The Marketer blogging on digital and social media

Client/Agency Parody Video: Redesigning the Stop sign

I like this video. 

It should be part of a client/agency training program. It's a great a parody of how things can go wrong in the creative process if the relationship is not built on trust.

Just out of pure spite, it reminds me of a few EX-clients. I will not name these ex-clients, but I'm open to bribery :)

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Hunter Advantage gets my thumbs-up!

Hunter Advantage is a new marketing campaign to promote industry investment in or relocation to the Hunter and stimulate growth. The Hunter Advantage marketing initiative is the brain child of the two of the regions business heavy weights Jeff McCloy, Hilton Grugeon, Richard Owens, Bill Saddington, Mark Fitzgibbon and Phil Gardner . Approximately 30 local businesses have pitched in money and in-kind pledges to the tune of $200,000.00. What’s exciting about the Hunter Advantage campaign is that its reportedly centred around the internet and supported by traditional media. Not the other way round. I wish the Hunter Advantage team all the best with their online campaign.

Newcastle Top Twits List Released for April

You think coffee comes from Starbucks
Originally uploaded by Macaw-frey

Jacob Cass tops this months list of Newcastle's twitterarty with over 10,000 followers.

Its a good number when you consider radio stars @kyleandjackieo (Kyle and Jackie O) have only 9,200 followers, @kylie_minogue (Kylie Minogue) 7,400 followers, @rove1974 (Rove McManus) 5,850 followers and the Sunday Telegraph's @tabloidterror (Ros Reines) 1,280 followers.

Talking about radio stars, Newcastle giants of the airwaves NXFM's duo @NXFMSteveandkim only has 60 followers trailing KOFM's @davidandtanya with 65 followers. 

A piece of advice for our local radio stars, Twitter is not a broadcast medium, its a conversational medium.

What we don't see on our Newcastle Top Twit list is our local politicians. 

Pollies having a go on Twitter include @KevinRuddPM (Kevin Rudd) with 29,500 followers, oppositon leaders @turnbullmalcolm (Malcolm Turnbull) 8,300 followers, Premier of NSW @premierofnsw (Nathern Rees) with 980 followers, Premier of South Australia @premiermikerann with 3,290 and Premier of Queensland @TheQLDPremier (Anna Bligh) with 330 followers. 

My 5 top Twitter tools for business

Twitter Pack
Originally uploaded by carrotcreative

TWITTER is one of my favourite business tools.

Yes, not only do I talk CRAP over Twitter, but it allows me to network, train, research, promote our agency, build our reputation, manage some clients, conduct internal communications and monitor competitors. And make some bloody good friends.

However, it’s a lonely place for beginners. Especially those companies and people not totally committed or don’t understand social media. It’s a case of just do it!!!

For those just starting out, I’d like to recommend the following five Twitter tools:

1. Twitter Search - a search engine that scans Twitter
2. Tinyurl - Turns long URL's into much shorter ones for use on Twitter 
3. TweetDeck – Is you personal dashboard to help manage and view all new tweets in real-time
4. Twitpic - Lets you share photos on Twitter and I love using this on my iPhone
5. Twitterrific - An iPhone OS client for Twitter

There are lots of other Twitter applications out there that are really good, but I like these. If you have any other twitter alications or tools, please tell me...

Is Aggregation Forcing Journalists to Evolve

Coffee-Mug
Originally uploaded by My Ink Blog

Unless you believe in 'Intelligent Design' you must agree the traditional printed newspaper industry is in trouble.

Some say its because of the current economic downturn, some people will say its consumers changing media consumption habits, it doesn't really matter.

The real problem is that some journalists, media outlets and advertisers are ignoring the fact consumers and the media industry is changing.

Read Michael Learmonth and Nat Ives recent piece titled 'News Outlets Must Accept That Consumers Want More Content Faster -- and Don't Care Who Creates It' is a good article on what today's consumer wants.

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Most of the many, many sites aggregating other people's content can't deliver that much traffic, and some don't even try. What's more, a vast swath of readers couldn't care less about anything deeper than a headline, which is a problem for the nation's beleaguered journalistic institutions as they try to find a sustainable model for news gathering on the web.

For more of this article....

A tweeting success in Newcastle

Old coffee cup
Originally uploaded by aixcracker

Newcastle’s first Coffee Morining for twitterer's didn’t look too healthy at 8am this Friday morning with me sitting on my own in the Baristaba Expresso Café, staring uncomfortably at any person straying near the café entrance.

But after what felt like an hour, I got a knowing look and wink from a dude wearing a red t-shirt. Luckily, it was Wayde Christie. Within minutes of his arrival our table was full of twitterer’s and chatter with everyone who said they were going to be there, sitting drinking great coffee.

The conversation was great, the people were great and our view of the Port of Newcastle was absolutely perfect. Can’t wait until next week’s coffee.

The trouble with twitter - video

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Sydney's Coffee Morning lands in Newcastle

coffee break
Originally uploaded by Nescafe_kw

After listening to Sydney's successful Coffee Morning tweet-ups, I've decided to pull my finger out and start Newcastle's very own Coffee Morning.

So, if you are in or around Newcastle this Friday morning and can find a free parking spot near The Boardwalk at Honeysuckle around 8am, it would be great to see you all.

The venue is Baristaba Expresso just behind the Silo bar which serves some of the best coffee in Newcastle. I have been told!!!

No agenda's...just coffee and conversation.

If you would like more information just tweet me on @themarketeraus

The 'Most Influential Newcastle Twitterer's' List

Even if our local media doesn't notice or just plainly ignores, Newcastle has a thriving urban micro-blogging scene happening on Twitter.

It may not be as large as Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane micro-blogging communities or have lots of well organised Twitter events, but we have enthusiasm and a growing influence.

This is why I have decided to recognise our local secene with the formation of the 'Most Influential Newcastle Twitterer's' list.

I hope to publish it every month.

Most Influential Newcastle Twitterer's:

1. Craig Wilson @mediahunter 1840 followers
2. Lindy Asimus @lindyasimus 1175 followers
3. Mat Packer @matpacker 1010 followers
4. Warwick Foster @warwickfoster 867 followers
5. Gordon Whitehead @themarketeraus 847 followers
6. Garth Roxburgh-Kidd @garthk 676 followers
7. Adam Purcell @adampurcell 459 followers
8. Michelle Lucus @shelleweb 367 followers 
9. Dean Robinson @deanjrobinson 360 followers
10. Belinda Leskiw @belinda_jane 346 followers
11. Leevi Graham @leevigraham 346 followers
12. Carlee Potter @SNOBEd 289 followers
13. Unknown @ozatheist 223 followers 
14. Unknown @julzm 215 followers 
15. Unknown @newmediaguy 173 followers 
16. Jan Lawrence @janlawrence 153 followers
17. Elise @calypso 135 followers 
18. Nick @riverbasil 135 followers 
19. Wayde Christie @waydomatic 126 followers
20. Kirri Liepins @matineeidyll 93 followers 
21. Mitch Hawkins @miatch19 91 followers 
22. Stefan @stefan_mk1 89 followers 
23. Coralyn @coralyn_e 87 followers
24. Susan & Meredith @whelanflynn 86 followers 
25. Ami Holder @amiliz 82 followers 
26. Michael Troy @michaeltroy 80 followers 
27. Matthew Hatton @berietb 70 followers
28. Craig (Rosie) Rosevear @schoolofrock 67 followers 
29. Ellen Moore @ermelbow 65 followers 
30. Jess Hindmarsh @jesshindmarsh 64 followers 
31. Chris Coleman @spotcom05 60 followers 
32. Paul Hempsall @roguemm 58 followers 
33. Kylie Smiley @kyliesmiley 57 followers 
34. Luke Arms @ofdphoto 54 followers 
35. Heath Raftery @lightyear 52 followers 
36. Rob McClintock @rob_mcclintock 45 followers 
37. Andrew Goodwin @newcastlemusic 43 followers 
38. Kerryn Atkinson @kerryn79 41 followers 
39. John McQuillen @jmcquillen 39 followers   
40. Kev Kellaway @fenderdude 24 followers  
41. Louise McClintock @loubert 23 followers 
42. Steel Adams @steele_climate 23 followers 
43. Emma Kate Erratt @emmakate78 20 followers 
44. Jay Preston @jaypreston72 19 followers 
45. David and Tanya (KOFM) @davidandtanya 14 followers 
46. Laura Wilson @artgirllaura 11 followers 
47. Ashley McIntyre @ashakamac 10 followers
48. Craig Whitton @realbalance 6 followers

Yes, my ranking methodology is unsophisticated and yes, I know my list may of missed heaps of very important people, but its a start.

Anyone who like to be added or you'd like suggest someone please just leave a comment...

Is Randall Rothenberg starting a interactive creative revolution?

End Bad Breath (USA)
Originally uploaded by Pink Ponk

A revolution to spark a radical era of interactive creative enlightenment!

The catalyst of this self described revolution is an article written by Randall Rothenberg, CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) titled "A Bigger Idea: A Manifesto on Interactive Advertising Creativity" where he bluntly criticized the direct marketing culture dominating interactive advertising agencies.

In fact, Randall named the four enemies of online branding:

• A direct-marketing culture and tradition that devalues creativity and its long-term effect on brands
• An interactive agency business model that disincentivizes greatness and fails to penalize mediocrity
• An unwillingness by mainstream agencies to integrate technologists as full partners in the advertising creative team
• Media industry values and habits that malign and depreciate our own products, and by extension our customers'

He also announced that it was time to engage marketers, agencies, and publishers in a public debate about creativity in interactive advertising. 

ad:tech Australia's #1 Interactive Event

Right my digital boys and girls ad:tech is coming to town. 

It's Arguably Australia's #1 interactive event for brand advertisers, agencies, online publishers and those funny tech heads - the technology providers. 

Looking at the program and chatting to my mate Fi Bendall, ad:tech this year is going to be jam-packed with loads of good quality presentations, case studies and panel debates. Bring on the Luddites! 

This years headliners are Stephen Green, Regional Managing Director of Kodak, Kym Niblock, Managing Director of BBC.com BBC Worldwide and Nick Brien, CEO of Mediabrands. Don't worry, if they don't tickle your fancy there is over 120 speakers scheduled to speak.