July 2009 - Posts

• Stay ahead of the pack with the perfect app

  Jul 31 2009

  Web browsing has become an archaic path to users looking for quick, accurate information. Wading through irrelevant search results and lengthy content is no longer acceptable. To stay ahead of the pack, smart companies are providing a utilitarian touch point for their core audience. Mobile applications (apps, mobile apps, mobi, portable apps, widgets, gadgets, utilities, etc.) are individual tools that can interact with one another and utilize the full capabilities of a mobile device. When developed strategically, apps become a great extension to a website, offering robust functionality and an intuitive interface so your audience can focus exclusively on your brand and service offerings. Apps are a tremendous opportunity for companies looking to offer customers a streamlined version of their desktop/laptop software, which they can download in a matter of seconds - providing dynamic functionality that's available anywhere and anytime. A few examples: E*Trade Mobile This app gives customers a handheld trading platform that's got an intuitive and robust interface, with the same functionality available on the parent site. Taco Bell - Why Pay More This app utilizes the product's internal gyroscope technology. A denomination is entered, and the user shakes the device to reveal a three-item combination to fit his or her budget. This app might have been better if it offered a random winning for a special deal. Whole Foods Market Recipes This app lets you enter a few ingredients you have on hand, then browse through a list of recipe suggestions. Also lets you find a store, select special diets, view cooking instructions and much more. no comments

• Simple suggestions for using social media

  Jul 31 2009

  Thinking about creating a social media presence for your brand? Consider these common-sense approaches: Less selling - Try to pull people into what you're saying by creating useful content, rather than commandeering their attention with a commercial message interruption. Listen to what's being said - People have a very powerful voice. So if that voice says negative things about your company, you would be wise to enter into that conversation to ensure your side of the story is heard. Google Alerts, BackType and TweetBeep are all free services that aggregate what is being said about keywords of your choice. Learn from it - While listening to what's being said, don't just run damage control. Actually use this insight to your advantage. It's like a gigantic and free focus group. Define your purpose - Rather than rushing to make use of all of the new social media technologies available, put the technologies aside for a moment and think about what you're trying to accomplish. You wouldn't get a tool before you know what it is you want to fix, would you? Have a personality - People are more engaged by opinions and personality than corporate fluff. Don't be afraid to allow your brand to have a personality even if it doesn't rub everybody the right way; it's far more likely to be engaging. Paraphrased from Eric Karjaluoto's IdeasOnIdeas.com post on June 1, 2009 titled "More mess; less B.S. (or: Nine simple suggestions for using social media)". Read the entire post. no comments

• 5 ways to help people remember you

  Jul 31 2009

  Are your presentations dry and unmemorable? Could you combine multiple slides to convey your message more succinctly? Could any of the words in your presentation be better illustrated as pictures? Cognitive psychologist Richard Mayer has explored the relationship between multimedia and learning. Multi-sensory environments lead to more accurate recall that lasts longer. From Mayer's findings, here are five rules you can use to enhance recall and retention in your audience: 1) Present words and pictures together, not words alone 2) Locate words and pictures near each other, instead of spaced apart 3) Combine related words and pictures into one slide, rather than using multiple 4) Exclude extraneous material 5) Complement animations with narration, instead of on-screen text Applying these simple principles will create a strong foundation upon which you can build, stand out and be remembered. no comments

• Let your footage do the walking

  Jul 31 2009

  It happens all the time. Production Company "A" created a video for you last year, and you'd like to reuse some of the footage. Production Company "B" is shooting this year's footage, and a freelancer is editing your video. The problem is - nobody wants to share the assets, because it cuts them out of the equation for next time. So, how do you get everybody to play nice? As the client, you have the right to negotiate ownership of footage, video and graphic assets. It is important to do this before any work on the video occurs. To ensure easy asset retrieval, be sure to purchase two external hard drives and request that all assets be "mirrored" and stored on those two drives. Keep one of the drives with you at all times and make sure it is updated as often as your video. The other drive will serve as your post-production workhorse. Make sure your assets are organized and clearly labeled. It won't do you much good if you can't find them! This is one reason why it is so important to hire quality post-production staff. That recent film school grad might be able to edit on the cheap but, if the assets aren't organized properly, they're as good as gone. with 2 comment(s)