Chris Klaehn, Partner and Director of Brand Strategy at Corey McPherson Nash (Corey) joined Dave Fish, CEO, IMN, to discuss the role social media plays in branding in this podcast. Klaehn references several thoughtful relevant examples of brands engaging in social media and also offers up tips on developing a social media strategy for your brand. Do you agree or is Chris full of soup?

When Apple launched the much-anticipated iPad last month, Twitter and the blogosphere went crazy discussing the new product. But the attention was probably not what Apple was banking on.

The product name received as much, if not more, attention than the product features and pricing. While Apple was clearly trying to tie the name to its existing product line of iTouches, iPhones and iPods, they seemed to misread how the market might respond to a product called the iPad.

Within minutes of Steve Jobs revealing the product, the online community was making jokes associating the new device with feminine protection. A YouTube video mocking the name quickly went viral and iTampon was a trending topic on Twitter.

These spoofs were all in good fun, but some more serious treaties of the product asked the question, did Apple consider women when naming the product and does the tech giant employ any women on its development team?

With women comprising 51 percent of the population and controlling at least 85 percent of consumer purchasing power, it behooves any company to consider the female perspective when bringing a new product to market. Apple is known for its quality, elegant products that appeal to both genders. By any account, we would normally consider them to be a “thoughtful” brand. But being thoughtful means considering all aspects of a brand starting with the name. In the case of the iPad, Apple didn’t have its “i” on the ball.

A presentation by Michael McPherson at the 2010 CASE District 1 Conference in Boston on January 28, 2010

Learn how independent schools are leveraging online communities such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Ning, LinkedIn, Flickr, YouTube, and Vimeo to support recruiting, fundraising, and alumni networking efforts. The session will review the most popular networks, explore ways to connect and engage your audience and discuss how to make the most of social media with limited resources.

In today’s jobless recovery, applying for jobs and hiring employees is stressful. Job seekers send resumes out hoping their document will rise to the top of the pile, but not very confident it will. And employers prepare themselves to slog through applications hoping to find the right match.

In the midst of this tense environment, Monster.com, the premier global online employment site, asked us to create an interactive demo. The demo connects employers with quality job seekers at all levels and provides personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through its online media sites and services, Monster delivers qualified local candidates to business of all sizes.

The demo is designed to show the value of Monster’s hiring tools and how easy and effective they can be for companies of all sizes. The tone of the demo is fun and funky, but it also gives visitors the opportunity to halt the animation and to spend time exploring each of the tools. The demo concludes with a video of testimonials from enthusiastic customers.

Monster understands the true essence of its brand and we are proud to collaborate with them on projects that are core to their continued success. The demo is not just an employment tool. It is an extension of what sets Monster apart from other companies – a commitment to help both job seekers and employers get the advantage they need. And that, is thoughtful.

Stratospheric tuition. Escalating costs. Shifting demography. Expanding choice. These and other numerous external factors can potentially damage, or even deplete, the new student prospect pool, so schools must pay more attention than ever before to marketing concerns. While many equate marketing with advertising and promotion, making the most of external initiatives begins with a cohesive and collaborative internal effort. The most effective school marketers recognize the power of partnerships among key internal stakeholders, including faculty, admissions, development and finance staff. Integrating departmental functions is not only good leadership and management — it’s great marketing. By listening carefully to those you seek to serve, making sure all stakeholders understand their roles, and putting the right technology infrastructure in place to support communication, schools can foster strong internal collaboration that helps to advance their missions.