The RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) has been a cradle of enlightenment thinking and a force for social progress for over 250 years.

To learn more about the RSA, visit: http://www.thersa.org/

This is a great video plus animation by the RSA Group which discusses motivation and what drives us. A great visual storyboard is presented on a whiteboard to convey the narrators point. Definitely worth a watch.

LinkedIn launched their first Twitter integration in November 2009, dragging the “professional” site to play nicer with other social networks.  Since then, over one million LinkedIn members have taken the opportunity to add their Twitter accounts to their LinkedIn profile.

Now LinkedIn takes the connection a step further by allowing you to find your connections who are on Twitter and then interact, all within the (somewhat ugly) LinkedIn interface.  Support for Twitter Lists is included…have you started your “LinkedIn Twitter List”?

Starting today, LinkedIn’s Tweets application will allow LinkedIn members to easily find and keep track of their LinkedIn connections on both LinkedIn and Twitter.

If you haven’t installed Tweets yet, you can add it by going to the Tweets install page.  Once you’ve installed the Tweets application, you can easily access it from anywhere on LinkedIn using the “More…” menu at the top of the website.  After installing, it took LinkedIn/Twitter a few minutes to display my connections properly, but worked like a charm afterwards.

Check out the full story on the official LinkedIn Blog.

In-flight entertainment sucks at best.  I’ve always thought it a stretch to call it “entertainment.”  Have no fear, Apple and a company called Bluebox are on the case!

Soon enough we could all be tapping away our flight time with an iPad for entertainment, courtesy of the AIRLINE.  Seriously. How much  better would the whole “travel” experience be if more airlines started offering this as an option?  In fact, it could help turn the air travel industry around.  Well, maybe not, but it would certainly be a good perk in a world of paying for carry-ons, no in-flight meals (not even those salty peanuts, much less the dry turkey sandwich in plastic wrap), and extensive security waits.  I know I would rather fly knowing an iPad was waiting for me.  I saw this on BitRebels.com originally, and the details are on Bluebox Avionics’ website where the company goes on to say:  “It leverages the power, flexibility and quality of the most advanced consumer device ever produced.”

I must admit, I own an iPad and look forward to using it the next time I have to travel.  But for those who don’t already own one, this could be a deal-changer.  The idea that flight attendants could simply pass out iPads so that passengers can stream movies, music, games, and flight information, along with exploring 200,000 other applications, is certainly a bonus.  Imagine the saved weight and cost of all those small LCD’s built into headrests, the delivery hardware, wiring, etc – one can only imagine it being a BARGAIN in the long run.  Apple would sell more iPads, undoubtedly, and content creators will be scurrying to provide in-flight special applications, news, and movies, as well as networked games.  It would be pretty intense to race your fellow passengers in an in-flight networked game of  RealRacingHD on iPads.

According to Bluebox: “The concept is simple: consumer technology has leapfrogged the once state-of-the-art systems produced by the long-established manufacturers, and it is now mature enough to offer an IFE solution that’s more flexible, more powerful and more secure than any proprietary alternatives.”

Coming on an iPad to a flight near you, as soon as this July!

In this post I will be discussing the strong marketing strategy TBWA has created for Absolut Vodka and what makes it successful. Absolut Vodka started in 1879, is produced in Ahus, Sweden and has a long running advertising history spanning different medians to create a strong brand identity. TBWA has managed the Absolut account for almost thirty years and is responsible for the majority of all of their ads, marketing programs and for the brand they are today. TBWA has created over 1500 ads (the majority of those being print) for Absolut and the main idea behind the ads being based around the unique shape of the bottle and usually using some variation of the tagline “Absolut Perfection.”

Website: www.absolut.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2370223690#!/ABSOLUT?ref=ts

The strategy of the brand was to avoid affiliating the product with one particular lifestyle and the ads were to have a timeless yet contemporary theme to them. Absolut Vodka prides its ads in crossing the line between advertising and art using different medians such as paintings, limited edition bottles, shirts, and sculpture. Many famous artists have done work for the company, including Andy Warhol and Keith Harris. TBWA’s branding campaign for Absolut Vodka was listed as one of the top ten campaigns of the twentieth century by Advertising Age and many awards including an Effie and Kelly awards which are possibly the most prestigious awards in the advertising business. Below are examples of some of the more famous advertisements created by TBWA for Absolut Vodka and really illustrates their strategy of targeting a broad audience and not one particular lifestyle.

The following is one of their controversial ads depicting an image of what Mexico controlling the territory the had control of during the Mexica-American War. This was part of the 2007 In An Absolut World campaign in which the company posted various scenarios of what their audience might think a Utopian or “Absolut” reality would be.

The company also hired Actor, stand up comedian Zach Galifinakis along with writers and stars of the Tim and Eric show to write, direct and produce three viral videos called A Vodka Story to expound farther into the online media world. Embedded is the first of the three videos with links to the second and third below it.

AVodka Story Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p0QtJMKt1s

A Vodka story part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EQcvKCFFW4&feature=related

A Vodka story part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx6LAT-FqxU&feature=related

The final piece of media is a little bit more recent marketing move which involved collaborating with Jay-Z on a benefit concert on September 11, 2009 which also coincided with the release of his newest album the blueprint three, which is now officially certified platinum. Just yesterday TBWA released a mini documentary they produced called “NY-Z” which was 15 minutes long and was all about that show. This documentary originally premiered on Abolut’s web page. Here is the video embedded from Absolut’s Youtube page.

You can also find a large collection of their print ads under the Absolut Gallery link at www.AbsolutAds.com.

Why not look everywhere around you; three places to look for inspiration.

Inspiration can change frequently, depending on a designer’s reasons, influences and interests. Frequently, when lacking creative ideas, most designers turn to design galleries to find new inspiration.

This is a horrible solution, let me explain why.

The biggest problem problem with this method is the continuous blending of creative mediums and ideas. Designers tend to look at online galleries for new creative ideas and trend, but there is a fine line between “being inspired by” and “copying.” Eventually, the majority of the web will begin to look alike. Looking at other designers creative ideas can be very limiting, especially when you’re looking for a new solution. Try walking a path less traveled instead; after all, you’re a designer!

There are many inspirations that designers can look for outside of design galleries. I’ve listed ten places where designers can look for inspiration below, along with where to find inspiration for each of them.

Fashion

Fashion has had an artistic influence since its beginning. Trends change on a seasonal basis and reflect the sentiments of the designer. Taking inspiration from both modern and vintage fashion to incorporate into your new design. Keep your eye out for scaling, color schemes, textures, and most importantly to keep an eye on lines. Attempt to emulate these lines in your work.

Where to Find Inspiration

Magazines: Take a look inside your local grocery store, there will be a dozen magazines dedicated to fashion. I particularly like GQ magazine and Enquire magazine.

Style.com or GQ.com: This is the home of the Vogue magazine and GQ magazine; it has the latest and up-to-the-minute coverage of the fashion world.

Style Blogs: Millions of and billions of blows exist out there. A few excellent one’s to take a peek at are The Satorialist and Valetmag.

Photography

There are millions of photos online that you may browse through if you need a bit of inspiration. Sorting through photography by colors, sizes, themes, and particular artists is easier than ever on the web. Look for key components of photography such as composition, color, balance within each image to get ideas. Observe carefully. Do not forget to see what the image is about, that may spawn new ideas. See if something else similar could be applied to your own design project.

Where to Find Inspiration

Flickr: Flickr has a billion of photos. Use groups, pools and galleries to catagorize or narrow down your search. Search for events and don’t forget to visit the Library of Congress’s Flickr page.

DeviantArt: Creative and artistic photographers post their photography to DeviantArt. You’re likely to find a higher proportion of “artistic” or “alternative” images than Flickr.

Bookstores: Check the discount or bargin bin at your local bookstore! You’re guaranteed to find at least one coffee table book in there. Keep you’re eye out on older books if you’re working with retro design. Often filled with images of all kinds, you can pick one up for really cheap.

Packaging

Packaging design is the distant cousin of web design and it is often possible to find inspirational pieces you can easily adapt without copying. The fact that the format is being changed, it can lead to surprising adaptations that extend fare beyond the original work.

Where to Find Inspiration

Stores: The most obvious place to go for packaging design examples is the store. My advice is to visit higher end stores; the stores feature products from around the world giving you a peek into international design. Don’t forget to visit foreign food stores as well for designs that do not mimic our own.

TheDieline: An amazing blog that features some of the most innovative, creative and best packaging designs. The best part about this website is the fact that it is updated daily which certainly leads you to come back for visits.

Architecture and Interior Design

Architecture and interior design is a very common form of inspiration because it is literally, everywhere. There is likely an aesthetic style for every aspect a designer yearns for every project. Take a look at vernacular architecture to modern minimalism to art deco and possibly anything else that comes across as interesting. Each style can be adapted into your project.

Where to Find Inspiration

Outdoors: There is a good chance their is a architectural beauty not too far away from where you work, live or commute to. Take a closer look at the buildings that may surround you; be sure to observe details such as form, shape, and defining characteristics.

Magazines: Venture out and purchase magazines such as Architectural Digest or Dezeen.

Design Blogs: There are a ton of blogs that cover every aspect of architecture. Check out Dezeen or even Inhabitat for future inspirations.

Take a step back from the places we normally seek inspiration from can lead to new, creative and more innovating ideas. All of these ideas now have new creative sources that you can tap into whenever in search of something new. Try keeping a file on all of the ideas, images and other materials gathered from these sources. When pressed for time, simply revert back to these inspirations for new ideas.

Lets face it, starting your own company can be difficult. In the early stages of all businesses, owners need to learn how to squeeze maximum value out of every dollar they spend. Social media is the key to saving money while still having the ability to deliver value. With the right strategy, social media can be used for community building, customer service, or product marketing

Community Building

Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook are great for rapidly building a community and company awareness. Providing support, invites, encouragement and general engagement will build a sense of community between the startup company and their client. The key here is to establish actively engage users and attempt to organically build relationships with the industry’s influences.

Building relationships via social media is commonly talked about, but a key aspect that is commonly overlooked is the relationship building that takes place outside of social media. It is important for startups to take their online encounters to the next level; startups should go out and talk to customers in person.

Customer Service

Every startup company needs to utilize social media for customer service. Real-time responses is what makes customer service top-notch.The instantaneous access to customers via Facebook and Twitter is invaluable to any startup.
Responses to an issue on Twitter within a few minutes is extremely beneficial for the customer and the startup alike. Customers receive real-time responses to their dilemmas and startup companies receive feedback on products or services. This social interaction improves life for the customer and overall customer experience.

Customer Support from TOMSshoepport

Marketing

Using social media platforms as a form of marketing should be a no brainer for any startup company. With the wide variety of social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Slideshare, marketing a service or product is extremely easy.

Social media use should be centered around company leadership within their field allowing potential customers and journalists to have quick and easy access to information about products, services and industry. Startups which plan on using social media for marketing need to be in it for the long haul. Think of it as commitment or a strategy but not a campaign. Its like having a conversation, once you start a conversation with someone, you cannot just turn around and walk away.

Remember to concentrate on value while providing for others through social media tools. The gimmick is not to just sell, sell, sell but rather attempt to establish wholesome relationships with your customers, become a leader in your field, and become an inspiration for others.

I saw this commercial during the Super Bowl the other night and wanted to share with everyone! One of the things that really stuck out about this was its simplicity. I think it is clever and very effective. It made me smile.

Richmond, VA • Monday, August 31, 2009

Chris Miller joins the team at Rocket Pop

Rocket Pop Media announced today that Chris Miller has joined the company and has been appointed Manager of Strategic Solutions.  Chris brings a decade of Internet marketing experience to Rocket Pop Media, with an emphasis on creative online solutions, social media integration, brand identity, and strategy.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Chris as the newest team member at Rocket Pop,” says Scott Dickens, founder and President.  “He has a tremendous record of innovation and creative thinking, as well as a deep understanding of both our market and the use of online integrated solutions to drive business.”

Miller’s direct responsibilities will include development and sales of integrated social media, video, and online client strategies.  Rocket Pop is looking forward to continued growth with the expansion, including increased brand awareness for SNAP, Rocket Pop Media’s innovative and scalable “Social Networking Acclamation Package.”

“We’re excited to hear about Chris’ involvement at Rocket Pop Media,” said Charlie Diradour of Lion’s Paw Development. “We look forward to continued excellence and the additional resources he will provide as we move forward with Rocket Pop Media.”

Miller provides a wealth of experience and creativity in online marketing from working directly with companies of all sizes over the past 8 years.  Most recently, Chris developed and implemented unique online strategies for local and regional businesses as an independent “Netrepreneur” and consultant.  In the three years prior, he served as the Executive Product Developer for a budding national family web portal.

Chris started his online career early by working on the Clear Channel Radio launch of their multi-station Virginia Internet programs, after selling his mobile/indoor billboard media startup (featured in Entrepreneur Small Business Start Ups).   Other relevant experience includes strategic sales & development for Lamar Outdoor, AmazingMail.com, Valpak Direct Mail Systems, and several other internet specialty companies and website properties.

Rocket Pop Media is a full-service advertising agency providing turnkey solutions for brand development, online marketing, video production, and social media solutions.  The company, founded in 2000 by Scott Dickens, is a boutique agency and production house focused on impact and value for their clients.

For additional information, contact Scott Dickens: (804) 644-2525, or scott@rocketpopmedia.com

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I read the NY Times when I have the chance, and this article caught my eye.  It claims that fewer than 30% of iPhone users do work with their iPhones. I beg to differ.  Maybe I don’t represent the masses of users, but in the course of my work, I use the following native apps on my iPhone:

Phone
Mail (I use my iPhone mail reader almost exclusively, especially to weed through the first check of the day – SO easy to sort and delete on the iPhone!)
SMS Text
iCal Calendar
Photos
Camera
iPod (for instructional podcasts, entertainment in the office, transferring and previewing online video files, etc)
WeatherBug (if its going to rain all day, I’m not dragging my camera crew around looking for exterior shots at Lewis Ginter)
YouTube (to preview productions online, provide comps to clients, etc)
Maps
Safari (I develop websites, mobile apps, etc)
OmniFocus (CRM software)
App Store (to keep everything up to date)
NY Times (market info and continuing education, research…like this article)
USA Today (see above)
Newser (ditto…)
Pingle (for updating social networks, blogs, etc)
Facebook (I develop social media brands for local businesses, mobile apps)
Twitteriffic
Tweetie
Twittelator
LinkedIn
MySpace (just to test output for social media clients)
WordPress (for updating this blog, duh)
Yelp (to decide where to take clients to lunch, buy supplies, etc)
Google Earth (to figure out terrain, accessibility, directions to meetings, etc)
MProfs (great marketing newsletter!)
Huff Post (news, market research)
Mashable (market research)
TWC
Joost (video streaming site, testing, etc)
Stitcher (for creating panoramas – great for panning in video!)
Air Sharing (for exchanging files to and from remote locations and my home office)
iHandy Level (for leveling tripods and cameras on-site)
Flashlight (for when we drop a bolt in a dark, smokey bar before a music video shoot, right Josh?)
vCardMailer (like beaming a contact for Treo and Blackberry owners)
Remote (for controlling Keynote presentations)
iRecorder (for site notes, ideas in the car, etc)
Tasks
Clock (countdown timers)
Loopt (for finding other crew members in a crowded site)
…and there are more web shortcuts as well…I won’t completely bore you.

But you get the picture.  If my iPhone is in my hand, it’s in use, most likely for work-related activity.  But it’s so much MORE than a phone.  I seldom use the phone functions on the iPhone.  Less than 25% of my time, I would guess (and I use it for SALES!)

I rest my case, but again…I don’t know how “typical” a user I am, but I know plenty of other people who use them for business, and that number will only increase with further app development, further integrating it into business/server-class applications for larger workgroups.  It’s already happening.  The next rev of the iPhone should be a pretty major release as well…and I’m sure I’ll have one.

Another rambling from the exhaust of the Rocket Pop!

Scott

I referenced the following sources:
http://blog.compete.com/2009/04/29/iphone-smartphone-personal-business-usage/

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/apple-iphone-owners-dont-use-it-for-work/

YouTube has become the “Zerox” of online video…nobody says “did you see that new movie about the dog skateboarding on that internet video streaming service” – they just say “check it out on YouTube!” That being said, not all video streaming sites are created equal. In addition to the ubiquitous YouTube.com, there’s Vimeo.com, SmugMug.com, blip.tv, ifilm.com, jumpcut, metacafe, isofa.tv, and countless others who offer video services. Which look best? Which should you use to host your video content? Here’s a quick overview:

Rocket Pop Media studio, with Canon XHA1

Which look the best? Well…with the onslaught of HD content uploading at any given moment it has become clear that video is the medium of choice for most people on the net, in varying degrees of sophistication. The number of cell phone videos posted from frat parties is almost the same as the number of movie trailers, corporate pieces, viral ad campaigns, and video business profiles, and it can be done with almost any type of camera in any location. The quality, however, is just as varying. YouTube and Facebook are the most common social sites to host video, while Facebook is the clear winner for incorporating all your other content seamlessly with your videos. YouTube remains the leader with search engines (maybe Google owning the company has something to do with that?) and for common, easy interface that most people have become familiar with.

In YouTube, to get the most out of your viewing experience, hop on a high-speed internet connection (which most everyone has these days) and make sure you select “HD” or at a minimum “HQ” at the bottom of the video window. This ensures that the video streams at the highest resolution possible. HQ and HD look similar in the small window, but you’ll notice a big difference when viewing HD full-screen. You should see nearly the same quality as Apple’s movie trailer page, one of the benchmarks to be measured against.

HINT: if you have a YouTube account, go to “Playback Setup” in your account settings and select the third choice “I Have a Fast Connection” which basically lets YouTube know to playback videos that you watch while logged in at the highest possible rate! No more hitting the “HQ” button if you’re signed in. You’ll still have to select full screen if you want to view that way, but hey…one less click is one less click.

If you’re using YouTube as your video host and you want to show HD video, then you need to know what kind of file to upload. YouTube says it can handle “tons” of video types, but these settings yield the best quality:

* Video Format: H.264, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 preferred (H.264 yields consistently good quality for smallest size)
* Aspect Ratio: Native aspect ratio without letterboxing (examples: 4:3, 16:9) – all HD content should be 16×9
* Resolution: 1280×720 (16×9 HD), 640×360 (16:9) or 480×360 (4:3) – stick to 1280×720 if you’re shooting in HD!
* Audio Format: MP3 or AAC preferred – they would also prefer 44.1khz sound, not 48.
* Frames per second: 30
* Maximum length: 10 minutes (we recommend 2-3 minutes)
* Maximum file size: 1 GB

HINT: If you’re sending a link to a friend or posting it on a site, here’s a quick tip to make sure the video displays to your recipient in the highest quality possible. Take your link, something like “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjxzjGpOZ4Q” and add “&fmt=22″ to the end, yielding a link like this: “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjxzjGpOZ4Q&fmt=22″ – go ahead, click the different examples and you’ll see that the second one should load in a wide aspect ratio in true 720 HD. The first link shows as either standard or HQ. If you have something that needs to look critically AMAZING on the other end, make sure you add “&fmt=22″. If you use embed codes, note that they’re also using the new 16×9 dimensions.

If you’re uploading to Facebook, they’re a little more cagey about specific information, unless you know where to look on their developer blogs! If you use the exact same specification file as listed above in the YouTube comments, then you are GOLDEN. 1280×720 HD! They have similar limitations: ten minutes, 1 gig file. Once the video is up on Facebook, it becomes EXTREMELY easy to share, pass around, and chat about on Facebook…that’s 200,000,000 (MILLION) users who love to see interesting video.

Now go make a movie! Or I know this company….thanks for riding the rocket!

Cheers,

Scott and the gang at Rocket Pop Media