Conversation Agent - Valeria Maltoni

Connection Kata: Your Blog Ecosystem

You may have noticed that my blog roll has some recent additions. There's a whole new section on relationships -- these are the bloggers who connect with people and with ideas. New links are Dawud Miracle, Tim Johnson (Carpe Factum) and Terry Starbucker (Ramblings from a Glass Half Full). I added a section for online publications I read and a brand new section of blogs written in Italian -- time to crank open those dictionaries; these writers are very well rounded. If you don't notice that sort of thing when you visit other blogs, try doing so next time. The... Read more →

Picnic'07 on Experience, Storytelling, Social Objects, Complexity, Simplicity and Choice

Fresh from Amsterdam a few thoughts from the innovative Picnic'07 to kick off your weekend on the creative side. Bruno Giussani at Lunch Over IP has been reporting on many of the key sessions this week. I will list some of the core thoughts and key speakers. Then we'll come back and vote for their ideas. ________________________________________________________________ Dr. Emile Aarts from Philips Research Labs -- the company is moving away from obsession with technology to an emphasis on experience. Lab meets life and "creativity meets innovation". For example -- Philips has created products to make children who need hospital care... Read more →

Money Talks

Political races are similar to marketing campaigns -- the results can be designed in the process by degree of spending and effort. The presidential candidates have been all over the news, and the news has been mostly about one thing and one thing only -- cash. Check out the headlines: Money is Going to Talk in 2008 -- The Washington Post as early as March 2006 Many political operatives are expecting that the gradual breakdown of the public funding system -- federal funds in exchange for spending limits -- that has taken place in recent years will become complete in... Read more →

Marketers and the Fashion Design Business

He died a little over three months ago. He was 62. Larger-than-life in both size and his approach to work, Gianfranco Ferré was often referred to as the ‘Frank Lloyd Wright of’ or ‘the architect of’ Italian fashion, not just because he had received a degree in architecture in 1969, but because his design approach was so rooted in sculptural lines and artistic ideals. His collections were always presented in theatrical fashion, framing the designer’s ideal of modern warrior woman, tall, proud and strong. Ferré said he designed clothes for "intelligent, free, strong women. Strong in their temperament, their character,... Read more →

When the Apology has a Different Meaning

Or I could have titled this post lost in translation. How do you save face for your suppliers, make reparations to your customers and restore public confidence in you product all at once? That is what Mattel has been trying to do with one, all-encompassing apology. Alas, the meaning may have gotten diluted along the way. What if the issues are more than one? Now think about the context in which the issue is embedded -- like related incidents -- and you have a recipe for misunderstandings galore. According to The Washington Post, Mattel and China Differ on Apology --... Read more →

Are Blogs the New Thought Leadership?

Usually what happens inside an organization is that a group of people from different departments get together to discuss topics for thought leadership materials. The biggest concession made to the marketing or public affairs group is to tie those into existing messages as put forth in campaigns and brand promises. I've been thinking about a better way when I came across Five Ways to Make Yourself a Workplace Superstar from Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk. Her five ways (in bold) and some of my notes about them: Have gaps in your resume -- I'm with Trunk on this one. Do... Read more →

Meet the (New Media) Editor -- Tim McHale, The Madison Avenue Journal

When new media covers topics that are in a constant state of flux and reinvention, like advertising and publicity, the publication itself needs to stay fresh and relevant to remain competitive. While many print publication editors are now setting their sights on the new media promised land, The Madison Avenue Journal has been online since its inception. The brain child of Tim McHale, a self-described "Media Activist", The Madison Avenue Journal touches upon the differences between online and print models as marketing vehicles, particularly on how readers interact with the different media. Tim is a 19-year veteran of traditional marketing,... Read more →

How to Succeed with Style

The October issue of Fast Company magazine features the annual conversation with Masters of Design. Among them, Yves Béhar of Fuseproject, where design brings products to life. Béhar was born in Lausanne from a German mother and Turkish father and grew up in Switzerland. He studied industrial design in Europe and in the US -- there is plenty of inspiration in both places, I can attest to that. When asked to describe his style in an interview with designhboom, he responded, "the fusing of storytelling and fluidity, where the potential for technology and poetry, commerce and culture merge with the... Read more →

I Could be Richard @ Dell

Do you want to know who are the most visible and targeted people inside organizations? Communications professionals. Whether you call us public affairs, public relations, communications or marketing communications in the title, we are usually listed on the corporate Web site. We are the ones who answer angry letters from customers, prospects, or anyone with a gripe against the company and its products and services. We are the ones with a mandate to get all employees on the same page. We answer the phone to every sales call from media to ad agencies to partners, write the CEO's speech, talk... Read more →

Ask(?)Away: Social Networking and User Reputation, Trisha Miller -- Part Deux

We're continuing the conversation on social networking and user reputation with Trisha Miller of Topical Juice and Tech Kitten. Yesterday we asked you -- how open should we be? Isn't there a point at which we lose control by being "too open"? I would be interested in your take as we've been talking about companies opening up to customers and the public at large, yet there may be times when less open is better -- dealing with internal alignment, gaining clarity on purpose and vision are two examples. Valeria Maltoni: Can we change our mind? Amidst the being careful and... Read more →