by jydesign | Dec 1, 2013 | Blog
“In Gox We Trust” educating consumers on Bitcoin and other technologies
OK, I admit it, I wrote this primarily so I could write the caption above. Overall, I’m taking a neutral-to-skeptical view on Bitcoin. However, Tibanne Co.’s launch of Bitcoins.com as an attempt to popularize its adoption, is quite notable. Many publications have already covered this in detail. I’m more interested in what it represents for technology marketing.
Popularizing nascent “invisible” technologies
Source: Bitcoins.com
Educating the broader population, about brand new technologies that catch on after they incubate among ‘early adopters’, is no small feat. For technologists and marketers, there’s a lot to learn from these recent efforts. What’s challenging about platform-type technologies like Bitcoin or Twitter, just to name a few, is their ethereal quality. You can’t put a Bitcoin in your wallet.
I’ve been marketing software for many years, and I’ve always envied companies that create physical products. Apple can simply place a perfectly photographed iDevice on their homepage, and that’s almost all that’s needed to produce a pavlovian response in gadget lovers. Selling software and services requires different tactics, and I think we’ve yet to find a predictable framework for doing so. Mobility and expanding options in “channels” only increases the complexity (and opportunity) of this task.
Teaching to the Trend (more…)
by jydesign | Nov 1, 2013 | Blog, Music
It can be challenging for musicians and bands to make a living in a post-Napster world. So, what can you do as a fan to help your favorite musical acts make a buck? Here’s my current strategy for trying to make my music listening habits result in financial reward for bands:
- Own it: Yes, buy the Paid Download or CD. This is the most obvious one. If you like the band, download or pre-order their full albums directly from the artist’s website. This likely won’t be the cheapest option, but it’s usually the most lucrative for the band. If that’s not possible then grab them at Amazon MP3 Store / iTunes / Google Play or get the CD and rip it. This is probably the best way to make sure the artist gets the most money for you having the privilege of possessing a copy of their music.
- Stream it, AFTER you own it: This is the extra bump I’m hoping will help musicians. Even after I download their music or buy a CD, I still try to stream their music whenever possible. Regardless of whether or not I have a personal copy on a device at hand, I’ll still try to stream their music via free Spotify desktop (or paid pro/mobile) for example. My theory, and hope, is that this is a helpful double-dip for the band. I bought their music AND I’m also sending them a little extra money for every track I stream – sweetening the deal beyond my initial purchase.
- Super-size it, with CD / Download / Merchandise Bundles: If you really like an artist, then take advantage of any “merch” promos that include extra stuff and buy it directly from their site. This is often a great way to get a t-shirt, poster, or other collectible while driving up profit margins for the band.
- Attend it: Go to shows, buy any of the above items there too. While you are at it, buy the band a round of drinks!
- Share your love for it: Use the ‘water cooler’ and social media to promote your favorite bands and artists. Hopefully it will result in others doing these same things.
In closing, I’m a lover of music and play mandolin with my friends in the ‘band’ The Hired Men. Please contact me on Twitter if you have other suggestions. Good luck to any musician that can manage to make a living nowadays, because music makes the world go round.
