One person - One voice

What is crazy about social media today is that it is often the voice and responsibility of ONE person. Tweets from even the biggest names in business and entertainment still stem from a solitary being behind a computer. From the White House to CNN to Fortune500 companies, the Tweet we all read comes from a sole perspective. The power of the Tweet is narrowed down to one person's ENTER key on the keyboard. Is there too much power? Can one person's Tweet jeopardize a powerhouse in industry? The media sure pays attention to Twitter, so a word to the wise: Tweet Carefully.

Is Social Media right for every company?

Social Media is exactly what is says - SOCIAL. There are commercials out there right now that have a call to action to Facebook and Twitter for products and services that are far from "social". For example, the commercial for toilet paper, says "Follow us on Facebook". Why on earth would I want to learn more about toilet paper? I understand if they want to promote coupons or deals, but that's about it. The purpose of social media is to inform, engage and proactively interact with a target audience. Toilet paper has a very large (if not complete) target audience, but has little need so for social action. Companies that have philanthropic entities are logical for social media, but I haven't seen too much out of Charmin about their donations... Other industries, such as big box stores, need a more "coupon-type" outlet for their social media alternative. Off base or on target? Let us know!

Don't hide your true Face...book status

Remember about 5 years ago when you were sitting at your lonely desk all day and you had to sneak a peak at your facebook profile? Now, ironically, Facebook is a part of our jobs. If you're not constantly up to date on the social media moment, you're not doing your job well enough! Even more ironically, people get paid (good money) to tweet and facebook for other companies! Social Media now defines the landscape. It's either free or significantly more affordable than previously "standard" marketing practices and certainly has more quantifiable data to prove it. Keep your eyes peeled for that "hide from your boss" moment (not porn.....) and see if it becomes the next big thing.

The Greatest Job in New Orleans!

What's the greatest job in New Orleans?

As we all know, NOLA is one of the most unique job markets. That being said, who has the best job specific to New Orleans? Calliope has some thoughts... the photographer for Dear New Orleans, might have one of them. Another might be the Mayor...? What do you think?

Branding, like a on a cow...

How well is your company branded? Is your brand seen? If so, by whom?

It's the little things that grab people's attention. When you're shopping, grabbing coffee, driving down the street, what do you notice? Do you have a bumper sticker on your car? If so, can you imagine how many people see it on a daily basis? Take the time to think about your brand and how accessible it is to the general public. It's one thing for your clients to know who you are but it's entirely different for the unintentional target audience to recognize your brand.

Want a good example - I have a bumper sticker on the back of my laptop. Every time I open it in a public place, the entire coffee shop/airport lounge/office space sees my company's name and logo. It cost a total of $1.39 for that bumper sticker. On average, 30-40 people see it a day. Not a bad one time fixed cost investment.

Take the time to look around and see what brands you see. Recognize any?

What is a consultant?

What is a "consultant"? It is, without a doubt, one of the most vague job titles in existence. A consultant is an expert in a field that can be outsourced for multiple clients. Our company, for example, is a collection of consultants that serve a wide variety of clients with unique needs. As a consultant, your strength relies on your ability to think out of the box to strategically solve a problem for a client. Not just problems though. That's the trick. Some clients have specific needs and ask for our help to rectify. A good consultant will not only solve the problem but research the client and its practices to see if there are any other areas they could improve upon and give suggestions to do so.

So that's a consultant.... part 1.

What's in a name?

What's in a name? Everything.

Branding is one of the first major hurtles of starting a new business. From the logo to the color scheme, your brand is your face to the world. Determining the "essence" of your company takes time and strategy. Catering to your clients as well as properly representing yourself is no easy task.

When branding, try these tips:

- What service do you provide? Are you one of a kind or do you find yourself with a lot of similar competition. Either way, you need to set yourself apart.
- Who am I trying to target? Will my company's name accurately describe what I have to offer?
- Where am I? Trust your surroundings and include your city/state etc. in this decision.
- Stick with it. Once you've created a brand, don't change it. Losing consistency is a huge "no-no". Clients see it and the public sees it. Stick to your guns.
- Branding takes time. Companies like Coke are still revamping their brand all the time, but keep a consistent look about them.
- And finally, take suggestions! The creative process is usually better with several heads.