Filed under: Ping.fm update by Neoco
So, good old Borris has decided to rebrand the captial! Is this just trying to push a sqaure peg through a round whole? With such an iconic image does London need a ‘logo’/brand NYC style? I’m not sure. All I hope is that the agency that’s been awarded the project is able to create a brand and logo that works across different media. Do we want/need a repeat of 2012? Fingers crossed they get it right!
Filed under: Brands & Marketing, Cool & Online, Design, Mostly Mobile, New Technology, News | Tags: Apple, Apps, beta, Digital, hype, insight, interface, intuitive, ipad, iPhone, iPod, itampon, jobs, magazine, means, new, News, publishing, quality, release, sanitary towel, steve, touch, touch me like you want me, what
OK so it’s what we expected – isn’t it? Maybe that’s the thing missing? Apple has delivered the iPad and it’s exactly what we thought it would be – a large iPhone. Maybe all the hype surrounding it meant it was always going to fail in some respects. Unlike the iPhone, which filled an already well-established need, there is no existing need the iPad fills.
The success of the product is going to be in the deals that are made with publishers and such like. It feels like the opportunity the publishing industry has been wanting and waiting for. The device does look like a natural digital fit for books and magazines. We’ve been talking to a few clients for some time now as to how to turn their print publications into successful digital publications. With the current size of the iTunes store and the press around launch this maybe the platform that gives each party what they are looking for and give more power and profit back to the publishers themselves.
The locked-down platform strategy will help the success of the product, raising the quality standard of the content and Apps as it has done on the iPhone. This strategy can only benefit the end-user who already knows how to interact with this new technology before it goes on the sale.
The tablet concepts that have been floating the net prior to the launch of the iPad all seem to have a similar solution for the user, which is to have a web ‘esq’ digital interpretation of a magazine layout. Much like the iPad itself, this is what we would expect. However, we’re going to want much more very quickly.
The content and interface should be focused around the device and the user, not existing magazine or website formats. Publishers and designers are going to need to get over this hurdle quickly if they are to help this industry cherish and grow.
The opportunities for such an intuitive device are massive, but it does require lateral thinking, better use of content integration and mix, and a client who is willing to lead the market. The device should throw up some really exciting solutions which I can’t wait to see.
Overall it looks like it’s going to be a very successful product for them and exceed expectations. I guess the bottom line for the consumer is do I want one? I know I do!
Filed under: Coffee Break, Our team, books, research | Tags: book, clients, crowd sourcing, Facebook, fear, Godin, good, innovation, inspiration, inspire, leadership, leading, media, organisation, read, risk, seth, social, start, status quo, tribes
Despite no-one saying it, Trevor knew people could tell he had not washed that morning...
At a first glance Seth Godin, the author of ‘Tribes’, comes across as an Americanized idealist. His narrative technique resembles that of an evangelist writing sentences which starts with “we need you to lead us” and finishes with an exclamation mark. But Seth somehow manages to melt down my defences and he does convince me that he is a really cool guy with heaps of cool stuff to tell.
In short, Tribes is about how people make crowds, and that crowds are really tribes waiting for someone to speak up and take the lead. He challenges any form of status quo, and blames unsuccessful ideas or business attempts on a combination of fear for risk and the unknown, with bad management and poor leadership:
“Most organizations spend their time marketing to the crowd. Smart organizations assemble the tribe“
Seth argues that any sort of movement, innovation or organisation can triumph with the right person showing the way. This type of leadership is something that requires dedication, charisma and faith. It could be you!
I found it particularly inspiring to read about the many people Seth refers to as good examples of tribe leaders, and how their stories validates his arguments for that change can come from the most unexpected places.
Regardless of whether you have a keen interest for word-of-mouth marketing, business development, leadership or simply just like to read a really good book, I would recommend you to read Tribes. Go on. If you want I’ll even send you one of the many copies we have here (for giving our clients).
Filed under: Hot List Clients, Social Networking/ Word Of Mouth, research | Tags: 2010, art of the trench, burberry, chanel, charlotte russe, community, dolce & gabbana, Facebook, fashion, gilt groupe, louis vuitton, luxury, marketing, prizes, social media, topman, Twitter, you tube
Channel Chanel
User-generated content is key to social media and fashion. From blogs to Facebook photo contributions to product reviews, the user-generated content is at its apex. One of the most notable and consistent campaigns that are built around user-generated content and social media has been from the brand Charlotte Russe, The brand’s weekly trivia contest on it’s Twitter channel or virals from their YouTube channel, drives the consumers to their website with the high hopes of snagging some great prizes.
Another great example of user-generated content used is Burberry’s Art of the Trench site. The people are encouraged to upload photos of themselves wearing Burberry’s signature style, the trench coat. Burberry is on a roll when it comes to online advertising to showcase their goods.
Moving into 2010, brands and retailers will be delving deeper into social media to reach online audiences. Digital and e-commerce launches of new products have also been a popular way for brands to keep costs low in a tough economy for luxury products. A variety of mobile platforms have taken off as brands, magazines, and web sites to develop apps with the goal of extending their online presence and widening the distribution channels.
When it comes to developing apps, fashion brands are some of the fastest out of the blocks. Chanel shows its runway collections via iPhone app, and the Gilt Groupe app allows users to shop sample sales and receive alerts as to when sales are starting. Guilt free apps to download for the stylish brand hunter! We’re currently developing iPhone and Blackberry apps for fashion brands around London Fashion Week.
The future of fashion is in digital marketing, not only have these brands started to win over the consumers through social media campaigns, but are starting to create their own niche groups. Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana and other major league heavy hitters in the fashion industry have launched their own social networks or added social components to their existing web sites. Or in the case of TOPMAN, we’ve worked to build their community over existing social networks and channels to lighten the load on the brand and keep things relevant to their audience.
It’s been a tough education, but we start to see less one-way discount promotions, and more genuine interaction between the brand and the people, it makes everyone happier and allows sales to boost, with satisfaction of personally acquainting yourself with who you are purchasing your new outfit from.
Filed under: Brands & Marketing, Hot List Clients, Mostly Mobile | Tags: iPhone, Blackberry, application, Opera, ENO, app, English, National, Figaro Digital, new season, version 20
Figaro Digital coverage of ENO iPhone app
The English National Opera has released an iPhone application that gives you details on the Opera’s current seasons. The application allows you to watch video trailers and also listen to streaming music from your favourite opera and is briskly updated with fresh information all year around. Thanks to digital marketing sensation Neoco and the team, this iPhone application is something that urban opera goers cannot leave home without.
figaro digital logo
With it’s growing fame, the app has recently been published for the case studies showcase of Figaro Digital on its magazine’s fourth issue.
Version 2.0 has just been released with updated content for the new season and a handful of functional developments.
Filed under: Mostly Mobile, New Technology, Technology | Tags: better camera, Google, handset, hanset, hd2, hero, htc, iPhone, killer, mobile, new, nexus, O2, opportunity, review
the Highlander battle of phones has begun - There can be ONLY one! iPhone vs Nexus; how does the Nexus fair?
Wow, everyone’s out with their review of the new Nexus handset and how it stacks up as the latest iPhone killer… So here I am to add my own review:
What a load of sh*t. A real missed opportunity for Google to move the market forwards but instead they just release a ‘me too’ product. Yeah, it looks alright but it’s no iPhone. Better camera but that’s about it. Where’s the power? Where’s the wow factor? What they needed to do was release something that made my iPhone-hugging ass think about how I could dump this crappy O2 contract and get me a sweet new Nexus. Instead it’s just another failed opportunity. Another failed launch of an iPhone killer. Everyone – including us iPhone owners – want to see an iPhone killer and set the industry and consumer wars on fire, but so far, no-one has delivered. And here we have the central problem with the mobile industry; it’s failure to deliver on promise. How long has everyone waited for Year of the Mobile… year after year since the early noughties. The iPhone finally kicked things off and now we are back to the waiting game. The only good thing about the Nexus is that it is (just) enough to keep things ticking over until the real iPhone killer gets unveiled later in the year – the iPhone 4.0/ 4G
