KLM answers every tweet and post in person

KLM launched KLM live reply; a service whereby every tweet and post will be answered within the hour, 24 hours a day. To promote this service, KLM switched for one day from normal Facebook and Twitter replies, to "living" replies with their own staff. In 12 hours over 60 questions were answered by 500 KLM employees. See the video below to get an impression!



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Must See - The Social Network

Not (yet) believing in the world of social media and its major effects? Check out "The Social Network"; a movie about the rapid growth of Facebook in only a couple of years.

Luxury goods... Brands!

Do you like to show your luxury goodies to the worlds? Do you think that your social status depends on your new Gucci, Mercedes or Louis Vuitton? It might be that you are being influenced by the so called "haves"; people who have enough money to buy expensive luxury products. The European Institute for Brand Management published a reasearch about the social status that people (like to) gain by showing their new and expensive goods (2010).

The research showed that the value of luxury goods is related to the amount of social status that one needs. Society can therefore be divided into "haves" and "have-nots". "Haves" are the people who are able to buy the most expensive products and are trendsetting. "Have-nots" are people who are not able to buy expensive brands, but are definetely willing to.

The rich and famous as well as the people who cannot afford expensive luxury, are relating their social status to brands. Some like to show their expensive goods, others do not. The "haves" - for example (some) reality stars, actors, or singers - can influence the "have-nots" - for example (insecure) teenagers who are watching reality shows or people that like to associate themselves with famous movie stars. The last group of people will buy luxury brands anyway, save for it or will buy fake ones.

Fake products, such as the fake Louis Vuitton handbangs or the fake Rolex watches that can be bought on every street corner in for example Thailand or Turkey, are very populair with the "have-nots" group. For this group their social status is so important that they rather buy a fake handbag, than buy no handbag at all. What this group does not realize, is that an enormous criminal network is behind the production of fake products and that they are contributing to that network as well.

Rather wear fake than no brand at all or like to show off your luxury goods? See what kind of type you are: http://www.eurib.org/bibliotheek-kenniscentrum/kenniscentrum/strategisch-merkenbeleid.html

The city as a brand

City marketing is hot! London, Berlin, Madrid, Amsterdam and last but not least New York have become famous because of the use of simple marketing and PR trics in order to increase their inbound visitors. I love New York and I AMsterdam are just a few slogans, that made both cities booming and recognizable. City marketing has become very popular since a few years and is expanding rapidly.

GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media, a division of GfK Custom Research North America, today announced highlights from the 2009 Anholt-GfK Roper City Brands IndexSM (CBI) report, which captures consumer perception of the image and reputation of 50 major cities worldwide. Paris ranks as the top overall city "brand”, followed by Sydney, London, Rome and New York. The top 10 cities from the global survey are:

1. Paris
2. Sydney
3. London
4. Rome
5. New York
6. Barcelona
7. San Fransisco
8. Los Angeles
9. Vienna
10. Madrid

The index measures the world’s perception of each city, which influences people’s choices on where to live, work and vacation. Particularly in the face of today’s uncertain economic climate, it’s vital to understand the forces and opinions that drive (business) tourism towards and away from these cities. The index is based on a global survey in which respondents from across 20 major developed and developing countries are asked to rate their agreement with statements about each of 50 cities.