Tag Archives: International

(Ad Council and IAA) Survey Says: More Social Marketing!

At this past week’s International Advertising Association’s World Congress in Washington D.C, the Ad Council and IAA revealed results from the Ad Council IAA Member Survey on Social Advertising Programs. For all social marketers out there, the results are on our side.

Among the Key Findings, the following figures were given in support of social marketing:

  • 57% of respondents felt their country should implement MORE social marketing campaigns than it currently has.
  • 61% said their country NEEDS HELP developing social marketing campaigns.
  • 90% of respondents expressed interest in sharing and learning MORE about research and creative materials for social marketing campaigns in other countries.

As I was in attendance during this conference, you can imagine how STOKED I was about this. I had to pinch myself. Here I was at the IAA World Congress, and did I hear right:  We are talking about social marketing. The real social marketing. Not social media. I could barely contain myself. Then, it happens again, and then again. And then I realize, the IAA is trying to educate and send a message to the ad community: invest in social marketing!

But where were we social marketers? our experts in the field? our voice? Absent. Here was a chance to share our passion, knowledge, excitement and message with the very industry that we can work with….and we weren’t there. So, here is my message for this post. Social marketing is great and wonderful. But we can’t stay in our bubble. We’ve reached out to the non-profit community, but all advertisers aren’t bad. There are big movers and shakers who want to do good and see the value in doing goog. We need to integrate ourselves with them….not be divisive.

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These results were shared with the Advertising industry during the IAA presentation for the 1st Social Responsibility advertising awards. These awards were presented with cooperation between IAA and ACT Responsible. The Grand Prix winner was “Signature” for Amnesty International by TBWA/Paris. To see the rest of the recipients, go here.

(This was a web-based survey through Zoomerang among IAA members from December 13, 2007 to February 11, 2008. 204 completed surveys were received from member respondents in six continents. Respondents included respondents from advertisers, ad agencies, media outlets, research companies, trade associations and universities.)

The Blogger Neighborhood: Meet the DigiActive Team

candle lightGet out of your comfort zone. This includes myself, often I am use to comfortably perusing my usual blogs in my RSS reader, however, when I first found DigiActive over the summer, I immediately knew I needed to get out more. DigiActive brings together a team of international bloggers from SIX continents and offers great content from diverse perspectives. The change movement knows no boundaries.

I must also give Amine, from DigiActive the award for patience. Amine and I conversed at the end of August, and I am just now getting up their interview. Thank you Amine and the DigiActive team for your world-class patience. Without further adieu, enjoy!

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Blog Name: DigiActive.org

Blog Topics: Being the Intersection of Technology and Grassroots Activismfacebook-guide-cover300px

Blog Explained: The group blog at DigiActive.org is part of DigiActive’s overall mission to help grassroots activists around the world use technology to increase their impact. DigiActive also publishes guides, such as “A DigiActive Introduction to Facebook Activism” and maintains a digital activism map. DigiActive is also in the process of launching a research program (R@D), which will provide actionable analysis for the benefit of digital activists around the world.

About the Author(s): The site features an international group of bloggers from six continents from countries including Iran, Morocco, China, Cameroon, the US and Germany. We come from a wide range of backgrounds and professions. Some of us work for NGOs while others are students or journalists. All our bloggers are volunteers and write for the site because of a passion for digital activism.

Why do you blog? A few answers from some of the DigiActive team members include:

“I love to write about things I love” –Kate Brodock

“I write for DigiActive because it gives me an excuse to keep up to date on the cutting edge of digital activism. Activists “hacking” online applications, creating new uses for platforms like Facebook or Google Earth and turning them into tools for change, that’s what gets me up in the morning.” – Mary Jocye

“I’m blogging for DigiActive because I have a crush on digital activism. Blogging let’s me share the product of this splendid connection with a global community, which is another thing I will never really understand, but always be amazed of.” – Simon Columbus

“It is a fantastic opportunity to investigate and learn about this increasingly important movement. I work in a part of the world where these tools are underutilized but needed with urgency, and I use my work to educate and involve the people around me.” – Tamara Palamakumbara

What first prompted you to blog? DigiActive was started by Mary and Amine, who met on Facebook and built DigiActive together before ever meeting in person. Our ambition was “to create a center for the global digital activism movement.” With an ever-increasing number of partners, we are still working to achieve that goal.

Why digital activism? What is it, and how do you know when it’s successful?

Digital Activism is defined as digital actions taken by grassroots organizations or individuals to achieve a social or political change. It means taking the power of the new global reach of user-generated content and turning it towards the purposes of social justice.

It’s hard to know when digital activism has succeeded. Clear-cut cases of digital success, like the Help Fouad campaign in Morocco are rare. Even when a goal is achieved, it is often the result of multiple campaigns, not only digital ones, and often it takes years to achieve these goals. I don’t think there’s a clear formula for success. Digital activism is not about quantity of people you can reach, but it’s about the quality by which you reach them.

What’s the impact digital activism has, or could have, on our community?

One of the greatest strengths of digital activism is that it allows people to collaborate closely regardless of physical location. As mentioned previously, Mary and Amine developed the idea for DigiActive and built the site without ever meeting. In fact, they still live on different continents. Talia edits for the DigiActive blog from Boston, even though our correspondents are dispersed across the globe. I think the two biggest technical advantages that digital activism has are 1) the speed at which technology is being introduced, improved upon, and made widely available and 2) the number of tools that are available, which enables users to use the one that best suits their situation. It’s not a one-sie-fit-all. It’s a custom-tailored approach. The biggest qualitative advantage of digital activism is, as mentioned, the ability to connect to so many people and get yourself in front of large number of eyes and ears!

If you could live on any street, what would that street be named and why?

“Hope Street” – Simon

“The Beginning” – Kate

“TechCanHelpUChangeTheWorld Blvd.” – Mary

Who would be your dream real-life neighbor?

Some of the answers from the DigiActive team include: An international group of passionate grassroots activists, committed to the goal of realizing the human dignity of all the world’s citizens. Dalaid Lama and Dave Barry. Maybe Jon Stewart too.

What was the last URL you added to your RSS feed?

What’s your favorite blog post and why?

Successful digital activism campaign are always fun to write about. Whether it be about young Egyptian activists using Facebook to organize a country-wide strike, about Jamaican gay rights activists who use blogs and the internet to fight to get into a UN AIDS meeting or about activists in Morocco who used the web to coordinate a successful international campaign to free the “Facebook Prisonner”. However it is also important to consider the limitations of digital activism and provide useful information and guides on how to best harness its potential.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned from blogging?

  • Don’t be afraid to express yourself – everyones experience and opinions count.
  • That it takes a global village to write a blog.
  • It’s a great way to meet and to get to know incredible people from around the world.

Liked what you read? Feel free to share with others: Bookmark and Share

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Past Blogger Neighbors Include:

This continuous series highlights different blogs and their respective bloggers in the blogosphere neighborhood. Following the great Mr. Rogers, who tells us to ‘Get to know your neighbor,’ this series introduces us to our blogger neighbors, making for a more unified, collaborative voice for the social sector. Like to nominate someone or be featured yourself? Contact me @ socialbutterfly4change@gmail.com.

Social Marketing Blogger Neighbor Hailing All the Way from Argentina

Meet Vanessa Mason. She’s living purposefully, making a difference, doing what she believes in …and working in Mozambique!

Currently, a small number of social marketing (true SM) bloggers exist. Two of the greats, Nedra Weinreich and Craig Lefebrve are both amazing, but I was thrilled to also learn about Vanessa’s passion and knowledge for public health and social marketing as well. Thus, I nominated her for this week’s Blogger Neighborhood, as she is new to the block, and we need her help!

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Blog/Site Name: Subject to Change

Blog Topics: social change, public health and observations about my experiences abroad

About the Author: After graduating from Yale University in 2006, Vanessa headed to DC, searching for a job that would allow her to be of service to disadvantaged populations. After working for a government contractor in health communication, she packed her bags and volunteered in Mozambique, assisting in a capacity building program for Mozambican NGOs working in HIV/AIDS. She currently lives in Argentina as a volunteer with a community health center that treats HIV patients.

Vanessa is passionate about public health, especially in developing countries, which is the perfect outlet to feed her love of travel and social change. Her blog features observations about social change through the prism of public health.

If you could live on any street, what would that street be named and why?

Sustainable Change Lane. The more I learn about social change, both through reading and my volunteering experiences abroad, the more I see the need to implement social change that can be sustained within the community without the continued intervention of outside funds and staff.

Who would be your dream real-life neighbor?

Dr. Paul Farmer. I just finished reading his book Pathologies of Power. I was amazed at the level of dedication that he has to helping the poorest of the poor have access to adequate health care. His organization, Partners in Health, does some amazing work all over the world.

If you customized your own license plate, what would it say and why?

TRY AGN. If you are working in social change, it is easy to get discouraged by the numerous obstacles. It is hard to see the faults in the world and know ways to correct them, yet still not be able to bring about change. I think that the license plate is encouragement that we need to keep trying because that is the only way that we will see any changes.

What would you gift to a new neighbor as the perfect welcoming gift?

I think plants are always good; they make white walls seem less sterile. Paper whites are good because they are easy to take care of and smell nice.

What’s your favorite blog post and why?

I think that it is a pair of them. The first, Meet Sylvia, was my attempt to talk about the wonderful people who I have met here and well as sharing my personal challenges with my work. The second post, Give Life 101 – Organ Donation, was inspired by my desire to make something positive out of the sad situation that I faced.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned from blogging?

I have been amazed at the possibility to make personal connections through blogging. It has been an unanticipated yet wonderful benefit.

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Past Blogger Neighbors Include:

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This continuous weekly series highlights different blogs and their respective bloggers in the blogosphere neighborhood. Following the great Mr. Rogers, who tells us to ‘Get to know your neighbor,’ this series introduces us to our blogger neighbors, making for a more unified, collaborative voice for the social sector. Like to nominate someone or be featured yourself? Contact me @ socialbutterfly4change@gmail.com.


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Social Marketing l Nonprofit: Conferences, Events and More

This week I’ve noticed numerous announcements events, so I’m sharing them. If you would like an event you know about or are hosting, let me know and I’ll add it here and on my SM Events page (currently in progress), please let me know. =)

Perhaps we could get more social marketing and social change themed initiatives integrated into more events…anyone else see this call for a Humanitarian Lion at the Cannes Festival this summer? Thoughts?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADxCCpV5aVU

Conferences

June 2-4, 2008
Social Marketing University:

Objective: Train, teach and engage social marketing practitioners
Host: Weinreich Communications Location: Washington D.C.
Registration Contact: Nedra Weinreich, training@social-marketing.com

 

June 15-21, 2008
Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival

Extra: The Cannes Festival is wider than social marketing and nonprofit, but it’s the Cannes, and thus, must be included. Anybody see this YouTube message to the big dogs at the Cannes, calling for a Humanitarian Lion?
Location: Cannes, France
Registration Contact: Online Here

June 18-21, 2008
18th Social Marketing in Public Health Conference

Theme: Translation * Dissemination * Change
Host: University of South Florida Location: Clearwater, Florida
Extra: The first half of the conference is a social marketing training academy, while the second half is the main conference event.

June 22-24, 2008
Social Tech Training

Theme: Building New Leaders. Supporting Social Change. Harnessing Web Thinking.
Host: Web of Change and MaRS Location: MaRS Center, Toronto, CAN
Registration Contact: Sarah Pullman, info@webofchange.com

July 14-16, 2008
2008 International NonProfit and Social Marketing Conference

Theme: Partnerships, Proof and Practice
Host: Center for Health Initiatives, University of Wollongong Location: New South Wales, AUS
Registration Contact: Kelly Andrews, kellym@uow.edu.au

July 14-16, 2008
2008 AMA NonProfit Marketing Conference

Theme: Telling Your Story: From Vision to Results
Host: AMA and the AMA Foundation Location: Washington D.C.

August 12-14, 2008
2nd Annual National Health Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media

Theme: Engage and Deliver
Host: CDC, National Center for Health Marketing Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Registration Contact: Lisa McBride, lisamcbride@conferencemanagers.com

September 29-30, 2008
1st World Social Marketing Conference

Objective: Bring delegates, speakers, and exhibitors from around the world together to discuss the application of social marketing.
Host: International SM Organizations Location: Brighton, England
Application Deadline: February 29, 2008 Time: 2 days
Contact: srm@uleth.ca

December 1-3, 2008
Australian and New Zealand Marketing Conference 2008

Theme: Shifting Focus from the Mainstream to the Offbeat (has a social, not-for-profit and political marketing streat)
Host: ANZMC, SONY and MONASH University Location: Sydney, AUS
Contact: ANZMAC2008@uws.edu.au

Workshops

July 10-12, 2008
2008 Montana Summer Institute for Social Norms Practitioners

Objective: Develop and refine social norms messages and projects through interactive workshops by bringing together a community of practitioners.
Host: Most of Us Location: Bozeman, Montana
Application Deadline: April 7, 2008 Time: 3 days
Contact: Jeff Linkenbach, Ed.D

July 13, 2008
4th Annual Summer Institute for Social Marketing & Health Communication

Objective: The goal is to bring communication and creative professionals together to work in interdisciplinary teams that apply social marketing theory and principles to some of the biggest social issues of our time. Includes interactive lectures and discussion sessions, case study presentations, group exercises and networking with guest lecturers.
Host
: Emerson College Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Application Deadline: May 1, 2008 Time: 5.5 Days
Contact: Tim Edgar @ 617.824.8743 or at timothy_edgar@emerson.edu

More

  • Kivi Leroux Miller from Nonprofit Communications, is launching a series of a dozen new webinars covering topics from nonprofit story writing, annual reports, e-newsletters, social media strategy and more. Kivi’s webinars also feature fellow expert guests as well!
  • Mark Scrimshire over at EKIVE is putting together HealthCampMD on June 14, 2008 in Owings Mills, Maryland to discuss issues related to Health 2.0. Visit the event’s Wiki site here.
  • The University of South Florida is also hosting its 2008 7-Day Social Marketing Field School from June 13-17, 2008 in Tampa, Florida.
  • Britt Bravo and fellow BlogHer editors are attending the “Blogging Birds of a Feather Meet-Up: Green/Social Change” on Friday, July 18th at the BlogHer Conference in San Francisco, CA.