By Emily Butler
February 16th, 2010
This weekend, I visited my parents in Vegas. While my daughter was entertained by Grandma and Grandpa, I settled in to a routine that I’d long forgotten—I read an actual hard copy of the Wall Street Journal. With newsprint dotting my fingers, I read cover to cover.
I usually get my news online and it just isn’t the same. When I got to the Opinion section and this article by Bill Wyman, “What Newspapers Can Learn From Craigslist,” I couldn’t help but think there was some cosmic alignment at this particular moment.
Wyman opines that newspapers need to put readers first and get rid of the unwanted navigation elements, like multiple links to different sections of the site. Instead, newspapers should take a page from Craigslist, which has been criticized for its simplicity. Craigslist gives users exactly what they want and puts very little on the site that isn’t useful to them.
I think Wyman’s right. It’s high-time newspapers think about online readers and what we want. I’d be thrilled to get to the editorial without the other garbage crowding my screen.
All marketers could really do a better job of this. Sometimes, we’re too caught up on what we want to put on the page, rather than what the user wants or needs from it.
Maybe I’m wrong. Could newspapers be making the online experience so miserable that we‘re driven to pick up a hard copy? After all, I flipped through my parents’ copy of the WSJ over a cup of Verona this weekend, and today I’m a returned subscriber.
By Amanda Smith
February 15th, 2010
Today marks the celebration of George Washington’s birthday, a.k.a. Presidents’ Day. It is one of 11 permanent federal holidays established by Congress. I’m sure the majority of you who are off work today are celebrating good ole George’s birthday and the rest of the faces that grace U.S. currency in your own special way.
Speaking of money…in 2010 marketers will be looking for more ROI than in years past and are shifting budget investments to more trackable online media and search marketing. According to a recent study by ExactTarget and Econsultancy, marketers plan to increase their online marketing budgets by an average of 17% this year. Therefore it’s more important now than ever to implement a SEO strategy and create effective online campaigns that will resonate with your target audience.
Are you planning to shift more of your marketing budget to online media this year? Do you have a favorite president or amount of currency?
By Nancy Landl
February 11th, 2010
Of course we never read those forwards, but I recently opened one that I found profound, albeit somewhat simple. It said:
There comes a point in your life when you realize:
Who matters,
Who never did,
Who won’t anymore…
And who always will.
So, don’t worry about people from your past,
There’s a reason why they didn’t make it to your future.
Good advice. We need to focus on what’s important, both personally and professionally, right now and in the future. If we keep trying to please people and serve customers who may never matter, we won’t have time or energy left to take care of those who matter most.
What are you doing to better focus on people that will make it to your future? Do you find that you spend more time pleasing your problem customers, or are you nurturing and supporting your best ones?
By Brad Whitford
February 9th, 2010
There is a new digital trend on the horizon and it entails wearing goofy multi-colored glasses. No, I’m not talking about the rebirth of the enormous, thick-framed sunglasses from the 80s. I’m talking about 3D.
In 2009, we were introduced to a new way of watching movies, witnessing sporting events and even playing video games. Now, I feel we’re on the cusp of a dramatic change that will affect how people go about their everyday lives. Many major TV manufacturers, such as Samsung and LG, as well as laptop and game counsel manufacturers are already preparing for this phenomenon by developing new products that will allow users to enjoy entertainment in 3D.
So will this new trend impact advertising? You bet; full force! I can picture it now; a car company broadcasting a commercial in 3D that places consumers inside their brand new sedan as it tears down an exotic road at 75 miles an hour! Talk about breaking through the clutter and capturing attention. I almost bought a new car just writing about it!
But 3D won’t be limited to TV. Banner ads, viral videos, movie previews and even B2B marketing mediums such as trade show booths and webinars could soon be receiving an upgrade into the third dimension.
So you might as well buckle up and purchase some of those red and blue paper goggles. The 3D trend has arrived with a bang.
Do you think advertisers will start incorporating 3D into their communications in 2010? What mediums should B2B marketers focus on when advertising in 3D?
By Kristina Toft
February 5th, 2010
As a graphic designer, so many times I am asked, “What does a graphic designer actually do?” Well, in the made-for-television version, we hang around a funky office with a laptop in one hand and a ping pong paddle in the other. But in reality, our jobs are a lot more serious than that. Yes, we do have fun, but the fun is in having the opportunity to be creative and the bonus is getting paid for it. Despite the picture painted on television, we don’t sit around and play all day.
A graphic designer’s work is a part of your daily life—from the Web sites you visit to the magazines you read, to the cereal box you take out of your pantry in the morning. Our job is to communicate ideas visually to promote products or services when words alone don’t tell the whole story. And, it’s not as easy as just jumping on a computer and pushing the mouse around all day. We have an extensive process—we research, brainstorm ideas, sketch out initial thoughts, and follow design theories—all while working closely as a team with copywriters, marketing professionals and fellow designers to produce and deliver effective materials for clients. Our computers are merely tools that aid the process.
What are your thoughts on the perception of graphic design among the general public?
