Facts and Figures about Social Media
Still skeptical about the power of Social Media? This presentation may just convert your thinking..
Heydays
For those of you who havn’t heard of Oslo based design studio Heydays, I highly recommend visiting their website and taking a look at their latest projects. Absolutely stunning work.
September Industries
I can’t believe it’s taken so long for me to come across September Industry, an online design journal boasting a ‘carefully curated selection of the very best contemporary graphic design.’ Absolutely stunning collection and I highly recommend checking out the site and their contributors.
Jolicloud
Jolicloud is a new platform (currently in beta stage) dedicated to simplifying cloud computing by connecting users to ‘all of their online applications, social media, videos, photos and files from any device in the world.’ Very excited to see this in action!
A few words on Brand Identity
As the rush to establish an online presence begins to take priority for many businesses worldwide, core foundations such as brand identity are often being overlooked and even sacrificed in a bid to ‘catch up.’
What many people fail to realise is that by making the shift online, you are not only exposing your business to potential customers, but a world of competition too. It is now more important than ever to develop and maintain a consistent identity for your brand in order to stand out and set you apart from competitors. A cohesive identity should communicate the overall persona of your product or service through both the visual elements of your brand and the overall personality of your brand (Especially now as you prepare to enter the online social landscape.)
Take the time to define and establish your brand identity from the very beginning and you will surely reap the benefits in all future marketing and communications.
I will soon be posting a bit of an ‘Action Plan’ in order to help get the process of developing a brand identity under way. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your opinions on the topic!
Twitter Stories
With the end of 2011 in sight, Twitter is reflecting on the year passed through the December edition of their recently launched Twitter Stories, a listing of the most remarkable stories generated by a single tweet. From lifesaving tweets (Chris Strouth received a kidney after posting “Shit, I need a kidney”) to the first tweet delivered from space, these stories are a strong reminder of the impact Social Media has on everyday people worldwide.
Each Story reminds us of the humanity behind tweets that make the world smaller – Twitter
Twitter stories is the first of many lists soon to be released by the company, including top tweets, trends and hashtags. If you have a story you think Twitter should know about, follow @twitterstories and post using the hashtag #TwitterStories.
Which of the stories do you find most remarkable? My personal favourite would be the story of Peter Shankman, a fantastic example of how a company leveraged their Social Media to build customer loyalty.
Stunning
The latest in Monocle’s book series, this cookbook by Australian chef Bill Granger features not only a fantastic range of Asian recipes, but some absolutely stunning design.
Calendar
This calendar design is from 2010, but I’m still in love with it.
EDIT: Created by Tim Denee, an incredibly talented designer & illustrator out of Wellington, New Zealand. Thanks to Paul Jaques for letting me know.
Logographic
What do you think of the cover for IDN‘s ‘Logographic’ edition? Really excited to get my hands on a copy!
Think Beer.
I know I’m a bit late, but it seems everyone is talking about the latest advertising effort by Carlsberg (and for good reason!)
The premise:
1. Fill a cinema with 148 bikers leaving only two spare seats directly in the middle.
2. Send an unsuspecting couple into the cinema.
3. Film their reaction.
And the result?
A strike of genius and an advertisement gone viral.
What do you think about this ad by Carlsberg? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
It’s not just about Facebook
There’s no denying that Facebook is one of the biggest assets to your brand, and without it you could be missing out on a huge opportunity to extend your customer or client reach. This is not to say, however, that Facebook is the be all and end all of your Digital Strategy. I am approached daily by businesses wanting to get on Facebook for one simple reason – because everybody else is. When we delve deeper into this request, it is commonly agreed that yes, they do need a Facebook page, however many more potential opportunities to extend their online reach are often identified.
Before jumping the gun and heading straight to Facebook, it is important to establish exactly where your business is situated now, where you want your business to be and how Social Media is going to help get you there. The best way to do this, in my opinion, is to think of your business or service as a story that you want to tell the rest of the world. Just like in any great stoytelling, you need to cover the 5 W’s -
Who do you want to reach through your Social Media (target demographic)
What is the personality of your brand (How will your brand be perceived by this audience?)
Where are you located? Do you have a physical location?
When is your message to be seen?
Why are you really making the move online? (‘Because everybody else is’ is not an acceptable answer!)
Spend some time on these questions. The answers will help to define exactly what approach you should be taking with your Social Media, and I guarantee that Facebook will no longer be your only option.
Social Collaboration
“Innovation is one of the primary benefits of Social Business or becoming a Social Business” – Ofer Guetta, IBM.
If you’re a business owner of any size, I highly recommend watching the following video. Great insights on Social Business brought to you by a variety of experts in the field. Well worth the watch.
Downfall
You might be familiar with a range of ‘Downfall’ parodies that surfaced on Youtube a few years back, referencing one of the final scenes in the movie with altered sub titles. With the #QantasLuxury twitter debacle attracting world wide attention, it’s not surprising that one have these parodies has already been created and is being shot around the web like wildfire. Although Social Media can do wonders for your business or service, it’s good to remember that without smart execution, things can go very, very wrong.
Social Media A-Z
I often witness first hand the confusion put forward by thousands of websites and blogs dedicated to the “Do’s & Dont’s” of Social Media. When Likeable released this Social Media A – Z yesterday, I had a moment that many of us dread – The ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ Moment. Nevertheless, it’s done, it’s out there and it’s great for amateurs and professionals alike to use a reference in their approach to the digital social environment. Enjoy !
Watch
No need for words – Just watch (In HD if you can!)
http://www.vimeo.com/32001208Type What?
Typeverything. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to catch on to this amazing collaborative blog dedicated to typography. It was impossible to choose a favourite, so here’s one of the contenders.
(Click to see more amazing work by Isidro Ferrer)
Monster Children
Last night after returning home from a meeting, I came across a post on Twitter introducing a new Editor in Chief at Monster Children, Jason Crombie. An avid reader of the publication, I was quick to check out the article which, in my opinion, was a well written and light hearted introduction from the man himself.
It was the second paragraph of the write up however, that really stood out and resonated with me (and I’m sure it’s the same for many others working, and often struggling in the creative industries)
I’m not honoured to receive this title, far from it. To be honest, I think it’s about time I received some real, paid recognition. I’ve suffered many years for my craft, often working regular-Joe jobs like washing dishes, waiting tables, and diving to the muddy bottoms of dams to retrieve golf balls just so I could afford to eat and breath and write another day. But now that I’m Editor in Chief of something, all that drudgery is behind me, and like a mighty phoenix I have risen from the ashes to wreak fiery vengeance on all those who said I’d never amount to squat. Namely, Mr. Cameron, the recently deceased careers counsellor from my old high school. How you like me now, fat man?
You can read the full article here.
No matter your specialty in the creative industries, scoring your dream job is often a difficult task. What are your thoughts on sacrifice in order to do what you love for a living? Have you ever felt like throwing in towel? Or has your persistence paid off?
Changes
I’ve decided to make yet another change to my website. Although the last few redesigns worked quite well in terms of my portfolio showcase, I have decided I want to start blogging … alot more. This new layout allows me to do so, while keeping it minimal, sharp and crisp – just the way I like it. I have made it a personal goal to begin writing about the fields in which I not only work, but enjoy working in with a passion. It will take me a few days to get the site up and running as I want it, so until then, feel free to follow me on Twitter. Hopefully I can keep you mildly entertained in 140 characters or less.