by Brian Brady
Commercial Real Estate Finance Expert
Structured Debt and Equity
Licensed Real Estate Broker in AL, CA, and FL
Ashley Dupree turned into a media target, in 36 hours, and AmieStreet.com immediately started selling her tracks. In the tradition of making hay while the sun shines, Ash uploaded a new single, Move Ya Body and compiled an album, “Unspoken Words“, both offered on AmieStreet.com.
Look at the world we live in; social media marketing. Ashley Dupree was “outed” through her MySpace profile (which promptly drew over 2 million hits in 18 hours- after she took my advice) and started profiting off the exposure.
AmieStreet.com is an online music download site where the community determines the price of the downloads by “bidding” the price from FREE to 98 cents. Ash is maxed out at the top bid- for BOTH of her songs. While her Myspace profile has 6 million hits, her “page views” on Amie Street are over 264,000. Here’s the cool part; her “listens” are over a quarter of a million. Virtually everyone who clicks through to Ashley Dupree’s AmieStreet.com store is listening to her music.
Would we even be talking about this in 2004?
Of course not. Social media marketing was buying advertising links on MySpace or “cold-calling” people you met on LinkedIn. I tried it a few times and was confused about the ROI so I abandoned it. I focused on building communities on both sites, instead.
I’m fascinated by this whole Ashley Dupree story because the mainstream media came into OUR world, the Web 2.0 world, to break the story. Equally as fascinating is the fact that OUR world, the Web 2.0 world, allows Ash to immediately profit from her art. Ashley Dupree disintermediated the onerous process of a recording contract, studio time, and pre-release marketing and got her product to market in less than 36 hours!
We all talk about the “long tail search” and how we can profit immensely off the consumer niches exposed to us by the internet. What I’m learning from the Ashley Dupree story is that it’s no longer the big who eats the small, it’s the fast that eats the slow…which begets this question…
How will YOU profit when the long tail search becomes your name?
I’m serious here. I said that we are ALL media figures now, yesterday:
Mainstream media and social media are starting to converge. Mainstream media still preaches while social media communicates but the distinct line, between the two, is rapidly fading. Whether you like it or not, you are a media player.
If everyone is entitled to fifteen minutes of fame, will you be ready when your fifteen minutes materializes? What content can you provide, free or for a fee, to feed the masses, starved to get a piece of of you. How quickly can you offer a compendium of your best blog posts, white papers, podcasts, or webinars, to display your expertise as a REALTOR or mortgage originator?
It ain’t so crazy. The mainstream media is combing blogs for content. America is enthralled with reality television. Time Magazine selected YOU, as Person of the Year, for 2006.
It ain’t so far-fetched. Are you ready when the hits start coming…at you?
Jay says:
You said: What I’m learning from the Ashley Dupree story is that it’s no longer the big who eats the small, it’s the fast that eats the slow…which begets this question…
I’ve lost large amounts of meony this year for being slow. Not only that 1 of the homeowners lost out as well due to my slowness. 10 days ago I get a request for a CMA from new condo. 5 days later I realize I forgot to even respond. I send a note….2 days later listed by another agent with crappy work–check out these fuzzy photos that do not do justice to the building: http://slideshow.mris.com/slideshow.cfm?ListingKey=10441908509 Pathetic work by an agent.
I google Arlington Virginia condos and do I find the owner’s condo anywhere? No. They lost tons of exposure and probably paid more for it.
Both listings were 600K so I’m pathetic (pretty busy) in missing opportunities due to slowness.
Great post and interesting to think about. Can’t believe I’m missing the unchained conference. But will order CDs immediately once available.
March 14, 2008 — 4:47 am
Teri Lussier says:
You are a maniac. 😉
You and only you could look at this tragedy-in-multiple-parts and see the business lesson, and hooray for that!
Tell me again what BHBU is all about?!
>Whether you like it or not, you are a media player.
Since it’s me, and it’s you, I have to add that we are starting to see that the media is beginning to pay attention to Twitter as well.
March 14, 2008 — 6:25 am
Chuchundra says:
Wired writer Scott Brown laments his failure to capitalize on the success of the viral video he created, “Paris Power Ballad”.
March 14, 2008 — 8:43 am
Bawldguy Talking says:
You keep me humble. Every time I think I’m so damn smart, you write something like this pointing out for all to see. When it comes to marketing most of us can’t carry your jock.
March 14, 2008 — 10:03 am
Ian Kemmish says:
“it’s no longer the big who eats the small, it’s the fast that eats the slow”
The phrase “no longer” makes this observation appear topical, but it’s been axiomatic for several millenia. It’s one of the reasons wannabe managers are told to read “The Art of War,” for example.
If social media types are that far behind the times, I reckon maybe we wrinklies don’t need to start fretting too much about it after all:)
March 14, 2008 — 10:42 am
Fred Carver says:
Hi Brian..Long Tail keywords work, especialy if you do a niche post, I’m sure Ashley has people do something with a long tail key word search and found her new music, and I’m sure they pass along emails and blog posts pointing to her music.
I did a simple long tail keyword heading in a post..an address on a new listing, it went like this 306-949 Cloverdale Ave Top floor condo Victoria BC. As expected the blog was in Google at the top of the page for the address search…great I could tell people to Google the address. I was playing around the next day and did a search..top floor two bedoom condo victoria…there I was at the top of the search page on Google. Now that search has potential wih Buyers looking for a top floor two bedroom condo in Victoria. Now I just need to have all my blog posts come up on the top of all my long tail key word searches…Well all the ones I’ve done so far are going there. Try Victoria BC luxury and waterfront realtor.
I Mean the only Realtor for my Area…only in my dreams!
Great stuff, you’re right in 2004 I sure would not of thought of this, for that matter two months ago I was not there!
March 15, 2008 — 9:23 pm
Geno Petro says:
Pretty damn brilliant.
March 16, 2008 — 4:17 pm
Dan says:
it’s no longer the big who eats the small, it’s the fast that eats the slow…
I love it. Brings a whole new meaning to first to market.
March 17, 2008 — 7:12 pm
Brian Brady says:
That’s pretty funny, Dan
March 17, 2008 — 8:26 pm
Hunter Jackson says:
did ashley dupree create the social marketing buzz. No. but she proved it.
June 24, 2008 — 11:47 am