Dot-Com-Munication comes to Bowling Green!
Professor Rob, I have a question — How do we make our website so awesome that it totally integrates with social media? For all Diggers who attended the DIG in BG today, we received the answer to just that question. Call it going back to school. Call it “we learned a thing or two today”. Call it what ever you want, but I think we can all agree it was well worth our time. Rob Blackford knows his stuff. Yes, I said it, his stuff. I can honestly say that Rob is one of the most talented and genuine people I have ever had the distinct pleasure of working with.
Rob spent the time he had this morning educating us to this basic outline of thought — that Design + Content + Promotion = a really good Website. It doesn’t seem like rocket science, but unfortunately, not many are doing it the right way. To bad for them. If you’ve made a commitment to do it right, then do it. If we can be of help, call us.
-Tim
May Bowling Green DIG: PR 101
Toyota. Ring a bell? Yeah, figured it did. Come on, tell me what you really feel about this brand, especially now. They’ve taken a few sucker punches in the last few months haven’t they? It was through their PR efforts, or lack thereof, that we learned just how damaging a situation can become. At our Bowling Green DIG last week, David Green shared with us his philosophy of good PR and how we all should go about such activities.
If you have a hunch that PR should be a part of your daily marketing efforts, you’ve probably got a good hunch. Build a solid plan and make it happen.
For a more in depth look at PR101, see David’s presentation below.
An Ode to the Early Adopters of Social Marketing
I have a confession. I am not an “early adopter.” I said it out loud! I am NOT AN EARLY ADOPTER!!! I’m not sure WHAT to call myself, because professionally, I am a studier, predictor, strategy finder and lover of our early adopting friends. I know them, understand them and appreciate how they, as consumers of our client’s goods and services, keep us marketing types on our toes. They surprise us, and cause us to innovate. I “heart” them.
This group of trend setters has served as the engine behind the ever evolving discipline of social marketing. They have survived a million Google BETA tests and continue to be vocal when FaceBook screws up again. To them, I say, “Adopt on, my friends.” I’ll be watching, learning and once you have it all figure out, I’ll download the app.
For a more cerebral version of my “Ode to Social Marketing and the Early Adopters who we have to give thanks,” see the presentation below.
The Business of Sports
Yesterday’s DIG in Nashville was a special treat. My friend and client, Rob Bironas, was our special guest. Rob and I spent the 90 minutes talking about the business of football. We broke down the “org chart” of the NFL and even talked about how the athletes make money. Rob talked about the ins and outs of the “Franchise Tag” and about roster bonuses, but also about why he made the decision to handle his career with a plan in mind. Rob not only has a degree in Marketing from Auburn, but he understands that there is life after football. Check out his “Top 10 List” for insight into how he approaches his career and marketing his image.
March BG DIG: Marketing Planning 101
Oh, how I love to DIG in! Today’s content was about meat and potatoes. Obviously, not literally, about meat and potatoes, but when you live and breathe marketing planning for a living, teaching Marketing Planning 101 is my version of soul food. I shared the basic principles of marketing strategy and walked through the steps – one at a time. The group reviewed a sample marketing plan and chuckled together as they saw common pitfalls and road bumps and identified with them!
The takeaway? Marketing strategy doesn’t have to be complicated. As a matter of fact, the simplest strategies can be the most effective. If you do your homework, and plan tactics that fit your brand, you’re on your way to meeting you goals, and a big sense of satisfaction.
While I’ve given this presentation a few times, it has been given a few updates and a face-lift. Look below to review. And, use it as a resource for your own planning, and of course, call on us if you need a hand.
March Nashville DIG: Designing a Website to Integrate with Social Media
Whoa, baby. If you missed the 3.18 DIG with Rob Blackford, you really missed a heap of information!!
My introduction of Rob to the group of 40-something that came to participate involved words like “repeat offender entrepreneur” and “technical genius.” However, Rob is also one of my favorite people who happens to run a Nashville web and technology company called Design615. We work together weekly (sometimes daily), and our staffers lean on Rob for the times when pulling their hair out over technology or a web design issue isn’t the best option. Having a sharp brain behind the front of web design and development are vital, and he’s got just that.
Rob’s content walked the group through the old, the new, and a projection for the future of web design. With a participatory approach, each attendee filled in a worksheet with components of web history (like, how sites were built in 1997?) and current best practices. The group discussed social marketing tools, and how they affect how sites are put together. They even argued about the “best” content management system! Hello? Drupal? No – wait – proprietary – or Wordpress??
What we learned was that like most marketing tools that we tout at Werkshop, a great, current, social savvy site is best achieved with a plan/blueprint in mind. Ahhhh, strategy. Love it.
Holly
Click here to visit Rob’s site.
Handouts from presentation:
At Right Angles
Yesterday, Tim and I had the great opportunity to speak to the Bowling Green Professional Marketing Association. The presentation, “At Right Angles,” was about brand congruency. We discussed what “branding” really is, as well as how to approach branding by wearing the hat of a strategist.
We covered a lot of ground, but the moral of the story is that branding — and staying congruent in your message, tone, design and delivery — is a choice. Take a look at the presentation here.
AIGA Social Media Buzz
Thank you to everyone who came out the the AIGA Buzz this morning. This was the second time we have had the opportunity to have a Social Media discussion with a group and we continue to enjoy the contributions and questions from everyone! Many have requested the white paper that we handed out so we have posted it below for you to share and reference.
Remember that to “use your tools wisely” you need a plan! Keep the conversation going. We would love to hear your success stories as you dig deeper.
