The Importance of Professional Associations

When developing marketing strategies for a new or existing company it can be beneficial to network with professional associations that share your company’s goal or vision. For example, I have spent the last five months developing a literary adaptation company. My vision is to take the stories of yesterday and make them understandable and interesting to today’s media-influenced society. After reviewing several professional associations, I discovered one in particular that shares my mission and vision. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some information about the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) and relate it not just to my cause, but discuss how their purpose affects all companies existing today.

The NAMLE states that their vision is to help individuals develop the critical thinking and communication skills that are essential in today’s society. They continue to say that media literacy is required for a healthy democracy. In one sentence the NAMLE has made me aware of something I never once considered. Media literacy IS required to establish and maintain a healthy democracy. If our country is unable to acquire, understand, analyze, and discuss information, how could we possibly expect well-informed Americans to cast educated votes? We can’t. Furthermore, how could someone like myself expect to launch an internet company without supporting, or at least staying informed of, the efforts of NAMLE? I can’t. How could someone like you expect to utilize the internet and social media without doing the same? You can’t. (NAMLE, 2011)

NAMLE holds conferences that bring together educators and media leaders, with an effort to develop and communicate new ways of educating society on media literacy. My cause incorporates media and literacy, so clearly this is an organization that’s efforts benefit the achievement of my business goals; however, I encourage any marketing strategist or business owner to become informed of new information released by NAMLE and any other organization that relates to their company’s mission. (NAMLE, 2011)

For more information regarding the National Association for Media Literacy Education, click here. 

Source:

About NAMLE (2011). National Association for Media Literacy Education. Retrieved on January 26, 2011, from http://namle.net/about-namle/vision-mission

Malcolm Gladwell-- TED.com

In previous blogs, I have discussed the various technical ways to increase the number of views a video will receive on sites like YouTube. In this blog, I wish to discuss the content and style of the video and less on the various ways to promote it. After reviewing some videos on TED.com, I stumbled across a presentation by one of my heroes, Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell is the author of The Tipping Point, Blink!, Outliers, and, his most recent book, What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures. In his presentation, entitled “Malcolm Gladwell on spaghetti sauce,” Gladwell tells the story of psychophysicist Howard Moskowitz. I will try to avoid summarizing the video because it is free to view by clicking the link below; however, I do want to discuss the way that Gladwell uses an interesting story to develop his main point—that humans by nature desire choices. As Gladwell said, quoting Moskowitz, “there is no perfect pickle; there are only perfect pickles” (2004). There is no perfect pickle—there are perfect dill pickles, perfect sweet pickles, perfect bread and butter pickles, etc.

You might be asking yourself: “well, what does this obsession with Malcolm Gladwell have to do with strategic marketing?” Psychology and the understanding of human desire have much to do with marketing. For example, a baker would benefit from the understanding that customers will be happier if given a variety of baked goods to choose from.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading any of Gladwell’s books, I will point out that virtually all of his stories use real examples to illustrate bigger ideas. In his TED presentation, he begins by stating he is supposed to be plugging his new book; however, he would rather tell a story about what makes people happy. In the end, he not only has taught an important lesson in marketing, but he has also shown the audience what they can expect from his book—self-promotion!

In ending, when creating a media presentation for marketing purposes be sure to have a unique style that entertains your audience, while also promoting your company, brand, or self.

Malcolm Gladwell on spaghetti sauce—TED.com [Video]

Source:

Gladwell, M (2004). Malcolm Gladwell on spaghetti sauce [Video]. Retrieved on

January 5, 2011, from http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce.html