DISQUS

I hope you got her tag number, name etc., so you can send her company a letter (maybe even copy the NY Cab Commission). There ARE good, honest cabbies in NYC and you got one of three...let her bosses know in writing.

Best always,
- Peter

I'm smiling thinking that you either just dropped a hint from a new product from Ford's IT or you just dropped a suggestion in their suggestion box. Either way, well played.

My point regarding ROI is that Twitter's popularity and use are still minor in the grand scheme of marketing channels. Is it growing? Yes but it does not have what would be considered a wide acceptance. That could change and you could be on the ground floor which is why its good that you are testing and introducing it at Ford now.

But the maginifying glass the company and thereby the board and Alan will be under simple make me think the focus of non ROI related marketing will make twitter a third string player for a while. TV they get, Twitter, not so much...yet.

Best always,
- Peter

Rats, I always seem to forget nattering!

Thanks Hal.

Best always,
- Peter

Hi Scott:

Conceptually, I completely understand where you are coming from. Realistically, I'd be pleased to see you or someone pull it off but I am not hopeful for a while anyway.

Reason being as important as all marketing is to every company, and most urgently Ford at this particular point in its history, I don't see the CEO making that kind of commitment to a tool like Twitter that would allow such aggregation.

Somehow I can't get out of my head the imagined board conversation from a director to Alan along the lines of "how many cars did you sell for us on Twitter today because you had like 20 posts; btw the way our stock is in the toilet and we're in the middle of union negotiations -- don't you think you could find a more productive way to spend your time?!"

I could also pen a viable response from Alan to the director's query but the point I can't get past in my head that I guess I will have to bear witness to to understand is - how someone with that magnitude of responsibility can find the time to make a worthwhile commitment to Twitter?

If it works, I will claim you as its instigator and hail you in the history books. If it misses, I'll blame Alan cause he's the CEO and he gets paid to shoulder the blame ;)

Great post. Thanks

Best always
- Peter

Scott:

At the risk of being a nabob of negativity here...reading Alan's twitter posts - there was nothing but talking points. It read like the sort “blah, blah” that I’ve come to expect from corporate America who seem ever more bound to “safe language”. That could just be my perspective.

Having thought about that, I wonder now if Twitter can properly work as a media tool for posting insights from people in executive positions. Leaders should be able to offer such depth in their answers because their insights are so key to understanding a business and its direction that Twitter's limited character count almost forces them to offer trite answers, much like sound bites on TV. Those never mean much either.

Since much of the comments here are positive, other folks think this is all cool and exciting, maybe I'm missing the point (I look at CEOs and celebrities as just people...there's no wow factor for me...a certain appreciation maybe but that's it).

But when I hear from a CEO I expect there to be some meat on the bone of an answer. If there isn't I become suspect, which in my head reflects on the level of credibility I have for that leader. Twitter doesn't lend itself to quality content due to character count and my opinion is that whatever the forum (but especially in the auto industries current situation) quality content is job 1.

Best always,
- Peter

@Chris I understood the point from the get go.

Regarding CS, the vicious circle of developing technology to make our lives easier results in the cost of developing trained talent to serve which when combined with peoples inability or indifference to learn the technology before crying for help (that might be me) etc., means that customer service in almost ever sector is going to suck.

As customers, we can't or won't learn the technology or even read the directions. And as for companies - they will always serve share holders first and see service as an after thought- in fact, an EXPENSIVE afterthought, public statements or mottos about CS notwithstanding.

We should all save our old complaint letters and emails (or blog posts)...we'll soon see them as archaic wastes of of time and effort.

Boy I hope I'm wrong but I don't think I am.

Best always,
- Peter

Chris:

Sure GMAC handled this badly...bad customer service is the rule rather than the exception.

But couldn't this whole thing been avoided if you'd paid your bill on time in the first place?

You did exactly what they wanted you to do.

That crap will rot your teeth and ruin your stomach lining.

Tell you what, send it to me and I'll drink it for you...its safer that way.

Best always,
- Peter

Funny.

In the description you gave of trust agent one word immediately came to mind and I wanted to see if anyone else thought of it. Frank did.

Honest.

WHY is someone trusted? Because they are honest. You know that when they say they are successful its true because when they aren't successful, they note that too. Its kinda what the term critic was designed for but because of bad writing and, for some, questionable ethics, its not such a positive term.

So maybe you don't want it in your title (and I have to agree that Trust Agent is not the money term you're looking for) but honesty should be specified, not implied, in your definition.

I hope that helps.

Best always,
- Peter

Chris:

What struck me about your post was your desire that “the news is as authentic as possible” and in the same sentence acknowledging product placement exists in TV and movies.

In my head, that’s the connection broadcast executives want you to make to excuse their behavior (and please note I did not say news directors, an important clarification I’ll explain in a moment).

First let’s address the standard you’ve set: news is as authentic as possible. I understand what you are saying but your bar, I think, is set too low.

My position is that mainstream media news was authentic, presenting the facts in an unbiased way in newspaper, radio and television and letting the viewer decide their opinions.

It has been disappointing for me to watch that practice be whittled away through woefully lax news gathering and editorial standards (especially at the local level) brought about primarily by business executives making decisions that should be made by news professionals. This isn’t about liberal or conservative bias. It should be “just the facts, ma’am,” as the Dragnet character Sgt. Joe Friday was find of saying.

But viewers get bored in the age of fast cut editing and video games. Research shows news should be a mixture of information and entertainment. That’s a bad mix for folks with no filter in place upstairs (more on that in a moment too).

When corporations starting running networks and newspapers like any other business (and networks and newspapers are not) primarily to please bottom line focused share holders, authentic news presentation was a concept hoisted overboard without a life jacket.

Which brings us to sponsor-logoed coffee mugs on the news set. Upsetting? Controversial? Well if you consider that on their early morning shows and early p.m. news shows, most local affiliates featured their paid advertisers in a segment at some point during a week, the logo mug thing is a wash. Sometimes sponsors have been identified in such news segments, sometimes not. Separation between news and sales….narrowing fast.

So we’ve been long exposed to product placement in news, this most recent logoed cup example is only a little more blatant or maybe even transparent. Sort of like when college age children first smoke in front of their parents when everyone knows they’ve been smoking since they were 15 years old.

The news-product placement horse has long ago left that starting gate.

News consumers should be pissed but they’re not. In fact they are embracing other news gathering tools like blogs and often absorbing information there as unbiased truth because often they subscribe to blogs whose content they agree with. No ying and yang, no point - counter point.

Offering the suggestion that social media content providers remain authentic is a great reminder that I think will likely fall on understanding yet long deaf ears.

There is either no filter in most consumers minds anymore or the filter is long over due for a cleaning. Yikes!...either way.

Best always,
- Peter

I came across this problem for the very first time this weekend when a voice over friend of mine in Canada sent me a link to one of her projects on MTV and the warning came up.

More legal BS. Ridiculous.

Best always,
- Peter

Chris:

I really appreciated this particular post. It's a wonderful reminder that I hope I can live up to with my business too. Thanks.

Best always,
- Peter

Scott:

Enjoy the ride.

Best always,
Peter

Chris:

I found this really helpful.

Thanks,

Best always,
- Peter

For a guy who loves his birthday and has all this passion, you look pretty pissed off in your pic.

Smile....life is a gift not a guarantee.

Best always,
- Peter

Chris:

Really nice coverage and excellent sound bites.

The last time I was interviewed on TV, the reporter had hairy knuckles but she was nice. You faired a bit better.

Best always,
- Peter

Christopher:

Your comments are spot on in accuracy but disappointing too. While we should always be mindful of shooting our mouths off personally or hitting send key too early at ANY time ('thinking before we speak') we still need to be able to have open debate and discussion.

If we become too beholden to or stand in fear of Google tracking our responses or comments, then the on-line community will collapse, dissolve and become meaningless.

I have no doubt there are horror stories that may have incited this post because of people saying something online only to have it come bite them in the ass in a job interview or even an interpersonal situation. And we are in a period of transition (all of us) as to how social media is going to be accepted, used and judged (and how our personal brands will also be accepted, used and judged); its unclear still how this will shake out.

But for the continued success of social media, we can certainly be thoughtful but we must not be censored or silenced by fear of reprisal. Otherwise, social media just becomes another electronic time waster.

A great post, thank you very much for opening the discussion.

Best always,
- Peter

Nice layout, really like the icon.

Not sure why the type has to be sooo small but maybe squinting makes me look cooler.

Best always,
- Peter

Chris:

What about just writing shorter blog posts?

;)

Best always,
- Peter

I think this is likely the foundation of what computer size will be. The portability issue IS huge for those of us who travel (as airport terminals get longer and longer).

And you rightly point out its lacking features...but think back to the first portable telephones. In 1997, the phone I had was a portable box with a shoulder strap that sent and received calls...that's it...it looked like something out of a WWII movie. Eleven years later, look how that product has changed, we have uber function phones that are smaller than you hand.

The Air will go through the same evolution in functionality and size...but you have to start somewhere, which is where we are today.

Best always,
- Peter

Chris:

Like I said...happy landings!

Best always,
- Peter

Happy Landings!

Best always,
- Peter

OK, so who tried to screw you over today?

Having attended and seen first hand the effort that went into the 2007 event, I was disappointed on your behalf because of the no shows.

The fee idea is a good one and it needs to have some teeth while not casting out those who live on tighter budgets.

Most folks can usually part with between $25-$50. It equals a night out drinking or eating for most everybody. Its also enough so that folks won't just dismiss the investment in a Podcamp Fee by not showing up. $5 or $10 is ultimately chump change and I don't think it will have the results you're targeting.

While I understand that each city is allowed to set their standard for their fee (as well as whether or not to actually charge) I think it might be best for the brand (Podcamp) to establish a minimum fee if someone is going to charge.

Thanks again for all your efforts.

Best always,
Peter