Yes, your email signature is the last thing read in an email. But that doesn’t mean it’s not important. Its end-of-the-line positioning makes it even more so.

It signs off your message in a professional, comprehensive way. Later, if the recipient returns to find a contact phone or address, it’s there. When large multinational companies have every team member use a standardized, consistent email signature, it reinforces their cohesion. When small mom-and-pop shops use a savvy signature, your estimation of them rises. (more…)

Businesses on Facebook have been made to feel like second-class citizens. Their less-than-special pages have never functioned like personal pages. Couldn’t like your friends, tag them in photos, or send them a message. (more…)

What can marketers and clients do when they want to spread the word about an important topic on a shoestring budget? The answer often lies in guerilla marketing, word-of-mouth and earned-media tactics. (more…)

Full disclosure. Growing up with an aviation photographer for a dad influences my belief in the power of visual storytelling. That said, the facts are also on my side.

The Wharton School of Business reports that quality video can increase retention up to 50 percent over print and accelerates buying decisions by as much as 72 percent. Forrester Research predicts a 70+ percent growth in online video advertising next year.

So, my question to you, what are your plans for video in 2012? If you’re still in the planning phase, here are some examples to prime the creative pump. (more…)

Safari Internet browser on iPad.

Developing a website has never been more schizophrenic. Today’s many emerging technologies simultaneously empower and challenge website owners, designers and developers in their quest to create an effective communication channel. With the recent proliferation of mobile and alternative, web-enabled devices (tablets, TVs and touch screens – “Oh my!”) the charge to deliver a website on today’s “splinternet” has become even more demanding. (more…)

Creative videos go head to head in who can create the best demo for a Google Product.

Google is now sourcing the crowd to help market its products. Google’s new Demo Slam taps the free creative resources of the crowd, pitting user submitted videos against each other. Demo Slam visitors vote on which video of a random pair showcases Google products in the most creative and entertaining way.

Though the Slam was originally conceived in a video battle between Google vice president of engineering Udi Manber and CFO Patrick Pichette, the company quickly saw the potential in turning this into a user-driven contest. (more…)

A promoted tweet as seen in the main feed of the HootSuite App.

An article that was recently posted on AdvertisingAge announced the expansion of Twitter’s Promoted Tweets into the main-stream. Until now, the feed of tweets found on Twitter.com and in third-party applications has remained wholly untouched by anything but user-to-user tweets. (more…)

Using Google Goggles to bridge the online and offline worlds of advertising.

Have you checked out Google’s predictions on the future of online advertising? Fascinating insights. Here are a few from its crystal ball.

Video
Google prediction: 50% of online ads will include video by 2015.

Video is the future of online advertising. In fact, 24 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube every minute. It gives users choice and control, and online users demand that. (more…)

All summer, the dark clouds of cancer have been hanging over the family and friends of Tim Bennett. This week, we had a bit of a break in those clouds – and thanks to the enormous and often surprising power of connectivity, we were able to celebrate with Tim.

Tim, who has been fighting tumors for a couple of months now, is a connector of sorts himself. He’s one of those rare folks who brings together people of all ages and backgrounds and turns them into instant friends. Tim’s year has long revolved around the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, like thousands of others who love bluegrass and other handmade roots music. They come from across the country and around the world to camp elbow-to-fiddle bow for a week just for the privilege of playing and hearing acoustic music.

Tim on Skype

Pickin’ and Campin’
The festival is loosely organized around self-aggregating camps with colorful names such as the Neon Guitar (my camp) and Carp Camp. For years Bennett Camp has been one of the best-known for consistently high-quality jams. All the best pickers at Winfield make it to Bennett Camp at some point during the week.

Folks were heartbroken that Tim wouldn’t be there to participate in and lead those jams this year. So there were a lot of guit-pickin’ grins when Tim’s niece brought out a laptop with Tim connected via Skype. They quickly circled ’round the computer and belted out a couple of Tim’s favorites.

Jamming for Tim

By the way, Tim and his family got some great news this week – he’s responding extremely well to treatment. We know he’s not out of the woods yet, but we hope the power of positive thinking and our little show of support helped speed his recovery. We know it made all of us feel pretty darn good.

Do you have any inspirational stories of connections made online?

Every year, a few days before the fair officially kicks off, Kansas media are invited to the fairgrounds for a tour of the facilities, interviews with the organizers and opportunities to uncover some unique insights about quirky exhibitors or fanciful foods.

This year, we took the pre-show event online, making it easier for more people to attend, and opening it up to more than just the media, taking questions via Ustream and Twitter from anyone who was watching. Jen and I hosted the show, which was a ton of fun.

We talked with Denny Stoecklein, the fair’s general manager, about fair fashion, unique foods and not-to-miss events. We spoke with Greg Thompson, a Grand Drive committee member, who shared details about the youth-focused agriculture event. And Becky Rhodes from the Kansas Department of Commerce told us all about the Bluestem wine and beer garden, featuring Kansas-brewed beer and the people’s choice winetasting event.

But enough gabbing – check out the recorded version of the pre-show for yourself.

And, don’t miss KAKE’s coverage of the pre-show.

The fair starts today, so we’ll have another post this afternoon – make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed or check back!