The Friday Focus - Social media, Internet law, and what they mean for you

For those of you in England who have previously restrained yourselves from tweeting/Facebook-ranting out of legal concern, fear no more!

A British man who had jokingly tweeted about bombing an airport recently had his conviction overturned by the High Court, and many are citing his legal victory as a win for online free speech worldwide.

Paul Chambers, the Brit who shot off the ingenious tweet below (I kid.), is at the center of the “milestone ruling” that Chambers’ lawyer claims will have serious implications “both nationally and internationally.”

Chambers’ tweet: "Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You've got a week and

a bit to get your sh-- together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!"

Chambers’ lawyer interpreted the ruling even further, saying, “It means that if you intend to make a joke and if what you do is a joke, however bad a joke that is, you cannot be prosecuted.”

This is particularly interesting seeing as how Greek athlete Voula Papachristou just got booted from the Olympics because of her racist tweet about African immigrants in Greece. (I bet Voula wishes she had been competing for GB now!)

Voula Papachristou

The British ruling also raises questions about Internet law in the U.S.

Because let’s face it, joke or no joke, if you tweet about assassinating the president, you aren’t getting let off the hook like good ole Paul Chambers.

So what exactly does the ruling mean for the rest of the world?

Well, it means that England is taking a slightly more lax legal approach toward the virtual universe. And that’s about it.

Sure, that whole “precedent” thing comes to mind, but the mostly unchartered waters of Internet law indicate that both national and international rulings have a long way to go.

Legal power online is questionable thus far, and even Google has only gone as far as to “encourage” YouTube users to use their real names when posting comments to reduce cyber-bullying and the like, rather than make an actual legal move.

As for the marketing side of it all? It’s never been more important that individuals and businesses alike keep a close watch over how they’re representing themselves/being represented in the virtual community.

Just look at U.K.-based CelebBoutique, who before being informed of the Aurora Massacre in Colorado tweeted this:

“#Aurora is trending, clearly about our Kim K inspired #Aurora dress ;) Shop: celebboutique.com/aurora-white-pleated-v-neck-strong-shoulder-dress-en.html…”

Talk about a marketing nightmare.

A fellow Twitter blunderer, the American Red Cross had a similar—but much more light-hearted—rogue tweet get out:

Thankfully for them, the tweet wasn’t as damaging of a PR issue.

To sum things up, us American folks should probably continue to steer clear of the fake bomb threats. And for those of you searching for help managing your social media content/online image, look no further than The Focus Group to make your online experience as simple and beneficial as possible.

Until next time,

MARA JOFFE

Blogger

The Friday Focus - 2012 Olympics: Social media friend or foe?

With the London Olympics right around the corner, the Web’s been abuzz with stories about the summer’s main event and perhaps more interestingly, the Olympians themselves. The 2012 Olympics have been deemed the “first social Games,” and we’re interested to see the Internet’s role in the upcoming weeks.  Let’s take a close look at just how helpful this social media frenzy has been/will be for the Olympics proceedings.

The Twitter Trap

For some of the athletes competing in London this summer, social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter have become nothing short of a publicity nightmare.  Just ask Australian swimmers Nick D’Arcy and Kenrick Monk, who regrettably uploaded a photo of themselves to Facebook from a California shooting range in which their main props were, of course, guns.  The controversial pic led to the decision that the two men must leave the Games immediately after their competition ends, along with a month-long ban from social media entirely. Bummer.

Gun-toting Aussies

As for three-time Olympic gold medalist (and fellow Aussie) Stephanie Rice, a tweet including a picture of the swimmer in a—get this—swimsuit had plenty talking.  Given, the tweeted bikini was slightly less conservative than her Olympic pool garb, but from the talk on the Web one might not have been surprised to see her banned from Twitter too (she wasn’t).

Rice's edgy bikini

The Inconvenience of TV

On the other hand, social media is opening countless new doors to experiencing the Olympics and interacting with fellow enthusiasts.

For example, for those of you not watching the live television broadcast of the archery competition at 3 a.m., behold the almighty power of the online recap.  A simple search or Facebook/Twitter browse can easily reveal the winners of any late-night or early-morning event you might have missed, not to mention the availability of YouTube videos or other online live streams.

Find out when your favorite events will be broadcast here.

The Verdict

Despite the apparent social media curse on Australian swimmers, it looks like the Web may be the perfect forum for the London Games.  Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and even Pinterest are likely to generate more interest in this summer’s Olympics than previously, and even Olympic sponsor P & G (Procter & Gamble) turned to YouTube with their “Raising an Olympian” campaign.  Ultimately, we expect to see plenty of online Olympics commentary and are eager to see how social media reshapes the Games in the years to come.

Until next time,

MARA JOFFE

Blogger

Can a small business afford an agency?

The economic environment has been tough for several years-especially for small businesses.  And, when budgets are strained, business owners are often tempted to cut back on marketing. But in tough times, it is critical to resist the temptation to retreat and instead look for ways to invest your marketing dollars to grow and stand out. The reality is that small businesses not only can afford the services of an agency, it is smart strategy to use professionals like The Focus Group. An agency like ours can turn your marketing dollars into an investment by using our knowledge, out-of-the-box thinking and creative ideas to drive customers to your business. We live and breathe these things every day, and we love nothing more than hearing that our work has helped make you successful.

 
Unlike the traditional media sales force, our goal is not to get you to spend money and buy the “deal of the month.” Our goal is to take your budget-whatever you feel that you can spend- and make it work. Here are a few ways agencies can help small businesses: 

BUDGET PLANNING - many small businesses do not have a marketing budget. Instead, they make their marketing decisions based on cash on hand and the latest “deal” that local media salespeople are offering. It is very important to develop a yearly marketing budget, but how do you even begin? Budget planning involves looking at your previous year sales and evaluating the buying cycle. Most businesses have an ebb and flow throughout the year-some months are slow, some months are busy. The goal is to maximize the return in the busy months and minimize the drop in the slow months. Once you have developed a budget, you can make informed marketing decisions. Creating an effective long-term plan can save you money in the long run and increase business.

MEDIA PLANNING- all salespeople for every marketing company (print, cable, direct mail, outdoor, broadcast, radio, phone books, etc.) believes they have a great product. You can’t blame them. But the fact is that “the deal” is not always the best deal or the right deal for you. Additionally, the medium quite possibly could be a bad fit for your business. How do you know? Our team can help. We know all the mediums-their strengths and weaknesses. We’ve heard the pitches and can make informed recommendations to increase success rate and return on investment.

BRANDING, THEME, AND CREATIVE - a professional, polished image can be invaluable, and the right idea can make an impact. Professional production and graphic design definitely can help you stand out from your competition. Our costs are competitive and affordable for most businesses. Click here to view some of our branding work.

WEB DESIGN - your website is quite often your first impression with a potential customer. Professional web design is affordable and effective. No matter the size of our clients or the site, all of our custom websites convey a professional, branded image that impresses and informs prospects. We are also versatile in SEO (search engine optimization), social media integration and functionality. A good website can be one of your best investments, and it can last for years to come. Click here to view some of our websites. 

SOCIAL/NEW MEDIA - social media and online advertising have completely changed the game in marketing. Businesses now have the ability to speak directly to customers at little or no cost. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media platforms give you the power to interact with customers and prospects. Just like other areas of The Focus Group, we’ve assembled a talented interactive team that stays on top of the trends so they can be ready to provide your business with the best advice. With these newer mediums, you can achieve big results with a small investment. Click here for more on Social/New media.

We can provide these services, as well as many others such as public relations at very reasonable rates. The return on investment and potential increases in business can be large when you make sound marketing decisions.

BEN HUNTER 

Marketing Consultant

The Friday Focus - Six Ways to Jumpstart your Website

In today’s advertising world, creating a functional Web presence is key to getting your business (or you, personally) on the map. Below are six tips we at The Focus Group believe can breathe new life into anyone’s struggling website.

1. Focus on the user.

What goal is your website supposed to accomplish? Avoid desperately trying to attract the attention of search engines like Google or Bing, and put more emphasis on meeting your users’ needs. After all, your online success depends on them!

2. Create engaging content.

Website content should be fresh, concise, and most importantly, relevant. Your content should get straight to the point so as to quickly establish and maintain a connection with users. Incorporating interesting, entertaining and informative content (both body copy and images) can revitalize and drive new traffic to your site.

3. Follow a hierarchal structure.

Organization can make or break any website. Determine what information is most important, and make a point to emphasize it in a clear, simple way. Busy or novelty websites can discourage users who would rather not spend 15 minutes trying to understand a site’s navigation. The phrase “too much of a good thing” easily applies here, and it will serve you well to maintain some sort of a hierarchy on your site and avoid clutter.

4. Keep tabs on SEO.

Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a huge part in directing current and new users to your site. Knowing where your site stands on search engines is extremely important, and there are many ways to successfully monitor/utilize SEO without losing your site’s main mission. Google Analytics or sites like gorank.com provide you with vital information about what keywords or phrases are getting your site (or your competitors’ sites) the most attention. Weaving these words/phrases into your content can boost your site’s traffic, but as mentioned above, there should be a balance between increasing your SEO results and satisfying your users.

5. Interact with no-nonsense links.

Links to and within your site generate much interest and user-site interaction. Make sure to include relevant links that aren’t simply designed to be picked up on search engines—you want real people to notice you too!

6. Don’t forget about maintenance!

And last but not least, keeping your website updated will do wonders for you and your business. For example, restaurant websites should have the latest menus available online, and event-based websites should be sure to distinguish past, present, and future shows, performances, etc. Live Facebook and Twitter feeds can make updates simpler and more frequent, and monitoring the site on a regular monthly or quarterly basis can ensure that your business is providing the most current information and services to your users.

These are only a few major tips for revamping your website. Remember: The Focus Group can help you accomplish these goals and more!!

MARA JOFFE

Blogger