Posts Tagged ‘Conversation’

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If you build it they will come…will they?

By Andy Reierson, November 19, 2009 | Comments

202224772_4e6f0d2c0eLast week I was speaking to a group of students at a college in Duluth about the different ways businesses can use social media. As I was finishing, a student asked a very important question, a question I’m confident many of you are struggling with.

His question was this, “I intern for a local company who has a Facebook fan page and a Twitter account but we don’t have any fans or followers. How do we get more people interested and engaged in our social media efforts?”

Am I right? Do you find your company in this same predicament?

Take a step back

First off, why did you jump on Facebook or open a Twitter account? Do you have a strategy or was it because you heard all of the hype and thought you needed to be there? If it’s the latter, at the minimum you may want to think about and answer these questions…

What are your goals for your social media program? Is it to gain awareness? Increase sales? Or create loyalty? Do you know who your target audience is, what social media services they use and how they use them? Do you have a plan to engage, empower and connect your followers/friends? Or are you going to use it as a message board to talk about yourself or your company? If that’s the case, use your website.

Okay, I get it…but that still doesn’t get people to “follow”, “fan” or “friend” me.

When you open a new location or add a new service, do you just sit back and hope that customers will figure it out? No, you tell people right. The same is true about your social media efforts…if you don’t let people know where you are and what you’re doing, nobody will know or care.

How do you do this? Use your website, online media, signage in stores, and/or TV and radio commercials, basically any and all different forms of media will work. The important thing is to give them a reason to join – what added value are they going to get from joining your social media program?

What companies do you connect with in social media? How did you learn about/find them? How active are you? What benefits do you receive for being a part of their social media community?

Photo courtesy of Justin Brockie.

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3 Things You Can Accomplish With Good Design

By Ken Zakovich, November 11, 2009 | Comments
From left to right: Ken Zakovich - Creative Director, David Sadowski - Art Director

WestmorelandFlint Creative Director Ken Zakovich is showcasing Art Director David Sadowski. (We asked them to pose for a picture, but they were too "creative" to just smile for the camera.)

When my colleague Dave Sadowski and I recently spoke to an advertising/marketing strategy class at the College of St. Scholastica, we wanted to emphasize one point: There is a difference between design and good design.

So where does good design come from? It comes from conversation and personal experience, from balancing intuition and facts. It comes from knowing the ‘thing’ you are trying to sell and falling in love with it. It’s knowing the client, their customers and their values—each producing valuable information.

The designer collects information much like a squirrel gathers nuts and uses it to create something that resonates with the customer. We think of the whole customer experience—good design branches out and touches customers in ways you may never have imagined. These are techniques we use every day.

We helped these college students realize how powerful good design is and that it will ultimately:
• Sell more product,
• Create more value, or
• Improve the customer’s experience

These students—these future account managers at advertising agencies, directors of marketing in nonprofit organizations, or public relations professionals in large corporations—went away with a working understanding of the facilitating, collection of data and the listening that good design requires.

Yes, lightning bolts happen. They are real and they are extraordinary. But delivering consistent, timely and relevant creative starts with informed individuals, combined with hard work and ends with a design solution that supports marketing strategy.

What’s your experience with good design?

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Do u luv or h8 txting?

By Josh Hoffman, November 9, 2009 | Comments

The advent of mobile technology gives marketers the opportunity to reach target audiences with a very personalized message, any time of day, delivered right into their hands. But the tool is not without controversy. Concerns have been raised about the impact of frequent texting on literacy and the English language.

txt msging has now bcome a freq used mode of comm among the young peeps. u can stay connected w/ ur bffs round the clock & on ur own terms. u can send a msg whnevr u want & u can  ignore a msg rec’d or rply 2 it when u feel like it. w/ such a small space 2 write ur txt, words r reduced down to abbrevs or symbols. while this is eff 4 txt msging, the habit of using txt lingo is moving byond the mble device & is used in evryday writing. so the ? is this – is txting ruining the English lingo? lol

Critics claim text messaging has reduced the art of the written word to the literary equivalent of vanity license plates—clever, but gimmicky and trite. In our haste to communicate quickly, speed triumphs over syntax, punctuation is disregarded, emotions are misinterpreted, and the search for the perfect word completely abandoned. We are faced with no less than the destruction of the English language. Forever. A tragedy as profound as the prose of Shakespeare himself (who, btw, happily made up thousands of words).

Others—including some linguists—are less alarmed, pointing out that language, and the rules governing how we use it, have continually evolved to reflect how people communicate, and rightly so. Still others go so far as to say texting actually makes younger people better communicators, contending the more children use language, the more verbally skilled they become. In fact, studies have found no evidence that online language is degrading other aspects of language.

Is this controversy a linguistic tempest in a teapot? What do you think? Do you believe texting is ruining the written word?

Text: MOBILE to: 38681 Once you text MOBILE to 38681, you will receive a reply with that very question.

Check back to this post and we’ll let you know the consensus.

So, after a week of responses here is the consensus: 8 feel that it is ruining the language and 13 feel it is not. If u took the txting surv on the phone, the correct answer is: “At the rate that texting is growing, we are not gonna see this new language go away soon!” But I have to include some of these wonderful responses. “Good grief, I was wrong, it is ruining the English language.” “blah, blah, blah texting is growing…blah, blah, blah. apparently I am not txt savvy.” “I know I sound like a neanderthal, but if illiteracy is in vogue, I’m happy to look like a bafoon!” “Can’t translate. Point made.” “OK then.”

Your carrier might charge you for the text message, and no, we won’t sell your phone number to anybody. It will only be used for this survey.

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Using Social Media to Elicit Customer Insights for Innovation

By Andy Reierson, November 3, 2009 | Comments

Companies who have managed to survive and thrive for many years have managed to stay ahead of customer demands through research and development. With social media, doors have been opened for every company to develop a community of their best customers and gain insight that can lead to new opportunities for products and or services. A good social media strategy and program can help you form a connection with your customers that wasn’t possible even 3 years ago and can drive your ability to adapt to customer needs and wants.

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Posted in AadlandFlint, Flint Communications, Flint Group, Flint Interactive, HatlingFlint, SimmonsFlint, WestmorelandFlint | Comments

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Deadline for the end of the world has been extended

By Debbie Morrison, October 26, 2009 | Comments

d_day

December 21, 2012, is the deadline when the world is coming to an end. However, there appears to be a little wiggle room here. Evidently the Mayans, who are credited with “publishing” this deadline, have added an asterisk to that date, explaining there is a lot more to the story.* It seems Hollywood has added some drama. Go figure.

aztec calendarBut the drama that comes with meeting deadlines is very real. And there are many days where it becomes obvious that some of these deadlines are just not going to be met. It’s at that point in time when we learn the difference between “published” deadlines and “real” deadlines.

Published deadlines are very valuable. They help us set goals, get organized and establish milestones that need to be reached along the way. But even our most well-thought out plans can hit a snag, or time suddenly passes by and before you know it, that published deadline is no longer possible to achieve. When this happens, anxiety begins to set in, co-workers get crabby, mistakes are made and there is unhappiness everywhere. But this situation also opens up opportunities, and that’s when real deadlines are set.

Real deadlines force everyone involved to stop and reevaluate what really needs to be done and how the team can pull it off. The previously discouraged team is re-energized, united for a common purpose and mobilized to accomplish the seemingly unattainable task at hand. Together, they work smarter, use their creative talents to employ unconventional problem-solving techniques, and, in the end, have a huge sense of accomplishment and reason to celebrate a job well done.

Publishing deadlines is great and always the preferred means by which to reach a goal. But deadlines will be missed and when that happens, it doesn’t mean the goal cannot be achieved. Just figure out what really needs to get done and work smarter – together. Then enjoy life and don’t worry about it. After all, it’s not the end of the world.

So, what are you planning to do on December 22, 2012?

*For more about the end of the world see MSNBC http://ow.ly/vH93


Aztec calendar photo credit courtesy of Santa Fe College

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A Communications Lesson from Mr. Rogers

By Roger Reierson, October 20, 2009 | Comments

“People do not want to hear about simple things, they want to hear about great things–simply told.”

- Mr. Rogers

bwsweep

One of my most admired philosophers was Mr. Rogers (I must admit the name attracted me). He came across as a simple man, but his life lessons were full of great insight. The quote above is one of my favorites. It certainly defines the job of communications professionals and the role performed daily by many of my colleagues in the Flint Group.

It is important to start with comprehensive, accurate information and an in-depth understanding of your audience in order to properly develop your story. Of course integrity in the message is paramount, but the bigger the message, told in an easy to understand manner, the more impact it will bring to your brand.

Sounds simple right? Then why do so many companies fail?

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Posted in AadlandFlint, Flint Communications, Flint Group, Flint Interactive, HatlingFlint, SimmonsFlint, WestmorelandFlint | Comments

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An UNparalleled Experience: the Flint Group Creative Retreat

By Phil Hunt, September 29, 2009 | Comments

Earlier this month, more than thirty Flint Group creatives convened at Lost Lake Lodge near Brainerd, Minnesota. The objective? To share ideas and learn from each other face to face at the Flint Group Creative Retreat. Designers and writers from across the organization spent (roughly) two days and two nights focusing on the future, improving creativity and expanding collaboration.

Things got rolling on Thursday, September 17th with an icebreaker led by SimmonsFlint designer Ann Simmons-Boushey, followed by a wonderful dinner at Lost Lake Lodge and a show and tell of creative work from each agency.

Retreat Begins

Later that night, we had some fun around the bonfire.

Bonfire

The next morning, our group put social media strategy to work. Writer, Lee Ziegler, and Flint Interactive designer, Alissa Pesta, led the workshop, assigning real marketing problems to small groups. Using Jason Baer’s Social Media Worksheet, the Flint Group creatives addressed the problems with strategies and ideas to create awareness, generate sales or encourage loyalty online.

Social Media Strategy

That afternoon, it was time for our own unConference. Flint Communications art director, Frank Stegmaier, and writer, Phil Hunt, attended an unConference presented by One Club and the Society of Digital Agencies this spring. The experience and discussion was so valuable that we decided to conduct a smaller-scale unConference of our own.

There is no pre-determined agenda for an unConference. At the start of the event, we got together and proposed topics related to our industry and agency. After setting a a loose schedule, we talked and talked some more – documenting key points and outcomes along the way.

Some of the topics addressed included:

•    The Future of Flint Group
•    The Future of Print
•    Surviving the Economy and the New Era of Advertising
•    The Business of Design
•    Ethics in the Creative Field
•    Unconventional Printing and Advertising
•    Social Media
•    Video for the Web
•    How Production Design will Change in the Future
•    Interoffice Collaboration
•    Finding Inspiration
•    Presenting Concepts and Ideas
•    Using Creativity to Make the Creative Brief Go Further

The unConference was a big success – and we recommend it to any organization that wants to discuss big, challenging ideas. For more information on the unConference format, check out the unConference Wikipedia entry, unConference.net or Open Space World.

At night we wound down with another great meal, a butter sculpture contest, plus a bonfire and an outdoor screening of the 2009 Addy Reel. On Saturday, we finished up with some brainstorming techniques from copywriter Phil Hunt, and said our goodbyes.

Friday Night Butter Sculpting Contest

It was a fun weekend, and a productive one, too. We came back on Monday with fresh perspectives and solid ideas for the future of our clients and our agency. Stay tuned for more thoughts and outcomes from the retreat.

Posted in Flint Communications, Flint Group, Flint Interactive, HatlingFlint, SimmonsFlint, WestmorelandFlint | Comments

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Mining Internet Connectivity for Alaska Business

By Colin N. Clarke, August 30, 2009 | Comments

FacebookPDAThe level of ‘connectivity’ in Alaska is pretty amazing. WIFI access, web enabled handhelds, digital mobile service and more. I guess I wasn’t surprised when I stumbled upon the most recent census stats for connectivity and found that Alaska is the second most connected state in the U.S. by household (behind New Hampshire only).

It’s no secret that Alaska is geographically isolated, but the people who live here are worldly and connected. They are very much in tune with the latest happenings around the world, and with the proximity to the Pacific Rim, Asia and Russia, their worldly nature seems to come naturally. Mix the geographic isolation with an inherent curiosity and you end up with a population that likely makes use of the Internet more efficiently than most areas of the U.S.

Businesses Lagging

So with such a ‘connected’ population, why are Alaska-based businesses lagging in their digital communications with Alaskans?

It’s true, most Alaskan businesses sport a website (it’s an expectation here). But when it comes to personal and social connection, Alaskans as business patrons are far ahead of the places they do business with. Alaskans love to be heard (just look at the comments section of any local article at ADN.com). They are passionate people, and they are voicing their opinion on message boards, wordpress, blogspot, flickr, twitter, facebook, ning, bebo, myspace and more. Want proof? As of the August, 2009 there were 174,240 Alaskans over age 18 with a Facebook account. That is more than one third of the total 18+ population of Alaska!

Missing the Conversation

So with all the conversations being held by Alaskans, do you suppose at some point they are talking about YOUR business? And when they are talking about your business, how do YOU know? What if they are saying something inaccurate about your company? Or worse, something damaging? If you are not actively participating in the conversation, how would you ever know? And how much damage could be done to your company reputation as a result?

Mining for Growth – Strategically

With internet connectivity and the growth of social media, the basic tenets of brand management have changed tremendously. A recent article describes managing your brand with social media. The article on Brand Bytes (an ADN.com blog about digital connectivity for business) describes how brand management has changed and the importance of having a social media strategy in place to help you manage your brand image in the digital world. And a recent AP article describes how businesses are connecting with their customers via social media. A quote from Alecia Dantico of Garrett Popcorn (@garrettpopcorn), “The conversations were already happening. My job was just to join them.”

It’s time for Alaskan businesses to begin engaging with customers in the digital world on a more social and personal level. Monitor a conversation, join a conversation, lead a conversation. Your customers are already here, it’s time that you start mining Alaska’s connectivity for your company’s growth as well.

 

AadlandFlint and the Flint Group has more than 50 professionals trained  in social media strategy and development. Follow just of a few of our digital professionals on Twitter at @jlysne, @fijens, @areierson.

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