Category: Messaging

What the Oscars Can Teach Us About Marketing

Sunday’s 2010 Academy Awards had all the “normal” hoopla, drama, glamour and glitz that is typically associated with Oscar night in Hollywood.  One of the major storylines this year beyond “who is wearing what,” was how a blockbuster movie can be bested, as The Hurt Locker won several “Best” awards over the heavily favored, largest-grossing film of all time – Avatar. 

Avatar’s use of innovative 3D cinematography is brilliant and paradigm-shifting.  And the budget for the film was nearly $400 million (production and promotion).  It was directed by one of the industry’s best, with a body of work that won a boatload of Oscars for Titanic.  Conversely, Hurt Locker was made for $15 million by lesser-known director, Kathryn Bigelow.

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0 comments - Posted by Domenick Cilea at 6:19 PM - Categories: Messaging | Content Strategy

Join the Blogging Evolution

Do blogs matter?  Depending on who you ask, and what their definition of a blog is, opinions can vary.  In short, we think YES! 

The media industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years.  Many factors – such as the economy, advertising budgets, the accelerated shift from print to online news consumption, and social media – have all contributed to and created new opportunities for specialization.  On the flip side, those seeking information – everything from fixing garage doors to cooking hard boiled eggs – are only an Internet search away from finding the best source.  All of these factors have contributed to the emergence of blogs.

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0 comments - Posted by Joseph Mindo at 3:27 PM - Categories: Social Media | Technology | Blogs | Public Relations | Messaging | Marketing

How Online Video Can Strengthen Your Brand

It’s no secret that organizations are increasingly utilizing social media to connect with customers and prospects, but what about an online video strategy?  Did you know online video is among the fastest growing tools used to convey a message and/or generate awareness of a brand?

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0 comments - Posted by Mark Tordik at 6:38 PM - Categories: Social Media | Video | Public Relations | Messaging | Branding | Marketing | Content Strategy | General

Springboard Minute (Video): Boilerplates 101

Last week, Bad Pitch Blog did a follow-up post about boilerplates, and how they are used and most often abused.

Boilerplates are intended to provide background information and/or perspective about the main subject(s) of a press release.  In most cases, they focus on a company, but can also be utilized to describe an event, product, service, etc.

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0 comments - Posted by Domenick Cilea at 2:38 PM - Categories: Public Relations | Messaging | Marketing

Banned from New Jersey, Conan?

Amidst the David Letterman scandal currently unfolding on late night TV—there is a bi-coastal feud emerging between new Tonight Show host Conan O’Brien and Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, NJ. 

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0 comments - Posted by Shannon Cortina at 10:51 AM - Categories: Social Media | Public Relations | Messaging | Marketing

Are You a Good Client or Bad?

Every consultant, agency and service provider has at least one client horror story.  The same could be said for companies who hire us (and I mean you, me, anyone and everyone in the service business).  In most cases we can peacefully (and productively) coexist. But as they say, it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch.

So when a SNAFU arises, and things get out of sorts, it begs the question: what could have been done to avoid it?

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2 comments - Posted by Domenick Cilea at 2:39 PM - Categories: Messaging | Business 101

Can You Hear Me Now?

In the November issue of Continental’s in-flight magazine, Dayton Fandray discusses the importance of having a vision statement to help organizations define what they stand for. In his article titled, "What do you see?," Fandray suggests that an organization starts by defining its mission, articulating its values, and finally crafting a vision statement.

I agree with Fandray that vision statements are extremely important as they should clearly define an organization’s identity, goals and raison d'être. He cites the US Army as a good example: “to protect the security of the United States.” However, what Fandray leaves out is the need for organizations to constantly and effectively communicate their vision.

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0 comments - Posted by Shannon Cortina at 3:41 PM - Categories: Messaging