Earned Media

I think the "earned media" meme is a useful one -- if brands want "coverage" in a world of professional AND consumer-generated media, they will have to earn it, not just pay for it. In the past, earning it was managed through PR -- the pros wrote about you because you deserved it (and you did a good job of convincing them of that fact). Today we realize that great products and great customer service can earn you accolades from the hordes of bloggers, twitters, and facbookers (and the inverse is also true).

Here's Pete Blackshaw...

This is important to internalize because maximizing earned media requires a much more fundamental shift than just "embracing social media." Setting up shop on Facebook is the easy part. Developing the brand business processes that increase odds of advocacy or favorable earned media is quite a different thing, but it's essential. If, in fact, the manner in which employees treat customers does more to drive online love (or venom) than your best advertising campaign, we have a fundamentally bigger challenge (and opportunity) on our hands.

who refers to Fred Wilson...

Earned media is media you don't buy but earn the hard way. PR is an example of earned media. Word of mouth is another. Earned media has been around forever. But it has now gotten a lot easier, thanks to the Internet and social media, to earn media for your brand, product, or self.

who refers to Jerry Solomon:

The first step is to stop the monologue and begin a dialogue. Start listening and responding. Marketers understand TV, radio and print. They remain effective but no longer as dominant. No need to abandon them. However, brands need to become equally adept at mastering the language of social networking, blogging and online content. This begins with investment in new business models. Accept more will fail than succeed. Unfortunately the only method of determining the ones that work is by putting the resources and will behind them. The brands that invest in unlocking the code will develop genuine relationships with their customers, as well they should. They earned it.