What’s New in the World of Sojo

I don’t believe we’ll see another year in our life time like 2009 has started off to be. It’s going to be a year of positives and negatives.

I know for sure though that it will be a year of shake ups and shake outs – leaving only survivors!

We started the year with a new President – who won an election that had never been run before! It was full of life and suspense, made for TV drama– in fact no other election had been watched so closely – GLOBALLY! Not just by Americans but by people World Wide. More importantly to Sojo, it was an election won by creating a strong brand, implementing a well thought-out marketing plan and using the web and it’s Social Networks to WIN! It has created a precedence that I am sure we will see in the future of almost any election big or small.

On another note for 2009 – Industries that have been around for generations are now being threatened – Life has certainly changed on planet earth. The new consumer is not just technologically savvy but globally aware and strategic with their buying power! Hence the car industry and other industries that haven’t changed much in operations and selling propositions in the past 100 years are being forced into the 21st Century – those who make it – Great – those who don’t will give way to the new and innovative!

I love challenges – in fact, Sojo was started during challenging times – who remembers the technology shake out of 2000-2001? Our Sojo team has taken on 2009 with a vengeance and in looking for the best solutions for our clients – we know full well – happy clients translates for us to great company. We are the Toyota of our industry – providing our clients with the BEST services and solutions out there at the BEST price.

What an awesome time we live in – let’s celebrate and take it on 2009!

Technology Transforms All Industries

Today is a historic day in the making. Today we inaugurated our 44th president.

One of the many things that makes Barack Obama different from any other presidents we've had is how he has embraced technology.

Every day, new forms of technology come out to enrich our lives - making our tasks and every day life more comfortable, more communicative, and more productive. New forms of technology have an impact on every industry in the world. Even when you're the president of United States.

One of the new things we saw during the last election, especially from Obama, was the use of social networking sites including Facebook, Myspace, YouTube, Flickr, Digg, Twitter, and Linkedin among others. Obama created a personalized website and blog to encourage direct interaction among the people. He used email blasts and text messaging to send out announcements to his supporters. And he relied on his BlackBerry heavily to manage his campaign and stay abreast on issues happening throughout the world - so much so, that he has already expressed what a challenge it will be to give it up during his presidency.

During his election he expressed his plans of appointing the first-ever national chief technology officer, a move that has potential to bring much-needed innovation to America's governmental sectors.

This is one example of how every sector is touched with technology advances and changes. Companies can either embrace the changes and adapt or get left behind.

Obama + marketing = winner

This has truly been an amazing month watching the election wind down. History was made!

Even more amazing to me is Obama's campaign - aside from his policies, plans, and views, there's his marketing. As someone that works in the marketing industry, I was able to see both sides to Obama - the presidental and the marketing. He was everywhere and purposely made sure of that - MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Even his website links to a number of social networks - Facebook, Myspace, YouTube, Flickr, Digg, Twitter, Linkedin - to name a few. His website is crisp, clean, and user-friendly and his messages, plans, and stances on issues are clear on the website. He has a section of downloadables, his website is personalized for you, and there was even a website created solely for the purpose of addressing smears.

I followed him on Twitter and got up-to-the-minute updates. Someone from his camp even updated his Twitter the moment the news was announced that he would become the president-elect. I know, I checked. :)

On top of that, Obama even purchased ad space (the first presidential candidate to ever do so) in video games such as XBox 360's "Madden 09" or "Guitar Hero."




Countless artists have rendered their creations in support such as the famous "Hope" poster.




Musicians have written and infused his speeches into their music.





And Obama's presence on YouTube is unmeasurable.

The amount of content that Obama supporters have created is simply astounding! It's no wonder Ad Age named Obama 2008's Marketer of the Year! Obama truly embraced the social networks and the viral marketing world and made it work for him instead of against him. No doubt, he set the pace and the path for the presidential candidates after him.

Obama’s Win Offers a New Brand for America

I expected President Elect Obama to win the elections last Tuesday night but I was unprepared for the wave of emotions that swept through me when I realized what had really just happened. I have worked in the world of marketing and technology for almost 20 years and have had the chance to work across all party lines with democrats and republicans, black and white, old and young, rich and poor and this is the first time in our history a brand has managed to speak to ALL - Globally!!

What President Obama has accomplished, no matter your affiliation, you have to admit has been profound! His win represents a new beginning for all of America and the World. It’s a break away from past ideology and way of thinking. We are back to the reason of why I followed my dreams and came to America – “The land of opportunity where anything is possible with hard work, faith and determination”.

A strong message was sent around the globe…America is the world leader, they are democratic and progressive. As Americans we cannot forget that the World is always watching us and in the last few years most people outside the U.S. from Africa to Europe saw us as “The U.S. against everyone else.” The feeling now is that America has changed with this election and the World will be a safer place for all of us that live on this globe.

Without a doubt Barack Obama's win has given Brand America the immediate boost it so badly needed. But Brand America now has some serious work to do. Let’s all roll up our sleeves as the real work starts NOW!!