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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Top 10 Apple Rumors


With the iPad only 3 days away and (allegedly) already sold out what better time to catch up with all things Apple. Read them all here. In related news, Apple's stock market valuation now makes it the third biggest company in the country, behind Exxon and Walmart - now that really is amazing, a little over a decade after it was nearly bankrupt!

Friday, March 26, 2010

6 Pixels of Separation


Here is a really great site for challenging your thinking about business in todays world. Mitch Joel digs deep into new media and the ever connected world. I have added it to my daily blog reading. Thanks to Chip who got there first and recommended it to me. Read more here.

Top Ten Tin Cups


You can see all of the Tin Cups, the new golf gadget that is catching on fast at www.tin-cup.com
1. Luck of the Irish
2. The Shamrock
3. The Jolly Roger
4. Trail Blazer
5. 5 O'clock Somewhere
6. Palmetto Moon
7. Dulin the Dog
8. Smiley
9. Lone Star
10. Louis the 14th

Monday, March 22, 2010

The 4 Pillars of Online Marketing Success


The smart people at copyblogger.com, a blog we read every day and recommend have come up a great read. The article covers 4 simple points to consider to maximize your chances of marketing success online. I know you may have seen and read them before, but the question is - Are you continuing to do them? ...and a picture of Bob Dylan? Because he is a VERY smart guy and we love Dylan! Read it here

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Scan my QR?


Have you seen all those weird looking square "bar codes"? They are appearing in magazines, grocery store checkouts, even airline check in desks. They are a new way to enable the user to transfer information or go to a website and find more information. There are several competing types (Betamax v. VHS anyone!) including the TagReader and the NeoReader but both work well and are easily downloadable through the iPhone or other mobile device. It's a great way to track "read ons" in the magazine world and also a very efficient way of maximising space on a site or publication. Once you have the reader you will find yourself seeking these cool little squares and if they catch on the possibilities are endless. You can read a cool application for them here.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Josh signs initial run of golf landscape giclee prints


Here's Josh Smith signing the first run of giclee prints from his collection. The print shown here is Ballyneal and on Monday these will be on their way to the magnificent Tom Doak designed golf course in Colorado. Other beautiful prints in the collection include Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Royal County Down and Pebble Beach. You can read more about Josh on his website at www.joshsmithart.com and on his blog here.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Engaging Content - The problem for Newspapers

Thanks to Chip for forwarding this terrific piece about the future of newspapers - needless to say it doesn't look good and not simply because the chief economist of Google, Hal Varian was doing the talking. Daily newspapers are in terminal decline as more and more people get their news online or from old fashioned TV! I love the paper arriving in my drive way every morning, but most of it is not "news" by the time I get to read it.
Here is his presentation 030910 Hal Varian FTC Preso and the article Read it here

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Content Needs a Strategy


A good, to the point, piece about content strategy by Kristina Knight at BizReport.com on the need to ensure your content has a strategy. IMO, it's gaining acceptance that greater planning is required, but we have a ways to go before marketing departments start with content strategy, rather than the sexier ad creation and hanging out with the madmen!
Kristina says "It always comes back to the strategy behind the content. Before launching a new content widget, social fan page or updating email formats think about what you want the content or buzz to do for the brand" Read more here

Friday, March 5, 2010

iPAD is coming...April 3rd



Today Apple announced that the first version of the iPad will go on sale Saturday, April 3 in the U.S., with other versions becoming available globally later in the month. The initial U.S. version, costing $499, can connect to the Internet over Wi-Fi networks, with later models available over wireless-phone networks (read AT&T!). You can preorder the iPad in the U.S. starting on March 12 or reserve the right to pick one up at an Apple store on April 3. Get ready for the media scrum, pictures of thousands standing in line through the night at Apple Stores. The best bet is simply preorder - I know I am. It is going to be fascinating once the device is actually out to see how this impacts content and print (see below!). Amazon, Sony, Barnes & Noble with their own iBook readers must be ready for a dramatic fall off in sales - I admit I haven't seen the actual iPAD, but Jobs hasn't missed a beat for years. (fair warning - I bought a Newton!)

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Print hits back...finally and too late!


It's taken a while, but finally the BIG publishers have bandied together to launch an anti electronic, pro print campaign. The ad starring Michael Phelps will be featured in magazines such as Vanity Fair and Vogue. This is strange on so many levels - Why are the media owners continuing to push the medium and not the message. Don't get me wrong I love magazines, love 'em. But the times they are a changin' and the media barons who have invested billions (literally) in electronic media and fired all the old print journalists are now seeing fit to promote the printed product. Why now? It all seems too little too late - kind of like the way the recording industry embraced iTunes - i.e., they didn't until the party was over. And why Michael Phelps? Great athlete, great Olympian, very odd poster child for the print industry. And yes we get it about swimming and surfing...hilarious. Thoughts?