Denver PD: Let's go to the video.

The Denver Police Department is suffering some image problems. To be fair, most police department do. But recent allegations of excessive force and more than a few people wondering if it's the police or the gangs that control downtown after dark has DPD taking their message to YouTube. Watch the clip here.

Personally and professionally, this isn't how I'd do such a video. It comes across like a movie trailer for a Bruce Willis film. Far too theatrical. They lost me at the slo-mo jump over the garbage can.

In a report about it by 9NEWS, DPD Detective John White said "It was one of the things that we wanted to do to kind of illustrate, show our community; this is what your police department does, these are the types of perils that your officers put themselves in to keep you safe."

The video cost $2,000 to produce, paid for by the Denver Police Foundation.

Being a cop is a dangerous job. I can only imagine the emotion and adrenalin flow when chasing a bad guy. We need police to do just that. The job after all, is to protect and serve.

But this video doesn't serve the goal of educating us about what they do. A better option would be a direct message from real officers about the realities of what they face each day, and why they choose to do it. The focus should be less on special effects, and more on message. We'd all be better served.

Like all such efforts, it's designed to start the conversation. In this case, I'm not sure DPD will be happy with the conversation they started.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

The difference between a Pipeline and a Pipeline

Pipelines carry stuff from here to there and vice-versa, depending on your location. Most associate the term with oil and gas. But pipelines also carry water, in fact any liquid asset.

Pipelines also carry information. A website is a pipeline of information. So is Twitter and YouTube. Your favorite local radio or television news station is a pipeline. Ditto for a newspaper, if you still have one where you live.

A generation ago we had a limited number of pipelines. If you're old enough to remember it, think of the Iran Hostage Crisis. Far fewer sources for news compared to today. You actually had to wait for news. The crisis in fact, created a pipeline, an ABC broadcast called "America Held Hostage." Today you know it as Nightline. You can watch the show off-air, via satellite or cable and of course the show has its own website. Which connects to numerous other pipelines.

Much is made of the ever growing number of communication pipelines. Each day it seems, comes a new one. Better, bolder, hotter than the others.

"My pipeline is cooler than your pipeline!"

Sadly, lost in the conversation is the conversation itself, i.e. CONTENT.

To be blunt, crap is crap, regardless of how it's delivered. Crap in, crap out.

Holy crap.

Creating impactful content for your pipeline(s) is what we do at Conversation Starters. Your message has to be meaningful on Main Street. Let us help you do just that.

Brian Olson
CEO and Founder
Conversation Starters LLC

Brand Ambassadorship

I've been listening to podcasts since the series of finale of LOST. Plus I've read more than a few articles. While the series wrapped up things generally, it didn't wrap up everything so it makes for interesting listening and reading. Two podcasts I listen to plan to continue on for months, maybe years.

Mentioned more than a few times is the upcoming release of the DVD package of the series. ABC and the producers of the hit show aren't paying a dime for any of this. Wow, imagine reaching huge audiences to market your product for free.

It reminds me of what I heard earlier this year in Atlanta at a Social Media Summit. The folks at Coca Cola (which hosted the event) talked about a Facebook fan page for Coke. It has almost 500 thousand members. But Coke didn't create it. Two fans did.

Customers and fans of your brand, can be your best "Brand Ambassadors." They post on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. They create fan pages.

IF...they like your product and customer service. It can just as easily work the opposite. Mistreat or mislead your customer base and they'll let you have it digitally, big-time.

Then there are cases where good companies get a bad rap on the Internet for no other reason that while the great thing about the Internet is everyone has access to it, the bad thing about the Internet is everyone has access to it.

As one psychologist said, "The Internet has provided a platform for the hateful." Usually, most of these types post anonymously, but believe it or not, some people believe them.

We specialize in helping you make the most out of your brand ambassadors, and how to deal with those who have nothing better to do than pick on you unfairly. There's a time and a place for everything on the Internet, especially when it comes to your brand's reputation.

Let us help you manage your brand in the ever-evolving world of Social Media.

Brian Olson
CEO and Founder
Conversation Starters LLC