Outsourcing Social Media | Tom Fishburne: Marketoonist

(God, I wish I was this clever!)

In the waining hours of SXSW, Tom created this pitch perfect cartoon and drafted his always-entertaining perspective in the following. Nine times out of ten, Tom is my hero -- for his candor, wit and sense of humor about all the comically misguided stuff we say and do in the name of Marketing.

The point is, outsourcing in the name of focus on core competencies is Lean Business 101, Social Media in the name of reaching your actual market with relevant content, offers, and messages is both Green Marketing 101 and Marketing Communications 101.  But, when the two are combined and handed off blindly to a third party . . . well, all you get is this cartoon -- and, of course, a waste of budget.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

outsourcing social media | Tom Fishburne: Marketoonist

... just thinkin' out loud,

Melissa

Imitation With Innovation Reduces Risk in Startups - Martin Zwilling - Startup Professionals Musings - Forbes

Tough to fault the logic in this brief discussion -- despite the purist's urge to rail against it.

A critical aspect to taking an existing idea and making it better, more viable, more commercial, more available, etc. is the benefits to the industry at large and the markets served.

I can think or scores of "Imitation Innovations" that have provided endless benefits -- ranging from more jobs to better quality of life: Wang word processors and computers evolved PCs and Apples; Magellan evolved Windows and Mac OS. And don't get me started on biotech and pharma developments.

In Cleantech, early evolution is still happening in real time, before our very eyes: the evolution of solar panels to today's photovoltaic cells; LED lighting; Syngas; algal fuel processes -- even food packaging.

And have you tried to secure funding for a truly innovative product/ service/business model during the past four years ... !? Let's just say, "Imitation Innovations" are far more appealing to the overwhelming number of risk-averse (i.e., zero risk) funding sources out there.

I guess my purist side is at peace with this.

Imitation With Innovation Reduces Risk in Startups - Martin Zwilling - Startup Professionals Musings - Forbes