Tag: Marketing

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Social Media Marketing

Leo Morejon; The Super Bowl Oreo Blackout Tweet, Stride Gum, and More

Oreo Blackout Tweet - Leo Morejon

It was fun and an honor to profiled by The Social Media Marketing Institute and sharing more about my work in social media.

The article covers how I got started in social media, the Oreo Guinness World Record (Most Likes on a Facebook Post), the Oreo Super Bowl Blackout Tweet, and much more.

Originally Posted to: Social Media Experts – Leo Morejon

Tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi Mireille! I’m passionate about people – meeting new ones, building relationships, and sharing great experiences together. I also love technology and feel lucky to be living in a time where tech is helping people connect and grow like never before.

How did you get started with Social Media?  

By accident, really. I started making websites, and one day a friend asked me to do some marketing for his local music cafe. I began promoting the cafe and events on MySpace (it was the biggest platform at the time), and things took off. That’s how I first realized the power of social media to make an impact on business, and that it was going to affect other industries more and more. So I pursued an internship in NYC at a small digital advertising agency and then began working for JWT’s Emerging Media department, for clients such as Stride Gum and Unilever. After JWT, I went on to work at 360i, where I worked on Oreo, Simply Orange and many other international brands.

What do you love most about social media?

It’s human. Social media is a representation of what we’ve always done as humans – connect and share ideas. Now that’s all just happening online. 

What is your favourite platform?

Personally, it’s still Facebook. I don’t live near my family and I travel a lot, so I love that almost all my family is on Facebook, and I get to stay in touch with them there.

Tell us about your social media world record?

This was one of the most exciting and unforgettable times in my life… I could talk about it for days. But in short, we decided that Oreo should go for a Guinness World Record in social media. This would be the first ever social media Guinness World Record record for a brand. We prepped, planned, and the fateful day came. 

We published the post asking everyone to join Oreo in reaching “Most ‘likes’ on a Facebook post in 24 hours:” 

First Guinness World Record on Social Media - Facebook Post - Leo Morejon

Soon after, Lil Wayne decided to go for the record, too. This was 100% unplanned. We ended up with the record, but lost it to Lil Wayne shortly after that. (I have a copy hanging on my wall.) 

I get asked a lot if I am upset about Lil Wayne’s involvement, but honestly it wouldn’t have been as big or cool without him!

You were involved in the famous Oreo blackout tweet. Tell us about it and what it achieved?

Another favorite memory! The tweet was the culmination of countless amazing people working countless hours to build the brand – both present in the room and not. It also helped that everyone in the room knew and loved the brand so much. After working on Oreo, almost daily for three years, I still know the brand ridiculously well. For instance, if someone says or types “Oreos,” a little alert still goes off in my head that it should be “Oreo cookies.” Of course I never say anything. Overall, it really helped solidify social media as an essential business tool, and the importance of investing in social media programs. 

How do you suggest social media marketers get heard above the noise?

Paid media?! OK, besides that…make sure your content is adding value to the consumer. Value can be added in many different ways: making people smile, helping them do their job better, and so on. If you add value, you provide a reason for people to stay with you for the long term, and not just for one post.

What is some advice you would give to someone getting started in social media?

You have to be willing to put in your time. At my internship and first job, I spent tons of hours manually moderating pages, pulling numbers for reports, and doing other laborious tasks. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was necessary work and work that gave me a foundation and appreciation for how everything works.

What are some of your predictions in social media for 2018?

For consumers, interactions are going to get more personal. All the top companies are focusing heavily on their instant messaging features, and this allows us to have better, more in-depth connections with brands and our friends and family. For social media marketers, keep an eye out for automation and AI-powered tools. They’re only getting more advanced, and they will support your work, reach, and give you back some time back during the day. 

Where can people follow you on social media?

I love connecting with people on Twitter (@MoreLeo) or via my blog (https://www.LeonardoM.com/blog)! Always happy to support people in any way I can.

Categories
International Business Business Featured LeonardoM.com

First Time Working Internationally? 7 Things to Consider

First Time Working Internationally? 7 Things to Consider

Congratulations – you’re working internationally! There’s excitement at every turn: new cultures to explore, new business practices, and so much more. While it’s an experience you’ll never forget, there are certainly a few things I wish I knew when I started my first position abroad.

Of course everyone will tell you to be aware of cultural differences, and respect local working customs and traditions. But when it comes to conducting everyday business, there are a few specifics no one usually tells you about. So I figured it was time to put together my list of 7 things to consider before showing up for your first day of work in a new country.

Before we jump in, take note that this list is meant for someone whose role requires them to communicate with a variety of different groups and cultures at once. In that sense, the tips here can be helpful to anyone who’s frequently in touch with folks in multiple regions or markets. It’s also worth mentioning that this is written from the perspective of an American abroad, so some of these may not directly apply if your background is different.

Here are a few things I wish I knew before I started working internationally:

1 – The Word “Doubts:”

The first time I saw “doubts” being used in an email was after I proposed a major marketing campaign. The person emailing me said, “I have doubts about this program.” After some concern, I learned that this person and many others use the word “doubts” when they have questions. 

  • Tip: Email is often the worst way to communicate. If someone needs more information or needs further explanation, pick up the phone. Even better, set up a video conference.

2 – Your Email Signature:

Keep it simple. No links, no images, no code at all. If you are working with different markets, it does not mean everyone has the same email list or settings configured — even if it’s a coworker at the same company. In short, links, images, etc. often get stuck in spam folders, so don’t use them if possible. 

  • Tip: Write your signature in Notepad or a similar application that will clear all formatting. Then copy and paste.

3 – Idioms:

An idiom is an expression that has a mostly figurative meaning: It is raining cats and dogs, low hanging fruit, and so on. Business or otherwise, these can be confusing and should be avoided. 

  • Tip: Don’t use them. :)

4 – Date Formatting:

Not everyone uses the same date format. For instance, the US uses Month/Day/Year, while some in Germany uses Year/Month/Day.? 

5 – Decimal Points:

The US uses a dot to represent a decimal point while other countries instead use a comma or something else altogether. 

6 – Time Off:

Vacation practices are not the same across every culture or country. It is important to keep this in mind when setting objectives and schedules. 

7 – Internet Speed:

Not everyone has the same internet speed as you. This is true in the US and it is true internationally. When sending a file, asking for a file, or anything else that uses a lot of bandwidth, consider that someone may have a much lower speed than you. 

Though some may seem insignificant, relative to other things you need to consider, I know these will have a big impact on your job and overall success.

What would you add to this list?

Categories
Business ICO Marketing

Why Your ICO Marketing Isn’t Helping Anyone

Why Your ICO Marketing Isn’t Helping Anyone

The terms Blockchain and Bitcoin are still new concepts to many and a bit of a mystery to most, even for those in the space. The idea of an ICO, or Initial Coin Offering (see: What is An Initial Coin Offering? Raising Millions In Seconds), is a newer addition to the growing glossary of terms that need to be learned.

Despite everything, it is great to see that nothing is stopping the excitement building around the space:

It is interesting that the number of searches for the term “ICO” is about the same as the number of searches for “blockchain.” This is excellent for companies participating in ICOs, and arguably quite important for the space as a whole, because it creates an entryway for non-technology, non-finance people to understand our fascinating world.

Therefore, it is crucial that companies get their ICO marketing correct.

If you are part of an ICO, here are the areas to focus on that will help you succeed and help the space as a whole:

  1. Focus on The “Why” (vs. The “How”)

    Most people have been trained to focus on how something works and, though this is important and needs to be understood, it is not the most important aspect by any means. You need to start with “Why” because it triggers emotional involvement and will therefore inspire the greatest number of people to take action. Emotions can play a large part in decision-making processes, both in business and in life. According to Mary C. Lamia’s Ph.D. thesis, Like it Or Not, Emotions Will Drive the Decisions You Make Today: “A great deal of your decisions are informed by your emotional responses because that is what emotions are designed to do: to appraise and summarize an experience and inform your actions.”

    It is easy to see (feel) the impact of starting with “Why” when you see it in action. If a company defines and explains itself with the state of the art technology they use and the smarter way they are using it, many people will be interested enough to click, though not all and sometimes not leading to the best outcome. If the same company starts with “Why” they exist (for example, “We exist to liberate people across the world from economic oppression.”), that will drive a deeper, more meaningful interest in the company. It will drive more clicks, ignite a desire to learn more, and spur interest in sharing the content with others.

    This strategy also provides a differentiator allowing you to grow in any direction. If your focus is on liberating people, it will be natural to do anything that furthers that goal. Instead, the “how” boxes you into a corner – by focusing on the technology that liberates people, not the goal of liberating them, it may look (and feel) strange to people when you perhaps decide to grow in a non-technology direction. But by focusing on “why,” even the most adventurous route will feel right; for example, it would not seem strange to anyone (including your employees and customers) if the company decides to open an educational center focused on liberating people.

    I encourage you to dive deeper into this concept, and Simon Sinek’s book Start With Why does a fantastic job of explaining it in depth. This idea can support you in other areas of your business as well as your personal life.

  2. Focus on a General Audience (not only a Tech Audience)

    ICO marketing that caters exclusively to a technology audience will dramatically limit your growth and impact on the world. Is it not true that any limit on your potential growth is bad for business and the general growth of blockchain technology? If you could multiply the number of people that see your message and take part in your ICO, would you not do so?

    A proven tactic for ensuring that your marketing as a whole is digestible for a general audience is to keep someone in mind who you know is not technical. Use this person as a filter for creating the copy, collateral materials, and anything else you need to promote your ICO. I use my mother (hi mom) as the filter most of the time. I always think to myself, “If my mother can’t understand this, then it needs to be better.” Of course, the final product does not always hit the mark for many reasons, but I sure try my hardest to get it there, and it has not failed me once.

    Another tactic is to not automatically assume that everyone will understand every part of your technology or company. It is a good idea to start from the basics whenever possible. It is conceivable (and would be fantastic!) that someone may land on your page who does not understand anything about blockchain. This person may have stumbled on your company based on your ideas alone. If they are welcomed by content that is full of acronyms or concepts not well known to a more general audience (blockchain still being one of them), then you have created an environment primed for someone to click out of. Do you want to miss this opportunity for a possible investment and further promotion? Because you assumed someone would understand everything? No.

Ultimately, there are many things you need to get right when promoting your ICO (website, paid social media, etc.), so please do not exclusively focus on the above. But start with what I have said as a guiding principle for everything you do, and you will surely come out further ahead. The less mysterious we can make things, and the easier things are to understand, the faster blockchain technology will grow. That goal is what we should all be responsible for working on.

Which companies do you think are doing a good job? Which companies are not doing things so well? We need to know about the latter so we can support them