I came across some polished video skits on You Tube from a tweet by Aruba Networks.

At less than two minutes, these humorous videos parody IT stereotypes, as hapless and busy users are left speechless by the ‘bad guy’ IT staffer’s response to reasonable requests.

Saving the day was the ‘good guy’ helpful attitude, along with the appearance of a plug’n'play wireless widget and a few constructive words on how the CEO can navigate a simple portal sign-on process.

To their credit, Aruba have resisted any temptation to add sales or marketing links in the video’s description field. I think this works well because it’s a simple click on their You Tube user name and up comes other Aruba videos containing product content and demonstrations.

Here’s one (71s) that had me smiling before seeking out their other videos:

The CEO and his iPad — “Hold on, Let Me Check”

- Mark ‘white paper writer’ McClure

I recently joined up at focus.com – billed as an online community of business and professional experts. (Click the link to see my public profile.)

As well as the opportunity to network online with other b2b tech professionals, there are a ton of vendor-sponsored white papers and case studies just a click or two way. (Most require registration but the form is pre-filled after the first download.)

Imagine my surprise when I picked out this excellent example of a case study from the IBM Software group. This is the type of unintended marketing confusion that unfortunately traps prospects and sales/marketing into the subconscious realms of linguistic confusion.

Can you spot what I’m talking about – and it’s nothing to do with IBM.

The answer will be revealed in Xmas Day’s (Dec 25th) “White Christmas” post.

- Mark ‘case study or white paper detective’ McClure

PS - Oct 2011 update: While my Focus.com profile is still online I’m not active on the site. My social media efforts are mainly directed toward Twitter and LinkedIn at present.

OK, so the post’s title doesn’t exactly score a bulls-eye but since 2011′s indeed the ‘year of the rabbit’ in these parts, it somehow seems appropriate.

Joe Pulizzi, of junta42.com and content marketing institute fame, has just released a collection of social media and content marketing predictions for 2011 .

As Joe says in his post introducing the collection:

“Well over 150 predictions from more than 100 of the leading marketing thought leaders in the business.”

You can view and also download a free e-book containing all the predictions by clicking on the image in this post.

Alternatively, you can click on this url:
http://www.zmags.com/social-media-predictions-2011

(Note: I found the pdf button in the bottom right hand corner of the zmags screen interface.

Some predictions that jumped out at me:

• Ever shorter white papers (this is something that Jonathan Kantor has been highlighting for a while now.)
• E-books for mobile Internet devices (I think this also applies to traditional marketing content such as case studies and, yes, white papers.)
• Content marketing being freely distributed via social media.

It was a great honor to be included alongside many very experienced and skilled marketers. You can find my prediction on page 18. With hindsight (ha!) I should have written more.

- Mark ‘mystic marketer’ McClure

In true Japanese business style, it was a pleasure to meet up with the social media consultant, Neal Schaffer, in Tokyo’s Ebisu Garden Palace, on Friday night.

(Photo source: windmillnetworking.com)

Neal was on a short business trip to Japan and managed to fit in an end-of-week, informal gathering before flying back to L.A. a few hours later.

Busy man!

Without social media, and specifically LinkedIn and Twitter, I doubt our paths would have crossed. Such is the power of the medium to connect!

Our small group had a very international mix with Japanese, Italian, American, Taiwanese, Australian, American and British participants. (Thanks to Jason and Daniele for arranging the event and choosing a great Italian pasta restaurant. Nice way to start the weekend.)

In between bits and bites, I did manage to have a chat with Neal about:

• the current profileration of so-called ‘social media gurus’.
• differences between Twitter usage in Japan and US.
• Meeting your content marketing and content curation goals for using LinkedIn and Twitter.

This exchange was a minor miracle in itself because while talking to Jason and I in English, Neal was also conversing in Japanese and Cantonese (I think) with the other guests.

This guy’s definitely not lost in translation!
I look forward to learning more about social media strategies from Neal in 2011 and beyond.

- Mark ‘business card naked’ McClure