Evan Williams from Twitter at Web 2.0 Summit, San Francisco 2010

I live a secret life. By day I’m a mild mannered advertising agency exec (the manners might depend on who you ask) whilst in my spare time I am building a start-up tech business.

The start-up is NLYZR. Its been around for the last 2 years in various evolving forms but now we’re getting down to brass tacks as it’s large scale commercial release is nearing launch phase.

The interesting thing is that while we’ve been using our knowledge at Sticky to create NLYZR as a business, we’re actually learning more from NLYZR that is helping the agency and our other clients. We’ve learned to think like a tech start-up and its been incredibly liberating.

Tech start-ups require a totally different mindset to that used in the day-to-day running of an agency, or any business for that matter. In fact, tech start-ups are radically different from other (non-tech) start-ups. But, importantly, we’re learning that the defining characteristics of a successful tech start-up can be applied to most industries to create something much more exciting.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: unranked

Brand Newcastle was unveiled yesterday and now, just a day later, the usual sniping and cynicism has surfaced.

A read through The Herald comments today would not be a fun experience for the team who created the new logo at Peach Advertising or the civic leaders who commissioned the branding. But perhaps everyone should take a breath and look at the bigger picture here.

Branding is a very subjective exercise, everyone has an opinion (after its done) and rarely do you see a rush of positive feedback on a new logo. A few weeks ago Virgin Australia launched its new branding by one of the leading Australian designer Hans Hulsbosch. Immediately the advertising and design industry dissected the work with similar bitchiness to what we’re seeing today for Brand Newcastle. I remember Qantas receiving the same treatment for their recent brand revamp.

The point is that a design team is always on a hiding to nothing with these exercises and there will always be a critical audience ready to tear anything new like this down. There were plenty of critics of the Sydney Opera House when it was first announced but today it is possibly Australia most iconic symbol.

Whether you love it or hate it, I believe that Newcastle Council and Peach should be commended for their efforts in trying to put Newcastle back on the map. A brand or logo doesn’t solve every issue in town but its a starting point, a rallying call for some civic pride and an identity beyond the Hunter.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: unranked

The Internet is changing fast and impacting our lives in more ways than we ever imagined. Yet many industries are ignoring the need for change and suffering as their sector experiences massive interruption.

Imagine if you could gaze into a  crystal ball and see a few year into the future to understand what the Internet will look like. Perhaps you can.

This presentation “Digital Life: Today and Tomorrow” was created by NeoLabels, with a script by Inés Leopoldo of Mitsue Venture. Its really worth a look.

Digital Life: Today & Tomorrow from Neo Labels on Vimeo.

Popularity: unranked

Bon Iver, great music, better marketing

I just came across this excellent bit of modern marketing from a band with a thoroughly retro sound…Bon Iver.

Scanning through the Twitter trending list today I saw Bon Iver. Curiosity being what it is I had to click on it to find out why a relatively small indie folk band from the USA was trending here in Australia.

Most of the tweets were announcing a new song by the band with a link to the free download. Naturally I clicked on the link which took me to a simple landing page inviting me to download the song Calgary for free. All I had to do was supply an email address, which I did.The landing page also had a list of tour dates and an opt-in option for their mail list.

The email I receive less than a minute later thanks me for signing up, allows me to begin downloading the song and invites me to share the free download with my friends on Twitter and Facebook, which I did.

….and the circle continues.

How simple and clever is that? In a matter of minutes I have discovered new music, downloaded it free and shared it with my friends and joined their database. Whatismore, I’m blogging about it and I have noticed they’re already generating plenty of other blogger buzz online.

I bet that Bon Iver will sell plenty of copies of their new album when its released, and that I will receive an invitation to buy. They’ll also have a well attended concert tour.

And its all because of a simple Twitter and Facebook campaign.

How could your business benefit from a bit of folk singer marketing?

Popularity: unranked

In what is known as the ‘Oscars of Radio’, the 1233 Breakfast team – Aaron Kearney, Karen Shrosbery along with station manager Phil Ashley-Brown, has been nominated for the Andrew’s Journey series.

The story of Andrew Hall, a young man from Hawks Nest who became a paraplegic after falling from a balcony on Australia Day last year, Andrew’s Journey is a finalist in the world’s best human relations story category.

Presenter Aaron Kearney, Executive Producer Phil Ashley-Brown and Producer Karen Shrosbery have all been invited to attend the gala ceremony in New York in June 2011.

For 54 years the New York Festivals® Radio Awards has recognized the World’s Best Radio ProgramsTM

Each year they receive entries from radio stations, networks and independent producers from over 30 countries. International radio experts from stations and companies donate their time to the judging process. The GrandJury® is comprised of top level industry professionals from 5 continents and over 25 countries.

Congratulations to the whole 1233 Newcastle team for this recognition.

Popularity: unranked

Come Fly With Me cast. Image from BBC

Last week I ranted about the poor offerings on Freeview, especially on the commercial channels. Today there’s even more reason to complain.

Tonight at 8pm the Nine Network (which these days also owns NBN Television) will begin showing Come Fly With Me, a new series by the guys from Little Britain. This was the highest rating new comedy series in the UK last year and a second series has been commissioned by the BBC.

After a run of comedic flops on Nine this year (Ben Elton, Mike & Molly and Sh*t My Dad Says) the eagerly anticipated Come Fly With Me offers a reason to finally flick over to the self-described “home of laughter” for a genuine laugh.

But NBN and WIN have decided not to run Come Fly With Me fearing it might offend regional viewers. Instead it will run repeats of Big Bang Theory.

Nine are running an edited version of Come Fly With Me they feel is suitable for the 8pm PG timeslot, yet NBN and WIN feel even this is too risque for our regional sensibilities.

If viewers in the NBN and WIN regions want to watch Come Fly With Me they can wait until 10pm and watch it on GO!

What’s more offensive, running a new program that’s already been a proven winner in the UK or deciding that regional viewers are somehow more sensitive than their capital city counterparts and would be happier with a safe old repeat?

At a time when free to air TV is under threat from Torrent downloads, subscription TV and a plethora of other entertainment options this decision is baffling and provides another reason for viewers to drift away from FTA as their first choice for entertainment.

As the principal of an advertising agency I want commercial television to be strong so clients have the opportunity to reach the best possible audience, but safety-first programming like this is actually harming the industry.

What do you think about NBN and WIN’s decision not to run Come Fly With Me despite it running in all capital cities on Nine?

Update: Somebody close to the action at NBN has just told me that the word is it was a directive from head office at Nine not to run Come Fly With Me in prime-time in regional areas, not a local programing decision. While Nine have been suffering badly in the ratings against Masterchef, NBN and WIN are still performing strongly. The thought is that Nine were willing to sacrifice Come Fly With Me against Masterchef as they have nothing to lose, however NBN / WIN would be better sticking with what has been working for them. If this is the case, and it hasn’t been confirmed, then at least it makes sense from a purely strategic point-of-view and is a much better explanation than what has been offered officially. Perhaps they should just come out and say it.

Update 17 May: Ironically Come Fly Turned out to be the best comedy premiere for Nine this year after the failure of Ben Elton, Sh*t My Dad Says and Mike & Molly. Its also one of the best performing shows for Nine at all this year. Come Fly With Me debuted with 1.488million viewers in the capital cities last night, not far behind the nights top program Masterchef (1.571m) and ahead of the much hyped Amazing Race Australia (1.258m). If the previous theory bout sacrificing CFWM against Masterchef is true then Nine must have been pleasantly surprised with the results. It once again begs the question, why aren’t NBN and and WIN showing it. I’ll post Newcastle results as a comparison when I get them.

Update 720pm 17 May: NBN General Manager Deborah Wright has just announced that they will now show Come Fly With Me at 8pm Mondays from next week following the success of the program. We observe that this might also have something to do with the fact Masterchef rated very well in Northern NSW against NBN while Come Fly With Me performed well in the capital cities for Nine.

Popularity: unranked

As Freeview rolls out another promotional campaign, their 3rd by my count, to tell us how ‘everybody loves it’ I can’t help but think what a wasted opportunity this has been for the free to air TV industry.

In the last few years Australia has gone from 5 FTA networks (ABC, SBS, Nine, Seven & TEN – plus affiliates) to 16 stations. In what should have been an excellent opportunity to grow market share and thwart the multiple threats of subscription TV, web downloads and a generally distracted, multitasking population, FTA have managed to roll out very few reasons to tune in.

The commercial stations have been the worst offenders. 7 Mate, 7 Two, GO!, Gem and 11 are all home to tired repeats and second rate programming. I can honestly say that I have never had any reason to switch on four of these five channels. The promise of quality programs that weren’t quite ratings friendly enough for the main channels running in prime time slots on the new digital channels hasn’t really eventuated. There are a few quality programs buried in the schedules, usually at less than friendly times. But there’s plenty of I Love Lucy, Hogans Heroes, ‘Allo ‘Allo and other retro schtick if you’re into that sort of thing.

For example look at tonight’s programs on the newer commercial channels:

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: unranked

We live in a digital age of high expectations and instant gratification. Disappointment in a service can be rapidly spread online, yet the same tools can be used to ensure customer satisfaction.

Radiohead understands this, Vodafone has no idea.

The last year has seen Vodafone Australia lurch from one PR disaster to the next. Their main selling advantage, low prices and cheap data bundles, has led to their biggest problem – too many customers for an under-serviced network. As a result data access can be unreliable or non-existent in areas where you’d expect to be able to have good data access.

Vodafone’s initial response was to ignore the problem and growing number of complaints with a “nothing to see here” PR approach. That was until 23 year old student Adam Limo decided to launch his crusade against Vodafone’s awful service with his now famous #Vodafail campaign. #Vodafail lit a fuse that the telecommunications giant could no longer ignore as the media coverage spiraled out of control. It led to Vodafone CEO Nigel Dews acknowledging they had let their customers down and they were working hard to address network coverage. They also began allowing customers to break their contracts without penalty if they complained hard enough.

Last weekend Vodafone’s latest PR distaster erupted when their SMS system failed, preventing customers to send messages at Easter, one of the biggest holidays of the year. Social media sites were flooded with anti-Vodafone messages.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: unranked

Some of the action at Web 2.0 Expo in SFO

Its important to get out of the office (and country) sometimes to stimulate ideas, meet some more interesting people and expand horizons. Here are some of the conference and events on my radar at the moment:

Newcastle Digital Showcase hosted by The Lunaticks Society of Newcastle – looking forward to hearing from local innovators.

TEDx Newy – still being planned but should stir up some stimulating talk later this year.

Web 2.0 Expo in New York City – I attended the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco in 2008 and the Web 2.0 Summit there last year. Both great events where I learnt a lot. The NYC event promises to be just as good.

SXSW Interactive – This is an amazing event. Mad, stimulating, hectic and informative. Anyone working in tech and new media should visit SXSW at least once. I attended in 2008 but missed the last two. Aiming to get amongst it again in 2012.

Popularity: unranked

Curation Nation: How to Win in a World Where Consumers are Creators

The subtitle of Curation Nation addresses a question that must be troubling many traditional businesses; How to win in a world where consumers are creators.

Its a great topic and one that should be mandatory reading in businesses around the world.

The last decade has seen the traditional flow of information turned upside down. Whereas information had been created and distributed by a few powerful organisation, it is now created and fed to the world at lightening speed by the masses through blogs, video, photo sharing, social networks and more.

Needless to say, this has been hard for many to understand and deal with. It can change whole business models.

Fortunately Steven Rosenbaum has made a fair effort at addressing the topic and providing some solutions. he is well credentialed too. Rosenbaum created MTV’s groundbreaking user-generated video show MTV Unfiltered and directed the award-winning 9/11 documentary 7 Days in September. He is the CEO of Magnify.net, the largest real-time video aggregation and curation engine on the Internet.

In this informative guide to the brave new media world Rosenbaum explains in detail why the future of content is context. He explains curation, provides tools and techniques and looks at various different perspectives such as magazines, web platforms and brands.

Importantly Rosenbaum asks and addresses the question: what is your content strategy?

Its a question every business should ask themselves. Then they should read Curation Nation and start finding the answers.

Popularity: unranked