What: “Helps companies of activate their social network to extend their reach and generate revenue through social eCommerce efforts. Social Promotion Engine to power shareable coupons, referral and loyalty incentives, private and time-based sales, and group promotions; a fully transactional Facebook Store”
Why: Social is now. No matter who you are trying to reach they are most likely plugged into some kind of social network. Most likely that network is Facebook. We are at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to companies and brands utilizing this tool effectively for more than mind-share. What about wallet-share (applied as the amount of money the consumer is spending on your product)? Without substantial data to prove this I am simply going to go out on a limb (from personal experience) and say it is mostly non-existant on social networks & the most important being Facebook (excluding Zynga).
What is the big deal? Consumers increasingly will be shopping online. Especially if your brand or business is targeting younger users, lets say less than 40, you are missing revenue without a strong social presence (don’t trust me trust Pew).
Segmenting your user base is going to be big. Wow! Cool! Company X is offering me 30% off because this is the 5th transaction I have had with them this year. Or…Sweet! company Y is offering me free tickets to my favorite musical artist just because I shared this deal with 10 of my friends.
In a crowded marketplace where everyone is inundated with ads how can you stand out online? The targeting and promotions you achieve from Point #2 above ^ effects your customer acquisition cost and lifetime value. Better targeting and promotions means increased loyalty in a new day and age where lifestyle loyalty increasingly is replacing your brand loyalty.
What: “L. is a condom company with a cause; to support women globally by focusing on their sexual empowerment. For every condom that’s purchased; one is distributed in a developing country.”
With some extra time after leaving the campaign lifestyle I have created a list of titles that I hope to finish shortly after the new year. I will be providing some overviews and analysis.
(A picture I took on the Oregon coast. Beyond the fact that I enjoy the scenery I feel that it is indicative of the the last several months. Once you go over the edge there is no turning back)
It has been quite sometime since I have been able to post although you should expect much more frequent updates moving forward. However, it is difficult to keep side projects alive when working campaign hours for the last 5 months (Something along the lines of 12 hour days 7 days a week). So what have I been up to?
I have been serving on the student senate for the last two years although I have been particularly efficient in getting things done in the last couple of months. I have been juggling several important projects and wanted to shine some light on recent developments.
Sustainability Resolution: Passed on March 30th, the resolution is meant to act as further evidence and clarification to the University administration that the student body, represented by the ASUSF senate is serious about sustainability issues and in particular highlighting the need for a full-time coordinator to facilitate action across campus.
In the Fall of 2009 the University President Fr. Privett signed two commitments related to sustainability. It is important to note that one of the pledges, the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment was introduced at the end of 2006 and signed by nearly 300 presidents by June of 2007. The second promise, the Talloires Declaration was originally introduced in 1990 and by the beginning of 2008 had been “signed by more than 360 university presidents and chancellors at institutions in over 40 countries across five continents.”
GIFT referendum: Passed on April 22nd, the referendum approved a $2 per semester increase in student fees which would about to be about a 2.5% increase for the sole purpose of funding sustainable projects on campus. Although somewhat rushed, the campaign was a credit to the students who see the value is such resource allocation and voted even with imperfect information. The by-laws are currently being edited and pending Board of Trustees approval the fund should go into place in the Fall of 2011
After much thought and deliberation over the last number of months I identified a few post graduate programs that would allow me to evolve and grow to my greatest potential. I am happy to officially be a member of the Politicorps summer fellow class of 2010.
What is Politicorps?
PolitiCorps is a national leadership development program and political organizing bootcamp designed to engage and prepare college students and recent graduates for a life of public service through a combination of skills and policy classes, intensive field work, strategic planning exercises, and access to a broad network of activists, strategists, and policymakers.
Why I’m doing it:
I am intensely interested in politics and how best to reach those who are affected by the decisions of policymakers, businesses and other participants in our representative democracy.
I want the to face challenges and opportunities that develop leadership growth and necessitate personal refection.
I love Oregon but have gone to school and engaged in many of my most remarkable experiences in San Francisco. This program will allow me to grow my network exponentially and interact with similarly driven and accomplished peers.
The YouTube video as made as part of the application:
The Bus Project is the organization that supports Politicorps and to give you an idea of their interests and activites check out the line-up for the upcoming Rebooting Democrazy conference.
