Posts Tagged ‘Interactive’

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Flash and SEO – Do they play together?

By Andy Ganoe, October 16, 2009

I wish I could tell you the answer is simply yes or no, but, in fact, it is a little more difficult than that.

There has been a lot of discussion about Flash and search engine optimization. Google has made announcements that they have made improvements in their ability to index Flash movies on websites. In the past, there had been some limitations, but recently Google noted it is now able to work with external files, including XML, HTML and other Flash files.

While Google has made strides in indexing Flash content, Yahoo and Bing have limited ability to crawl the files to get content.

Who uses what search engine?

Recent studies by StatCounter  show that Google has about 80% of the search engine market share, while Bing has about 8.5%, and Yahoo! comes in at around 9.4% from United States visitors. Google’s dominance grows when stats include international visitors.

Flash Indexing Fallbacks

Some items to note about crawling Flash movies include:

  • The content in the Flash file must be text-based in order to be rendered.
  • Search engines don’t process most JavaScript. If your Flash movie is placed in the page with JavaScript and you provide alternate content beforehand, the search engines may not see your Flash movie.
  • If a Flash movie contains multiple scenes or keyframes based on clicks, a user cannot get directly to that content from the search engine. For example, if you have a Flash-based site that contains a page about services that generates some search engine ranking, the user is going to have to go to the beginning of the Flash and figure out how to get to that page that contains the search terms that they are looking for, rather than going directly to the content. A good online example of this can be found by completing a search on Google for “intro.swf”. The first result is a Flash presentation with multiple slides. There is no way to get directly from the search engine results to the eighth page without having to click through all of the other pages.

A Search Engine Example

Check out the Google search for “nasa deep impact animation”. The second result brings up a Flash movie, as noted by the [FLASH] display in front of the result. The title is not helpful at all, as it contains the text “Loading Data” and then some ActionScript code. The description does give you a brief summary of what you might find in the movie.

Google Search Results Flash

Taking that same search term to Bing, the Flash file was located in the twentieth position, lacking a description and containing a very generic title.

Search Results for Flash in Bing

Let’s take a peek at Yahoo! It returns the same results Bing did; however, in the sixth position.

seo_flash_yahoo

To summarize, Flash and SEO compatibility are starting to play nice; however, Flash is still best used on a limited basis or for items that are not content and keyword rich. There are many other ways to improve search engine ranking, such as the use of optimized content for the HTML page title, meta tags and copy on the site.

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Flint Interactive Launches Cartier Agency Website

By Nicole Sandman, October 9, 2009

Flint Interactive: Cartier Agency Website

Flint Interactive would like to announce the launch of the redesigned Cartier Agency website.  Flint Interactive has worked with the Cartier Agency over the past few months on developing a new website that would set them apart from their local competitors.

Technologies used include:

  • Flash rotation highlighting business areas they offer services in
  • AJAX sign-up form in the footer
  • ThickBox used as an alternative to a pop-up window for a few sections of the site, such as news
  • Animated Collapsible DIV v2.0: This jQuery plug-in allowed us to expand and contract content for a more fluid look and feel. View Sample

Visit: www.caduluth.com

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An UNparalleled Experience: the Flint Group Creative Retreat

By Phil Hunt, September 29, 2009

Earlier this month, more than thirty Flint Group creatives convened at Lost Lake Lodge near Brainerd, Minnesota. The objective? To share ideas and learn from each other face to face at the Flint Group Creative Retreat. Designers and writers from across the organization spent (roughly) two days and two nights focusing on the future, improving creativity and expanding collaboration.

Things got rolling on Thursday, September 17th with an icebreaker led by SimmonsFlint designer Ann Simmons-Boushey, followed by a wonderful dinner at Lost Lake Lodge and a show and tell of creative work from each agency.

Retreat Begins

Later that night, we had some fun around the bonfire.

Bonfire

The next morning, our group put social media strategy to work. Writer, Lee Ziegler, and Flint Interactive designer, Alissa Pesta, led the workshop, assigning real marketing problems to small groups. Using Jason Baer’s Social Media Worksheet, the Flint Group creatives addressed the problems with strategies and ideas to create awareness, generate sales or encourage loyalty online.

Social Media Strategy

That afternoon, it was time for our own unConference. Flint Communications art director, Frank Stegmaier, and writer, Phil Hunt, attended an unConference presented by One Club and the Society of Digital Agencies this spring. The experience and discussion was so valuable that we decided to conduct a smaller-scale unConference of our own.

There is no pre-determined agenda for an unConference. At the start of the event, we got together and proposed topics related to our industry and agency. After setting a a loose schedule, we talked and talked some more – documenting key points and outcomes along the way.

Some of the topics addressed included:

•    The Future of Flint Group
•    The Future of Print
•    Surviving the Economy and the New Era of Advertising
•    The Business of Design
•    Ethics in the Creative Field
•    Unconventional Printing and Advertising
•    Social Media
•    Video for the Web
•    How Production Design will Change in the Future
•    Interoffice Collaboration
•    Finding Inspiration
•    Presenting Concepts and Ideas
•    Using Creativity to Make the Creative Brief Go Further

The unConference was a big success – and we recommend it to any organization that wants to discuss big, challenging ideas. For more information on the unConference format, check out the unConference Wikipedia entry, unConference.net or Open Space World.

At night we wound down with another great meal, a butter sculpture contest, plus a bonfire and an outdoor screening of the 2009 Addy Reel. On Saturday, we finished up with some brainstorming techniques from copywriter Phil Hunt, and said our goodbyes.

Friday Night Butter Sculpting Contest

It was a fun weekend, and a productive one, too. We came back on Monday with fresh perspectives and solid ideas for the future of our clients and our agency. Stay tuned for more thoughts and outcomes from the retreat.

Posted in Flint Communications, Flint Group, Flint Interactive, HatlingFlint, SimmonsFlint, WestmorelandFlint | Comments

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Automation vs. Humanization in Social Media

By Josh Lysne, September 23, 2009

HumanizationvsAutomation

Automation can make all of our lives easier, and it does play a role in social media. HootSuite allows you to enter in tweets and set the time you want them to be sent out. Blogging software can allow you to create blog posts for the entire week and publish them on a schedule. Marketing Automation software allows you to send email based on consumer action.

If you have regularly scheduled announcements/posts/etc. then it makes perfect sense to automate. You can’t always be at your computer when it is time for the push, so this can keep you on schedule.

All of those examples have one main thing in common. They all center around publishing content, not engaging in conversation. This distinction gets lost far too often.

Nothing bugs me more than automated responses from companies, or an automated Direct Message on Twitter after I have followed someone. I recently sent an email to Northwest Airlines asking a question about my account. It was clear that the reply was either automated, or a canned response since they asked me to try things that I had already told them I have tried.

Automation in the form of a Direct Message has become a standard after you follow someone on twitter, and it is a lazy response. Here are a few examples of DMs I have received after following someone on Twitter:

Thanks for following me, I’m excited about knowing you! Please join me on FB too, (link to their FB page)

Thanks for following. Keep me posted on any marketing insights or groundbreaking ideas you may come across.

Thanks for following, Hope you are having a nice day!

And my personal favorite:

I just gave you “peace and happiness “! Check it out: (Link from them) You should send me a gift back ;)

On a very rare occasion does a DM response to my follow even have my name. Very lazy, very automated. On the other hand, responses that address me, and who I am get my attention every time. This is key in social media and building relationships.

A great example of this happened to me a few weeks back. David Armano (@armano). who writes the blog Logic + Emotion, (a must read) replied to my Direct Message after he followed me. Here is how it went.

My Direct Message:
Thanks for the follow David. I’ve been following you since the Twitter 20 with (@jaybaer). Have a great day!

His Response:
Cool, I appreciate you reaching out. always nice to hear from a real live person. :-)

This is from a guy that has almost 20,000 followers on Twitter. Just to prove my point, I talked to David and asked if he responds to all of the Direct Messages he gets. His response was that not only does he not reply to the automated responses, he sometimes blocks them. Adding a personal touch made me stand out.

Another example of good customer service and listening courtesy of Boingo.

My Tweet:
@Boingo Your connection keeps cutting out in the Mpls airport. Great when it is working, but getting frustrating.

Within minutes I had this back from them:
@jlysne What part of the airport are you in?

That response immediately told me that someone was listening and was ready to help troubleshoot my problem. Even though I had some trouble with the connection, I know that customer support is ready and listening if I have problems in the future.

Think about this next time you want to add more automation to your process. Yes, it plays a big role in making us more efficient, but if you are trying to build relationships or enhance customer service, it can be your downfall.

(photos by Sergi Golyshev and Photochiel)

Posted in AadlandFlint, Flint Communications, Flint Group, Flint Interactive, HatlingFlint, SimmonsFlint, WestmorelandFlint | Comments

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Channel Marketing = Good Investment

By Jodi Duncan, September 20, 2009

Helping your sales channel with their marketing materials is a BIG DEAL to your brand… and a smart investment. Channel marketing can be a wild ride, and you want to control it as best you can by providing your channel with tools and materials that make it easy for them to do their marketing and also ensure they market YOU correctly.

Most sales people don’t want to spend their time writing copy, creating ads, trying to understand where and how to reach people. And when they do it themselves, you really lose control over what they say about you. You can help them. It can also be a profit center to you and a tributary to additional marketing.

A dealer direct mail (DDM) program is a great example of simplifying your sales channel marketing efforts and effectively managing your brand’s message. The way it works is that an agent, dealer or sales representative signs up annually for the DDM program. You can modify the program with opt-ins throughout the year, add special sales promotions as they come up, increase targeted markets, etc. The name of the game is “plan for the year,” but keep it flexible and responsive to sales and markets.

Basically, you are paying attention to what is happening in the industry and markets, and helping your sales channel adapt effectively and efficiently. You can worry about it for them, so they can do what they do best – sales.

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New Marketing Blog and Website for the Flint Group

By Andy Reierson, September 13, 2009

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Flint Interactive Blog: Stepping It Up a Notch

By Jen Strickler, September 1, 2009

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Your Brand, it’s not what you make it anymore…

By Andy Reierson, July 17, 2009

Now don’t get me wrong, brand development is still very important, but there are changes in the marketing world that have decreased a company’s ability to impose their brand on consumers.

In any good brand development process, you should identify your distinctions, positioning, tagline, and visual standards. And if done right, you should work with key stakeholders in your company to launch the new brand internally before going public. Today, this is just the beginning. The most important part of managing your brand is engaging customers and creating loyalty, not pushing your message out and hoping your target audience will act.

As Tony Hsieh (@zappos) , CEO of Zappos, describes, “Branding gets built up by interacting everyday with everyday people.” And he does a great job of it using tools like Twitter, having excellent customer service, and much more. Whether it’s an ad, a customer service call, the firing or hiring of an employee, an article in a trade publication, or something else, every experience with your brand has potential influence over a large audience.

Why? Social media gives a voice to the people who interact with your brand. Although this may be intimidating, it also provides a great opportunity to engage customers, increase loyalty and develop a community of brand evangelists.

When you start managing your brand with social media, make sure you follow these simple rules:

  • Listen This is the most important step. How can you act or be involved in conversation if you don’t know what is being said? There are tools that make this part easy – use them.
  • Engage When appropriate, join in the conversation. This is an opportunity for you to answer questions, thank customers, uncover any issues, and deal with unsatisfied customers.
  • Be Human Customers are tired of dealing with brands. They want to know who they are talking to and form a connection. Social media gives every brand that opportunity.
  • Connect Develop a place for loyal customers to connect with other loyal customers and interact with your brand. A community of supporters allows you to test new ideas, get feedback and up sell/cross sell to a captive community.

As always, don’t jump in blind. Although you lose a lot of control in this medium, you should still have a strategy. If you don’t have a focus or goal for your efforts, your message may confuse your audience and your ability to measure success goes out the window.

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