Category: Multimedia

Coming to a mobile device very near you…

I remember my first statistics class, when on the first day the professor boldly claimed, “Statistics don’t lie. But, they can’t be trusted.” And, while he wasn’t undermining his own profession and existence, his point was clear: statistics can easily be manipulated to be misleading or even contradictory.

I mention that first as a caveat to what I’m about to tell you, because I’m about to hurl some statistics on you for this discussion. Take what you will. Interpret what you will. Any way you want to look at these numbers though, the proverbial 30,000-foot view will give you the intended takeaway from this article. And that is… The consumption of mobile video is growing rapidly.

Let’s just start there. What it means to you and your business is, of course, as subjective as with any other communications tool out there. And, I’ll discuss what that means for you in later articles. But, if you’re thinking that mobile video shouldn’t impact your strategic communications mix…

I am stylin’ | A Case Study on Content Marketing

Watch the Slidecast (PPT+MP3): By now, most businesses have built a basic social media platform – a collection of social media sites and services that serve as the foundation for their social media communications.

But most have not realized that “join the conversation” does not mean “tell me about your products and services”.

It means there is a current conversation in progress and you’re welcome to participate – just like in a synchronous real world conversation between different people. The same assumptions most would make from this situation on what is acceptable and what is not acceptable is all too often overlooked my marketing and sales professionals. Bad manners, blatant intrusions and inappropriate language are not acceptable in the classroom, or in a restaurant, or in a place of business and it surely is not acceptable in social media…

Case Study: Expanding Customer Product Use for TUMS

Situation: Our client had identified pregnant women as a key market to expand product use by introducing the use of TUMS as a Calcium supplement. They had committed to a online media buy with BabyCenter.com and established metrics for success as the delivery of 50,000 sample via web-based requests.

Critical Business Issue: Communications initiatives must center around GSK/TUMS’ understanding of these needs and how the TUMS brand is uniquely suited to meet those needs (ranging from symptomatic relief of heartburn to the dramatic and changing needs for calcium for both the mother and the developing child). There is a reason TUMS is the choice of women and their doctors all during their pregnancy, from pre-conception through post-partum.

Reasons: Mothers-to-be have very different emotional, physical and nutritional needs at various times during their pregnancies. The same holds true post-partum.

Vision: Our clients told us they need a way to demonstrate TUMS is a “friend” to the mother (and developing baby) at every stage of pregnancy (before, during and after). “We know what you’re going through, we understand your needs and we’ll be with you as those needs change. ” TUMS will be there for you providing the heartburn relief you’ll need during pregnancy but more importantly delivering the added benefit of being a “natural” and complete and effective and trusted calcium supplement. We’re with you all the way.”

Ideahaus Brief: Interesting Concept…

The moral of the story, “Can’t we all just get a long”, serves as a battle cry for those of us just trying to do what you paid us for (No offense ;-)

Studio Notes: We were on the phone with a client who had hired us previously to handle a design project. As we were getting briefed on the project we were told, “We really love your creativity, and what you have done in the past, and are looking forward to working with you again.” All great things to hear, then they added, “but we have some ideas on what we should do.” Okay, we’re open to ideas, and collaborating with our clients. Then they add, “It should look like this, and it should be this color, and it should say this, and it should be this size…”

After the conference call, Jeff and I took the “action figures” from my the studio desk and, in one take, vented our frustration and unspoken thoughts in a video that shares what its like to be hired for a job, but not allowed to do it.