From the perspective of teammate Daniel Regan

Over the past few years, twitter has become the main source for breaking news. It doesn’t matter whether it’s to announce the death of Whitney Houston or the announcement that Albert Pujols has signed with the Angels. These stories hit twitter first and took off from there. What has this caused? It has lead to people all over the world relying on a social media site to get their news.

Just last week, the University of Illinois was in the midst of searching for a new men’s head basketball coach. The story was well-publicized on twitter. Each day, a new leader for the job emerged (thanks to twitter of course) leaving the entire fan base in a frenzy. This shouldn’t sound too foreign to Missouri Tigers fans as that fan base experienced something very similar last year. After Mike Anderson abruptly left Missouri for Arkansas, twitter became the source of information for Missouri Tiger fans when it came to receiving their information. At one point, Bernie Mikelaz of the STL Post-Dispatch reported, via Twitter, that Purdue coach Matt Painter was set to become the next Missouri head coach. This sent thousands of people into frenzy both on the Missouri and Purdue sides. If you follow college basketball then you know that Matt Painter is still controlling the sidelines for Purdue and little known Frank Haith is manning the sidelines for Mizzou. Painter used leverage and twitter to swing a new last minute deal from his alma mater of Purdue.

Going back to the original topic… After Illinois was spurned by both Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens, they turned their attention to Ohio’s John Groce who was fresh off a Sweet Sixteen run with the Bobcats. The hire made sense. Groce is a Big Ten guy with strong ties to the Chicago metro area. But who broke the story? Illinois beat writers? Nope. Ohio beat writers? Nope. Maybe someone from the national media? Nope. Evan Turner, small forward for the Philadelphia 76ers? Yup. Wait what? Yes, an NBA player who hadn’t attended either Ohio or Illinois was the one breaking the story to twitter. He tweeted, “I hear my old colllege asst. coach may get the job at U of I. If he does then Illini will have no problem gettin Chicago players.” So although we now see the connection between Turner and Groce (Groce was an assistant head coach at Ohio State while Turner was there), am I the only one who thinks it’s funny that the source of the story is an NBA player? Hey at least he is a little bit more credible than Rob Lowe. That story is for a different time.

When all the dust settled, Groce did become the next head coach at Illinois. It was however, a day and a half later than when Turner first reported it. This, however, probably seemed like a month for Illinois fans. That is why some of these stories that get reported on twitter can have major implications on people’s lives. The average American doesn’t know who has credibility. They think that if they see it, they should believe it. Even those with credibility have abused the privilege of twitter. Twitter has caused everyone to think they are a reporter. People all over the world have viewed Twitter as their chance be “famous” or get their name out. Moral of the story, watch what you put on twitter. If you are trying to be some hero, then make sure you can back up what you are putting up. When you hit send, it is out there and cannot be taken back if the topic was newsworthy enough. You are not a pro, so don’t try to be one. Hey Evan Turner, you don’t see those ESPN guys trying to do your job do you? Nope, that’s what I thought. Stick to playing basketball.

From the perspective of teammate Killian Gould: 

Creating new and innovative ways that effectively convey the essence of a product or brand is one of the keys to effective advertising. Creative agencies must find a balance between making consumers commanding consumers attention and prompting consumers to take action and create conversions for the product. Effective ad campaigns should maintain creativity while staying on strategy across multiple platforms and even multiple products for the same brand. 

This Schick campaign entitled “The Power of 4.” emphasizes their new razors with four blades. This campaign is a great example of strong creative that can be integrated across multiple platforms. The three print ads below depict people shaving different parts of their bodies with the new razor and shaving off parts of their tattoos. Shaving off a tattoo is obviously not possible, however the images tied together with very little, but effective copy make the viewer notice. 

These ads could easily be used on billboards, or as part of a guerrilla campaign as well. They appeal to both men and women and sell men’s and women’s Schick razors. These ads are the perfect examples of what creativity mixed with effective copy can produce. 

From the perspective of teammate Leah Carter:

Some say that technology is forcing people apart. That society is replacing highly personal face-to-face interaction with screen-to-screen interaction. While I believe that may be true, social media still has an important role to play in our connections with one another. If used right, this high-tech world we’ve created can actually bring people together like never before.

In this virtual reality, a movement has become viral. My facebook has exploded with wall posts, messages, event invites… all proclaiming the news about Kony 2012. In what seems to have been just a few days, everyone I’ve talked to (on or offline) has heard of Joseph Kony and is spreading the word in any way possible.

This movement is drawing its strength solely from the power of online communities. These social media sites have taken an issue from across the world, and made it very personal to every person who views the video proclaiming the cause. Because of what has been shared in these social communities, groups are forming outside just the virtual world to take a very real stand on this issue.

Whether or not you agree with the issue is up to you… but no matter where you stand, you cannot overlook the amazing force of social media backing this campaign. People are becoming impassioned, enraged and excited about the possibility of “many littles doing big things” through the power of collective action. Their virtual communities are giving them an opportunity to be a part of something much bigger than themselves… and people are jumping on the chance to get in on the action.

Through social media, collective action is connecting people like never before.

From the perspective of teammate Alyson Wolf:

By now, many of you have heard about Google’s new privacy policy starting today.  Some of you might be outraged while others of you don’t care or understand why the blogosphere is having a minor meltdown. 

After reading a few blogs, news articles and Google’s official policy, here is what I have gathered:

• Using your Gmail account and recent searches, Google will tailor specific ads and search results based on your activity.  This will not be anonymous and cannot be deleted.
• They will log your computer’s devices and actions, like your computers model, how often it crashes, cookies that uniquely identify your account and telephone log information.
• Your location will be tracked.

From what I understand, Google will be able to use your specific information to target ads to your Google account.  They will also be able to share information with your friends.

As an advertiser, I understand why Google is doing this.  Advertisers pay big bucks to get their name out. Reaching a specific market through Google seems like a great way to do that.  Isn’t this similar to what Facebook already does?

As a Google user, however, I don’t necessarily like someone being able to track my searches and information.  If I have a cold one day and I’m looking up the best over-the-counter meds, am I going to be bombarded with cold and flu ads for an extended period of time?  I find the “privacy” part of the privacy policy is lacking.

I’m still a little hazy on what this new policy actually means and how it will affect my Googling habits, if it will at all.  As I see it, people are either completely outraged or indifferent about this change.

What do you think?  Is it cause for concern or just harmless promotion and data collection?

From the perspective of teammate Amanda Bruns:

Advertising has always amazed me in that its essence has courted my ambitions into a dysfunctional love affair fit for the poets. It sends its desire wrapped beautifully in a creative brief and awaits the engagement. My mind salivates and starts to spin with every word I consume on the page. Will I accept the proposal? Not a moment for doubt as I proclaim, “Yes, of course!”

It doesn’t take long to realize this is not a monogamous relationship. Advertising expects me to be one of many mistresses, or the male equivalent, meant to please it. Not only that, but it also expects me to compete in winning its affection as if I’m on the Bachelor. Rather than receive a rose, I win a client.

The thing is, despite my distaste for a wandering lover, I am hooked and invested. This relationship requires my confidence and faith in my talent, especially in the rivalry for the client. It’s titillating torture. Advertising allures me, seduces me, then leaves me to brainstorm in intense anticipation until the climax of a great idea.

The worst part: there is a deadline. Advertising presents the challenge and I’m sent into a frenzy of half-baked ideas. My first ideas are obvious and cliché, expected of “the others” and I scratch them right away. I start to mull over wordplays, imagery, product/service uses, benefits, competition, etc.

On a good day, those ideas begin to form nicely into a deliverable package. On other days, those ideas remain a muddled mess. As the deadline draws near, I begin to get desperate—mind maps, research, staring at a blank page… I even reside in the bathroom simply because it is usually where my best ideas formulate.

I wait and wait, sitting on half-baked, mundane ideas. I rely on the fact that I know I have some sort of talent and something will come of it. Even when I’m about to face death row, I consider more options up until the final bite of my last meal.

Then ding! The answer comes. I am exonerated. I am free. I have an idea worthy of the advertising’s affection.

I feel relief and my faith is reinforced. Then the next creative brief comes and it’s time to tango again.