanation of social media? It doesn't get any simpler than this.

I don't know the original source of this one, but it's making it's way around the web today. I love it.

My question... where does Google+ fit on this list?

Think Outside the Bowl

Here's a link to my review of the book: “What’s Your Purple Goldfish?” over at marketinglagniappe.com. It's free on the Kindle for another few days and available in paperback.

And did you know there is a Purple Goldfish Jingle? Here's the winner of the jingle contest we held a while back. It's catchy. I bet you'll find yourself singing it to yourself in the car later.

Creating a Purple Buzz

Yesterday was a marathon day. My video podcast partner's book, What's Your Purple Goldfish?, was released and we spent the day promoting it and celebrating the fruits of the past couple of years. Seeing this book in print was such a great feeling.

One of the things you learn quickly in social media is that you can't just put stuff out there and wait for people to come to you. You have to go find your audience and engage with them where they live online. For us, that was Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Amazon, blogs and even some emailing and good old fashioned telephone calls. If you want to start a buzz, you gotta poke the hive.

We ended the day with a live, online chat moderated by our friend, social media strategist Susan Borst. It was fascinating to see the variety of people that logged into the chat room. There were a couple of long time friends and followers of the Purple Goldfish Project and there were a few people that had just discovered us that day... thanks to the buzz. They had no idea what a Purple Goldfish was or how to even pronounce "Lagniappe." (Lan-yap.)

It was amazing to see one person, who practically stumbled upon us, follow the conversation, ask questions and at the end of the session proclaim that her next move was going to be to buy the book.

This social media stuff works. It's not a magic bullet and it takes a lot of dedication, time and imagination. But when it starts to click, what can happen can be amazing.

I "Like" The Purple Goldfish

What a day!

The Purple Goldfish book was released today. Author Stan Phelps and I celebrated with lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, one of the original Purple Goldfish. One of the great things about this book and the Purple Goldfish Project is that we gathered 1001 examples of marketing lagniappe from a grassroots campaign using our blog, video podcast and other means to spread the word.



And the bigger news is that to offer a little something extra, just like a good Purple Goldfish would do, Stan is offering the book for free on the Kindle for five days.

Here's a shot of me piloting the social media command center for the launch of "What’s Your Purple Goldfish?" Spreading the word about the new book and connecting with people from all over the place. It really is an amazing world we live in.



Now that the book is out, we are busy connecting with people on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. (There's even an online chat tonight.) Gotta run!

PS- If you read the book, let me know what you think.

Long and Purple Road

When we started the Purple Goldfish Project podcast & blog, the goal was two-fold... to gather 1001 examples of Marketing Lagniappe and to eventually see a book come out of the effort. Well, I am happy to report that we reached 1001 this week, AND Stan Phelps is releasing the book as well. Here's a peek:

What's Your Purple Goldfish? Book Sneak Preview

View more presentations from Stan Phelps

Social Media Seminar for the MRA of NY

I have been so busy with my video podcasts, the holidays and the upcoming launch of the Purple Goldfish book, that I never got around to posting a few pictures from the social media seminar I conducted for the NY chapter of the MRA recently. Here's a few shots. Thanks to the MRA for having me and a shout out to all the great people who attended. I had a blast.