Facebook Opens Data To Developers

Rumors and ruminations surrounding a planned opening of Facebook to developers were given some credibility this morning as the Wall Street Journal reported an announcement would be made later today.

The crux of the anticipated announcement will be a Twitter-like opening of Facebook data to developers, allowing direct interfaces through third party websites, programs, and anything else that lives in the digital space. The move comes in lock-step with an announcement of the new Facebook Principles and Statement of Rights released last Friday, in which users were able to vote to enact the documents.

An unverified source tells us that no data will be shared without a user giving explicit permission, though the mechanism by which this permission is given has not been disclosed. One would expect an interface similar to Facebook Connect or Applications within the site itself.

Past Facebook attempts at opening user data have ended in privacy advocate outrage. Stay tuned for more coverage as the story unfolds.

UPDATED 11:37AM

Facebook has made the official announcement:

Using the Open Stream API:

The stream is the flow of information on Facebook, which manifests itself on a user's home page as the News Feed and on the user's profile as the Wall. It represents the content a user shares with friends in a real-time setting. Initially the stream content appeared only on Facebook, and now with the Open Stream API, developers can connect to their users' streams and let their users read their streams wherever they want. This means that for the first time, you can build new user interfaces for the stream everywhere including Web, mobile, and desktop applications.

The stream API allows for reading and creating content. Thus, your applications can get users' stories, comments, and likes, and incorporate this data into your user experience. In addition, your applications can create content directly in your users' streams, and allow for the posting of comments and likes. Think of the stream API as having your own Publisher embedded in your application.

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> Opinion On Big Brands: The State of the Game

> ADMAVEN Interviews Domino's: An Insider's Perspective

> Domino's Social Media Disaster and Resolution

Opinion On Big Brands: The State of the Game

So far 2009 has seen a slew of brands (large and small) enter the social space. Some have stumbled in, others entered with confidence. The advertising community is inundated with talk of these brands - how they did it, who they worked with, and what will happen next.

Frankly, I'm getting a little tired of hearing about it...

Here's my opinion on brands entering the social space: do it right the first time. The best way to make sure that happens is through partnership with an agency that understands and embraces innovation. Clearly, most of us still don't get it.

Even the great successes of 2009 (Whopper Sacrifice, etc...) touted by the advertising community and social media evangelists were not that great in the end. Where is the integration, the holistic thinking, the restructuring of brand communications?

If brands think they can just walk out onto the street, grab a handful of tactics from any of the thousands of "social media expert uber-consultants" and tweet their way to success then there isn't really a need for agency partners. Communicating value by bringing more to the table than tips, tricks, and tactics is a must for the last half of 2009.

It's time to stop talking about "viral videos" (no such thing - stop trying to sell it) and start talking about integrated communications plans that incorporate print, television, interactive, and anything else you can get your arms around.

Don't get me wrong - there are a lot of intelligent agencies, consultants, marketers, and specialists out there doing great things. I'm just feeling like many of these individuals and companies are also short-sighted in their zeal to spread the social love. Maybe it's the fact that all I could find this morning in industry news was Pizza Hut's new "Twinternship" (cute). That's not entirely true. The other industry news I read was about more layoffs.

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> ADMAVEN Interviews Domino's: An Insider's Perspective

> Domino's Social Media Disaster and Resolution

> CMM&A Thanks Eric Lazar and Kyle Tobin; Members for a Wonderful Evening

Chicago Sketch Comedy Troupe Makes A Splash

On the cusp of one of the most unfortunate incidents of a video going viral, a local sketch comedy troupe reminds us all that humor is still one of the greatest calls to action for viral content distribution (many of these videos were released several months ago, but are recently trending on Twitter and other social media outlets).

Do you find these videos effective in delivering messaging, or does the humor eclipse the call to action?

Find more information on the videos here.

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PEOPLE WHO READ THIS ARTICLE ALSO READ:

> ADMAVEN Interviews Domino's: An Insider's Perspective

> Domino's Social Media Disaster and Resolution

> CMM&A Thanks Eric Lazar and Kyle Tobin; Members for a Wonderful Evening

ADMAVEN Interviews Domino's: An Insider's Perspective

I had the opportunity to interview Phil Lozen of Domino's regarding social media and their recent public relations fiasco. Mr. Lozen currently operates the Twitter account @dpzinfo Domino's set up to discuss the offending videos, and has been empowered to reach out to online communities regarding the brand. The circumstances are difficult for Domino's, but may result in other large fast food chains jumping on board the social media marketing bandwagon.

I want to thank Mr. Lozen for his time and interest in reaching out to ADMAVEN readers.

For further background information, videos, and discussions surrounding Domino's plight, read my previous article.

Inerview transcript:

Please tell us your name, job title, and number of years at Domino's corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Phil Lozen, Web Designer 10 years at Dominos.

Things must have been very tense at your offices in the last 48 hours. How did Mr. Doyle, President of Domino's USA, decide to craft a response video, and what were his initial feelings regarding social media engagement?

There was a whole team of people who really came together in the last couple days to respond to this incident. Our PR department, led by Tim McIntyre, along with our Precision Marketing Group, led by Rob Weisberg, all played a part in our response. The suggestion for a video response came from a several people and Patrick was glad to help out. He’s a very smart guy and he saw the importance of us being where our customers were talking.

Domino's is a pretty big company and seems to be targeting a relatively young, Internet savvy demographic. How do you justify staying away from earned media (social media) for so long?

We haven’t stayed away from social media. We have a Brand channel on YouTube and a Facebook page with over 200,000 followers.

While many of our senior PR and Marketing team members are active representatives of Domino’s Pizza in Twitter, one challenge we faced over the past few days was that we didn’t have a corporate Twitter page. The “Dominospizza” Twitter name had already been taken and we were already in the process of working with Twitter to reclaim the name before this video surfaced.

How did the word come down that you would be responsible for handling Twitter, blog outreach, etc...?

Though this crisis did not drive our entrance into social media it certainly put our social media into the spotlight.

I work in our communications/PR department. Our department was best suited to maintain the dialogue with consumers.

Now that Domino's has a healthy respect for the social space, is budget being allocated beyond your time to target and engage online communities in 2009/10?

We’ve always has a healthy respect for social media. Budget was allocated back in 2008 for social media outlets. We continue to invest in 2009 and have plans to do so in 2010 and beyond.

To that end, what other communities are you targeting online for outreach and communication? Are you being proactive at this point or strictly reactive?

We are proactively communicating in a number of communities, however this event certainly required a reactive stance as well.

What advertising or public relations agencies have been instrumental in your social media crisis management?

Our PR team is housed here at Domino’s Pizza. Our ad agency, Crispin, Porter and Bogusky, has been there with us every step of the way.

What software do you use to manage/monitor Twitter and other social media outlets? Do you manage while mobile and if so, what device do you use?

I use a mix of Tweetdeck, Twhirl, and search.twitter.com for the most part. I also have capabilities on my iPhone, right now using Twitterfon.

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> Domino's Social Media Disaster and Resolution

> CMM&A Thanks Eric Lazar and Kyle Tobin; Members for a Wonderful Evening

> Chicago Recruiter Roundup - Land That Next Big Ad Agency Job

Domino's Social Media Disaster and Resolution

First, review this outstanding article for the background story behind the latest big brand social media snafu and the purportedly fake videos.

Out of fairness, Domino's has responded as quickly as a large franchised company could hope to. View the following video from Patrick Doyle, President of Domino's USA:

Domino's has also set up a Twitter account to assist in damage control @dpzinfo, and manned by Phil Lozen, a ten year veteran of Domino's.

How do you think this will affect the Domino's brand, and more importantly how could Domino's have handled the incident more appropriately?

UPDATES 4/21/09 12:45PM:

AdAge Coverage: Apology Video
AdAge Coverage: Apology Video Critique
AdAge Coverage: Crisis PR Critique
AdAge Coverage: Summary/Aftermath
ADMAVEN Interview With Domino's
New York Times Coverage and Mug Shots of Offenders
Today Show Coverage

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CMM&A Thanks Eric Lazar and Kyle Tobin; Members for a Wonderful Evening

The Chicago Media Marketing & Advertising group had another successful event last night with approximately 70 people taking part in an interactive panel about mobile marketing. A special thanks to our speakers Eric Lazar of Image Architecture and Kyle Tobin from the Catalyst Media Group.

Mr. Lazar engaged the audience with live demonstrations of mobile advertising executions providing powerful examples of how the format has come into its own.

Each month has shown improvement in turnout and networking, and we expect membership to continue to grow at a steady pace throughout the warmer months!

Join CMM&A at Meetup.com, with 250 members and growing.

Stay tuned to ADMAVEN for information on upcoming CMM&A events!

Have a suggestion or would like to be a speaker/sponsor? Contact me!

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> YPC Blog: The Importance of Differentiation

Chicago Recruiter Roundup - Land That Next Big Ad Agency Job

Nicholas Kinports (follow him on Twitter @ADMAVEN) has worked in the interactive technology world for over 15 years. He is the Digital Strategy Lead and founder of Chicago-based digital marketing firm lonelybrand, where he directs the creation and execution of digital marketing programs that generate measurable signups, conversions and sales.

The original version of this article was written due to the influx of bad news for the Chicago ad agency community - such as the 118 year old JWT office closing, then summarily announcing a limited staff would remain. As a result I thought I would compile a list of resources that I have found helpful in the past. Happy hunting!

ADMAVEN's Chicago Advertising, PR, Media, and Marketing Recruiter Roundup:

Be it advertising agency creative, account services, project management, public relations, media, client side marketing, or social media and community relations, these staffing and recruiting firms are your direct link to landing interviews in relevant industry communities. One of the first - and most important - steps you can take as a candidate is to schedule interviews with as many of them as possible!

DISCLOSURE:
I have personally visited each of the companies listed in this article. I have not been paid to endorse or support any company listed here. If you are looking for a job in advertising, these companies are one of your best starting points.

Aquent
500 West Madison, Suite 2600
Chicago, IL 60661
312.869.3000
Map it

Featuring a robust digital offering and specialized recruiters for Chicago interactive talent, Aquent represents a powerhouse in the Chicago market. Aquent also features placement outside of Chicago with offices in most major US cities and globally.

The Buzz Company
62 West Huron, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60610
312.255.0808
Map it

A boutique agency with a personal touch, The Buzz Company has strong local connections with many advertising agencies. Buzz Co. specializes in creative talent but caters to all types of ad agency folk.

Creative Circle
233 North Michigan Ave., Suite 1960
Chicago, IL 60601
312.329.9990
Map it

With offices in Chicago and five other major US cities, Creative Circle takes a generalist approach to staffing ad agencies around the country. A good option for anyone looking to be placed in small to medium Chicago based agencies.

Creative Circle adds:
The recruiters who work here [Creative Circle] all come from an ad agency or marketing background so we understand this business and use our industry knowledge to make smart placements. We work with any type of client who has a marketing or advertising need; ranging from client service or marketing strategists to designers for all media and Flash developers.

The Creative Group
205 North Michigan Ave., Suite 3301
Chicago, IL 60601
Map it

Owned by Robert Half International, The Creative Group's reach extends beyond Chicago ad agencies. If you are also considering positions in the marketing departments of mid to large sized companies, The Creative Group may welcome your resume.

Digital People
55 West Monroe, Suite 2660
Chicago, IL 60603
312.606.9097
Map it

As the name suggests, Digital People is focused on new media and the creative/account talent that brings it to life. Offering training and other ancillary services to sharpen candidate competencies, Digital People can help hone your skills before that key interview.

H2 Agency, Inc.
601 South LaSalle, Suite 502
Chicago, IL 60605
312.427.0192
Map it

Everything about H2 Agency says boutique! Offering a personal touch, H2 seeks to place talent in a number of small to medium sized agencies in Chicago. If one on one is your preference, H2 is well suited to the task.

Lucas Group
230 West Monroe, Suite 850
Chicago, IL 60606
312.357.1160
Map it

Once focused primarily on Executive level recruiting, Lucas Group now works with ad agency talent as part of it's core business. Retaining close ties to many ancillary businesses, Lucas Group is a good fit for the candidate looking to branch out beyond advertising agencies.

Melinda Holm + Associates
7630 Madison
Forest Park, IL 60130
708.488.9701
Map it

Located outside the loop, Melinda Holm + Associates has a greater abundance of suburban agency clients. If the burbs aren't off limits you may want to give them a call!

Paladin Recruiting and Staffing
200 West Madison, Suite 1805
Chicago, IL 60606
Map it

Paladin staffs a wide variety of companies - from temporary to full time positions - including ad agencies. Paladin's "go the extra mile" mentality you give you confidence as you pursue that next big opportunity.

SmartDept. Inc.
309 West Washington, Suite 430
Chicago, IL 60606
312.284.1350
Map it

With a unique office and a unique ethos, SmartDept. consults with talent seeking a personalized approach to the job hunt. Offering positions at all levels and in a variety of boutique to large Chicago ad agencies, SmartDept. should be placed on your to-do list.

The Wunderland Group
200 West Jackson, Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60606
312.506.8596
Map it

The personal touch is prevalent at The Wunderland Group. Based in Chicago and focused on the local market, Wunderland boasts 30 years of experience matching candidates to local creative (web and print), Marketing, Advertising, and PR companies.

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YPC Blog: The Importance of Differentiation Part 2: Master Your Offline Brand

Nicholas Kinports (follow him on Twitter @ADMAVEN) has worked in the interactive technology world for over 15 years. He is the Digital Strategy Lead and founder of Chicago-based digital marketing firm lonelybrand, where he directs the creation and execution of digital marketing programs that generate measurable signups, conversions and sales.

When 26 year old William Reigle became a victim of downsizing at an otherwise stable IT company in downtown Chicago he made a realization: working at the same office for the first four years after graduating college had left him in a vulnerable position. Other young professionals who had made job changes in recent years were using new and unfamiliar tools to help land interviews, network, and the job hunt.

He summarizes his predicament: “I looked around and saw that many of my peers were leveraging resources like LinkedIn, Facebook, and specialized recruiting agencies. Searching through Monster and CareerBuilder just wasn’t going to cut it.”

William recognizes the power of differentiation for the young professional, and he also realizes that if he goes into an interview unprepared, he may miss out on a key opportunity. He notes, “Part of the [information technology] profession is being on top of new technology. So much of the industry revolves around communication today; what kind of message would I be sending if I walked into an interview without the latest and best tools?”

...CONTINUE READING ON YPSPEAK.COM

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