Pure Thinking

And The Most Creative Use Of A Logo Goes To...

 

Google has done some very fun things with their logo. The brand is obviously so strong the Google team can change the look of their logo for any holiday and other opportunity they see fit.

On Friday they had the best use of a logo I have ever seen. In celebration of the 30 year anniversary of Pac-Man the Google logo was actually a mini version of the Pac-Man game that you could play. Pac-Man music, sounds and everything.

Happy Anniversary Pac-Man and congratulations Google for keeping things fun, creative, and for thinking outside of the box.

-John

@johndmeyer

The Next Evolution of Augmented Reality

Boulder-based TagWhat has created a new application for Android - and very recently, it seems, for iPhone - allowing you to share "tags" real time with friends in what TagWhat calls the "new social augmented reality network."

If you know our agency at all, you may have noticed the battle that has ensued among several Puritans as Foursquare has allowed us to seize Mayoral ownership and bragging rights over dozens of Denver landmarks (mostly highly coveted? Our favorite breakfast destination, Snooze).

What will TagWhat mean for Pure Mayorship and more importantly, the social media world? At a networking event last week, I brought this up to a PR professional who responded: "I'm already Facebook 'liking,' Tweeting, posting articles to LinkedIn... how are people supposed to have time for anything else?!"

What do you think... will TagWhat and similar platforms live up to the hype, and will they find a place in an already crowded online environment?

-- Kate

The NEW Grassroots Outreach

Ain’t Technology Grand?

As a recent Denver transplant, it becomes clear every few weeks that I miss Boise much more than I thought I would.  Through sites like Twitter and Facebook, I now seem to be constantly reminded of all the fun I am missing out on back home.  Friends post pictures, video, updates about concerts, events, or even just simple Friday night hang-outs.  I have come to a conclusion…social media keeps me connected, but also makes me homesick.

    That is, until I took the power back into my own hands.  This past Friday, as my wife and I kicked back, exhausted from another long week of work and school, we received a text from our Boise friends… “We have Rock Band on Xbox.”  In that instant, technology once again made itself useful.  By 9 o’clock we were up and running.  A laptop with Skype sat next to the TV, Rock Band was blaring from the speakers, and magically, living rooms two states apart turned into one massive rock n’ roll arena.

    A Friday night tradition from back in Boise was once again alive and well, thanks to some cool technology and a few plastic guitars.  Fits of laughter over Skype were a common occurrence, and the same air guitar rivalries were quickly re-established.

So I want to know, what are some ways that technology is changing the way you communicate?  Are we better at keeping in touch, or does correspondence seem more like an afterthought than it used to?  Let us know what you think in the comments!

-Geoff
Twitter: @savestheclash

The Right Tool For The Job

As I watch my two year old son head over to his work bench to grab a tool to help dear old dad out with fixing something around the house, I’m reminded of something that my father had always preached to me as he tried to help me develop my skills as a “handy man”. There is always the right tool for the job. My son, whom I’ve never formally passed along this knowledge to, yet, heads over to the bench, peruses the pegboard full of tools with his hand placed on his chin, and grabs for the tool that, in his mind, is going to do the job most effectively. Now, sometimes that may end up being a wrench to tighten a bolt but more often than not, it’s a hammer to tighten a screw. It may eventually solve the problem, but definitely not the most effectively.

I feel that, all too often, this mentality takes reign in our industry, especially in the social media realm.  It’s far too easy for brands to jump on board this train and start generating content in these spaces with no specific goal in mind. Yes, they’re creating a presence because they think they have to but to what effect. As marketers, we need to better assess the goals of a brand and develop a clear path when going social, or if it really is the right thing to do for our brands. Does a company in a niche industry need to have a Facebook presence when, more than likely, they’ll only have something to post about once a every few weeks. Probably not. Conversely, should a very present company, whose efforts have a big impact on an industry have no presence at all, not even a blog.

Ultimately, I’m just trying to emphasize the fact that all brands need to make an assessment of their social media presence, develop clear cut goals for how it is going to be used and activate that plan accordingly. We need to help curb the mentality that a hammer can fix any problem.

How personal is too personal?

Credit: toonpool.com

President Obama is perhaps our best example of how Twitter can work in a politician's favor. However, according to a recent article in The Economist, Chile, Venezuela and Japan are just three examples of countries with political officials out-tweeting U.S. politicians on a regular basis.

Public figures and Twitter can create a bit of a love/hate relationship. Politicians can connect directly with voters (to an extent), dispel rumors and respond to negative media coverage openly and honestly. But 140 characters can also be very damaging if a politician is not careful. As the article suggests, this great fear of Twitter is generating bland statements that are not providing the politician's followers with helpful or useful information.

So is Twitter a good idea or a bad idea when it comes to politics? When you look at extreme cases like S.C Gov. Sanford's affair, or John Edwards' secret mistress plus child, I frankly don't think anything can help or hurt their cause at that point (nor should it! But my dislike of those two requires an entirely separate blog post). However, I do think there is an opportunity to communicate with constituents in a way that is informative and honest. Politicians could take a few clues from other business leaders - speaking honestly but leaving the personal details at home and offline.

What do you think - do politicians stand a chance at success in the world of Twitter?

--Kate

Viva la Social Media

Social media can be a tough sell. I've had conversations where my mentioning the word "Twitter" is received by a slew of skeptical sighs, aggressive head shaking, and even some questions asking if I suffer from a speech impediment.

Some believe that social media is just something the kids do but statistics show that the social media following is not limited to youth. In fact, it's not limited at all. Social media is reaching everyone. Fast.

I watched this video and was blown away. Using comparisons, raw numbers and forecast statistics, this video captures the sheer power of social media in a four and-a-half minute clip. Granted, the music is slightly over-dramatic and is better suited for the soundtrack of "The Matrix", but there's some excellent facts to leverage the case for social media to any sighing head-shaker. 

Non Profits and Facebook, a Winning Combination

If you are involved with a non profit organization or ever have been you know how much of a daily struggle it is to get donations. You may also know that a majority of donations come from small amounts of money from many individual contributors. 

The internet not only helps any size business compete it also helps any sized non profit organization. Facebook allows you to add to your online presence, connect and reconnect with members/contributors, and have them talk about you with their friends. 

Remember the shampoo commercial where the woman loved her new shampoo and she told two friends "and they told two friends, and so on". The good news is with Facebook they are telling hundreds or thousands of friends. Why not start a conversation about your favorite charity? Make sure they have a Facebook page and share it.

Facebook has a great resource for non profits. Check it out here. 

I am also adding a link to Inside Facebook's 10 Tips for Non-Profits on Facebook:

Follow the link for details. I am adding my editorial for #4 Be Active and #5 Talk Back.

Make sure you are active with your Facebook page on a daily basis, start conversations, respond to people who post information or questions. Did I mention be active on a daily basis? Get all the staff to contribute as well as nurture some active volunteers to be active. Add photos from events, great content, links to your donation page, and above all include info about your Facebook page in your email newsletter, your direct mail newsletter, your website, your direct mail pieces. And be sure to contribute daily on your Facebook page. Did I mention that already?

Be sure to ask everyone who "likes" your page to tell others about you. You'll see your individual donations increase.

This blog would not be complete without a link to my favorite charity's Facebook page. Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.

Thank you!

John

@johndmeyer

Los Suns

Fans tuning in to watch Phoenix duel San Antonio in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal playoffs tonight will not be watching the Spurs and the Suns, but the Spurs and “Los Suns”. In a bold move, Suns owner Robert Sarver took a political stance to protest Arizona’s extremely controversial new immigration law, Senate Bill 1020.

The bill allows police officers to question a person’s proof of citizenship if there’s a “reasonable suspicion” that they are illegal immigrants, then prosecute and deport them. Sarver announced that tonight, on Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, his team will be donning “Los Suns” jerseys to “honor our Latino community and diversity of our League, the State of Arizona, and our nation…”

I understand that illegal immigration is a problem, but does that justify violating citizens’ equal rights and the forthcoming racial profiling that will surface from the new bill? As an Asian American, I would also be livid if I was constantly harassed about my US status. I commend Sarver for remaining tenacious about the rights of the people, and their fans, during a time of open contestation, and all while battling a longtime, historic rivalry. Those three small letters represent a much bigger issue. By the way…Happy Cinco do Mayo.

Continited or Unitinental?

United Airlines is scheduled to officially announce its absorption of Continental Airlines in a deal worth $3.2 billion, creating the world's largest airline. Interestingly, they have stated they will fly under the United moniker and Continental logo, with the tag-line "let's fly together." Is this a strategic move to effectively leverage the brand equity of both companies or a money-saving decision to forgo immediate branding efforts? Or perhaps this is just the spoils of a long and hard negotiated merge?