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Posts tagged ‘social media’

How to Create Social Media Buttons Using CSS3

CSS3 is truly amazing. It gives web designers the ability to create flexible and easily reusable design elements, and reduces our reliance on images and graphics editors. This is a guide shows you how to create stylish social media buttons using CSS3, HTML, and some freely available social media icons.”

You can also read the full article @ SIXREVISIONS.COM

Social Media Sleek Icons

Freebies“This free social media icon pack includes 25 sleek, modern and very usable social media/networking icons that can be used and downloaded (free of charge) in your work. Commercial work use is permitted. Use it on blogs, portfolios, web application interfaces, and so forth. The icons come in 2 sizes: 32×32px and 16×16px. Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, and Digg are but a few icons that are in this free social media icon pack.”

 

Download your free pack @ DESIGNINSTRUCT.

Latest Old Spice Parody Gets an A+

This week, the Internets have mostly been talking about Old Spice’s awesome advertising campaign. Actor Isaiah Mustafa’s take on the man that men want to be, women want to be with has had just about everyone trying their hands at it. From amateur bodybuilders, to overweight “comedians“, to tattooed “comedians”. Most of them just don’t get it.

The Harold B. Lee Library, part of the Brigham Young University in Utah, however, does. It’s cribbed the Old Spice from head to toe, for a campaign but it succeeds where others fail because it doesn’t deviate from the script. At all. (Obviously it’s written its own, B. Lee-friendly script, otherwise, where would we be? On an old donkey, I guess.)

Read the full article @FASTCOMPANY.

New Myspace Profiles on the Horizon.

Myspace

“We’re testing a new look and feel of our site among users and the response so far has been positive,” a MySpace rep said in a statement sent to Mashable. “As always, we’re interested in hearing feedback from our community as we roll out enhancements to the user experience and look forward to sharing more details with you in the coming weeks.”

Users have been noticing the new MySpace profiles today. Sean Percival, MySpace’s vice president of online marketing, tweeted about his updated MySpace profile earlier today.

Read the full article @ MASHABLE.

Creative Branding 101 (Interview w. Nikolas Allen)

AllenN

I had the pleasure of speaking with Nikolas Allen and getting some feedback into the creative mind of this branding band man.  Originally a rock musician, Allen has begun his career as a graphic designer, to art director, then became a filmmaker and a contemporary pop artist, finally landing his destination as a Branding and Marketing Consultant.   He has always had a relentless pursuit of passion.

  • What is your stance as a marketing professional? What are you good at? What differentiates you from others?

I am well-rounded and able to execute my visions. Thinking big is one thing, making it happen is another. I do both. My philosophy is, “Do it with excellence, or don’t bother.” I’m able to focus on the micro details, while not losing sight of the macro objective. Oh, and I’m great at telling other people what THEY should be doing! Ha! I’m half-joking, but I guess that’s part of the reason I got into consulting. I truly want to help and inspire people to succeed.

  • A marketing strategy begins with an idea. How are yours born?

A mixture of creative and analytical thinking, research and asking lots of questions. This is why branding is important. When you know what your brand stands for, and what your objective is, your marketing message comes into focus. Then it’s a question of how you choose to execute it and what tools you utilize to do so.

  • Can you cite brands or well-known products that you admire for marketing brilliance?

I wish I had a long list to rattle off, but honestly, nothing comes to mind. Plus, I’m way more impressed with a solid, quality product (which is rare to find anymore), than brilliant marketing strategies.

  • Are we heading towards more individualized marketing and advertising?

Absolutely! There’s more fragmentation in business now than ever before. With so much downsizing, outsourcing and telecommuting going on, “Independent Contractor” has become the new “Employee.” That’s why you hear so much about Personal Branding these days. The individual has become his own one-person company. Therefore, you need to brand yourself (i.e. become) a reliable, professional, productive asset so you stand out amongst the competition and continue to capitalize on opportunities.

  • How do you evaluate the potential of social networks for marketing on-line?

The main reason you should be using certain social networks for business is because your target audience is already there. So, number one question is: WHO is using this platform? Secondly, it’s important to know what your objective is: to sell product, to entertain, to educate, to establish thought-leadership, to engage customers, to drive traffic to your other sales channels, etc. Third, you want to know the Analytics. Are the results trackable? Will there be an ROI?

Finally, you gotta JUMP IN! Check things out for a specified period of time and see how it goes. Then, keep this bit of advice in mind: Use what works and drop the rest.

  • What industry or market segment do you find attractive for devoting yourself to in the coming years?

Art Brand Plan is my new Education and Consulting business, where I teach Branding and Marketing to Ambitious Creatives.  As a life-long artist, I’m aware of the challenges creative people face trying to merge art and commerce. I want to use my passion and experience in business, advertising and art to educate and inspire these people to do the work necessary to achieve their own vision of Success.

  • How do you do your own personal branding? What do you recommend other professionals do to position themselves in the job market?

For myself and others, I highly recommend the following:

Show up. Get involved. Have FUN. Love what you do. Do what you love. Know who YOU are as a person. Allow others to be who THEY are. Refuse to compromise your values. Strive to inspire others. Be open to learning. Accept that you have more knowledge than some people and less than others. Be dependable. Be accountable. Stop making excuses. Take responsibility for your words, thoughts, actions and creations. Strive for self-improvement. Say YES to opportunity.

“I take the concept of Personal Branding seriously. To me, it goes beyond business and becomes an ongoing quest for self-improvement. When you strive to become an extraordinary Person, you can’t help but have an extraordinary Reputation (i.e. Brand). Then, in work and in life, you become the very embodiment of Success.”

AllenNikolas Allen is a contemporary pop artist currently based in Mt. Shasta, California. His background is in advertising, music and video production. He is passionate about both art and business and currently runs Art Brand Plan, an Education and Consulting Business that teaches Branding and Marketing to Ambitious Creatives.

For FREE Marketing Tips, Links and Videos, find Art Brand Plan here:

www.facebook.com/ArtBrandPlan

www.twitter.com/artbrandplan

www.youtube.com/artbrandplan


30 High Quality Magazine Style Premium WordPress Themes

Wordpress

WordPress is the most popular CMS that can easily be turned into a magazine.Allows you to quickly add content and share it on the web.Premium WordPress Themes have been since ever the right choise for magazines.

Their eye-cathing and perfectly coded layouts combined with the power of SEO implemented in every single one give the chance of being so easily noticed on the internet!Still not convinced? Check out the showcase below and start your own online magazine!

Checkout the full article @WPLATTE.

The First Thing Young Women Do in the Morning: Check Facebook

facebook woman

Young women are becoming more and more dependent on social media and checking on their social networks, according to a new study released earlier today by Oxygen Media and Lightspeed Research. In fact, as many as one-third of women aged 18-34 check Facebook when they first wake up, even before they get to the bathroom.

The study sampled the habits of 1,605 adults using social media between May and June of this year in an attempt to break down their social media habits. While some of the results are in line with previous studies we’ve read, others simply shocked us (e.g. 42% of young women think posting photos of themselves “visibly intoxicated” is okay).

Here’s a short rundown of how young women are utilizing FacebookFacebook and social media in general:

Read the full article @MASHABLE.

Foursquare – Be There or Be Square

four square

Why is Foursquare beneficial for your business?

Many of us are confused about the benefits of Foursquare, because we are not aware of how its value is measured. However, when you want to gain insight on customer loyalty and customer service, foursquare is a great tool to monitor your company’s brand identity and consumer behavior.

The customer insight from Foursquare can help you determine the behaviors of the consumers by their visiting trends.  Also you can view the customer comments to see what is being said about your brand. This is crucial because friends share with their friends, and word-of-mouth drives business. As you review the comments of the consumers, you can receive valuable feedback about your business, and then you can use this feedback to interact with your consumers. Before you interact, you must listen to what they are saying, so you can talk to their needs and build a relationship. In this relationship, the business will be providing its consumer with value, or a reason to keep in touch through Foursquare.

Read the rest of this article @SOCIALMEDIAEATERY

40+ Essential Social Business Resources

social media

Business and social media are becoming more and more inseparable. Most businesses, from big brands to startups, are expected to have an efficient, developed social media presence.

The good news is that you don’t have to go it alone. We’ve collected a list of MashableMashable resources, published over the past months, that can help you start, manage, or grow your social networks.

Whether you need an app on the go, are looking for real-world examples, or want to expand your marketing online, this list of resources can help your business needs.

Checkout the full article @MASHABLE.

LeBron James Surpasses 150,000 Twitter Followers in 7 Hours

Lebron James

His Majesty cannot be stopped, at least on Twitter. In just six hours, NBA superstar LeBron James’ Twitter account has surpassed 150,000 followers, outpacing the growth of other famous figures on Twitter, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Read more of the article @MASHABLE.