Household brands and the Fortune 500 understand that emerging social media matters. It matters because that’s where the eyes are – and brands go where the eyes go. While network and print budgets decline, emerging media investment by big players is expanding. On the one hand, big business deserves credit for “getting” that social media matters – at least for managing PR problems. Comcast, despite its utility heritage, monitors Twitter for complaints (not sure if they competently resolve anything though). And Pepsi PR guys with Twitter accounts competently responded to viral outrage about a suicidal Pepsi calorie.
Can Big Business Personally Connect?
However, it remains an open question whether major marketers can actually execute an effective integrated social media campaign that requires real, personal, emotional connections. It is unclear if big businesses can get out of their own bureaucratic ways. Can they avoid over-thinking and reign in competing priorities among dozens of expensive agencies to create buzz and engage customers. Time will tell.
You Can Do What You Do
Ahh, but while we await, your growing business can do it. You can be nimble. You can do what you do in pursuit of each and every opportunity. You can channel your energy and passion and personal touch with emerging media. You can tell your story. You can use new media for more than crisis management. You can create “buzz”. You can compete. And you can win!
Five Part Formula
In the coming days ChirpUp will share and discuss our Five Part Formula for establishing an interactive voice, generating buzz and getting noticed. Here is a preview:
- Make Your Brand a “Reality” Celebrity
- Get Yourself an Engine
- Do it with Style
- Social Etiquette
- Measure, Monitor and Join the Conversation


Andy Sernovitz
February 18th, 2009 at 4:05 am
Congrats to the founders – Rob and Mark! I wish you much success!
April 15th, 2009 at 6:34 am
My friend on Orkut shared this link and I’m not dissapointed at all that I came here.