final thoughts from the Karate Kid - abridged

I look at this experience much like I think Daniel Russo did while learning karate from Mr. Miyagi.  Here's a kid who wants nothing more than to learn the mechanics of fighting.  His teacher is more interested in the spiritual approach, knowing that the physical aspects will follow.  I see some real parallels here - though sophomoric.  Nonetheless, I went into this course wanting to learn how to become a better writer.  I needed concrete examples and concise critique of my writing.  I wanted to know how to kick and punch.  To my chagrin, I got flowery exposition wound in circles of enigmatic bluster.  Wash my cars.  Sand my deck.  Paint my fence.  Oblivious to the real lesson.  Process.  This is where I see the similarities end.  I haven't been faced with recalling moves from muscle-memory.  "Wax on!"  "Wax off!"  Has the product developed the process that improves what we produce?  I guess I wanted writing's equivalent of the Crane Technique. 

a name can be a many splintered thing...

new names for the soon to be until recently named The Heard:
 Part 1

music
genre
tunes
concert
gig
wire
blend
mix
stir
plug
hype
tribe
mode
chord
stasis
burst
gig-tribe
tribewire
tribe-wire
gig-wire
gigburst
kind

tribe

Have You HEARD the Marketing Plan?

The Heard application requires social media blitz in advance of distribution.  I'd like to have campaigns on the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube, etc.  Making connections and friends; getting users excited for the launch.  I want to have a web-site built as an anchor to the social media campaign to answer questions, promote, sign-up and engage.  I would want to initiate an advertisement campaign through Youtube, Facebook, Android, Apple, Grooveshark, Spotify, Last.fm (among others) that make the intended target audience knowledgeable about The Heard and what it will have to offer.  A countdown to release could be used along with a re-direct to the website for more information.  Twitter for instance would be very powerful.  I would make an effort to follow as many artists and their followers as possible to hopefully gain their support and excitement for the app release.  I would carefully craft and push from the anchor website several (about 5 + or -) tweets per day, careful not to over-saturate.  Each would endeavor to encourage the reader to think and then act by clicking a link to the anchor website or to another designated site.  Youtube would be another social site I would try to exploit.  I think I'd spend a lot of time creating a series of videos that highlight the functionality of the app in short, stylish bursts.  Here, in addition to the videos could be placed ads for the app and redirection to the anchor web site.  Sites like Spotify and Grooveshark are going to be key to success.  A partnership with these and other entities would be key also.  Spotify for instance plays audible ads after five or so songs are played.  With it, there is a visual component that could make for some interesting real-estate for driving eyes to the website.  Spotify also offers an "App Finder" which enables users to access apps within the confines of the Spotify dashboard.  These apps can draw information about favorite artists from Spotfiy and populate their environments with user familiar data.  Facebook is an obvious draw.  It is used by billions of users all over the world.  Utilizing this platform is also going to be key.  Scrobbling artists and the tunes users listen to is already in full swing, but figuring out a way to scrobble concerts users are attending might have potential for proof of performance visibility.  Likewise a page would be built to be liked and followed.  The anchor website would then push ads, contests, and other engaging content to Facebook (and other outlets) to draw new users to the fold.  A campaign of advertising would be initiated on satellite radio and at large venue concerts.  At concerts, something as simple as a coupon for a dollar off a drink at the bar could be given to anyone downloading and signing up for the app.  This campaign for pre-launch and release is, without a doubt, huge in scale and scope.  The strategy should be one of partnership with concert promoters and music sites along with a creative team of marketing and media geniuses creating a brand that users should be excited about before release and equally excited about and more than satisfied upon distribution.