CMO TOP 10 Announced

[meggin]

eeek!! i really do need to get to bed. i have to be at work in less than 7 hours!!

until tomorrow,
meggin

 

[fleagle]

Good thing I couldn't sleep tonight.... so much to talk about!

Thank you for your advice and encouragement! I promise to let you all know anything new in the promotions department!!
Meggin

I hope that the core of what I'm saying comes through... You don't want to lose by one vote... so you have to battle for every one. I really was trying to encourage.

For dealing with local media... answer these two questions in advance for your local reporters:
1. Why should I care?
2. What can I take a picture of?/ Is there interesting video?
Answer those two questions and they'll show up.

Eric, I totally understand where you are coming from - and as someone who is a big fan of yours I'd love to see them take you up on your bargain. However, I also think that it isn't necessarily right to assume that just because other finalists don't check in with us or aren't savvy enough with the websites and forums to use them to their advantage that they aren't doing A LOT of things we don't know about to promote the contest.

Totally joking on the bargain. If you read the whole blog, I was just going through my 5 stages of grief about not advancing. The bargaining part is just "God, if you get me out of this, I'll never do BLANK again." I don't actually think that would happen (but of course I'd jump on it!) I sure hope that you guys have made it impossible for anyone to catch you with an 11 day head start.

The part about the other finalists, I totally agree with, and that was kind of my point. If you don't know what they are doing, you can either assume they are doing less than you, the same as you, or more than you. The only safe bet is to figure they are doing more than you.

While this is obviously a promotion and a contest, I sincerely believe that the most "Disney" thing a finalist could do would be to support and build up the other contestants.

I would agree 100% with support. But I would only agree with "build up" if you are truly prepared to finish 4th to whomever you build up. There is great honor in honest competition where all involved are laying it all on the line. You honor your opponents when you give it your all. (That is absolutely NOT to imply that you are not giving it your all because I know you are.)

And with that being said, I've probably just offended one of the most amazing groups of people I've ever met (without actually meeting!)

Not possible! Feel the love Muchoney!

It is SO easy to give advice when your theories can't be tested. It is simple to sit here and say, "they should do this, or this, or this." So I hope you guys take EVERYTHING with the proper perspective. Who am I to give anyone advice? Who are any of us to critique?

The fact is that we are all rooting for you! We sincerely want you to do well.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Kenny all your research was really interesting. You're right, all conversations about CMO on the board I frequent the most have died. I've been visiting the DIS daily to get my updates.

Having said that, I do understand why the candidates are hesitant to go on new boards at this stage in the game. I'm not sure they would be warmly received.

Some of the most effective board advertising I've seen is long time members of these other boards campaigning for their favorite.

I'm also not sure some of the boards are as supportive as they should be. I noticed Justin tried to start a buzz on one board with posts in different forums, and the moderators merged all the posts into an old thread that no one seems to be reading anymore.

Justin I doubt you offended anyone by the way.

 

[fleagle]

Hey everyone,
Check out my other "Dream Videos" on YouTube
and let me know what you think.www.youtube.com/ak4cmo
I'll check back tomorrow and see what you all thought.
Good night the alarm goes off in 7 hours.

loved them! and as much as I loved them... I LOVE that you DID them.

You give everyone a few minutes of evidence that you would be a great CMO.

 

[catotigger]

Good job, Fairy Godmother!

Just a thought on this "advertising subject" - not to belabor the point, but there IS more to the internet than just d-sponsor message boards!

Besides youtube, if you don't want to build a website on your own, there's myspace.com and facebook.com. Check out what Kenny's done with his!

And if other boards aren't welcoming - you know we are - so maybe come up with something using Fleagle's DIScademy and the Great DISbate as inspiration. Those ideas were amazing, and nobody was putting down the other contestants. There's plenty of time to come up with something special.

Anyway, that's my totally unsolicited 2 cents.

Cat

 

[Mrs. Fleagle]

Goodmorning All! (HMF - get out of bed sleepy head! )


Hey, just a thought. Since we've established that those here on this board are emotionally, mentally, and physically invested in this competition AND no matter how silly, unimportant, or used simply for a promotional stunt the competition may be (to some)...why don't we take today to make a statement and see if WE can make those graphs rise just a bit. I think it's sad that the outside interested is vacant....because it really is an opportunity of a lifetime!

So, why don't we all try to vote for our candidate(s) a little 'extra' today. Let's enlist a friend or a co-worker (or 2) to just take five minutes and vote too. Let's give the Top 10 a nudge and a reminder that while we may have our own ideas of how, who, and what....that the truth is we all would love to be in the running still.

Let's show our support for not only them, but for CareerBuilder.com and Disney Parks and pray that they continue to have these contests to allow us each a chance to dream!

There...how 'bout those warm fuzzies with your morning coffee?

-Amy

 

[AnnDisneyFan]

...why don't we take today to make a statement and see if WE can make those graphs rise just a bit. I think it's sad that the outside interested is vacant....because it really is an opportunity of a lifetime!

Let's give the Top 10 a nudge and a reminder that while we may have our own ideas of how, who, and what....that the truth is we all would love to be in the running still.

Let's show our support for not only them, but for CareerBuilder.com and Disney Parks and pray that they continue to have these contests to allow us each a chance to dream!

There...how 'bout those warm fuzzies with your morning coffee?

-Amy

Right there with you Amy!!! Good morning everyone!!!

I pledge to vote for the Top 10ers who keep popping in here and actually reading the babble that I, a certifiable NON -Top 10er, keep spewing!

Hey look....they're back and better than ever:



Good luck Top 10ers (still wish I were saying "fellow" before that Top 10ers )!!!!

 

[Mrs. Fleagle]

..... So I hope you guys take EVERYTHING with the proper perspective. Who am I to give anyone advice?

"Toot -Toot" her comes that Mrs. Fleagle tooting that horn again! (gosh she's annoying)

Well, Mr. Fleagle.... Your advice is not only on the mark, but could be very enlightening for those who do not have as much experience in the "biz" as yourself. I'm sure there might be some top 10ers that don't know where to begin in creating "buzz" for themselves, Disney, CareerBuilder.com and this whole contest. I don't think some completely understood "how" this part of the contest was supposed to work. And I'm sure some really appreciate your helpful advice and comments.

Your degree is in Communications...you have worked in and around Television (in ALL capacities).....you are a marketing GENIUS....and your creative promotional skills both personally and professionally are quite impressive. Throw into that mix your countless other talents (singing, dancing, acting- ok maybe not so much the dancing) and life experiences that they have provided in my book means you are COMPLETELY qualified to offer friendly advice.

Your tips about how to get the local papers and television involved and interested should be acted on. You DO know what you are talking about. (People...he created the most amazing advertising campaign for my business and having opened my dance school 17 years ago when I was only 23 we are still going strong....thanks in GREAT part to him! He understands people, trends, demographics, and ultimately 'what it takes to get your message out there')

Anyway, more than anything your heart and soul is in this contest for the Top 10. The place you are coming from is genuine.....and experienced.

Of course there was that whole, "getting cut" thing....but other than that you totally ROCK!

Love ya!

Ok everyone-I promise to go away for the day and only LURK. I fear I will be booted off for making you all sick.
(The Mrs. not only steps OFF of Tripps box, but has quietly and politely returned it to him)

 

[catotigger]

"Toot -Toot" her comes that Mrs. Fleagle tooting that horn again! (gosh she's annoying)

Well, Mr. Fleagle.... Your advice is not only on the mark, but could be very enlightening for those who do not have as much experience in the "biz" as yourself. I'm sure there might be some top 10ers that don't know where to begin in creating "buzz" for themselves, Disney, CareerBuilder.com and this whole contest. I don't think some completely understood "how" this part of the contest was supposed to work. And I'm sure some really appreciate your helpful advice and comments.

Your degree is in Communications...you have worked in and around Television (in ALL capacities).....you are a marketing GENIUS....and your creative promotional skills both personally and professionally are quite impressive. Throw into that mix your countless other talents (singing, dancing, acting- ok maybe not so much the dancing) and life experiences that they have provided in my book means you are COMPLETELY qualified to offer friendly advice.

Your tips about how to get the local papers and television involved and interested should be acted on. You DO know what you are talking about. (People...he created the most amazing advertising campaign for my business and having opened my dance school 17 years ago when I was only 23 we are still going strong....thanks in GREAT part to him! He understands people, trends, demographics, and ultimately 'what it takes to get your message out there')

Anyway, more than anything your heart and soul is in this contest for the Top 10. The place you are coming from is genuine.....and experienced.

Of course there was that whole, "getting cut" thing....but other than that you totally ROCK!

Love ya!

Ok everyone-I promise to go away for the day and only LURK. I fear I will be booted off for making you all sick.
(The Mrs. not only steps OFF of Tripps box, but has quietly and politely returned it to him)

Don't go away Mrs. Fleagle! I love these extra insights into Fleagle!

And it's another good hint to the top 10ers to get THEIR spouses on to put in good words. I enjoyed hearing from Mrs. Autopia guy, and Autopia guy's daughter.

Plus, I just plain like you!

Cat

P.S. I know they are cheesy, but if you and Fleagle ever want your own personal cat-o-tars, you only have to give me the sign!

 

[tothesea]

Hey everyone,
Check out my other "Dream Videos" on YouTube
and let me know what you think.www.youtube.com/ak4cmo
I'll check back tomorrow and see what you all thought.
Good night the alarm goes off in 7 hours.

Hi Amy Kate, just wanted to say that I really liked watching your videos, I actually found them before you posted and was SO excited to see that you had them up! EXCELLENT!!! Can't wait to see what else you come up with!

I hope that the core of what I'm saying comes through... You don't want to lose by one vote... so you have to battle for every one. I really was trying to encourage.

For dealing with local media... answer these two questions in advance for your local reporters:
1. Why should I care?
2. What can I take a picture of?/ Is there interesting video?
Answer those two questions and they'll show up.

It is SO easy to give advice when your theories can't be tested. It is simple to sit here and say, "they should do this, or this, or this." So I hope you guys take EVERYTHING with the proper perspective. Who am I to give anyone advice? Who are any of us to critique?

The fact is that we are all rooting for you! We sincerely want you to do well.

I also think last night was very important in here. I really really like the idea of shifting the focus of this thread just enough that some really great insight, creativity, and constructive ideas can be shared. We've definitely got the "support" thing down--no question there! But with tips and suggestions like fleagle's above, maybe we could actually help make a difference?! That one thing about how to deal with local media is HUGE! It sounds simple, but really, that is a an amazing key freely given! (hide your eyes fleagle, not bragging on you, just making a point! )

So there's my thought for the morning! I'm really excited at the possibilities. I feel like last night was a turn of the tide in some respects!

Have a great day everybody!

 

[kennythepirate]

Interesting comment about some of the sites Kenny listed. I've lurked on a few of them and have found them to be not the most friendly of forums (of course, who can match this one!). The feelings about the contest have varied wildly, but they seem to be (at least the ones I saw) pretty universally agreed that people popping on to their board to seek out votes isn't something they are real interested in. I'm NOT saying I'm afraid or shy, I just want to respect their online communities.

Just some food for thought!

Well, when I first came here, this board wasn't the friendliest to every candidate either. It just took some time trying to build some friendships and trust. You guys are all welcome to run your campaigns as you desire. I just feel that if it is a "Dream Job" that each person would be going all out trying to garner every vote possible.

 

[Mrs. Fleagle]

Don't go away Mrs. Fleagle! I love these extra insights into Fleagle!

And it's another good hint to the top 10ers to get THEIR spouses on to put in good words. I enjoyed hearing from Mrs. Autopia guy, and Autopia guy's daughter.

Plus, I just plain like you!

Cat

P.S. I know they are cheesy, but if you and Fleagle ever want your own personal cat-o-tars, you only have to give me the sign!

Aw....and I like you too! Really....you're nice! And oh, about the cat-o-tars - HERE'S YOUR SIGN!!!!!!

 

[fleagle]

The Dream CMO site is reporting 185,472 votes so far. So... there you go candidates. That tells you everything you need to know about whether or not you have a chance to win it.

The average contestant has 18,547 votes at just over half way in the contest.

My guess is that there is at LEAST a 50% curve. Meaning, the top contestant probably has 50% more votes than average and the lowest contestant probably has at least 50% less than average. (The top contestant in all likelihood has about twice the average at this point... and I would bet that there is a contestant or two who have around 5,000 or less)

So, to feel like you even have a chance to be leading, you have to have about 27,000 votes right now. That works out to around 2,500 votes per day. (1.5 votes per minute) Sliding down the curve, if you aren't getting close to 2,000 votes per day on average, you are probably out of the Top 3. If you haven't averaged 1,500 votes per day at this point, you are probably out of the contest because there is just too much ground to make up, and its not like the leaders are going to stop getting votes.

If you take a look at whatever campaign structure you've built, you can probably have a pretty good idea as to whether or not you still have a chance and what you need to do in order to make the Top 3.

Feel like you are the "average" contestant? You are probably about 10,000 votes behind. That means to catch the leader with 10 days left, you have to get at least 3,500 votes per day. You'll need the equivalent of one person voting continuously 24 hours per day, assuming they could vote about 3 times per minute.

I really like that they posted that number. It is a MAJOR help to you guys. (Plus, I love stats) Time to push!!!

 

[fleagle]

"Toot -Toot" her comes that Mrs. Fleagle tooting that horn again! (gosh she's annoying)

Okay, I hereby declare a moratorium on talking about me! (Says the guy who has his own website to talk about himself) There are ten days left for our favorite contestants. We need to focus on bringing it home for whomever we have each chosen to support.

The numbers I posted above ought to show us that its time to stop splitting votes. Pick a horse and run with it!

PS- Mrs. Fleagle, you are very kind... its not that I don't appreciate it.

 

[kennythepirate]

In a press release last year they mentioned that one princess had 100,000 votes and one butler had at least 50,000. That's almost the total half way through this contest.

Someone mentioned the myspace. I totally re-themed it last year for the contest. It was a white page with about 65 friends. I went out and made pirate friends and posted the banners on their comments, made blogs, posted bulletins daily to let my team know they are doing great etc... The idea of re-theming came from another contestant as well as the banners. I just tried to take it to another level. BTW, only 1 person has placed a banner on my page during this contest and I believe only 2 have befriended me on myspace.

Dream Job was one of the best times of my life. Glenn, my director, named my character because I couldn't stop smiling. He first recommended "smilin' sam" but I said that my name should be opposite my curse and the team created the name from there. Point is: 3 people get an amazing trip to WDW and only 1 will win. Do you really want to win and are willing to work for it or do you want to be dissapointed.

A lot of people were dissapointed last year because they thought SPONSORS were doing all the work for them. Some (Like Tony B) were dissapointed because they worked extremely hard only to find themselves just barely on the outside. I just think I'd give my best effort. I started a 10 for 10 challenge at this point last year. 10 votes 10 days. I thought if 100 people would do that, I'd garner 10,000 votes in 10 days. Not counting the thousands I'd cast myself.

Right now the site is averaging about 10 votes per minute or 1 vote per minute per person btw.

Wouldn't it be nice if they would just show an update on each contestant once during the contest?

 

[fleagle]

I just feel that if it is a "Dream Job" that each person would be going all out trying to garner every vote possible.

Yep. Right on the money.

Again, not that you guys aren't going all out. I think the general feeling is "Go Team Go!" Our best wishes for you combined with wishing we had the same chance equal a whole bunch of encouragement and advice.

Or... in DISboard Algebra + + + =

 

[kennythepirate]

Love the algebra, gotta go to work. We'll see where the voting is when I return home for late lunch.

 

[Marshay]

Fleagle -- you hit it right on for so many points.

Kenny -- your campaign last year was so different than what we see this year that I'm sure it seems a bit odd this time around...maybe you just set the bar so high last year...

===================
OK, now my thoughts -- as I step up on Tripp's soapbox, let me first say, that the following are my thoughts -- you may agree or not but they are given in the hopes of perhaps sparking some of you with more ideas in these last 10 or so days...

I think most people don't want a Top 10 CMO contestant going "me, me, me" or entering a site as a complete stranger and saying "vote for me" ... but we are interested in what they can do -- make me smile, make me laugh, make me forget about my job, my stress for a moment or two. (Note this is a reverse me, me, me!)

The newspapers, other internet sites and other media can and will be interested if the Top 10 contestants can show that they provide something to others. If people feel like they are just being used, they won't be interested. But if people feel like part of a team ... or like they just had some entertainment ... they will get involved. Back to Fleagle's ideas about a great photo or story...

When Fleagle approached me to be part of his CMO team and pledge to vote every day at least 25 times and to brainstorm some strategies, I felt invested in his campaign and was super-hyped about HIM winning.

I even created a little slogan for him to use "Vote 10 at 10!!" Meaning to vote 10 times at 10am and 10pm (and hopefully even more than 10 votes) but at least to get people thinking, oh time for my 10am meeting...hmmm, what else do I have at 10am -- oh, yeah! Got to vote!!

I also think you really need to show how you are different from one another. If two or three or four of you are all similar and I like you, then I just end up splitting my vote among you, which dilutes the overall pool. It would be better for the Winner to have devoted fans voting 100 times a day than 3 folks voting 25 times a day. Also, if you are too much alike, then perhaps one of you just isn't going to get the votes at all...

If the thought of media scares you or you just aren't getting the exposure, even on the DISboards, one can do great things here to get attention out -- without ever making the title of the thread -- CMO Top 10. Your siggie alone with all the CMO data will spark comments. Someone else will say, Hey, what is the CMO thing in your siggie? And there is your perfect opening.

Some examples for you to use:

1. Are you creative? Then open up some threads in the Creative Community section and show off your scrapbooks, custom t-shirts, etc. Esp if you show off your CMO t-shirt or CMO layout!

2. Are you budget focused? Then join the Budget Board posts and give helpful advice. (i.e., What's the cheapest way to get a Disney trip? win the CMO contest! -- Ok, so that one is just a joke...)

3. Do you like taking photos or have photos of Disney? Then there are numerous photos threads on here where you can submit your photos and engage discussion.

Not only will you be learning and sharing more about Disney but you are reaching out to new folks who also have a passion for Disney -- the perfect people you want to reach -- Disney computer folks.

Ok, thanks Tripp for letting me borrow your soap box, too.

I really do mean this post to be encouraging you Top 10 to find creative ways to reach out to others. Yeah, it takes some finesse and I'm not in your shoes so it's so much easier to talk it than walk it.

Good luck to all!

 

[Justin M]

Hey gang! I'm here for my daily (almost) lunch break check-in! (glad to see I haven't had my membership revoked yet!)

It is my goal to learn how to multi-quote today so that I dont' have to make a dozen posts in a row! (a habit that I'm sure is annoying to some!)

Here we go . . .

 

[DSNY4ever]

Hmm I am loving the mini debate/conversation about the promotion for this race. I have to admit when I entered I had no idea how much self promotion/time would have been required if I made it (I obviously didn't know that much about how last year's contest worked). I thought we would just submit the videos, people would pick their favorite and then there would be a lot of rules on how we could promote ourselves (and silly me, I thought people would only be allowed to vote once). But once I talked to everyone in this forum I QUICKLY caught on that if I made it I would be spending morning, noon and night trying to get as many votes as possible. - And I was ready to do that, I would have given anything for this opportunity! Too bad they didn't realize how creative I am and how much time I have on my hands

But I wonder how many other people like me had no idea what this contest would entail. And I definitely thought the sponsors would be doing more of the types of things that Fleagle and Kenny are doing.

But I liked the Disbate because I saw the passion for Disney in everyone and it made me more confident that the CMO will have the heart and humor I am looking for!