New Blog Site

Please follow me on my new blog site: 
http://tylercreativemanagement.blogspot.com/


Thank you for all of your continued support.


Best


Tyler

Social Branding and Marketing in 3D!

I love a great event; planning it, organizing it, working with the team, the day of and then of course after,  measuring and evaluating successes and opportunities.  Great events don't just "happen" (unless you have a lapse in memory the day after) great events are created.

I've been branding and doing marketing and communications for over 15 years.  One thing I know for sure is that if you have a cohesive brand identity and strategy and, a realistic marketing plan, your event needs to communicate who you are, what you stand for and what you want people to know/think about you.

I'm a very lucky person. I've worked with world class events people and "borrowed" techniques from all of them.  If when you meet an events person, they're not asking you questions such as:

1.   What your brand identity is

2.   What your objectives are both short and long term

3.   The scope of your project

4.   Your marketing plan and vision

5.   Determining your budget

6.   Establishing a realistic timeline/critical path for approval

7.   How you would like to measure and evaluate the success of the event


Then...run.  Fast.  In another direction preferably  away from them!   Thank you to great practitioners such as mentor Hilary Sadler of Sadler Communications http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/hilary-sadler/14/196/867 and Grail Noble President of Yellow House Events http://www.yellowhouseevents.com/house.html.  Two world class communicators and events people who recognize "SMART" Objectives in events: 
S = Specific, M = Measurable, A = Achievable, R = Realistic, T = Time-Bound.

An event can "make or unmake" your brand.  Please keep in mind, when formulating your business goals, that a huge part of branding, marketing and communications is a stand out, creative event, which is your brand come to life in 3D and something people will always remember. 

This is an opportunity to create positive memories and lasting impressions!  Your brand needs to be in expert hands.  Do your homework and hire the right team – your brand depends on it!

Thank you for your continued support.

Tyler Smith

"Un" Social Marketing

To idig Social Marketing http://idigmarketing.com owner Jeffery McBain and talented staff, I hereby announce publicly that I'm stealing/borrowing/using/employing your term "Social Marketing".  The words "Social Media" together are forever banished from leaving my vocal chords in regards to business usage - however I can't promise that they won't leave my fingertips and keyboard.

Now that that has thusly been declared, I'm moving on to a classic example of "Un" Social Marketing.  First - the background. I'm sitting in my favorite coffee shop, where I have happily contributed to their bottom line and their top line for that matter, for the last 10 years, enjoying a cup of one of the last legal addictive stimulants allowed on planet earth.  This coffee shop much like "your" coffee shop, I'm sure, has the "best seats" in the house. In our case, this century old building, has three large bay windows with the paddiest of padded bench seats and the most comfy high backed chairs that would easily sit 5-6 people.  If you were lucky enough to get one of those tables - you just knew it was going to be a great day. Sort of like getting the perfect parking space in downtown Toronto or NYC or LA - forget about it!

Sounds great doesn't it?  A retail outlet that is usually packed?  Steady regulars? Spending money?  Bringing their friends, family, business associates?  Indeed!  Us "regulars" have been nodding to each other, sharing tables, recruiting other regulars and watching each other's "stuff" during...breaks...since the shop opened.  We were all so pleased when we received a survey asking for our opinion on upcoming renovations.  We felt important! The company had recognized the fact that we'd each spent a small "Benz" worth of money in their establishment over the years and they wanted our opinion!

When the shop closed for five days for renovations, you saw "us" peeking through the window (they eventually put up newsprint) and pacing nervously around the street. On opening day, "we" were there - laptops ready, loyalty coffee cards in hand - loaded up and ready to be swiped.  We rushed in with anticipation, only to stop in our tracks inside the door like dominos ready to topple.  

What is this?  WHAT is this?  WHAT IS THIS?!?!?!!!?!?  Our comfy high backed chairs had been replaced with small doll house size chairs.  Our great bay window seats had been replaced with stools (with no back) so high, the top of your knees hit the bottom of the table.  And if you tried to type, you looked like you were doing an imitation of the hunch back of Notre Dame!  Never mind trying to stand up after that most unpleasant position for an hour!

Whispers have turned into loud complaints that the Mothership is trying to "un" socialize us!  Make us so "un" comfortable that we stay for only an hour (rather than three or four).  Some of us have threatened to leave and spend our disposable income somewhere else - or maybe give up expensive coffee and save for a Benz!

The take away is, it's easier to keep a customer than get a customer.  And if you're not offering your customer what they want - they'll find another business that will.  Good Social Marketing is about  listening to your customer's needs, establishing a realistic implementation plan and interactively communicate with your customer.  Offering a plan that is measurable, with accountability and contingencies built in, is a must and is the mark of a professional Social Marketer. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Tyler Smith

Social Media. Friend Or Foe?

Hello there. For those that are new to my blog, I consider the act of transitioning the act of living with courage. To avoid stagnation and that rut called the "comfort zone" is to face the wind without a balaclava! I write this of course with the wind chill at -15 and snow up to my knees, so please forgive me for those that are reading this in Florida! (No, I'm not jealous - I'm happy for your warmth.....really.....I am!)

The last few months, since I've gone through my own re-branding process, have been some of the best experiences in my career. I've met and worked with wonderfully creative and strategic people and have had way too much fun while doing it.

I've been in branding/marketing and communications for 15 years (or so). However I think I've always been a communications guru.

As an only child - I sought out every playmate on our block. As a school age young woman, I was extremely social and carried a "daytimer" in my school bag. As an adult, I seek out the company of others. Preferably people who are, in return, equally "company friendly". So is it any wonder that I've embraced Social Media as another opportunity to stay in touch and socialize?

The "ah ah" for me in the last couple of years is that Social Media, while great for staying in touch with my good friends in Switzerland and Dubai, is a powerful tool for business! With so many households now having computers, for us social mavens - who like to let our fingers do the talking, Social Media is a direct contact into the lives and homes of potential consumers.

Now, please, I'm not saying that we as human beings don't need to be face to face with each other. People will fly thousands of miles to see each other, build extra rooms to live together and leave our nice warm homes to go and sit for hours in a coffee shop with comfy chairs to catch up and just be in the company of others!

The take away here is that Social Media is a great add on, not a substitute for traditional communications. This is an exciting time to be in branding/marketing and communications. So many tools available for us to offer our clients as they themselves - transition!

For more pertinent and up to date information on Social Media:

idig Communications http://idigmarketing.com/

Thank you for your ongoing support

Tyler Smith