Advertising and New Media.com

Compel Me Allrizon!

2009-07-14T14:40:00.010-04:00

Posted by Joshua Taylor, Communications Director
& Jeff Smack, Art Director

You've probably already seen the TV ads. Verizon & Alltel "Better Together." The two mobile giants try to navigate their brands through a mega merger without losing customers or their identities. At least for now Verizon & Alltel have combined the "Can you hear me now?" guy with the unicorn haired "Chad." The main question has to be "How long will this work?" Customers traditionally don't like change unless it's unquestionable improvement. How will they react to this new marriage? So far it appears that the campaigns have gone well but I can't help wondering how long "Can you hear me now?" guy and "Chad" can coexist before the muddling of the two brands leads to a weakened identity? It's smoothe sailing for now but I'm getting a "Two Great Tastes that Taste Weird Together" kind of sense of the future.

I look forward to seeing how far the agencies will push this tag team. Will we get a backstory where the two rehash past differences over a beer telling tales of their days manning rival kiosks at the mall? Wasn't "Can you hear me now?" guy one of the cretins in the gang that "Chad" was always nonchalantly undermining? There's got to be mascot beef broiling here. Is the market just supposed to assume these two step siblings are copasetic now that their parent organizations have tied the knot? Will mommy and daddy have a new All-rizon baby and kick the big bros to the curb? We demand a little more explanation over here at Madison+Main and we're looking forward to the play out.

Don't Be Afraid of Social Media

2009-07-13T11:03:00.009-04:00

Posted by Jeff Smack, Art Director

First I must ask, "Where do you get your news?" If you said "I get the bulk of my news from half hour programs, at the same time, everyday, via network television." then you're probably not reading this blog. Or you're into nostalgic rituals like walking down the driveway in your underwear to pick up a newspaper.

NBC 12 featured a scare piece on Facebook last night. I keep seeing this type of thing on the local television news. They inflate "hackers" and "the mysterious internet" and provide halfbaked information about what went down. Somehow a "hacker" used a woman's Facebook page to solicit wire transfers from her friends. I agree it's a good idea to change your passwords on a regular basis. I also believe it's a good idea not to share them or initiate wiretransfers to anyone soliciting via internet. Maybe wiretransfers are the boogie man here?

Pick smart passwords. Change them periodically. That's a good moral for the story but the feature also claims that Facebook is a 5 year old website with over 2 million active users. However that data must be a couple years old because all you have to do is "Google it" to instantly and effortlessly find a variety of more recent credible articles tallying 150+ million active FB users. Latest estimates are 217 million according to Facebook themselves.

In sum, I caught the feature by chance while loading the SNL rerun that I DVR'd this weekend. Are you enjoying the layered ironies here? I'm curious if this summary article is feeding to their fan page? I presume it isn't but I most likely won't check because network TV news is not feeding my RSS reader.

Traditional News can't ignore the evolution of communication any longer. Yes there's been lots of positive press about Twitter, Facebook, etc... but it makes me wonder when I see stories like "The Craigslist Killer" or "I Got Ripped Off On Ebay" or "The Facebook Hacker" what are their primary motivations? TV, newspapers and radio ad revenues are down. They're villainizing the reason.

Super Chameleon

2009-07-11T07:24:00.002-04:00

Posted by Joshua Barber, Creative Director - July 11, 2009

Ray-Ban's "Never Hide Films" latest video "Super Chameleon". It's had quite a response for only being up for 3 months. Great combination of visuals and sound.

Guy catches glasses with his face

2009-06-13T09:10:00.001-04:00

Posted by Joshua Barber, Creative Director - June 13, 2009

Yet another installment from Ray-Ban's Never Hide Films where a guy "catches glasses with his face." This is an older video, but I enjoyed how the up the ante with each face catch. Enjoy.

Can Google Predict the Winner of the Virginia Democratic Primary?

2009-06-08T13:00:00.012-04:00

Posted by David Saunders (Research by Will Trible) - June 8, 2009

Polls open early tomorrow in Virginia to decide the Democratic Primary race and it's still too close to call, unless you're counting keywords on Google.
Terry McAuliffe, has enjoyed early exposure and ample funding, in part due to his fundraising work during the Clinton administration. According to Google, however, Creigh Deeds has made a big push in the closing days of the primary campaign.

We'll just have to wait until tomorrow to see if Google called this race correctly.
See the data below....

http://www.google.com/insights/search/#q=Brian%20Moran%2CCreigh%20Deeds%2CTerry%20McAuliffe&geo=US-VA&date=today%201-m&cmpt=q

Using this and several other new media metrics, you'll recall we predicted 48 out of 50 states correctly during the Presidnetial election, at about 2 pm EST on November 4th, 8-9 hours before the networks called it. >>> http://madisonmain.blogspot.com/2008_11_04_archive.html

Lesson learned: social media and measuring tools like Google Trends can help companies, but also can take the instant pulse of a society, and sometime predict the future (at least on election day).

Cow gives birth to a dude

2009-06-06T07:34:00.003-04:00

Posted by Joshua Barber, Creative Director - June 6, 2009

Here is the "Cow gives birth to a dude" video I discussed previously from Ray-Ban's Never Hide Films. I enjoyed the "never hide" placement spray painted on the side of the trash bin. I'm pretty sure the gross factor of this particular video had a hand in it getting so many views.

Monster Yarn Ball Rolling in San Francisco

2009-05-31T10:07:00.004-04:00

Posted by Joshua Barber, Creative Director - May 31, 2009

Never Hide Films AKA Ray-Ban's viral online presence created a video of a very large yarn ball unwinding down San Francisco streets. Great edits and locations. There are over 10 different videos covering all sorts of topics of a cow giving birth to female body builders. More to come.

Talking New Media Via Old Media

2009-05-21T14:15:00.003-04:00

We all know that new media is the best thing to hit the world since individually wrapped slices of cheese. Social networking is here, it’s here to stay and it continues to captivate droves of people kind of like flip-flops and Pabst Blue Ribbon captivate your typical everyday hipster! While we all entertain each other through endless status updates and Twitter posts, the old media lions, radio, television and newspapers are doing everything they can to remain relevant. Despite saying it wouldn’t last like rockers and pop stars once dismissed hip-hop, old media is now turning to new media to keep the boat afloat. Naturally, when you have new media questions you turn to Dave.

Dave appeared on Virginia’s number one radio show this morning, Richmond’s Morning News with Jimmy Barrett, to talk about Facebook, Twitter and our upcoming New Media Seminar. I know Jimmy, having worked for him over a two-year stretch at Clear Channel Richmond. He’s an old-school guy from Michigan, the former Public Address announcer for one of Major League Baseball’s oldest franchises, the Detroit Tigers, and he’s definitely a man that believes in the power, validity and future of radio. One other thing I know about Jimmy is that he’s sharp! Not much gets past him and the power of social media isn’t something that he has ignored or dismissed. Now he’s a Facebook machine! Knowing that his audience represents one of the largest groups of people flocking to Facebook and Twitter, Jimmy brought Dave onto the show to talk about how they work, what they can do for businesses and why we’re all so wrapped up in our social media communities.

To hear Dave and Jimmy talk shop about the latest and greatest in social media, click here.

If you feel like you need to know more about social media and how it all works, there are still a few seats left for our next New Media Seminar to be held Tuesday, May 26 from 10am-2pm at the Holiday Inn Select Koger South Conference Center. Oh yeah…we’re knocking down the price too! If you purchase your ticket by 5pm Friday, May 22, we’ll give you a $100 discount off of the normal retail price.

For more information or to buy your ticket, log on to www.NewMediaSeminars.com/special.

Confessions of a Conditioned New Media User

2009-05-15T14:04:00.010-04:00

Posted by Jeff Smack, Art Director

Madison+Main, we're the New Media folks. We not only drink the Kool-Aid we are stakeholders. We believe in where it's taking our world and our role in that process. With this stated, I have noticed some unconscious training in myself that I would like to point out. I'm calling it New Media Conditioning and I'm siting some examples in hopes that some of you will have something to add.

1. I'm at the magazine stand in a big book store and I'm flipping through the pages of a thick little magazine called Wax Poetics. I come across an article I enjoy and my brain immediately begins scanning for an RSS button so I can book mark the author's "stream."

2. A friend tells me of an article in Wired before I get my copy. When I get home I see it on the floor with the mail as soon as I open the door. I pick it up thinking about the article he mentioned and impulsively scan for a search feature in the Table of Contents.

3. I'm on a non-Facebook website enjoying an article or photograph and I impulsively scan for the "like this" button.

4. My iPhone is set to vibrate when I get mail and also when I get a call. If I get email while I'm at my computer my phone buzzes to tell me and I log in on my desktop to check it. Now sometimes when the phone rings I start to reach for the mouse to answer the phone.

These are all things that I recognize as FAIL operations as soon as I do them but the impulse is hard programmed through well caffeinated and rigorous "practice."

Here's a joke that illustrates the same type of observation from the opposite angle. When my brother's cell phone rings he jokingly and loudly shouts to the room, "I'll get it!" An ironic throwback to the days of having one telephone line in the home. All of this illustrates the rapidly progressive and almost seamless integration of technology in our moment to moment existence.

The Beautiful Word - Yoga

2009-05-10T09:04:00.003-04:00

Posted by Joshua Barber, Creative Director - May 10, 2009

The final piece to the Scrabble campaign, "The Beautiful Word" by French agency, Ogilvy & Mather.

The Beautiful Word - Sumo

2009-05-09T10:07:00.006-04:00

Posted by Joshua Barber, Creative Director - May 9, 2009

This is the latest addition to the Scrabble campaign, "The Beautiful Word" by French agency, Ogilvy & Mather.

The Beautiful Word - Hula

2009-05-02T11:43:00.011-04:00

Posted by Joshua Barber, Creative Director - May 2, 2009

French agency, Ogilvy & Mather, Paris, created a very unique campaign for Mattel's classic game Scrabble. The animation and choice of music gives the game a lot of fresh personality.

Social Media Literacy & "Pop" Culture

2009-04-10T16:39:00.012-04:00

Posted by Jeff Smack, Art Director

A lot of people I speak to that are not yet on Twitter seem to be actively avoiding it. I'm not prepared to throw the term "luddite" around lightly but I would like to make a point. Whether Twitter is around in 5 years or not is irrelevant. It represents a communicative literacy that will be built upon.

When I was in high school people used to talk about getting a job in "computers." This is meaningless today. Computers in the job market are as ubiquitous as oxygen in the Animal Kingdom. This is what I'm talking about. Social Media Literacy is going to be a part of every product and service (and the customer service behind it) from now on. It may not be called "Social Media" at that point but it will be built on what we are now calling "Social Media."

Now, because I probably need to lighten up on my "Drink The Punch!" rant, I want to share a conversation that happened on Twitter through an interpreter: "Pop," A Social Media doubter, communicates with the Twitterverse through his son, the ultimate believer and Social Media Champion, Dave. The topic brought in a lot of response and interesting descriptions of what Twitter is exactly, or approximately.

madmain: 12seconds - showing my dad 12seconds.tv http://tiny12.tv/3BMM8

madmain: I guess my Dad isn't very "social" http://12seconds.tv/channel/madmain/125465

edovett: @madmain tell him we'll say hi anyway!

(Dave explains to Pop that he has 11,000 followers.)

madmain: my dad on twitter: "I'm really wondering why 11,000 people would wanna read this garbage."

madmain: I'm not doing well explaining what twitter is to my Pop....can anyone do a better job?

MaryHogan2: @madmain fun fun fun till the ice cream took the Twitter away.

jonnew: @madmain If you can't I'm afraid no one can.

k8iedid: @madmain the biggest room imaginable with lots of shouting where it's not rude to enter or leave any conversation you choose.

affiliate_dave: @madmain the online version of the gang meeting at the barbershop..lol

ggerth: @madmain Hi Pop, Twitter is talking and listening to as many people as you want all at the same time. Go Sparty!

madmain: @jonnew when I say stuff like "Twitter is a micro-blog" his eyes glaze over.

MikeNGarrett: @madmain AIM for old people, as in... archived chat messages addressed to "the internet"

JessicaLevin: RT @madmain: my dad on twitter: "I'm really wondering why 11,000 people would wanna read this garbage."

edovett: @madmain TWitter is a very powerful tool to share links with information and sometimes even photos of earthqueake victims in Italy!

davesaunders: @madmain How about: Twitter is like a crowded movie theater where everyone brought their cell phone.

bbille: @madmain does he understand status updates on Facebook? If so, just tell him it's like that. If not, it's like passing notes in class.

WalkingHorse: @madmain lol! I suspect my dad would concur. :)

Eyebee: @madmain sounds like the sort of thing my father would have said. Why do you want to sit typing to strangers all night?

JugShop: @madmain Can he relate to conference calling? Better yet, party line? How old is Pop?

davesaunders: @madmain Twitter is what happens when a library explodes and people read individual sentences from scraps of paper while cleaning up.

jonnew: @madmain Think "lowest common denominator" language like "talking in sentences small enough to fit on a movie marquee."

Addicted2Golf: @madmain Tell your Dad its real simple. Twitter is popular because we're all out of work and poor. What the heck else do we have to do?

udayd: @madmain - i told my mom it was a place to leave random short comments about what i'm doing if she really wanted to stalk me.

madmain: @JugShop he says it sounds like the old party line...lots of nosy neighbors listening in. LOL!!!!!!

Melhi: @madmain It's people sending/reading short msgs on everything from chit chat to business to... whatever. Each defines it by their use.

madmain: well Pop said "That's very interesting. Say hello to all those folks for me. I'm going to bed." End of twitter lesson. thanks guys!

(At this point Pop is bored enough and leaves but the conversation echoes on.)

GetFamous: @madmain Tell him it's kind of like the old aol chat rooms except only filled with people you like.

MarianeMatera: @madmain Tell him it's like telegrams to a group.

GetFamous: Right now is a great time to do a search for @madmain Topic is explaining twitter to his pops.

sparsonads: @madmain it's a networking site that uses short sentences and links to share your life with others. A virtual conversation!

JugShop: @madmain exactly! except with twitter, you want and expect it. voluntary party line exhibitionism.

OldWorldLimited: @madmain How about...It's like a conference call that is always on, and you can join in & drop out whenever you want.

(Conversation segues, topic over.)

This pro/con conversation is happening offline all over the world. I find this example compelling because it's between a reluctant participant (unfamiliar with the platform) and the community itself (through a translator). The situation is a metaphor of itself! Thanks to Dave's dad for being such a good sport!

The Richmond MS Walk is April18th! HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

2009-04-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

The Richmond Walk for MS is right around the corner. Please help us spread the word for a great organization. The madison+main-iacs will be there in full force! Won't you join us or help us spread the word!

www.IwalkforMS.org

DETAILS:

Date: 04/18/09

Location: Markel Plaza @ Innsbrook

Event Manager Name: Andy Page

Email: andy.page@nmss.org

For more information: www.IwalkforMS.org or call 804-591-3036

from the website:

The Walk MS: Lumber Liquidators Richmond Walk 2009!
With your participation we will be working to support programs, services, and research sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society which makes a huge difference to the people who are living with MS every day.

MS stops people from moving.

The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn't.

We are striving to create a world free of MS.

Search through our participants to read personal stories and see why others are participating in the Walk MS. Our participants want to end MS but they need you to join them to make an even bigger impact!
There are many ways you can "Join the Movement" through Walk MS… Create a Team, Join a Team, Walk as an individual, Create a Volunteer Team or just Volunteer. Doing any of these will help us keep Moving Forward and one step closer to finding a cure.

Richmond - New Media Seminars - 4/29

2009-04-01T10:48:00.003-04:00

The next New Media Seminar will be held in Richmond, Virginia on April 29th at the Holiday Inn Select - Koger Center.

Please go to www.NewMediaSeminars.com for more information and to purchase tickets online!

Creative Spam.

2009-03-27T11:07:00.004-04:00

Posted by Joshua Barber, Creative Director - March 27, 2009

I just received one of the most creative spam messages in the past 10 years. Being an html programmer, I was impressed with the use of tables, and hexadecimal color choices to avoid the "actual" html word Viagra which would mark it as spam.

Not only was this web savy technique used, it also came with the rambled poetic words to appear as an actual email. "the legends concerning diverse thoughts"...not bad.

These are the "Daves" I know

2009-03-26T08:00:00.006-04:00

These are the "Daves" I know. Well, I don’t exactly know them all, but I know of them. I always suspected there were other Dave Saunders in the world. After all, the yellow pages in my hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia had a couple. In college, I received a report card from VCU with the impeccable grades (all As one B) of a 5th year med student, another David Saunders…I was a lowly freshman with a lot of Bs and Cs. I moved to LA and actually met a guy named Dave Saunders. He was an actor and we kinda looked alike, too, which was creepy. Then on Twitter a few weeks ago, a guy started following me named--yep, you guessed it--Dave Saunders and I thought I was hallucinating, but as it turns out, he’s real. And get this, he lives in Virginia and he’s a marketing and social media consultant. Fr-reak-ay.

Turns out, through the magic of Google, I’ve found many, many more:

David Saunders, Vice President of Service Operations for beverage equipment maker Bunn. Used to be with Sarah Lee. Mmmmm, donuts.

Dave “Mudcat” Saunders, Democratic political operative who ran Virginia Sen. Jim Webb’s campaign and was a senior advisor to former Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards. (BTW, if you get confused with alot of other Daves, it's a good idea to have a nickname. I think "mudcat" is probably the best nickname I've ever heard. In LA, I knew "Couch Dave," "Tropical Dave," "Neighbor Dave," and "Big Wave Dave.")

Dave Saunders, Portrait and Studio Photographer from Columbus Ohio. Nice samples of his work on his website--but, dude, you gotta get rid of the music.

And then there's Dave Saunders, the county music singer: Yeah, baby, he sings purty good.

But the best Dave Saunders story is the guy in London who I’ve never met, but wrote to in advance of his 21st birthday party. I’ve never met the young gentleman who shares my name, but was asked to write about what it was like being “Dave Saunders” at the request of his girlfriend Xanthe. Xanthe toiled through hundreds of Dave Saunders on Facebook connecting to guys from around the world. I wrote her Dave Saunders a happy birthday note:

Dear Dave,
There will never be another guy quite like you, Dave Saunders, but apparently there are several hundred "blokes" on the planet who share the same name.
Happy Birthday, by the way. If you're reading this, it must have meant you made it to your 21st birthday. You'll probably get "pissed" at the "pub." Have a wonderful time.
I am 41. My friends threw a surprise party for me last night. My wife organized it. I'm completely hungover. My head hurts.
My wife is from the UK, so she talks funny, too, just like you.
Here are the facts: There are hundreds of Dave Saunders and every single one of us is charming, intelligent and handsome. At least, they are in America, I don't know about the Dave Saunders "over there." You see, Saunders is a noble name handed down by dress-wearing warriors from the foothills of Scotland. In those days we weren't rich enough to live in highlands so we were relegated to "lollygagging" around a couple of mediocre-sized hills. Anyway, our ancestors were smart enough to stay in the back when the fighting started, always escaping, bruised from battle, but not dead. Our ancestors lived a long time and that's a good thing. Heroes die for their country. Saunders live for theirs. And to our great-great-great-great-grandads, who stayed in the rear with the gear, we say "thanks."
I don’t know if you know this or not, but during the American Revolution our ancestor Saunders sat on opposite sides of the frozen Delaware river, and mine said "This crap isn't worth it. You guys go ahead. I'll catch up with you in a little while." Your great-great-great-great-grandad slept through the battle and was spared. The point is that they didn't kill each other or get killed. They lived. They multiplied. That's why you get a hot girlfriend with the "cockamamie" idea to email hundreds of other Dave Saunders all over the planet. That's why I get to sit here at my computer half a world away, drinking Gatorade, eating aspirin like M&Ms, typing nonsense and wrapping "quotes" around words I think are "British." So we turned out smarter, not necessarily bigger or richer or famous, just smarter. It's in our DNA.
Saunders is of a patronymic origin and comes from the word Alexander and "son of Alexander" and...oh well, you're smart, you already know this stuff.
Also, Saunders is the only name that is singular and plural all at the same time, but you already knew that, too, I'm quite sure. I almost forgot; you’re smart.
So, I'm almost twice your age. Jeez. Uh, I guess I should give you advice on the future, because even though you are a "smart lad," you're only 21 and don't a know a whole helluva lot...yet. Remember, I am older and I am wiser than you. You should listen to me. I'm also better looking, despite being 20 years older than you. (Sorry but I did see your pictures on Facebook…couldn’t help myself. Xanthe “friended” me. )
I've learned a few things since I was 21. So, take my advice and you will live to 41, at the very, very least.

Don't smoke.
Wear sunscreen.
Use condoms.
Floss. (I'm not kidding)
Laugh everyday.
And whatever you do, don't break up with Xanthe. You should probably make her an "honorary" Saunders by marrying her. She's a keeper.
And buy this book. "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff"

Sincerely and best regards,
Dave "madmain" Saunders

PS: Just to let you know, there are 175 Million people on facebook, but only 693 Dave Saunders.

Cardless Business Cards

2009-03-16T14:07:00.007-04:00

posted by Jeff Smack, Art Director

If you're like me you believe you should always have a business card on hand. But if you're still more like me, the cards you do have sometimes find their way into non-networking MacGyver scenarios ending up bent, scrawled upon or simply depleted. Enter contxts.com.

Simply enter your contact info in 140 characters or less and choose a username or codeword and you're ready to roll. Next time someone hands you a card you reciprocate by having them text your username to 50500 and they are immediately provided a text message with all of your predesignated contact info.

If you ever collected sports cards or LPs you'll likely miss the tangible, nostalgic and aesthetic aspect of cultivating a physical collection of cards. As a designer I love to shape or interpret what a paper business card communicates. My plan is to keep a small stack of cards on hand with the peace of mind that contxts has me covered on the fly.

the BIG RVA Twitter List!

2009-03-15T14:57:00.007-04:00

by Dave Saunders

Hey guys. Thought of compiling an RVA twitter list to help connect you to those in Richmond that are addicted to Twitter. I've been thinking about doing this for a while, but only got around to putting it together this morning. (Give me break, I've been busy!)
These are folks that I work with and clients and friends and family members and cool people who I met through Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn, etc.
Yes, I know I missed some people. It's not the definitive list, but it's a start and I know these people and most of them will follow you back. We're all interested in being SOCIAL.
After all, isn't social media about being social?

So let's see if you can connect to these RVA "tweeps" and let's see if they connect to you.
Also, if I left your Twitter handle off the list, @madmain me on Twitter or leave your name in the comments below.
Have fun and let me know if you meet some cool local folks!

REMINDER: New Media Mixer is 5 pm Wednesday at Penny Lane Pub . Meet lots of these guys and gals there!

@madmain @jefsmack @joshuabarber @will_t

@svteph @joshuataylor @msmollymarie @malbontr

@getloaded @daneomite @dvbii @winewoman

@jephkelley @jonnew @michalemullen @childreninc

@lizsweeney @pemasattva @pegva @glucas

@jamiemeyer @mrsterling @memoriesalive @ricwithers @iangraham

@mightycasey @nbc12 @tmo12 @ryanobles@stevemullen

@rvafashionista @chicarmoire @johnrhopkins @cgryp @againer @sharif28 @maryframer @rickwhittington

@snagajob @getclean @styleweekly @inrich

@richmonddotcom @ispylindsey @michaelwhitlow

@beatnikgirl @carmaxchris @clp1917

@flowerpeddler @irish94 @kentbrockwell

@hugel @davidnecessary @toddfeldman

@timnagle @livefire @chuckst8er @kashau

@rvawx @richmondwiki @cbs6 @pinkbagreenshoe

@maritacardenas @thadwillnotstop @esoomllub

@rvrcityrover @richmondspca@nicholkola @rvabusiness

@cjsn @alexisbrownpr @tiffanygal @beatnikgal @riechee

@kishau @jcarnam @visitRichmond @jolieaodell

@u_Richmond_mba @jmlumpkin @cluckee @viatroybell

@flak4ric @sparsonads

New Media Seminars - 4/29 - New Date Announced!

2009-03-13T11:45:00.004-04:00

Due to the overwhelming response from previous New Media Seminar this past Tuesday, there is an additional date added 4/29/09 at the Holiday Inn Select - Koger Center.

Please go to www.NewMediaSeminars.com for more information and to purchase tickets online!

Join nationally recognized new media expert, Dave Saunders, President & Chief Idea Officer at Madison+Main, as he leads like-minded business owners and marketing professionals during a fun and informative New Media Seminar. Learn all about the tools, the mediums and the techniques to enhance your business from a panel of experts including Joshua Barber, Creative Director at Madison+Main, Special Guests and other local digital communications and SEO/SEM experts.

Video Birthday Cards....easy, simple, effective

2009-03-05T17:00:00.001-05:00

All right, so the kids at Madison+Main are not about to quit our day jobs. After all, we're better marketers than singers. We send a video birthday card to every client. We gather staff together for a few minutes, sing our hearts out and then email the video to the client.
Yeah, it's a little corny, but the response is always positive.

"Thank you so much. I can't believe you guys remembered my birthday....and with such style as well. LOL I passed it around the office and everybody is jealous. Better than flowers. Better than a card. You guys ROCK!"

Are you staying connected to your customers? Do you send notes or cards or birthday greetings? Building relationships is key to keeping relationships. And although the times and technologies may change, it's the little things that matter the most.

We live in a new media age. Why not use something as simple as video to send your "thank you" note or follow up on a meeting or remember a special day.....

It's easy. It's simple. And you don't have to be a rock start to make it work. Just be yourself, your customers will appreciate it. Guaranteed.

Examples of Social Media Marketing

2009-03-05T09:38:00.009-05:00

Posted by Jeff Smack, Art Director

This is an evolving wiki of "Social Media Marketing Examples" compiled by Peter Kim (@peterkim) and his community. It illustrates which brands are using social media marketing, in what ways, with convenient links to each example. Check it out. We think it's a beautiful thing!

RVA - 48 HOURS LEFT to purchase NEW MEDIA SEMINARS tickets for 3/10!

2009-03-03T10:53:00.004-05:00

For our AdvertisingandNewMedia.com readers, we are extending a special 2-for-1 offer for the New Media Seminar on 3/10. Go to http://www.newmediaseminars.com/mmpromo to purchase securely online.

The new media seminar will teach you online methods and strategies to attract more customers, form ongoing connections with your existing customers and keep ahead of the competition. There are so many ways to connect: blogging, social networking, content sharing and promotion. And it's easier than you think!

Hope to see you there!

New Media Seminars in Richmond, VA March 10th/11th!

2009-02-19T16:20:00.021-05:00

Over the past year, we've had countless small business owners ask us if we were going to bring our new media and social media seminar to Richmond. I'm pleased to announce the launch of www.NewMediaSeminars.com and we're kicking off our New Media Seminars series in Richmond, VA on March 10th and 11th at the Holiday Inn Koger Conference Center. Tampa, FL, Baltimore, MD and other cities are planned for the future, but our first 2-day seminar series is in just under 1 month.

The seminar will be led by myself, Creative Director Joshua Barber, and the rest of the team at Madison+Main. Ryan Deal, social networking expert from Baltimore will also attend and provide tips on how to leverage your social media network for business. Experts from Wythken and NetSearch Direct will also be on hand. The seminars in other markets can cost thousands of dollars. Thanks to generous support from Holiday Inn Select Koger Conference Center, GRCC, Retail Merchants Association, Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Richmond Partnership, we are able to offer Richmond area attendees a very special rate of $349. In fact, if you're a member of GRCC, CCC, RMA, or GRP, you're eligible two admissions for the price of one. That's makes the seminar only $174.50 per person!

So, if new media and social media are a mystery to you and you're trying to figure out how to get customers from your website, this is a four-hour training session you won't want to miss!

Register on www.NewMediaSeminars.com today! Or, call us at 804-521-4141 to learn about the two-for-one discount.

Hope to see you there!

Meaningful Connection

2009-02-16T18:00:00.011-05:00

Posted by Jeff Smack, Art Director

There's a ton of buzz surrounding Social Media's claim to the future of advertising and communication in general. No matter what can be boasted on behalf of social media, one thing can not be denied: It connects people. Connections are as significant as the people that make them.

Over the weekend Dave mentioned on Twitter that he had attended a charity wine tasting event. The good folks at Children, Incorporated (@childreninc) hosted it and Dave made a note of it to his network. This casual update posted to Twitter generated several new followers for the organization and two new sponsorships for children in need. These two sponsors may never have stepped forward without learning of the opportunity via Twitter and now two more children will receive the resources they need to get by.

It's a simple but a very concrete example of the significance of connecting. No matter how many new and interesting ways are invented for us to communicate, we can always make more significant and meaningful use of them.