Sales, Social and Tech

At one of my previous job to write about the IT media industry, something like a paparazzi of the paparazzi, journalists and writers on the good side used to complain to me about some lazy PR practices. Usually, the complains will be off the record, but with Facebook, bloggers in Singapore are taking to the social networks to complain about the "dark side". Catherine Ling, of Camemberu.com, started the ball rolling by posting on Facebook why PR folks email and ask for her websites states when they can easily be found on the site. Post by Catherine Ling . Other bloggers joined in the fray and immediately commented that the PR person was probably too lazy to go check the states for themselves. Adrian Eugene Seet commented, "Plain laziness. Especially when they ask for Facebook, Instagram and social media sites." For the record, the stats for Camemberu.com can be found at the bottom of her blog. If the PR is too lazy to read about her profile, it can ...

The French... They take down everything.. Wrote Diner en Blanc Singapore , To afford the greatest number of participants, media, and page visitors, the opportunity to read this important message, we have temporarily disabled the Facebook page and are centralizing communications on our main website. We will reactivate it in the next few days as we continue to provide you with updated content and information to make Singapore's first Dîner en Blanc a success!

(Update: It seems Diner en Blanc has made an announcement on their Facebook Page about the incident .) It must be a unpleasant Friday for Thox PR, the PR agency for Diner en Blanc, as they try to manage the social media fall out of the Singapore version of the event. Blogger Daniel Ang was initially invited the Diner en Blanc Singapore event and wrote on his blog on the suggestion of bringing a few white coloured local delicacies to the event.  However, probably under the instructions of the French organisers, the PR agency then proceed to ask Daniel to delete his post and uninvited all bloggers to the event.  Wrote Daniel in his first post,  "G ood question. While the Parisians probably indulged in their platters of classy white canapés, here’s a list of White food you can consider bringing, Singapore style of course. Let’s be a little bit creative. 1. Smooth Beancurd Tau Hway (Available Lao Ban Beancurd Old Airport Road / One Raffles Place) 2. ...

A blogging MRT train driver, who have gone by the name of Gintai, has been given a letter "advise" by his employers, SMRT, to stop commenting on company matters. Wrote  http://gintai.wordpress.com/ , When I told my No: 1 at TNM Crew station that I started a blog some time ago, he asked me if I could make money out of it? What’s the point of wasting my time writing blog posts? I retorted that at least I would have left something behind if I were gone tomorrow whereas he would have left nothing without any legacy. He smirked and snickered at my remark.  Alas! HR got wind of it. In no uncertain terms, I was “advised” to refrain from commenting on company matters. A letter of “advice” will be issued to me. My hands are now tied. No more blogging on my job or SMRT related matters. I do not wish to break my rice bowl. I hope the above will clarify my status quo. Henceforth, I shall still continue with blogging but on other interests or subjects leaving out my job aspect ...

Social media marketers should know by now that deleting of comments, especially negative ones, is a cardinal sin that will forever go into Google infamy. Chapstick, an American lip gloss, however, decided to test it out with fans - deleting negative comments about an awful advertisement which focuses a woman's other lips.  Wrote Adweek ,  Blogger tries to reply on Facebook too. ChapStick deletes her comments. Others object to the image. ChapStick deletes their comments. ChapStick's ads with the line  "Be heard at Facebook.com/ChapStick"  start to look foolish. People keep commenting. ChapStick keeps deleting. People get angry. ChapStick gets worried. The image isn't even that big of a deal—it's ChapStick's reaction to the criticism that galls. "What asses," people say of ChapStick (get it?). People start commenting about why they can't see their old comments. ChapStick can't keep up with all the deleting. Comments are getting throug...

Ragu Sauce is the current brand that has come under the social media spotlight on how not to do social media. Daddy bloggers are outrage that Ragu Sauce is spamming them on Twitter and labeling these dads as lousy cooks in a Youtube video. Wrote Joey of Jabna Media , Their first error was to spam bloggers with tweet mentions on Twitter with a link to the video below. The second problem is the message and tone of the video paints dads as inept and clueless when it comes to cooking for the family. Thirdly the video directs people to the Ragu Sauce Facebook page where the brand totally ignores the situation. CC Chapman, one of the Daddy Blogger, who got the “friendly” twitter message from Ragu lamented about how Ragu Sauce discriminated Daddy Bloggers from the Mommy Bloggers especially in a campaign targeted at Daddy Bloggers. Wrote CC Chapman , If You Want to Engage Parents, Don’t Forget the Dads A final point that only applies to brands who are targeting parents...

Ketchum PR recently came under fire for a "switch and bait" campaign where they invited food bloggers to a famous restaurant only to serve them processed food from ConAgra Foods. This is like a popular Chinese joke where one would say that you are invited to this popular restaurant and will be served by this famous chef but didn't say the food was to be cooked by the chef. Ketchum PR wanted to do a candid camera session with the bloggers where they would film their reaction to consuming processed food instead of real food, something which consumers which see it as a joke. The food bloggers, however, did not hold back their disappointment and punches. Mom Confessions blogged , Our entire meal was a SHAM!   We were unwilling participants in a bait-and-switch for Marie Callender’s new frozen three cheese lasagna and there were cameras watching our reactions.  I’ve got a sense of humor so I was okay with it and I had been enjoying myself up until that point...

SocialBakers.com recently launched, in Beta, the number of LinkedIn users in the world. Here is a breakdown of users in Southeast Asia countries. Philippines top the list of most LinkedIn users in SEA. Country Users Indonesia 630 601 Singapore 597 112 Malaysia 542 097 Philippines 722 171 Thailand 230 359

I knew of Mr Tan Kin Lian when he started his blog when he was CEO of NTUC Income. It was unprecedented then for a local CEO to blog. I have faith that Mr Tan Kin Lian will continue to blog if he gets elected as President. He can't share everything, but at least there will be some form of communication between him and Singaporeans. Such openness in the Presidency will have an effect on the current or the future government to do likewise. The other time I took notice of Mr Tan Kin Lian when he stood up for those affected by the minibonds saga. HK investors were compensated but SG investors won't. Same bank, same investment product, different country, different rules. Mr Tan stood up for them and helped them to get legal support. However, it was against Goliath so everything was against them. I believe he would stand up for Singaporeans when the need arise.

I will be helping out with “live” streaming of the Straight Talk with Mr Tan Kin Lian during the upcoming campaign period in the evening. Viewers are invited to provide feedback and ask questions during the “live” broadcast at the comfort of their own home to learn more about Mr Tan Kin Lian, one of the four candidates for the President of Singapore. Straight Talk with TKL: Voice of the People Date: 19 August (Friday) Time: 9.00pm – 9.45pm Mr Tan Kin Lian will be sharing with the audience why it is important for the President of Singapore to be the Voice of The People and how he will carry out this role when elected. Viewers are invited to ask Mr Tan Kin Lian questions via the ustream.tv chat channel, email at kinlian@gmail.com , twitter with hashtag #tkl2011, Facebook at http://fb.com/tankinlian , or sms at 81685845. Straight Talk with TKL: Independence from the PAP Date: 20 August (Saturday) Time: 9.00pm – 9.45pm Mr Tan Kin Lian has announce...

A Member of Parliament was caught fidgeting with her mobile phone on ‘Live’ TV during National Day when the National Anthem was being played.   Image from MrBrown.com The MP, Ms Penny Low, she apologised to the Nation but her apology fall short of forgiveness from most Singaporeans. Wrote Yahoo Blog , "I was so caught up in the wonderful NDP 2011 and felt so proud of being a Singaporean that I wanted to capture that moment of pride at the very tail end of the anthem, to share on Facebook with my residents," she said. "If in my enthusiasm I offended anyone, please accept my apologies," she said. "NDP is a time to unite, not divide. Majulah Singapura!" Singaporeans online have found it hard to accept her apology. In her apology, Ms Penny Low asked offended Singaporeans to forgive her enthusiasm and not for her actions. A student fidgeting with his mobile phone during assembly when the National Anthem is played will have to spend a ...

Aneace Haddad, Founder and CEO of Taggo, will be speaking at the Social Media World Forum Asia. Aneace will be part of the panel of Social Media Start-ups that will start at 9am on 02 September 2011. From Social Media World Asia Forum Social Media Start-ups In an interactive session hear from the latest start-ups making waves in the social media space. • Latest new tools and platforms available • What these new tools will bring to the social media landscape • How useful are they? How are they different from what else is available? • How can they be integrated into your marketing strategy The SMWF start-ups will each give an overview of their platform then take questions from the floor and via twitter About Taggo Taggo’s patent pending technology provides a new way for brands to connect their Facebook Pages to real world events and create more word of mouth advertising. Taggo makes it easy for brands to offer fan benefits such as VIP entry to...

If you are into social media or want to be into social media, the first thing you ought to do is to stop typing out vulgarities to your friends on any social media outlets. Last March, one social media executive at Health Promotion Board tweeted the f-bomb, which was meant for friends, on the HPB account . On April’s Fool 2011, a social media executive at The Straits Times tweeted the f-bomb, which was also meant for friends, on The Straits Times twitter account – Stcom . Look at both incidents. Both were meant for friends. But because of a mix up in account on the Twitter client, the two behind both accounts send out the f-bomb through these official Twitter accounts. Many have said that the four letter word is something you say commonly to friends and friends take it in jest. However, if the f-bomb comes from an official account, it affects the reputation of the brand. The social media editor for STcom has apologise for the error. Wrote The Straits Times , Upon being ...

The Ministry of Education in Singapore launched a teaching promotion video on Youtube but decided that it was best to disable comments to prevent negative views on teaching from appearing, yet decided to selectively share the good tweets in print. However, popular Singapore blogger, mrbrown was rather irked by this twisted irony and the fact he was quoted without even being informed. Wrote mrbrown , Thanks for liking my tweet enough to use it for your half-page newspaper ad, Ministry of Education. But hor, next time ask me first, can? Or even tell me beforehand? …So your Youtube video cannot leave comments but your newspaper advertisement of your Youtube video suddenly displays "comments" from the likes of me? Ironic, no? mrbrown also warned the agency that he will be giving them a “public canning” if this happens again. The agency has since apologised.

Followers of the Health Promotion Board ( HPBSG ) Twitter’s account were appalled when they saw the four-letter bad word appearing in the Singapore government agency’s tweet stream. According to the followers, the offending tweet went something like this - “Fuck u lah, u same level as me can dont talk to me like tt?”. The tweet has since been removed and handlers for HPBSG have started apologising to followers. According to a search on the hashtag #HPBSG, the offending tweet was meant for the friend of the person handling the HPBSG Twitter account. A mix up between the personal account and the HPB account might have resulting in the offending tweet. Lesson of the day: Be nice on Twitter especially if you are responsible for multiple Twitter accounts.

(Update: According to a tweet from Melody, she received an email from AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes and a call  from AirAsia to inform her that refund procedures started on Dec 28, 2010.) In Blackberry mobile app AirAsia may trust. A passenger, however, unfortunately encountered a bug in the app that accepted the passenger’s credit card payment, issued a booking number but the ticket was not reflected as confirm when the passenger checked the online system and service staff. The passenger had no choice but to book another ticket online. A few days passed and the passenger was shocked to see her credit card issuer had charged her for making the payment via AirAsia Blackberry app. This started her agonising voyage of trying to get a refund, only to be send in circles. Wrote Melody Ng on Facebook, Nov 9, 2010 -       Made a booking via AirAsia Blackberry mobile app. Payment made via credit card transaction of RM148.00 -  ...

2011 is the lunar year of the rabbit. I find it interesting that somehow my predictions for social media in 2011 have same similar characteristic of the furry animal. 1. Strong focus on location marketing Like a rabbit jumping from one farm to another searching for the best carrots, location marketing will become one of the most important feature for social media in 2011. Location marketing encompasses location based marketing. Location based marketing looked to bring online customers to the stores. That’s just the first part of it. The next goal of location marketing is to encourage/recommend friends within their social network to go to the same venue too. Such recommendations will come in short comments, the number of likes and star rating. The signs are there. Google with their hotpot experiment, Foursquare with their latest photo and comments feature. When Facebook launch Places in Asia, it would be surprising there will be encouragement to provide reviews to venues....

There was quite an excitement over Lenovo Singapore Foursquare campaign at the recently ended Sitex 2010. One Singapore blogger expected the promotion to cause a trend among Foursquare users in Singapore. Kudos to Singapore Lenovo to use Foursquare for SITEX. Wrote DK , Think this is the first time a company in Singapore uses Foursquare at a consumer IT exhibition like this. With such promotion, the Lenovo booth will most likely be trending every morning. Once the location is trending, other Foursquare users nearby will see the location in the trending list. It’s a good way to inform visitors the booth location. I wonder how is the success rate. The campaign was rather simple. Check in to Lenovo’s Sitex booth on Foursquare and get a mystery gift. The first 30 check in daily would get a mystery prize. As such, I would assume that Lenovo Singapore was looking to get a total of 120 check ins over the four days of Sitex 2010.   However, at the end of Sitex 2010, only 12...

Qantas have made a request to Singapore’s ChannelNews Asia reporter and anchorman, Timothy Go, to take down his Facebook post questioning Qantas’ maintenance record. This after a second Qantas aircraft was forced to made an emergency landing at Singapore’s Changi Airport. Qantas was obviously offended when Timothy post the following status update: Qantas QF6 returns to Singapore after engine problems. This time a B747. Qantas have serious maintenance issues to solve! After that, Qantas asked Timothy to take down his post which Timothy decided not to. Qantas asked me to remove my previous post about the airline having maintenance issues. They said as a journalist I should not speculate until investigations are complete. So I wont. I'll let the article below explain. Friends of Timothy on Facebook have in turn question Qantas’ action. Commented George Orr, As a journalist, you inform the public without fear or favor. You don't work for them. You work for yo...

Advocate/Burson-Masteller recently interviewed Burson-Marsteller APAC CEO Bob Pickard and uploaded on Youtube. Given that the video was recorded with a Flip-cam, the digital team should have at least invested in a tripod and a external mic to improve the quality of the video. The video was rather shaky throughout and gave me a headache just a few seconds into the interview. The answers from Bob were rather inaudible at times. The BM Advocate team should look at investing in a Flip Video Tripod to reduce the shaking and an external mic for better audio quality. Though it shows initiative for the team to do a video interview with the Asia CEO, it creates the perception of the amateurish approach the digital team took to do an interview with a CEO. If you are a small brand with limited funds, yes, your mobile phone could be the only tool you would use. However, if you are using a video to represent your corporation, you want to give your video a little shine to well present ...