My advice: Don't over think, over edit and under power your social marketing efforts

The fine folks from the CU Grow blog interviewed me after my presentation last month at the 2010 CUNA Marketing and Business Development Council Conference in Washington, DC.

After watching it, I should put a footnote on my 'ignore compliance and legal' comment. I don't want to get anyone in hot water! I would involve those that have product and compliance knowledge at your credit union in your social media marketing activities and equip your 'social voices' with the know-how and freedom to put accurate information out there without a lot of editorial review.

The point I was trying to make is don't let the red tape get in the way of enthusiasm and action and don't just try things half way. Use common sense and connect with your audience in a meaningful way.

Tim

I was on the CU Chat Up Radio Show today

I was on Carla Day's CU Chat Up Radio Show today with Shari Storm from Seattle's Verity Credit Union. First, Shari talked about her new book and then Shari and I talked about Verity Mom. Finally, Carla and I discussed my recent 30 things blog series (yes, I know it's only 22 things so far).

Thanks Carla for inviting me on the show! Keep up the great work with CU Chat Up.

Tim

Living Young & Free featured on CBS Evening News (well, kind of)

As a follow up to last week's recap post on our "T-shirt buy" with Jason Sadler of iwearyourshirt.com, here is the story that appeared on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric!

I guess I'll patiently wait by my telephone. It should start ringing off the hook... right? This experience has been way too much fun!

Tim

He wore our shirt! Fantastic fun for about $600

As I mentioned yesterday, I rented Jason Sadler's torso (of iwearyourshirt.com fame) to promote Living Young & Free. For $313, we received the use of said torso for the full day of November 17, 2009 (the 313th day of the year). To get the most bang for our buck, we added a life-size cut out of DeAndre', Josh and Myles which ran us $100 plus shipping. Finally, add in the cost of an XL T-Shirt and you've got a $600 media buy beyond compare.

For that price, we received two tweets to Jason's 23,000 Twitter followers...

Mutiple status updates to Jason's 3,000 Facebook friends...

Four Flickr photos...

One hour of live coverage on Ustream.tv...

(If the above video is all black when you press play, hit the refresh button on the lower left)

A wrap up video on YouTube and Facebook...

Four minutes on national live TV on MSNBC...

Plus, we owned Jason's home page for the day...

And if that weren't enough, Jason will be wearing our shirt on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric this coming Monday, November 23. Seriously.

What an absolute gas. Jason Sadler is the hardest working man on the Internet. I cannot believe that he does this seven days a week. What I love is that it is 100% real and authentic. There is no automation (tweeting in advance, auto DMs, etc.). Just one guy being incredibly social!

What's the social media marketing ROI of the above? I have no idea, but $600 seems like a steal to me. Thanks again to Jason Sadler, who will likely be running for U.S. President in 2012.

Tim

Currency featured in HOW Magazine!

Ever since buying the May/June 1991 issue of the design publication, HOW Magazine, I have dreamed of gracing its pages. Well, who knew it would be something as seemingly mundane as our employee Intranet that would allow me to cross that off the list of life goals!

Power Lies Within

See how creative firms are using technology to manage team resources and develop closer client relationships.

Steve is the go-to guy when any of Currency Marketing’s 10 employees forget the preferred way to reorder pressure-sensitive laminate or need the firm’s username and password to access a stock-photo website.

He’s thoughtful, the kind of guy who remembers that Sandy Pitkethly, Currency’s director of client services, prefers chocolate pecan pie instead of cake on her birthday, February 12. He’s also resourceful (he reminds the team that garbage is removed from the premises on Fridays at 9 a.m.), a little nerdy (he knows that each employee’s short-term disability benefit is two-thirds of weekly earnings or $800, whichever is less) and unabashedly eclectic (the best way to cook “turducken”—a chicken stuffed in a duck that’s stuffed in a turkey—is for about nine hours at 225 degrees F).

"Steve is the man who knows everything and has the lowdown on everybody,” says Tim McAlpine, president and chief strategist at Currency Marketing, based in Chilliwack, British Columbia. “He’s a superhero. If you need anything, you turn to Steve."

Actually, you turn him on.

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