April 28th, 2010
Jeffrey Hayzlett. Kodak’s celebrity CMO in Denver.
Join Denver’s best marketers and printers for a luncheon presentation with Jeffrey Hayzlett, Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President, Kodak and author of The Mirror Test. He’s big, he’s boisterous and he has the guts to ask the tough questions most managers are afraid to ask.
May 5th, 11:30AM–1:30PM
at the Renaissance Hotel
Find all the event information here: http://bit.ly/Hayzlettemail
Presented by:
New Denver Ad Club
Colorado Business Marketing Association
Printing Industries of Colorado
April 20th, 2010
Sharp Thinkers & Digital Guides. Part 1.
People worth listening to.
Digital has changed the world and the world of advertising that I work in. Understanding the changes, seeing the patterns and turning insights into actionable information is difficult. It’s difficult for everybody, for every agency, no matter what the size, not matter what the client. Some people are a bit further ahead on the learning curve and are thankfully willing to share their thoughts on the monumental changes, new dynamics, dare I say paradigm shift happening in advertising today. I’ll call this group of digital guides and sages Sharp Thinkers. Read the rest of this entry »
April 15th, 2010
“Everything is digital” – @edwardboches
Today I attended day one of a three day workshop at Boulder Digital Works called Making Digital Work. Today’s stellar presentations left me with these thoughts:
Over the past few years advertising agencies have worked to integrate digital and social media capabilities into their service offerings. They even used the phrase integrated marketing to show clients they were smart enough to put all the pieces together—traditional, digital, research, social and pr. Well, those days are gone. Integrated isn’t special anymore, it’s the norm. And digital isn’t a bolt on service. As Edward Boches says “Everything is digital”. No doubt, he’s right.
The word, digital, has come to represent a host of discreet tactics such as websites, video, web apps, mobile and social media. It’s also the glue that connects all elements of a campaign together. Ex. A campaign is begun in social media, anchored by a fan page, supported by a website that aggregates user content, which is published from a mobile app, promoted by paid media (online, tv, print), fulfilled by direct-mail, editorialized by PR and posted back out in social networks. At every point the web, mobile or networked, is the bridge from one point of engagement to another. It’s the feedback loop that rewards users with what Michael Tabtabai calls “digital souvenirs” and it provides the analytics agencies use to monitor, adjust and evaluate a campaign.
So the question about digital today is not whether to use it, but how to use it. How to express a big idea through the right mix of channels, platforms and technologies. It’s a question I’m hoping my time at the Making Digital Work workshop will answer.
More thoughts tomorrow.
April 2nd, 2010
Summer Internships at Hero
Design Internship
Hero Design Studio is in need of a summer design intern. We are a classic design studio focused on executing smart, strategic ideas. We’re interested in web designers and graphic designers who want to learn how to produce, print and build the ideas they dream up. We’ll teach you studio process, project management and all that goes into delivering great work. Along the way you’ll get plenty of opportunities to design and see your work come to life.
Term: June—August 2010
Position: Graphic Designer
Schedule: 24hrs minimum per week
Pay: None
Clothing: If your mom would approve of what you’re wearing, it’s good enough for us.
Location: 1824 Lincoln Street in beautiful downtown Denver.
Instructions:
Just like on the playground, picking the right people for your team is important. So in 100 words, or less, tell us about yourself. We want to know why you’d like to intern for Hero, what skills you have to offer and what you hope to get out of your internship. Points are awarded for creativity and candor. Deductions are made for empty platitudes and unsubstantiated claims of game changing greatness.
Send your 100 words, or less, along with a resumé and PDF portfolio or link to your site.
Email portfolios or questions to: internme@herodesignstudio.com
Marketing Internship
So you want to be in marketing? Well, here’s a chance. Put everything you learned from Professor Hefley to work at Hero Design Studio. We’re looking for a summer intern to handle our marketing and communications. You’ll be responsible for managing and creating outbound communications about our projects, clients and expertise. This will include social media, traditional media and networking events—updating our website, blog, fan page and twitter. You’ll work directly with the principals and graphic designers to strategize, write and produce engaging content. You’ll also be required to create a signature project for yourself by pitching your own marketing idea tothe studio principals. If approved you’ll be given the resources and budget to make it a success.
Term: June—August 2010
Position: Marketing Intern
Schedule: 24hrs minimum per week
Pay: None
Clothing: Restaurants require it and so do we.
Location: 1824 Lincoln Street in beautiful downtown Denver.
Instructions:
Just like on the playground, picking the right people for your team is important. So in 100 words, or less, tell us about yourself. We want to know why you’d like to intern for Hero, what skills you have to offer and what you hope to get out of your internship. Points are awarded for creativity and candor. Deductions are made for empty platitudes and unsubstantiated claims of game changing greatness.
Send your 100 words, or less, along with a resumé, writing samples, portfolio or link to your site. Email portfolios or questions to: internme@herodesignstudio.com
March 17th, 2010
Learn Selling from a Drag Queen
Last night I watched an episode of Ru Paul’s Drag Race. A reality show competition of drag queen divas. It has all the things you would expect a show like this to have, the drama, the camp and the predictability. But it had one more unexpected thing, lessons in selling.
If there’s one skill common to all good drag queens, it’s the ability to sell. They know how to sell a whole package, to create a persona, wrap it up in a show and deliver it in a song. They do this so well we suspend dis-belief and are captivated by a performance so ballsy that it commands our attention. Ever wish you could do that? I’m not talking about the drag, I’m talking about the selling. I’m talking about casting aside your fears and creating selling show. One that your prospect can’t ignore.
The thing that sparked this thought for me was something one of the contestants said. She said that by wearing a costume she was able to overcome her fears, transcend herself and be the character who could do all those brash and captivating things on stage. Doing this, she was able to make it through difficult times of self-doubt and create success. Could it be the key to your sales success? I say yes.
Of course I don’t mean you should join the drag show and start looking for a sequined gown. I mean you should create a sales persona, create a costume and put on a fearless show for your prospects. Your persona could be the seasoned vet or the whip-smart MBA. Find the most powerful part of your personality and amplify it. Make a costume. It could be a suit, it could jeans—it doesn’t have to be fancy. Think about Steve Jobs. What’s his costume? It’s no accident he wears the same outfit at every presentation. Just make sure to “own it”, like a drag queen does. When you wear your costume you’ll have the permission and courage to be the most captivating version of yourself. Then put yourself on stage and command the attention of your audience. For at least as long as it takes to sing I Will Survive.
March 7th, 2010
Sanjay Patel Interview from Grain Edit
Catching up on my RSS feeds this morning I came across this interview with Sanjay Patel about his just released book Ramayana: Divine Loophole.
from Grain Edit…
As one of the core legends of Hindu mythology, Ramayana recounts a tale of Rama, a god-turned-prince, and his quest to rescue his wife Sita after she was kidnapped by a demon king. Sanjay is able to breath new life into this 2500-year-old epic tale with over 150 pages of lush, detailed illustrations.
The quality of Sanjay’s work is amazing and the interview provides surprising insights into the personal motivations of a professional illustrator. We’re definitely going to add this book to our studio collection. There is also a limited edition silk screened poster that is signed and still available.
Read the full interview here>>
Find the book here>>
And the poster here>>
March 4th, 2010
Thoughts on Freelancing Rates
Our new freelancing friends often ask us about how much their hourly rates should be. It’s a common dilemma and one that inevitably ends with the phrase “it depends”. Sure there are average rates in the market, a range that collectively we feel the market will bear. But that’s a very localized thing. So much so that across the Denver metro area you’ll find significant differences north to south, east to west.
What everyone should be focused on is find a balance point between the market average and their skills—one that leans toward value for the client. It’s that value quotient that keeps you at the top of the list when clients have new projects. How do you figure out your pricing for new clients? What about repeat clients? What about work that comes to you through other freelancers?
Today Seth Godin takes and interesting view on issues around these questions in his post Open Buying and Open Selling.
March 3rd, 2010
Wiegand Attorneys Logo
This logo for Wiegand Attorneys & Counselors is the latest part of a larger re-branding effort. We began the project by re-defining the firm’s market positioning and creating a new tag-line—Navigating Your Future Success. The form of the logo connects with the tag-line and our client’s love of sailing and the antique nautical maps which adorn his office. There’s more to come in a website, business stationary and environmental signage.
Read the rest of this entry »
January 31st, 2010
Coconut Crunchees. An addict’s story.
Back in the early ’90s my brother and I went to Nepal for several months to climb and trek. We spent most of our time in the northern valleys of Rowaling and Kumbu. For several weeks at a time we were well beyond any villages or tea-houses. Back then you could still get pretty far out there. It wasn’t the disneyland it is today.
As an affirmed sugar junky, our asthetic diet of dahl, greens, rice and chilis was hard to maintain. Hence I became addicted, severely, to the little cookies pictured above—Coconut Crunchees.
Read the rest of this entry »
January 20th, 2010
A New Era of Sucking Less Begins Today.
Congratulations to our anonymous friends at The Denver Egotist for taking their site into the promise-land. They now join the other great franchises who were home-grown in Colorado. Including Noodles, The Spicy Pickle, Chipotle and of course Big O Tires, who have that cute mascot I’d like to strangle, Little O. I wonder if TDE will have its own mascot? Or better yet, a signature hot sauce like Chile Fired Client or Red, Hot Intern.
Cheers to you, Egotist. Whoever you are.
