Everyone's Famous!

Pic of the Week: QR Codes

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:22:00 GMT

Regardless of what you think of the Rise of QR Codes, these QR code graphics by @jess3 are gorgeous!

More graphics here.

Today is "Pay a Blogger Day"

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:57:00 GMT

Will you support your favorite blogger today? Post a link to your favorite and tell us why.

Eye-candy, knit monsters and thrift stores - how fun!

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:30:00 GMT

This video is so lovely, especially the basketball scenes about half way in. The concept: “woollen terrorist warfare amidst everyday thrift shop mundanity”.

Seventeen Evergreen - Polarity Song from Lucky Number Music on Vimeo.

Pic of the Week: Geo Shapes in Stunning Vintage Album Covers

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:44:00 GMT

Project Thirty Three brings together a collection of vintage album covers showcasing the simple beauty of circles, rectangles and triangles. View them all here.

Google Analytics In Real Life - Online Checkout

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:27:00 GMT

In honor of Black Friday, a little satire poking fun at the online shopping experience. Still better than the crowds!

Tired of overblown social media case studies? You'll love this one.

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:26:00 GMT

I have spent a lot of time creating case studies lately. This one gave me a good chuckle.

Race this ad: Innovative and interactive installation

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:27:00 GMT

Love this ad installation. Fun and interactive.

Social Media does some good with Invisible Dog Campaign

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:39:00 GMT

Challenge:

Sponsored by Best Friends Animal Society (@BFAS), the Invisible Dogs Campaign is all about shining a light on local shelters around the country and letting the public know that there are incredible animals waiting for a home. They just need to be seen.

Method:

Best Friends Animal Society is leveraged a bevy of social media tools to get exposure for the campaign, making it extremely viral.

Contests
The t-shirt contest was an excellent way to spread awareness. In fact, it is how I first heard about the program. My good friend and latent business partner, Amanda Webster, recently invited me via Facebook to vote on her t-shirt design for the "Invisible Dogs Campaign." My one complaint is that the app used for the voting process was unfriendly and required you to register in order to vote.

Twitter
@BFAS is employing a hashtag #invisibledogs to make the campaign easy to share and follow.

Foursquare
Best Friends Animal Society designated Nov. 12 National Animal Shelter Check-in Day. People are encouraged to stop by and check-in their local shelter to adopt, volunteer or just support by tweeting (with the hashtag #invisibledogs of course) photos of the animals available for adoption.

Meetup Everywhere
BFAS used Meetup Everywhere tool to get community organizers to create events in their local communities.

Impact:

I am really rooting for this one, so I am hoping the efforts pay off.

When I search #invisibledogs on Twitter, most posts are RTs of the Mashable article and not photos/tweets from animal shelter check-ins.

I did a quick check of the shelters listed for the Nov. 12 National Animal Shelter Check-in Day and found only a handful of check-ins.

Users seem most active on Facebook, and the BFAS page has received 1100+ new likes in the past 7 days (PageData). Users are engaged, sharing photos, stories and commenting on posts.

If Best Friends Animal Society were my client:

Overall, I am pleased with the different tools BFAS leveraged and think they were smart in their approach. It is a fun, hip campaign, and for those of us who grew up in the 70's and 80's, the invisible dog leash invokes some nostalgia and strikes an emotional cord.

1. Increase PR efforts. Observing the impact of the efforts, it looks like the program could have benefited from added exposure. The Mashable article accounts for most of the search and Twitter hits for the program. More high profile features in targeted publications could increase awareness and cooperation.

2. Go local by recruiting street teams. Give away branded invisible dog leashes and t-shirts. Encourage people to walk their invisible dogs in public places to raise awareness about the campaign and to spread the word. This could be especially effective in large numbers for fundraising walks. Can you imagine a walk in which 1000's of people walk "invisible dogs".

3. Meetup Everywhere. Teaming up with Meetup was a smart idea, but participation was low. BFAS should consider providing more support and exposure to the groups and the Meetup partnership. I would suggest creating a toolkit that people everywhere can use and adapt to organize their own events. This is an effort that could have lasting benefits and help bring local focus to the national campaign. BFAS could also sponsor existing Meetup groups focused on animal rescue and animal rights. These established groups are already active with passionate animal advocates and could be powerful community leaders for the organization.

4. Direct mail/email. A year ago, I participated in a fundraiser walk for BFAS. I occasionally get emails and letters from the organization, but don't recall receiving anything about this campaign in particular. Amplifying the email and direct mail efforts could help activate an already loyal and passionate following.

5. Blog. BFAS does have a blog, but it is not frequently updated. I visited it hoping to find more information about the t-shirt contest and to see if there were any results from the Nov. 12 check in and found nothing. The blog could be a great way to share stories and involve the community. Frequent updates will also create interesting crawlable content, which in turn should help increase organic search rankings. BFAS could consider recruiting especially active community leaders, Meetup organizers and BFAS Facebook fans across the country to become regular contributors to the blog.

How John Deere used Facebook to feed the hungry

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:32:00 GMT

Challenge:

John Deere launched "Project Can Do". The primary goal of John Deere Project “CAN DO” is to raise awareness for the essential role farmers and ranchers play in producing safe, healthy and abundant food for a growing world population.

Method:

John Deere will construct a model combine using canned food. The cans (about 300,000) will be donated to a local food bank.

Consumers are encouraged to participate on Facebook using the “design a can app” which allows users to create a virtual can with their own custom label. Fans can also watch live video feeds of the build, view photos, learn about the farmer, get to know the combine, share posts and tweet about all of it.

Impact:

In the past 7 days, the John Deere Facebook page has acquire over 29K new fans. (Pagedata)

If John Deere were my client:

"Can Do" is a creative idea with mass appeal. The added layer of "doing good" is noteworthy trend that seems to be effective in gaining fans, if not converting customers.

The brand is doing a lot of things right to further engage consumers. I especially like the video content and the "live feed" of the construction of the combine. By taking a holistic approach, they are building further opportunities for exposure. For example, the brand plans to enter the model combine into the Guinness Book of World Records. This provides an opportunity for PR and media coverage, especially in the local community.

While the Facebook page does a good job encouraging fans to share with friends on Facebook and Twitter, they could have furthered their exposure by using a hashtag like #projectcando to help make tweets easier to find and follow as well as leverage trending topics.

I'd also consider a plan to continue the relationship with your new fans once the promotion is over. How many of the 680,000+ Facebook fans are potential John Deere customers? How will you reach them and what will the messaging be? A visit to the website reveals that there is no newsletter sign up. I would recommend creating one. Email is a powerful way to stay in touch with an engaged audience. Segmentation can help support regional dealerships and sales.

Learn More:

John Deere Uses Social Media to Feed the Hungry via @marketingpilgrm

John Deere Website

Coca Cola Sells Happiness. What are you Selling?

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:15:00 GMT

Any good marketing or sales book will point out that emotions, not features, are the primary motivation for a purchase. It continues to baffle me when big brands continue to advertise based on a list of features without making an emotional connection with the audience. I was recently reminded of what a good job of marketing emotion that Coca-Cola does when I viewed the following video on Coca Cola's Facebook page.

You may remember the web video for the "Happiness Machine", a vending machine set up on a college campus that dispensed pizza, flowers and sandwiches. This is a nice little follow-up shot in Brazil. You can't tell me this doesn't make you smile.

Creativity Trumps Big Bucks with Guerrilla Marketing

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:27:00 GMT

Credit goes to Amy-Mae Elliot of Mashable.com for curating this collection of fun and effective marketing ploys. Check out her article with embedded videos and explanations: 10 Excellent Examples of Guerrilla Marketing Campaigns [VIDEOS]

I have embedded a couple personal favorites here.

Absolute Temptation

There is hardly a more captive audience than those waiting at the luggage carousel. This stunt truly embodies "Temptation".

SIXT

While not as fun as some of the other selections, I love this one because it has a true sales funnel. There is a clear action to be taken and provides a highly desired service.

VrijVerzekerd.nl

This impressive campaign went viral, got results and cost less than 1,000 euros. Plus, I love the guy that takes the "sticker" and puts it on his neighbors car.

See 7 more great videos

Letterpress and Legacy with Patrick Barrett of Lucky Duck Press

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:46:00 GMT

Our old suite mate and letterpress extraordinaire is featured on Etsy. Watch and enjoy.

15 minutes media Professional Social Media Use Survey Results

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:48:00 GMT

The results of 15 minutes media's Professional Social Media Use Survey are in. Read our summary about the results in our post Survey says... Your thoughts on social media for business. We'd love to hear what you think, so please enter your comments below. We will try to answer any question posted.

Congratulations to our 10 winners of the $25 giftcard. We appreciate your participation in the survey.

How big is your business?

		Response Percent
Sole Proprietor (Freelancer/Consultant)		38.8%
Small Business (2 - 99 Employees)		38.8%
Mid-Size Business (100 - 500 Employees)		10%
Large Business (500+ Employees)		10%
Other		2.5%

Is your business not-for-profit?

		Response Percent
Yes		18.8%
No		81.8%

Which of the following statements best describes your current use of social media for your business?

		Response Percent
I have no experience with social media at all		2.5%
I'm just beginning to use social media for business.		22.5%
I've been using social media for my business for some time, but could use some guidance.		20%
I'm no expert, but feel I am effectively using social media for my business.		25%
I consider myself an expert. I am a social media power user for my business.		10%
I do not currently use social media for my business, but plan to in the future.		8.8%
I do not currently use social media for my business and do not plan to in the future.		0%
I only use social media for personal use.		11.3%

What aspects of using social media for business are most overwhelming?

		Response Percent
I don't understand it.		13.7%
The cost of hiring the help I need		23.5%
Daily management. Finding the time or remembering to post to my networks.		68.6%
Content. Coming up with topics to post about or finding links to re-post.		51%
Keeping track of all my networks.		39.2%
None. I feel completely on top of my game when it comes to social media.		1%
Other		9.8%
"Other" concerns included: Access to social media in the workplace, privacy/security issues, building your base (fans, followers, connections), clueless or uninterested staff, measuring results.

When it comes to social media for my business, I would prefer:

		Response Percent
To do it myself and learn on my own		13.7%
To do it myself but with some guidance		54.9%
To empower my staff to do it for the company		19.6%
To outsource it entirely		9.8%
Other		2%

Which social media tools would you like to learn more about?

		Response Percent
Twitter		58.8%
Facebook		58.8%
LinkedIn		47.1%
YouTube / Video		43.1%
Blogging		49%
Mobile/Smartphone apps		31.4%
Other		3.9%

Do you have a defined Social Media Strategy in place for your business?

		Response Percent
Yes		32.1%
No		17.9%
Sort of		50%

Do you use analytics and/or reporting tools to analyze the impact of your social media use?

		Response Percent
Yes		42.9%
No		57.1%

Have you seen direct results from your social media use?

		Response Percent
Yes		71.4%
No		7.1%
I'm not sure		21.5%

If yes, which of the following best describes the results you've seen

		Response Percent
Increase in sales		35%
Increase in blog readership		60%
Increase in website activity		75%
Increase in membership		25%

Would you describe the results you've seen as:

		Response Percent
Significant		14.8%
Moderate		55.6%
Small		22.2%
Unsure		7.4%

Let's keep the conversation going. Share your thoughts about the results. Do you agree or disagree with the responses?

Survey says... Your thoughts on social media for business

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:46:00 GMT

The results of 15 minutes media's Professional Social Media Use Survey are in and the responses are revealing.

For the past two weeks, we've been asking businesses of all sizes about their use of and thoughts about social media. Eighty individuals participated in the survey from a wide variety of industries including educational institutions, communications and marketing companies, a hair salon, musicians, a comedy venue, a wholesale florist, medical practices, a wedding facility, a clothing company, a law firm and more.

We're excited to share the results with you. Please feel free to comment and share your own thoughts about using social media for marketing. You can skip ahead to the results or read through my summary below.

Many of you posted excellent questions. We intend to address each of these questions in upcoming blog posts. Over the next few weeks, we will be posting informative articles, how-to guides, videos and learning opportunities to help you create an effective social media strategy and the tools to track it. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed.

THE RESULTS

When asked to describe their current use of social media use, no one responded "I do not currently use social media for my business and do not plan to in the future." By now, everyone seems to understand that social media is a necessary addition to the marketing mix.

Interestingly, despite the fact that 87.5% of respondents are already using social media for business and 10% consider themselves an expert, only one person said they feel completely on top of their game. Daily management and content development proved to be the most overwhelming aspects of social media for our respondents. I can certainly understand. Most of us have limited resources. Spending hours a day on Twitter just is not an option. That's why it's so important to have a solid social media strategy. Choosing the right tools and planning how you will use them in advance will help you stay on top of your social media effectively and productively.

What aspects of using social media for business are most overwhelming?

		Response Percent
I don't understand it.		13.7%
The cost of hiring the help I need		23.5%
Daily management. Finding the time or remembering to post to my networks.		68.6%
Content. Coming up with topics to post about or finding links to re-post.		51%
Keeping track of all my networks.		39.2%
None. I feel completely on top of my game when it comes to social media.		1%
Other		9.8%
"Other" concerns included: Access to social media in the workplace, privacy/security issues, building your base (fans, followers, connections), clueless or uninterested staff, measuring results.

View the full results here.

While many of the responses were in line with our expectations, I was surprised to see how many businesses are actively using social media without any strategy or measurement tools in place. While I give kudos to any organization using social media tools, it's easy to see why so many people are frustrated. Without a plan, there is no clear direction. Coming up with content on the fly and keeping track of networks will quickly become overwhelming.

Measurement is just as important. Most business owners meticulously track sales numbers, expenses and the effects of their offline marketing, but when it comes to social media, very few business owners know if it's actually working. How do you measure success or return on investment or effort if you have no reporting tools in place? Measuring specific results will also help you to determine the strengths and weaknesses of your strategy and allow you to refine it accordingly.

We help many of our clients understand how to make social media work for them. While each client is unique, there are some general guidelines and rules. We will share tips as well as step-by-step instructions in the coming weeks. If you would like a more personalized approach, please give us a call at 718-768-3844 to get started.

Let's keep the conversation going. Share your experiences with social media in the comments.

Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter and "Like" us on Facebook.

Project Management, Head First! An Introduction

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:38:00 GMT

By Asia Hoe

When I first joined 15 minutes media as an employee in July, I was excited about all the new opportunities and responsibilities I would be granted as an official member of the team. Most recently, I was thrilled, flattered, proud, and admittedly surprised when I was entrusted with as crucial a role as the project manager for an upcoming project. Amanda smiled, reminding me that this was one of the benefits of working with a small company. Indeed, one of many!

In spite of my excitement, those positive emotions were also tainted by the notion that I hadn’t done this before. Or, at least initially, I didn’t think so. After thinking it over, however, I realized that project management is something we do essentially everyday. With every responsibility, task, or objective we take on in life, we plan, organize, meet deadlines, assess risks, and manage assets towards the successful completion of one of life’s many little projects. This was even more evident to me in looking back on my (increasingly distant) college experience, where my professors or supervisors gave me one deadline for a paper or group project with the expectation that I or we would figure out all the details in between. Success often required me to be a very disciplined, organized, and detail oriented individual. What’s so different?

Naturally, most people are probably better at managing certain aspects of their lives and careers over others, and I am certainly no exception. Still, I move forward with confidence because I am passionate about this opportunity, and the vision behind our client’s endeavor. I can’t share much information about the project now, but I trust it will be a very engaging and exciting process adding this new skill to my repertoire. I hope you will join me along the journey in my first blog series detailing my first experiences as a project manager!