Ad, Social Networking Hub Creates ‘Buzz’

Words of the Day

“That buzzing noise means something.  If there’s a buzzing noise, somebody’s making a buzzing noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing noise that I know of is because you’re a bee.”  – Winnie the Pooh

Google Had Big Week, Takes Golden Mic

It was quite a week for Google.  It scored big time with its Super Bowl ad … and in many ways stole the show.  Remarkable in its simplicity, it effectively resonated and reflected the brand promise through a hip love story strung together by Google searches.  Viewers were taken to Paris initially for study abroad, but quickly moved to cafes, chocolates, a relationship, flights, churches and finally how to assemble a crib – never leaving the Google site itself. Brilliant!

To view a listing of the best and worst Super Bowl ads, rated by viewers, check out the USA TODAY Ad Meter.

Then, the search engine powerhouse launched a new social networking hub called Buzz to compete with the likes of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn – which immediately set off a firestorm over privacy issues.  Buzz automatically creates circles of friends based on users’ most frequent contacts on Gmail.  But Google respond immediately, and within days rolled-out a solution that gives users control over who sees what they post.  It also posted an informative blog that welcomed suggestions from readers to improve the Buzz experience and keep user control top-of-mind.  This is a central tenet in effective crisis communications – respond quickly, clearly and in an atmosphere of transparency, and you can win in the court of public opinion.

Buzz offers many of the features that have made Facebook a must-have communications tool: 

♦  Lets Gmail users post updates about what they are doing, thinking and working on

♦  Track other people’s updates

♦  Offer comments on posts

Golden Mic

Each week, Wordsmith will bestow a Golden Mic Award to the person, group or company in the court of public opinion that best exemplifies the tenets of solid PR, marketing and advertising – and those who don’t.  Stay tuned … and step-up to the mic!

The WordSmith News Bureau is based at Deane Smith Media Innovations, a full-service PR, marketing and advertising agency.  Got PR?  Need marketing strategy? Ad consulting?  Message Wordsmithing?  Creative & online initiatives? Reach the WordSmith at wordsmith@deanesmithmedia.com