For many of us, the idea mobile marketing creates a cringe-enducing association with mobile spam. Images of random text messages waking you up in the middle of the night race through your head. You begin to shiver with thoughts of your cell phone rattling in the middle of a presentation letting you know about “Free Pix”. Well I’m here to tell you – It doesn’t have to be that way.

Utilizing advanced network capacities, refined measurement/tracking capabilities, and a solid strategy, marketers can safely enter the mobile universe with little fear of turning off their valued consumers. The key to connecting with your audience through mobile is to provide valuable and timely content on an opt-in/opt-out basis. If people are asking for you to communicate with them, you have a perfect opportunity to provide an engaging brand touchpoint.

Here are a few tips for entering the mobile space for your company:

Continue reading "Mobile - The Final Frontier"

How cool is this: Chanel is sponsoring a Mobile Art pavilion designed by the award-winning architect Zaha Hadid that will be landing in New York's Central Park in October (having already made stops in Hong Kong and Tokyo, with London and Paris to follow).

According to the New York Times, more than a temporary art space (not to mention Hadid's first building in New York), "the pavilion is a provocative advertisement. Chanel, the fashion brand, commissioned Ms. Hadid to create the traveling structure to house works by about 15 hot contemporary artists. Each was asked to create a work that was at least in part inspired by Chanel’s classic 2.55 quilted-style chain handbag, so named because it was first issued in February 1955."

A friend recently sent me a link to a funny clip you probably have already heard of, or even viewed: "Where The Hell Is Matt?” This four and a half minute video montage introduces Matt Harding, your average Joe, as he dances his way through 42 different countries, vigorously flailing his arms and kicking out his feet in what is now his signature jig. There isn’t too much more to say about the video – it’s simple and surprisingly endearing.

I had read about the viral phenomenon a few weeks back, but at the time, didn’t think it was compelling enough to YouTube. A random guy who’s hit fame doing something wacky? Eh, I’ve heard enough of those Jared the Subway Guy-esque stories. But after my friend emailed me the direct link, I had no excuse not to click on it. So click I did.

Continue reading "A Dancing Gnome"

As VP, Director of Production Procurement I am some times called upon to mediate "issues" that have developed between a production team and a supplier. My first responsibility is to carefully listen to both sides of an "issue" to truly understand it and then see if I can help lead both sides to a meaningful and equitable solution. All too often I find myself trying to mediate a situation that has formed through poor communications. Emails have been fired back and forth and quick phone conversations have been had and yet nothing has been placed in formal writing and signed by both parties. I'm sure you can see that whatever the "issue" might be it is based in an honest miss-understanding between parties. The fact that there hasn't been anything placed in formal writing which shows the resulting "understanding" means there can't be an "oh, that's what you meant?" moment!

Continue reading "Talk it out, write it down and sign it"

By Sandy Sites VP, Director. Jack Morton Training

This week on July 4th the United States will celebrate its birthday. Do you know exactly what it was that happened on that day 232 years ago? Was it:
A. The completion of The Constitution
B. The Boston Tea Party
C. Samuel Adams opening the first brewery in North America (Now that's cause for celebration!)
D. The convening of the First Continental Congress
E. The signing of the Declaration of Independence

For the correct answer, click on Continue reading below.

Continue reading "Why is this guy writing this?"

"New York City Waterfalls", Olafur Eliasson's massive public art project officially opened yesterday. I'm happy to say that my subway commute takes me right between two of the 4 waterfalls..and it is gorgeous. I can't describe it quite as eloquently as others or as lovely as the artist himself when he said:

"Water has this fantastic ability to be everything for everybody."

Continue reading "NYC Waterfalls...commuting over history"

I watched a fascinating presentation from the TED conference (aren't they all!) by Susan Blackmore. Her bio says:

Susan Blackmore is dedicated to understanding the scientific nature of consciousness. Her latest work centers on the existence of memes -- little bits of knowledge, lore, habit that seem to spread themselves using human brains as mere carriers. She's exploring the existence of a new class of meme, spread by human technology. It's temporarily named the "teme."

As I watched her explain memes in terms fashion, trends, etc., it occurred to me that our job is essentially to turn a brand -- logo, concept, experience -- into a meme. This presentation takes it a step further, exploring the notion that technology has enabled a new kind of self-replicating entity, which she dubs "techno-memes" or "temes" for short.

If you have 20 minutes, check out this video. It's mind expanding.