Better Brand Agency

Core Message Specialists

Posts Tagged ‘online marketing’

Living through a revolution

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

I read a piece recently by Clay Shirky, who in a blog post entitled ‘Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable,’ reflected on the nature of revolutions. Periods of time when old ‘stuff’ was no longer relevant to us and new ‘stuff’ couldn’t come along fast enough to replace it. That feels like now doesn’t it?

The edges of our media space are expanding faster than our ability to make sense of them, of new technologies, of how people use them and of the shake out, that will mean some old media will fall by the wayside.

But this is an unravelling story seen from two very different perspectives. The user, swept along by the rush of the crowd to try new media, to make that media fit their lifestyle and the marketer, trying to position a brand where its’ target customer is. (more…)

Posted by: Declan Metcalfe, Marketing Director, Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Better Team News, Marketing Communication, North East, North Yorkshire, Tees Valley, Web and Digital

Tagged: Communication, Digital, Industry - Web and Digital, Marketing, Marketing Communication, North East, North Yorkshire, online marketing, social media, Social Networking, Web, Web 2.0, Web Design, Web Development, Web Development social media

Is this the end of focus groups?

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

I was talking yesterday with an account manager who during a discussion about market research said that social media metrics would never replace the value gained from facial expressions, body language and the tone of voice of people attending a live focus group.

I’ve planned a few focus group sessions in the past when I was part of the team that re-branded Frisp Crisps and I have to say I remember them as being interesting and generating some useful feedback, particularly that the crisps were considered as being quite ‘foody’ and filling, more than a snack. That fed into the decision that new ‘foody’ such as Buttered Jacket Potato & Mature Cheddar would fit with our customers’ perception of the crisp brand.

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Posted by: Declan Metcalfe, Marketing Director, Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Branding & Brand Design, Marketing Communication, Social Media & Social Marketing, Web and Digital

Tagged: Brand, Communication, Focus Groups, market research, Marketing, Marketing Communication, online marketing, social media, Social Networking

Sign posting people down ‘The Funnel’

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Social Media Funnel

I’ve seen lots of social media maps, some good some not so good.

The problem is they sit there in lofty isolation, a sea of mostly unfamiliar names and quirky identities. They are a secret cypher known only to social media cool kids it seems. These maps are not connected to the real world (The one in which hard pressed marketing professionals are fighting hard for their budgets and their jobs) in any recognisable way. We’re missing an opportunity here and, if we’re honest, being a little bit condescending to boot. Another thing, social media buzz words are such a crock! Real people don’t talk like that!

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Posted by: Declan Metcalfe, Marketing Director, Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Better News and PR, Marketing Communication, Social Media & Social Marketing, Web and Digital

Tagged: Communication, Digital, Industry - Web and Digital, Marketing Communication, online marketing, Web, Web 2.0, Web Design, Web Development, Web Development social media, YouTube

Growing your brand’s digital footprint

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Growing your Digital Footprint

We find ourselves drawing this diagram all the time for clients when we’re talking about social media so we thought we’d reproduce it here and get some feedback.

Conversations tend to go something like, “Why social media?”.

After introducing them to the idea that engaging with audiences, listening and harvesting feedback, gaining insights into audience thinking and breaking down corporate barriers is the most rewarding business change event they’ll ever implement it’s much much simpler to draw it.

(more…)

Posted by: Declan Metcalfe, Marketing Director, Better Brand Agency

Filed in: Better Brand Agency, Better News and PR, Social Media & Social Marketing, Web and Digital

Tagged: Industry - Web and Digital, Marketing Communication, North East, North Yorkshire, online marketing, Social Networking, viral marketing, Web 2.0, Web Development, Web Development social media

Social Media Update: Better Brand Agency launch YouTube Channel

Thursday, January 15th, 2009

We’ve set up our own Better Brand Agency YouTube Channel to share some great industry videos covering brand, creative, design, marketing, social media, web and digital communication.

For more information please visit the Better Brand Agency Channel on YouTube or click on one of the links below to view our playlists and check out our favourite videos.

Better Brand Agency YouTube Playlists -

Brand Communication – Videos and content related to brand communication and branding design.
Graphic Design and Creative – Graphic Design, Design and Creative videos and content.
Marketing Communication – Marketing Communication and Marketing Content and Videos.
Web and Digital – Web Design, Web Development and Digital Industry videos and content.
Social Media and Social Networking – Social Media, Social Marketing and Social Networking industry comments including social media campaigns, social media marketing strategy.
Better Brand Agency – Better Brand Agency videos and content.
North East England – North East England related content and videos
Tees Valley – Tees Valley related content and videos.