As social media becomes more and more commonplace, one question continues to be asked: Is it easier for B2C companies to utilize social media than for B2B companies? One potential motivation behind this question is the idea that B2C businesses sell products/services directly to consumers who are buying for themselves, so there’s more potential for them to be personally engaged and develop a relationship with the brand. Whereas, B2B businesses sell products/services to other businesses, so their customers tend to be more professionally objective and rational; less emotionally invested in the relationship. Also, the sales process seems to be a lot longer and more involved for B2B businesses, than it does for B2C businesses.

Although the marketing programs can be similar for each type of business, it’s true that how their respective programs are carried out differs. But does that mean it is inherently easier or makes more sense for a B2C company to execute a social media plan than a B2B company? A recent study by Marketing Profs Research would suggest it’s not. According to the study, illustrated by the graph below, there seems to be little difference between the activity of B2C and B2B companies as it relates to social media.

My theory: when social media first came on the scene, B2C companies felt more natural in dealing with their customers through various social media channels, so the volume of B2C companies involved was greater than B2B companies. However, as social media evolves, B2B companies are realizing that social media works for them, as well, and hopefully, the question posed at the beginning of this article is becoming more and more irrelevant.

What do you think? Is it easier, or make more sense, for B2C companies to utilize social media than for B2B companies?

Chickens have always amused me. As such, I was drawn to a recent feature in our weekly farm paper. The topic: urbanites “flocking” to poultry husbandry as a hobby. (Check out this New York Times article for one man’s approach to urban farming: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/dining/19farm.html).

Buried in the piece was reference to city-dwelling chicken farmers, and others, who are urging the USDA to create an “office of urban agriculture.” It’s a great idea! Farm organizations have invested millions of dollars in attempts to educate and enlighten their city cousins about agriculture. (In fact, The Meyocks Group has been involved in several of these successful efforts.)

Now these organizations should run, not walk – (even cross a road if they have to!) – to lobby on behalf of the Urban-Ag concept. They should urge their members to get involved in some fashion in each major city where there’s interest enough to form a local unit.

Nowhere else will farm groups find such a concentration of city folk who already are interested in farming. Commercial farmers can share their practical knowledge, certainly; but they also can explain how and why they operate at a much larger scale to people who are willing and eager to absorb that information.

It’s a great way to narrow the rural-urban gap with a focused message narrowly targeted to a receptive audience.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — Oct. 12, 2009 — The Meyocks Group received the Wiz Reader’s Choice Poster of the Year Award for its design of the 2009 Iowa State University football poster on the college football Web site, www.thewizofodds.com. The poster features a theme of “Cyclone Nation” with an emphasis on “One Nation.”

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — July 21, 2009 — Kelly Ferguson has rejoined The Meyocks Group, directing the agency’s market analysis and strategy efforts. He also serves on the agency’s management team.

A native of Clarinda, Iowa, Ferguson interned at the agency while completing a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management at Northwest Missouri State University. He joined The Meyocks Group full-time in 1998 as an account manager and a database account manager.

In 2002 Ferguson joined AGDATA, LP, in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he used data-mining and statistical analysis skills to improve clients’ marketing programs. He also earned an MBA in corporate finance from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

Ferguson most recently led work for a portfolio of AGDATA clients in Canada.
“Kelly has an impressive skill set, and we are very pleased to bring him back to The Meyocks Group,” said Doug Jeske, agency president. “Among other responsibilities, he’ll direct our research function to help us and our clients better understand markets and media use, and to generate customer insights.”

Founded in Des Moines in 1984, The Meyocks Group specializes in integrated brand communications for clients in the food, agriculture and health business sectors.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – April 29, 2009 – College students’ demand for internships this summer is superheated, at least based on results of a recruitment program developed by a West Des Moines advertising agency.

The Meyocks Group’s offering of three paid, summer-long internships attracted nearly 280 applicants from 35 colleges and universities. Most of the prospective interns were from schools in Iowa or contiguous states. But the agency’s “Jump Through Hoops” program also attracted interest from students in states as distant as Connecticut, California and Texas … or whose native countries are China, Tanzania or Vietnam.

“Of the 18 applicants we interviewed, 11 actually are graduating this spring. That’s evidence of how difficult it is to find a full-time job right now,” said Doug Jeske, president of the 32-person agency. “Two of the three people we selected will graduate in May and the third is completing his junior year.”

As would be expected, Iowa’s three regents’ institutions and Drake University, the state’s largest private school, generated the most applications. But the universities of Wisconsin-Madison, Minnesota and Missouri also were well represented.

Expanded Recruiting

“We ramped up our internship recruitment program this year and were very pleased with the results,” Jeske added. “We recruited at 16 schools and created a special website for the internship program. But word also spread among internship coordinators at schools far beyond our intended geography. That’s gratifying because one of our objectives is to develop a more diverse idea base.”

Jeske said that one reason for students’ strong interest is the agency’s “summer bonus”: the three interns – one each in account service, creative service and public relations – will work together as an agency within an agency to manage their own pro bono account, from start to finish.

“Because we are a relatively small agency, our interns can expect to have plenty of hands-on experience and develop a variety of new contacts,” he explained. “We tell them they can take a job with a big organization, but it doesn’t matter how many Super Bowl ads the agency has produced if all the intern does is lick envelopes.”

Quick Facts

An analysis of The Meyocks Group’s 277 internship applications revealed a number of interesting facts:

1. Career services centers at the schools were the leading source for information about the internships, followed by the “Hoops” program’s on-campus poster advertising.
2. The public relations internship attracted the most applications with 108, followed by creative service at 93 and account service with 76.
3. Female students outnumbered males by better than a two to one margin, 190 to 87.
4. Iowa State students made 67 applications to lead followed by Drake with 50.
5. Of the 261 applicants who specified majors, marketing (52) was the most popular choice.
6. Nine students were from nations other than the United States.

West Des Moines, IA — Doug Jeske, chief operating officer of The Meyocks Group advertising agency, has acquired the firm from Hy-Vee, the two parties announced today. The Meyocks Group will continue to be advertising agency of record for Hy-Vee.