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April 27, 2007
Are YOU A Luddite?? (Marketers Take Special Note!)
I don't think of myself as a Luddite (From Wikipedia definition..."The Luddites were a social movement of English textile artisans in the early nineteenth century who protested — often by destroying textile machines — against the changes produced by the Industrial Revolution, which they felt threatened their livelihood.").
Just wanted to start off that way. I graduated from an Ivy League school, have a graduate degree in Chemistry, and have been an entrepreneur for 20+ years. I know how to use by DVD player, installed my home office network, have a Sonos wireless music distribution system in my house and have a Rhapsody subscription license.
But, as I was catching up on Robert Scoble's now-famous blog (Scobleizer)...started when he was a Microsoft Technical Evangalist and now maintained from his new post as VP of Media Development at PodTech.net...I began to feel like one. His May 24 posting "Google Tracking My History" is valuable for anyone who's business is touched by the Internet (read...everyone.)
I didn't know about Google History (heck, Seth Godin already has a History history...). I had not yet signed up for my Twitter account, and so, even as a pretty forward-thinking marketer, I did not know what Twitterment was.
Now that I have flogged myself mercilessly, let me note that I often work in industries that are pretty "conservative." And as a reader, if you had never heard the term Luddite, have never visited Wikipedia, did not know who Robert Scoble was, did not know Seth Godin, aren't familiar with Google applications, never had heard of Twitter or did not get the Rhapsody reference...then I suggest that you start looking for work in a textile factory.
The point? The next generation of marketers are entereing the workforce. Check our this year's Brandweek list of "Marketers of the Next Generation." (If link broken, let me know...) Some of their tactics scare even me, but if you find their work offensive or silly or useless....then you are not connected to the changes that are coming. As with any revolution, this one will be fueled by information and what most of us over 50 types need to remember is that human knowledge accumulates and it is accelerating the pace of learning. Marketing as we know it is being turned upside down and you need to shake off the dust and start learning the new tools. They may not all apply immediately for you...but awareness is the start.
Posted by jcioban at April 27, 2007 9:21 AM
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