Monday 28 November 2011

Paid for Comment, Part Eleven.

We've come over all unsure, a little should we say, undecided. We are very much sitting on the fence.

We at The Peloton are great believers in brands partnering with media companies to produce commercial content that gets the sponsor's message across whilst also giving the users something good to read/watch/interact with. Media companies are undoubtedly the experts in their field and know their audience. Most importantly they have perceived independence... No matter how good a brand's own developed content, they will have to work really hard for the ear of the recipient.

MSN has had a content solutions team in place for many years (as have most clued-up publishers). It has recently released this...www.newthinking.uk.msn.com. Sponsored by Hyundai, it is part of MSN's challenge to get users to think more and challenge themselves which handily fits with Hyundai's strapline New Thinking, New Possibilities. MSN has used excellently produced video (the best example of this that we have seen yet), blogs, a New Thinking widget, a Hyundai competition area... All sorts. They also add to the mix Kevin Spacey, Joseph Fiennes, the World land speed record holder and the footballer Ian Wright amongst others.

It's great. MSN allowing a sponsor to work with its resources in a very creative way. The reason why we are a little stuttering in our recommendation is this. 99.9% of B2B marketeers will not have the budget for this. This is no doubt a fair whack going to MSN once it's reached its targets.

However, (and hear this loud and clear) publishers are staring at the fact that the days of high display advertising revenues are over. The media companies who cater for your market will be able to offer something like their version of Hyundai's and MSN's New Thinking. Only they will be looking for cost a tenth of the US behemoth.

Publishers are having tough times. Now is the opportunity to use this to your advantage.
www.thepeloton.tv
jon@thepeloton.tv

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Video and B2B: A Marriage Made in Heaven.

The British Library was an apt venue for the recent B2B marketing shindig. In this venerable seat of learning, marketing folk gathered to listen to words of wisdom from such gods of technology as Cisco, Google and IBM and digital consultancies such as Birddog and Cyance.
Amid the extravagant claims, the mind-dazzling facts and the snappy sound-bites, there were some genuine nuggets suggesting that video will play an increasingly important role in the B2B marketing mix.  
According to Steve Kemish from Cyance, “B2B and video are a marriage made in heaven”.
We got the chance to interview some of the conference speakers including Steve, here’s what a few of them had to say....


Thursday 10 November 2011

Paid for Comment, Part Ten.

Phew. So that was 9 hours of speakers, presentations, jaw aching chitter chatter and a Friday evening worth of video at the superb Accelerate: Peak Performance Marketing Conference from wonderful B2B Marketing (http://www.b2bmarketing.net/).
 
Like most people, I enter a conference with a number of fears. Mine is usually that someone will work out I'm a fraud. Others worry whether it will be a day badly spent, how can they not answer their Blackberry until at least lunchtime, or will they know I ate raw garlic and then keep burping it up again. Not so for this gem at the British Library.

Said B2B conference brought the UK's business marketeers all into one room so that they could hear from a number of advisors, peers and consultants about everything that is wrong with B2B marketing and what they should be doing that is right. We'll be publishing the videos on the B2B marketing website over the next week or so and you'll be able to share in all that good stuff then.

Full marks should go to...

Cisco - For showing us their programme for the Olympics (and showing 2 videos).

Psion - (yes Psion) for showing us how a business can embrace social media and not be naff, in fact do very well from it (and for showing a video).

Cyance - very witty and erudite marketing help from their ex rock and roller (well, he seemed that way in the bar afterwards) front man who laughed at our team's tshirts (and for showing a few videos).

Google - no matter how much you don't want to like the big cheese they always seem so decent (and for showing 4 videos).

The rest didn't show any video but still some great thoughts and insights left everyone (that I spoke to at least) with a massive to do list and a self imposed 'could do better' mark against their name.

Lastly it seems that everyone will be producing well made videos from now on... case studies, product launches, thought leadership, interactive... and that makes us happy.

Monday 7 November 2011

Using Interactive Video to Make Justice Work.

'Community or Custody' is a campaign to investigate whether community sentences work better than prison terms to stop persistent offending. ThePeloton has teamed up with Make Justice Work to launch an interactive video to promote the campaign.

The video features a fictional character called Peter. However, his story is based on real anecdotal evidence offered by ex-offenders. Using ThePeloton's unique interactive video service, viewers get the chance to choose Peter's fate and witness the consequences.

Please take a look, just follow the link...and decide what kind of sentence Peter should face. The cause is worth supporting too!
http://www.communityorcustodyvideo.com/


adrian@thepeloton.tv
http://www.thepeloton.tv/interactive.html