http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/ Musings and Discoveries from SISU Marcom en tonyl@sisumarcom.com Copyright 2009 2009-08-24T11:21:04-06:00 http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/social_media_a_canary_in_a_coal_mine/ http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/social_media_a_canary_in_a_coal_mine/#When:11:21:04Z We’re At The Very Start Of Something Very InterestingI’ll allow the good folks at The New York Times do the talking here, but you should do the reading of this article because the business of “focus group testing” is about to go the way of the Victrola. Specifically, companies have started monitoring Twitter and other social media platforms to gauge public sentiment about specific topics. Companies are buying this information and putting it to use. And it is a good thing. Of course, it’s all preliminary, the science isn’t rock-solid yet, and there will be more platforms and complexities to add to the mix. But the notion that companies can listen and act does represent something quite exciting for marketing and promotions and product development (and public safety). Stay tuned. 2009-08-24T11:21:04-06:00 http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/lemonade_-_the_trailer/ http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/lemonade_-_the_trailer/#When:19:01:53Z So hurts it funny… Weird Stuff 2009-08-10T19:01:53-06:00 http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/sours_hibi_no_neiro/ http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/sours_hibi_no_neiro/#When:20:06:01Z We got yer social media RIGHT HERE… Be sure to click through to the YouTube page to see the backstory…these are real fans that were recruited and impressed into service. Weird Stuff 2009-07-19T20:06:01-06:00 http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/kinetic_sculpture_as_a_business/ http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/kinetic_sculpture_as_a_business/#When:18:02:04Z Greyworld is a remarkable agency, founded in Paris and created to enliven public spaces everywhere. Talk about being at the end of the dog’s tail. Still, their work is shimmering for not only it’s imagination but the technical excellence that goes into it. Take “The Source,“ installed at the London Stock Exchange in 2004, pictured at right. According to the agency, “The Source is formed from a grid of cables arranged in a square, 162 cables in all, reaching eight stories to the glass roof. Nine spheres are mounted on each cable and are free to move independently up and down its length.“ The software that operates the motion runs on Python, making it wickedly stable. I can testify from personal experience, the result is quite breathtaking. So, here’s the reason why we’re sharing this with you…do you believe that mere displays - with no other functional use - can be valuable to a company or brand? Take the concept of “The Source” and transfer it to something on your web site, or something your brand might sponsor in a public square for public consumption. Even in this economy…is creating an arresting visual experience for your brand a bad thing? Weird Stuff 2009-07-02T18:02:04-06:00 http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/in_defense_of_distraction/ http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/in_defense_of_distraction/#When:17:47:07Z “If you continue to just jump in the air every time your phone rings or pounce on those buttons every time you get an instant message, that’s not the machine’s fault. That’s your fault.“I’ll be brief because the article is not. About a month ago New York Magazine ran a remarkable article entitled In Defense of Distraction. It is a remarkable piece because it addresses a lot of the issues that we here at SISU face when discussing digital media and social media with our clients: “Who has time for all this stuff?“ The answer is, we all do. We are all training ourselves every day to multitask. If you think about it, it’s overwhelming. But if you don’t think about it, it’s automatic. Read it. Actually, you might have to print it out and keep it by the toilet so that you can absorb it in peace and quiet… Trends 2009-06-18T17:47:07-06:00 http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/data_visualization_-_how_to_really_make_the_web_work/ http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/data_visualization_-_how_to_really_make_the_web_work/#When:01:55:25Z Data rules…and it can be beautiful!An excellent blog about web design, “Webdesignerdepot.com” delivers a killer primer on siites that excel at data visualization. Why do we care? Because if a picture is worth 1,000 words, then a picture that describes 1,000 data points must be worth 1,000,000 words. OK, not buying that? How about this: data is all about ferreting out relationships, and relationships are most efficiently grasped visually. As we move into a more “semantic web” users will come to expect faster, more accurate expression of ideas; cheesy nachos are different than a cheesy pick-up line, but Google doesn’t really know the difference yet. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself! Trends 2009-06-02T01:55:25-06:00 http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/how_celebrities_should_do_endorsements/ http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/how_celebrities_should_do_endorsements/#When:22:12:46Z Bellissimo!!! Weird Stuff 2009-05-21T22:12:46-06:00 http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/brands_get_local/ http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/brands_get_local/#When:15:51:07Z Is this a solution in search of a problem? Or a reflection of a brand starting to listen?From USA Today, the story of a major brand getting local. It reads as a “people want to eat more healthy” story, but we see it as a reflection of (at least the perception of) consumers’ awareness and desire for transparency in the marketplace. It’s the acknowledgement that consumers can take their own decisions, and will dig to find all the facts. Who deserves the credit for this? Social networking. Think about it…either the brand becomes more transparent proactively, or it will be forced to do so subject to the actions of consumers who influence their friends and family. Frito-Lay’s move is very smart, and is well and truly a win-win. Brand Action 2009-05-12T15:51:07-06:00 http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/whoo_whoo_whos_talking_about_you/ http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/whoo_whoo_whos_talking_about_you/#When:16:23:51Z Is there no such thing as bad publicity? Are you ready for a time (like, how about now!) when you are not in strict control of how your brand is regarded? (You are in control, actually…read this when you’re done here if you haven’t already) Revolution magazine recently posted the “100 most influential brands on Twitter.“ What we found most interesting across the list is the spread in number of mentions, the variances in number of followers (a true sign of the internal strategy toward this channel) and whether they even bother with a corporate Twitter account. What was even more interesting: Revolution is a UK-based publication…and the list leans heavily with UK and European brands, or at least brands with strong presences in those places. Is Twitter becoming more localized on the sly? Twitter is squarely in the hype spotlight right now. Do we think that everyone must be on Twitter? No. Should it be disregarded as a legitimate channel of communications? Definitely not. Is it manageable? Of course…and we’d love to show you how! Trends 2009-05-08T16:23:51-06:00 http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/what_teenagers_are_just_like_the_rest_of_us...on_a_budget/ http://www.sisumarcom.com/index.php/blogomatic/what_teenagers_are_just_like_the_rest_of_us...on_a_budget/#When:21:09:25Z Have you ever heard mom-friendly and teenager in the same sentence? I doubt it. But, times are changing. Tenenagers are in fact just like the rest of us–even Moms (gasp!). It seems teenagers are no longer sold on the designer label and are now looking for the deals. See Losing Its Cool at the Mall for the latest trend in teenager spending. Trends 2009-04-24T21:09:25-06:00