MPC Community Update

Well our site is 89% there!  We need to launch it internally first (goal: Friday 5/23/0 tweak it, mold it, learn it & then we would like to release it to our initial test group of customers by the end of June.

The site is very “thin”, as per the suggestion of Lithium.  I initially had it stacked w/layers of categories, threads & questions to get the customer “started”…but they said the best model is to have it very raw and let it take it’s direction from the users, the customers.

I am very anxious for the educational opportunities internally to help spread the Social Media love with an actual example!  My last education on the site (see link to slideshare.com) I had some great response & enthusiasm mostly from the folder of “it’s about time”. 

 

Deadllines & Timelines

I love timelines, deadlines & the persuit of an end project (notice I didn’t say the “G” word…more on my aversion to that word later).

I understand hick-ups happen & we can easily adjust.  Angela & I have both agreed that we are in love with the proocess, not the timeline.  (ok, she never said “love”, that would just be me).

Our timeline to launch our community is off by about 10 days…but we are ok with that.  We really want to make sure that everyone is informed & educated as to what we are doing & how/why this customer community is going to work. Everyone is getting educated and will be educated again before we launch to our selected customers (our 5K).

No worries, no fretting…we want to make this right.  I love and thrive on deadlines (I actually do my best work when pressured with time…hellooooo my fellow adult ADD firends!)

Will keep you posted!
-jen 

Timeline of Community Adoption

There has been quite a bit of educating the past two weeks and I am thrilled to say that people are “getting it”. 
The education train has stopped at quite a few doorsteps with great feedback.  Yes, there are still a few that are uneasy about being “out there”, but that is understandable & what is even better is that it is not me telling the few why we should be out there, it is their peers, which makes adoption that much easier. 
Quite a few people have expressed “it’s about time” which is great for future steps into the world of 2.0…I know who to go to now to get others excited about adopting the next medium of online communication!
The MPC Community Education timeline: I would like to have the entire company educated by Friday, April 4th.  This has been pushed out a week, which is ok.  I don’t want to rush this process.  Making baby steps (w/hand holding for some, a bit of gentle nudging for others) has been the right way to approach this project.  Yes, my brain swims w/ideas and thoughts of where we should be “at”…but I am learning patience along w/continious education, training & being open & available at all times for questions has been the best form of acceptance into the world of 2.0.
Looking forward to the next phase!

Educate, Educate, Educate

So this past week I have been educating MPC from the top down.  I have made contact with every EVP & Director spreading the love of 2.0!

The GREAT news is that I am not getting the feeling that people are opposed anymore to the idea of opening up a community to our customers…despite possibly still having some transition issues.  My point to one person a few weeks ago: “Just like having kids, there’s never going to be perfect time.”

I will be continuing this blog/conversation/educational opportunity to inform on the highs and lows of trying to take a company into the world of 2.0.  I will outline what has happened so far in another blog later today.
-jen

Community Topics

This is SO exciting!  Angela & I sat down yesterday & came up w/four topics to start out on our community site.  Yes, these might change, evolve or be completly flat (which I highly doubt) but it is a start for our soft launch.  Remember we are targeting our customers that consist of individuals from our Advisory Board Members, Platnum & Gold members, k-12, Higher Ed, Pro division etc. from both MPC & the newly aquired Pro division of Gateway.

There will be many sub-topics under each one…that you will help build & create.
Tell us what you think!

Budgets
Software
Environmental Standards
Professional Development

Look forward to the comments!

Toe Dipping into 2.0

Working for MPC I have brought with me my passion for marketing in the 2.0 world…which I truly believe can be integrated w/traditional marketing AS LONG as the messaging is consistant, not cheesy, smart, transparent & real (not too much to ask for, right?)

This is where companies miss the boat.  You just can’t dibble here and dabble there & expect instant results.  It is a build-up of generating community, trust & loyality with your customers (and your employees too!) then giving them MORE tools to assist you, the marketer, in spreading the word. 

Right now I am doing a lot of educating on why the marketing strategy has to include new media and what tools we should be using to get our message out.  I am also educating on the spirt of new media & how it is up to us to give our customers the right message for them to distribute in this new 2.0 world.  This is my biggest challenge, the consultant in my wants every aspect of marketing at MPC to have a 2.0 plan/focus…and it doesn’t…not yet.

What I know is that I have to focus on what I am doing & PLAN for the future.

I have this drive that wants to do a half nelson w/a tripple flip into the pool & change the world…yet, I am in the kiddie pool.  Right now the company is just learning how to dip their big toe in & get wet with the ongoing production of our community site.  I am looking forward to the day where I can be a trusted advisor on multiple projects & help decide what the best media mix & message can be for our customers to help spread the word…and of course help increase the bottom line.  (Im not a fool, I understand why I get a paycheck 2x/month )

In conclusion: there is a balance of new & traditional media that companies should incorporate into their media mix.  Toe dipping is a good way to get started & build trust…but eventually the high dive will call.

Pre-Pre Kick Off with Lithium

My excitement for this project is just running over!  I am SO excited to be part of a project that is going to have an end result.

My previous employment was as a marketing consultant & project manager for companies that wanted to step into this “new media, social media, blog thing” world.

The difference between being a consultant & being on the “inside” driving a project, is like night & day.  I could endulge SO much more on this, but if anyone has ever been a consultant or hired a consultant…I think you get it.

One of my first project is to increase the number of users that we are going to launch to.  We have 40-50 Advisory Board Members that have been asking for this type of community for a while, so we are excited for their excitement…but we have been told that we need more (as Dave said…”not a red flag, just a pink one”).

So my mission is to gather lists of our other top customers & introduce them not only to this site, but to the whole social media, community concept of communication as a marketing tool.

I welcome feedback & questions…so ask away!  And be sure to do it through this site so everyone can be educated as well!
-jen

Welcome Jennifer

The MPC Corporate marketing team would like to welcome Jennifer Harris! We are excited to have a new member of the team that will develop our customer communities and lead us through the transition of 1.0 to 2.0 marketing. Welcome Jennifer!

Day One…

As the newest addition to MPC Corp’s marketing department, I bring quite a different background than your “traditional” marketer.
I was part owner in a grassroots marketing company based here in Boise that helps companies increase their word of mouth organically & through web 2.0.
My job here is to help with the ever increasing demand of offering a community site for vendors and members to communicate, collaborate and share content.

Goal: to grow MPC’s community site into a successful marketing tool.

Step 1: blog about it!
Step 2: research, research, research…and then blog about it.
Step 3: we will see tomorrow.