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Posted by Brian Schwartz on 11/29/2008 at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Welcome to the first post of Spoken Whirred, the new Spoke Marketing blog. (note: there are old posts on here from my old Creative Reason blog but this is the first post under this new name and design.)
Spoken Whirred will be an outlet for our thoughts on marketing topics, advertising campaigns, client work and anything else that we feel is worth sharing. Authors include Dan Klein, David Meyer, Chuck Hart and me (Brian Schwartz).
In this first post I want to make sure to thank everyone who attended our open house. It's humbling how many of our friends showed up to wish us well and see our new office. For those who missed it, you missed a great night of networking with 250+ business movers and shakers (and drinkers).
Also we need to thank Sub Zero, Juniper Grill and The Fountain on Locust for their generosity and the wonderful drinks, food, wine and deserts.
Below are some pictures from the event:
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Cheers,
Brian Schwartz
Posted by Brian Schwartz on 11/25/2008 at 01:20 PM in Friends, Musings, Spoke Stuff | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Please stop using Internet Explorer 6. It came out in 2004, is riddled with bugs and forces developers that want to use cool tools like MooTools write CSS and HTML hacks that make me cringe.
I understand you are fearful of change. I get it. Don't upgrade to Office 2007. Doesn't bother me at all. Don't upgrade to Vista. Heck that OS compelled me to switch to a Mac. I also understand that your IT support staff is not prepared for the onslaught of calls due to the ribbon replacing menus in Office 07.
But the whole goal of Internet Explorer 7 was to be more secure (i.e. less for you to worry about). Especially now that it's been out for 2 years. Also, it's a browser, so it won't crash your network or cause a flood of calls to your IT support center.
In conclusion, this is my plea to you corporate America, to do what's best for web developers everywhere and upgrade to IE7 already. The world of tab pages and standards based CSS support awaits you.
Sincerely,
Brian Schwartz
Posted by Brian Schwartz on 11/19/2008 at 06:23 PM in Technology, Web Design, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I often watch The West Wing re-runs when I'm working at home and since I'm working I don't use the DVR as quickly as I would if I was actively watching the show.
Most commercials harmlessly play in the background, however I can't help but nearly jump off the couch as soon Billy Mays starts yelling about Oxi Clean or some other home cleaning product.
I don't understand why Billy Mays must yell at me every time he is on TV. Also, why is this an acceptable and popular form of television advertising?
I'm sure he's a nice guy and all. But please stop yelling at me.
Posted by Brian Schwartz on 11/18/2008 at 07:28 AM in Advertising, Marketing, Musings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
So today I'm listening to Pandora again and I see the ad below, confirming what I guessed at in a previous post - Pandora is geographically targeting ads to users.
This banner ad is specifically for an open house at the University on November 21. This Open House is in St. Louis.
The landing page is also well-done because it's well designed and has the requisite social media sharing toolbar. Although it should probably list the address of the open house on the landing page somewhere.
A few years ago I managed a similar campaign for another college in St. Louis, and although those campaigns were successful at driving traffic from direct mail, organic searches and pay-per-click advertising , it
would have been nice to use other tools like this.
Well done Fontbonne and well done Pandora.
Posted by Brian Schwartz on 11/14/2008 at 01:41 AM in Marketing, Musings, Technology, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I've been a long time user / supporter of Pandora Internet Radio. I don't want to be one of those "I used them before anyone knew about it types...", but in this case I think I did. I stumbled upon their site a long, long time ago and a quick check of the station I listen to most on their shows I created it in 2005...
Anyway, back when I started using Pandora, it barely showed advertising, and when it did, it appeared it was doing so with some cool CSS tricks, but nothing targeted or relevant to me.
Today, I noticed that I was getting served ad content for Fontbonne University. Impressed, I grabbed a screenshot (click to make large). Why is this impressive? Well, Fontbonne is in my hometown of St. Louis. This could just a coincidence, but I think it's probably using geo-targeted ads. I hope so. If so, Pandora has come along way since they were showing Jamieson ads (and from my fuzzy memory - nothing else) back in 2006.
If you're a regional marketer, I strongly suggest you considered using geotargeting to reach your audience. It's usually less expensive and more effective. I think I'm going to have to talk to them about one of my clients and find out.
Posted by Brian Schwartz on 11/06/2008 at 01:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Brian Schwartz on 11/01/2008 at 04:16 AM in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
So the full blown announcement has taken longer than expected. But as mentioned in the previous post, Creative Reason has merged with Avalanche, AdMeyer Marketing and Chuck Hart Design to form Spoke: Marketing | Branding | Interactive. We have our email announcement queued up and just about ready to send with transition letters to existing customers to follow shortly thereafter.
I've been busy adding content to the Spoke website and will continue to finish it up. As we wrap up the merger, I will begin to phase out pages from this site that are extraneous, but I will continue to keep the blog running for the time being. Eventually I plan to transition this content to a new blog (tentatively titled Spoken Whirred) for Spoke.
I have several ideas for new posts on advertising and marketing, but haven't had the time to write them yet. Expect some new posts soon.
Don't forget to check out our Spoke Marketing site and let me know what you think.
Posted by Brian Schwartz on 10/24/2008 at 09:49 AM in Marketing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Creative Reason is merging with Avalanche Consulting Group, Admeyer Marketing and Chuck Art Design to form Spoke, an agency focusing on Marketing, Branding and Interactive in St. Louis, Missouri.
Look for a full-blown announcement next week and specifics next week (I am posting this from an airport as I have been traveling all week).
Posted by Brian Schwartz on 10/03/2008 at 05:13 PM in Marketing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
October 1st. More to come.
Posted by Brian Schwartz on 09/09/2008 at 12:11 AM in Advertising, Marketing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Spoken Whirred is a blog from Spoke - Marketing | Branding | Interactive. This blog will feature posts on marketing and advertising trends, campaigns we like (or loathe), or anything else that catches our fancy.
Spoke is a full-service marketing agency serving entrepreneurs and emerging business located in St. Louis, Missouri. Visit Spoke at www.WeAreSpoke.com.