Bank of America fails at social media.

As a thunderstorm pounds away this morning, I have to admit that I've not been to my Flickr account in sometime. I mostly share pictures on Facebook these days and Flickr was really not about business for me. Sure there are a few shots of business stuff, like travel. That said, it certainly wasn't designed to be a component of any particular event, just a visual representation of activities in my life and that of my family.

I frankly haven't had the time to express my passion for amateur photography lately. You know, the kind of shots you take early on a weekend morning when the lighting is just right and you have no other place to be at that moment in time.

That said, I was looking at how brands are using Flickr. I came across some interesting groups, one that struck me as orphaned was the Bank of America photostream. When you dig deeper you see that they've started a promotion to coincide with the Beijing Olympics called Americascheer.com. It's clear this is about getting people to sign-up for a high-interest Visa to support the team.

Now at first glance, one could argue that this is maybe a decent idea to many mainstream corporate types. Unfortunately from my perspective this needs to be chalked up as a miss. A clear lack of commitment and understanding, even down to the Flickr profile thumbnail icon being blank.

Here's where I think they're going wrong.

1. Clear lack of commitment overall - Their photostream is left for weeks at a time...the Olympics are just around the corner are they not? More activity, engagement and discussion is needed as part of a larger strategy online. This still feels like a big bank going "here you go little minions, have fun..." at least to me.
   
2. Who are the Bank of America customers brand evangelists online and are they involved in the campaign? It doesn't appear so to me.
3. Sure people are cheering for the U.S. team, but does anybody really "love" the Bank of America?
   

This is more about B-o-A pushing as a faceless corporation. The real human aspect of this frankly is the profile of the group's contact. Photo's of a happy family, NOT a faceless corporation allowed me to feel positive about something related to this discussion and it had little to do with the bank...that's the richness that the campaign is lacking in my opinion.

I believe Bank of America could have went further with a more complete overall strategy...that said it's probably a good thing they didn't since this small effort is dismal at best. Oh well, another case study to use and teach others with...

Calgary Alberta Real Estate Agent, Facebook Seminar

Jeff, a Calgary Alberta Real Estate agent attended our Disruptor School and was nice enough to send us a video recommendation. Thanks very much Jeff, we were very happy to host you in Edmonton to talk about branding, social media and facebook.

Edmonton Alberta Real Estate, Facebook Seminar

Here's just a bit of tooting our own horn at fusedlogic inc and ClearpathSEO...

Yesterday morning was our Disruptor School Facebook seminar for the Alberta Real Estate industry and Edmonton and Sherwood Park area small business. In the audience we had folks up from Calgary, members of the Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce members, Realtors, Real Estate investors, property managers, the Edmonton Journal, mortgage specialists, McDonald's, sales people from the print and sign industries as well.

Disruptor School Seminar Satisfaction Ratings:

1. A Disaster

2. Forgettable

3. A Good Job

4. Terrific

5. Excellent

RESPONSES:

1 = 0

2 = 0

3 = 9

4 = 42

5 = 70

AVERAGE: Overall feeling of attendee satisfaction: 4.5 out of 5

Every single respondent said "YES" they would recommend this seminar to a business colleague.

92.9 % of respondents said they would attend another seminar.

My friend David Cree, ClearpathSEO

It is with pleasure that I mention to you that I'm a friend and business colleague of David Cree, he's the owner of ClearpathSEO (among other ventures soon to be announced). I'm currently sitting in the crowd here at the Business Link and waiting in anticipation for David to start his presentation on SEO and online marketing. He and I are collaborating as many of you may know by now on the Disruptor School seminar series.

The room is filling as we speak and David is saying hello to everyone...

We've been brainstorming on new ideas and certainly David has some great ones as the coming weeks will prove. I find that he and I get along really well despite the fact that we're both creative leaders and take action types...there is much more to this story moving forward.

The exciting thing will be when we match his Russian development team and my guys from around the world to collaborate on some really cool ideas...really bright times ahead to be sure...

Ok, I'm going to listen now...I'll report back later...

Edmonton real estate agents

Opportunity for Edmonton real estate agents

Facebook, marketing and you: How to do it

Media release – For immediate release

Edmonton, AB – March 27, 2008 - Everyone seems to be talking about Facebook these days and it seems like everyone is on it, but how useful is it as a marketing tool? How useful could it be for your business?

Right now, Facebook is almost untapped as a marketing tool. You have the opportunity to get into this growing advertising medium and learn why it and other forms of social networking are very important ways marketing will be done in the future, and are being done now.

“Facebook, bar none, is the most effective marketing tool available today,” said David Cree, owner of Clearpath SEO. “We know there are approximately 90,000 Albertans in the market to buy a new home who are using Facebook on a regular basis.”

Consider that one million Albertans use Facebook and log in an average of 2.6 times per day. Of those users, 29 per cent are in the 25-34 age range and 26 per cent are over 35. How old are your typical customers?

Clearpath SEO and Fused Logic have teamed up to bring Edmonton real estate agents this seminar on using Facebook as a marketing tool, but the principles apply to any business.

The seminar will focus on how you can use Facebook and other forms of social media to increase your brand recognition, credibility and business. You will come away from the seminar with many leading edge marketing ideas and a guide full of tactics and strategies.

When: Tuesday April 8, 2008

Time: 9:00 AM - Noon

Where: Greenwood Inn and Suites, 4485 Gateway Blvd., Edmonton

Investment: $99.00 per attendee booked in advance, online or $149.00 at the door. ***(max 60 people)

For more information and to register, please contact:

David Cree 780-233-0360 david[at]clearpathseo.com, or

Walter Schwabe 780-909-9787 info[at]fusedlogic.com

http://www.disruptorschool.com

About Clearpath SEO

We can improve your online marketing efforts by getting your sites higher ranking, more traffic and better results. We specialize in pay per click Google Adwords campaigns, Facebook marketing and search engine optimization, as well as web analytics, link popularity, site audits, conversion consulting and website architecture consulting.

About Fused Logic

fusedlogic specializes in developing business growth strategies, which include Web 2.0 technologies and social networking elements such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Xing. The eight-year-old Alberta company is owned by Walter Schwabe and is located in Sherwood Park.

We will be reserving several seats for media who would like to attend this seminar.

Please contact us in advance if you would like to attend.

Edmonton Alberta Real Estate Developer - Mark Martel

Mark Martel, an Edmonton Real Estate developer and member of my Facebook group agrees to talk to me about Facebook, social networking and Real Estate, also mentioning that he's looking forward to attending our seminar on this subject too. This is a good chat despite the low light conditions.

Edmonton, Alberta Business Link

I had the pleasure once again to present at the Business Link yesterday and there was a great crowd from all walks of life. Here's what a few of them had to say...

Edmonton Alberta Real Estate Agent Judy Clare Packer

In this youtube video, I had the opportunity to interview Judy of Edmonton's leading Real Estate team ReMax Excellence and ask her some questions regarding her profession. As well as, questions regarding social networking and whether she thought that social networking, facebook were gaining importance within her industry. This video is 7+ minutes long...and it's informative...

Alberta Real Estate, Edmonton, Facebook, Social Networking

The overwhelming majority choose facebook as their definition of social media.

Edmonton Alberta Real Estate - More Targeted Buyers

After having visited edmontonrealestateblog.com I was able to identify some stats on the Edmonton housing market. We talk about how Real Estate pros should generate interest from targeted buyers rather than simple leads.

Alberta Real Estate Association, facebook, more business

There are many reasons to attend this impactful seminar on April 8th in Edmonton. Here's another.

Facebook, Real Estate, Alberta

Join this fusedlogic facebook group too.

Web 2.0, social networking and tourism

A whole new level of opportunity to promote a region exists when a tourism department embraces social networking.

Here's how:

1. Here is a blog focused on widgets and 2.0 travel sites, there is an ever growing amount of online tools to use for travel, the consumer and corporations in the travel industry are aware of these, I'm wondering about your local government tourism department or agency.
2. Web2.0 traveling enthusiast - this is a person who travels to various conventions and conferences on the subject. Tourism departments have to love these and tap into them if they can. Imagine if you're the head of the tourism department for my family's favorite holiday destination. A place where we like to...vacaciones en busca de sol y relajación. Imagine if PV tourism got together to attract a major conference on the subject to truly be successful they'd have to become experts in Web 2.0 technology and social networking techniques to reach the audience.
3. Power for smaller locales exists because IF they can better understand what tools travelers are using to book trips and investigate getaways they'll be in a position to, well, position themselves better. For example, pay attention to these sites for geotagging - wikimapia - geotagging the world. Here's my flickr profile - admitedly I've been ignoring it because facebook is now the place I share pictures - largest picture sharing site on the internet by their stats.

There's much more on this subject but it's Sunday and I'm headed to the Shriners Circus with my family, that said, one final note. If you were part of this agency...wouldn't you want to ensure your 2.0 strategy was in full force?


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