Uba Kontrovasie

Stationers and Stationary - Lack of traditional brands adopting Social Media

I can remember downloading my lecture notes off the web at Uni, submitting assignments via digital drop box and reserving books at Uni the library via the internet.

Since my Uni days students have become as savvy as people in the internet business, when researching and managing their work. Most of them carry high end laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras and MP3 players.

I walked into two highstreet stationers last week took look for a decent A4 sketch pad (Ryman and WHSmith), even I like to sketch out ideas and diagrams sometimes.

My shopping trip sparked off a chain of thoughts…I couldn’t help but wonder how will brands like these effectively market themselves to students who do not rely their products as much as they use to?

YOY we will see Students and Universities move more and more towards paper free learning environments and competition for a smaller student market will surely intensify. Brands like Ryman and WHsmith will have to start engaging with prospects via Social Media in order to build customer relationships and loyalty.

This doesn’t sound like an easy task though does it? Who would join a Facebook group related to a stationers? Not many! I think the suitable solutions would come in the form of brand utilities…how about a totally free WHS notebook for your laptop that works better than MS notepad.

Another idea would be good old blogging…yes really blogging! Preferably about things students would find helpful such as books, e-resources and study tips.

Finally branded social events such as fruitstock but more related to art and academia could work really well and create their own following that could generate a whole host of online social networking opportunities too.

Just chucking thoughts out there, as always we would be happy to sit down with any of the brands mentioned and cook up some ideas

Tags: academia, art, brand blogging, Brand Utilities, branded applications, branded events, ryman, social media, studnets, university, whsmith

A post about Data Visualisation - It was only a matter of time…

Data Visualisation (I will use an s and not a z…the US spelling) is a buzzword that has been flying around for quite some time now, there are numerous articles on the web, which discuss really good examples of designers getting creative with basically scrapping data and presenting it in really cool ways.

I was yet to see an example of a “data visualisation” concept that was really useful as well as being really good to look at.

I have a tendency to question the usefulness of concepts when they are first introduced to the online community, this is primarily because clients think in the same way. The first thing a client does is pose an objection or question…how useful is this? Will people use it? What are the benefits?

Virgin have done really well with the Virgin eye, however, unless you’re really into Virgin as a brand what value does this concept really provide to a mass target audience? Some may argue that prospects ready to buy a product or service from Virgin may use the service to see what other people are saying about the brand or its products, however, I feel this may only apply to a minority.

Something as grand and luxurious as a “Data Visualisation” concept should provide a value exchange for a broader audience as the concept itself depicts how forward thinking a brand really is.

MSNBC and their digital agency, whoever they are, have really hit the nail on the head with Spectra. Spectra is an RSS news-reader with really cool data visualisation, in addition to good aesthetics Spectra really provides functionality that people will keep coming back to use over and over again.

Tags: Brand Utilities, Data Visualisation, msnbc, online community, RSS, RSS reader, social media, virgin

Brands start using the iPhone as a marketing tool

I’ve had my iphone for just over a month now and I’ve been looking at all the clever things you can do with it. Facebook, twitter, wordpress and IM are all now accessible via my handset.

With all the technology available I was keen to see which large brands would have a hit with using the iphone as marketing tool. Well it turns out it’s Audi with their A4 driving challenge game.

It has become the second most popular download from the Apple free apps store. The game uses iPhone motion sensor technology to provide a game which people will keep playing time and time again, a great way to keep people engaged!

Also well done to Carling who put together iPint, lots of virtual drinking fun here…but can we please stop placing an “i” before every single iPhone app.

I’m yet to see any non-digital brands put really useful brand utilities within the free apps store, I guess it’s only a matter of time.

Over a year ago brands were competing over widgets and now thanks to the iPhone and the halo effect it’s had on the rest of the mobile market I am sure we will see brands run to provide the best mobile brand utility, not just for the iPhone but the generation of other handsets posing to be iPhone alternatives.

Tags: Apple, Brand Utilities, iPhone motion sensor technology, iphone, mobile applications