Dec222010
Dec222010
First, let me say that these are my top 10. I’m not using any studies or data from so-called “reliable sources.” Who needs those? I’m talking about the memorable moments of 2010, which means it’s my memory. They’ve made an impression, made a difference, and helped to sculpt in some way what defines 2010. There is, of course, an digital media slant to it, but isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be? These aren’t ranked, per se, but I have put them in an order I’m comfortable with.
Earthquake in Haiti. Bringing the spotlight back to one of the world’s poorest countries, this terrible tragedy did something remarkable to all of us this year. First, it made us realize just how rich we are even in a recession. Second, it gave us incredible opportunities to give. There were several telethons, and the text donations offering had a remarkable outcome. According to mGive, the company behind the mobile donation capability, over $40 million was raised – just from people texting. The response to the tragedy was a genuine display of human connection, compassion, and hope.
It Gets Better Project. Honestly, when someone tells me they’re gay, I want to say, “So?” It’s like you’re telling me you have back freckles. None of my business, but OK. Whatevs. But I do realize that being able to say it out loud is a huge deal, so I normally just say, “Oh. Didn’t know that. My gaydar is defective.” You don’t have to be gay to be moved by what’s happening to gay youth: being bullied to death. And it’s not even just gay kids, but straight kids being taunted that they are gay. Ellen, Kathy Griffin, and others (even John McCain’s wife Cindy) have spoken out against not only the tolerance for bullying, but the forces of hatred that are behind it. This year saw many senseless suicides, but a real movement to put a stop to it is inspiring and makes me believe it will get better for everyone. All of this came to the forefront at the same time as Mondo on Project Runway revealed he is HIV-positive and had been hiding it from his own family for 10 years. For the courage and the distress of my fellow humans, I was in tears a lot in 2010.
The BP Oil Spill. It was a popular topic on Twitter. It dominated the news. A camera at the source of the leak streamed the spewing crude live online 24/7. This was a case where video really made the news real for many people, and even served to help scientists not working for BP to estimate the damage.
Conan – I have written about him before, but the NBC debacle is worth noting since it shook up an entire network, primetime tv, and turned Conan into a social media master recently named in 2010′s top 10 most powerful tweets. It was a banner year for one high profile person taking control of his fate in a situation where he was seemingly helpless. It’s a great case study for the underdog in all of us.
Betty White on SNL Facebook Campaign. The Facebook page “Betty White to Host SNL (please?)!” was started by David Mathews in December of 2009 and garnered the approval of roughly a half million fans and a good share of media attention. It unleashed a new kind of social media campaigning to give the people what they want. And it turned out to be possibly the best SNL of the year. So, thanks, David!
The iPad. The gadget has not only been coveted by the masses, but corporations are salivating over the potential. Rupert Murdoch declared it a game changer for the newspaper biz and is even launching an iPad-only daily in January. Richard Branson has launched an iPad-only magazine, Project. Corporations are using it to replace many PowerPoint presentations to show off their brand or product (a blessing, if you ask me). The iPad could replace the briefcase. Wouldn’t that be iDivine?
Kinect. While I’m on gadgets, I’m throwing Kinect in here not because of gaming innovation but for the other implications of that technology. We are one step closer to that Minority Report screen that made our hearts go pitter patter back in 2002. Think of the applications and then stand back in awe. Medical, work, life, play. All of it. Science fiction is reality these days.
Social Coupons. It’s changing the way some people market and the way other people shop. And it put Groupon in a position to turn down billions of Google’s money. Groupon, LivingSocial, ZSpot Deals, and others are putting those components of marketing and technology and making them work in a new way that people like. What I really like about it is that it is in a good position to evolve even more. It can integrate with other networks and help make those return visits, add-ons, and subsequent purchases more rewarding for the consumer and the business. Oh, it just makes my head spin and makes my marketing heart happy. Just watch. It gets even better in 2011.
Location-based Services. Facebook places, Foursquare, and others (including local ones like TriOut) haven’t just made stalking easier, they’ve made an impression with marketers. Now, you can offer someone a discount for checking in at your store and sharing that information with their network. You can reward the loyal, frequent shopper. It’s great marketing. This is a space with some touchy areas regarding privacy and safety, but I think we will navigate through it pretty nicely in 2011. We have smart people like Wayne Sutton helping us figure it out.
The TSA. No matter how you spin it, the back-scatter machines are strip searches for the suspected crime of wanting to fly on an airplane. The alternative is a pat down that would qualify as sexual assault if it weren’t performed by a TSA agent in a security setting. I take this issue very seriously, and many others do as well. Thankfully, social networks are buzzing about it, and the way Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and blogs are being used is exactly how it should be to get people behind a cause. Hopefully, this issue will go away in 2011, and we can put this whole ugly mess behind us.
There it is. My list. What’s on yours? Any overlap with mine? Tell me about it in the comments below.
