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Jan 27
2012
Gini Dietrich

Gin and Topics: #McFail, Chobani, and Social Media

Well, I guess I have to do a real Gin and Topics this week that is all serious and PR/marketing focused.

Why, you ask?

Because NO ONE sent me funny videos this week. Here I sang your praises last week and then you let me down this week.

Bah humbug.

So you’re going to have to think this week. No fun for you!

If you want out of intellectual prison, you should send me videos or funny stories to feature next week.

5. Radical Copycatting of Pinterest. When Paul Sutton and I debated the merits of Pinterest earlier this week, Karen Rocks alerted me to Pinspire. Go ahead. Click on that link. I’ll wait. Can you believe how EXACT they’ve copied Pinterest? This Forbes article describes the phenomenon. It’s incredible.

4. #McFail: McDonald’s Loses Control of Hashtag. Hello, McDonald’s? Didn’t this very thing happen to Skittles a few years ago? Don’t you do your research? Did you check to see if brand sentiment was mostly positive before embarking on this idea? No? Huh. Well, now you know what happens when you don’t do these things.

3. Chobani Yogurt Tickles the Taste of Pinterest Addicts. Look! Look! A brand is using Pinterest and it’s working! Paul Sutton, look! Howie Goldfarb, you should read this one, too. Just because you love Chobani.

2. Google Plus Now Allows Pseudonyms. I don’t know how I feel about this. The whole idea of social networking is to get to know people, not their alter egos. There is Reddit for that. If you want to use social networking, you should have to use your name. I think I just saw they’ve also now opened up to anyone older than 13. It’ll be interesting to see if the teenagers glom on to the “social network.”

1. Social Media Command Center. Leading up to the Super Bowl! Through a newly installed social media command center, visitors to the big game in Indianapolis will be able to ask questions and receive answers leading up to the big game. The idea is curious because it looks to be answering questions and comments from those who will be in Indianapolis for the game. I don’t really understand the strategy. I’m going to watch and see what they do.

And that is that, my friends. Have a great weekend!

P.S. Only 14 more shopping days until my birthday. Better get to it!

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HowieSPM 2349 pts

But Chobani isn't moving much yogurt with Pinterest yet. 1300 followers. 438 pins. They sell I bet 1 million cups per day my estimate.

HowieSPM 2349 pts

btw my G+ has always been an alias. Just like facebook. These sites can't stop fake names. Nothing they can do.

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

HowieSPM You're not an alias on there. I have you as Howie G.

My latest conversation: A Little Break from PR and Marketing

Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing 824 pts

Wait. You're a February birthday gal, like me? We're even more twinish than I thought! Feb. 13, and yours? #RockHot

My latest conversation: Whoops! 404 Error!

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Hello? You didn't know my birthday is February 10? I thought EVERYONE knew that.

My latest conversation: A Little Break from PR and Marketing

HowieSPM 2349 pts

ginidietrichSoulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Feb 13th. Do you ever get combo gifts? Presidents day and valentines is then so Mr D gets to give you one gift for all three. Sometimes my birthday is on election day and I get combo gifts too. hate that.

Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing 824 pts

ginidietrich Dude? Really? We're twins, fo sho! But, I already knew that. HowieSPM Valentines Day and my birthday HAVE to be separate. No.Matter.What.

My latest conversation: Whoops! 404 Error!

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

Soulati | B2B Social Media MarketingHowieSPM I never get anything on Valentine's Day. Never have. I gave up trying to get boys to understand they are two holidays in my late 20s.

My latest conversation: Gin and Topics: No Toilet Paper, Tech Terms, and Puppies

lauraclick 164 pts

I am SO addicted to Chobani. I have no less than 15 of them in my fridge right now! Their Pinterest page just makes me love them even more! Nice example that helps crystalize how Pinterest can be useful for brands.

And Pinspire?! Sheesh. They could have at least come up with a better name. But then again, since they copied everything else, why not rip off the name too?!

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

lauraclick Really? I don't like Chobani. It makes my teeth hurt. It's way more chewy than I like my yogurt.

My latest conversation: A Little Break from PR and Marketing

HowieSPM 2349 pts

ginidietrichlauraclick ACK! I'm telling Chobani on you Gini! You go and eat those fake yogurts like Yoplait or Dannon go right ahead.

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

HowieSPM I really don't like it. It's too chewy.

My latest conversation: Gin and Topics: No Toilet Paper, Tech Terms, and Puppies

ifdyperez 42 pts

Pinspire makes me think of Perspire. Why would I want to be on a social network associated with funky armpits? Ew, don't stand so close to me.

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

ifdyperez Now I have that Cars song stuck in my head. Thanks. A lot.

My latest conversation: Take a Different Approach to Brainstorming

HowieSPM 2349 pts

ginidietrichifdyperez I just pinned this on the Cars Song Board. Did you know they have a bigger board than the bieber?

HowieSPM 2349 pts

ginidietrichifdyperez I guess Pinterest was unable to patent their idea?

jennwhinnem 287 pts

Hey Gini, happy to help you out. http://youtu.be/fV3CRAo7jEQ

daveshockley 8 pts

Trixie I am looking forward to it your humble servant Bilbo. ginidietrich

daveshockley 8 pts

Gini concerning the use of pseudonyms I don't like it. Like you said most of us use social networking to build communities and get to know the individuals that belong. Having a fake personna just goes against the grain. If you want a pseudonym play Warcraft or any other similar game. I for one would like to see Google + stay real, but I guess it is to late for that. I will be following and will read all the comments that others have to say. I will keep an open mind. Yours truly Bilbo. LOL

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

daveshockley Dear Bilbo, I'll see you at the weekly Axis and Allies game, Love, Trixie

ryancox 40 pts

Indianapolis love in Gin and Topics = WIN!

Lisa Gerber 908 pts

ryancox Did you see Jay baer's post on the topic? I thought it was interesting! http://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-media-case-studies/klout-the-super-bowl-and-our-addiction-to-shooting-the-messenger/

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

ryancox What are you doing for the Super Bowl?

TheJackB 1523 pts

I need some Pinspiration before I start talking about pen names and the like. Excuse me I have to go Mark Twain on the Mighty Mississippi now.

Love,

Dear Abby

My latest conversation: How To Save The Internet- Stop SOPA And PIPA

TheJackB 1523 pts

Lisa Gerber That is what the hangout crowd said too.

My latest conversation: How To Save The Internet- Stop SOPA And PIPA

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

TheJackB I'm going to write a letter to you so I can be nationally recognized as knowing THE Dear Abby.

TheJackB 1523 pts

ginidietrich I look forward to it. :D

My latest conversation: Actor Ossie Davis Found Dead in Hotel

Hajra 334 pts

There was a guy names Pinspire who was just too interested in Pinterest and got way too inspired... sad story but true...

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

Hajra You are crazy. Funny, but crazy.

Hajra 334 pts

ginidietrich Like I keep saying, I am a shrink, judge me all you want ;)

BTW Shrinks actually take pride in being called crazy ;)

Craig McBreen 286 pts

Number 2 scares be to death, really ;)

Pretty soon we'll be seeing "Emma Roids," "Rudolph Ucker," and "Jack Meyoff " :)

Maybe Allen Stewart Konigsberg or Thomas Cruise Mapother, IV will show up.

Lisa Gerber 908 pts

Craig McBreen #awesome.
It is scary, though isn't it?

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

Craig McBreen It totally defeats the purpose!

Lisa Gerber 908 pts

faybiz At first, I thought: There's no way. They don't differentiate, how can they possibly win? But the argument in the article about the lack of loyalty due to its youth? Well thy would just suck for Pinterest.

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

faybiz It's terrible!

KenMueller 1771 pts

oh...I've got your birthday present. don't you worry. And I'm with you on the pseudonym thing on Google+. Either be real or go home.

My latest conversation: In Marketing and Advertising, Does Size Matter?

Lisa Gerber 908 pts

KenMueller Wait. Ken Mueller is your real name?

KenMueller 1771 pts

Lisa Gerber Well, it is now, thanks to the government and their witness protection program.

My latest conversation: In Marketing and Advertising, Does Size Matter?

ginidietrich 5376 pts moderator

KenMueller What is my present???

KenMueller 1771 pts

ginidietrich I"m gonna unfriend you and you'll have me out of your hair for good!

My latest conversation: Weekend Video: Five Musicians, One Guitar

Conversation from Twitter

ginidietrich
ginidietrich

soulati I sent you a Pinterest invite

skypulsemedia
skypulsemedia

shonali ginidietrich chobani haven't been able to read it yet but kty_mcd will address #mcfail she is their spokesperson

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