Hi. I'm the new logo and I work at the Gap. It seems most of you hate me.
I gotta get a new gig and NO this isn't the phone company.
Message from Marka Hansen - President - Gap North America
This past Monday, without a lot of fanfare, we introduced a new logo on our gap.com site, and I wanted to take this opportunity to explain our thinking behind this decision.
I've been president at Gap brand for the past three years, and I've been living and breathing the changes we've been making on our journey to make Gap more relevant to our customers.
You've seen this evolution through...
First let me thank IBM for committing to excellence and curiosity. This is their work and it's probably the best "thing" you'll read this year and the shortest at 76 pages but worth every moment you spend. Enjoy!
Here's what the site Design Mind (thanks and love the site) had to say and where I originally found the link to this report, I guess I'll call it a white paper but it's so much more.
IBM has just released its fourth annual survey based on 1500 face-to-face interviews with global CEOs. Past studies have been rich sources of understanding the trends that company leaders are seeing...
It seems that it's raining sales from advertising place on apps.
From MediaPost Blogs, "App Ads Precipitate Sales" by Jack Loechner
A recent study from mobile audience media company JiWire revealed that, of the roughly 1,000 smartphone users surveyed, 52% claim they have acted on an advertisement in an app and 18% have made a purchase directly from an ad in an app in the last month. Their new report "examines device use, consumer adoption of Wi-Fi and consumer preferences for mobile content and advertising delivery." 55% of the on-the-go audience owns an app-enabled smartphone or mobile...
Please hear me, I still believe this is a capitalistic country and if you produce "it," you have every right to charge for the sweat of your labor. But it's extremely difficult when you first give it away to later start charging especially after years of giving it away under an advertising model. Look at the Wall Street Journal, they made pay online subscription a part of their model from the beginning and no one complained, if you wanted the WSJ it cost you - period.
I have a question, if I pay for content am I not entitled to receive it un-encumbered without advertising? Here are some...
I found this little gem at InformationWeek - Global CIO Blog, the piece was written by Bob Evans, Senior VP - Global CIO. Here's the video - enjoy!
Can a 5-minute animated video capture a technology company's global vision? IBM's "The Internet Of Things" YouTube clip is inspiring and compelling and the sort of fresh thinking more tech companies should try, although I did crack up during the final segment as some massively Deepak-Choprah-overdosed guy buzzes about what the planet is saying and the universe is hearing.
Most of the animated video is a spirited mix of voice-overs describing...
Twitter's new monetization platform is coming soon to a tweet near you. It seems that twitter's co-founder, Biz Stone was on CNBC and spilled the beans on a coming so called non-advertising methodology for Twitter, that will be rolled out later this month.
Via Silicon Alley Insider -
At the 1:50 mark, CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera says (paraphrasing), 'I use UberTwitter, which sends me ads that look like Tweets. Are you getting a cut of that ad revenue?' Biz says no. But, he adds:
We're going to roll out something we think appropriate not just for Twitter users but also for the ecosystem...
About Google Wave
Google Wave is an online tool for real-time communication and collaboration. A wave can be both a conversation
and a document where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.
What is a wave?
A wave is equal parts conversation and document. People can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.
A wave is shared. Any participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. Then playback lets anyone rewind the wave...
Don't get me wrong by reading at my title but I love lists all those pages full of life saving advice, neatly listed out for my convenience. I lov'em and I don't use the word love lightly or often but I'm in love with all those cute lists, as much as any online tip-hound but things are getting a little out of hand.
Look at these search results - "Tips on how too..." providing 329 million tip lists in 0.29 seconds.
Or these results - "10 Things..." providing 438 million lists of 10 things in 0.67 seconds.
That Google search thing is really incredible and I hope it takes off one day without...
Don't say at Stella Pop, we don't provide instant and creative solutions to your everyday business obstacles. Found this list at Wellsphere and loved it, here it is for you. Use it and prosper:
1. Invent and share a refreshing solution to a stubborn work problem – solve a difficulty that leaves you bored or in a rut at work. Brain fact: Boredom is more a habit formed in brains, and shaped by daily choices, then stored in brain as a reality.
2. Uplift your work area with natural lighting. Brain fact: Environments influence brainpower, and a healthy workplace inspires people...
Eric Schmidt of Google fame writes that the model for innovation in America has to change from a top down trickle method to a bottom up via the availability of information online. This sounds about right to me and we better get working fast to cultivate and nurture our entrepreneur spirit in this country.
Eric Schmidt -- Washington Post -- February 2010
Google CEO Eric Schmidt to newspapers: Innovate Your Way Out
More than ever, innovation is disruptive and messy. It can't be controlled or predicted. The only way to ensure it can flourish is to create the best possible environment -- and then...
Every business has a special message that can stimulate an audience to connect with you. Here's a great example of a quirky film with some big names stars and it serves as the perfect example of the online video content possibilities for any business:
It's a simple storyline and could apply to any business or brand message providing a little clever creativity and cunning brand message delivery system. Think about it, every business I ever meet had a funny story or situation that could translate into a simple and video short that might get there (clients and client prospects) attention?
StellaPop...
I know finding time to read is getting tougher and tougher especially if your an entrepreneur or business person hustling to beat your competitors and the economy. I'll make it easy for you with a list of must reads which will bring your marketing, advertising, social media, creative initiatives and branding up to speed, thinking and on the path toward marketing success:
1. Get Content, Get Customers by Joe Pulizzi and Newt Barrett - Junta42.com
Marketing is moving online at a breakneck pace. Several research firms now forecast that the Internet will become the world’s dom- inant advertising...
I believe we are living in a moment in history when those with the ideas, will be far ahead of those that just do jobs. Want to make more money, advance your career and prepare for the future - get creative or find an organization with the desire to challenge and chase the creation of ideas. Make sure of one thing, that this organization creating ideas - delivers.
The Economist believes that the world is governed by ideas. Because human progress relies on the advancement of good ideas, we are launching a new series of events that brings together top thinkers from around the world to discuss...
I grew up traveling all over the United States and we drove that fire engine red Ford LTD with tan leather interior everywhere. I better come clean now with my dad. Dad sorry it was me who unlaced all the leather stitched rear seats.
I'm sorry, it was just to much to resist and I was tired of looking at the Wyoming country side.
Have fun with this one! I bet you can't get them all?
Signage is such a powerful branding tool and a good sign or logo lasts in your audience or clients sub-conscious forever.
Guess That Highway Sign!
From Fast Company BY WILLIAM BOSTWICK
Photographer Josef Schulz...
Apple quite possibly is about to dominate another of the online arena - content delivered directly to a device. The iPad could be another game changer for Apple by creating an iTunes like interface which customers will customized content for daily delivery.
I expect in the next two or three years a new online store from Apple, "iContent" which will be geared toward delivering content directly to consumers via the new device - iPad. Bye-Bye - no more newspapers, magazines or websites except maybe through Apples portal, site, store or cloud.
Microsoft and Google better get their stuff together,...
Twitter is the shortest and most direct connection to the what's going on in the world - a world wide guide.
When you set up your follows, you find the topics, people and ideas that interest whether it's for today or forever and your tweet-in-box gets filled with everything you 'might' want to read, watch or scan. Twitter is the new TV Guide.
It's a new World Wide Guide to everything!
Think on this from Bing Twitter - Today's World Wide Guide:
ShiNee
Avatar
Lady Gaga
Miss America
Mass Effect 2
iPhone
Check out Mashable on Twitter,
The average Twitter user doesn’t...
I've read a whole big bunch of Seth Godin books and today after starting another "Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?" It made me think, what the hell is he trying to say in all of them? Is there a common thread? I don't definitively know but I think there is and it's incredibly simple.
Here's what I think he's saying:
Start
Simplify
Once you start - do it
Finish
The cycle of creativity begins again
You cannot avoid risk, nor do you want too
Where do I sign up?
I know what most people are saying at this point but I'm not a creative person and I've got a mortgage. I'm an account,...
This information on "Mind Blowing Social Media Statistics" comes from Econsultancy dot com and was posted by Jake Hird.
It’s around six months since I last threw out some truly mindboggling pieces of data surrounding social media. So, what’s happened between then and now?
I try to put as much information as I can into Econsultancy’s Social Media Statistics, which is part of our Stats Compendium (a truly awesome resource) but I find it’s always interesting to go back and review the old against the new.
So, I’ve collected as much as I can from my previous insane snippets...
DC's Grammy Nominee Kokayi, Partners with Ms. DC and Goodwill of Greater Washington.
Across The Fader dot com
Published on January 8, 2010, 12:24 PM By Drea M.
Music is a no holds barred industry. Whether this power is used for good or evil is subject to respective digression, but the local music scene in Washington, DC making good - collaborating unlikely elements and stumbling upon undiscovered genres. Some might say it’s already been done, but melding Hip-Hop and opera has not yet been done successfully, until now. The qualified participants of this latest Hip-Hopera rendition,...
Will you join by me in repeating our pledge? The entrepreneurs manifesto and declaration of rights pledging undying support for the worldwide spirit of the entrepreneur.
The world's entrepreneur collectively are sitting on the edge of their business seats awaiting change which is a great place to be but feels uncomfortable. The small business landscape is going through a major changes and who knows how it will turn out? That's the uncomfortable part especially when your risking your own money but dramatic change can be painful for the small business community but is a necessary part of long...
Sarah Palin will now be appearing on Fox Business Network. Does this point to a new breed of television show - The Reality, Reality Show?
I'm not picking sides here, what american really cares: Republican or Democrat, good or bad, conservative or liberal, shirts or skins, socialist or capitalist, blue or red, doesn't really matter. It's one big, well paying football game and both sides enjoy playing the endless game that has momentary winners and losers but never a clear victor thus ensuring the perpetual season called professional politics, media, lobbyist and big corporations. The funny...
It's always nice to read an article that oozes kindness and thoughtfulness. "All About Goodwill: Miss DC's Recycling Platform (And How We Can All Take A Stand) By Cynthia Bosnian of City Renewed is just that kind of good- hearted and giving article with a community perspective. What makes it so thoughtful? Simplicity - the simplicity of giving those slightly used clothing and household items to an organization (Goodwill) so that they can be ReUsed, ReCycled and ReFashioned. Here's a look at Cynthia's article please click through to enjoy the full read:
Most of us are no doubt familiar...
Stella's Pop Factory and Goodwill(R) of Greater Washington Launches Recycling and Mission Awareness Campaign with Miss District of Columbia
Campaign includes original Video Series and Rap-Opera Song conceptualized and developed by Stella Pop, features Jen Corey and Grammy Nominated Artist, Kokayi, the video series documents Miss DC 2009 shopping for Recycled Furniture in Support of Her Recycling Platform for Miss America Pageant.
Reston, VA (PRWEB) January 8, 2010 -- Goodwill(R) of Greater Washington, creators of the nationally recognized DC Goodwill Fashion...
10 Reasons Why You Won't Do Content Marketing (and continue doing the same thing)
This is article from the content marketing expert, Joe Pulizzi at Junta42 is one for everyone in business and that wants to connect with an audience.
Here's a tiny preview please click through for the full read:
I had an amazing conversation this week with an agency that was trying to convince their client to invest in a content strategy and full content marketing program. Just to give you the quick take, the client's goal was to reach certain consumer segments in the southeastern states. They...
Heck - rest is important for everyone. Ever had a great nights sleep and awoke refreshed with a new perspective for the day?
Those moments of rest seem far and few between but there is one way around this problem. First make sure and take a long vacation like a two or three weeks in your favorite location at least once a year and every four years take a couple month sabbatical and recharge your battery. The problem it's hard to do in this competitive world but maybe you'll be a better competitor, employee, leader or entrepreneur especially when you return with a rested mind, body and soul.
Here's...