Thursday, July 28, 2011

Quote of the Day—Change Begins Here



All ideasabout the world, business, ourselvesreside in our minds first. What thoughts do you have today that give rise to creativity, virtue and innovation?

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Color Psychology—Blue is the Color of Calm and Constancy

"Blue very profoundly develops the element of calm." —Vasily Kandinsky

Maybe there's a reason that blue is the #1 choice for corporate branding and identity, as many hope to cash in on the intrinsic belief that blue represents constancy, quality and achievement. It's also safe, secure and calming—and universally liked.

Blue often brings to mind the serenity of a clear, cloudless sky, a calm sea and a feeling of familiarity. 

Blue became the color of respected honors, like the blue ribbon of quality and skill.  It is also a popular color that is safe—and less controversial than some others.

They're probably out there, but we've rarely met a male executive who didn't like blue.


  • Light Blue: calm, quiet, patient, peaceful, cool, water, clean
  • Sky Blue: calming, cool, heavenly, constant true, tranquil, trusting, serene, expansive, open
  • Bright Blue: electric, energy, brisk, vibrant, flags, stirring, impressive, aquatic, exhilarating
  • Periwinkle: genial, lively, sprightly, convivial, cordial
  • Deep Blue: credible, authoritative, basic, conservative, classic, strong, reliable, traditional, uniforms, service, nautical, loyal, confident, professional, introspective (can also be seen as aloof, distant, melancholy)
Source

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Mayo Clinic Leads the Way with Social Media Marketing

Ed Bennet, author of the Web site Found in Cache: Social Media resources for health care professionals from Ed Bennet, advises health care organizations not to get into social media because you think you’re going to get more patients, but because you’re helping be responsive (not responsible) to people reaching out looking for answers.

The Mayo Clinic, a front-runner for using social media in the health care industry, uses it in a variety of ways:


Facebook:
  • Patient questions and comments are monitored and responded to by their experts
  • Video contests
  • Informational videos on various topics
  • Patient testimonies
  • Automatic blog posts
  • Visit the Mayo Clinic's Facebook Page
Blogs:
Twitter:
YouTube:

    Thursday, July 14, 2011

    Independent Colleges of Washington Uses Animation to Tell Their Story




    Washington's private colleges are a cause we love to support because of the way they change lives and help our state's citizens.

    About 40,000 students attend these ten schools—yet the schools receive less than 2% of the state higher education budget. This saves the state more than $330 million per year in operating subsidies—while increasing choice for those attending college. Contrary to what many think, these schools serve an economically diverse student body, providing quality education to students from all demographics and income backgrounds.

    We developed this animation for them to help them bring their story to life—and reinforce their key brand messages using a medium that works well on the Web and with social media.

    Tuesday, July 12, 2011

    Marketers Continue to Increase Use of Video


    Onemarketmedia.com reports that video will be ubiquitous on the Web—and is a top priority for marketers.  Here’s what they say:

    According to a survey by Marketing Sherpa, for the second year in a row video marketing is the top priority for marketers surveyed, ahead of SEO, PPC, social media, email marketing and all other online marketing tactics. Turnhere has also released a study in the fall which revealed the same results —“When asked to rank various online marketing priorities for 2010, video was ranked as the top priority.”

    In a recent post conference interview Jeremey Allaire, CEO of Brightcove, summarized the outlook for Web-based video this way:
    “Video will become as ubiquitous as text on the web.... What weʼve seen happening over the last year is this incredible growth in the number of organizations and corporations, of all types, of all industries, of all sectors of societies, embracing video to enhance what they are doing on the web.”

    Thursday, July 7, 2011

    Color Shift and New Design Directions Characterize 2011 Logo Trends

    Like fashion, design trends are dynamic. Logolounge.com lists these trends in their 2011 report on logo trends:
    • Soft gradients 
    •  Monoline
    • Series Logos
    • Brown and grey are being seen more frequently as replacements for the neutral black.
    • Loopys

    For the full report, click here.

    Sometimes change is an improvement, and sometimes it's a step backwards. Which of these trends do you think work best?

    Monday, July 4, 2011

    Happy 4th of July!


    Here are some fun facts about the 4th of July from the U.S. census bureau. Now when you light those firecrackers or raise that flag, you'll know where it most likely came from (you guessed it, China).

    2.5 million
    In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation.

    309.6 million
    The nation's estimated population on July 4, 2010.

    $3.0 million
    In 2009, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($2.5 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.

    $920,277
    Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2009. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $333,882 worth.

    $209 million
    The value of fireworks imported from China in 2009, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($217 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $42.9 million in 2009, with the United Arab Emirates purchasing more than any other country ($14.5 million).

    About 1 in 3
    The odds that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 34 percent of the nation's dry, edible beans in 2009. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia, Washington and New York together accounted for 66 percent of the fresh market sweet corn produced nationally in 2009.

    31
    Number of places nationwide with "liberty" in their name. The most populous one as of July 1, 2008, is Liberty, Mo. (30,568). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

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