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CEO Conversations – part 2: Tin Can Communications Founder/CEO & MobileDiner.com producer Chris Parandian

Who he is: a wireless industry insider with an outsider view
Chris Parandian – Tin Can Communications CEO & founder – and producer of the Mobile Diner continues a great conversation on mobile media campaigns and ideas for small business.

Listen while you work: 5 minute audio
While working at your desk, feel free listening to this audio cast with Chris which includes his insight to companies being stuck in analogue, passion for better industry policy, and getting close to customers.

Reminder!
The audio cast adds a different conversation to what follows below. So you’re invited to click the link above to check out the new stuff!

Chris & the opportunity question: how new media paved a path

It was after this meeting that I realized there was a great opportunity to help tech companies interested in augmenting their traditional communications with new media, including wireless.

I was at a small firm that represented some telecommunications companies and I had the opportunity to hear a digital firm speak with a client about new media. I had been utilizing a number of digital tools “in the diner”, i.e. at my blog MobileDiner.com, and I was interested to see what they had to say.  I realized the folks who were talking about new media were not even using many of the tools themselves.  Not to mention they had no background in telecommunications.

It is challenging starting a new business but we’ve been in business almost a year and it has been a lot of fun.

Inside baseball & engagement: how a blog fills a need
With regard to what readers seek from Mobile Diner, I’m an insider who brings an outsider prospective to many policy issues. Accordingly, readers expect insight and 411 on the inside baseball in DC and a place where these mobile enthusiasts can engage in an effort to make better products and policies.

Mobile broadcasting, hands down, is the most appealing mobile tool now. It’s a game changer.

For instance, Blackberry (of note they’re a client of mine) can be a platform of participation. Facebook, MySpace, etc all have mobile applications. And Qik just announced they’re going to service Blackberry Curve and Pearl models. I think it (mobile broadcasting) will be utilized in the next campaigns and in business marketing initiatives; and it will help greater transparency in government.

Chris on effective mobile initiatives & small business strategy
Mobile media may not be right for all small businesses. But I’d say a business needs to look where mobile marketing could possibly fit into their overall marketing strategy.

I think businesses will look to political campaigns and even nonprofits on how to effectively utilize mobile marketing. For instnace, the Internet Sexuality Information Services, a San Francisco nonprofit, knew that 85% of San Francisco youth owned a cell phone. So that made a mobile tactic ideal for their overall outreach goals; they conducted a great initiative using text messaging and other applications to educate teenagers.

More from:

• -Part 1 of Chris’ CEO Conversations;
• -Mobile Future, a great coalition resource on wireless tech and cross-industry trends.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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