Is Buffett on to Something: Warren Buffett to Purchase The Omaha World-Herald

by Andrea Bredow

Warren Buffett is buying a Newspaper? Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway is set to purchase The Omaha World-Herald in late December. Is he on to something, trying to protect a piece of Omaha history (his home town) or is he a bit crazy?

We all know the world of Newspapers is crumbling. Newspapers have folded left and right, layoffs are common place, and there is even newspaperdeathwatch.com. All of which I'm sure Buffett is well aware of. It begs the question, why would one of the world's smartest investors buy a Newspaper?

I recently watched Page One: Inside the New York Times. A documentary following the Times during 2010, a year when veteran reporters were forced out, staff was producing more with less and the Times had to face the fact that ad dollars just weren't coming in. This film is a unique inside look at the world of papers and unfortunately paints a gloomy picture for their future.

Is this the turning point for Newspapers? Will Buffett's faith in what many think is a dying medium bring new life to the business...or is he just a sentimental man at heart?

I'm NOT Sorry!

When a tweet gets noticed, is the spotlight a good or bad thing?

A high schooler in Kansas recently tweeted a not so glowing message to the Governor, his people noticed it and pushed for an apology.  The teens High School requested she write an 'I'm sorry' letter and she refused.  Standing behind her 1st amendment rights the teen received an apology from the Governor and her high school backed down.

One Tweet put this teen in the spotlight; national tv attention, an increase of 9,000 twitter followers and national conversation.  But, I have to wonder is this type of attention good or bad for what I'm guessing is a college bound teen.

Take a look at the Tweet that caused the commotion and let me know what your think.  Good attention or possible negative consequences?

Tweet: “Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot"

Facebook's New Frictionless Sharing Rubs Many the Wrong Way

While many people questioned the visual overhaul of Facebook's Timeline design, the real Facebook uproar lately has been focused on its new Seamless Sharing system.

Seamless, or frictionless, sharing automatically posts updates about the apps you're using within Facebook. Listen to a song on Spotify or read an article on Yahoo through Facebook and it'll update automatically to all of your friends.

Naturally, the thought of posting on your own wall without control created quite a backlash, with many social media pundits declaring the feature a violation of privacy and just plain wrong.

However, there's also been a backlash to backlash, with others claiming that the Seamless Sharing system has simply redefined the concept of "sharing" rather than ruin it. They say that the frictionless sharing isn't perfect, but could be made better with stronger filtering instead of getting rid of it outright.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the automatic updates because of how much they dominate my news feed. But to those who are uncomfortable with having their media consumption habits strewn about Facebook, there's an easy solution: Don't use the services within Facebook. I use both Spotify and Yahoo News fairly regularly, but I use them outside of Facebook.

What do you think? Has Seamless Sharing ruined Facebook sharing, or simply added a new dimension to it?

Video Post: iPads Taking Surveys to New Heights in Marketing

In public relations, it is important to reach influencers that consumers will listen to. One tactic we have found particularly effective is the use of surveys, but it goes beyond simply handing out sheets of paper with boxes to check. 

New Product Promotions: Game On!

Remember the thrill of birthday party scavenger hunts? Surrounded by energetic friends all hyped up on vanilla frosting, there was nothing better than the thought of goodie-bag glory just ahead. Fast-forward to the 21st century where smartphones and social media sites have now made it possible for marketers to recreate that moment of "game on."

Mobile and social media gaming have become very popular promotion strategies for brands. The latest product to be added to the list is none other than Proctor and Gamble's new Downy fabric softener. Downy Unstopables is a new line of scent beads that can be added to the wash to make clothes smell nice. On Dec. 3, Downy will be hosting a smartphone based scavenger hunt in Las Vegas where players will hunt for a chance to win $20,000.

The brand will be using a mobile gaming app called Scvngr. It lets users complete challenges from their mobile phones at different locations to earn points that can be redeemed for real-world rewards.

Sherilena Strub, a spokeswoman for Proctor & Gamble tells us more about their strategy. “We worked with Scvngr to create an experience that demonstrates how Downy Unstopables can stand out even in the highly sensorial Las Vegas, because it seamlessly blends online and offline events and encourages sharing in order to amplify the user experience," said Ms. Strub.

Social games represent a growing opportunity for brands to offer a deeper level of engagement than traditional media outlets. By integrating a brand with a game, it can increase the chances of viral growth and new customers. Downy is hoping their Las Vegas scavenger hunt will do just that. However, the connection between fabric softener and Sin City seems a bit of a stretch to me, but I appreciate the creativity.

What do you think of the gaming approach to product promotion? Too much? Or the new face of brand marketing?