CES: Miscrosoft’s Failures

January 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The big business news as we got closer to the opening of the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), was the news that Microsoft was pulling the plug on their participation in the annual gadget fest here in Las Vegas.

But like most mainstream news, it was really a non-news item generated by (yawn) yet another Microsoft attempt at seeming to be relevant to the show or to the world of consumer electronics.  The last time Microsoft was relevant to anything related to consumer electronics was the introduction of Windows XP..  Even that launch went like any other Microsoft launch. It bombed with bugs and software issues.

And Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer, making the final keynote presentation of the company’s 12 year string, was pretty much a bore.  Trying to be upbeat about nothing exciting (yea, Windows 8!!) and the trying not to highlight the fact that the big news of CES the last 5 years has been about Apple, not Microsoft.  Even Bill Gates, giving his last keynote speech three years ago, had to admit that Apple and the iPhone was the big item of the show.  (Apple does not attend or exhibit at CES).

At least this year, his Microsoft powered devices  didn’t crash as in previous years.

The big question on everyone’s mind was not what impact this will have on the show, but what will replace all the floor space Microsoft usually takes up??  It was if Microsoft had already packed up and left…  They are still here, but certainly not missed…

Bad Timing

This announcement and the direction consumer electronics is going, shows another failure in Microsoft’s ability to be important.  Bill Gates always tried to copy his arch nemesis, Steve Jobs by wanting to release new products at their own events or on their own time frame.  Thinking they could carry the event on the fact that it’s Microsoft.  It had to be important.  Instead of having the product ship -ready in time for the International CES – A trade show visited by retailer buyers and news media from around the world.

Let me explain it better.  Imagine if General Motors decided to show up at the annual Detroit Car Show with last year’s models.  Saying they weren’t ready for the show and wanted instead, to release them next month at their own show.  What do you think would happen to their sales?  To their reviews from the car magazines??    No bailout could save them.

Now that Microsoft is closing up their tent at CES shows they misread the market again.  This is the best time for them to be here.  Microsoft has always been about applications, software and auxiliary services.  Just what the CES and its marketplace is maturing into.

Most of the news-makers at this year’s show has been about applications, integration and service/support. Not products.  Microsoft’s cash cow has always been forcing the market to accept its applications, its software and its support.  Gates didn’t become a billionaire on hardware.  This is the perfect time to be Microsoft and be at CES – if only they had a plan and a CEO who had less ego and more brains.

Next year, it will be “Microsoft who??”

Oh well, the show must go on and it will until January 13…


Social Media is Not a Crutch!

January 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This article is directed more at Pubic Relations people who should know better, than at the social media user.  However, it may be valuable to read for the entertainment value or that you may see some of you in what happened to me.

Tuesday begins the Mega-Convention in Las Vegas commonly known as CES, or The Consumer Electronics Show.  About 140,000 people are expected to attend.  Don’t worry, I will have some updates from the show on twitter and here.

About two weeks before the event, my inbox starts to get flooded with press releases from some of the exhibitors, wanting me to inform you of the newest, greatest and best gadgets for the new year.  Some of these press releases were used for articles in a couple of the websites that I manage.

Several of the emails (as well as Facebook messages) were more hate mail, than press releases.  Maybe hate email is the wrong word…  The PR firms were noting that I referred to several of their client’s competitors, but failed to mention their clients in the same article.  They wanted to know why?  What can they do to get their clients mentioned in future articles??

My answers and their responses was a bit shocking, but not unexpected.  I replied that their competitor sent me press releases and offered more in-depth information as well as a variety of images I could use in my article.  They responded that they did the same thing.  I replied wondering how I missed that email.  Their counter response was that it’s not in a press release, I needed to go to their Facebook page or twitter feed.  It’s all right there ready for me to copy and past what I need.  With it there, they don’t send out press releases anymore.  In other words, I  need to seek them out.

The funny thing was that they sent me an email telling me how I forgot to talk about their client, but they can’t send me an email telling me about their client??

I need to Seek You??

In the business world of Social Media Marketing, who needs who??  The idea behind businesses using Social media, the object of the game is to get people talking about you.  To do that, you need to get out there and make the connections.  Feed the mill and prime the pump.  Just because there is a new named attached, doesn’t mean the old rules of marketing don’t apply.  It’s still marketing.  You still have to pound the proverbial pavement to find the people who can spread your message.

With 200 exhibitors, I should be following all of them, actively seeking out bits of news and information I can use?  Why?  When the smart ones use Social Media Marketing as a tool, not a crutch.  That your competitors try being social with their media, interacting with potential outlets that can spread the message they want spread.  With that, why should I go looking for you??

A great example is YouTube.  When you look at some of the videos that go viral on YouTube, notice how they go viral?  Many of them are not natural in the beginning.  The boost comes from some old-fashioned marketing.  Some direct emails are sent to  people; journalist, bloggers, etc…  who can spread the message. The video goes viral once the news of the video goes viral.   They seek out others who can spread the message.

Social Media is a tool in your box of marketing tips and tricks.  It’s not the only tool.  Don’t be afraid to spread the message to get the message out there. That’s why it’s called “social.”

 

 

 


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