Blue Monster has had a good few weeks on tour. Philippa got some great shots during her road trip on the west coast and I hooked up with some old and new friends in Denver and Orlando to spread the word. Frank Arrigo spotted the Blue Monster twice during sessions at Microsoft's MGX conference and I of course used it during my own presentation at Worldwide Partner Conference. I also sent out some stickers to Sarah from 10 and Mary Jo Foley and Sarah pinged my back a photo of it on her laptop. That's all I ask of people if you have a sticker - put in on your laptop (ideally) and send me a photo (or just publish it to the Facebook group).
I also had a photo opportunity with Steve Ballmer, Kevin Turner and Jean Philippe Courtois and took the opportunity to hand Steve my Blue Monster business card. His words - "I love it - thanks". I didn't quite have the gumption to give it to Bill :)
What's been very interesting this last two weeks has been the amount of people who have seen the image and like it. I must have met about 30 people who said they loved it. Slowly but surely it's getting around the world and changing perceptions and starting conversations. I (and I know Hugh feel's the same) could never have imagined it would take reach this scale and if we compare it to some of our traditional marketing/branding approaches, you have to say it's pretty bloody impressive. I saw some things this week at our conference that make me think the company is embracing new ways to talk to customers and partners and I think we can teach them something with our viral movement.
For those of you out in Redmond looking for a sticker, the guys in my group are all at Tech Ready 5 this week and have stickers so maybe worth tracking them down. Ping me if you're a Softie and interested and we can setup a coffee meeting maybe?
I notice that Blue Monster even has its own group on Facebook. It is definitely gaining momentum. A blogging buddy, James Moody, from Hawaii has his photo with the Blue Monster.
http://geekinparadise.com/
I do like the positive message it sends. Letting people know that we are doing our best to make things better. You are right, it is definitely starting conversations, and I think that is a great outcome.
Reading Steve Clayton's post today on his offering a Blue Monster business card to Steve Ballmer prompted
Steve - thanks for my stickers - evidence that at least is being used in Australia is here:
http://blogs.msdn.com/nickmayhew/archive/2007/07/24/it-s-all-gone-a-bit-blue-monster.aspx
Reading Steve Clayton's post today on his offering a Blue Monster business card to Steve Ballmer
.....and what about for the non-softies?
We still have access to the convention center - coffee?
Josh - will send email to connect you with the team in Redmond
Hi Steve,
If you happen to have some stickers left, please send some to me via internal mail to clauer @ ms.com in the French Sub, at DPE. TIA!
CLaueR - http://blogs.msdn.com/clauer/
thanks again for the stickers! you should have yours now, too. :)