Tumblr Announces Advertising Package

by Mike Reiber

Last week, for the first time ever, Tumblr, the fast-growing but profitless blogging platform announced an advertising package. So what's the big deal? Why would advertisers eschew Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for a site that doesn't collect much user demographic information?  

The answer lies in Tumblr's growth and the fact that it's more visual than many of its peer sites. Tumblr's unique visits reached 58 million in March of this year up from 26 million a year ago according to comScore. Tumblr contains more than 54 million blogs. The site allows users to easily customize and share their blogs. According to the company, the average Tumblr user creates 14 blogs per month and reblogs three. Half of the posts are photos.  

The company has been dipping its toe in the water on a number of revenue generating initiatives such as allowing designers to sell web page themes to bloggers or allowing bloggers to promote their posts on its dashboard. The new ads will appear on the dashboard and directory pages used to highlight content categories and blogs.  

Our team at Axiom is excited about this development. The enthusiast customers targeted by our home and garden manufacturer clients are avid bloggers. They like to write about and share their experiences on cooking, wine, interior design, gardening, out door entertaining, etc. We believe that this will add yet another arrow to the quiver for innovative marketers who want to break out of the Facebook and YouTube pack.  

May Is The Month Of Minnesota Museums

by Nick Egner

What state has twice as many museums to residence ratio than the national average? What state has attracted more than double the museum attendance than it's top five professional teams combined? Well, that last stat isn’t as impressive due to the caliber of teams the state has produced lately...

Welcome to the month of May and the month of Minnesota museums! A partnership of museums, tourism agencies, media, and other affiliated organizations have joined together to spotlight the importance of museums in the community, and probably make a few bucks while they are at it.

With that being said, this is a great program with a heavy dose of social media influence. You can follow the organization on Facebook and Twitter. You can expect a steady update on deals, events, visitor photos, shared visitor stories, and a general dialogue within the community.

I thought this might be a good time to share a few of my favorite museums, what they are up to, and how they use social and on-line media to enhance the visitors experience. 

Science Museum of Minnesota
ARRRRRG, there arrrrre Real Pirates! Check out more than 200 artifacts from North America’s only authentic pirate ship, and catch an Imax movie while you are at it (runs through 9/3). Fun fact: Do you know why pirates would often wear an eye patch? So when they went under deck one eye would already be adjusted to the darkness. That’s right, living and learning is what the science museum is all about. And for you adults 21 years and older may I suggest checking out an event called social science. Why not enjoy the Museum with an ice cold Summit? Social Science is designed to keep the more mature science enthusiasts entertained with a variety of activities. 

How do you keep updated with the goings on at the Science Museum? Follow them on Twitter (@ScienceMuseumMN) which is active about 3 or 4 tweets a day. They also have designated hash tags so patrons can participate in a real time discussion. And don’t be surprised if Iggy asks you a question or two.

Walker Art Center
Holy hipster Batman! All joking aside, the Walker is such a great experience. If you want an artistic multi-media experience second to none this is the spot. The content of the museum is extremely well represented through their online/social media channels as well. Very active on Twitter (@WalkerArtCenter) with about 6 tweets a day, but that really isn’t the half of it. Check out their flickr account. It is a truly beautiful display of pictures that does a good job at capturing the exhibits! 

For another treat, click the media tab on their website and prepare to get lost in an internet time warp. From the blog posts with a variety of focuses, to the Walker video channel, to the real time webcasts, the Walker has done a great job matching the style and feel of their museum to their on-line media content.

Minneapolis Institute of Art
What type of a museum is the best? Is it science? Is it contemporary art? Nope! The best type is free! The MIA is free daily for you to come down and check out their exhibits. I’d recommend “The Sports Show,” but it ends May 13th. My favorite thing about this museum, other than its price, is the “Third Thursday” event. Not only are you invited to check out the exhibits as always, but you are treated to a Summit beer and live music. What is the next “Third Thursday” event? Craft Brews. I’ll see you there! To keep up-to-date with the MIA follow them on Twitter (@ArtMIA). They also have a very nice Flickr account.

Happy Minnesota Month!

Leverage Social Media By Knowing Which Network To Use

Wordless Wednesday Post: 

Tweeting CEO's Held in High Regard

by Ashley Haugen

@AshleyKaia

It may be time for community managers to give their duties to the boss for a day. Ok, so maybe not all of their duties, but at least show them this article from eMarketer. According to a study by social media branding firm BRANDfog (who's motto is, 'if you're not online you don't exist'), consumers and employees regard company leaders who engage on social media platforms positively.

A whopping 78% of survey respondents said that CEO participation in social media leads to better communication, 71% believes it leads to improved brand image and 64% said it provides more transparency. 

A company’s social media presence also trickles down and influences purchase decisions. The majority of BRANDfog survey respondents (77%) are more likely or much more likely to buy from a company whose CEO uses social media to clearly define company values and leadership principles. And 94% said C-suite social media participation enhances a brand image.

CEO activity on social networks doesn't just effect consumer perception, but it also makes an impact on employees. The study finds that 82% of employee respondents trust a company more when the CEO and leadership team communicate via social media.

Having CEO and CMO's actively engaging on social networks not only instills confidence in consumers, but also in employees. After all, it is the age of the social network and what better way to show that your company is heading in the right direction, than your boss showing everyone he/she is "in the know." 

Do you follow any company CEO's on Twitter? What do you expect from their social media presence?

Protect Your E-Image, Your Career Could Depend On It

by @davesniadak

If you posted incriminating photos from your weekend in Vegas and you think those photos are going to stay in Vegas, think again. In fact, before you push the "share/tweet/post/shout/send" button, think about the implications it might have on your career. A survey released last week by Eurocom Worldwide stated that one in five tech candidates are rejected from prospective positions based on a social media post. And that's just in the technology field!

According to Worldcom's findings, nearly 40% of companies responding to the survey said they vet a potential prospect's social media channels. "The 21st century human is learning that every action leaves an indelible digital train," said Mads Christensen, Network Director for Eurocom Worldwide. "Applicants disqualify themselves from an interview because of content from the social media sphere."

We've preached this all along - think before you share. Just because you have a "smart phone" doesn't mean it's a smart idea to share everything. So much for 'references available upon request', right?

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Viral For Change

by Ashley Haugen

Social media has changed the name of the game. It used to be that unsatisfied customers would complain to their mother or best friend, write a carefully worded letter or email and perhaps stop buying from the company. Today it's different. Their voice is magnified time and time again by the powerful network of social media. One angry customer can quickly become a whole lot of angry customers joining together on the biggest soap box imaginable. Check out today's infographic by Frugal Dad of real-world examples of big businesses brought to their knees by viral vengeance.