YouTube to Allow Major Partners to Serve Their Own Ads - Ministry and Business Marketing and Media Blog

As TechCrunch broke today, YouTube is rumored to be planning to allow big media partners to serve their own ads, with YouTube getting a piece of the pie. As the article further points out, most of YouTube's revenue is currently generated from ads placed with these media partners and YouTube would love to expand that revenue stream.

This new strategy might allow YouTube to capture a bigger piece of the advertising pie with global media companies, but it brings one big question to my mind: what about YouTube's other partners including Fred, Dave Days, Corey Vidal and others? What if they want to bring other advertisers to the table? Will YouTube share revenue with them as well?

Many of these partners have developed or are developing into full-fledged media brands. Why not allow them also to bring advertisers to the table with revenue-sharing?

To this point, advertisers have generally been reluctant to place ads on YouTube's smorgasbord of content. Why not allow any partners who break through with advertisers to run their own ads, whether they're Warner Brothers or Household Hacker?

What do you think? Would you open the ad gates to everyone or would you only play ball with media empires?

Corey Vidal and Why Record Labels Might Be Their Own Worst Branding Enemies - Ministry and Business Marketing and Media Blog

Brand Management 101:
1) Promote brand love.
2) Don't promote brand hate.

On the heels of their decision to stop suing single moms and other small-time copyright infringers, record labels still don't seem to understand how to engender good will around their brands and build a long-term fan base. Case in point, Warner Music Group's decision to remove a YouTube tribute to John Williams.

The video in question by choreographer and musician Corey Vidal, featured a four-part a capella performance set to the Star Wars theme. It received 4,064,130 views and reminded many, including yours truly, of Williams' brilliance.

What was WMG's response to this incredible, free publicity among a new generation for the brilliant composer whose catalog they own? WMG had the video removed for copyright infringement.

The result, of course, is the loss of a promotional opportunity for WMG and now more bad will for WMG and all record labels. Want evidence of the incredible backlash against WMG on this front? Just check out Corey Vidal's YouTube page and read the comments. Though I'll warn you in advance that many of them are unfit to reprint here.

Perhaps a better course of action for WMG would've been to create a contest around the video and to feature the Star Wars soundtrack throughout. In fact, why not hire Corey and have him wear a t-shirt for a website where fans could download John Williams' music?

What do you think? How would you have managed your brand similarly or differently?

Update: Indeed, John Williams is not dead, as I erroneously alluded to in my original post. Thanks to the anonymous commenter for catching that one.

Simple Google Trick - Write a Blog -- Ministry and Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog

If you spend any amount of time on industry-specific web forums, you'll see a mountain of posts on how to improve search engine rankings. No doubt organic search results are one of the best ways to drive traffic to your website and generate business and ministry possibilities. In fact, you can check out a few quick tips from us here.

One tried-and-true tactic that gets little mention is starting and regularly maintaining a blog on your website. A good blog will help meet client needs and will be chock full of the keywords that Google and friends just love.

Car dealers could blog about new models, warranty questions, vehicle reliability and dealership awards, and community happenings. Builders could blog about new home models & developments, financing and charity work they're proud of. Churches could blog about missions, youth activities, outreach & community service.

Again, regularly blogging (2-3 times/week) will meet the needs of visitors and help you achieve high search engine rankings. These posts don't have to be long to be effective. 250-500 words will do. Keep it snappy & interesting and folks will keep coming back.

Blogging...your new SEO best friend.

Reaching Business Leaders Long-term, Bluetooth Marketing - Ministry and Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog

What if you could impact churches, companies and communities all at once? You can, if you change the hearts and minds of the influence leaders -- businessmen and women.

Last week I attended the graduation dinner for the first class of Lifework Leadership Tampa Bay. Lifework Leadership began in Orlando in 1992 and trains business leaders through a 9-month program that features top corporate speakers, ministry leaders and others.

One of the cool things about Lifework is that the training and the classes are for real. Two cases in point...First, the $3K price tag per student. No business leader is going to drop $3,000 on a superficial program, unless its name starts with Harvard or Yale.

Next, students do actual work including case studies and interaction with fellow classmates. Through this program bonds are formed that can last a lifetime.

In Orlando nearly 700 business leaders have graduated from the Lifework course. The Spirit only knows how many people continue to be impacted by these Christ-centered leaders being sent out into the marketplace.

Find out more about Lifework Leadership at www.lifeworkleadership.org.

In other news, Bluetooth marketing continues to heat up here in the States. In a nutshell, via Bluetooth you can send free, opt-in content to folks at events and/or your church. If yours is a large congregation, you should definitely consider installing low-cost Bluetooth transmitters to send campus maps, church info, event calendars and more to members & visitors.

One of the great features of Bluetooth broadcasting is that you can re-use your church's existing media by simply resizing it to be cell-phone friendly. Imagine sending a shorter version of the nifty video on serving you showed in this week's church service to everyone with a Bluetooth-enabled phone. That's just one of many possible uses.

If you want to start exploring Bluetooth, click here.

New Bluetooth Broadcasting and Proximity Marketing Blog - Ministry and Business Marketing, Media & Strategy Blog

You may have noticed that it's been a while since my last post. My time away is thanks to a new arrival in the Lucky Rock household. No worries. I snapped a picture of myself sleeping, to help me remember what rest feels like.

For your reading pleasure and business/ministry success, Lucky Rock Consulting just unveiled our Bluetooth broadcasting and proximity marketing blog. Check it out here.

The latest post is features a great example of Bluetooth marketing at Trafford Centre in the U.K. If you're still wondering if Bluetooth broadcasting is for you, just notice the consumer response rates mentioned in the article.

If you're interested in Bluetooth broadcasting and you'd like to know the costs involved and how-to info, just drop us a line here.

Quick Links for a Happy Wednesday - Ministry and Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog

I love learning about a wide variety of ministries and businesses. Not only do I get bored easily, I also find others' successes and failures to be profoundly instructive regardless of what I'm currently slaving away at.

Sometimes though, insights are lurking not around the corner, but within my own organization. Check out this great post on The Consultant Within.

You likely have folks within your ministry or business that came from other fields, utilized different technologies, and found solutions that you've perhaps never considered. Next time you're stumped, seek out these talented problem solvers who've successfully sown in a variety of soils.

On a completely different front, this great article from Fox Business chats up commerce in the "recommendation age." The key thought: don't miss the chance to participate in and encourage online conversations about your organization. These discussions are happening with or without you.

No, you shouldn't become as obsessed with what's being said about you online as a teenaged girl vying for prom queen. But you shouldn't fool yourself into believing that virtual ratings and dialogue won't impact your ministry or business success.

Want proof that you're living in the recommendation age? Look closer at the next news article or blog post you read online? Those "digg it," "fave it," "seed it," and other buttons allow folks to recommend or bash the content at hand. And tens of millions of web watchers depend on such ratings to choose ministries and businesses.

Embrace the recommendation age. If you're not sure where to begin, drop me a line.

Bonus Features that Sell - Ministry and Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog

Start your day off with this insightful article from the Hollywood Reporter. I know, I know, you don't make films and you're not in the entertainment biz. Don't let that stop you from considering the article in light of your ministry or binistry (business that's your God-given ministry).

You ministry leaders should think about how you package your sermons/conferences online. If you have video capabilities, try adding a special pop-up interview as the main speaker takes the stage, which will introduce the sermon or talk at-hand. This intro can be given by an Associate Pastor or other ministry leader, and could cover the content of the talk, offer a funny related story, or even be a teaser for folks to stay tuned after the sermon.

Your goal is not to "package" Christ in such a way to make Him palatable to the "wicked and perverse generation among whom you shine as children of light." The world, devoid of the effectual drawing of the Holy Spirit, will never want what you have. In fact, Jesus Christ declared that the world hates the light and will not come near it, lest their deeds be exposed. (John 3:20)

However, you can add cool and informative "special features" that the Spirit might work through to help you become "all things to all men, that by all means (you) might win some."

You business owners and corporate leaders should think about ways to make your content pop, especially through your website--one of the lead-generating/sales producing engines which you can modify slightly, without great expense and fanfare.

A great example of using "bonus website content" is Aprimo marketing software's wide variety of client case studies which reinforce their sales message. This content amounts to more than giving your pitch in a different way or the usual "I used them, you should too" testimonials. These case studies offer a real "nook and cranny" view of how Aprimo might help large businesses and non-profits increase their marketing impact.

Other web-based possibilities include audio or video interviews with clients, which put flesh to case studies and testimonials. In fact, if you want to reach out beyond your website (the answer is "yes"), then you should make multimedia interviews available in widgets for your re-sellers to add to their own websites and blogs. And be sure to reference these new resources in your print, email, and radio/TV advertising.

Adding special features which help you cut through the clutter is not as hard as you think. Take a cue from the above article about DVD/Video on Demand bonus content that actually sells. You just might stick out, to the glory of God.

Marketing Strategies for Any Budget - Ministry and Business Marketing, Media and Strategy Blog

In case you missed it, check out this survey from Media Week's 2007 Media Plan Award Winners. If you're short on time, skip to the coverage of SanDisk's brilliant anti-Ipod campaign which won for "Best Plan Under $1 Million," or check out McDonald's uber smart Seattle campaign which won for "Best Use of Nontraditional Media."

Great ministry and business buzz spreading doesn't have to cost a lot of money. In fact, you shouldn't think about what you'd do if money were no object. Rather, take a cue from SanDisk and prayerfully consider how to break through the clutter, to the glory of God.

I also strongly encourage you, to beat an old drum, to use viral widgets to spread your media and message far and wide. With the new, free SproutBuilder, you can build slideshows, music players and more without hiring a Flash programmer. Check out my recent post on Sprout and widgets here.

And you need to research and prayerfully consider Bluetooth broadcasting. It's hot for good reason in Europe and doesn't have to be a pain to consumers.

In fact, why don't you pastors and ministry leaders create simple graphics/promo stuff, load low-cost Bluetooth broadcasting software onto the smart phones of your students, and send them out to concerts & coffee shops? Call it guerilla ministry!

Why don't you store owners set up a low-cost Bluetooth receiver and send coupons to passers-by and customers? Check out Powerade's use of Bluetooth marketing here, complete with scanners that read barcodes right off of mobiles. Again, Bluetooth marketing doesn't have to be annoying and invasive; solid consumer response to past such campaigns shows that a significant percentage of customers actually appreciate this targeted marketing.

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