Bob Cargill, Author at Bob Cargill

25Jan 2010 by Bob Cargill

I’m Running the Boston Marathon for Christopher’s Haven

On April 19, 2010, I'll be pounding the pavement once again from Hopkinton to Boston, determinedly putting one foot in front of the other for more than 26 long, arduous miles. It'll be the 10th time I've taken this same exhausting journey. And I'll be tired and sore most of the way. But as I've said before, it doesn't get any more exciting than to cross the finish line of what is arguably the most prestigious road race in the world, the Boston Marathon. And given the fact that I'm running to help kids -- and their families -- who are fighting cancer, it doesn't get any more important. [caption id="attachment_2009" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Dan Durkin and Bob Cargill, the two members of the Christopher's Haven Boston…

19Jan 2010 by Bob Cargill

10 Ways to Succeed in Social Media, Part Two

Blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter, YouTube

2. Set realistic expectations. Using social media to communicate with others isn’t that difficult. But if you expect your posts, tweets, status updates and videos to result in any new leads or business opportunities, you had better be more than a little patient and perseverant. As I wrote in a previous blog post, The Importance of Getting Past the Social Media "Dip"… ...social media shouldn’t ever be looked at as a fast track or short cut to success. Mastering social media requires a long-term, strategic investment that needs to be looked at as part and parcel of almost everything else you do as an organization, not as a quick fix or panacea for an inability to find common ground with your constituency in the first place. Don't disappoint yourself. Be realistic with your expectations. To put together an…

13Jan 2010 by Bob Cargill

10 Ways to Succeed in Social Media, Part One

Blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter, YouTube

Now that so many businesses are using blogs, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other social media channels to connect with their constituents, it’s only a matter of time before they realize what a challenge it is to use them successfully. No, social media isn't rocket science. But it's definitely a BIG departure for those who have been dependent on traditional marketing, advertising, PR and communications methods up until now. So to help educate and enlighten those who are about to use this relatively new means of engagement for the first time, here's the first in a series of 10 ways to succeed in social media... 1. Adopt the right company culture. I hate to disappoint you, but not every organization is cut out for social media. To those who are accustomed to privacy and top-down, one-way, interruptive communications, it requires nothing short of a transformative change from the inside out.…

04Jan 2010 by Bob Cargill

Blog Post on Video: The Importance of Character in Social Media

Blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter

By now, most people involved in marketing, advertising and PR have put aside any skepticism they may have had about social media and are using such online communications vehicles as blogs, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to reach out to and engage with others. They’re finally realizing that – as I’ve said before here on this blog -- the guaranteed efficacy of a one-way, top-down, interruptive monologue by businesses and bureaucrats is history. And that the era of inclusive, open-ended dialogue between company and constituency is upon us. Yes, social media appears to be on the verge of going mainstream in more ways than one. However, what’s still a big challenge for many of those using social media for business is using it correctly, adhering to the unique set of principles…

28Dec 2009 by Bob Cargill

The Importance of Character in Social Media

Miscellaneous

By now, most people involved in marketing, advertising and PR have put aside any skepticism they may have had about social media and are using such online communications vehicles as blogs, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to reach out to and engage with others. They're finally realizing that -- as I've said before here on this blog -- the guaranteed efficacy of a one-way, top-down, interruptive monologue by businesses and bureaucrats is history. And that the era of inclusive, open-ended dialogue between company and constituency is upon us. Yes, social media appears to be on the verge of going mainstream in more ways than one. However, what’s still a big challenge for many of those using social media for business is using it correctly, adhering to the unique set of principles that differentiates this discipline from more traditional forms…

15Dec 2009 by Bob Cargill

The 30 Best Blog Posts on Social Media I’ve Read in 2009

Advertising, Blogging, Branding, Facebook, LinkedIn, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter

With only so many days left until a new year is upon us, it's only natural to want to take pause, look back and reflect on everything that's transpired in 2009. And what a year it's been for those of us involved in social media and marketing. Change has been the only constant in the nature of what we do on the job. Me? I'm a copywriter and direct marketer by trade, someone who's earned his livelihood for well over 20 years helping brands to sell their products and services. And that hasn't changed. But many of the strategies, tools and communications channels I'm using nowadays to help my clients achieve their goals are different. Today, I find myself working with blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube and the like much…

07Dec 2009 by Bob Cargill

What You Should Include on Your Next Set of Business Cards

Advertising, Blogging, Branding, Facebook, LinkedIn, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter

No matter how much I enjoy communicating with others online via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and other social media platforms (including this blog), I still think the most powerful connection you can make with someone is face to face. I've always liked attending conferences, trade shows and networking events, making new friends and meeting new people, shaking hands and schmoozing. I appreciate the camaraderie of being under the same roof with a group of like-minded professionals. I take comfort in knowing that I'm not alone as a businessman and entrepreneur, that we're all in this together, literally smack dab in the middle of the same basic search for new leads, new resources, new allies and new opportunities to succeed. And if you ask me, there's something very special about the exchange of business cards. It's an age-old ritual, a tradition remarkably still alive given today's relaxed…

30Nov 2009 by Bob Cargill

The Black Door, Bravery and Social Media

Blogging, Facebook, Marketing, Social Media, Twitter

Blog Post on Video: The Black Door, Bravery and Social Media Let me tell you a story. It’s a parable that’s been around for a long time. It's about a spy who had been captured and sentenced to death by a general of the Persian army. The general, however, permitted the condemned person to choose between the firing squad and the black door. As the moment of execution drew near, the general ordered the spy to be brought before him to receive the doomed man's decision. This was not an easy decision, and the prisoner hesitated, but soon he made it known that he preferred the firing squad. Not long thereafter, a volley of shots in the courtyard announced the grim sentence had been fulfilled. The general turned…

22Nov 2009 by Bob Cargill

From Direct Mail to Social Media, My 13-Year Evolution

Blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn, Social Media, Twitter

On November 17, 1996, I was happy to be featured on the front page of the Sunday Business section of the local daily newspaper, the Middlesex News, in an article about direct mail, my specialty at the time. And on November 18, 2009, 13 years and one day later, I was fortunate to have an interview of me about social media appear in the same newspaper (which now goes by the name, The MetroWest Daily News). Talk about an evolution. Yes, I can't tell you how excited I was to receive a phone call earlier in the month from Daily News editor and reporter, Jeff Adair, who asked me if I would be willing to answer a number of questions about my experience with social media. This interview was a great chance for me to put into words just how passionately I felt as a marketing professional about using blogs,…

Author: Bob Cargill