7 replies to this topic

[PromoUltraSource]

Why would an industry trade organization like ASI, publicly advertise their information services/tips & New York trade show on a global "buying public" social media network, namely, facebook?
Not an ASI member here, yet their ad showed up on my public facebook homepage with Dale Denham's picture with this ad copy:

"Social Networking 4 Sales ... Designed for advertising specialty salespeople, turn your social networking into sales. See Dale Denham live @ ASI Show in New York."

I can't imagine any paying distributor member approving of this compromising business model action... What are your thoughts?

[jimknecht]

John, correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel certain there are plenty of industry suppliers marketing via Facebook, Tweets, whatever. So why would ASI doing so bother you? I mean, a big part of their business model is to advertise to folks not in our industry, and bring them in. Granted, some folks think the flood gates have been let open & it is too easy for some to enter, but that is another discussion. Folks like ASI & PPAI are especially going to try to attract new folks to the industry. If they can't advertise outside the industry, how do you suggest they grow?

[Chris Miller]

I cannot even get into another one of these discussions. I am physically drained from them. I think my thoughts are well known though.

[FindingPromo]

John,

Today's social media marketing world is a different paradigm than we've ever been in before. It's allowing marketers to target via current advocates / using referral marketing.

Some have said that there are over 5000 people that have left the promotional products industry and 5000 new entrants to the industry in the last 5 years. There is quite a "churn" as they say, and all potential subscribers.

I'm with Jim on this one. Not only new prospective distributor resellers, but current ones that are not using services of a service provider or association benefits.

I happen to know a couple folks that have worked closely with Facebook in their development and ramp up.

I doubt that an ad like this, is simply "sawed off shotgun" blasted to "all" the FB community as a whole. Those that know a little about the available advertising options on Facebook, know that you can target specifically "non-ASI Central Facebook fans" for example and also target "friends of current ASI Central Fan Page fans" for example. You could even target those in certain states in advance of a show, or a presentation as an additional parameter for example. Target marketing to an audience that has shared their demographics and set their FB profile to accept these.

Edited by FindingPromo, 06 March 2010 - 03:12 PM.

[jimknecht]

FindingPromo said:

I'm with Jim on this one.

Maybe I need to rethink my position. :D

[Chris Miller]

jimknecht said:

Maybe I need to rethink my position. :D

I think I need to reconsider the industry I'm in since it's now a joke and being sold as as a get rich quick business to anyone who will listen, via any medium we can find them in. What's next, target stay at home moms so they can sell promos via house parties like they do with makeup, candles and kitchen accessories? Oh wait, that's already been done.

Then there are those who see no problem with it. :confused: It's all pretty disturbing for those who planned to make a career out of the DISTRIBUTOR/SALES side of this industry. :)

[FindingPromo]

Look for advertising more and more on your FB page, as they now have begun to build their revenue streams, and don't be surprised if they have an IPO in the coming months, while also relying on some angel and plateau investors along the way.

Advertising where the eyeballs are is one of the basic premises of Google, Bing, Yahoo, now Facebook, soon Twitter and already is build into the industry search engine programs of our industry.

Chris, this whole churn in the industry happens on all levels, and I love that comment that some industry speakers use to assist in sales prospecting.

"Some will . .Some won't . . Next?"

I guess I don't know what people expect sometime. Does anyone think they can build a business however successful or creative and think that there will not be competition / copycats to your practices??

Any and all Businesses, need to be constantly looking at what their customers and their customers' customers expect, delivering on those, while always looking for the next way that they can differentiate themselves from the competition.

Heck those page turning service provider companies are now advertising out on Facebook and some of them are even mentioning their competition by name in their ads (I think that's not the right thing to do).

There are different levels of professionals and experts in every part of our industry. I learn from new folks and seasoned pro's each and every day, that I'm in business.

Some will, Some won't, So What . . .Next?

(Those that will, will get more service) Oh, and go ahead and become a fan our IW Facebook fan page :D

Edited by FindingPromo, 06 March 2010 - 03:49 PM.

[PromoUltraSource]

My post was not intended to suggest any personal stance, rather to inquire the perspective of many, from an industry once stuck on an old channels of distribution model of promotional products, not realistic nor followed, for many years now, long before the introduction of social media and ISP search engines.

Once held propietary information systems, now appear obsolete by readily accessible online info for those willing to learn how to search for and use it?

Free enterprise and non-restrictive trade has always required open competition in a marketplace - I don't think any savy business professional ever questioned that?

Trade organizations and/or service-providers (positioning themselves as watchdogs and/or support resources for positive business development to paying member/customers) now engaged in business development initiatives that might seem to be a conflict of interest is a questionable perspective.

The point here is the old distribution channels model has, indeed, forever changed a long time ago (with many casualities along the way). So why would distributors still patronize old school providers rather than seek out new... that more closely support "a new industry paradigm?"

Who will rush to be first in defining a new industry distribution channels model?

I believe it will be fascinating to witness this evolution and everyone's "spin" on it.