The Times They Are A-Changin'

How Cool is Cuil?

2009-03-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

When you go online and search, do you in fact search? Or do you “Google?” In the same way you don’t blow your nose with a tissue, you use a “Kleenex,” Google has cleaned house and outed the non-branded “search” from our webcabularies.

You may be interested to know that there is a new engine out there trying to change that.

Meet “Cuil.”

Cuil is the self-proclaimed “world’s largest search engine.” Cuil prides itself on being a search engine that searches 10x more web pages than Microsoft and 3x more web pages than Google.

GOOGLE HAS SHORTCOMINGS? ... Who knew?

Aside from searching more, Cuil claims they also search better. Instead of relying on “superficial popularity metrics,” Cuil ranks pages based on content and relevance, as they state “when we find a page with your keywords, we stay on that page and analyze the rest of its content, its concepts, their inter-relationships and the page’s coherency.”

It is for this reason the Cuil results are different. Based on what they find as they “stay on your pages,” and conduct their magic, they provide helpful choices and recommendations for what you see on your results screen.

And they serve up results differently. Cuil brings you a different orientation, not relying on the vertical alone, but spanning into the horizontal realm. Their results layout was inspired by their belief that “ten blue links is a simple concept which fails to reflect the huge diversity and variety of information available to you on the Web.”

Cuil’s “Philosophy” is based on the following four ideas:
1. Size matters
2. Popularity is useful, but not always important
3. Organization is fundamental
4. Analyze the web, not the users

And Cuil brings you PICTURES! So is Cuil, cool?

… I’m not so sure.

First, I will address their third point: “Organization is fundamental.”

Whether you realize it or not, when we “search,” we are accustomed to scanning results vertically, typically with a set number of 10 organic results per page. We have also become aware of where sponsored and PPC results are placed. Google has produced a comfortable and familiar search results experience. Cuil is, for better or for worse, tampering with what we have been bottle-fed throughout our search engin-fancy.

Next, Cuil also claims that images will help illustrate the ideas behind the pages. Interestingly, I have conducted many-a-Cuil searches, and discovered a multitude of improperly associated images. Now just what are you illustrating by a strangely-oriented group of search results with inaccurate, unrelated images? To add, I have also conducted searches and uncovered families of not so cool bugs that have crashed my searches entirely.

Maybe just a little too much too soon Cuil. I am all for experimenting with search engines and crafting new ways to serve up content online, but I just think that perhaps before the bold claims, and the construction of a pedestal higher than Google; you should resolve some of the more-overarching, and detrimental flaws in the world’s self-proclaimed BIGGEST SEARCH.

Cool?

Cookbooks= A Dying Breed?

2008-07-22T11:26:00.001-07:00

I find myself often being a new media naysayer. Orally punishing many of the new media for taking away our outside time, our vacations and our piece of mind. But, I must admit, the FoodNetwork is doing something cool…

Not only does it provide site users with thousands of recipes organized by categories, or show, or chef, or type of cuisine…but the site produces recipe cards in different sizes to print off!

I do not have a Rolodex of recipes like my mother does, and my grandmother… but I love how the channel respects this more romantic, archaic and flour-covered practice and acknowledges it online. You can choose a 3x5 or a 4x6 card to print of the recipe you chose that will fit into your recipe archive. I often find the recipe I need at work and print a recipe card off for my trip to the store on my way home.

It is amazing how sites like Foodnetwork.com have really replaced the common cookbook. Why go buy cookbooks that only contain a limited number of recipes when you can get everything you need online?

I now cook not with a book, held open by a mixing spoon, or a spatula- but instead with a laptop in the kitchen. Sites like these are a great resource for young chefs and gives them much exposure to the shows and products produced and sponsored by the network. I am hooked.

The Internet and smart, user-friendly sites like Foodnetwork.com are changing the way we cook and eat.

Online cooking demos never hurt a novice in the kitchen either.

No Ancient Sea Scroll

2008-07-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

Our firm developed the following site and I wanted to introduce you all to a cool web site effect!

Check out the site here!

This site was developed for a local restaurant with a cool, eclectic vibe, therefore we found it fitting to explore the horizontal scroll. The entire sit sits on one page and uses javascript to navigate the site content. It changes the way people usually navigate sites and therefor is memorable. It produces a unique online presence for a place with a unique physical one.

When you select the menu items to the left, you are taken to a certain place on the site’s “one page.” I personally like sites that strive to provide a unique site user experience. Although there are many sites out there that continue to push the proverbial bar and play with our senses, I just wanted to bring up this site as it resonates in my headspace as something that “works.”

What do you think?

Is your web site stock-e?

2008-07-21T19:05:00.000-07:00

I am personally astonished by the ease of availability of stock photography. Whereas single images were at one time only purchasable for thousands of dollars, images are now available for around under ten dollars in various qualities. iStockphoto.com for example is one great service.

Photographers too benefit from the purchase, as they receive royalties from the purchase of their images.

However, many question if these web sites and services are actually shooting photographers in the foot, as they are needed less for commissioned shoots. This is an interesting consideration. At least we know wedding photographers are safe.

When working with clients at work, we often use stock photography as it is easy to purchase and so many images are available for public use. One risk that you take is having a competitor utilize your same imagery, however due to the number of images out there and services that provide them, this almost seems a moot point. Unique, and professional photography very often can make an online presence very special, but for generic images, stock photography is economically advisable and hard to pass up.

So why don’t all web sites get a little stock-e? It will help them save money and be able to visually demonstrate EVERYTHING they need online.

GENERATION X............BOX360

2008-07-21T18:43:00.000-07:00

I will admit, I have been an XBOX hater. I have cursed its name. I have hoped for harm to it its first born. I have wanted to throw it off rooftops and see it break into many small pieces down below.

I found it a loud screaming nuisance keeping my romantic life at bay with my boyfriend and allowing the voices of small obnoxious boys from all over the world into my living room through XBOX Live.

Not into recently- and the purchase of "Lego Starwars The Complete Saga" have I become to appreciate this world a little more, and realized the marketing mastermind that is really is.

Whereas XBOX was once just a video game system, like Sega, or Playstation- where you insert your game and play…it has now blossomed into something much more powerful, with many more powerful implications to the world of marketing.

Now, when turning on the system, you are welcomed by your XBOX dashboard. Through your XBOX, you can preview and purchase anything from movies, primetime TV shows, cable network shows, other games, music and much more. You are no longer just playing one game anymore, but instead being exposed to many other media that you just may need to purchase. It has now evolved into a one-stop Media Center- offering everything you may want to see or hear from your TV.

NetFlix is also coming to XBOX this fall, making it maybe unnecessary to ever turn this fabulous, buzzing machine off. I am anxious to see what else will come into the XBOX world.

As we know, XBOX is not just a system for 12 year-olds, but actually attracts crowds of all ages and of both genders (my 27 year-old boyfriend is a good example), so the product offerings are widespread. It is for this reason, I do not see this as marketing targeted at children- but instead at the world of gamers that come in all shapes, sizes, ages and education levels.

The media integration plays in perfectly with the more lackadaisical common gamer mentality...why not have it all in one place? Why have to get off the couch more than I need to?

Ma, more meatloaf!

Impersonal Shopper

2008-07-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

The world of eCommerce is getting smarter.

It is widely known that people shop online, a lot. With the ease of shopping from your living room, office, or bed- you can scan countless online stores, accessing a plethora of products. You can see the products on many sites in multiple views and colors. It seems you can do everything aside from touch the product and you can have it shipped to you in record time!

It is also more secure than ever. "They" say it is safer to give up your credit card info online than it is to give your credit card to a waiter who must do a roundtrip walk through a restaurant to process your payment. There are more opportunities for identity theft in that 10 meters, for example, than there are disclosing information online.

The rise of popularity in online shopping is no surprise.
Last year online consumer spending was on target to reach $200 billion by year end. Overall U.S. online consumer spending for 2006 totalled $170.8 billion.

How could this get any better? Our online worlds are so convenient and we needn’t spend a dime on gas!

Well for the shopper like me often hunting clothing, shoes and handbags, etc…it has with shopittome.com. Imagine getting notified of sales of products in YOUR SIZE in the brands you pick, out of 537 options whenever you want to!

You pick your brands, your sizes, and when you want to hear about sales- and shopittome.com does the rest. It appears the new web sites and inventions that are successful in some way make life easier. That is just what shopittome.com does. It keeps you from needing to search countless sites. And it keeps you from the disappointment when you learn the item isn’t in your size.

I shop it to me every Friday. It is so dangerous, but so convenient at the same time!
P.S. This site also serves men and children!

http://www.bizreport.com/2007/08/us_online_retail_sales_may_break_200_billion_barrier.html

Cruel In(line)tentions

2008-07-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of the Dirty?

Just recently, a new type of blog site has launched, and has hit America by e-storm: causing tears, breakups, revenge, insecurities, fights and breakdowns from coast to coast.

“Nik Ritchie, the first ever reality blogger” has created http://thedirty.com.

With nothing less than the cruelest intentions, this site allows people from cities and universities across America to send in pictures and stories about people they don’t like, or that they deem are “dbags” or “tools” or “sluts,” etc.

[Oh and nice try on the emulation- (Perez Hilton (Paris Hilton) /Nik Ritchie (Nicole Ritchie)...
you are about as clever as the second person that tells any joke.]

At Thedirty.com, people are allowed to anonymously badmouth individuals online whenever their hearts desire! There is even a strange native tongue resulting from this web site, where acronyms and webspeak mean certain things, or rankings in people.

Personally Nik Ritchie, the ultimate reality blogger, I think it is you that is sad. People will always be mean and insecure, and well done Nik (with no C) for inspiring and cultivating even more of it.

I can’t imagine the money you make from the dirty ads that line your site and your "dirty gear" is enough to convince you each day that you are a good person.

Rant over.

Nik, I will now sit and wait for your first shiny defamation case, so I can see your small, self-important and pretentious empire fold like your integrity did the day you took the site live.

Marketing the Hamburglar?

2008-07-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

Did you all hear that the new voice of the McDonald’s marketing front might have actually robbed the place?

McDonald’s teamed up with Myspace to create a little buzz- by allowing anyone to submit a remake of the two all beef patties, special sauce, etc. song that would be used in this year’s ad campaign.

Of the five finalists, one actually robbed a McDonald’s at gunpoint back when he was 14- and has spent 12 years in jail as a result!

At least they can say they are an all-opportunities employer!

Check out the video here!

Who do you first turn to?

2008-07-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

Here is another (frightening) account from my vacation.

Around 4 am in the morning, we had just passed through Atlanta, Georgia. We were on 75 east, exhausted, movie-ed out and ready for the sun to be up and to have arrived in South Carolina. My boyfriend was driving in the lane next to the fast lane, as he wasn’t actively passing other cars. All of a sudden, we heard police sirens and saw police lights coming westbound (on the other side of the highway). In that moment, my boyfriend noticed a car, with headlights off, driving the wrong way on our side of the highway, in the fast lane. The car also flew by and was definitely speeding (as people usually do when they flee from the cops.) The car had actually passed us on eastbound 75 going westbound and was at one point, 12 feet from our car, full of precious cargo…

I am thankful I did not actually see the car as I was turned around retrieving something from the backseat- however my seatbelt was off for that temporary moment. Another friend of ours was laying down sleeping in the back, sans seatbelt. My boyfriend looked like a ghost for about the next two hours, hair standing up on both arms, and on the back of his neck. It is so terrifying that the little decisions we make can change our lives. Had we stopped at a different gas station to fill up, had we had decided to pass a driver in the fast lane…

All you can think in that moment is, “What if…”

Terrifying.

Okay so what’s the tie to New Media? Well it is a stretch, however- I will pull tautly anyway.

After the initial shock , and recounting of the story to each other…and even before the goose bumps relented, we wanted to know what happened. We wanted to know who would do that. We wanted to know why. We wanted to know if anyone was hurt behind us. We wanted to know it all.

And where was the first place we thought to look?

The Internet.

The fact there is basically no lagtime makes the internet such a great and primary resource. The radio was no help as we struggled to find clear stations that would even discuss news. Not to mention, we all knew that the radio would not be reporting the story so quickly.

Thank God for the power of the internet. But more, thank God we were not in the fast lane.

Your vacation choice- Explorer? or Safari?

2008-07-15T15:04:00.000-07:00

Vacation: va·ca·tion n
1. a scheduled period during which the activities of courts, schools, or other regular businesses are suspended
2. a period of time devoted to rest, travel, or recreation
3. an act or an instance or vacating something

I ask myself if vacation is really vacation anymore due to our, uh-hem, exciting and busy new media…

I am currently in the process of driving back to St. Louis from Hilton Head, South Carolina, where I took 5 days of vacation with a few friends.

Round Trip Stat- 1800 miles and about 26 hours of driving

Unfortunately, I have a hard time believing that work and school are ever really suspended anymore, and even if we did in fact rest, and vacate St. Louis—this new virtual, and mobile world still follows us.

It is our omnipresent shadow now. And almost our crutch. We cannot stand in darkness or on our own.

I was pleased to find that cell reception was poor in the house, somewhat saving ourselves from ourselves. However, there were still some hotspots if you wandered around to find them. To add, the house was equipped with wi-fi, ensuring that at any moment we were in the home- one computer was alive and processing- whether it was facilitating online poker, the following of a baseball game in Philly, or the checking of work email, etc.

We all love our wireless world, right?

And we can’t imagine what we did before it.

What would I have done if I had not worked on homework? Or corresponded with work folk? Or caught the game, play-by-play?

Maybe, I would have actually vacated.

I think as IMC practitioners, we must not completely and excitedly exploit the VACATION. And I fear in many ways, we are working hard to do so.

Second Greatest Day in the History of the World

2008-07-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

It's here! It's here! It's freakin' finally here!

So was everyone excited about the new iPhone? Was Friday, July 11, 2008 the second most triumphant day in history (following of course only the launch of the original iPhone)?

Personally, I was baffled to learn that people were lined up days before in cities like New York. Really? Were vacation days taken, tents bought, and babysitters hired for a phone? I was watching the Soup on VH1 and they had a very entertaining “mockmercial” for the new iPhone, and by entertaining I mean beautifully sarcastic. The commercial discussed how due to how overpriced the phone was, compounded with the rip off that was the first iPhone, for many…the new iPhone would enable people to get their eviction notices and collection agency phone calls easier than ever.

In a very tongue in cheek voice, the commercial also brought up how Apple pulled the fast one last year of dramatically lowering the price of the original phone a short time later.

I have not caught the iPhone bug and thought this jab at Apple was hilarious. I know Apple’s marketing and the anticipation they produce for a product launch are powerful, but my, are we lemmings. Lining up. And then lining up again.

Evidently thousands of people could not even activate their new gem of a phone due to infrastructure issues. My Apple, you sure do have the bark, but what about the bite July 11th? Maybe these technical matters should have been better considered, considering there were lines of people receiving docked pay to receive a phone that wouldn’t “phone.”

“iPhone with my other phone.”

eCommerce: Taking the numbers into your own hands

2008-06-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

One special day in 1991, someone put up something for sale on the Internet.

Since that day, eCommerce has erupted, becoming a way to shop that is easier, more customer-friendly, interactive, and more a way of life than ever.

Online shoppers want to feel:

1. SERVED
2. CONSIDERED
&
3. SAFE

If you provide your eShoppers with those three feelings, congratulations you are safely at ground zero.

But we want to talk about the next level.

When talking eCommerce there are a few questions to consider:

1. Are you currently running the numbers on your shoppers? Allow us to help you track their buying trends.

2. Do you have a storefront widget? Wait, do you know what a widget is? Call us.

3. Have you considered using video to enhance sales? THIS (not) JUST IN- Video is everywhere!

4. Are you working the social networking trend to your eMerchant advantage? Your competitors are.

5. Are you set up to receive online donations? Help your supporters support you.

“Electronic commerce or eCommerce is a term for any type of business, or commercial transaction, that involves the transfer of information across the Internet.”

eCommerce allows consumers to electronically exchange goods and services with no barriers of time or distance. It is pretty fantastic that we are now, more than ever, free to shop our world.

Let’s wrap up with a couple numbers, shall we?

Here is one number- 229,000,000,000.

“While offline retail sales continue to struggle, online retail will grow at a steady 19 percent year-over-year growth rate, from $95.7 billion in 2003 to $229.9 billion in 2008, according to a new report from Forrester Research, Inc. Most significantly, online retail sales will account for 10 percent of total US retail sales by 2008.”3

And yet another- 1.

You just might be one business that can benefit from staying on top of your eCommerce marketing strategy.

Call me at Paradigm, 314-621-7600.

References:
1 http://www.ecommerce-land.com/history_ecommerce.html
2 http://ecommerce.networksolutions.com/ecommerce_what_is_ecommerce.asp
3http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/2003/08/05/forrester_sees_strong_ecommerce_growth_continuing/

Real Sex in the City

2008-05-30T08:28:00.001-07:00

Driving to work this morning on Highway 40, I saw something- well disturbing.

I must start off by saying, in the broad sense of the term, I am a free-thinking liberal mind.
I am also not easily offended. But I am proud of my city therefore the following billboard bothered me.

"CASINOS. STRIPCLUBS.
THEN US."
24 hour Hardee's Drive Thru

And there was a large image of a hamburger.

Sick, St. Louis.

Our city is already surrounded by a slue of casino billboards, and liquor ads. This whole "drink liquor and be a big winner"- is, in my opinion, quite an oxymoron.

We are known as an alcohol city, and a quarter of our city does smell like yeast and hops.

We were also given the honor of "The Most Dangerous City In the U.S" this last year, so we are looking good.

So while we already have two termed "vices" beaming down upon our fair city- leave it to Hardees to add another two to that list.

GLUTTONY!

and drumroll.....

THE SELLING OF SEX!!!

Why Hardee's, why? Yes we have casinos. And yes, there are some dark shadows across the river where you can see women in thongs dance. But do we need it advertised on our skyline?

I would hope St. Louis could be applauded for something better than gambling, sex, and consuming over 60 grams of fat after 3:00 AM.

For a good time of gambling, strippers, liquor, crime and fastfood- look no further than the good 'ole Gateway to the West.

Dinosaur in the City

2008-05-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

I was disappointed to learn last night that Carrie Bradshaw does not text! She may be wearing this season's handbag and the newest edition of Manolos... but being with the times does not extend to all areas.

You would think this Manhattanite with her busy professional writing career, love life, shopping trips, nights out with the girls, and time for personal upkeep- that this would be the profile of a texter. But no.

She admits in the movie that she is neither privy to they ways of texting, nor managing her own website, (not to mention blocking emails from a certain "someone." )

Carrie Bradshaw= NY's last single dinosaur?

Perhaps her "over 40" status is the culprit? Did she miss the SMS window?

Now Samantha on the otherhand, is, as SITC fans know, wise in the ways of the bedroom, and now seemingly in the new media world. Equipped with her iPhone, she works wirelessly, jetsetting from LA to the Big Apple, managing her tanned model boyfriend. She is a walking, talking business- and an endorser the new technology.

"Meanwhile in lower Manhattan," Carrie admits she does not know how to use the iPhone...

and therefor I have concluded that she most likely has dial-up.

Holy Bunches of Oats!

2008-05-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

My city is being infiltrated by Honey Bunches of Oats.

There are people on nearly every downtown street corner wearing Honey Bunches of Oats garb and passing out mini boxes of cereal to each passerby. They are adorned in silly hats and always yelling something about honey, or bunches, or oats. I even saw one on an overpass this morning closer to my house...is this even safe?

Ok, so you may say- well this is not new. But I did find one way their tactic was new-
Honey Bunches of Oats segways.

Yes segways.

What is the one thing that could make these tactic more cheesy- they are parading around in segways. I guess they really are "trying to feed America."

After trying a couple pieces, would I buy them? No.
And is there now more litter about the streets? Yes.

But hopefully the St. Louis bums are getting their daily allowance of iron and fiber.

Yawn, I am exhausted with Facebook

2008-05-28T10:44:00.001-07:00

I am sick and tired of hearing about/ talking about/ applauding Facebook.

One day in college, I begrudgingly signed up for an account. I was a puppet to my friends who all swore by it and they basically moved my fingers about the keyboard signing me up- for what would change my life forever- in what way- TBD.

I will admit, like the first time trying a drug- I was nervous...nervous about my safety, my health, my world being affected by this big monster that was Facebook. It was unchartered territory and it was also known as the gateway drug to Myspace- the heroin of the social networking world.

With a .edu email address, a few "favorite movies" and a pic- I was a Facebooker- whether I liked it or not.

Deep breaths.

I will admit, it felt good at first, I was receiving and making friend requests, left and right. I was feeling pretty good shopping my friends' lists (the peer pressurers) and finding that I too knew all these people. You get some superficial feeling of popularity as your friends first fill up one page, then soon after are filling up 10. Wow. Then you can select and display your top friends and put them out there for the whole world to see!

TOP FRIENDS-This was a lot of power.

This was also a lot of power that sounded more appetizing than homework.

Procrastination took on a new form over campuses nationwide- without a doubt. Peering in dormrooms, that signature blue box could be seen on many a computer screens.

Everyone seemed to be succumbing to the drug that was Facebook.

S0 here I am now, six years later.

I have been through my "Facebook" time. I had my fill and am full, and exhausted of it. I saw it break up relationships, I saw it form them. I think I even saw it cure cancer one day, but then I think the next, it caused it.

At the media firm where I work, we recommend Facebook accounts to some of our clients, like schools and institutions- with whom we are strategic partners. As a recovering Facebooker, I place my tongue in my cheek and force out the recommendation- because I honestly shudder when I think I am spreading the word of the devil.

So why is my account still active, live and public?

Good question.

It does, GASP, keep me in touch with a few certain people, (people I don't often text on a daily basis)... it is a great way to send and receive photos from friends as well.

Now an also latent member of Myspace, my profiles are often filled up with dumb "club opening" bulletins and nonsense. When I do log in- (once in a blue moon if not less frequently) I am reminded every time that these sites are a thing of my past- and I am reminded of how I wasted time even entering my password.

I am soon to say Goodbye Facebook, ciao per sempre.

I don't think I will miss it, as I am now LinkedIn.

Hello World

2008-05-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

My name is Lauren and I have a confession to make.

I am a serial texter.

Thinking back, it is difficult and bizarre to remember a time when texting was not around. Just what did I do before? It sounds frightening to say, but I don't know if I could have a relationship with someone that didn't text- or didn't have unlimited texts at that!

I was walking to work the other day with some colleagues who were joking about how they text each other to charge each other money (granted the recipient opens it).

I thought...

People still pay-per-text? I have become that person that assumes that others text as often as I do. Am I alone in my texting world?

New media continues to enter our world in new ways every day it seems. Are there people that are resisting it?

Ludites?

I understand that for older people this new technology may be too much of a whirlwind for them. For those older generations that were around when color tv was invented, let's not assume they are hopping on the technology train... but as for younger people?

Am I foolish to assume that the youth all are adapting and bringing these new forms of media into their lives?

Perhaps.

Back to my confession...

With my serial texting behavior- am I dehumanizing my life? This is a fear I have in my world. Am I hearing voices less, talking less, and only improving my shorthand communication in type?

That is not who I am! As someone who "connects" with others, have I drifted and untied the ties to a real connecting world- the world full of interpersonal relationships and experiences that can't be communicated through T9?

If so, S.O.S.!!!

Maybe the world that still pays-per-text knows something that I don't. Maybe they know how to say NO to a world troubled by impersonal communication.

I need to think about this.

I will text you later with what I find.