Gary Vaynerchuk's Blog, page 81

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right-Hook Case Study #2: Cone Palace

Oh man, this is one of the greatest reviews in the book. These guys were so spot on, they really make it hard to compete. Super fantastic microcontent!

PREVIEW: The First Case Study From Jab, Jab, Jab, Right-Hook!

I’m really excited about this one, guys. If you’re curious about what my upcoming book is going to look like, then look no further, because this is officially they very first excerpt! This is the format around which I’ve built the book. taking an in-depth look at specific pieces of micro-content to break them down and explain what works and what doesn’t. Let me know what you think!

Storytelling in 2013

If you’ve been following my keynotes for the last few years, I think you should really watch this one to see how much things have changed. WE ARE AT SCALE. I’m not talking about the future anymore. I’m not talking about what things are going to be like. We need to be telling our stories right now with the platforms that are here right now.

Don’t be the person who refuses to play like the year it actually is. Whether it’s a 140 character story or a six-second one, or even one what disappears forever after 10 seconds. We need to be storytelling for now!

You Should be Thinking Mobile 1st, 2nd, and 69th

You Should Jump out of Cabs a Few Blocks Early

Here’s a little story that sums up everything I think about the way business – and the world – works. Sure it was fun that she recognized me, but that’s not the point.

The point is that it is tremendously important for all of us to stop and look for moments of serendipity like this. You should always be ready to give, give, give!

Value is Subjective. Even When it’s a Little Ghost.

So I posted a LinkedIn Article the other day about Snapchat, and I got a series of comments stemming from me talking about the “old, out-of-touch white guy.” That was me, really. I was talking about guys like me and being out-of-touch and not cool.

I’m blown away by people’s POV on Snapchat in general. With all these new platforms, you hear the same thing over and over which is “it doesn’t bring value.” Now, I think value is a subjective thing, and we can get into that another time, but here is the statement I want to make:

If people fail to understand that technology is now functioning the same way as fashion and music, they are missing the boat.

Technology is now culture. Back in the day when people compared Elvis to the devil, those people were 30, 40, 50 year-olds. They didn’t get it. People went crazy about The Beatles and their long hair. They said that music didn’t bring value either.

So I get that you think Snapchat is dumb. I get that you think it’s worthless and just for silly 20 year olds to send each other naked pictures of themselves. Except hundreds of millions of pictures are being sent every day, which means it has to be bringing value to somebody.

The same old clichéd arguments about how Facebook had no value and Twitter had no value are now taking place around platforms like Snapchat. If Snapchat (or someone like them) wins out, the idea of disappearing photos (and I know there are problems there, but this is first generation stuff, guys), and fast communication is going to be a serious play.

So coming back to my first point, for the people out there who are displaying this lack of understanding: Yes it does feel like you’re old and out-of-touch. Yes it does feel like you’re not cool. That’s exactly what’s going on. You’re just not talking to 13-25 year-olds who are finding lots of value in it. You might not find value in EDM music, either, but plenty of people do. So if you’re seeking this Holy Grail that everybody’s talking about: Understanding what brings people value, you first have to understand that something may bring value to other people, but not to you. Value is subjective.

So maybe you’re not cool anymore. That’s ok. Neither am I. Maybe we can just settle on “sophisticated”

Smart Everything: The Biggest Culture Shift of Our Time

One day you’re going to go to the fridge and get a Pepsi. But because the fridge is smart and knows it’s the last one, it’s going to re-order some more Pepsi for you and have it delivered that day. Now imagine everything you own is that smart… Welcome to the future.

Marketing to Teenagers? Forget Facebook and Twitter

I just want to make a statement to help marketers out there. It’s a definitive statement, so get ready.

If you are targeting 13-20 year-olds I just want to clarify it for you right now. The only things they give a crap about for storytelling platforms are Instagram, Snapchat and Vine. This is not a Facebook/Twitter conversation for that demo. So you’re just learning about Facebook and Twitter and it’s already passing you by.

Understand what’s going on there if you’re trying to reach them.

*drops the mic*

We are All the Patriarchs of Our Digital Families

I’ve been thinking about something that a lot of people aren’t talking about: I don’t understand how people don’t realize that they are all the patriarchs of their family. Let me explain. Everybody who is in the, let’s say, 20-40 year old range is putting out so much content through their Facebook posts, their Tweets, and their other pictures, that they are basically starting a foundation of digital content that every generation, I’m talking great- great- great-grandkids, are going to look back at as a starting point. Even with the family that took the most polaroids in the world, there is only so much content they could have ever made. Meanwhile you have a vast amount of content. Look at me. I did Wine Library TV every day for six years, and those videos are going to be in place for all my children.

So watching the way that people are commenting; their politics, the way they engage, the kind of pictures they’re taking, and the things they’re doing, I’m questioning if you realize how big this thing is. I’m questioning if you realize that everything you say on the internet, every picture you take — and I don’t mean from a “bikini-shot” perspective, I mean like being derogatory to someone else. I mean your thoughts and predictions. All the dumb shit that your grandfather did is lost to history. Everything you’re doing is being documented, and you are putting a stake in the ground for your last name and the heritage of your family. I implore people who read this to think twice. Not from an “is this not right?” perspective, but from a historical, long term point-of-view of how you want to set the tone for your family.

Legacy, my friends, is greater than currency. You are the patriarch (or matriarch) of your family.

Wine Review – 2011 Günther Steinmetz Riesling

2011 Günther Steinmetz Riesling

Price: $15

ABV: 11%

Size: 1 liter

Verdict: Buy!

Nose is sweet with peach, sugar cane and a hint of white flower. Palate is crisp and clean with green apple and great acidity. A definite buy especially since you’re getting a whole liter for the price.