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Archive for the Pop Culture / Entertainment Category

Oct 14 2010

Episode 125: Open letter to Verizon – Here’s what you must do to get my iPhone business.

Posted by: admin in Apple, Branding / Advertising, iPhone, Pop Culture / Entertainment, Social Networking / New Media

While it’s not 100% official, both the Wall Street Journal and TechCrunch are reporting that the long-rumored story that Apple will produce a CDMA version of the iPhone for Verizon, starting in Q1 2011, is true.

As an iPhone owner on AT&T, what will it take me to switch to Verizon? Let me write an open letter to their management and marketing team.

Download the podcast from iTunes, or play it below for maximum ranting entertainment (recommended):

Dear Verizon

Congratulations! I hear that you’ve convinced Steve Jobs to build you your very own iPhone for your CDMA mobile network. You must be soooo excited. I read that an analyst said it could mean 10 million more customers for you.
I also saw that you have about 27% of the smartphone market, while AT&T has 38%. That’s a pretty decent lead to make up.

However, here’s the good news for you. Nearly 7 out of 10 of the smartphones that AT&T customers have are iPhones. So if you can get those people to switch, those numbers might change in a hurry.

I have a few suggestions for your marketing department. First, let me tell you a bit about myself.

- I’m 41, live in Manhattan, and have a Bachelors of Science in Computer Information Systems. I have been around technology all of my life.
- I work for a website called Wired.com, teach a social media class at NYU, and with the money I have left at the end of the month, I often buy gadgets like the iPad and high end digital cameras.
- I also have my own blog and podcast, and am very active on Facebook and Twitter. Not to brag, but I’m pretty connected and a lot of people come to me for tech advice.

In short, I am your dream customer.

Let me tell you what the mood is right now in case you missed it. For the most part, people HATE AT&T. The best way to describe it is we tolerate them, because we’re such fans of Apple and love the iPhone so much.

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Oct 07 2010

Episode 124: The Social Network Movie Review – What’s more important, the product or the money?

Posted by: admin in Facebook, Pop Culture / Entertainment, Social Networking / New Media

As someone that covers all things social media, it was almost my job — adult homework so to speak — to go out and see The Social Network, aka The Facebook movie. For me, it didn’t disappoint. I thought it was great. In this podcast, I highlight the theme of product vs. money.

Download the podcast from iTunes, or play it below:

Like many others, I rushed out to see The Social Network on opening weekend. If you recall, back in July I gave 7 reasons why “The Social Network” Facebook movie will be a huge success. And while the $23 million opening weekend wasn’t spectacular (Inception did $62m it’s opening weekend), it did land at #1.

So after viewing it as a movie-going FAN, it was time to look at it from a business and marketing angle. What I came up with was:

How The Social Network highlights the struggle between focusing on the product vs. focusing on the money in a startup business.

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Sep 30 2010

Episode 123: Interview – Creating awesome web video shows with Grace N’ Michelle

Posted by: admin in Interviews, New York City, Pop Culture / Entertainment

As Jim heals from a broken arm, I, Brandon Werner (Intern 1.0 for long time The Hopkinson Report listeners) am back with a very special edition of The Hopkinson Report.

On the last episode I hosted, I talked about how I’ve been creating my own web content, so I decided to talk to two people who I think are making some of the best web video out there, Grace Helbig and Michelle Vargas.

Download the podcast from iTunes, or play it below:

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Sep 23 2010

Episode 122: “I’ve got your back” – 5 cases where bosses have said it and meant it

Posted by: admin in Job Search / Interviewing, Marketing Case Studies, Pop Culture / Entertainment, Social Networking / New Media

I’ve had a few good bosses in my life. Let’s take a quick look back at some good examples.

Download the podcast from iTunes, or play it below:

I talk a decent amount about career advice on the blog, such as resumes, interviewing, salary negotiation, and internships. But one key factor is the importance of a good manager.

My original topic today was going to be the BMW Magazine app on the iPad, — and I do feel there’s a great story there how car makers can reach consumers via the Apple tablet — but the story needed a lot more research.

So pressed for time, I thought about a story or two I could tell on the podcast. But that got me to thinking about cars and bosses.

A good manager is like a good set of tires
Sometimes people really underestimate tires. It’s more fun to talk about how a car looks, the 0-60 time, the 300 watt stereo, or the 405 horsepower. But tires play a HUGE part in the enjoyment, and safety of a vehicle. They control ride, handling, steering, braking, cornering, acceleration, and traction.

If your tires are old or balding, it can ruin a lot of other good things on car. Just being a few pounds over- or under-inflated can be a serious hazard.

The same goes for your boss, although it’s perfectly ok for him to be getting old or starting to bald (hey!!!).

What I’m saying is, a boss that isn’t very good can make even the best job suck, and a really bad boss can permeate everything you do and make you hate your job. They can stall your career, prevent you from getting raises and advancing, and create office politics.

In story one on the podcast, I pause 30 seconds for a shameless suck up to my current bosses. As recent readers know, I have a broken arm. This happened while on my (deservedly earned) 7 business days of vacation, so I was out of work during that. But then add time missed during my subsequent 2 surgeries, leaving for appointments, coming in late after physical therapy, and working at about half speed. Even though I was working remotely, jumping on conference calls while on buses, and consistently on email, tack on nearly an additional 10 business days — that’s a lot of missed office time.

Not ONCE has anyone said anything besides “do whatever you need to in order to get better.” From my immediate boss, to our department VP, to coworkers, to the President of Conde Nast Digital (who I saw in the elevator and who is also a competitive athlete and biker), nothing but concern and well-wishes. I am thankful that these people have my back.

The other four stories I cover:

- The New York Move
My VP at ESPN had to make some hard decisions when moving the team from Seattle to New York. Also listen how he handled the “coaching” of his employees during the free-reigning late 90s dotcom era like Jim’s childhood Boston Celtics teams.

The Startup Guru / Bartender / Softball King
Has one of YOUR bosses ever served you drinks, hit the game-winning home run, and kick started the second half of your career?

The Female Assassin
Hear how a quiet supervisor reacts like a violent Grizzly defending her cubs when an employee is attacked by an outsider.

Shin Yoshino/Getty Images

The Scoutmaster
A fatherly figure saves Jim’s college party plans and prevents a poor, dark, winter.

What are some of the things a manager needs to do to have their employees backs?
1. Filter and disseminate information
2. Have a grasp of email etiquette
a. On vs off the record, forwarding, proper CC: and BCC:
3. Gives credit in public, criticizes in private
4. Steer their careers, ask them about next steps
5. Protect and defend against other departments
a. Too much work, annoying employees, giving credit

Ask yourself this:
- As an employee, take a look up the chain of command. For the most part, will your supervisors be there for you?
- If you’re a manager, are you doing everything you can to instill confidence in your employees?

Thanks for reading

Follow me twitter.com/hopkinsonreport

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Sep 02 2010

Episode 119: Why a distal humerus fracture has NOTHING to do with social media.

Posted by: admin in Facebook, New York City, Pop Culture / Entertainment, Social Networking / New Media, Twitter

Can a broken arm kill Jim’s love for technology and social media? Stay tuned:

Download the podcast from iTunes, or play it below:

Loyal listeners of The Hopkinson Report know a few things about me:

- I never miss a week (once in the last 118 episodes)
- I love technology, being online and all things social media
- I love mountain biking (I compared the ‘flow’ of biking to a business in Episode 113)

So when I was away for the first part of my vacation while mountain biking some epic trails in Seattle, the capable Brandon Werner filled in. But then the unexpected struck when I came back to the east coast to go biking in the rocky trails of the Pocono mountains.

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Aug 12 2010

Episode 117: Four steps to riding a viral video wave – Recognize, Hypothesize, Capitalize, Monetize

Posted by: admin in Branding / Advertising, Marketing Case Studies, Pop Culture / Entertainment

Stop trying to make the perfect viral video, just jump on someone else’s bandwagon

Download the podcast from iTunes, or play it below:

“We want this to go viral!”

It’s a sentence that anyone that has spent time in internet marketing has heard 1,000 times. Mostly, it’s from an advertiser that doesn’t realize the cold, hard truth. It’s damn near impossible to purposely create something and make it go viral.

Sure, you can add all the elements that the internet lusts for, such as:
- Cats
- Kids
- Boobs
- Celebrities
- Getting hit in the groin

You can “seed it on Twitter.”
You can “post it on Facebook.”
You can “distribute it on YouTube.”
You can “submit it to Digg and reddit.”

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Jul 29 2010

Episode 115: “In a world…” of popular podcasts, Jim interviews professional voiceover actor Matt Walters

Posted by: admin in Branding / Advertising, Interviews, New York City, Pop Culture / Entertainment

While I think that I bring lots of energy and passion to my podcast, and am usually pretty articulate, I’ve never pretended that I have a great “radio voice.” Well, that distinction is made even clearer when you listen to my guest Matt Walters, a professional voiceover actor.

This podcast is truly a “must listen.”

Download the podcast from iTunes, or play it below:

Everyone likes to quote the opening movie line with the gravel-voiced actor belting out “In a world…” but in reality, the people behind the success of movie trailers, commercial reads, and cartoon voices don’t get the recognition that they deserve.

This week I speak with Matt Walters, and he gives some great tips for getting into the business, how he got his start, and some hysterical examples of how my tagline could be read.

Topics we discuss:
- The interesting (and somewhat deceptive) way Matt got his start by defying stereotypes and pulling a “Karate Kid” move
- The process of getting an agent and breaking into the business
- Techniques for getting ready and warming up
- What happens when you get a nasal cold
- The different way a voiceover actor watches TV

Check out Matt’s voiceover reel:

We then talk about the godfather of voiceover, Don LaFontaine. Reading his wikipedia page, and watching a video tribute to him, you realize how amazing this guy was. Can you believe he’s done more than 5,000 movie trailers and hundreds of thousands of TV ads and promotions?

We also talk about whether it’s better to have a big part in a small movie, or in his case, a small part in a big movie. Matt played Owen Wilson’s work friend in Marley and Me (also starring Jennifer Aniston).

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Jul 22 2010

Episode 114: 7 reasons why “The Social Network” Facebook movie will be a huge success

Posted by: admin in Facebook, Pop Culture / Entertainment

A new movie about Facebook is coming out this fall called The Social Network. I give you 7 reasons why I think it will be a huge success.

Download the podcast from iTunes, or play it below:

Today in the podcast I talk about the 7 reasons people with “LIKE” the Facebook movie. Get it? Like??? Luckily, the rest of the podcast is not that cheesy. Here is the outline of topics I cover:

1) A built-in audience of 500 million fans
With just the sheer number of people ON Facebook, how can this thing NOT make money? It was announced July 21 that Facebook had officially passed Five Hundred Million worldwide users.

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Jul 15 2010

Episode 113: Achieving a state of “flow” in life and business.

Posted by: admin in Pop Culture / Entertainment, Social Networking / New Media

Today I’m going to talk about a concept that stems from a single word called “flow.” I’m not going to get too deep or spiritual with you, but I think it’s a very important state of mind to recognize and strive for, both in your life and in your work.

Download the podcast from iTunes, or play it below:

It’s approaching August here in New York City, which means it’s hot as hades, things are starting to slow down a bit, and in the next few weeks, both the city itself and the offices around town empty out as people end the summer with much-needed vacations before cranking things back up post Labor Day.

Quick flashback on my life … I lived in Seattle for 3 years and just about every Thursday after work when the weather was good, friends and I would head to a trail called Tiger Mountain just outside downtown to go mountain biking. It was the perfect release after 4 rough days of work, with a brutal 40 minute uphill climb the second you left the parking lot, followed by a 45 minute descent through rocks, roots, and flowing singletrack trails. On the weekends we’d venture further from the city and find other amazing trails. It was some of the best times of my life.

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Jul 07 2010

Episode 112: What we can learn from LeBron James’ first day on Twitter.

Posted by: admin in Branding / Advertising, Pop Culture / Entertainment, Twitter

This podcast was recorded on Tuesday July 6, 2010, and it was a historic day for Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Superstar LeBron James. No, it was not the day that he announced which team he was going to via free agency. It was the day that LeBron joined Twitter.

Let’s look at the lessons learned from LeBron James’ first day on Twitter.

Download the podcast from iTunes, or play it below:

1) Major brands need to engage in social media

Let’s face it, LeBron James is a brand. He is worth millions, is recognized worldwide, and generates revenue and profits on everything from ticket sales to merchandise. Until now, he has poked fun at Twitter, but he has finally broken down and signed up. Any major brand looking to engage with fans that does not have a social media presence does so at their own peril.

2) Your social circle strongly influences your decisions

What is the goal of nearly every company’s marketing department? To build a product with strong word-of-mouth marketing. Did you start using Google or Facebook because you saw a TV commercial about them? No. You found out about them because someone you know said “Hey, you need to check this out.”

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