This is another guest blog from a marketing friend. Dana Campagna Lanham is an expert in the toy industry. That explains why she is always playing games.
Jeff asked me a while ago to write something for his MomentSLater blog, but I felt my material was stale and would not live up to the
amazing content on this site. But it hit me the other day as I was teaching marketing to a
bunch of undergrads who were busy texting, instant messaging, and not paying
attention to my test review, that I had some content.
When Jeff and I met, I was lucky enough to
work with him for three years as a consultant on his retail business at Nomaco.
At the time, I was also on the marketing faculty at UNC-Charlotte where I
taught the run of marketing-based subject matter, but also Internet Marketing
which enlightened me to all kinds of “with-it,” forward thinking opportunities
in technology and marketing.
The Internet and digital technology in general, have
evolved to the point where anyone can design, write and go public through all
kinds of software, free or otherwise.
Our cell phones are now creating high resolution video and photos that
can be edited and quickly posted to Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube or the like.
Anyone can easily set up an e-commerce site and sell their wares. Anyone can become an expert. I have had so
many people tell me recently that they are food bloggers, or fashion bloggers,
barbecue bloggers, etc. It is
amazing. The US audience as a whole is
more interested in using technology for fame instead of using technology for a
cause. Why do I need to know that you
just had a Latte in Central Park? Why do I care? Those keystrokes could have been used for something
so much more interesting, like information that matters – like try the mocha
caramel latte at Java Heaven at 231
Wooster in the Village...
So, with all this technology, and the ability for anyone to
publish, it makes me question my role as a consultant when almost anyone can do
what I do now. Technology has made it so easy for people to just do it
themselves. I will never have another
wrinkle or red-eye in a photo, because I have become the queen of retouching. I don’t have to take notes or scan, I just
photograph what I need and email it to myself and print it later!
Here is the downside – NO ONE TALKS TO EACH OTHER
ANYMORE! People sit at restaurants with
each other and are texting others or checking their phones. What happened to
the simple act of conversing? Are we
that uninteresting or disinterested in our dining partners? And if you want to
talk to someone while dining with someone else, why didn’t you invite them to
lunch!
Step away from the technology
So, if you can do anything this week, put down your
technology, and go talk to someone. Make a concerted effort to have a good old
fashioned conversation. This I hypocritically say, as I type this entry into
Jeff’s blog. But I can promise you, this week is a text free, email free week l pick up the phone instead and call someone.
About Dana
Labels: dana campagna lanham, Guest Blogs, Marketing Moments, Nomaco, toy consulting
So, with all this technology, and the ability for anyone to
publish, it makes me question my role as a consultant when almost anyone can do
what I do now. Technology has made it so easy for people to just do it
themselves. I will never have another
wrinkle or red-eye in a photo, because I have become the queen of retouching. I don’t have to take notes or scan, I just
photograph what I need and email it to myself and print it later!